Development of Test & Measurement Instrumentation for 5G ...
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www.vadiodes.com Development of Test & Measurement Instrumentation for 5G and Beyond 1 Dr. Jeffrey L. Hesler CTO Virginia Diodes Inc., Charlottesville, VA, USA
Transcript of Development of Test & Measurement Instrumentation for 5G ...
www.vadiodes.com
Development of Test & Measurement Instrumentation for 5G and Beyond
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Dr. Jeffrey L. Hesler
CTOVirginia Diodes Inc.,
Charlottesville, VA, USA
www.vadiodes.com
This Presentation• Introduction
– THz Applications
– Schottky Diode Technology
• Schottky-Based THz Heterodyne Transceiver Components
– THz Signal Generation
– THz Signal Detection
– Generation/Detection of Wideband Modulated Signals at THz
• Conclusions
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www.vadiodes.com
Applications Above 100GHz
• Basic Science – the primary driver
– Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Fusion Plasma, Earth Observation, …
Fusion Plasma (e.g. ITER)
Radio Astronomy
ALMA / NRAO
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Project Ice-Cube - 874 GHz Cube Satellite • Led by NASA-GSFC
(Wang et al)
• Goal: Measurement of ice clouds
– Weather forecasting
• 874 GHz Receiver
– Tmix 4000 K (DSB)
– DC Power 3.5 W
874 GHz Receiver
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Applications Above 100GHz
• Basic Science – the primary driver
– Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Fusion Plasma, Earth Observation, …
Fusion Plasma (e.g. ITER)
Radio Astronomy
ALMA / NRAO
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Applications Above 100GHz
• Basic Science – the primary driver
– Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Fusion Plasma, Earth Observation, …
• Applications are coming
– Concealed Weapons Detection
– Collision Avoidance Radar
– Detection of Chem./Bio. Hazards
– Wideband & Secure Communications
– Medical Diagnostics
– Weather Forecasting
– …
Concealed Weapons Detection
De Lucia (OSU) – 2010 JMS
Chem/Bio Detection
Thruvision
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• 8x8 line of sight MIMO with 2.5 GHz channel bandwidth in E-Band
• https://www.ericsson.com/en/press-releases/2019/5/deutsche-telekom-and-ericsson-top-100gbps-over-microwave-link
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Communications above 100 GHz
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Ericsson 2017
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Frequency Allocation
Ericsson 2017
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Transistor Technology
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Ericsson 2017
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Recent International Developments• World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) 2019
concluded in November in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
• Before WRC 2019 there were not allocations above 275 GHz
• Allocations made for fixed and mobile for: 275-296 GHz, 306-313 GHz, 318-333 GHz and 356-450 GHz
• Resolution made for a study plan for ITU-R for increased sharing above 71 GHz. Bands of interest include 100 - 102 GHz, 116 - 122.25 GHz, 148.5 - 151.5 GHz, 174.8 - 191.8 GHz, 226 - 231.5 GHz and 235 - 238 GHz
• Note that we are in the early stages, with product not estimated to appear before 2030…
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Applications Above 100GHz
• Basic Science – the primary driver
– Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Fusion Plasma, Earth Observation, …
• Applications are coming
– Concealed Weapons Detection
– Collision Avoidance Radar
– Detection of Chem./Bio. Hazards
– Wideband & Secure Communications
– Medical Diagnostics
– Weather Forecasting
– …
Concealed Weapons Detection
De Lucia (OSU) – 2010 JMS
Chem/Bio Detection
Thruvision
www.vadiodes.com
Test & Measurement above 100 GHz
• General Test & Measurement Equipment
– Required for the development of the instruments that will drive all of these applications
• The test & measurement equipment needs to be better than the devices/instruments being tested
– Better in terms of bandwidth, distortion, intermodulation, power, …
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www.vadiodes.com
This Presentation• Introduction
– THz Applications
– Schottky Diode Technology
• Schottky-Based THz Heterodyne Transceiver Components
– THz Signal Generation
– THz Signal Detection
– Generation/Detection of Wideband Modulated Signals at THz
• Conclusions
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www.vadiodes.com
Virginia Diodes Inc.
• VDI is a small, high technology company focused on the emerging field of Terahertz Technology
– Advanced scientific base, emerging new applications, and THz Test & Measurement…
• Look at the core technology behind VDI
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• Microwave technology developed for large scale commercial applications
– Communications (Satellite, Point-to-Point, Personal)
– Radar
VDI Core Technology: Use nonlinear devices to extend the frequency range of traditional microwave electronics
X3
Microwave Technology
X840
GHz
16.7 GHz 320
GHz
40
GHz
1.5W 50mW
Triquint
Herley-CTI
VDI Technology
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Example: mmWave Base Technology
• Qorvo 2W 30-40 GHz Amp
• Chip developed for Radar and Satellite Communications
– Chip size 2.5x3 mm
• The same chip can be used to drive THz multiplier chains
– 2 W at 30-40 GHz
– 0.75 W at 70 GHz
– 200 mW at 140 GHz
– etc…
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Example: Herley-CTI Synthesizer• Fast-switching synthesizers
– Very narrow linewidths
• Hertz widths are possible even at THz
• Allow narrowband filtering to reduce noise
• 14 GHz → Phase noise -107 dBc/Hz @ 1 kHz offset
– Compact and ruggedized
• THz multipliers can extend synthesizers to > 3 THz
– Phase noise rises upon frequency multiplication by 20*log(N)
– Can achieve excellent THz phase noise
• e.g. 1 THz → -70 dBc/Hz @ 1 kHz offset
www.aspen-electronics.com/files/CTI/XS.pdf
100 mm
www.telestrian.co.uk/phasenoise.html20
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Microwave Test & Measurement
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Signal Generator
Spectrum Analyzer
Highspeed Oscilloscopes
Arbitrary Waveform Generator
Vector Network Analyzer
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VDI Core Technology: Use nonlinear devices to extend the frequency range of traditional microwave electronics
X3
Microwave Technology VDI Technology
X840
GHz
16.7 GHz 320
GHz
40
GHz
1.5W 50mW
Schottky Diode Frequency Doubler
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• Metal-semiconductor junction
– Majority carrier device
– Cutoff frequencies well into the THz
– Room temperature operation
– Improves with cooling
• Diode is well modeled by relatively simple quasi-static I-V and C-V equations
• Well-developed fabrication technology
– Air-bridge used to reduce capacitance
• Low capacitance is key for THz
Schottky Diodes
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• Planar SchottkyDiodes
– Mechanically rugged
– Photolithographic reproducibility
• Integration of Diode with Coupling Circuitry
– Operation to higher frequencies (>3 THz)
– More repeatable assembly
VDI Planar Diode Fabrication Technology
Flip-chip Planar Diode
Integrated Planar Diodes
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This Presentation• Introduction
– THz Applications
– Schottky Diode Technology
• Schottky-Based THz Heterodyne Transceiver Components
– THz Signal Generation
– THz Signal Detection
– Generation/Detection of Wideband Modulated Signals at THz
• Conclusions
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Power from Solid State Sources
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http://www.vadiodes.com/images/AppNotes/ApplicationNote-SummaryofSolid-StateSources.pdf
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Signal Generation Using Schottky Diodes
• Use the nonlinearity of the Schottky diode to generate harmonics of a lower frequency signal
– Use either nonlinear variable capacitance or resistance
FINFOUT=N*FIN
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Schottky Diode Frequency Multipliers• Careful choice of circuit
configuration
– Anti-series diode configuration
– Balanced design allows for broad bandwidth and high efficiency
– Spatial mode filtering between harmonics
• Multiple diodes for increased power handling
Diode Multiplier
Porterfield et al (MTT, 1999)
Balanced Circuit Topology
FINFOUT=N*FIN
FIN 2*FIN
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Schottky Diode Frequency Multipliers• Careful choice of circuit
configuration
– Anti-series diode configuration
– Balanced design allows for broad bandwidth and high efficiency
– Spatial mode filtering between harmonics
• Multiple diodes for increased power handling
Diode Multiplier
Porterfield et al (MTT, 1999)
Balanced Circuit Topology
FINFOUT=N*FIN
FIN 2*FIN
3*FIN2*FINFIN
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Signal Generation Using Schottky Diodes
X2100
GHz
200
GHz
Diode Multiplier
Frequency Doubler
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Amplified Multiplier Chains
• Combination of amplifiers and multipliers
• Nearly all the power in a single tone
– Spectral purity achieved using filtering and balanced designs
S
w Nw
x2 xM
Pow
er
Frequency
w Nw
Amp MultiplierSynthesizer
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THz Signal Generator Extenders (SGX)
• Synthesizer Extender to THz
– Turn-key Source
– Tunerless, instantaneous sweeping over > 40% bandwidth
• State-of-the-art Output Power
– Standard units to 1.1 THz
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xM xN
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This Presentation• Introduction
– THz Applications
– Schottky Diode Technology
• Schottky-Based THz Heterodyne Transceiver Components
– THz Signal Generation
– THz Signal Detection
– Generation/Detection of Wideband Modulated Signals at THz
• Conclusions
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www.vadiodes.com
Signal Detection Using Schottky Diodes
• Use the nonlinearity of the Schottky diode to mix a local oscillator signal with a THz signal
RF
LO
IF=RF-LO
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Signal Detection Using Schottky Diodes
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RF
LO
IF=RF-2*LO
0
500
1000
1500
2000
100 120 140 160 180
Tm
ix (
K)
(DS
B)
Frequency (GHz)
Measured Performance of WR-6.5SHM
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874 GHz Mixer for IceCube
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THz Spectrum Analyzer Extenders
Pow
er
Frequency
• Clean LO generated to drive mixer – single tone
– Filtering and balanced designs
• Mixing between high frequency LO and RF
– IF = RF +/- LO
S x2 x3 XLO/N LO RF
IF=RF - LO
LO/NLO
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THz Spectrum Analyzer Extenders• Sophisticated instrument to
analyze microwave signals
– Spectral purity
– Phase noise
– Communication Signal Demodulation
– …
• A core microwave test capability
– Along with sources and vector network analyzers
• Can be extended to THz using the Schottky technology
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VDI Spectrum Analyzer Extenders (SAX’s)
• Fullband down-conversion and frequency extension of microwave spectrum analyzers into the THz range
– Banded coverage from 75GHz-1,100GHz
– IF Bandwidth up to 40 GHz
– DANL 150 dBm/Hz to 750 GHz
• 135 dBm/Hz to 1.1 THz
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625 GHz Spectral Measurement
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Phase Noise Measurement at 700 GHz
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This Presentation• Introduction
– THz Applications
– Schottky Diode Technology
• Schottky-Based THz Heterodyne Transceiver Components
– THz Signal Generation
– THz Signal Detection
– Generation/Detection of Wideband Modulated Signals at THz
• Conclusions
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www.vadiodes.com
Block Downconversion
IF
LORF
fIF (GHz)
P(d
Bm
)
100 5
• Preserves signal modulation• Useful as receiver for Tx
development• ~10GHz IF BW available at
E-band• DownConversion is DSB• Useful for spectrum mask
measurements
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fRF
(GHz)
P(d
Bm
)
LO*N + 100 LO*NLO*N – 10
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Block Upconversion
IF
LORF
fIF (GHz)
P(d
Bm
)
100 5
• Preserves signal modulation• UpConversion is DSB• LSB can be filtered• Useful as source for Rx
development• Channel characterization
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fRF
(GHz)
P(d
Bm
)
LO*N + 100 LO*NLO*N –10
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Block Upconversion
IF
LORF
fIF (GHz)
P(d
Bm
)
100 5
• Preserves signal modulation• UpConversion is DSB• LSB can be filtered• Useful as source for Rx
development• Channel characterization
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fRF
(GHz)
P(d
Bm
)
LO*N + 100 LO*NLO*N –10
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VDI SAX-UP for Comm Applications
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VDI BPF
VDI AmpxN
LO InputHigh Freq.
IF Input
SignalGenerator
SignalGenerator
Block Up-Conversion
• Can be used to upconvert or downconvert wide band modulated signals
• The double side band nature of the device makes filtering necessary• VDI has developed a set of waveguide filters and amplifiers to be
used for these applications
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Bandpass Filters for Comm Links
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P/N Waveguide Size Pass Band (GHz) -40dB Points (GHz)
WR12BPF59.5-61.6 WR12 59.5-61.5 59.1 & 62.8
WR12BPF71-76 WR12 71-76 70.3 & 77.7
WR12BPF81-86 WR12 81-86 79.2 & 89.3
WR6.5BPF152-162 WR6.5 152-162 147.5 & 166.75
• Low pass band insertion loss (<1dB)• High out of band rejection (~100dB)• Sharp band edges• Custom filters can be produced
-120
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
65 70 75 80 85 90 95
dB
Frequency(GHz)
VDIE-BandFiltersMeasuredPerformance
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560 GHz Bandpass Filter
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VDI SAX-UP for Comm Applications
2/19/202049
VDI BPF
VDI AmpxN
LO InputHigh Freq.
IF Input
SignalGenerator
SignalGenerator
Block Up-Conversion
• Can be used to upconvert or downconvert wide band modulated signals
• The double side band nature of the device makes filtering necessary• VDI has developed a set of waveguide filters and amplifiers to be
used for these applications
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Medium Power Waveguide Amplifiers
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Recent Development at VDI
– WR12 (60-90 GHz) to WR4.3 (170-260 GHz) with WR15 (50-75 GHz) under development.
– High gain and saturated output power.
– Full waveguide band coverage.
– Single voltage bias.
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270
Sa
tura
ted
Ou
tpu
t P
ow
er
(dB
m)
Ga
in (
dB
)
Frequency (GHz)
VDI Waveguide Amplifier Performance
WR12, Gain WR10, Gain WR6.5, Gain WR4.3, Gain
WR12, Power WR10, Power WR6.5, Power WR4.3, Power
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SAX: Communications Example• Simulated radio for signal with 2 GHz modulation
bandwidth
– Mixer IF centered at 5 GHz
• Allows separation between upper and lower sidebands for filtering
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Compact Up and Down Converters
• Virginia Diodes offers compact converters (CCs) for frequency up and down-conversion.
• These mixers are easy to use and well suited for high performance up and down conversion of wide band modulated millimeter-wave signals.
• They also offer excellent conversion loss and noise temperature performance.
• VDI CCs offer full waveguide band coverage and are available from WR15 (50-75 GHz) to WR-5.1 with higher frequency CCs under development.
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CC Configurations
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5 GHz Modulation Width: Filtered
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Demodulation of filtered signal, measured at down-converter output:
➢802.11ad MCS1 signal 2 GHz BW at 5 GHz IF carrier, π/2 shifted-BPSK modulation
➢Up-converter LO: 12.1667 GHz (73 GHz after mixing) at 2 dBm➢Down-converter LO: 11.5833 GHz (69.5 GHz after mixing) at 2 dBm➢Optimizations performed (including equalizer)
Sub 1% EVM has been achieved
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Automotive Radar
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5G/6G
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154GHz Comm Link
x6
WR12SGXWR6.5SHM-HP
P1dB ~5dBm input,~12dB SSB Lc
9-11GHz<-5dBm
153-155GHz-17dBm est. x6
9-11GHz<-13dBm
12GHz10dBm
WR6.5SAX8dB
12dB
25dB
12GHz10dBm- Standard/versatile VDI modules with
modular components are used as the frequency converters for this demo.
- High power upconverting mixer, RF Sideband filter and RF LNA make this possible.
- Integration of these modules to compact designs has been demonstrated.
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VDI 140 GHz Comm-Link Demo
• Shown in operation at the Brooklyn 5G Summit in 2019
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Summary
• Terahertz technology is an emerging field with many established applications in basic science, as well as a host of commercial applications that are now under development.
• A primary need is fast, convenient and accurate Test & Measurement tools.
– “If you can measure it, you can improve it”
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