2025/4/28
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd
Representative Director and President of the Board, Nakajima Keiju
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Murata") and Rohde&Schwarz GmbH&Co. KG (headquarters: Munich, Germany, hereinafter referred to as "Rohde&Schwarz") jointly developed the RF (Radio Frequency) (1) system (hereinafter referred to as "the System") for measuring the effectiveness of Murata's proprietary power control technology - Digital ET (Digital Envelope Tracking) (2). By using this system, the power-saving effect of Digital ET in communication devices such as 5G and 6G can be measured with high accuracy.
(1) RF: Radio Frequency
(2) Digital ET: A power control technology that optimizes and enhances the voltage of RF signals while reducing power consumption. Murata acquired Eta Wireless, Inc. in 2021. It consists of the following three elements.
① ETAC (ETAAdvanced Control) that generates Digital ET voltage control signals enables effective DPD (Digital pre distortion) calculation and PA (Power Amplifier) operation of RF signals.
② PMIC (Power Management Integrated Circuit) that generates Digital ET voltage based on control signals and provides it to PA
③ Control the systems of ETAC and RMIC.
In recent years, with the high performance of communication devices, increasing power consumption has become a problem that needs to be solved. One of the methods to reduce power consumption is a technique called Envelope Tracking, which adjusts the PA supply voltage based on the modulation of the RF signal output by the RFID (3). However, there is a problem with Envelope Tracking, which is that it cannot fully reduce power consumption when transmitting broadband signals such as 5G and 6G. Murata's Digital ET is a technology that uses digital envelope tracking to significantly reduce power consumption even when transmitting broadband signals.
(3) RFID: an integrated circuit used for transmitting, receiving, and processing radio frequency signals.
This time, Murata collaborated with Rohde&Schwarz, a company with high professional expertise in RF measurement, to develop this system.
This system consists of the following five parts
FPGA
Calculate the DPD (4) of the set input signal and generate a Digital ET voltage control signal that allows the PA to operate with high efficiency, and generate a device for transmitting input and control signals to SMW200A. (Murata)
SMW200A
The device that transmits the input signal received from the FPGA as an RF input signal to the PA, and synchronizes the PMIC control signal received from the FPGA with the RF input signal before transmitting it to the PMIC. （Rohde＆Schwarz）
PMIC
A device that generates a Digital ET voltage based on control signals and provides it to the PA. (Murata)
PA
A device that amplifies the RF input signal transmitted by SMW200A using the Digital ET voltage provided by PMIC and transmits it as the RF output signal. (Murata)
FSW analyzer
A device for analyzing RF output signals transmitted by PA. （Rohde＆Schwarz）
(4) DPD: Processing that changes the input signal in order to make the output of PA approach the ideal value.
This system can accurately and conveniently measure the power consumption reduction of Digital ET in the circuits of communication devices, providing support for the development process of communication devices with reduced power consumption.
Murata's goal is to reduce the power consumption of communication devices through the popularization of Digital ET. In the future, we will continue to contribute to achieving a sustainable society by improving energy efficiency.
About Rohde&Schwarz Company
Rohde&Schwarz is a non listed company headquartered in Munich. The company is committed to achieving a secure and interconnected world through its testing and measurement, technology systems, and network and cybersecurity departments. For over 90 years, this global technology group has been challenging technological peaks by developing cutting-edge technologies. The company's innovative products and solutions provide support for customers in industry, regulatory agencies, and government agencies to achieve technological and digital sovereignty.
From July 2023 to June 2024, the company generated a net income of 2.93 billion euros. In addition, as of June 30, 2024, the company has over 14400 employees worldwide.