Millimeter-wave High-performance Front-ends for Future Ubiquitous Wireless Networks and Sensors

毫米波（mm-wave）频段尤其令人感兴趣，因为大量的射频频谱已在全球范围内分配给无线通信（57-64 GHz, 71-76 GHz， 81-86 GHz和92-95 GHz频段），汽车雷达（76-81 GHz）或成像传感器（86 GHz以上）。密集的研究工作已经开始为这些新兴应用设计紧凑和低成本的毫米波收发器。在过去的一年里，关于可能的5G标准的初步兴趣和讨论已经引起了世界各地研究人员和工程师的注意和想象。无线数据流量预计将在未来20年内增加1万倍。硬件实现和信道条件的基本限制限制了传统选择的可行性，即在6 GHz以下频段设计频谱高效系统（如4G LTE）。为了实现几个Gb/s的数据速率，毫米波频谱可以使用更简单和低成本的调制技术来使用大带宽（例如2 GHz），而不是依赖于最初用于确保在较小带宽下实现高频谱效率的高度复杂技术。***此外，毫米波波段确保雷达和其他传感器的高分辨率。与视频、激光和超声波等替代传感器相比，汽车雷达和成像传感器具有固有的优势，如不受天气影响和直接获取距离和速度。热门话题还包括安全和监视应用，以识别隐藏在衣服下的武器，并用于探测传统磁力计无法探测到的物体。***今天在毫米波研究中需要解决的技术挑战是前所未有的。该计划将利用我们的研究团队在毫米波电路、系统和干涉测量技术方面的强大专业知识。将考虑采用大规模制造技术的新颖设计，适合未来的普遍应用。***本研究计划的总体目标是：(i)为新兴应用提出并验证创新和高性能的毫米波收发器架构；（ii）寻找采用低成本制造技术的高能效和小型化前端多芯片集成模块的新解决方案；（iii）在INRS-EMT建立一个永久的高素质研究人员库，以开发射频技术。研究工作将面向设计新的系统架构，原型收发器制造使用集成技术与创新的毫米波组件和先进的试验台测量。***从这个项目中产生的新知识和与这项工作的不同阶段相关的高素质人才的培训肯定会有助于提高加拿大在这一高科技领域的全球竞争力。＊＊＊

Millimeter wave (mm-wave) bands are especially of interest because a massive amount of RF spectrum has been allocated worldwide for wireless communications (57-64 GHz, 71-76 GHz, 81-86 GHz, and 92-95 GHz bands), automotive radar (76-81 GHz) or imaging sensors (above 86 GHz). Intensive research efforts have been started to design compact and low-cost mm-wave transceivers for these emerging applications. ***In the past year, preliminary interest and discussions about a possible 5G standard have captured the attention and imagination of researchers and engineers around the world. Wireless data traffic is projected to increase 10,000 times within the next 20 years. Fundamental limits on hardware implementation and channel conditions limit the viability of the conventional option, the design of spectrally efficient systems (such as 4G LTE) in bands below 6 GHz. In order to achieve several Gb/s data-rates, the mm-wave spectrum enables the use of large bandwidths (e.g. 2 GHz) with simpler and low-cost modulation techniques, rather than relying on highly complex techniques, originally used to ensure a high spectral efficiency with smaller bandwidths. ***In addition, mm-wave bands ensure very high resolution for radars and other sensors. Automotive radar and imaging sensors can benefit of inherent advantages like weather independence and direct acquisition of range and velocity when compared to alternative sensors like video, laser and ultrasonic. Hot topics are also security and surveillance applications to identify weapons hidden under the clothing and for object detection which are not detected by conventional magnetometers. ***Technical challenges to be addressed today in the mm-wave research are unprecedented. The proposed program will take advantage of our research team's strong expertise in mm-wave circuits, systems, and interferometric techniques. Novel designs using large scale fabrication technologies, suitable for future ubiquitous applications, will be considered. ***The general objectives of this research program are: (i) to propose and to validate innovative and performant mm-wave transceiver architectures for emerging applications; (ii) to find new solutions for high energy efficiency and miniaturized front-end multi-chip integrated modules using low-cost fabrication technologies; (iii) to establish a permanent pool of highly qualified researchers at the INRS-EMT, for the development of RF technologies. ***Research efforts will be oriented towards the design of new system architectures, prototype transceiver fabrication using integrated technologies with innovative mm-wave components and advanced test-bench measurements. ***The new knowledge that will emerge from this program and the training of highly qualified personnel associated to the different stages of this work will certainly contribute to enhance Canada's global competitiveness in this high-technology sector. ***