Cognitive Beamformer Chips with Smart-Antennas for 5G and Beyond: Holistic RFSOI Technology Solutions including ASIC Correlators

ASIC-based stochastic analog correlators combined with cognitive co-array signal-processing for MIMO systems are proposed based on the concept of Macro-Pixel Mosaic partitioning. The ASIC-based analog correlators are co-integrated with cognitive RFIC beamformer chips and smart-antenna arrays including down-converters. Several solutions: 2×2 (16 antennas) and 4×4 (64 antennas) arrays of RFIC beamformer chips are designed, fabricated and experimentally characterized. Multi-scale and multi-level Field-Field correlation-based near-field and far-field solutions with and without down-conversion are demonstrated for coupled MIMO phased-array steered beams. Perspectives for holistic RFSOI technology solutions, including RF-ADCs and adaptive body-biasing systems, are drawn in the perspectives of hybrid mm-wave and optical technologies co-integration beyond 5G era.