First STC-MIMO NLOS-Capable 60 GHz Broadband Link

Abstract

The future of broadband wireless local area networks lies in 60 GHz. In a joint project with the Chalmers University of Technology, we showcase the huge potential and assured feasibility of 60 GHz technology by establishing a high definition real-time video transmission. In particular, we use MIMO configuration with space-time signal processing to ensure robust broadband transmission even in NLOS conditions.

Technical Background

In spite of its tremendous potential, 60 GHz radio still poses considerable technical challenges. As state-of-the-art technology and regulations impose strict constraints on the transmit power level, it is crucial to compensate for high path loss and channel dispersion by a precise system design that blends robust modulation with efficient signal processing.

Benefits

• Up to 7 GHz bandwidth for future multi-cellular, ultra-high-capacity wireless indoor networks
• Robust, non-directional broadband wireless links deploying powerful, efficient signal processing techniques
• Fully integrated, low-power 60 GHz transceivers developed for marketable products

Challenges

Indoor broadband radio communication is increasingly being integrated in our everyday lives, typically in the form of broadband multimedia applications. Current systems operating in the 2 and 5 GHz frequency band will eventually fail to meet the extreme requirements of wireless short-range highrate communication. We believe that 60 GHz radio is the solution. The millimeter-wave band provides up to 7 GHz unlicensed bandwidth, enabling support of ultra-high data rates in combination with enormous numbers of users.

Recent Achievements

The 60 GHz MIMO demonstrator is a joint work of the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI) and the Micro wave Electronics Laboratory (MEL). The MEL is a part of the Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience of the Chalmers University of Technology.

Recent work related to 60 GHz

2006
60 GHz in-cabin channel measurements in a wide-bodied aircraft (HHI), Single-chip 60 GHz Tx and Rx MMICs in GaAs mHEMT technology (MEL)

2007
Material characterization and implementation of 60 GHz ray-tracing  odels for indoor and in-cabin channel prediction (HHI), 60 GHz  ingle-chip frontend MMICs and systems for multi-Gbps wireless ommunication (MEL)

2008
Development of broadband real-time baseband platform (HHI), 60 GHz transmission in a non-line-of-sight indoor environment; non-directional SISO, 160 MHz BW, up to 192 Mbps (HHI), 220 GHz single-chip receiver MMIC with integrated antenna (MEL)

2009
60 GHz MIMO demonstrator (HHI, MEL), implementation of baseband and MAC functions, multifunctional Tx/Rx MMICs and RF modules (HHI, MEL)

References

• A 60 GHz SiGe-HBT Power Amplifier With 20% PAE at 15 dBm Output Power V. Do, V. Subramanian, W. Keusgen, and G. Boeck, IEEE Microwave And Wireless Components Letters, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 209-211, Mar. 2008.
• Estimation of Effective Permittivity and Effective Thickness of Inhomogeneous Materials at 52-70 GHz R. Felbecker, W. Keusgen, A. Kortke, and M. Peter, 3rd European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP 2009), Berlin, Germany, Mar. 2009.
• Investigation of 60 GHz Broadband Transmission for Wireless In-Car High Data Rate Communication M. Peter, R. Felbecker, W. Keusgen, and J. Hillebrand, IEEE 70th Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC2009-Fall), Anchorage, USA, Sept. 2009.
• PAs for mmW Applications: A Comparison of Technologies and Achievements G. Böck, W. Keusgen, V. Subramanian, A. Hamidian, B. Schubert, and M. Peter, International Microwave Symposium Workshops (IMS 2009), June 2009.
• Analysis and Comparison of Indoor Wideband Radio Channels at 5 and 60 GHz M. Peter and W. Keusgen, 3rd European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP 2009), Berlin, Germany, Mar. 2009.
• Broadband Millimeter Wave Communication - System Design Concepts and Trials W. Keusgen, 2008 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, Workshop, Atlanta, GA, USA, June 15-20 2008.
• 60 GHz SiGe HBT Chip Set for High Speed Wireless Communication Systems V. Subramanian, W. Keusgen, V. Do, and G. Boeck, German Microwave Conference 2008, Hamburg Germany, March 10-12 2008.
• Design of a 60 GHz transceiver module with integrated antenna W. Keusgen, V. Subramanian, and G. Böck, Asia Pacific Microwave Conference (APMC 2008), Hong Kong, China, Dec. 2008.
• 60 GHz Broadband Wireless Transmission Experiments in a NLOS Indoor Environment J. Luo, A. Kortke, W. Keusgen, and M. Peter, Asia Pacific Microwave Conference (APMC 2008), Hong Kong, China, Dec. 2008.
• Ray-Tracing Simulations of the 60 GHz Incabin Radio Channel R. Felbecker, W. Keusgen, and M. Peter, 2008 URSI General Assembly, Chicago, IL, USA, Aug. 7-16 2008.
• Impact of Antenna Configuration and Shadowing on the Characteristics of the 60 GHz Indoor Wideband Channel M. Peter and W. Keusgen, 2008 URSI General Assembly, Chicago, IL, USA, Aug. 7-16 2008.
• Incabin Millimeter Wave Propagation Simulation in a Wide-Bodied Aircraft Using Ray-Tracing R. Felbecker, W. Keusgen, and M. Peter, 2008 IEEE 68th Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC2008-Fall), Calgary, Canada, Sept. 21-24 2008.
• A Design Concept for a 60 GHz Wireless In-Flight Entertainment System J. Luo, W. Keusgen, A. Kortke, and M. Peter, 2008 IEEE 68th Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC2008-Fall), Calgary, Canada, Sept. 21-24 2008.
• A Survey on 60 GHz Broadband Communication: Capability, Applications and System Design M. Peter, W. Keusgen, and J. Luo, European Microwave Week 2008, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Oct. 27-31 2008.
• A Component-Based Time Domain Wideband Channel Sounder and Measurement Results for the 60 GHz In-Cabin Radio Channel M. Peter and W. Keusgen, The Second European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EUCAP 2007), Edinburgh, UK, Nov. 11-16 2007.
• A 60 GHz Monolithic Upconversion Mixer in SiGe HBT Technology V. Do, V. Subramanian, W. Keusgen, and G. Boeck, 2007 IEEE Intl. Workshop on Radio-Frequency Integration Technology (RFIT), Singapore, Dec. 9-11 2007.
• 60 GHz SiGe HBT Downconversion Mixer V. Subramanian, V. Do, W. Keusgen, and G. Boeck, European Microwave Week 2007, Munich, Germany, Oct. 8-12 2007.
• Temporal Structure of the 60 GHz Wireless Channel M. Peter, W. Keusgen, and A. Kortke, International ITG Conference on Antennas - INICA 2007, Munich, Germany, March 28-30
• Measurement and Analysis of the 60 GHz In-Vehicular Broadband Radio Channel M. Peter, W. Keusgen, A. Kortke, and M. Schirrmacher, 2007 IEEE 66th Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC2007-Fall), Baltimore, MD, USA, 30 Sep.-3 Oct. 2007.
• Measurement and Ray-Tracing Simulation of the 60 GHz Indoor Broadband Channel: Model Accuracy and Parameterization M. Peter, W. Keusgen, and R. Felbecker, The Second European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EUCAP 2007), Edinburgh, UK, Nov. 11-16 2007.
• Design and Optimization of a High Efficiency 60 GHz SiGe-HBT Power Amplifier V. Do, V. Subramanian, W. Keusgen, and G. Boeck, 2007 IEEE Intl. Workshop on Radio-Frequency Integration Technology (RFIT), Singapore, Dec. 9-11 2007.