PFI:AIR - TT: Beamspace MIMO Transceiver Prototype for Millimeter-Wave Gigabit Mobile Wireless Links

该PFI：AIR技术转换项目的重点是转换一种新型多天线MIMO（多输入多输出）无线收发器架构，以满足智能手机和平板电脑等移动的设备激增所推动的新兴无线应用的爆炸式数据速率要求。新的连续孔径相控（CAP）-MIMO收发器架构非常重要，因为它代表了一种有前途且实际可行的方法，用于实现新兴毫米波（mmW）技术的全部潜力，在30-300 GHz频带中工作，与工作在5 GHz以下的现有系统相比，在解决无线数据速率挑战方面具有显著增强的功率和频谱效率。该项目将产生一个毫米波CAP-MIMO收发器的原型。该CAP-MIMO原型具有以下独特的功能：混合模拟-数字架构，用于空间多波束形成的模拟前端，以及多波束选择机制。与新兴毫米波无线技术市场中基于相控阵原理的领先竞争设计相比，这些功能提供了几个优势，包括：多个单位/秒的速度，前所未有的电子多波束转向和数据复用能力，以及优化毫米波MIMO系统固有的基本性能-复杂性权衡的可行架构。 该项目解决了从研究发现到商业应用的以下技术差距。电子多波束转向和数据复用能力对于实现毫米波（mmW）MIMO系统在性能（功率和频谱效率）和功能（静态和移动的环境中的点对多点网络操作）方面的全部潜力是至关重要的。然而，现有的方法毫米波MIMO系统？包括基于数字波束形成和基于相控阵的多波束MIMO扩展的传统设计？未能解决对技术转换至关重要的基本性能-复杂性权衡。 该项目开发的CAP-MIMO原型将提供关键多波束转向和数据复用能力的明确演示，并帮助确定技术转化的可行途径。混合模拟数字原型将利用两个关键的平移元素来填补技术空白：用于模拟波束成形的基于透镜的前端天线，以及数字驱动的多波束选择网络，该网络可以实现收发器复杂性的联合硬件-软件优化。 此外，参与该项目的人员，包括研究生、本科生和博士后，将通过以下方式获得涉及创新、创业和技术转化的宝贵跨学科培训和经验：原型设计、开发、测试和演示;市场分析、商业计划制定以及商业化战略的评估和完善;并与其他学生和教师参与技术开发的工程和商业方面的互动。 参与该项目的人员还将与各种潜在的合作伙伴，包括无线行业的大型和小型公司进行合作，以获得对项目活动的反馈，并促进技术许可，开发和最终商业化。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating a novel multi-antenna MIMO (multiple input multiple output) wireless transceiver architecture to meet the exploding data rate requirements of emerging wireless applications driven by the proliferation of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. The new continuous aperture phased (CAP)-MIMO transceiver architecture is important because it represents a promising and practically viable approach for realizing the full potential of emerging millimeter-wave (mmW) technology, operating in the 30-300 GHz band, in addressing the wireless data rate challenge with dramatically enhanced power and spectrum efficiency compared to existing systems operating below 5 GHz. The project will result in a prototype of a millimeter-wave CAP-MIMO transceiver. This CAP-MIMO prototype has the following unique features: a hybrid analog-digital architecture, an analog front-end for spatial multi-beamforming, and a multi-beam selection mechanism. These features provide several advantages when compared to the leading competing designs based on phased-array principles in the emerging millimeter-wave wireless technology market including: multi-Gigabits/second speeds, unprecedented electronic multi-beam steering and data multiplexing capability, and a viable architecture for optimizing the fundamental performance-complexity tradeoffs inherent to millimeter-wave MIMO systems. This project addresses the following technology gaps as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application. Electronic multi-beam steering and data multiplexing capability is critical to realizing the full potential of millimeter-wave (mmW) MIMO systems both in terms of performance (power and spectral efficiency) and functionality (point-to-multipoint network operation in both static and mobile environments). However, existing approaches to mmW MIMO systems ? including conventional designs based on digital beamforming and phased-array-based extensions to multi-beam MIMO ? fail to address fundamental performance-complexity tradeoffs that are critical to technology translation. The CAP-MIMO prototype developed in this project will provide a definitive demonstration of the critical multi-beam steering and data multiplexing capability and help identify viable pathways for technology translation. The hybrid analog-digital prototype will leverage two key translational elements for filling the technology gaps: a lens-based front-end antenna for analog beamforming, and a digitally-driven multi-beam selection network that enables joint hardware-software optimization of transceiver complexity. In addition, personnel involved in this project, including graduate and undergraduate students and postdocs, will receive invaluable inter-disciplinary training and experience involving innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology translation through: prototype design, development, testing and demonstration; market analysis, business plan development, and evaluation and refinement of commercialization strategies; and interactions with other students and faculty involved in both the engineering and business aspects of technology development. The personnel involved in this project will also engage various potential partners, including large and small companies in the wireless industry, to get feedback on the project activities as well as to facilitate technology licensing, development, and eventual commercialization.