Apple may be working on its own antenna technology for the 5G 'iPhone 12'

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Multiple sources are chiming in on the antenna material, design, and supplier for elements for the 5G "iPhone 12." One report claims that Apple is working with Qualcomm on a custom design for the antenna, another compiled by Ming-Chi Kuo claims that things are not quite as set, with some disarray behind-the-scenes in who is likely to supply crucial power amplifying (PA) elements in the antenna array.

In early stages Friday, Kuo wrote a note to investors discussing the problem. In the note, seen by AppleInsider, Kuo said that the power amplifier situation incorporated in the antenna continues to be fluid.

Kuo formerly believed that Broadcom and Avago will be in charge of design, with Win Semi providing production of the iPhone 5G PA circuitry associated with an antenna system. However, Kuo revised that, saying on Friday morning that Qorvo and Skyworks will replace Broadcom as the iPhone 5G PA's suppliers, while Broadcom will only focus on the suppling the mid to high band PA integrated with one of the many potential models expected in the fall of 2020.

A written report on Friday afternoon suggested that things were a bit further along than determining who would provide you with the power amplifiers and how it would be delivered. Fast Company citing anonymous sources acquainted with the matter believes that Apple "balked" at Qualcomm's QTM 525 set mmWave antenna module design -which includes power amplifiers and Qualcomm's X55 modem -because it would not use Apple's planned design of the device.

The late Friday report suggests that Apple could be working on its "phased array" antenna, different from the QTM 525. That appears unlikely, however, given Apple's deal for 5G with Qualcomm that it signed in 2019 that delivers Apple the technology and licensing spanning the antenna to the modem, and everything in between.

Fast Company further shows that there is "bad blood" at some level between Apple and Qualcomm. The foundation cited in the report say that Apple feels as an institution that's is "getting screwed on royalties" regardless of the deal, and are trying to minimize Qualcomm parts in the "iPhone 12."

Further complicating and confusing the matter, Kuo claims that the 5G iPhone 12 was planned for a "2x2 uplink" design. It is not clear precisely what Kuo is talking about here. Antenna architecture varies somewhat with both sub-6Ghz network and mmWave connected with 5G architecture, versus terminology and technology intended for the prevailing 4G network.

Both reports acknowledge one point -the internal and external designs are not yet fixed. Kuo says that "the order allocation of iPhone 5G PA isn't yet confirmed." Fast Company says something similar, claiming that it might revert back again to Qualcomm's entire package at some time later in the look process.

Apple and 5G antenna design

The first reports of Apple working on a team focused on producing its 5G modem began to emerge in February 2019. At that time, job listings for the department, said to be under Johny Srouji, included one role seeking a cellular systems architect in San Diego, which is rumored to be where Apple is planning to build its new chip.

At this stage, Apple and Qualcomm had yet to start out the legal battle over cellular technology licensing over the so-called "no license, no chips" provisos mandated by Qualcomm. It found a head in April 2019, when Apple and Qualcomm announced a deal that ended the legal actions against one another. In the fallout of this deal, Intel exited the 5G modem business for smartphones.

Apple purchased Intel's modem business in July 2019. Within the deal, it got Intel's cellular patent portfolio, thought to include 6,000 patent assets connected with 3G, 4G, and 5G cellular standards, and 1,700 assets about wireless implementation technologies. Another portfolio also included covered just 500 patents with a "broad applicability" across both semiconductor and electronics industries.
Source: https://appleinsider.com

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