Abstract
We investigate the monolithic integration of RF antennas onto a silicon-based integrated microwave photonics (IMWP) chip for short-range millimeter-wave (mmW) communication. The unification of antenna with photonic integrated circuits (PICs) reduces system loss for high data rate communication by eliminating parasitic interconnects. This integration of electronics (antenna) with photonics will be a key milestone leading to increased bandwidth capability and ubiquitous wireless links for emerging applications such as 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, high data rate point-to-point communication, and wireless sensors. Through simulation above 20 GHz, we compare the transmission of three on-chip antenna structures designed in a commercial silicon photonics (SiPh) process and consider them for both inter and intra-chip communication. Results provide insight on the transmission gain variations relative to the antenna orientation from their distinct radiation pattern. The folded monopole structure provides superior gain, smaller footprint with layout flexibility, and good transmission spectrum. The analysis supports the idea of a monolithic mmW transmitter integrated with on-chip antennas on IMWP chip.
Highlights
The unparalleled surge in wireless data traffic witnessed over the last decade along with the rise of disruptive technologies such as 5G, autonomous vehicles, Internet of Things (IoT), and virtual reality has compelled researchers to look for ways to increase wireless data rates
We investigate the monolithic integration of RF antennas onto a silicon-based integrated microwave photonics (IMWP) chip for short-range millimeter-wave communication
The unification of antenna with photonic integrated circuits (PICs) reduces system loss for high data rate communication by eliminating parasitic interconnects. This integration of electronics with photonics will be a key milestone leading to increased bandwidth capability and ubiquitous wireless links for emerging applications such as 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, high data rate point-to-point communication, and wireless sensors
Summary
The unparalleled surge in wireless data traffic witnessed over the last decade along with the rise of disruptive technologies such as 5G, autonomous vehicles, IoT, and virtual reality has compelled researchers to look for ways to increase wireless data rates. The two types of EIC based mmW beamforming and beam steering approaches are: 1) classical phase shifter [10], [11], which efficient for narrow band PAA systems, have large insertion loss and beam squint phenomena at wider bandwidth operation [12]; 2) True time delay (TTD) [12], [13] approach, which overcomes bandwidth and distortion limitations, but alternatively suffers from frequency dependent insertion loss and inefficient scaling leading to increased power and chip real estate [4]. Development of a complete Si-based IMWP wireless front-ends (with on-chip antenna) will lead to breakthrough application of integrated photonics in next-generation technologies like 5G, wireless sensors, airborne and autonomous vehicles, short reach high frequency communication, and in-house broadband communication.
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