Calibrated and Wideband Vector Signal Generation and Analysis Using Vector Network Analyser

全球信息和通信技术的新时代正在改变现代景观，推动世界走向工业5.0数字革命。新的、迄今无法想象的服务将很快需要完全集成的、跨越地面、车载、空中和航空航天通信技术的全球连接。为了支持这一转变，毫米波和亚太赫兹（MMW/ST）通信技术（MSCT）是通过这些服务实现无缝、快速、可靠、准确和节能传输前所未有的数据量的关键。然而，MSCT优势的充分实现不仅取决于应用层创新解决方案的成功开发，还取决于能否获得可行的物理层解决方案。具体而言，对实时数字信号处理（RT-DSP）、毫米波/ST收发器和天线阵列的组件级物理层MSCT研究通常不考虑集成后系统级的性能，因此无法引导设计反馈过程来迭代提高系统性能。申请人要求校准和宽带MMW/ST矢量信号生成和分析测量能力，以增强滑铁卢现有的矢量网络分析仪。通过满足以下要求，这将形成一个全面的表征系统，用于毫米波/ST频率下的物理层研究：i)原生频率范围高达67 GHz，使用现有的频率扩展器扩展到330 GHz； ii)带宽高达6 GHz的高质量矢量信号生成和分析；iii)多个表征域；iv)单端和差分连接；v)至少2个输入和2个输出之间的时间和相位一致性。这些将允许对毫米波/ST物理层研究必不可少的各种类型的测量，包括i)天线元件/阵列的散射参数和辐射特性，ii)收发器构建块的散射参数、失真特性、相位噪声和噪声系数，iii)室内和室外信道响应和统计，以及iv)信号质量和遵从性特性。所要求的测量能力将是加拿大首个此类测量能力，支持对未来通信技术和物理层MSCT的前沿研究和支持，从RT-DSP算法到收发器硬件和基带到次太赫兹。此外，所要求的功能将有助于表征用于6G系统的毫米波/ST频率的传播信道，这是目前正在研究的研究领域。他们还将有助于获得培训高素质人才的核心技能和知识，确保加拿大工业，如通信服务提供商、卫星和电信设备制造商、测试和测量解决方案提供商有机会获得高技能劳动力。

A new age of global information and communication technology is transforming the modern landscape, propelling the world toward industry's 5.0 digital revolution. New and, as yet, unimagined services will soon require fully integrated and global connectivity spanning terrestrial, vehicular, aerial, and aerospace communication technologies. To support this shift, millimeter-wave and sub-terahertz (MMW/ST) communication technology (MSCT) are key to unlocking seamless, fast, reliable, accurate, and power-efficient transmission of unprecedented volumes of data by these services. Yet, the full realization of the MSCT benefits is conditional not only to the successful development of innovative solutions at the application layers, but also on the access to viable physical layer solutions. Specifically, component-level physical layer MSCT research into real-time digital signal processing (RT-DSP), MMW/ST transceivers, and antenna arrays does not often consider performance at the system level after their integration and thus cannot steer the design feedback process to iteratively improve system performance. The applicants request calibrated and wideband MMW/ST vector signal generation and analysis measurement capabilities to augment an existing vector network analyser at Waterloo. This will form a comprehensive characterization system for research into physical layer at MMW/ST frequencies by meeting the requirements for i) native frequency range up to 67 GHz with extension to 330 GHz using existing frequency extenders, ii) high-quality vector signal generation and analysis with bandwidth of up to 6 GHz, iii) multiple characterization domains, iv) single-ended and differential connectivity, v) time and phase coherency between at least 2 inputs and 2 outputs. These will allow diverse types of measurements essential to MMW/ST physical-layer research including i) scattering parameters and radiation-characteristics of antenna elements/arrays, ii) scattering parameters, distortion characteristics, phase noise, and noise figure of the transceivers building blocks, iii) indoor and outdoor channel response and statistics, and iv) signal quality and compliance characteristics. The requested measurement capabilities will be the first of its kind in Canada, enabling cutting edge research and support into future communication technology and physical layer MSCT, from RT-DSP algorithms to transceiver hardware and baseband to sub-terahertz. Further, the requested capabilities will help characterize propagation channels at MMW/ST frequencies to be used for 6G systems, an area of research currently under studied. They will also contribute to the acquisition of core skills and knowledge in the training of highly qualified personnel, ensuring Canadian industry, such as communication service providers, satellite and telecommunications equipment manufacturers, test and measurement solution providers have access to highly-skilled labor.