SBIR Phase I: 256 QAM Modem Supporting 10 Gb/s Radio

这项小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目支持开发一种能够利用现有新兴毫米波（mm-Wave）频谱的正交幅度调制（QAM）调制器-解调器（Modem）。与低频率分配不同，宽可用带宽能够通过使用复杂的调制方案支持超过1Gb/s的数据速率。尽管这种调制解调器适用于许多日常使用的标准产品，但没有一种能够按比例扩展到接近10Gb/s的数据速率，而且毫米波信道的特性也没有在其设计中得到满足。该项目的目标是建立这样一个调制解调器的可行性和指导未来的发展，同时充分考虑到毫米波通信链路中重要的信道特性，通过在高抽象水平上对系统进行彻底建模，然后用现有的现场可编程门阵列（FPGA）技术实例化数字子系统。这将形成一条清晰的无线电发展道路，并具有扩展能力。该项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力集中在增进对毫米波频谱的了解和利用，以及因此促进的技术和市场。随着对通道效应和数字信号处理算法的更好理解，用于处理它们的固件和硬件；在整个毫米波范围内的工作是辅助的。此外，毫米波产品中使用的大部分半导体技术还处于起步阶段，因此进行的任何表征都将对指导未来的发展具有重要价值。作为一个完整的产品，使用这种先进调制解调器的无线电将允许在世界任何地方快速、经济地部署运营商和企业级10gb /s无线数据通信，并将侵入性物理中断降到最低。在一些目前运行1gb /s毫米波链路的网络中，当现有链路被超额订阅时，扩展到更高的数据速率是很容易的。其他潜在的应用包括高光谱测量平台；空中的或太空的在任何需要极高数据速率的地方，与硬连线选项相比，这种无线电可以实现快速部署和加速投资回报，并且在某些情况下将为移动平台提供唯一的解决方案。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project supports the development of a Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) Modulator-Demodulator (Modem) able to exploit existing emerging millimeter-Wave (mm-Wave) spectrum. Unlike lower frequency allocations, wide available bandwidths are capable of supporting data-rates in excess of 1Gb/s by using complex modulation schemes. Though such Modems exist for a multitude of standard products found in everyday use, none are capable of being scaled for use at data-rates approaching 10Gb/s and characteristics of mm-Wave channels have not been accommodated in their design. The objective of this project is to establish the feasibility and direct the future development of such a Modem while taking into full account the channel characteristics important in an mm-Wave communications link, by thoroughly modeling the system at a high level of abstraction, then instantiating the digital subsystem with existing Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology. This would result in a clear radio development path, with the ability to scale.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project center on the improved understanding and utilization of mm-Wave spectrum and the technologies and markets facilitated therefore. With an improved understanding of channel effects and the Digital Signal Processing algorithms, firmware and hardware used to deal with them; work throughout the mm-Wave range is aided. Furthermore, much of the semiconductor technology used in mm-Wave product is in its infancy, so any characterization performed would be of great value in directing future development. As a complete product, the radios using such an advanced Modem would allow fast, cost effective deployment of Carrier and Enterprise Class 10 GB/s wireless data communications anywhere in the world with a minimum of invasive physical disruption. In some networks presently running with 1 GB/s mm-Wave links, scaling to greater data-rates when the existing link has been over-subscribed is facilitated. Other potential applications include use in hyperspectral survey platforms; airborne or space borne. Anywhere extremely high data-rates are needed such radios would enable fast deployment and accelerated Return-on-Investment when compared to hardwired options, and in some cases would provide the only solution for mobile platforms.