A fully-integrated dual-polarization 16-element W-band phased-array transceiver in SiGe BiCMOS

Abstract

This paper presents a multi-function, dual-polarization phased array transceiver supporting both radar and communication applications at W-band. 32 receive elements and 16 transmit elements with dual outputs are integrated to support 16 dual polarized antennas in a package. The IC further includes two independent 16:1 combining networks, two receiver downconversion chains, an up-conversion chain, a 40GHz PLL, an 80GHz frequency doubler, extensive digital control circuitry, and on-chip IF/LO combining/distribution circuitry to enable scalability to arrays at the board level. The fully-integrated transceiver is fabricated in the IBM SiGe BiCMOS 0.13um process, occupies an area of 6.6×6.7mm2, and operates from 2.7V (analog/RF) and 1.5V (digital) supplies. Multiple operating modes are supported including the simultaneous reception of two polarizations with a 10GHz IF output, transmission in either polarization from an IF input, or single-polarization transmission/reception from/to I&Q base-band signals (2.5W RX, 2.9W TX). Measurement results show 8dB receiver NF and 2dBm transmitter output power per element at 94GHz in both polarizations.