Small Footprint Multilayered Millimeter-Wave Antennas and Feeding Networks for Multi-Dimensional Scanning and High-Density Integrated Systems

This paper overviews the state-of-the-art of substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) techniques in the design and realization of innovative low-cost, low-profile and low-loss (L3) millimeter-wave antenna elements, feeding networks and arrays for various wireless applications. Novel classes of multilayered antenna structures and systems are proposed and studied to exploit the vertical dimension of planar structures to overcome certain limita-tions in standard two-dimensional (2-D) topologies. The developed structures are based on two techniques, namely multi-layer stacked structures and E-plane corners. Differ-ent E-plane structures realised with SIW waveguide are presented, thereby demonstrating the potential of the proposed techniques as in multi-polarization antenna feeding. An array of 128 elements shows low SLL and height gain with just 200g of the total weight. Two versions of 2-D scanning multi-beam are presented, which effectively combine frequency scanning with beam forming networks. Adding the benefits of wide band performance to the multilayer structure, two bi-layer structures are investigated. Different stacked antennas and arrays are demonstrated to optimise the targeted antenna performances in the smallest footprint possible. These structures meet the requirement for developing inexpensive compact millimeter-wave antennas and antenna systems. Different structures and architectures are theoretically and experimentally studied and discussed for specific space- and ground-based appli-cations. Practical issues such as high-density integration and high-volume manufacturability are also addressed

Photonic Vector Processing Techniques for Radiofrequency Signals

[EN] The processing of radiofrequency signals using photonics means is a discipline that appeared almost at the same time as the laser and the optical fibre. Photonics offers the capability of managing broadband radiofrequency (RF) signals thanks to its low transmission attenuation, a variety of linear and non-linear phenomena and, recently, the potential to implement integrated photonic subsystems. These features open the door for the implementation of multiple functionalities including optical transportation, up and down frequency conversion, optical RF filtering, signal multiplexing, de-multiplexing, routing and switching, optical sampling, tone generation, delay control, beamforming and photonic generation of digital modulations, and even a combination of several of these functionalities. This thesis is focused on the application of vector processing in the optical domain to radiofrequency signals in two fields of application: optical beamforming, and photonic vector modulation and demodulation of digital quadrature amplitude modulations. The photonic vector control enables to adjust the amplitude and phase of the radiofrequency signals in the optical domain, which is the fundamental processing that is required in different applications such as beamforming networks for direct radiating array (DRA) antennas and multilevel quadrature modulation. The work described in this thesis include different techniques for implementing a photonic version of beamforming networks for direct radiating arrays (DRA) known as optical beamforming networks (OBFN), with the objectives of providing a precise control in terrestrial applications of broadband signals at very high frequencies above 40 GHz in communication antennas, optimizing the size and mass when compared with the electrical counterparts in space application, and presenting new photonic-based OBFN functionalities. Thus, two families of OBFNs are studied: fibre-based true time delay architectures and integrated networks. The first allow the control of broadband signals using dispersive optical fibres with wavelength division multiplexing techniques and advanced functionalities such as direction of arrival estimation in receiving architectures. In the second, passive OBFNs based on monolithically-integrated Optical Butler Matrices are studied, including an ultra-compact solution using optical heterodyne techniques in silicon-on-insulator (SOI) material, and an alternative implementing a homodyne counterpart in germanium doped silica material. In this thesis, the application of photonic vector processing to the generation of quadrature digital modulations has also been investigated. Multilevel modulations are based on encoding digital information in discrete states of phase and amplitude of an electrical signal to enhance spectral efficiency, as for instance, in quadrature modulation. The signal process required for generating and demodulating this kind of signals involves vector processing (phase and amplitude control) and frequency conversion. Unlike the common electronic or digital implementation, in this thesis, different photonic based signal processing techniques are studied to produce digital modulation (photonic vector modulation, PVM) and demodulation (PVdM). These techniques are of particular interest in the case of broadband signals where the data rate required to be managed is in the order of gigabit per second, for applications like wireless backhauling of metro optical networks (known as fibre-to-the-air). The techniques described use optical dispersion in optical fibres, wavelength division multiplexing and photonic up/down conversion. Additionally, an optical heterodyne solution implemented monolithically in a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is also described.[ES] El procesamiento de señales de radiofrecuencia (RF) utilizando medios fotónicos es una disciplina que apareció casi al mismo tiempo que el láser y la fibra óptica. La fotónica ofrece la capacidad de manipular señales de radiofrecuencia de banda ancha, una baja atenuación, procesados basados en una amplia variedad de fenómenos lineales y no lineales y, recientemente, el potencial para implementar subsistemas fotónicos integrados. Estas características ofrecen un gran potencial para la implementación de múltiples funcionalidades incluyendo transporte óptico, conversión de frecuencia, filtrado óptico de RF, multiplexación y demultiplexación de señales, encaminamiento y conmutación, muestreo óptico, generación de tonos, líneas de retardo, conformación de haz en agrupaciones de antenas o generación fotónica de modulaciones digitales, e incluso una combinación de varias de estas funcionalidades. Esta tesis se centra en la aplicación del procesamiento vectorial en el dominio óptico de señales de radiofrecuencia en dos campos de aplicación: la conformación óptica de haces y la modulación y demodulación vectorial fotónica de señales digitales en cuadratura. El control fotónico vectorial permite manipular la amplitud y fase de las señales de radiofrecuencia en el dominio óptico, que es el procesamiento fundamental que se requiere en diferentes aplicaciones tales como las redes de conformación de haces para agrupaciones de antenas y en la modulación en cuadratura. El trabajo descrito en esta tesis incluye diferentes técnicas para implementar una versión fotónica de las redes de conformación de haces de en agrupaciones de antenas, conocidas como redes ópticas de conformación de haces (OBFN). Se estudian dos familias de redes: arquitecturas de retardo en fibra óptica y arquitecturas integradas. Las primeras permiten el control de señales de banda ancha utilizando fibras ópticas dispersivas con técnicas de multiplexado por división de longitud de onda y funcionalidades avanzadas tales como la estimación del ángulo de llegada de la señal en la antena receptora. En la segunda, se estudian redes de conformación pasivas basadas en Matrices de Butler ópticas integradas, incluyendo una solución ultra-compacta utilizando técnicas ópticas heterodinas en silicio sobre aislante (SOI), y una alternativa homodina en sílice dopado con germanio. En esta tesis, también se han investigado técnicas de procesado vectorial fotónico para la generación de modulaciones digitales en cuadratura. Las modulaciones multinivel codifican la información digital en estados discretos de fase y amplitud de una señal eléctrica para aumentar su eficiencia espectral, como por ejemplo la modulación en cuadratura. El procesado necesario para generar y demodular este tipo de señales implica el procesamiento vectorial (control de amplitud y fase) y la conversión de frecuencia. A diferencia de la implementación electrónica o digital convencional, en esta tesis se estudian diferentes técnicas de procesado fotónico tanto para la generación de modulaciones digitales (modulación vectorial fotónica, PVM) como para su demodulación (PVdM). Esto es de particular interés en el caso de señales de banda ancha, donde la velocidad de datos requerida es del orden de gigabits por segundo, para aplicaciones como backhaul inalámbrico de redes ópticas metropolitanas (conocida como fibra hasta el aire). Las técnicas descritas se basan en explotar la dispersión cromática de la fibra óptica, la multiplexación por división de longitud de onda y la conversión en frecuencia. Además, se presenta una solución heterodina implementada monolíticamente en un circuito integrado fotónico (PIC).[CA] El processament de senyals de radiofreqüència (RF) utilitzant mitjans fotònics és una disciplina que va aparèixer gairebé al mateix temps que el làser i la fibra òptica. La fotònica ofereix la capacitat de manipular senyals de radiofreqüència de banda ampla, una baixa atenuació, processats basats en una àmplia varietat de fenòmens lineals i no lineals i, recentment, el potencial per implementar subsistemes fotònics integrats. Aquestes característiques ofereixen un gran potencial per a la implementació de múltiples funcionalitats incloent transport òptic, conversió de freqüència, filtrat òptic de RF, multiplexació i demultiplexació de senyals, encaminament i commutació, mostreig òptic, generació de tons, línies de retard, conformació de feix en agrupacions d'antenes i la generació fotònica de modulacions digitals, i fins i tot una combinació de diverses d'aquestes funcionalitats. Aquesta tesi es centra en l'aplicació del processament vectorial en el domini òptic de senyals de radiofreqüència en dos camps d'aplicació: la conformació òptica de feixos i la modulació i demodulació vectorial fotònica de senyals digitals en quadratura. El control fotònic vectorial permet manipular l'amplitud i la fase dels senyals de radiofreqüència en el domini òptic, que és el processament fonamental que es requereix en diferents aplicacions com ara les xarxes de conformació de feixos per agrupacions d'antenes i en modulació multinivell. El treball descrit en aquesta tesi inclou diferents tècniques per implementar una versió fotònica de les xarxes de conformació de feixos en agrupacions d'antenes, conegudes com a xarxes òptiques de conformació de feixos (OBFN), amb els objectius de proporcionar un control precís en aplicacions terrestres de senyals de banda ampla a freqüències molt altes per sobre de 40 GHz en antenes de comunicacions, optimitzant la mida i el pes quan es compara amb els homòlegs elèctrics en aplicacions espacials, i la presentació de noves funcionalitats fotòniques per agrupacions d'antenes. Per tant, s'estudien dues famílies de OBFNs: arquitectures de retard en fibra òptica i arquitectures integrades. Les primeres permeten el control de senyals de banda ampla utilitzant fibres òptiques dispersives amb tècniques de multiplexació per divisió en longitud d'ona i funcionalitats avançades com ara l'estimació de l'angle d'arribada del senyal a l'antena receptora. A la segona, s'estudien xarxes de conformació passives basades en Matrius de Butler òptiques en fotònica integrada, incloent una solució ultra-compacta utilitzant tècniques òptiques heterodinas en silici sobre aïllant (SOI), i una alternativa homodina en sílice dopat amb germani. D'altra banda, també s'ha investigat en aquesta tesi tècniques de processament vectorial fotònic per a la generació de modulacions digitals en quadratura. Les modulacions multinivell codifiquen la informació digital en estats discrets de fase i amplitud d'un senyal elèctric per augmentar la seva eficiència espectral, com ara la modulació en quadratura. El processat necessari per generar i desmodular aquest tipus de senyals implica el processament vectorial (control d'amplitud i fase) i la conversió de freqüència. A diferència de la implementació electrònica o digital convencional, en aquesta tesi s'estudien diferents tècniques de processament fotònic tant per a la generació de modulacions digitals (modulació vectorial fotònica, PVM) com per la seva demodulació (PVdM). Això és de particular interès en el cas de senyals de banda ampla, on la velocitat de dades requerida és de l'ordre de gigabits per segon, per a aplicacions com backhaul sense fils de xarxes òptiques metropolitanes (coneguda com fibra fins l'aire). Les tècniques descrites es basen en explotar la dispersió cromàtica de la fibra òptica, la multiplexació per divisió en longitud d'ona i la conversió en freqüència. A més, es presePiqueras Ruipérez, MÁ. (2016). Photonic Vector Processing Techniques for Radiofrequency Signals [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/63264TESI

Two dimensional switched beam antenna at 28 GHz for fifth generation wireless system

Fifth generation (5G) wireless system is expected to enable new device-to-device (D2D) and machine-to-machine (M2M) applications that will impact both consumers and industry. Moreover, for efficient M2M communication, both one dimensional (1-D) and two dimensional (2-D) beam switching is highly needed for high data-rate wireless radio links. A planar array with 2-D beam switching capabilities is highly desirable in 5G system. This thesis proposes a new technique of achieving simple and cost effective 2-D beam switching array antenna at 28 GHz for 5G wireless system. The technique involves lateral cascading of Butler matrix (BM) beamforming network (BFN). However, designing a planar BM at 28 GHz that will allow K-connector is not a trivial issue because the distances between the ports are X/4 electrical length apart. Nevertheless, two branch line coupler (BLC) with unequal ports separation at 28 GHz on a single substrate are designed and applied to design 1-D switched beam antennas based on BLC and 4 * 4 BM. Then two of these antennas are laterally cascaded to achieve 2-D beam switching antenna. This novel concept is the basis for choosing BM BFN in the design. The proposed 1-D array antennas on BLC and BM have wide measured impedance bandwidth of 18.9% (5.3 GHz) and 21.7% (6.1 GHz) and highest gain of 14.6 dBi and 15.9 dBi, respectively. The 2-D switched beam antenna on cascaded BLC has highest realized gain of 14.9 dB, radiation efficiency of 86%, 86.8%, 85.5%, and 83.4% at ports 1 to 4, respectively. The switching range of from -25o to +18° in the x-z plane and from -18o to 24o in the y-z plane, while the 2-D switched beam antenna based on cascaded 4 * 4 BM has switching range of -41o to 43o in the x-z plane and -43o to 42o in the y-z plane with highest realized gain of 14.4 dBi. The proposed antennas have great potentials for 5G wireless communication system applications

A Low Complexity 16 X 16 Butler Matrix Design Using Eight-Port Hybrids

Beamforming networks such as Butler Matrices are important for multibeam array antenna applications. The challenge for Butler Matrix design is that their complexity increases with the number of ports. In this paper, a novel approach of designing a 16 X 16 Butler Matrix with significant structure simplification is presented. The eight-port hybrids with no crossovers are used to simplify the network. To ensure the network has the same magnitude and phase responses as the standard one, the location and phase shifting value of each fixed phase shifter are derived from the $S$ -matrix of each hybrid. A $16\times 16$ Butler Matrix network operating from 9 GHz–11 GHz is designed to validate this concept. The compensated microstrip 3-dB/90° directional coupler, the phase shifter with a shunt open-and-short stub and the crossover with a resonating patch are used to reduce the transmission loss and enable broadband operation

Design of Tunable Beamforming Networks Using Metallic Ridge Gap Waveguide Technology

Wireless communication is a leap of development in the history of humanity. For the past 100 years, a considerable effort has been spent to develop better standards, and technologies for a higher speed wireless communication with high system capacity for different applications. This requires the design of a high-frequency, point-to-multipoint antenna array system to achieve the mentioned goals. In addition, the reconfigurability of this antenna system is essential to change the system characteristics to achieve acceptable performance in different situations. The main goal of this thesis is to design a reconfigurable beamforming network to work on the Ka-band for waveguide applications. Among different beamforming networks in the literature, the Butler matrix is chosen due to its higher efficiency and the smaller number of components required than other beamforming networks. The Butler matrix is designed using a dual-plane topology to avoid using crossovers. Ridge gap waveguide technology is chosen among different transmission lines to implement the Butler matrix for several reasons: It does not need dielectrics to operate, so its power handling capacity is defined by the gap height, and it has no dielectric losses. Its zero-field region represents the operating principle for some tunable devices introduced here and its contactless nature, which eases the assembly of waveguide parts at the millimeter-wave frequencies. The reconfigurability of the Butler matrix is implemented such that beamwidth, maximum gain, and beam direction may be all tuned for optimum system performance. To that end, several components are designed to achieve the required target, and strict requirements are placed on several components to achieve an acceptable cascaded-system performance. These components include a ridge gap waveguide 90o-hybrid working over a more than 30% bandwidth, which can provide several coupling levels ranging from 3 dB to 33 dB and a return loss and isolation better than 30 dB. Another component is a wideband reconfigurable power splitter that has a 40% bandwidth, a return loss better than 20 dB in the worst case and the ability to achieve all power splitting ratios including switching between the two guides. In addition, a wideband reconfigurable phase shifter is designed to have 33% bandwidth and phase shift tuning range from 0o to 200o. Two coaxial-to-ridge gap waveguide transitions are designed to work over a more than 100% bandwidth to facilitate testing different ridge gap waveguide components. Analysis of the asymmetric double ridge waveguide is introduced where its impedance is deduced and may be used to design a single to double ridge waveguide transition useful for the dual-plane Butler matrix introduced here. In addition, this concept is used to develop a wideband unequal power divider in the single ridge waveguide technology. At the end, the whole system is assembled to show its performance in different tuning states. The ability of the system to produce radiation patterns of different characteristics is demonstrated. The presented Butler matrix design is a promising beamforming network for several applications like radar, base stations for mobile communications, and satellite applications

Wideband Dual-Polarized Multiple Beam-Forming Antenna Arrays

© 1963-2012 IEEE. Wideband multibeam antenna arrays based on three-beam Butler matrices are presented in this paper. The proposed beam-forming arrays are particularly suited to increasing the capacity of 4G long-term evolution (LTE) base stations. Although dual-polarized arrays are widely used in LTE base stations, analog beam-forming arrays have not been realized before, due to the huge challenge of achieving wide operating bandwidth and stable array patterns. To tackle these problems, for the first time, we present a novel wideband multiple beam-forming antenna array based on Butler matrices. The described beam-forming networks produce three beams but the methods are applicable to larger networks. The essential part of the beam-forming array is a wideband three-beam Butler matrix, which comprises quadrature couplers and fixed wideband phase shifters. Wideband quadrature and phase shifters are developed using striplines, which provide the required power levels and phase differences at the outputs. To achieve the correct beamwidth and to obtain the required level of crossover between adjacent beams, beam-forming networks consisting of augmented three-beam Butler matrices using power dividers are presented to expand the number of output ports from three to five or six. Dual-polarized, three-beam antenna arrays with five and six elements covering LTE band are developed. Prototypes comprising beam-forming networks and arrays are tested according to LTE base station specification. The test results show close agreement with the simulation ones and compliance with LTE requirements. The designs presented are applicable to a wide range of wideband multibeam arrays

Low-Cost Integrated Waveguide Antenna Front-End Solutions for Fifth Generation Cellular Systems and Beyond

RÉSUMÉ : À ondes millimétriques (ou simplement mm - ondes) réseaux d'antennes avec un seul polarisation linéaire (LP ) , double polarisation linéaire ( DLP ) et double polarisation circulaire ( DCP) caractéristiques sont largement utilisés pour de nombreuses applications , il y compris la communication de données sans fil , capteurs radar , passive imagerie , la récupération d'énergie et les systèmes de radiocommunication cognitifs . Parmi les différents types de structure d'alimentation , guide d'ondes présente un excellent candidat pour mettre en oeuvre des réseaux d'alimentation à faible perte et gain élevé réseaux d'antennes sur la plage de fréquence à ondes millimétriques . Ces antennes à base de guide d'ondes - ont été présentant d'excellentes caractéristiques de rayonnement , mais ils ne sont pas faciles à intégrer avec des composants actifs . A la fréquence à ondes millimétriques , SIW ( substrat de guide d'ondes intégré ) est un candidat exceptionnel émergents à mettre en oeuvre une faible perte et des réseaux d'alimentation à faible coût. Antenne SIW - alimenté est capable de produire l'efficacité de rayonnement à haute et le comportement d'impédance à large bande . Dans cette thèse , la technologie de transmission alimentation SIW est choisi pour mettre en oeuvre des réseaux électriques et de phase de distribution pour réaliser une grande efficacité antenne extrémités avant. Les principales contributions scientifiques et techniques peuvent être résumées en deux parties .Dans la première partie , des solutions pour les ouvertures rayonnantes efficacement ont été proposés tels que gain élevé réseaux d'antennes LP , DLP réseaux d'antennes et DCP réseaux d'antennes . Le choix de l'élément rayonnant avec d'excellentes caractéristiques de rayonnement est vital dans la réalisation de gain élevé réseau d'antennes et réseaux phasés, électroniquement orientables . Dans la deuxième partie , de nouvelles techniques ont été proposées pour diriger le faisceau fixe dans des directions multiples en élévation et azimut en utilisant le réseau de décalage de phase passive.----------ABSTRACT Millimeter-wave (or simply mm-wave) antenna arrays with single linear polarization (LP), dual linear polarization (DLP) and dual circular polarization (DCP) characteristics are widely being used for numerous applications including wireless data communication, radar sensors, passive imaging, energy harvesting and cognitive radio systems. Among different types of feeding structure, waveguide presents an excellent candidate to implement low-loss feeding networks and high-gain antenna arrays over mm-wave frequency range. Those waveguide-based antennas have been exhibiting excellent radiation characteristics, but they are not easy to integrate with active components. At mm-wave frequency, SIW (substrate integrated waveguide) is an emerging outstanding candidate to implement low loss and low cost feeding networks. SIW-fed antenna is able to yield high radiation efficiency and broadband impedance behavior. In this thesis, SIW feeding transmission technology is chosen to implement power and phase distributing networks for realizing high efficiency antenna front ends. The main scientific and technical contributions can be summarized into two parts. In the first part, solutions for efficiently radiating apertures have been proposed such as high gain LP antenna arrays, DLP antenna arrays and DCP antenna arrays. The radiating element choice with excellent radiation characteristics is vital in realising high gain antenna array and electronically steerable phased arrays. In the second part, new techniques have been proposed to steer the fixed beam into multiple directions in elevation and azimuth utilizing passive phase shifting network. At 60 GHz frequency, dielectric rod antenna is selected for linearly polarized radiation and cavity backed metallic circular patch antenna is selected to obtain circular polarization radiation. Single rod antenna element is experimentally characterized to validate the proposed concept. In the next stage, high gain antenna array with 45o linear polarization utilizing rod antenna radiating element is demonstrated and feeding implemented in three dimensional (3-D) architecture is integrated along with the 4 x 4 antenna array. The data handling capability of single polarization antenna array is increased up to two fold by integrating two orthogonal polarized antenna arrays with an aperture area of one single polarized array