Multi-polarization mmWave Transceiver with Shared Power Amplifiers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fifth-generation (5G) mobile devices require smaller integrated circuits for millimeter wave (mmWave) RF components, but traditional mmWave transceivers are large due to multiple power amplifier and low noise amplifier stages, especially with dual or multi-polarization requirements.
Innovation Solution
A multi-polarization mmWave transmitter/receiver architecture with shared power amplifiers and switching channels that selectively connect antennas of different polarizations, reducing the number of amplifier stages and components, and using III-V semiconductor materials for improved performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional separate PA stages are used for each antenna in multi-polarization mmWave transceivers, then each antenna can be independently driven, but the number of amplifier stages and components increases significantly, resulting in larger device size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple PA stages into a shared PA that can serve multiple antennas through switching channels. Instead of having separate PAs for each antenna, a single shared PA is time-multiplexed across multiple antennas using switch arrays, reducing the total number of amplifier stages from 4N to 2N while maintaining independent antenna driving capability
Solution Approach 2:
The shared PA is designed to perform multiple functions by serving different antenna arrays (dipole and patch) for different polarizations. The PA can be dynamically configured to drive any connected antenna through the switching network, making it a universal amplification resource that replaces multiple dedicated PAs
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple PA and LNA stages are used to support dual polarization antenna arrays, then complete polarization coverage is achieved, but the component count quadruples to 4N PAs and 4N LNAs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the amplification functions for multiple polarizations into shared PA and LNA stages. By using switching channels to connect the shared amplifiers to different antenna arrays, the system reduces the component count from 4N PAs and 4N LNAs to 2N PAs and 2N LNAs, halving the total amplifier component count while maintaining full polarization support
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic switching to reconfigure the connection between amplifiers and antennas based on which polarization is currently active. The switch arrays dynamically connect the shared PAs to either the dipole antenna array or the patch antenna array, enabling the same hardware to adapt to different polarization requirements without requiring dedicated amplifiers for each case
3Power
If more amplifier stages are included in the transceiver, then transmission capability is improved, but power consumption increases and heat dissipation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple PA stages into a shared PA that serves multiple antennas through time-multiplexed switching, the system reduces the total number of amplifier stages from 4N to 2N. This consolidation maintains the required transmission capability for multi-polarization operation while reducing the cumulative power consumption and heat generation associated with having separate amplifier stages for each antenna
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-polarization millimeter wave (mmWave) transmitter/receiver (TX/RX) architecture with shared power amplifiers (PAs) is provided. This architecture provides a transceiver which uses shared PAs to reduce the number of TX and PA stages required for multi-polarization transmission in mmWave radio frequency (RF) devices. Embodiments provide an array of switching channels which selectively connect a shared TX and shared PA to two or more antennas in antenna arrays having different polarizations (e.g., a dipole antenna array and a patch antenna array). This approach provides a dual polarization or multi-polarization mmWave transceiver having a reduced number of components which results in a smaller size, improved power efficiency, and improved power heat dissipation.