NI, a provider of test and measurement systems, has launched 5G mmWave OTA Validation Test reference architecture for characterization and validation of 5G mmWave beamforming AiP devices.

NI’s mmWave OTA Validation Test reference architecture achieves fast speeds for OTA spatial sweeps in the 5G mmWave bands from 24 to 44 GHz, helping users significantly reduce OTA RF validation test times for AiP devices.

This reference architecture gives characterization and validation engineers working on the latest 5G AiP devices the advantage of addressing their devices’ beamforming performance with wider and more complex 5G NR signals while shortening development schedules.

NI’s fast OTA test approach helps engineers use denser spatial grids and obtain finer 3D spatial resolution while keeping test times low. NI’s mmWave OTA Validation Test Software assists validation engineers to quickly configure spatial sweeps to characterize their device’s antenna patterns as they produce, visualize, store or distribute detailed parametric results.

Alastair Upton, chief strategy officer at Anokiwave, said: “Engineers will need fast, accurate and fairly-priced tools to measure and ensure device beamforming performance so that the next generation of mmWave semiconductors can reach its global potential.”

NI also announced a Wi-Fi 6 Front-End test reference architecture for accurate testing of the latest Wi-Fi 6 power amplifiers (PAs) and front-end modules (FEMs) operating in new frequency bands above 6 GHz.

NI’s Wi-Fi 6 Front-End test reference architecture extends the high bandwidth, accuracy and fast measurement speed of the Vector Signal Transceiver (VST) workhorse device that combines RF signal generator and signal analyzer with 1 GHz of instantaneous bandwidth –up to 12 GHz.

This solution provides engineers performing PA/FEM characterization and validation linearity, low noise and high dynamic range for thoroughly validating Wi-Fi 6 1024-QAM performance. The reference architecture also simplifies dynamic EVM measurements while accelerating test speeds with FPGA-based power leveling.

NI also announced a real-time sub THz software defined radio (SDR) for 6G research built on NI’s mmWave Transceiver System (MTS) and Virginia Diodes’ (VDI) radio heads.

Users can leverage existing software reference designs for channel sounding or wireless communications protocols to create a real-time testbed for 6G research.