Small Cells, Big Impact: Designing Power Solutions for 5G
The need to increase the number of base stations to provide wider and more dense coverage has led to the creation of small cells. Small cells are a new part of the 5G platform that increase
Small cells are a new part of the 5G platform that increase network capacity and speed, while also having a lower deployment cost than macrocells. The compact size of a small cell requires that all components – especially power converters – provide high eficiency, better thermals and eventually the best power density possible.
A cell tower (also called a macrocell) is a huge umbrella used to provide radio signals to thousands of users in large areas with minimal obstructions. To extend the coverage of a macrocell, distributive antenna systems (DASs) are used in conjunction with the cell tower.
The traditional wireless infrastructure approach to 5G has certain limitations, however, including penetration ability and signal reach due to a higher spectrum. That's where small cells come in. Small cells increase the amount of trafic that can be handled in an area while also increasing speed.
The most common method is to use multistage conversion: Table 1. Base station types. first the AC/DC or isolated PoE converter generating the intermediate bus voltage of 12 V or 5 V, and then a point-of-load converter to step down once more to the necessary voltage level.
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