SBIR Phase I: Ultra-low loss beamformer and combiner-first technology for lower power, consumption phased arrays

该小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目旨在开发一种新的相控阵通信技术，该技术将能够实现更低的功耗，更小的外形尺寸和更实惠的价格目标。相控阵天线对于卫星通信以及更广泛的5G、国防和汽车雷达市场至关重要。该公司新的相控阵架构将显著降低功耗和所需的硅芯片组数量。这在诸如移动的平台和卫星通信系统等热限制和功率受限的环境中尤其重要，并且可以减少电池、笨重的电源和额外的冷却组件。解决这些相控阵列的高成本和高功耗问题，将通过实现性能（如数据速率和容量）的阶跃变化或降低敏感客户细分市场的成本，对商业机会产生重大的积极影响。这一小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将展示一种更节能、更具成本效益的相控阵半导体技术。该技术在独特的低功耗架构中使用了一种新颖的超低损耗、高线性度、无源波束形成电路。在接收配置中，由于接收器信号链数量减少了4倍，该技术将能够实现75%的功耗降低。在第一阶段，该公司的目标是推进其超低损耗波束成形技术，以实现更低的损耗，这将使波束成形器与其独特的低功耗架构相结合。以下目标实现了这些目标：1）新型超低损耗波束形成器的开发以及与接收前端的集成，2）对集成接收电路的台式测试的制造和性能，以及3）使用接收电路的小型和中等尺寸相控阵的空中测试的性能。低功耗波束形成技术将彻底改变当前的相控阵，消除传统设备所需的许多有损、功耗高和昂贵的组件。该技术将为从卫星通信到5G再到雷达的许多关键行业创造更高性能、更低成本的相控阵。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to develop a new phased array communication technology which will be able to achieve lower power consumption, smaller form factors, and more affordable price targets. Phased arrays antennas are essential for satellite communications and the broader 5G, defense, and automotive radar markets. The company’s new phased array architecture will significantly decrease the power consumption and the number of silicon chipsets that are required. This is particularly important in thermally limited and power-constrained environments like mobile platforms and satellite communication systems and leads to the reduction of batteries, bulky power supplies, and additional cooling components. Addressing the high cost and power consumption of these phased arrays will have a significant, positive impact on the commercial opportunity by enabling step changes in performance (like data rates and capacity) or reducing costs for sensitive customer segments. This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will demonstrate a more power-efficient and cost-effective phased array semiconductor technology. This technology uses a novel ultra-low loss, high-linearity, passive beamforming circuit in a unique low-power architecture. In the receive configuration, this technology will be able to achieve a 75% reduction in power consumption due to a 4x reduction in the number of receiver signal chains. In Phase I, the company aims to advance their ultra-low loss beamforming technology to achieve even lower losses, which will enable the combination of the beamformer with their unique low-power architecture. The following objectives realize these goals: 1) development of the novel ultra-low loss beamformer and integration with a receive front-end, 2) fabrication and performance of benchtop testing on the integrated receive circuit, and 3) performance of over-the-air testing of small and moderately sized phased arrays using the receive circuit. The low-power beamforming technology will overhaul current phased arrays, eliminating many of the lossy, power-intensive and expensive components traditional units require. This technology will enable the creation of higher performance, lower cost phased arrays for many critical industries ranging from satellite communication to 5G to radar.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.