28-GHz 360°相位可調功率放大器

Abstract

本論文所沿用之開關式相移器架構，加上中和式功率放大器達成無條件穩定，並且利用差動式拜倫以較低損耗的方式分開訊號並且分別以兩路相位陣列發射訊號。隨著5G毫米波通訊技術的快速發展，為滿足高速率、低延遲與大容量的無線傳輸需求，相控陣列天線（phased array）已成為實現波束賦形（beamforming）與空間多工的關鍵技術。在此架構中，相位控制器與功率放大器的整合設計直接影響整體系統的效能、功耗與硬體複雜度。使用開關式相移器的優勢就是可以利用較簡易的操作方式實現相移器的功能，其優點在架構簡介可以看到其方均根相位差以及增益表現優異之外，另一方面，為了克服毫米波下高路徑損耗的挑戰，功率放大器的設計需同時兼顧高增益與低功耗。將功率放大器與相位移器緊密整合，可降低路徑插損並減少匹配電路帶來的面積與能耗開銷，對高整合度相控陣列晶片特別重要。因此，在每個天線路徑中整合雙路相位移器與功率放大器，不僅能提供精確、可調的相位控制能力，亦有助於提升系統效能與陣列可擴展性。此方向的研究已成為實現高解析度波束控制與節能相控陣列晶片設計的重要策略

This work adopts a switch-type phase-shifter (STPS) architecture and pairs it with a neutralized power amplifier (PA) to achieve unconditional stability. A differential balun is used to split the signal with low loss and to feed two phased-array transmit paths. As 5G mmWave communications technology advance, the demand for high data rates, low latency, and large capacity has made phased-array antennas a key technology for beamforming. In this architecture, the co-design and integration of the phase-control network and the PA directly impact overall performance, power consumption, and hardware complexity. The switch-based phase shifter offers simple control and, in our design, achieves low RMS phase error while maintaining competitive overall gain when combined with the power amplifier (PA). To overcome the high path loss in mmWave links, the PA must provide high gain and high output power while maintaining high efficiency. Integrating the first driver-amplifier (DA) with a transformer-based phase shifter (TFPS) reduces insertion loss and matching-network (MN) area—a key advantage for highly integrated phased-array chips. Consequently, integrating a phase shifter and a PA in each path not only enables accurate, tunable phase control but also improves system performance and array scalability. This approach is an effective strategy for achieving high-resolution phase control and energy-efficient phased-array ICs.