Dual-polarized architecture for channel sounding at 60 GHz with digital/analog phase control based on 0.25µm SiGe BiCMOS and LTCC technology

Channel sounders that are used to investigate 60 GHz multipath propagation and multi-user access techniques under time-variant shadowing environments require challenging technical characteristics, e.g., ultra-wideband (UWB) real-time operation (7 to 9 GHz bandwidth), multiple antennas, and high dynamic range. In addition, dual-polarization and phase adjustment have become in a need not only for full channel characterization extracting polarimetric information, but also for consumer user cases under polarization mismatch and misalignment. This paper presents a novel 60 GHz UWB dual-polarized (DP) air interface architecture (AIA) incorporating 360° phase shifters on chip fulfilling the previous requirements. The AIA is based on a 0.25μm SiGe BiCMOS chip-set, and low-temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) technology for antennas and packaging. Measurement results using our first prototype are addressed in this paper. The phase adjustment capability is verified and also its usability for cross-polarized real-time measurements including disturbances due to human activity.