Beamforming ICs with variable gain phase shifters for millimeter-wave communication and wireless power transmission

Abstract

In the wireless RF system, the frequency and range of applications are limited due to the path loss characteristics of electromagnetic waves. Phased array antennas significantly improve EIRP to overcome path loss. To reduce the side-lobe components, which could interfere with other applications, and calibrate the mismatch between channels, gain control, and high phase resolution are required to beamforming chip.In this dissertation, beamforming ICs for high EIRP systems are presented based on the proposed high-resolution variable gain phase shifter that minimizes the design complexity of the RF domain. A K-band four-channel beamforming front-end IC for backhaul communication was designed, including a phase shifter with the proposed RC-RL PPF, a power amplifier, channel/antenna switches, and a low noise amplifier. And a four-channel C-band beamforming transmitter IC for wireless power transmission was designed with a ground inductance canceling Wilkinson power divider.