Tunable RF devices for full duplex communication systems

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In traditional communication systems, the receive and transmit channels operate at different frequencies in Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) systems or at different time slots in Time Division Duplex (TDD) systems. The concept of Full Duplex (FD) allows the receive and transmit channels to operate at the same frequency and at the same time. The ability to operate at the same frequency would immensely benefit network operators to double channel capacity without the need for licensing of additional spectrum. However, one of the major challenges for the realization of full duplex systems is the leakage of the transmit power from the transmit channel to the receive channel, which can completely block the receiver operation. Therefore, a RF interference cancelation circuit needs to be implemented to reduce the leakage between the transmit and receiver channels to a manageable level. Such a circuit consists of a tunable impedance marching network, phase shifters, tunable delay line networks and variable attenuators. Tunability is needed since the interference is dynamic in nature, requiring the RF interference cancelation circuit to be able to adapt to environmental changes. The proposal deals with the use of novel technologies such as Phase Change Materials (PCM) and Silicon on Insulator Electro-Mechanical Micro-Systems (SOI-MEMS) for the development of the various components needed to create the RF interference circuit. The industrial partner, Redline Communications is a multinational wireless communication networks designer and manufacturer headquartered in Markham, Ontario. The project will help to train several graduate students and post-doctoral fellows in the fields of RF engineering and wireless communication systems.