Switchable wideband receiver frontend for 5G and satellite applications

Uko, Mfonobong Charles (2023) Switchable wideband receiver frontend for 5G and satellite applications. Masters by Research thesis (MSc), Manchester Metropolitan University.

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Abstract

Modern day communication architectures provides the requirement for interconnected devices offering very high data rate (more than 10 Gbps), low latency, and support for multiple service integration across existing communication generations with wideband spectrum coverage. An integrated satellite and 5G architecture switchable receiver frontend is presented in this thesis, consisting of a single pole double throw (SPDT) switch and two low noise amplifiers (LNAs) spanning X-band and K/Ka-band frequencies. The independent X-band LNA (8-12 GHz) has a gain of 38 dB at a centre design frequency of 9.8 GHz, while the K/Ka-band (23-28 GHz) has a gain of 29 GHz at a centre design frequency of 25.4 GHz. Both LNAs are a three-stage cascaded design with separated gate and drain lines for each transistor stage. The broadband high isolation single pole double throw (SPDT) switch based on a 0.15 μm gate length Indium Gallium Arsenide (InGaAs) pseudomorphic high electron transistor (pHEMT) is designed to operate at the frequency range of DC-50 GHz with less than 3 dB insertion loss and more than 40 dB isolation. The switch is designed to improve the overall stability of the system and the gain. A gain of about 25 dB is achieved at 9.8 GHz when the X-band arm is turned on and the K/Ka-band is turned off. A gain of about 23 dB is achieved at 25.4 GHz when the K/Ka-band arm is turned on and the X-band arm is off. This presented switchable receiver frontend is suitable for radar applications, 5G mobile applications, and future broadband receivers in the millimetre wave frequency range.