5G networks necessitated a higher density of antennas

The demand for mobile data, video and music streaming has increased wireless network demand exponentially, and 5G networks are expected to provide the necessary increased network capacity. The higher bandwidth required of 5G connections limits the range of base stations, necessitating a higher density of antennas, especially in buildings where radio signals have limited penetration. The key goals for this indoor base station were:

• Improve aesthetics and simplify installation by reducing system footprint, profile and weight
• Antennas needed to be powered over PoE from existing building cabling, requiring isolation
• Scalable design to accommodate future power needs

High-switching frequencies with high performance

Size and weight objectives were met by using BCM bus converter modules and ZVS Buck regulators, both utilizing high switching frequencies for a very power dense solution. Further space savings were achieved as Vicor’s proprietary Sine-Amplitude Converter topology increased efficiency, reducing cooling requirements even at high ambient temperatures. Key benefits were:

• Reduced footprint of just 6.4cm² and profile of <7mm enabled by high- density converters
• Operation at high ambient temperatures requires little cooling due to high efficiency topologies (>94%)
• Scaling to meet future requirements straightforward as converters are easily paralleled