Integrated Circuits for Radio-Frequency Multi-Beam Beamformers and Receivers

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Antenna arrays are a communications technology that has been around since the early 20th century. By properly combining signals received by antennas, the effective radiation pattern (or beam) of the array is reinforced in a desired direction while rejecting signals from other directions. Fifth-generation (5G) wireless systems will utilize wideband antenna arrays to allow for higher network capacities and multi-user communication. The recently opened frequency spectra around 28GHz and 39GHz target upcoming 5G systems and enable a plethora of other applications, such as indoor location, backhaul systems, imaging, and radar. This program will develop innovative beamforming technologies by focusing on novel beamforming methods, which will be experimentally demonstrated via microelectronic integrated circuits (ICs). Unlike analog phase-and-sum or delay-and-sum approaches that have been adopted by the majority of other antenna-array beamforming solutions, this program will focus on multi-dimensional beamformers that enable more sophisticated beamforming transfer functions, thereby providing an additional degree of freedom in terms of beam bandwidth, orientation, and pattern. This program's long-term goal is to develop a fully integrated multi-beam broadband 5G receiver based on innovative technologies created with the support of the Discovery Grant. The anticipated impact of reaching this goal is the demonstration of solutions that will make 5G and other systems feasible and more adaptable to their environments. Over the next 5 years, this program will focus on: a) developing multi-beam beamformer systems capable of forming a large number of wideband, steerable, and parallel radio-frequency beams; b) developing antenna-array-based multi-port receiver systems that, unlike conventional multi-element array receivers, are based on physics-limited array operation; and c) developing multi-port analog-to-digital converters for antenna arrays. These three research thrusts will undoubtedly lead to other innovations at the system and sub-system levels. Practical validation will require innovative signal-generation and distribution systems that are low power and consume low IC area. Similarly, low-power and small-area receivers and analog-to-digital converters are necessary for active multi-antenna-array solutions if they are to be integrated into a single IC. Our research team has demonstrated innovative solutions in these fields and will continue on the path of innovation. The HQP supported by the Discovery Grant will learn cutting-edge beamforming and circuit techniques, which they will use to develop new technologies, and they will validate their ideas by designing and fabricating circuits, and experimentally verifying them in our laboratory. This program will prepare them for future employment in the Canadian semiconductor industry and academia.