This cutting-edge foundry technology is expected to provide a ‘one chip solution,’ specifically for 5G communications with support for multi-channel and multi-antenna chip designs. Samsung’s 8nm RF platform extension is expected to expand the company’s leadership in the 5G semiconductor market from sub-6GHz to mmWave applications.

Samsung’s 8nm RF process technology is the latest addition to an already broad portfolio of RF-related solutions, including 28nm- and 14nm-based RF. The company has established its RF market leadership through the shipping of more than 500 million mobile RF chips for premium smartphones since 2017.

“Through excellence in innovation and process manufacturing, we’ve reinforced our next-generation wireless communication offerings,” said Hyung Jin Lee, Master of Foundry Technology Development Team at Samsung Electronics. “As 5G mmWave expands, Samsung’s 8nm RF will be a great solution for customers looking for long battery life and excellent signal quality on compact mobile devices.”

Samsung’s New RFeFET Architecture

With continued scaling to advanced nodes, digital circuits have improved significantly in performance, power consumption, and area (PPA), whereas the analog/RF blocks haven’t enjoyed such an improvement due to degenerative parasitics such as increased resistance from narrow line width. As a result, most communications chips tend to see degraded RF characteristics such as deteriorated amplification performance of reception frequency and increased power consumption.

To overcome the analog/RF scaling challenges, Samsung has developed a unique architecture exclusive to 8nm RF named RFextremeFET (RFeFET) that can significantly improve RF characteristics while using less power. In comparison to 14nm RF, Samsung’s RFeFET supplements the digital PPA scaling and restores the analog/RF scaling at the same time, thereby enabling high-performance 5G platforms.

Samsung’s process optimization maximizes channel mobility while minimizing parasitics. As the performance of RFeFET is greatly improved, the total number of transistors of RF chips and the area of analog/RF blocks can be reduced.

Compared to 14nm RF, Samsung’s 8nm RF process technology provides up to a 35-percent increase in power efficiency with a 35-percent decrease in the RF chip area as a result of the RFeFET architectural innovation.

Samsung Electronics, a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, today announced that its 5G communication solutions are in mass production for the latest premium mobile devices. The 5G multi-mode chipsets include the previously-introduced Exynos Modem 5100 as well as a new single-chip radio frequency transceiver, the Exynos RF 5500, and supply modulator solution, the Exynos SM 5800, all supporting 5G New Radio (5G-NR) sub-6-gigahertz (GHz) spectrum and legacy radio access technologies that provide mobile device manufacturers with optimum network communication solutions for the 5G era.

“Samsung has been an innovator in mobile communication technologies with a strong portfolio of market-proven solutions, and we are well-prepared to extend our leadership into 5G,” said Inyup Kang, president of System LSI Business at Samsung Electronics. “Our multi-mode solutions, the Exynos Modem 5100, Exynos RF 5500 and Exynos SM 5800 will together enable powerful yet energy-efficient 5G performance along with the network versatility that allows users to stay connected wherever they are.”

Exynos Modem 5100 is Samsung’s first 5G modem solution that had completed preparations for commercialization in August, 2018, with a successful over-the-air (OTA) 5G-NR data call test. The modem supports virtually all networks from 5G’s sub-6GHz and mmWave spectrums to 2G GSM/CDMA, 3G WCDMA, TD-SCDMA, HSPA and 4G LTE networks in a single chip.

For reliable and power-efficient performance, the modem is paired with RF and supply modulator solutions, Exynos RF 5500 and Exynos SM 5800 respectively.

Samsung’s Exynos RF 5500 supports legacy networks and 5G-NR sub-6GHz networks in a single chip, offering added flexibility in smartphone designs, especially for today’s premium mobile devices. RF transceivers are key components that allow smartphones to transmit and receive data over the cellular network. When transmitting voice or data from a smartphone to a carrier, the RF up-converts the modem’s baseband signal to high GHz-range cellular frequencies so that data can be sent swiftly over the connected network. Vice versa, when receiving, the signal is down-converted by the RF to baseband frequencies for it to be processed by the modem. The Exynos RF 5500 has 14 receiver paths for download, and supports 4×4 MIMO (Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) and higher-order 256 QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) scheme to maximize the data transfer rate over the 5G network.

The Exynos SM 5800 is a low-power supply modulator solution for 2G to 5G-NR sub-6GHz that supports up to 100MHz envelope-tracking (ET) bandwidths. As the possibilities for richer content with higher data rates open up with the arrival of 5G, maintaining a highly efficient RF has become more critical in ensuring a longer battery life in a mobile device. The Exynos SM 5800 demonstrates up to a 30-percent power reduction by dynamically adjusting the supply voltage according to the modem’s RF input signal. With an advanced power optimizing ET solution for RF, data can be transmitted more efficiently and reliably over the incredibly fast 5G network.

Both the Exynos RF 5500 and SM 5800’s technological breakthroughs have been recognized by the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) committee and were presented at ISSCC 2019 held at San Francisco last February.

As the industry moves forward to unfold and discover the full benefits of 5G, Samsung plans to continue pushing for innovation in mobile communication technologies, including RF transceiver and phased array solutions for mmWave along with 5G-embedded mobile processors, that will further drive the proliferation of new applications in mobile devices and emerging industries.

The new RFICs 5G chipset

Samsung Electronics today announced that it has successfully completed the development of its cutting-edge mmWave Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits (RFICs) and Digital/Analog Front End (DAFE) ASICs, supporting 28GHz and 39GHz bands.

Samsung’s new RFICs and DAFE ASICs, the core components in the 5G chipset, enable about 25 percent reduction in size, weight and power consumption for 5G base stations when compared to the previous iterations. 5G base stations using these new chipsets are more efficient in operation and roll-out.

“Our breakthroughs in 5G R&D have been the key driving forces behind the successful 5G commercial services across the U.S. and Korea in 2018, with over 36,000 5G base station shipments,” said Paul Kyungwhoon Cheun, Executive Vice President and Head of Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “At the forefront of ushering in the wave of 4th Industrial Revolution, Samsung will continue to accelerate 5G commercialization ultimately impacting the overall industries and everyday lives by offering ultra-low latency, ultra-high speed, and massive connectivity.”

To achieve ultra-fast data speeds, 5G base stations use almost one thousand antenna element and several RFICs to utilize the mmWave spectrum. The adoption of RFICs plays a crucial role in supporting the reduction in the size and power consumption of base stations. Samsung’s new RFICs using cutting-edge 28nm CMOS semiconductor technology operate on bandwidths that have been expanded to a maximum 1.4GHz, compared to 800MHz for previous RFICs. The size of RFIC is reduced by 36 percent and the overall performance is enhanced by decreasing the noise level and improving the linearity characteristics of the RF power amplifier.

Samsung has developed RFIC solutions for 28GHz and 39GHz and plans to commercialize additional RFICs for 24GHz and 47GHz this year, allowing further expansions into markets that will utilize these higher frequency bands.

Samsung has also developed its own DAFE as an ASIC, low in power consumption and small in size. The DAFE is essential for digital wireless telecommunications as it provides analog-to-digital conversions and vice versa. The 5G DAFE manages large bandwidths of many that are hundreds of MHz and developing an ASIC allows for the reduction in size and power consumption of 5G base stations. Without investing in ASICs, the DAFE on its own would be too big and power insufficient to meet the product needs of carriers.

“Samsung is building on its 5G leadership with its innovative solutions including low-power RFICs and DAFE ASICs to pioneer a new era of digital transformation,” said Jaeho Jeon, Executive Vice President and Head of R&D, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “We’re pleased to announce our completion of development on these new chipsets, which will play vital roles in pushing the advancement of technologies to the next level.”

DAFE ASICs chipset

At MWC19, Samsung will show how, through innovation, openness and scale, it’s leading the way in 5G and changing how people connect and communicate. For the first time ever on display, Samsung will show its new Galaxy S10 5G mobile phone, designed with the best hardware and software to take advantage of the full 5G experience. Also on display will be a full spectrum of equipment that helps make widescale 5G deployment possible. They include the next generation multi-mode modem chips and RF modules that are smaller in size, more energy-efficient and at the cutting-edge of technology, demonstrating Samsung’s innovation leadership beyond mobile and display. Samsung will also announce new partnerships with carriers and technology suppliers to support everyone’s path to 5G.

“At Samsung, we believe in delivering innovations that impact consumer lives,” said DJ Koh, President and CEO of IT & Mobile Communications Division, Samsung Electronics. “For more than 35 years, we’ve led the industry in new hardware and services that have helped to revolutionize the consumer experience. At MWC this year, we’re showcasing the remarkable breadth of our expanding connected ecosystem, from game-changing 5G end-to-end solutions to outstanding new additions to the Galaxy family such as Galaxy Fold and Galaxy S10 5G.”

Pioneering the Next Decade with New Mobile Devices

For the past decade, Samsung has been at the forefront of 5G research and development, and the fruit of its labor is the transformation of 5G from an ambitious theoretical concept into reality. The company delivered the world’s first gigabit speed 5G transmission, the first 5G handover between multiple cells, and now, the company’s first 5G smartphone in the Galaxy S10 5G.

The Galaxy S10 5G puts unprecedented power, speed and connectivity directly into the hands of consumers with the most powerful feature set available on a Galaxy S line device. With 5G connectivity, Galaxy S10 5G can access network speeds up to roughly 20 times faster than 4G networks, enabling an elevated mobile experience that benefits from powerful hot-spotting, hyper-fast streaming, 4K video-calls and next-level mobile gaming.

In addition to 5G mobile devices, Samsung continues to expand its complete ecosystem of devices, delivering exciting and powerful new mobile experiences, from wearables to tablets. At MWC this year, Samsung will showcase its latest product innovations – all seamlessly united under the renowned Galaxy family.

• The future unfolds with Galaxy Fold: Experience the world’s first 7.3-inch, Dynamic AMOLED Infinity Flex Display on the Galaxy Fold. Category-defining innovation, Galaxy Fold showcases a breakthrough design and an entirely new user experience.

• Celebrating a decade of innovation with the new Galaxy S line-up: With four unique premium options, including the 5G model, the new Galaxy S10 range is engineered to deliver next-generation features in display, camera and next-level performance.

• The reinforced mid-tier portfolio with the new Galaxy A series: Galaxy A50 and A30 offer innovations to essential features with high specifications. Designed for the way we connect today, the new line-up offers a range of variants to welcome an even more diverse range of consumers into the Galaxy family.

• Balanced and connected living with new Galaxy wearables: Samsung expands its Galaxy ecosystem with the Galaxy Watch Active and Galaxy Buds. Built for the health-focused consumers, these wearables put the style in healthy lifestyle.

• The versatile Galaxy Tab S5e: The Tab S5e is a new super slim, light and sleek Galaxy tablet designed with powerful entertainment features packed into a stylish and affordable device, which features Bixby for the first time in a tablet.

Demonstrating Real-World 5G Scenarios Unlocked by Samsung Commercial Solutions          

Leveraging its commercially-proven 5G leadership, Samsung will present multiple live demonstrations to show real-world 5G experiences:

• 5G NR live demonstration with Samsung network and smartphone using 3.5GHz and 28GHz bands: A mobile edge cloud game on the company’s first 5G smartphone will be demonstrated live, by being connected to Samsung’s live 5G network solutions. In addition, 5G Multi-user MIMO will be demonstrated.

• First live 5G broadcast at MWC19: The first live broadcasting of GSMA ‘Mobile World Live TV’ using Samsung’s 5G network solutions at Broadcast Village, Gran Via. It will broadcast live throughout the venue and to 280 hotels in Barcelona during the show.

• Live demonstration of 5G-powered technology for the industry: Samsung, Cisco and Orange Spain will demonstrate diverse 5G-powered use cases to show how low latency and high speed of 5G technology can be applied for the industry at Orange booth (Hall3 3K10).

• Samsung & Zhilabs’ automated 5G network solutions: Samsung will demonstrate live AI-based 5G network management solutions with Zhilabs, acquired by Samsung through acquisition in October 2018. It helps operators to optimize 5G network performance automatically.

Next Generation 5G Chipsets

In addition, Samsung will show its new next generation 5G Radio Frequency (RF) chipsets, supporting 28GHz and 39GHz. Using these new RF chipsets, Samsung 5G base stations will be approximately 25 percent smaller, lighter and less power consuming compared to previous iterations.

5G base stations use almost one thousand antennas and several radio frequency integrated circuits (RFIC) to utilize mmWave spectrum. With this next-generation chipset, Samsung helps improve network equipment performance through decreased noise levels, and improvement in the linearity characteristics of the RF power amplifier.

“We at Samsung have combined our expertise in being one of the early innovators in 5G commercial services – above and below 6GHz bands to date and this ground-breaking leadership led us to achieve over 36,000 5G base station shipments as of February 2019,” said Paul Kyungwhoon Cheun, Executive Vice President and Head of Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “Being the only company in the world to deploy and provide 5G end-to-end solutions in the U.S. and Korea, we will continue to advance our innovative endeavors and push the boundaries in 5G technology.”

Samsung’s portfolio of chips includes the Exynos Modem 5100, fully compliant with the 3GPP 5G NR standard to support new spectrums including below and above 6GHz for faster data speeds up to 6Gbps.Their innovative capabilities and the technological innovations are fully demonstrated through the range of 5G products.

Visit Samsung at MWC19 

To gain first-hand experience and to see live demonstrations of Samsung’s end-to-end 5G solutions, attendees can visit the official Samsung booth located in Hall 3 and the Samsung network booth in Hall 2 Stand 2M20 (invitational-only).