Classic frequency bands for mobile communications systems below 6 GHz cannot meet throughput and other requirements of future broadband communications due to network congestion and limited bandwidth. But the vast majority of demand for broadband communications can be met using the millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum. This portion of spectrum offers a wide amount of bandwidth that will enable multi-gigabit-per-second data transmission for next-generation 5G wireless systems. A key outcome at Word Radio Conference 2015 (WRC-15) was identification of a number of bands between 20-90 GHz as 5G frequency candidates to be studied.
In this context, the standardization and design of future communications systems using these bands will require a thorough understanding of the radio channel and its propagation characteristics.
The paper, “A Comparison of Indoor Channel Properties in V and E Bands”, which is a finalist for the best paper award in propagation, reports recent Leti results in this field. It presents wideband channel measurements in the 59-65 GHz and 80.5-86.5 GHz frequency bands. Measurements were performed by means of mechanical steering of directive antennas at both transmitter and receiver sides, allowing a double-directional angular characterization. For each band, researchers compared propagation characteristics such as the path loss and multipath clusters’ properties in the delay and angular domains.
“These results highlight the differences and similarities between the two bands, defining a mmWave channel model, which is crucial for the deployment of future 5G networks,” said Rafaele D’Errico, an author of the paper. “These millimeter-wave bands can be used to carry a significant share of the data load in those networks.”
Leti’s team at EuCAP, in booth i4, also demonstrated what's new on propagation modeling, miniature and integrated antenna development, and beam-forming antenna techniques. They showcased about 15 demonstrators of different antenna solutions for a wide range of applications, including intra-body communication device, reconfigurable transmit arrays and optimized miniature antenna solutions for IoT applications.
Leti papers and posters included:
- A 3-D Wide- Band Setup for Over-The-Air Test in Anechoic Chamber
- A Comparison of Indoor Channel Properties in V and E Bands
- Doppler Characteristics for Indoor Mobile-to-Mobile Channels
- Multipath Estimation Technique for Wideband mm-Wave Backscattering Channels
- Dual-Band Dual-Polarized Transmitarrays At Ka-band
- Wideband Circularly-Polarized 3-bit Transmitarray Antenna in Ka-Band
- Experimental Characterization of Dual Linearly Polarized Transmitarray Antennas At X-Band
- Impact of Phase Compensation Method on Transmitarray Performance
- Analysis and Design of a Four-Element Superdirective Compact Dipole Antenna Array
- Analysis of Superdirective Huygens Source Based End-Fire Arrays
- 3D Printed Compact Dual-Polarized Wideband Antenna
- V-Band Transceiver Modules with Integrated Antennas and Phased Arrays for mmWave
- Switched-Beam E-Band Transmitarray Antenna for Point-to-Point Communications
- Substrate-Integrated Planar Discrete Lens Antenna for Compact Millimeter-Wave Transceiver Module