Core Technology Evolution of RF Microwave Communications

RF microwave communications (300MHz-300GHz) are the cornerstone of wireless communications, and their technological evolution is directly driving the development of 5G/6G networks. Current mainstream technologies include:

1. Millimeter-wave communications (24-100GHz): This achieves ultra-high speeds (theoretical peak of 20Gbps) through high frequency bands, but is limited by rain attenuation and propagation distance, requiring the integration of beamforming technology to enhance coverage.

2. Microwave photonics: Using optical fiber to transmit RF signals reduces the size of phased array antennas and improves interference resistance, achieving a dynamic range of over 20dB.

3. Spread spectrum communications: Technologies such as direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) use pseudorandom codes to expand signal bandwidth, enabling low-power transmission within 50km in applications such as aerospace tracking and control.

Technical bottlenecks lie in suppressing nonlinear distortion and optimizing noise. For example, the bias voltage of an electro-optical modulator must be precisely controlled at the quadrature point to improve link gain. Application Scenarios and Market Drivers RF microwave technology has penetrated multiple fields:

• 5G base stations: Massive MIMO antennas rely on microwave RF front-ends, and the global market size is expected to exceed US$30 billion in 2025.

• Satellite communications: The Ku/Ka bands (12-40 GHz) support high-throughput satellites, with inter-satellite link latency below 50 ms.

• Intelligent transportation: Automotive radar (77 GHz) achieves centimeter-level ranging, and the penetration rate of autonomous driving has increased to 35%.

China has made breakthroughs in localization, with Zhuoshengwei's L-PAMiD module entering the supply chain, but high-end filters still rely on imports.

Future Trends and Challenges

6G will promote the application of the terahertz frequency band (0.1-10 THz), which requires addressing the following:

1. Material innovation: Gallium nitride (GaN) device power density has increased tenfold, but costs remain high.

2. Quantum microwaves: Dual-photon sources enable GHz-level signal processing, improving anti-interference capabilities by 40%. 3. Standardization lags: Global spectrum allocation has not yet been unified, which may hinder commercialization.