Energy Efficient, Linear, and Wideband mm-Wave Transceiver Front-end for Next-generation Wireless Communication Systems

Committee: 

Dr. Wang, Advisor

Dr. Shaolan Li, Chair

Dr. Swaminathan

Abstract: The objective of the proposed research is to develop innovative silicon-based millimeter-wave (mm-wave) high-performance frontend solutions to various applications. To address the highly growing data-rate demand, it is envisioned that mm-Wave frequencies will be extensively employed in 5G-and-beyond communication system for increases of channel capacity and broader applicable spectra. There are multiple circuit and system innovations are proposed to address the challenges for 5G-and-beyond communication systems in this proposal. Firstly, Continuous Mode Coupler Balun Doherty Power Amplifier (PA) architecture is introduced to achieve wideband, highly linear, and highly efficient (both peak and power back-off (PBO)) power PA performance. Secondly, two different mm-wave MIMO RX arrays are introduced. Mm-wave 2-D 2×2 MIMO RX array with autonomous beamfomer is implemented for rapid automatic spatial filtering and beamforming over full field-of-view (FoV). To achieve concurrent steerable multi-beams for fast scanning and communication using one single beamformer and one single wire interface, MIMO RX array with time-modulated switching frontend is investigated and realized. Finally, a W-band mm-Wave inverse outphasing transmitter (TX) with on-antenna power combining and active-load modulation are proposed to achieve both highly linear and efficient PA performance at high mm-wave frequency applications.