基于3微米厚绝缘体上硅（SOI）平台的片上光学真时间延迟（OTTD）的射频波束转向技术
Rf beam steering using on-ohip optical true time delay on 3 micrometer siliocn on insulator platfrom
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中文总结 AI 辅助
该研究在3微米厚SOI平台实现可重构5位4通道OTTD芯片，采用热光开关控制，在6G FR3频段实现宽带射频波束转向，验证了集成OTTD技术用于下一代无线系统波束成形的潜力
中文摘要 AI 辅助
我们展示了由VTT在3微米厚绝缘体上硅（SOI）平台上实现的可重构5位4通道光学真时间延迟（OTTD）芯片的设计、封装及系统级实验验证。该芯片在0至101皮秒范围内可实现32个离散延迟状态，延迟分辨率为3.25皮秒，非常适用于即将到来的10 GHz左右的6G FR3频段系统的宽带射频波束成形。每个通道包含5个二进制加权延迟级，由基于马赫-曾德尔干涉仪（MZI）的热光开关控制，其消光比超过25分贝，平均开关功率为25毫瓦。该芯片嵌入在模拟光载无线（A-RoF）链路中，输出连接到基于印刷电路板（PCB）的四元件贴片天线阵列。使用10 GHz载波上调制的100 MBaud的16正交幅度调制（16-QAM）信号，在正横方向及偏离正横30度方向均实现了精确的射频波束转向。转向时观察到误差矢量幅度（EVM）下降约1%，在两个接收位置之间测得的消光比超过50分贝。这些结果证实了集成OTTD技术在下一代无线和雷达系统中实现紧凑、高能效及宽带波束成形的潜力。
英文摘要
We present the design, packaging, and system-level experimental demonstration of a reconfigurable 5-bit, 4-channel optical true time delay (OTTD) chip realized on a 3 micrometer thick silicon on insulator (SOI) platform at VTT. The chip enables 32 discrete delay states over a 0 to 101 picoseconds range, with a delay resolution of 3.25 picoseconds, making it well suited for broadband RF beamforming with upcoming 6G FR3 band systems around 10 GHz. Each channel incorporates five binary weighted delay stages controlled by Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) based thermo-optic switches with an extinction ratio exceeding 25 decibels and an average switching power of 25 milliwatts. The chip is embedded within an analog radio-over-fibre (A-RoF) link, and the outputs are connected to a PCB-based four-element patch antenna array. Accurate RF beam steering is demonstrated at broadside and at 30 degrees from broadside using a 16 - QAM signal modulated at 100 MBaud on a 10 GHz carrier. An error vector magnitude (EVM) degradation of approximately 1 percent is observed upon steering, and an extinction ratio exceeding 50 decibels is measured between the two receiver positions. The results confirm the potential of integrated OTTD technology for compact, power-efficient, and broadband beamforming in next-generation wireless and radar systems.
