Modular Phased-Array Solution with Beam-Steering Antennas for 5G Millimeter-Wave RAN

A modular beamforming architecture utilizing multiple beamforming ICs and a separate IQ modem IC is a very efficient solution for scalable 5millimeter-wave RANs. The beamforming IC consists of amplifiers and vector modulators, and the modem IC includes up- and down-converters with an integrated PLL. The proposed solution is highly compact, and can be expanded in a modular fashion, making it suitable for communication in small-cell backhaul networks. In this presentation, IC development in 130-nm SiGe BiCMOS process as well as the integration of antenna arrays, enabling the beam-steering functionality, will be discussed.