60-GHz Four-Element Phased-Array Transmit/Receive System-in-Package Using Phase Compensation Techniques in 65-nm Flip-Chip CMOS Process

• Published in: IEEE transactions on microwave theory and techniques Vol. 60; no. 3; pp. 743 - 756
• Main Authors: Jing-Lin Kuo, Yi-Fong Lu, Ting-Yi Huang, Yi-Long Chang, Yi-Keng Hsieh, Pen-Jui Peng, I-Chih Chang, Tzung-Chuen Tsai, Kun-Yao Kao, Wei-Yuan Hsiung, Wang, J., Hsu, Y. A., Kun-You Lin, Hsin-Chia Lu, Yi-Cheng Lin, Liang-Hung Lu, Tian-Wei Huang, Ruey-Beei Wu, Huei Wang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.03.2012; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: 60 GHz; Amplifiers; Antennas; Arrays; Beam steering; Beamforming; Channels; CMOS; Digital control; flip-chip; Gain; Integrated circuits; Modules; Noise levels; Phase shifters; phase-compensated techniques; phased array; Phased arrays; Power dividers; Semiconductors; Switches; system-in-package (SiP); Transmitters; variable gain amplifier (VGA); wireless communication
• DOI: 10.1109/TMTT.2011.2176508
• ISSN: 0018-9480

AThe 60-GHz four-element phased-array transmit/receive (TX/RX) system-in-package antenna modules with phase-compensated techniques in 65-nm CMOS technology are presented. The design is based on the all-RF architecture with 4-bit RF switched LC phase shifters, phase compensated variable gain amplifier (VGA), 4:1 Wilkinson power combining/dividing network, variable-gain low-noise amplifier, power amplifier, 6-bit unary digital-to-analog converter, bias circuit, electrostatic discharge protection, and digital control interface (DCI). The 2 × 2 TX/RX phased arrays have been packaged with four antennas in low-temperature co-fired ceramic modules through flip-chip bonding and underfill process, and phased-array beam steering have been demonstrated. The entire beam-steering functions are digitally controllable, and individual registers are integrated at each front-end to enable beam steering through the DCI. The four-element TX array results in an output of 5 dBm per channel. The four-element RX array results in an average gain of 25 dB per channel. The four-element array consumes 400 mW in TX and 180 mW in RX and occupies an area of 3.74 mm 2 in the TX integrated circuit (IC) and 4.18 mm 2 in the RX IC. The beam-steering measurement results show acceptable agreement of the synthesized and measured array pattern.