A Wideband High-Power Multi-Standard 23–31 GHz 2×2 Quad Beamformer Chip in SiGe with>15 dBm OP1dB Per Channel

This paper presents a 2×2 quad-core beamformer transmit/receive (TRX) chip with a peak OP1dB of 17 dBm and an OP1dB >15 dBm at 23-31.5 GHz, achieved using an asymmetrical switch design. The chip is built in SiGe BiCMOS and results in a PAE >10% at 23-31 GHz at PldB. Each channel in the 2×2 chip contains 6-bit phase control, 20-26 dB gain control and with a measured IP1dB of -19 dBm and an NF <;6.1 dB at 23-31 GHz. The beamformer chip is tested at 27 GHz and using a 16-QAM 7 Gbaud waveform (28 Gbps data rate) and results in <;9.8% EVM. The chip is also tested at 22-30 GHz using a 64-QAM 1 Gbaud waveform (6 Gbps) and results in an EVM of 3-3.5% over the entire bandwidth. To our knowledge, this work achieves the widest bandwidth and the highest output power at record PAE levels in the Tx mode, and can support all worldwide 5G bands around 28 GHz.