A Bi-Directional Multi-Band, Multi-Beam mm-Wave Beamformer for 5G Fiber Wireless Access Networks

An autonomous beamformer demonstrates multi-beam and multi-band signal transmission and reception with wide field-of-view (FoV) self-steering beam-tracking/-forming for future extreme broadband and dynamic mm-Wave fronthaul applications operating in 5G new radio (NR) frequencies. The experimental results show the novel autonomous beamformer system covering full FoV beamforming (180 degrees) with a wideband 22-40 GHz home-designed antenna array, demonstrating simultaneously multi-band (24.75 and 37 GHz) signals receiving with enhanced mobile multi-Gb/s transmission. A system testbed is further implemented to achieve a mm-Wave bi-directional link between remote radio unit (RRU) and user equipment (UE) in a fiber-wireless integrated network. A wide FoV autonomous signal sensing for angle-of-arrival (AoA) information in receiver is fed forward for mirror-reversed multi-Gb/s signal transmitting over a 10-km fiber and 0.56-m wireless link, addressing fast-changing complex 5G transceiver alignments. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of an integrated autonomous beamformer for mm-Wave multi-beam and multi-band mobile applications in a fiber-wireless integrated radio access network.

Automated summary

This research demonstrates an autonomous beamformer system for future extreme broadband and dynamic mm-Wave fronthaul applications operating in 5G NR frequencies. The experimental results show full FoV beamforming and enhanced mobile multi-Gb/s transmission with the ability to receive multi-band signals. A system testbed further achieves a mm-Wave bi-directional link in a fiber-wireless integrated network, making it the first of its kind for mm-Wave applications in a fiber-wireless integrated radio access network.