Yes / A shared ground shared radiator with wide angular coverage for mmWave 5G smartphones is proposed in this paper. A four-element corporate-fed array with conventional impedance matched power divider is designed. Stepped impedance transformers are integrated with the corner most elements to achieve pattern diversity with wide angular coverage without signifi-cant compromise in gain. The proposed three-port shared radiator conformal commercial an-tenna could be easily integrated with commercial mmWave 5G smartphones. All the three ports’ excitations operate in the 28 GHz band. Radiation pattern bandwidth of the multi-port system is high. The gain variation is from 6 to11 dBi amongst the ports and across the operating spectrum. The highest mutual coupling is 10 dB, in spite of the electrically connected structure. The pro-posed shared radiator element has a wide angular coverage of 100°, maintaining high front-to-back ratio when the respective port is excited. Simulation and measurement results for the proposed structure are illustrated in detail. / This work is supported by the Moore4Medical project, funded within ECSEL JU in collaboration with the EU H2020 Framework Programme (H2020/2014-2020) under grant agreement H2020-ECSEL-2019-IA-876190, and Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (ECSEL/0006/2019).

Master of Science / The 6 GHz spectrum band (5.925 GHz – 7.125 GHz) is an important frequency range for many industries due to its high bandwidth capabilities, low latency, and ability to support high data transfer rates. Different types of services, both fixed and mobile, are utilizing the 6 GHz frequency band at present. The incumbents of this band comprise governmental and commercial entities that depend on the 6 GHz spectrum for services like transportation and public safety. The 6 GHz spectrum has also been identified for use by various wireless communication systems, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 5G. Incumbent licensed operators need to be able to access the spectrum without significant interference to operate effectively. As more wireless communication systems are developed and deployed, the demand for spectrum continues to grow. There is a need for spectrum sharing due to the scarcity of coverage-friendly low band spectrum. Indeed, 6G is expected to use spectrum sharing to a much larger extent compared to previous generations of wireless systems. This thesis provides extensive experimentation results using a commercial FML system that can be used to understand resiliency of FML receivers to interference at 6 GHz.

[pt] O uso de dispositivos móveis cresceu exponencialmente nos últimos anos, tornando-se um desafio a melhoria da qualidade de sinal e o pleno atendimento a serviços que exigem altas taxas de dados e baixa latência. A fim de atender a crescente demanda de tráfego, as faixas de freqüências de ondas milimétricas começam a ser exploradas para aplicação à Quinta Geração de Comunicações Móveis. A partir de medições realizadas em ambientes fechados, nas faixas de freqüências de 28 GHz e 38 GHz, foi possível analisar o canal de comunicação com base nos modelos propagação para as faixas de freqüências de ondas milimétricas. / [en] Mobile usage has grown exponentially in recent years, making it a challenge to improve signal quality and fully support to services that require high data rates and low latency. In order to meet the growing traffic demand, millimeter-wave frequency bands are being explored for application to the 5th Generation of Mobile Communications. From measurements performed in indoor environments, in the 28 GHz and 38 GHz frequency range, it was possible to analyze the communication channel based on the propagation models for the millimeter wave frequency bands.

Yes / A dual-port transparent multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna resonating at sub-6 GHz 5G band is proposed by using patch/ground material as transparent conductive oxide (AgHT-8) and a transparent Plexiglas substrate. Two identical circular-shaped radiating elements fed by using a microstrip feedline are designed using the finite element method (FEM) based highfrequency structure simulator (HFSS) software. The effect of the isolation mechanism is discussed using two cases. In case 1, the two horizontally positioned elements are oriented in a similar direction with a separate ground plane, whereas in case 2, the elements are vertically placed facing opposite to each other with an allied ground. In both cases, the transparent antennas span over a −10 dB band of 4.65 to 4.97 GHz (300 MHz) with isolation greater than 15 dB among two elements. The diversity parameters are also analyzed for both the cases covering the correlation coefficient (ECC), mean effective gain (MEG), diversity gain (DG), and channel capacity loss (CCL). The average gain and efficiency above 1 dBi and 45%, respectively with satisfactory MIMO diversity performance, makes the transparent MIMO antenna an appropriate choice for smart IoT devices working in the sub-6 GHz 5G band by mitigating the co-site location and visual clutter issues. / This work is supported by the Moore4Medical project, funded within ECSEL JU in collaboration with the EU H2020 Framework Programme (H2020/2014-2020) under grant agreement H2020-ECSEL-2019-IA-876190, and Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (ECSEL/0006/2019).

Yes / In this paper, a planar multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) dipole antenna for a future sub-6 GHz 5G application is proposed. The planar MIMO structure consists of 4 antenna elements with an overall size of 150×82×1 mm3. The single antenna element is characterized by a size of 32.5×33.7×1 mm3 printed on an FR-4 dielectric substrate with εr=4.4 and tanδ=0.02. The suggested antenna structure exhibits good impedance bandwidth equal to 3.24 GHz starting from 3.3 to 6.6 GHz with an S11 value of less than -10 dB (S11≤-10 dB) with antenna gain varying from 5.2 up to 7.05 dB in the entire band, which covers all the sub-6 GHz frequency band of the 5G application. Good isolation is achieved between the MIMO elements due to low surface waves inside the MIMO antenna substrate. The radiation of the MIMO antenna structure can be manipulated and many beam-types can be achieved as desired. The high-frequency structure simulator (HFSS) software package is used to design and simulate the proposed structure, while the CST MWS is used to validate the results.

The goal of this thesis is design and build rectangular patch antenna for 60 GHz band, matched to 50 Ohms. First section described general knowledges about microstrips antennas and technologies for 60 GHz band. Second section introduced rectangular patch antenna feeded by miscrostrip line matched by quarter wave transformer on CuClad 217 substrate. Third section introduced two structural modification of rectangular patch antenna and measurements of return loss |S11|.

This research focuses on radio wave propagation at millimeter-wave frequencies. A measurement based channel characterization approach is taken in the investigation. First, measurement techniques are analyzed. Three types of measurement systems are designed, and implemented in measurement campaigns: a narrowband measurement system, a wideband measurement system based on Vector Network Analyzer, and sliding correlator systems at 5.8+AH4AXA-mbox{GHz}, 38+AH4AXA-mbox{GHz} and 60+AH4AXA-mbox{GHz}. The performances of these measurement systems are carefully compared both analytically and experimentally. Next, radio wave propagation research is performed at 38+AH4AXA-mbox{GHz} for Local Multipoint Distribution Services (LMDS). Wideband measurements are taken on three cross-campus links at Virginia Tech. The goal is to determine weather effects on the wideband channel properties. The measurement results include multipath dispersion, short-term variation and signal attenuation under different weather conditions. A design technique is developed to estimate multipath characteristics based on antenna patterns and site-specific information. Finally, indoor propagation channels at 60+AH4AXA-mbox{GHz} are studied for Next Generation Internet (NGI) applications. The research mainly focuses on the characterization of space-time channel structure. Multipath components are resolved both in time of arrival (TOA) and angle of arrival (AOA). Results show an excellent correlation between the propagation environments and the channel multipath structure. The measurement results and models provide not only guidelines for wireless system design and installation, but also great insights in millimeter-wave propagation. / Ph. D.

Avec la croissance actuelle du marché des applications de transfert de données multimédia à très haut débit, les bandes de fréquences autour de 60 GHz sont une nouvelle alternative promettant des performances intéressantes en terme de débits mais soulèvent des défis techniques et technologiques au niveau des architectures et circuits. C'est dans ce cadre que s'inscrit cette thèse, qui propose une approche multi bande impulsionnelle MBOOK avec un récepteur à détection d'énergie, et qui analyse plus spécifiquement les verrous au niveau de l'émetteur. L'étude du canal de propagation à 60 GHz, basée sur les modèles de canaux du standard IEEE 802.15.3c, a permis de démontrer la potentialité de cette architecture et permet d'atteindre des débits de 2 Gbps à 2metres dans un environnement de type résidentiel. Le dimensionnement de l'architecture ainsi que des performances des principaux blocs ont conduit à plusieurs possibilités pour l'architecture de l'émetteur MBOOK à 60 GHz. Les critères ont été d'assurer un compromis performances, consommation. Une étude approfondie sur l'étude des imperfections de certains blocs critiques et l'impact sur l'impulsion transmise, et donc sur les performances du système ont été établies. Le banc de filtres, nécessaire à l'émission et à la réception, représente l'un des verrous, et nous proposons une solution de filtrage à base de lignes couplées. L'étude des solutions de génération d'impulsions, des étages de commutation, et des étages d'amplification de l'émetteur sont détaillées et discutées dans les deux derniers chapitres / With the current increasing market request concerning high speed data rates applications, the 60 GHz frequency bands seems to be one of the new promising alternatives for high data rate wireless communications. In this context, the development of new systems operating at these frequencies becomes a very attractive research subject. This study focuses on nomadic systems offering high data and reconfigurable rates, low complexity, low power consumption for short communications. One of the important tasks in the millimetre wave architecture design is to consider the channel propagation characteristics simultaneously with the technological performance of integrated circuits and antennas. This requires a co-design of the entire system. Therefore, we begun by studying the characteristics of the channel propagation channel at 60GHz according to the IEEE 802.15.3c and IEEE 802.11.ad models. This PHD thesis proposes a new transceiver architecture based on multi-band impulse mode, with On Off Keying modulation schema and non coherent receiver. This architecture is dedicated to nomadic systems offering high data and reconfigurable rates, low complexity, low power consumption for short communications. Analysis and performances for the proposed architecture are presented. More than 2 Gbps at 2 m are obtained. The imperfections of some critical blocks and their impact on the transmitted pulses were analysed and thus the performance of the system has been established. The potentiality of microstrip band pass filter bank presenting a constant relative bandwidth and reasonable insertion losses is presented in this study. The study of pulse generation solutions, switchers, amplification stages and antennas are detailed and discussed in the last two chaptersconstant relative bandwidth and reasonable insertion losses is presented in this study.The study of pulse generation solutions, switchers, amplification stages and antennas are detailed and discussed in the last two chapters.

La montée en fréquence jusqu'à 60 GHz dans la bande de fréquences millimétriques, qui devrait permettre des débits supérieurs de l'ordre de 5 à 7 Gb/s environ, a été la réponse aux exigences croissantes des systèmes de télécommunication haut débit. Cette montée nécessite la réalisation de circuits actifs ou passifs plus intégrés avec de hautes performances.Dans ce travail de thèse, nous utilisons la technologie LGP (Ligne de Goubau Planaire) à 60 GHz : un ruban métallique est placé sur un diélectrique sans plan de masse dans le cas des circuits planaires, nous utilisons un diélectrique composé d'une bicouche (une couche de silicium haut résistivité au-dessus d'une couche de verre) en prenant en compte le plateau métallique du banc de mesure dans les simulations.Pour montrer l'efficacité de cette technologie à 60 GHz, plusieurs circuits passifs ont été développés et caractérisés: des lignes de transmission (qui ont montré de très faibles pertes, ainsi qu'un facteur de qualité Q très élevé), des transitions coplanaire/LGP, des filtres à base de résonateurs en boucle carrée ouverte, et un filtre passe-bas à saut d'impédance.Les mesures en concordance avec les résultats de simulations électromagnétiques et électriques ont validé l'utilisation de la technologie LGP pour la réalisation de filtres passe-bande et passe-bas à 60GHz / The rise in frequency band till 60 GHz in millimeter frequency-band, which should provide high data rate up to 5 or 7 Gb/s, has been the response to the increasing demands for high data rate telecommunication systems. This rising in frequency spectrum requires active or passive circuits more integrated with high performances.In this work we use the PGL technology (Planar Goubau Line) at 60 GHz: a metal strip deposited on a dielectric substrate without ground plane, the dielectric in our case is a bilayer substrate (High Resistivity silicon over Glass), we take into account in the simulations the measure bench metal plate.To show the efficiency of PGL technology at 60 GHz, several passive circuits have been fabricated and characterized: Transmission Lines (of low transmission losses with high quality factor Q), Coplanar/ PGL transition, filters based on square open-loop resonators, and a stepped impedance low pass filter.The agreement between the measurement and simulations validate this technology for the fabrication of low-pass and bandpass filters

Il y a à l’heure actuelle un grand besoin d’antennes reconfigurables dans la bande des 60 GHz pour des applications de télédétection et de télécommunication sans fil. Les solutions traditionnelles de reconfiguration sont basées sur des semi-conducteurs ou des composants RF-MEMS conventionnels dont le coût, la complexité et les pertes croissent avec la fréquence.Dans cette thèse une approche originale a été développée : elle est basée sur la reconfiguration mécanique d’antennes et de dispositifs sur substrat élastomère souple PDMS et l’utilisation d’actionneurs MEMS grand déplacement.L’histoire et le contexte de la télécommunication sont abordés pour faire comprendre l’intérêt récent pour la communication à 60 GHz ainsi que la nécessité de la reconfiguration et l’avantage de la reconfiguration mécanique à cette fréquence. Le PDMS, polymère ultra-souple de choix est ensuite étudié en détail. Il est caractérisé mécaniquement et diélectriquement. Sont ensuite présenté les applications développées par cette approche : des antennes accordables en fréquence ainsi que des dispositifs permettant un balayage de l’espace. Différents mode d’actionnement (pneumatique, magnétique, interaction électro-fluidique) sont explorés. / There is an increasing need for tunable antennas in the 60 GHz band for remote sensing application and wireless communication. Traditional tuning solutions are based on semiconductor or conventional RF-MEMS but these component face cost, complexity and losses issues at millimeter waves. In this thesis, an original approach was developed: it is based on the mechanical reconfiguration of millimeter wave microstrip antennas and devices printed on ultrasoft elastomeric PDMS substrate, thanks to large displacement MEMS actuators.First, a quick history and context on the telecommunication explain the recent interest toward the 60 GHz band for telecommunication and the need for tenability and advantage of mechanical tenability at this frequencies. The ultrasoft polymeric PDMS is then studied. It is caracterised both mechanically and dielectrially. Then the different applications developed during this thesis are presented: frequency tunable antenna and beam steering systems. Different actuation solution (pneumatic, magnetic, electro-fluidic interaction) are explored.