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

天线阵列是一种自20世纪初以来一直存在的通信技术。通过适当地组合天线接收到的信号，阵列的有效辐射方向图（或波束）在期望的方向上得到加强，同时拒绝来自其他方向的信号。第五代（5G）无线系统将利用宽带天线阵列来实现更高的网络容量和多用户通信。最近开放的28GHz和39GHz频谱针对即将到来的5G系统，并支持大量其他应用，如室内定位、回程系统、成像和雷达。该计划将通过专注于新颖的波束形成方法来开发创新的波束形成技术，这些方法将通过微电子集成电路（ic）进行实验验证。与大多数其他天线阵列波束形成解决方案采用的模拟相和或延迟和方法不同，该计划将重点放在多维波束形成上，从而实现更复杂的波束形成传递函数，从而在波束带宽、方向和方向方面提供额外的自由度。该项目的长期目标是基于在发现基金支持下创建的创新技术开发完全集成的多波束宽带5G接收器。实现这一目标的预期影响是展示解决方案，这些解决方案将使5G和其他系统变得可行，并更适应其环境。在未来5年，该计划将重点关注：a)开发能够形成大量宽带、可操纵和平行射频波束的多波束形成系统；B)开发基于天线阵列的多端口接收系统，与传统的多元素阵列接收器不同，该系统基于物理限制的阵列操作；c)开发用于天线阵列的多端口模数转换器。这三个研究重点无疑将导致系统和子系统层面的其他创新。实际验证将需要创新的低功耗和低IC面积消耗的信号产生和分配系统。同样，如果要将有源多天线阵列解决方案集成到单个IC中，则低功耗和小面积接收器和模数转换器是必要的。我们的研究团队已经在这些领域展示了创新解决方案，并将继续创新。由发现基金支持的HQP将学习尖端的波束形成和电路技术，他们将使用这些技术来开发新技术，他们将通过设计和制造电路来验证他们的想法，并在我们的实验室进行实验验证。该计划将为他们未来在加拿大半导体行业和学术界的就业做好准备。

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.