Test and measurement companies are expanding their support for specs coming from the MIPI Alliance, which establishes standards for mobile device hardware and software interfaces.
Tektronix said it has the first physical layer transmitter characterization and debugging solution for the new MIPI M-Phy v3.1 specification recently approved by the MIPI Alliance. The interface technology is often used in mobile devices because it enables high bandwidth and good power efficiency, and the latest version is supposed to improve upon those features even more, particularly in the area of power per pin pair.
“We’re seeing a growing emphasis on performance in mobile device design, meaning that more and more designs are incorporating MIPI M-PHY Gear 3 to operate at the highest data rate possible under the MIPI M-PHY specifications,” said Brian Reich, GM for performance oscilloscopes at Tektronix. “This in turn has introduced new signal acquisition challenges due to the combination of low amplitude signals and high speeds.”
Rohde & Schwarz also began offering new MIPI software support this week for D-PHY compliance tests on its RO oscilloscopes in order to maintain good interactions between screen and camera components coming from different manufacturers. R&S’ software covers the MIPI D-PHY v1.1 spec, which comes from the MIPI Alliance and the University of New Hampshire’s InterOperability Lab.
In addition to the MIPI expansion, R&S also launched a new firmware update for its R&S IQR100 digital I/Q data recorder, with a significant increase in its data rate and doubled memory capacity. The recorder is to be used in combination with other test instruments for capturing RF spectra including wireless communications and GNSS, as well as providing interference and test signals during R&D.
• Showing just how complicated it can be to get an apples-to-apples testing assessment of the customer experience, both Spirent and British telecom regulator Ofcom published results of mobile broadband testing this week. I spoke with Spirent about the testing and how the methodologies played into the differences in results — you can read more about it here.
• Anite gave an update on how its year is going so far. The company said it had a seasonally slow start to the year and then an “encouraging” finish to the first half. Anite said its handset testing business has seen mid-single-digit revenue growth, and that orders for products are increasing by “strong double digits”. Its network testing segment, meanwhile, has low single-digit revenue growth. Anite categorized the momentum in both segments as positive and that it will meet its full-year expectations.
• Keysight said it signed a $25 million, five-year contract with a “major” unnamed aerospace/defense company for multivendor services including calibration of physical, dimensional and optical products, repair and technical expertise, training and support.
The contract was evidence of its abilities to provide services beyond just test equipment, Keysight said.
• RCR’s latest report and webinar on field testing trends and challenges, particularly in distributed antenna systems and small cells, posted this week. It was a great conversation with Accenture, JDSU, EXFO and Accedian Networks participating. Download the report and access the webinar if you missed it.
