This paper introduces a wireless-powered relay transceiver designed to extend 5G millimeter-wave coverage. It employs an on-chip butler matrix, enabling beam control-free operation. The prototype includes PCB array antennas and on-chip butler matrix and rectifiers manufactured using a Si CMOS 65 nm process. The relay transceiver performs effectively in beam angles from -45° to 45°. In the 24 GHz wireless power transmission (WPT) mode, it generates 0.12 mW with 0 dBm total input power, boasting an RF-DC conversion efficiency of 12.2%. It also demonstrates communication performance at 28 GHz in both RX and TX modes with a 100 MHz bandwidth and 64QAM modulation.

In 5th generation (5G) and Beyond 5G mobile communication systems, it is expected that numerous antennas will be densely deployed to realize ultra-broadband communication and uniform coverage. However, as the number of antennas increases, total power consumption of all antennas will also increase, which leads to a negative impact on the environment and operating costs of telecommunication operators. Thus, it is necessary to simplify an antenna structure to suppress the power consumption of each antenna. On the other hand, as a way to realize ultra-broadband communication, millimeter waves will be utilized because they can transmit signals with a broader bandwidth than lower frequencies. However, since millimeter waves have a large propagation loss, a propagation distance is shorter than that of low frequencies. Therefore, in order to extend the propagation distance, it is necessary to increase an equivalent isotropic radiated power by beamforming with phased array antenna. In this paper, a phased antenna array module in combined with analog radio over fiber (A-RoF) technology for 40-GHz millimeter wave is developed and evaluated for the first time. An 8×8 phased array antenna for 40-GHz millimeter wave with integrated photodiodes and RF chains has been developed, and end-to-end transmission experiment including 20km A-RoF transmission and 3-m over-the-air transmission from the developed phased array antenna has been conducted. The results showed that the 40-GHz RF signal after the end-to-end transmission satisfied the criteria of 3GPP signal quality requirements within ±50 degrees of main beam direction.

The authors have proposed a new type of flexible and printable 12GHz-band phase shifter using polymer actuator for the first time. Polymer bending actuator was used as a termination device of a reflection-type 3-dB, 90° hybrid coupler as the phase-shift control unit which controls the electrical length of the waveguide for microwave signals by the applied bias voltage. The microstrip line circuit of the device has been fabricated using low-cost screen printing method. Polymer bending actuator having three-layer stacking structure, in which an ionic liquid electrolyte layer is sandwiched with two conductive network composite layers, was formed by wet processes. The authors have confirmed that the phase shift could be controlled in analog by low driving voltages of 2-7 V for the actuator with a insertion loss of 2.73 dB. This phase shifter can be integrated with flexible patch antenna and the current flexible polymer electronics devices such as transistors.

In order to meet various requirements for the 5th generation mobile communication, a high SHF wideband massive-MIMO system has been widely studied which offers wide system bandwidth and high spectral efficiency. A hybrid beamforming configuration which combines analog beamforming by APAA (Active Phased Array Antenna) and digital MIMO signal processing is one of the promising approaches for reducing the complexity and power consumption of the high SHF wideband massive-MIMO system. In order to realize the hybrid beamforming configuration in high SHF band, small size, low power consumption and precise beam forming over the wide-band frequency range are strongly required for RF frontend which constitutes analog beam former. In this paper, a compact RF frontend module for high SHF wideband 5G small cell base station is proposed. This RF frontend module is prototyped. Various key components of the RF frontend module are fabricated in 15GHz band, and measured results show that high RF performances are able to meet the requirements of RF frontend.

A 15GHz-band 4-channel transmit/receive RF core-chip is presented for high SHF wide-band massive MIMO in 5G. In order to realize small RF frontend for 5G base stations, both 6bit phase shifters (PS) and 0.25 dB resolution variable gain amplifiers (VGA) are integrated in TX and RX paths of 4-channels on the chip. A PS calibration technique is applied to compensate the error of 6bit PS caused by process variations. A common gate current steering topology with tail current control is used for VGA to enhance the gain control accuracy. The 15GHz-band RF core-chip fabricated in 65 nm CMOS process achieved phase control error of 1.9deg. rms., and amplitude control error of 0.23 dB. rms.

We propose a new configuration for phased array antennas. The proposal uses radiation pattern reconfigurable antennas as the antenna element to improve the gain on the scanning angle and to suppress the grating lobes of sparse phased array antennas. This configuration can reduce the element number because the desired gain of the total array can be achieved by using fewer elements. We demonstrate the concept by designing a radiation pattern reconfigurable Yagi-Uda antenna. PIN diode switches are added to the parasitic elements to change director and reflector. The switches of multiple array elements are concurrently controlled by just a single one-pair line. This control structure is simple and can be applied to large-scale arrays. The proposed antenna yields an element gain that almost matches the theoretical limit across about half the coverage, even if the element spacing is enlarged to 1λ. If the switch states are interchanged, the gain in the mirror direction can be increased. We design a 48-element array and compare its gain against those of normal dipole antennas. We also fabricate the proposed antenna and demonstrate radiation pattern switching.

Digital phase shifters are widely used to achieve space scanning in phased array antenna, and beam pointing accuracy depends on the bit number and resolution of the digital phase shifter. This paper proposes a novel phase feeding method to reduce the phase quantization error effects. A linear formula for the beam pointing deviation of a linear uniform array in condition of phase quantization error is derived, and the linear programming algorithm is introduced to achieve the minimum beam pointing deviation. Simulations are based on the pattern of the phased array, which gives each element a certain quantization phase error to find the beam pointing deviation. The novel method is then compared with previous methods. Examples show that a 32-element uniform linear array with 5-bit phase shifters using the proposed method can achieve a higher beam-steering accuracy than the same array with 11-bit phase shifters.

This paper proposes a simple and practical scheme to decide the direction of a phased array antenna beam in wireless access systems using Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) technique. The feasibility of the proposed scheme is confirmed by the optical and wireless transmission experiments using 2GHz RoF signals. In addition, two-dimensional steering operation in the millimeter-wave band is demonstrated for targeting future high-speed wireless communication systems. The required system parameters for practical use are also provided by investigating the induced transmission penalties. The proposed detection scheme is applicable to two-dimensional antenna beam steering in the millimeter-wave band by properly designing the fiber length and wavelength variable range.

In this paper, we propose a novel baseband (BB) phase shifter (PS) using a fixed-gain-amplifier (FGA) matrix. The proposed BB PS consists of 5 stages of a vector synthesis type FGA matrix with in-phase/quadrature-phase (I/Q) input/output interfaces. In order to achieve low gain variation between phase shift states, 3rd to 5th stages are designed to have a phase shift of +φi and -φi (i=3,4,5). To change between +φi and -φi phase shift states, two FGAs with DC bias in-phase/out-phase switches are used. The two FGAs have the same gain, therefore ideally no gain variation can be achieved. Using this configuration, phase shift error and gain variation caused by process mismatch and temperature variation can be reduced. Fabricated 5-bit BB PS has 3-dB bandwidth of 1.05GHz, root-mean-square (rms) phase errors lower than 2.2°, rms gain variations lower than 0.42dB. Power consumption of the PS core and output buffer are 4.9mW and 14.3mW, respectively. 1-dB compression output power is -12.5dBm. The fabricated PS shows that the total phase shift error and gain variation are within the required accuracy of a 5-bit PS with no requirement of calibration.

This paper proposes an easy-to-design, theory-consistent compact feeding circuit, with a single input and four outputs, being comprised of two hybrid circuits that are capable of switching a beam in three directions. The circuits that determine the phase differences between the antennas are present on the same single layer, and thus there is no effect of vias and the design agrees well with the underlying theory. In addition, the vertically and horizontally symmetrical circuit pattern contributes to a substantial reduction in design time. The circuit is designed for use in the ISM band and its properties are evaluated using an RF circuit simulator. A prototype is fabricated and evaluated. The results of the simulation and measurement agree well with the theoretical values. The dimensions of the feeding circuit are 75 (H)55 (W)3.0 (T) mm.

Microwave/millimeter-wave phase and amplitude characteristics of the optically controlled phased array antenna with a different SMF for each antenna feed were measured. Suitable phases for the beam steering can be realized by the adjustment of the LD wavelength independently with multiple SMFs. In addition to the phase, amplitude of each antenna feed can be controlled stably using LD current without phase variation. Furthermore, effectiveness of the calibration method of the phased array using multiple SMFs by LD wavelength adjustment is experimentally verified. Excellent microwave/millimeter-wave phase characteristics using 2- and 3-element optically controlled phased array feed were experimentally demonstrated with calibration of the phases. Phase characteristics of the array using multiple SMFs were also compared with that using a single SMF experimentally.

A variable phase shifter using a movable waffle iron metal plate comprised of iron rods a quarter-wavelength in length is proposed. A study of the waffle iron structure was carried out and the design method for creating a structure that would achieve large phase changes, small loss, and good isolation between adjacent phase shifters is discussed. Experiments on 1-port and 2-port phase shifters operating in the 5 GHz band show that they not only have low loss characteristics but also wide phase changes. Furthermore, the application to phased array antennas using the proposed phase shifter and its principle are demonstrated.

Satellite broadcasting in the 21-GHz band is expected to transmit large-capacity signals such as ultrahigh-definition TV. However, this band suffers from large amounts of rain attenuation. In this regard, we have been studying rain fading mitigation techniques, in which the radiation power is increased locally in the area of heavy rainfall. To design such a satellite broadcasting system, it is necessary to evaluate service availability when using the locally increased beam technique. The rain attenuation data should be derived from the rainfall rate data. We developed a method to transform rainfall rate into rain attenuation in the 21 GHz band. Then, we performed a simulation that applied the method to the analysis of the service availability for an example phased array antenna configuration. The results confirmed the service availability increased with the locally increased beam technique.

In this paper, the design of a mobile satellite Internet access (MSIA) system and a mobile broadband satellite access system, called Mobile Broadband Interactive Satellite Multimedia Access Technology System (MoBISAT) are presented. MSIA system provides Internet service, broadcasting, and digital A/V service in both fixed and mobile environments using Ku-band geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite. A Ku-band two-way active phased array antenna installed on top of the transportation vehicles can enable the transmission of signals to satellite as well as signal tracking and reception. The forward link and return link are a high speed Time Division Multiplex (TDM) and TDMA transmission media, respectively, both of which carry signaling and user traffic. The MoBISAT, which is a next generation mobile broadband satellite access system, provides both Ku-band satellite TV and Ka-band high-speed Internet to the passengers and crews for land, maritime, and air vehicles. This paper addresses the main technological solutions adopted for the implementation and test results for the MSIA system and the main design features of the MoBISAT system.

This paper reviews research and development on the phased array antennas (PAAs) for several applications in Japan in over past two decades. First, the author shows the historical overview of the PAA for radar, satellite and mobile communication uses. Next, this paper introduces analysis methods for the PAA. It shows mutual coupling analysis methods and pattern synthesis methods for the PAA. Furthermore, the author discusses measurement methods for the PAA. Especially, he explains the rotating-element electric-field vector (REV) method for the Japanese original PAA calibration method. Finally, the author concludes and shows future PAA technologies.

An optically controlled beamforming technique is a very effect procedure for phased array antenna control. We have built a Fourier optical processing beamforming network. In the optical processor, we use optical waveguide arrays and a GRIN micro lens in order to reduce the size and weight of the processor, optical coupling losses, mechanical destabilization, and optical alignment difficulties. This paper describes the characteristics of a one-dimensional Fourier optical processor, and shows the configurations of both its transmitting and receiving modes, which we have constructed. We demonstrate multiple signal generation, and beam steering for transmission in the X-band. Furthermore, we configure the beamformer for reception using the phase information of local signals form the optical processor. We additionally demonstrate the beam steering of the received X-band RF signal. Experimental results confirm the feasibility of the Fourier optical processing beamforming network.

Miniaturized opto and microwave receiver module using DCCPWs (Double Conductor Coplanar Waveguides) have been developed for active phased array antennas. The module comprised by a microstrip-to-slot transition, two chips of low-noise MMIC amplifiers, and a laser diode module is fabricated on an ultra-thin package with 10301.5 mm3 in size and 2 g in weight to achieve an ultra-thin structure of active phased array antenna panels. The ultra-thin structure is attributed to the design of low-noise MMIC amplifiers using DCCPWs and laser diode modules using silicon V-groove technology and fiber alignment method.

The onboard antenna beam forming network (BFN) of the next-generation communication satellites must offer multiple beam forming and beam steering. The conventional BFN, which directly controls the array elements, is not suitable for a large-scale array antenna because of the difficulty of BFN control. This paper proposes a new BFN configuration that consists of three/four-way variable power dividers and a Butler matrix (FFT circuit). This BFN can offer continuous beam steering with fewer variable components. By introducing new techniques based upon excluding FFT periods and power evaluations by definite integration, the deviation in beamwidth is reduced by 75% or more and the maximum sidelobe level is improved by 10 dB or more.

An optoelectronic beam forming network (BFN) is presented for a single beam, 3-element phased array antenna that utilizes electrically controllable birefringence mode nematic liquid-crystal cells (ECB mode NLC cells) for phase shifting and amplitude control. In the circuit, a microwave signal is carried by a pair of orthogonal linearly polarized lightwaves (signal and reference lightwaves) using the optical heterodyning technique. Birefringence of liquid-crystals is utilized to selectively control the phase of the signal and reference lightwaves. Because an interferometer is formed on a single signal path, the complexity of the optical circuit is much reduced, compared to the BFNs based on arrays of Mach-Zender interferometers. A prototype circuit is built using laser sources of 1.3 µm, and its performance experimentally examined. With small deviations among the three cells, phase shifts of up to 240 degrees are achived for MW signals from 0.9 GHz to 20 GHz with good stability; attenuation of more than 18dB is achieved. An optoelectronic technique for parallel control of amplitude and phase of MW signals was developed.

This paper proposes a photonic integrated beam forming and steering network (BFN) that uses switched true-time-delay (TTD) silica-based waveguide circuits for phased array antennas. The TTD-BFN has thermooptic switches and variable time delay lines. This TTD-BFN controls four array elements, and can form and steer a beam. An RF test was carried out in the 2.5 GHz microwave frequency range. The experimental results show a peak-to-peak phase error of 6.0 degrees and peak-to-peak amplitude error of 2.0 dB. Array factors obtained from the measured results agree well with the designed ones. This silica-based beam former will be a key element in phased array antennas.