mmWave Carrier Frequencies Research Articles

OSAT Production Testing of 5G, Power Discretes & 3D packaged ICs

The presentation will be segmented into three. OSAT production testing challenges of three vital product families that are important to our semiconductor industry will be showcased in each segment. The first segment will describe the products and impacts to RF production testing of both Sub-8GHz carrier frequency range and the mmWave frequency range of operation. The second segment will explore emerging MOSFET technologies that enable faster switching rates and higher voltage and current topologies. The third segment will describe the challenges of production test content for 3D-stacked advanced packages. 5G RF has enabled mmWave carrier frequencies, small cell deployment, massive MIMO (Multiple In, Multiple Out), beam forming, and full duplex wireless transmission and reception operations. These features require new production test methodologies. There is an astronomical rise in battery powered applications like toys, consumer goods, automotive and trains. Power path turn on/off with MOSFETs is in the critical path. The technology has advanced from the traditional Si to GaN and SiC based products that have a smaller size and allow for higher application efficiencies. Test specifications and limits are improving and production testing methods are evolving to account for these changes. Advanced packaging has enabled the path to integrate chiplets within a single package. Heterogeneous Integration (HI) is a powerful design innovation that allows tighter integration and, in some cases, improved signal and power performance at the system level. Production test methodologies are being streamlined to make test a competitive advantage for our customers.

An analytical model for the directional hybrid MAC protocol in the IEEE 802.15.3c

Nowadays, mobile data demand has grown significantly. Millimeter-wave (mm-wave) bands are a favorable technology to support high data rate communication. The IEEE 802.15.3c standard is an attractive candidate for mm-wave carrier frequencies for short-range indoor applications. Providing a comprehensive analytical model of the medium access control (MAC) layer gives great information to improve network performance. In this paper, for the first time, a comprehensive Markov chain model has been presented for the IEEE 802.15.3c standard by considering the directional antenna , hybrid MAC and queue. The exact queue models ( M / G /1 and M / D /1 queue) have been considered for the Regular Contention Access Period (RCAP) and Channel Time Allocation Period (CTAP) areas. The number of beam sectors and path loss model for the directional antenna is considered in the presented model. The most essential analytical parameters including throughput, delay, reliability, queue size, and system instability of each RCAP and CTAP area for the different number of sectors, RCAP area length, nodes, traffic and room size, have been investigated. Maximum throughput has been determined for the optimum value of these parameters. OPNET simulation validates our represented analytical model and shows that it is more accurate than other states of the art articles.

Millimeter-Wave Power Amplifier Integrated Circuits for High Dynamic Range Signals

The next-generation 5G and beyond-5G wireless systems have stimulated a substantial growth in research, development, and deployment of mm-Wave electronic systems and antenna arrays at various scales. It is also envisioned that large dynamic range modulation signals with high spectral efficiency will be ubiquitously employed in future communication and sensing systems. As the interface between the antennas and transceiver electronics, power amplifiers (PAs) typically govern the output power, energy efficiency, and reliability of the entire wireless systems. However, the wide use of high dynamic range signals at mm-Wave carrier frequencies substantially complicates the design of PAs and demands an ultimate balance of energy efficiency and linearity as well as other PA performances. In this review paper, we will first introduce the system-level requirements and design challenges on mm-Waves PAs due to high dynamic range signals. We will review advanced active load modulation architectures for mm-Wave PAs and power devices. We will then introduce recent advances in mm-Wave PA technologies and innovations with several design examples. Special design considerations on mm-Wave PAs for phased array MIMOs and high mm-Wave frequencies will be outlined. We will also share our vision on future technology trends and innovation opportunities.

Performance investigation of W-band millimeter-wave radio-over-fiber system employing optical heterodyne generation and self-homodyne detection

In this paper, a W-band millimeter wave (mm-wave) radio-over-fiber (RoF) system is proposed and investigated. Two different schemes of optical heterodyning techniques are employed, that is the optical double sideband (ODSB) and the optical single sideband (OSSB) schemes. For the first scheme, two laser frequencies are combined and modulated using a 64-quadrature amplitude modulation - orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (64 QAM-OFDM) baseband data through a Mach–Zehnder Modulator (MZM). The two optical frequencies are then transmitted from the central station (CS) to the base station (BS) using a single-mode fiber (SMF). The mm-wave carrier frequency results from the beating of the two laser signals at the photodetector (PD). After the PD, a phase noise-free baseband data can be extracted by self-homodyning the generated mm-wave carrier. In the second scheme, one laser is modulated and combined with the other one after the MZM modulator. In order to mitigate the power fading effect due to possible destructive interference between the two sidebands of the modulated signal, a phase shift of 90°is introduced in the second arm of the MZM to suppress one sideband. The proposed architecture based on optical heterodyne generation and self-homodyne detection can avoid phase/frequency locking, high-speed modulators and local-oscillators at CS and BSs. The simulation results prove that the desired baseband signal can perfectly recovered at the BS. Furthermore, the OSSB scheme can greatly reduce the effect of the fiber chromatic dispersion, and thus extend the transmission distance. An error vector magnitude (EVM) value within the forward error correction (FEC) limit is achieved over 30 km SMF fiber for the ODSB scheme and 50 km for OSSB scheme. The two schemes under consideration can support up to 120 Gbps data rates over long distance. The system has the potential to be compatible with the IMT2020 mobile fronthaul transmission technology.

Photonic vector mm-wave signal generation by optical dual-SSB modulation and a single push-pull MZM.

We propose and experimentally demonstrate single-sideband (SSB) photonic vector millimeter-wave (mm-wave) signal generation enabled by optical dual-SSB modulation and a single push-pull Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM). We use software-based digital signal processing to generate the dual-SSB driving signal for the push-pull MZM. The dual-SSB driving signal has a vector-modulated sideband and an unmodulated sideband, which are spaced by our desired mm-wave carrier frequency. After linear modulation of the push-pull MZM, optical filtering, and single-ended photodiode detection, we can get an electrical mm-wave signal displaying the same vector modulation as the aforementioned vector-modulated sideband. Based on our proposed scheme, we experimentally demonstrate the generation and transmission of a 40GHz mm-wave signal carrying 1Gbaud 16-ary quadrature-amplitude-modulation or 4Gbaud quadrature-phase-shift-keying transmitter data over a 10km single-mode fiber-28 and 0.5m air-space link, with a bit-error-ratio less than the hard-decision forward-error-correction threshold.

50 GHz optical true time delay beamforming in hybrid optical/mm-wave access networks with multi-core optical fiber distribution

We propose and experimentally validate an optical true time delay beamforming scheme with straightforward integration into hybrid optical/millimeter (mm)-wave access networks. In the proposed approach, the most complex functions, including the beamforming network, are implemented in a central office, reducing the complexity and cost of remote antenna units. Different cores in a multi-core fiber are used to distribute the modulated signals to high-speed photodetectors acting as heterodyne mixers. The mm-wave carrier frequency is fixed to 50 GHz (V-Band), thereby imposing a progressive delay between antenna elements of a few picoseconds. That true time delay is achieved with an accuracy lower than 1 ps and low phase noise.

Radio Over Fiber Downlink Design for Spatial Modulation and Multi-Set Space-Time Shift-Keying

Spatial modulation (SM) and multi-set space-time shift-keying (MS-STSK) are capable of striking a flexible design trade-off between the multiplexing and diversity gains attained. These techniques can also be combined with beamfoming for the sake of supporting reliable millimeter-wave (mmWave) communications. In this treatise, we propose an analogue radio-over-fiber (RoF) downlink network relying on SM and MS-STSK combined with beamforming and up-conversion to mmWave carrier frequencies, whilst using all-optical processing. In the proposed analogue RoF (A-RoF) system, most of the digital processing of the baseband SM and MS-STSK is carried out by the central unit and the implicitly carried bits of SM/MS-STSK, such as the antenna index selection and dispersion matrix selection bits, are recovered by the remote radio head of our A-RoF network for creating a multi-functional multiple-input multiple-output arrangement. As detailed by Hanzo et al. , the classic modulated bits are conveyed by the radio signal, without requiring any additional analogue-to-digital conversion and digital-to-analogue conversion before transmission from the antennas. Moreover, A-RoF-aided techniques are invoked for achieving optical processing-aided beamforming and optical up-conversion to an mmWave carrier frequency. Thus, we invoke A-RoF techniques for the generation of our SM/MS-STSK signal with the aid of optically up-converted millimetre-wave beamforming without using any electronic oscillators, mixers, or phase shifters. Furthermore, our A-RoF-aided system’s bit error ratio performance is similar to the conventional all-electronic SM/MS-STSK scheme.

3-D Millimeter-Wave Statistical Channel Model for 5G Wireless System Design

This paper presents a 3-D statistical channel impulse response (IR) model for urban line of sight (LOS) and non-LOS channels developed from 28- and 73-GHz ultrawideband propagation measurements in New York City, useful in the design of 5G wireless systems that will operate in both the ultra-high frequency/microwave and millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum to increase channel capacities. A 3GPP-like stochastic IR channel model is developed from measured power delay profiles, angle of departure, and angle of arrival power spectra. The extracted statistics are used to implement a channel model and simulator capable of generating 3-D mmWave temporal and spatial channel parameters for arbitrary mmWave carrier frequency, signal bandwidth, and antenna beamwidth. The model presented here faithfully reproduces realistic IRs of measured urban channels, supporting air interface design of mmWave transceivers, filters, and multi-element antenna arrays.

Simplification of millimeter-wave radio-over-fiber system employing heterodyning of uncorrelated optical carriers and self-homodyning of RF signal at the receiver

A simplified millimeter-wave (mm-wave) radio-over-fiber (RoF) system employing a combination of optical heterodyning in signal generation and radio frequency (RF) self-homodyning in data recovery process is proposed and demonstrated. Three variants of the system are considered in which two independent uncorrelated lasers with a frequency offset equal to the desired mm-wave carrier frequency are used to generate the transmitted signal. Uncorrelated phase noise in the resulting mm-wave signal after photodetection was overcome by using RF self-homodyning in the data recovery process. Theoretical analyses followed by experimental results and simulated characterizations confirm the system's performance. A key advantage of the system is that it avoids the need for high-speed electro-optic and electronic devices operating at the RF carrier frequency at both the central station and base stations.

A 12.5+12.5 Gb/s Full-Duplex Plastic Waveguide Interconnect

A new interconnect solution with plastic waveguide is demonstrated. The system consists of a pair of transceivers and a plastic waveguide. Millimeter wave signal is transmitted in a low-cost long piece of solid plastic dielectric acting as a waveguide. The plastic waveguide medium offers a large bandwidth for data communication using mm-wave carrier frequencies. Plastic waveguide interconnects do not require costly electrical-to-optical and optical-to-electrical conversion devices or precise alignment and offer longer transmission distances than wireless solutions due to better field confinement and lower path loss. Multiple plastic waveguides can be used in parallel and the modulated data at different frequencies can be multiplexed to increase the data rate. The demonstrated transceiver chips operate at carrier frequencies of 57 GHz and 80 GHz, and are fabricated in 40 nm low-power logic CMOS. The total area and power consumption of two transceivers are 0.41 mm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> and 140 mW, respectively. The fabricated demonstrator with Yagi-couplers achieves full-duplex transmission of 12.5 Gb/s ASK modulated signal in each direction over the 120 mm polystyrene waveguide with no equalization. The observed bit error rates for both channels are less than 10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">-12</sup> for a PRBS length of 2 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">7</sup> -1 at the total data rate of 25 Gb/s. This paper shows the feasibility of the plastic waveguide interconnect as a promising alternative to electrical, optical, and wireless interconnects.

Dual-polarization external-cavity diode laser transmitter for fiber-optic antenna remote feeding

A novel approach to optical millimeter-wave (MM-wave) transmission based on laser heterodyning is presented. The use of a dual-polarization emitting external-cavity diode laser (DP-ECDL) combined with the intrinsic polarization sensitivity of standard lithium-niobate Mach-Zehnder interferometer modulator offers a simple and flexible transmitter configuration. The MM-wave signal generated by photomixing of the two wavelength-tunable laser modes of the DP-ECDL has been stabilized by employing a servo loop scheme and sideband injection locking. Penalty-free transmission of 200-Mb/s binary-amplitude shift keying and 50-Mb/s binary phase-shift keying over 25 km of standard single-mode fiber at MM-wave carrier frequency is demonstrated.