A 28GHz Bulk-CMOS dual-polarization phased-array transceiver with 24 channels for 5G user and basestation equipment

Developing next-generation cellular technology (5G) in the mm-wave bands will require low-cost phased-array transceivers [1]. Even with the benefit of beamforming, due to space constraints in the mobile form-factor, increasing TX output power while maintaining acceptable PA PAE, LNA NF, and overall transceiver power consumption is important to maximizing link budget allowable path loss and minimizing handset case temperature. Further, the phased-array transceiver will need to be able to support dual-polarization communication. An IF interface to the analog baseband is desired for low power consumption in the handset or user equipment (UE) active antenna and to enable use of arrays of transceivers for customer premises equipment (CPE) or basestation (BS) antenna arrays with a low-loss IF power-combining/splitting network implemented on an antenna backplane carrying multiple tiled antenna modules.