Time-Modulated-LO-Path Vector Modulators for Beamforming Receivers

A time-modulated LO (TM-LO) vector modulator (VM) architecture using a time domain approach for amplitude scaling and phase shifting received signals is presented. The TM-LO uses rail-to-rail LO waveforms generated from digitally synthesized blocks and pass-gate switches to perform the amplitude/phase control. A single element receiver achieves 0.2 dB RMS gain error and 1.4° RMS phase error with 5 bits of amplitude/phase resolution across a 360° range is implemented in a 65 nm CMOS process. Without time-modulation, the hardware is capable of 3-bits of resolution. The inherent digital nature of TM-LO architecture provides opportunity very compact front-ends suitable for large arrays and lower voltage technologies. Four TM-LO chips were used to create a beamforming receiver