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Electronics
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5G Front-End Transceivers
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5G Front-End Transceivers

A special issue of Electronics (ISSN 2079-9292). This special issue belongs to the section "Microwave and Wireless Communications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2021) | Viewed by 29623

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Marco Pirola

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Torino, Italy
Interests: microwave linear and nonlinear circuits and components; microwave measurements; device modelling; CAD techniques
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Vittorio Camarchia

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Torino, Italy
Interests: power amplifiers; monolithic microwave integrated circuits
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The forthcoming next generation of mobile networks (5G) with the foreseen multi-Gbps high capacity (thousands of times greater than the present capacity) and massive IoT (billions of users), will influence the whole transmission system, with the start of new services and applications.

The architecture will be deeply affected by this revolution, forcing both academic and commercial actors to partially redefine the hardware, both in terms of specifics and characteristics.

Among the various blocks, the front-end transceiver will be updated and re-defined to cope with the new scenario.

The present Special Issue is focused on presenting technical papers covering the various aspects of the front-end transceiver, designed to address the new requirements at the system and circuit levels. Advanced signal processing will complete but not limit the scope of the Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Marco Pirola
Prof. Dr. Vittorio Camarchia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Electronics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Power amplifier
  • MIMO antenna systems
  • Phased array
  • LNA
  • ADC up-conversion
  • DDS
  • DSP

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 2590 KiB  
Article
Broadband Class-J GaN Doherty Power Amplifier
by Abbas Nasri, Motahhareh Estebsari, Siroos Toofan, Anna Piacibello, Marco Pirola, Vittorio Camarchia and Chiara Ramella
Electronics 2022, 11(4), 552; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11040552 - 12 Feb 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2338
Abstract
This paper presents a broadband 3–3.7 GHz class-J Doherty power amplifier exploiting second harmonic tuning in the output network. Furthermore, the output impedance inverter is eliminated and its effect is embedded in the main device’s output matching network, thus trading off among bandwidth, [...] Read more.
This paper presents a broadband 3–3.7 GHz class-J Doherty power amplifier exploiting second harmonic tuning in the output network. Furthermore, the output impedance inverter is eliminated and its effect is embedded in the main device’s output matching network, thus trading off among bandwidth, efficiency, and gain. The proposed amplifier adopts two 10 W packaged GaN transistors, and it achieves in measurement 60–74%, and 46–50% drain efficiency at saturation and 6 dB output back-off, respectively, with a saturated output power of 43–44.2 dBm and a small-signal gain of 10–13 dB. The proposed DPA exhibits a simulated adjacent channel power ratio less than −30 dBc at 36 dBm average output power, when a 16-QAM modulation with 5 MHz bandwidth is applied to the 3.5 GHz carrier. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 5G Front-End Transceivers)
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19 pages, 3074 KiB  
Article
A Cross-Mode Universal Digital Pre-Distortion Technology for Low-Sidelobe Active Antenna Arrays in 5G and Satellite Communications
by Yunfeng Li, Yonghui Huang, Martin Hedegaard Nielsen, Feridoon Jalili, Wei Wei, Jian Ren, Yingzeng Yin, Ming Shen and Gert Frølund Pedersen
Electronics 2021, 10(16), 2031; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10162031 - 22 Aug 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2327
Abstract
A cross-mode universal digital pre-distortion (CMUDPD) technology is proposed here to linearize low-sidelobe active antenna arrays with non-uniform fixed power levels for each branch, which are desired in satellite communications with stringent requirements to minimize interference. In low-sidelobe arrays formed by nonuniform amplitude [...] Read more.
A cross-mode universal digital pre-distortion (CMUDPD) technology is proposed here to linearize low-sidelobe active antenna arrays with non-uniform fixed power levels for each branch, which are desired in satellite communications with stringent requirements to minimize interference. In low-sidelobe arrays formed by nonuniform amplitude excitation, conventional digital pre-distortion (DPD) techniques require multiple feedback paths for either one-to-one or average linearization of the PAs, which increases system complexity and is infeasible for large-scale arrays. This is because the power amplifiers (PAs) usually operate in different modes where the supply voltages, bias voltages, and input power levels are different. The proposed CMUDPD method aims at solving this issue by intentionally arranging the PAs to work in different modes but with shared nonlinear characteristics. Based on the nonlinear correlation established among the PAs’ different operating modes, a single feedback path is sufficient to capture the common nonlinearity of all the PAs and determine the parameters of the CMUDPD module. The concept is explained in theory and validated by simulations and experiments using GaN PAs operating with three significantly different output power levels and two orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal bandwidths. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 5G Front-End Transceivers)
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13 pages, 2808 KiB  
Article
Design of a Wideband Doherty Power Amplifier with High Efficiency for 5G Application
by Abbas Nasri, Motahhareh Estebsari, Siroos Toofan, Anna Piacibello, Marco Pirola, Vittorio Camarchia and Chiara Ramella
Electronics 2021, 10(8), 873; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10080873 - 7 Apr 2021
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 4475
Abstract
This paper discusses the design of a wideband class AB-C Doherty power amplifier suitable for 5G applications. Theoretical analysis of the output matching network is presented, focusing on the impact of the non-ideally infinite output impedance of the auxiliary amplifier in back off, [...] Read more.
This paper discusses the design of a wideband class AB-C Doherty power amplifier suitable for 5G applications. Theoretical analysis of the output matching network is presented, focusing on the impact of the non-ideally infinite output impedance of the auxiliary amplifier in back off, due to the device’s parasitic elements. By properly accounting for this effect, the designed output matching network was able to follow the desired impedance trajectories across the 2.8 GHz to 3.6 GHz range (fractional bandwidth = 25%), with a good trade-off between efficiency and bandwidth. The Doherty power amplifier was designed with two 10 W packaged GaN HEMTs. The measurement results showed that it provided 43 dBm to 44.2 dBm saturated output power and 8 dB to 13.5 dB linear power gain over the entire band. The achieved drain efficiency was between 62% and 76.5% at saturation and between 44% and 56% at 6 dB of output power back-off. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 5G Front-End Transceivers)
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10 pages, 3163 KiB  
Article
Low Phase Noise and Wide-Range Class-C VCO Using Auto-Adaptive Bias Technique
by Jeong-Yun Lee, Gwang Sub Kim, Goo-Han Ko, Kwang-Il Oh, Jae Gyeong Park and Donghyun Baek
Electronics 2020, 9(8), 1290; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics9081290 - 11 Aug 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5543
Abstract
This paper proposes a new structure of 24-GHz class-C voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) using an auto-adaptive bias technique. The VCO in this paper uses a digitally controlled circuit to eliminate the possibility of start-up failure that a class-C structure can have and has low [...] Read more.
This paper proposes a new structure of 24-GHz class-C voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) using an auto-adaptive bias technique. The VCO in this paper uses a digitally controlled circuit to eliminate the possibility of start-up failure that a class-C structure can have and has low phase noise and a wide frequency range. To expand the frequency tuning range, a 3-bit cap-bank is used and a triple-coupled transformer is used as the core inductor. The proposed class-C VCO implements a 65-nm RF CMOS process. It has a phase noise performance of −105 dBc/Hz or less at 1-MHz offset frequency and the output frequency range is from 22.8 GHz to 27.3 GHz, which consumes 8.3–10.6 mW of power. The figure-of-merit with tuning range (FoMT) of this design reached 191.1 dBc/Hz. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 5G Front-End Transceivers)
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16 pages, 5014 KiB  
Article
An Ultra-Wideband Sensing Board for Radio Frequency Front-End in IoT Transmitters
by Alessandra Petrocchi, Antonio Raffo, Gianni Bosi, Gustavo Avolio, Davide Resca, Giorgio Vannini and Dominique Schreurs
Electronics 2019, 8(10), 1191; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics8101191 - 19 Oct 2019
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3534
Abstract
The upcoming technologies related to Internet of Things will be characterized by challenging requirements oriented toward the most efficient exploitation of the energy in electronic systems. The use of wireless communications in these devices makes this aspect particularly important, since the performance of [...] Read more.
The upcoming technologies related to Internet of Things will be characterized by challenging requirements oriented toward the most efficient exploitation of the energy in electronic systems. The use of wireless communications in these devices makes this aspect particularly important, since the performance of radio transceivers is strongly dependent on the environmental conditions affecting the antenna electrical characteristics. The use of circuits capable of adapting themselves to the actual state of the environment can be a valuable solution, provided that the implemented sensing features have negligible impact on the overall performance and cost of the system. In this work, we present the design and verification of an innovative ultra-wideband sensing board to detect real-time variations of the antenna impedance in transmitters oriented to Internet of Things applications. The proposed sensing board was widely validated by means of small- and large-signal measurements carried out at microwave frequencies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 5G Front-End Transceivers)
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12 pages, 7855 KiB  
Article
Analytical Design Solution for Optimal Matching of Hybrid Continuous Mode Power Amplifiers Suitable for a High-Efficiency Envelope Tracking Operation
by Tao Cao, Youjiang Liu, Wenhua Chen, Chun Yang and Jie Zhou
Electronics 2019, 8(6), 621; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics8060621 - 1 Jun 2019
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4084
Abstract
An analytical method to design a power amplifier (PA) with an optimized power added efficiency (PAE) trajectory for envelope tracking (ET) architecture is proposed. To obtain feasible matching solutions for high-efficiency performance of the PA in the dynamic supply operation, hybrid continuous modes [...] Read more.
An analytical method to design a power amplifier (PA) with an optimized power added efficiency (PAE) trajectory for envelope tracking (ET) architecture is proposed. To obtain feasible matching solutions for high-efficiency performance of the PA in the dynamic supply operation, hybrid continuous modes (HCM) architecture is introduced. The design space for load impedances of the HCM PAs with nonlinear capacitance is deduced mathematically using the device’s embedding transfer network, without the necessity of using load-pull. The proposed design strategy is verified with the implementation of a GaN PA operating over the frequency range of 1.9 GHz to 2.2 GHz with PAE between 67.8% and 72.4% in the 6.7 dB back-off power region of the ET mode. The ET experimental system was set up to evaluate the application of the PA circuit. Measurement results show that the ET PA at 2.1 GHz reaches the efficiency of 61%, 54%, 44% and an error vector magnitude (EVM) of 0.32%, 0.60%, 0.67% at an average output power of 34.4 dBm, 34.2 dBm, 34.1 dBm for 6.7 dB peak-to-average power ratios (PAPR) signals with 5 MHz, 10 MHz, and 20 MHz bandwidths, respectively. Additionally, tested by a 20 MHz bandwidth 16 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) signal, 41.8% to 49.2% efficiency of ET PA is achieved at an average output power of 33.5 dBm to 35.1 dBm from 1.9 GHz to 2.2 GHz. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 5G Front-End Transceivers)
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Review

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50 pages, 1162 KiB  
Review
Review of Channel Estimation for Candidate Waveforms of Next Generation Networks
by Owoicho E. Ijiga, Olayinka O. Ogundile, Ayokunle D. Familua and Daniel J. J. Versfeld
Electronics 2019, 8(9), 956; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics8090956 - 29 Aug 2019
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 6302
Abstract
The advancement in wireless communication applications encourages the use of effective and efficient channel estimation (CE) techniques because of the varying behaviour of the Rayleigh fading channel. In most cases, the emphasis of most proposed CE schemes is to improve the CE performance [...] Read more.
The advancement in wireless communication applications encourages the use of effective and efficient channel estimation (CE) techniques because of the varying behaviour of the Rayleigh fading channel. In most cases, the emphasis of most proposed CE schemes is to improve the CE performance and complexity for ensuring quality signal reception and improved system throughput. Candidate waveforms whose designs are based on filter bank multi-carrier (FBMC) modulation techniques such as filter bank orthogonal frequency division multiplexing based on offset quadrature amplitude modulation (OFDM-OQAM), universal filtered multicarrier (UFMC) and generalised frequency division multiplexing based on offset quadrature amplitude modulation (GFDM-OQAM) are no exception to the use of these proposed CE techniques in the literature. These schemes are considered as potential waveform candidates for the physical/media access control layer of the emerging fifth generation (5G) networks. Therefore, pinpoint CE techniques represent an important requirement for these waveforms to attain their full potentials. In this regard, this paper reviews the concept of CE as applicable to these waveforms as well as other waveform candidates under consideration in the emerging 5G networks. Since the design of the majority of the waveform candidates is filter based, a review of the general filter design considerations is presented in this paper. Secondly, we review general CE techniques for candidate waveforms of next generation networks and classify some of the studied CE techniques. In particular, we classify the CE schemes used in filter bank OFDM-OQAM and GFDM-OQAM based transceivers and present a performance comparison of some of these CE schemes. Besides, the paper reviews the performances of two linear CE schemes and three adaptive based CE schemes for two FBMC based waveform candidates assuming near perfect reconstruction (NPR) and non-perfect reconstruction (Non-PR) filter designs over slow and fast frequency selective Rayleigh fading channels. The results obtained are documented through computer simulations, where the performances of the studied CE schemes in terms of the normalised mean square error (NMSE) are analysed. Lastly, we summarise the findings of this work and suggest possible research directions in order to improve the potentials of the studied candidate waveforms over Rayleigh fading channels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 5G Front-End Transceivers)
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