Keysight Technologies, Inc.; FormFactor, Inc.; DMPI Inc. and Virginia Diodes, Inc. (VDI), who designs and produces millimeter wave and terahertz devices, components and systems, have joined forces to deliver a new 170 GHz /220 GHz Broadband Vector Network Analysis (VNA) Solution that shortens design and verification cycles for 5G and emerging 6G applications. Keysight, FormFactor, DMPI and VDI have jointly developed this new VNA solution to provide on-wafer millimeter-wave component characterization under various conditions. It offers an advanced dynamic range, high output power and maximum stability.

As a result, designers can efficiently characterize on-wafer devices and circuits, enabling the creation of highly accurate process design kits (PDKs) used to design integrated circuit models that shorten the design and verification cycle. Additionally, it enables rapid deployment of devices for the emerging 5G and 6G monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs), a type of integrated circuit (IC) device that operates at microwave frequencies. The joint solution, Keysight's new 220 GHz Broadband Network Analyzer, enables customers to address the needs of 5G and future 6G technologies that will have a significant impact on communications through the internet of things and ubiquitous wireless connections.

The fully integrated solution is comprised of: Keysight's N5291A 125 GHz broadband VNA – a single-sweep solution with compact frequency extenders, that delivers accurate leveled power. DMPI /FormFactor T-Wave GSG Dual band probes – which provide wafer-level electrical measurement on FormFactor wafer probing solutions of millimeter wave (mmW) devices and materials up to 1.1 terahertz (THz). VDI's specially designed sub-THz frequency extenders – which allows for high accuracy measurement of on-wafer device under tests from 900 Hz to 170 GHz or 220 GHz in a single frequency sweep.