A Multiband/Multistandard 15-57 GHz Receive Phased-Array Module Based on 4 × 1 Beamformer IC and Supporting 5G NR FR2 Operation

• Published in: IEEE transactions on microwave theory and techniques 2022-03, Vol.70 (3), p.1732-1744
• Main Authors: Alhamed, Abdulrahman, Kazan, Oguz, Gultepe, Gokhan, Rebeiz, Gabriel M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 5G mobile communication; Amplification; Amplifiers; Antenna arrays; Array signal processing; Beamformer; Beamforming; Circuit design; data link; error vector magnitude (EVM); fifth generation (5G); flip-chip; Frequency ranges; Frequency response; Gain; Integrated circuits; millimeter wave (mm-wave); Modules; multiband; Noise levels; Noise measurement; Phase shifters; phased array; Phased arrays; printed circuit board (PCB); Quadrature amplitude modulation; quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM); receiver; Sidelobes; SiGe; Silicon germanides; Silicon germanium; Ultrawideband; Variable gain; Vivaldi antenna; Wideband
• ISSN: 0018-9480; 1557-9670
• DOI: 10.1109/TMTT.2021.3136256

This work presents a 15-57 GHz multiband/ multistandard phased-array architecture for the fifth-generation (5G) new radio (NR) frequency range 2 (FR2) bands. An eight-element phased-array receive module is demonstrated based on two four-channel wideband beamformer chips designed in the SiGe BiCMOS process and flipped on a low-cost printed circuit board. The SiGe Rx chip employs RF beamforming and is designed to interface to a wideband differential Vivaldi antenna array. Each channel consists of a low-noise amplifier (LNA), active phase shifter with 5-bit resolution, variable gain amplifier (VGA), and differential-to-single-ended stage. The four channels are combined using a wideband two-stage on-chip Wilkinson network. The beamformer has a peak electronic gain of 24-25 dB and a 4.7-6.2 dB noise figure (NF) with a −29 to −24 dBm input P_{\boldsymbol {1\,dB}} at 20-40 GHz. The eight-element phased-array module also achieved ultra-wideband frequency response with flat gain and low-system NF. The phased array scans ±55° with < -12 -dB sidelobes demonstrating multiband operation. A 1.2-m over-the-air (OTA) link measurement using the eight-element Rx module supports 400-MHz 256-QAM OFDMA modulation with < 2.76% error vector magnitude (EVM) at multiple 5G NR FR2 bands. To the author's knowledge, this work achieves the widest bandwidth phased array enabling the construction of multistandard systems.