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Highly compact GaN-based all-digital transmitter chain including SPDT T/Rx switch for massive MIMO applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2019

Florian Hühn Open the ORCID record for Florian Hühn [Opens in a new window] ,
Andreas Wentzel  and
Wolfgang Heinrich
Florian Hühn*
Affiliation:
Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik, Gustav-Kirchhoff-Straße 4, 12489 Berlin, Germany
Andreas Wentzel
Affiliation:
Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik, Gustav-Kirchhoff-Straße 4, 12489 Berlin, Germany
Wolfgang Heinrich
Affiliation:
Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik, Gustav-Kirchhoff-Straße 4, 12489 Berlin, Germany
*
Author for correspondence: Florian Hühn, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

This paper presents a fully digital transmitter chain from baseband to antenna, including a modulator, two truly digital (i.e. fully switched) microwave power amplifiers and a transmit/receive switch. Both, amplifier and switch monolithic microwave integrated circuits were implemented in a GaN HEMT process. The novel amplifier design provides greatly reduced complexity, needing only three voltage sources. Measurements were conducted using 5, 20, and 100 MHz wide baseband signals. Carrier frequencies cover the 900 and 2000 MHz bands. For the 5 MHz BB signal an ACLR of over 52 dB is reached, fulfilling the 3GPP specs for base station use while still maintaining a final-stage drain efficiency of 46% at 6.5 dB peak to average power ratio. Full-scale output power at 30 V supply voltage was measured to exceed 3 W at 80% drain efficiency. Further features of this digital amplifier approach include small form factor and frequency agility, making it an ideal candidate for software defined radio.

Keywords

Power Amplifiers and LinearizersWireless Systems and Signal Processing
Type
EuMW 2018
Information
International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies , Volume 11 , Special Issue 7: MIKON 2018 / EuMW 2018 (Part II) , September 2019 , pp. 609 - 617
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the European Microwave Association 2019 

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References

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