Linearization of Fully-Connected Hybrid Beamforming Transmitters Using Analytical Multi-Input Models for Millimeter-Wave Communications

Abstract

In recent years, fully-connected hybrid beamforming (FC-HBF) architecture has aroused widespread interest for millimeter wave (mmWave) massive multi-input multi-output (MIMO) communication systems. However, the FC-HBF structure suffers from significant linearity deterioration, limiting its applications in actual mmWave transmitters. To resolve this issue, an effective digital predistortion (DPD) method utilizing analytical multi-input behavioral models is proposed in this paper for linearizing the FC-HBF system. Based on the nonlinearity analysis and behavioral modeling of the array response, three analytical multi-input models are derived by embedding the priori beamforming information in the predistorter. The complexity of the proposed analytical models is significantly reduced compared to the state-of-the-art. Numerical simulations and experimental measurement are carried out on a $4\times 64$ mmWave FC-HBF array and $2\times 16$ quasi-test platform respectively to validate the performance of the proposed DPDs against the state-of-the-art DPDs, which show significant linearization abilities to compensate for the nonlinear distortions of beam signals. The proof-of-the-concept validations in this paper indicate that the proposed scheme is fully capable of linearizing an mmWave FC-HBF array.