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The Evolution of Telecommunications: Navigating Challenges and Innovations in the 5G Era
The telecommunications industry—which encompasses everything from antennas to network switches and baseband units—is rapidly evolving. The 5G mmWave protocol is the single greatest driver of recent technology advancement and innovation, and hardware and software must keep up with connectivity demands.
For engineers within the telecommunications space, there are many considerations for product design and application, including:
- Opening new bandwidths to frequencies
- Setting standards for device inter-operability
- Alignment with AI and machine learning
Frequency is another important variable when thinking about the design. It’s important to test across the spectrum and make sure products are appropriate for a given frequency, which will include 6G in the not-too-distant future.
Additionally, there are electrical, physical and mechanical, environmental and lifespan, and commercial angles, all of which must be considered when designing or selecting products for telecommunications applications.
Parker Chomerics 5G mmWave Telecom Solutions
EMI Shielding and RF Absorption
To function optimally, telecommunications equipment relies on sending the right signal at the right time to the right place, which can be difficult as there are more and more signals entering the airwaves. It’s crucial that outside signals don’t interfere with the operation of telecommunications equipment and that the devices themselves don’t send out signals that interrupt other devices. Here’s where electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and radio frequency (RF) absorption come into play.
To minimize the harmful impacts of EMI, electrically conductive materials can be utilized to create a “Faraday Cage,” reflecting electromagnetic radiation and preventing it from negatively impacting the performance, reliability and functionality of electronics.
For RF absorption, carbon-based or ferrous materials can be used to absorb interference in the RF spectrum instead of reflecting it.
Telecom Solutions for EMI Shielding and RF Absorption
Let’s explore some of the product categories that can help with EMI shielding and RF absorption.
Corrosion Resistant High Frequency Conductive Elastomers
Conductive elastomers offer high conductivity and shielding across the frequency spectrum. They are very durable with a product life span of more than 20 years, and they give engineers a lot of design flexibility. Conductive elastomers are a cost-effective solution with excellent sealing and chemical resistance.
High Temperature Conductive Foam Gaskets
Conductive foam gaskets have high shielding and high conductivity capabilities, shielding data up to 115 GHz while also grounding electronics. They work well in high temperatures with an operating temperature of up to 125 degrees Celsius. From a commercial standpoint, conductive foam gaskets are the most cost-effective solution.
Finger Stock Gaskets
Finger stock gaskets and metal gaskets are two additional cost-effective solutions that provide high shielding and high conductivity. They come in various plating options and offer environmental resistance as well as low closure force, high compressibility and high cycling durability.
Honeycomb EMI Vent Panels
Honeycomb EMI vent panels provide multidirectional shielding for data up to 50GHz and can be used for both airflow and shielding. With many plating and coating options, honeycomb EMI vent panels are highly customizable for customer-specific designs.
Specialty Materials
For applications with very specific needs, there are many specialty materials such as coatings, sealants and adhesives. These materials have high conductivity and shield data up to 115 GHz. They were designed for harsh conditions, providing chemical resistance and durability after cure.
Very High Frequency EMI Shielding Solutions for 5G Telecom Applications
Conductive Plastics
Finally, conductive plastics are a high durability, lightweight alternative to metal housing that provides shielding and absorption in one product. This rugged solution has chemical resistance and stands up to harsh environments. Conductive plastics are available in many grades to accommodate different requirements, including standard, high temperature, flame retardant, hydrolysis resistant, military and high durability.
Designing for the Future
As the telecom industry evolves and applications become faster and more powerful, Parker Chomerics will be there with solutions that perform. We are able to test at all frequencies to make sure our suite of EMI shielding and RF absorbent products is up to the task.
Learn more about EMI shielding and thermal interface solutions for telecom applications in this webinar.
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Parker Chomerics offers the products, technical know-how, customer support and supply chain capabilities to meet your challenges and deliver superior, reliable and cost-effective solutions.
Webinar: EMI Shielding and Thermal Interface Solutions for Telecommunications Applications
Parker Chomerics is a leader in the development and manufacture of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) shielding solutions as well as Thermal Interface Materials (TIMs) for high performance electronics.
In this webinar, you will learn about the component-level and system-level solutions for addressing EMI/RFI shielding and thermal management challenges within telecom hardware. You'll also learn about material advancement and testing trends associated with mmWave technology demands.
Solutions for 5G mmWave Applications
Don’t let the complexity of shielding for electromagnetic interference (EMI) get in the way of designing for the future of mmWave 5G connectivity. Our engineers at Parker Chomerics are experts in creating EMI and thermal solutions for 5G mmWave applications, giving you a wealth of integrated, multi-technology systems and components that meet or exceed your specifications and expectations.
Thermal Interface Materials & EMI Shielding Solutions
With more than 60 years of experience, we have the technical know-how to meet the rapidly increasing needs of engineers.
