Advanced Integrated Antenna Systems for Future Wireless Terminals

第五代(5G)无线通信将利用多种技术实现与其前身(即4G)相比预期的1000倍的信道容量增长。毫米波(mm波)频段的使用将允许较大的带宽，从而增强信道容量。毫米波无线通信的缺点是由于操作频率较高而导致过多的信号传播损耗。为了解决这个问题，将使用天线阵。在小型设备中集成天线阵列将在架构、集成、性能和尺寸方面面临几个挑战。一种用于毫米波段小尺寸5G无线终端的高度集成的天线阵列的潜在解决方案是将它们集成在集成电路(IC)封装(封装中的天线-AIP)或其上(封装上的天线-AOP)中。AIP和AOP的概念还相对较新，针对性能、大小、复杂性和集成度的新型解决方案仍有待研究，远未准备好在商业终端中使用。在这个研究项目中，我们将提出和研究几种新型的集成天线系统设计和解决方案，这些设计和解决方案利用具有多输入多输出(MIMO)功能的AIP和AOP阵列架构，在毫米波具有增强的能力和性能，适用于未来的5G无线终端和使能设备。我们将覆盖几个标准频段，如28 GHz、38 GHz和60 GHz。这项工作将利用多种技术和新颖的天线系统概念来获得辐射方向图的可重构和控制，以及高增益和高效率来克服信号路径损耗。将射频(RF)电子与AIP或AOP相结合，将为未来具有增强功能的无线终端提供更紧凑的解决方案。该计划将培训学生，让他们接触到最先进的工具和设计方法，并将教给他们工作所需的技能。它还将涉及技术和知识转让，以及封装天线设计、毫米波MIMO阵列和与RFIC集成的新的先进综合方法和解决方案。这种设计将在未来的无线设备中发挥巨大作用，并将对未来的集成技术产生显著影响。这项工作符合电气和计算机工程重点领域(1510)下的NSERC计划，目标是电磁学和微/纳米技术(ENE04)，并将提供集成天线、其馈电结构、性能增强方法、天线元件和控制电子设备的系统级解决方案。该计划的结果和解决方案将直接影响到无线手持设备到2021年将拥有75%的市场份额，以及加拿大500%的数据速率需求增加，并为5G技术带来的400亿美元GDP做出贡献。

The fifth generation (5G) of wireless communications will utilize several technologies to achieve the anticipated 1000 times increase in channel capacity compared to its predecessor (i.e. 4G). The use of millimeter-wave (mm-wave) bands will allow large bandwidths and thus channel capacity enhancement. The drawback of wireless communications at mm-waves is the excess signal propagation loss due to the high frequency of operation. To overcome this issue, antenna arrays will be utilized. Integrating antenna arrays within small form factor devices will have several challenges in terms of architecture, integration, performance and size. One potential solution to have highly integrated antenna arrays for 5G wireless terminals with small size at mm-wave bands is to integrate them in/within the integrated circuits (IC) package (antenna in package - AiP) or on it (antenna on package - AoP). The concept of AiP and AoP is still relatively new, and novel solutions targeting performance, size, complexity and integration are still to be investigated and are far from being ready for use in commercial terminals. In this research program, we will propose and investigate several novel integrated antenna system designs and solutions with enhanced capabilities and performance at the mm-wave utilizing the AiP and AoP array architectures with multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capabilities for future 5G wireless terminals and enabled devices. We will cover several standard frequency bands such as 28GHz, 38GHz and 60GHz. The work will utilize several technologies and novel antenna system concepts to obtain radiation pattern reconfigurability and control as well as high gain and efficiency to overcome the signal path losses. Integrating the radio-frequency (RF) electronics with the AiP or AoP will provide more compact solutions for future wireless terminals with enhanced features. The program will train students and expose them to state of the art tools and design methods and will give them the skills needed for the workplace. It will also involve technology and knowledge transfer along with novel advanced integrated methods and solutions of in/on package antenna designs, MIMO arrays at mm-waves and integration with RFICs. Such designs will be of great use in future wireless devices and will have noticeable impact on future integrated technologies. This work fits within the NSERC programs under the Electrical and Computer Engineering focus area (1510) targeting Electromagnetics and Micro/nano-technology (ENE04) and will provide system level solutions of integrated antennas, their feeding structures, performance enhancement methods, antenna elements and controlling electronics all within the same package. The outcomes and solutions from this program will have a direct impact on the 75% market share that wireless handheld devices will possess by 2021 along with Canada's 500% data rate increased demand and contributing to the $40 Billion GDP coming from 5G technology.