Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse concernent l’étude et la fabrication de composants passifs hyperfréquence possédant un facteur de qualité important sur les bandes Q et V. Pour cela, nous nous sommes orientés vers la fabrication de composants volumiques à air. Des lignes coaxiales à section rectangulaire à air ainsi que des filtres à cavité métalliques à air ont été réalisés. Aussi, ces travaux consistent à définir une méthode de fabrication permettant d’obtenir les composants cités précédemment. Plusieurs techniques de micro-fabrication additives ont ainsi été établies afin de répondre à la problématique. / This work concerns the study and the fabrication of passive RF components with a high quality factor on Q/V bands. The components were fabricated with an air-filled 3D architecture. Air-filled rectangular micro-coaxial lines and air filled cavity filters were demonstrated. Also, micro-additive fabrication processes were demonstrated for the realization of the 3D air-filled components.

<div>In recent years, intelligent devices such as smartphones and self-driving cars are becoming ubiquitous in daily life, and thus, wireless communication is turning out to be increasingly omnipresent. To efficiently utilize the electromagnetic spectrum, automatically reconfigurable software-controlled radio transceivers are drawing an extensive amount of attention. In order to implement a reconfigurable radio transceiver, automatically tunable RF front-end components such as tunable filters are indispensable. Over the last decade, tunable filters have shown promising performance with high-quality factor (Q), a wide tuning range, and high-power handling. However, most of the existing tunable filters are manually adjusted. In this regard, this research work focuses on developing a novel automatic software-driven tuning technique for continuously tunable microwave and millimeter-wave filters.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>First, a K-band continuously tunable bandpass filter has been demonstrated with contactless printed circuit board (PCB) tuners. Then, an automatic tuning technique based on deep-Q learning has been proposed and realized to tune a filter with contactless tuners automatically. Two-pole, three-pole, and four-pole bandpass filters are experimentally tested as examples without any human intervention to prove the feasibility of the tuning technique. For the first time, unlike a look-up table, the filters can be continuously tuned at a practically infinite number of frequencies inside the tuning range. </div><div><br></div><div>Next, a K/Ka-band tunable absorptive bandstop filter (ABSF) has been designed and fabricated in low-cost PCB technology. Contrary to a reflective bandstop filter, an ABSF filter is preferred for interference mitigation due to its deeper notch and lower reflection. However, the absorbed power may limit the filter's power handling. Therefore, lastly, a comparative analysis of power handling capability (PHC) between a reflective bandstop filter and an absorptive bandstop filter has been studied theoretically and experimentally in this dissertation.</div>

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Die Einführung des millimeter-Wellen-Bandes eröffnet neue Perspektiven für die Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Kommunikationssysteme. Der Enwurf des Systems im 60-GHz-Band ermöglicht die Implementierung der On-Chip Antenne und darüber hinaus die Implementierung eines RFID-Tags auf einem einzigen Chip. Dennoch ist es aufgrund der gesetzlichen Beschränkung der effektiven isotropen Strahlungsleistung (EIRP) des Lesegeräts und der erhöhten Freiraum-Dielektrikumsverluste eine Herausforderung, eine zuverlässige Kommunikationsreichweite von mehreren Millimetern zu erreichen. Neue Lösungen sind für jeden Block sowohl im Lesegerät als auch im Single-Chip-Tag erforderlich. Obwohl das Lesegerät batteriebetrieben ist, ist es immer noch eine Herausforderung, die maximal zulässigen 20 dBm IERP des Lesersenders energieeffizient zu erzeugen. Darüber hinaus sollte der Empfänger einen ausreichenden Dynamikbereich haben, um das vom Tag kommende Signal zu erkennen. Auf der Tag-Seite sind die Hauptherausforderungen das Co-Design der effizienten On-Chip-Antennen-Implementierung, die hochempfindliche Gleichrichter-Implementierung und das Rückkommunikationskonzept. Diese Arbeit konzentriert sich auf die Machbarkeitsstudie des Single-Chip-RFID-Tags und die Implementierung im Millimeterwellenbereich. Es werden zwei Rückkommunikationskonzepte untersucht - Backscattering-Rückkommunikation und eine Kommunikation unter Verwendung von Ultra-Low-Power (ULP) Radios. Beide werden in einem 22 nm FDSOI Prozess auf einem Substrat mit geringem Widerstand implementiert. Beide Tags arbeiten mit einer Versorgungsspannung von 0,4 V, um die Kommunikationsreichweite zu maximieren. Die Link-Budgets sind so ausgelegt, dass sie die regulatorischen Beschränkungen einhalten. Die Auswahl des Technologieknotens wird begründet. Verschiedene Aspekte im Zusammenhang mit der Technologie werden diskutiert, wie z. B. Geräteleistung, passiver Qualitätsfaktor, Leistungsdichte der Kondensatoren. Der Backscattering RFID-Tag wird zuerst entworfen, da er eine relativ einfachere Topologie hat. Die Probleme der Gleichrichterempfindlichkeit im Rahmen des analogen Frontends, der On-Chip-Antenneneffizienz und der konjugierten Anpassung beider werden untersucht. Eine Kommunikationsreichweite von 5 mm wird angestrebt und realisiert. Um die Kommunikationsreichweite weiter zu erhöhen, wird in der zweiten Phase ein Tag mit einer aktiven Rückkommunikation implementiert. Hier wird die Gleichrichterempfindlichkeit weiter verbessert. Es wird ein 0,4V ULP Radio entworfen, das sich die Antenne mit dem Gleichrichter über einen Single-Pole- Double-Through (SPDT) Schalter teilt. Ein Abstand von 2 cm erwies sich als realisierbar, wobei die gesetzlichen Bestimmungen eingehalten und der dynamische Bereich des Leseempfängers nicht überschritten wurde. Es wird die höchste normalisierte Kommunikationsreichweite pro Leser-EIRP erreicht. Weitere Verbesserungsmöglichkeiten werden diskutiert.

In the upcoming era of communication systems, there is an anticipated shift towards using lower-grade hardware components to optimize size, cost, and power consumption. This shift is particularly beneficial for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems and internet-of-things devices, which require numerous components and extended battery lifes. However, using lower-grade components introduces impairments, including various non-linear and time-varying distortions affecting communication signals. Traditionally, these distortions have been treated as additional noise due to the lack of a rigorous theory. This thesis explores new perspective on how distortion structure can be exploited to optimize communication performance. We investigate the problem of distortion-aware beamforming in various scenarios.  In the first part of this thesis, we focus on systems with limited fronthaul capacity. We propose an optimized linear precoding for advanced antenna systems (AAS) operating at a 5G base station (BS) within the constraints of a limited fronthaul capacity, modeled by a quantizer. The proposed novel precoding minimizes the mean-squared error (MSE) at the receiver side using a sphere decoding (SD) approach.  After analyzing MSE minimization, a new linear precoding design is proposed to maximize the sum rate of the same system in the second part of this thesis. The latter problem is solved by a novel iterative algorithm inspired by the classical weighted minimum mean square error (WMMSE) approach. Additionally, a heuristic quantization-aware precoding method with lower computational complexity is presented, showing that it outperforms the quantization-unaware baseline. This baseline is an optimized infinite-resolution precoding which is then quantized. This study reveals that it is possible to double the sum rate at high SNR by selecting weights and precoding matrices that are quantization-aware.  In the third part and final part of this thesis, we focus on the signaling problem in mobile millimeter-wave (mmWave) communication. The challenge of mmWave systems is the rapid fading variations and extensive pilot signaling. We explore the frequency of updating the combining matrix in a wideband mmWave point-to-point MIMO under user equipment (UE) mobility. The concept of beam coherence time is introduced to quantify the frequency at which the UE must update its downlink receive combining matrix. The study demonstrates that the beam coherence time can be even hundreds of times larger than the channel coherence time of small-scale fading. Simulations validate that the proposed lower bound on this defined concept guarantees no more than 50 \% loss of received signal gain (SG). / I den kommande eran av kommunikationssystem finns det en förväntad förändringmot att använda hårdvarukomponenter av lägre kvalitet för att optimera storlek, kostnad och strömförbrukning. Denna förändring är särskilt fördelaktig för MIMO-system(multiple-input multiple-output) och internet-of-things-enheter, som kräver många komponenter och förlängd batteritid. Användning av komponenter av lägre kvalitet medfördock försämringar, inklusive olika icke-linjära och tidsvarierande förvrängningar sompåverkar kommunikationssignaler. Traditionellt har dessa förvrängningar behandlatssom extra brus på grund av avsaknaden av en rigorös teori. Denna avhandling utforskarett nytt perspektiv på hur distorsionsstruktur kan utnyttjas för att optimera kommunikationsprestanda. Vi undersöker problemet med distorsionsmedveten strålformning iolika scenarier. I den första delen av detta examensarbete fokuserar vi på system med begränsadfronthaulkapacitet. Vi föreslår en optimerad linjär förkodning för avancerade antennsystem (AAS) som arbetar vid en 5G-basstation (BS) inom begränsningarna av en begränsad fronthaulkapacitet, modellerad av en kvantiserare. Den föreslagna nya förkodningen minimerar medelkvadratfelet (MSE) på mottagarsidan med användning av ensfäravkodningsmetod (SD). Efter att ha analyserat MSE-minimering, föreslås en ny linjär förkodningsdesignför att maximera summahastigheten för samma system i den andra delen av dennaavhandling. Det senare problemet löses av en ny iterativ algoritm inspirerad av denklassiska vägda minsta medelkvadratfel (WMMSE)-metoden. Dessutom presenterasen heuristisk kvantiseringsmedveten förkodningsmetod med lägre beräkningskomplexitet, som visar att den överträffar den kvantiseringsomedvetna baslinjen. Denna baslinje är en optimerad förkodning med oändlig upplösning som sedan kvantiseras. Dennastudie avslöjar att det är möjligt att fördubbla summahastigheten vid hög SNR genomatt välja vikter och förkodningsmatriser som är kvantiseringsmedvetna. I den tredje delen och sista delen av denna avhandling fokuserar vi på signaleringsproblemet i mobil millimetervågskommunikation (mmWave). Utmaningen medmmWave-system är de snabba blekningsvariationerna och omfattande pilotsignalering.Vi utforskar frekvensen av att uppdatera den kombinerande matrisen i en bredbandsmmWave punkt-till-punkt MIMO under användarutrustning (UE) mobilitet. Konceptet med strålkoherenstid introduceras för att kvantifiera frekvensen vid vilken UE:nmåste uppdatera sin nedlänksmottagningskombinationsmatris. Studien visar att strålkoherenstiden kan vara till och med hundratals gånger större än kanalkoherenstiden försmåskalig fädning. Simuleringar bekräftar att den föreslagna nedre gränsen för dettadefinierade koncept inte garanterar mer än 50 % förlust av mottagen signalförstärkning(SG) / <p>QC 20240219</p>

With the growing demand for high-speed data transmission, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) study group, particularly IEEE 802.11, which focuses on Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) technologies, has been actively pursuing advancements to meet these escalating requirements. One such endeavor is the exploration of Millimeter Wave (mmWave) communications. However, mmWave communications differ significantly from traditional communication systems, characterized by factors like high propagation loss, directivity, and susceptibility to blockage. These distinctive attributes present numerous challenges that must be addressed to fully exploit the potential of mmWave communications. The 802.11be amendment, which will be advertised as Wi-Fi 7, introduces several features that aim to enhance the capabilities of Wi-Fi. One of the main features introduced in this amendment is the Multi-Link Operation (MLO) which allows nodes to transmit and receive over multiple links concurrently. The objective of this project is to assess the performance of integrating MLO with an additional mmWave link in comparison to using a single mmWave link. The aim is to determine whether this combination can effectively address challenges within mmWave communications and consequently enhance throughput performance. Experimental simulations were conducted using an event-based Radio Access Technology (RAT) simulator, considering various scenarios and setups. These investigations examined the impact of factors such as link bandwidth, the number of links in MLO, on Wi-Fi performance. Our findings demonstrate the potential of combining MLO with an additional mmWave link, highlighting significant improvements in overall throughput. However, our results also reveal a link asymmetry problem that arises when integrating links with substantial differences in link capacity. This problem manifests in a specific region where the performance of MLO is not as well as that of using a single mmWave link. To address this issue, we propose a potential solution, which we thoroughly investigate through multiple simulations to assess its feasibility and effectiveness. / Med den växande efterfrågan på höghastighetsdataöverföring har IEEE:s studiegrupp, särskilt IEEE 802.11, som fokuserar på Wi-Fi-teknik, aktivt strävat efter att göra framsteg för att möta dessa eskalerande krav. En sådan strävan är utforskningen av mm-vågskommunikation. mm-vågskommunikation skiljer sig dock avsevärt från traditionella kommunikationssystem, som kännetecknas av faktorer som hög spridningsförlust, direkthet och känslighet för blockering. Dessa utmärkande egenskaper innebär många utmaningar som måste hanteras för att fullt ut utnyttja potentialen hos mm-vågskommunikation. Tillägget 802.11be, som kommer att marknadsföras som Wi-Fi 7, introducerar flera funktioner som syftar till att förbättra kapaciteten hos Wi-Fi. En av de viktigaste funktionerna i detta tillägg är MLO (Multi-Link Operation) som gör det möjligt för noder att sända och ta emot över flera länkar samtidigt. Syftet med detta projekt är att utvärdera hur MLO integreras med en extra mm-våglänk jämfört med en enda mm-våglänk. Målet är att fastställa om denna kombination effektivt kan hantera utmaningar inom mm-vågskommunikation och därmed förbättra genomströmningsprestandan. Experimentella simuleringar genomfördes med hjälp av en händelsebaserad RAT-simulator (Radio Access Technology), där olika scenarier och inställningar beaktades. I dessa undersökningar undersöktes hur faktorer som länkbandbredd och antalet länkar i MLO påverkar Wi-Fi-prestandan. Våra resultat visar potentialen i att kombinera MLO med ytterligare en mm-våglänk, med betydande förbättringar av den totala genomströmningen. Våra resultat visar dock också på ett länkasymmetriproblem som uppstår när man integrerar länkar med stora skillnader i länkkapacitet. Detta problem manifesteras i en specifik region där MLO:s prestanda inte är lika bra som vid användning av en enda mm-våglänk. För att ta itu med detta problem föreslår vi en potentiell lösning som vi undersöker grundligt genom flera simuleringar för att bedöma dess genomförbarhet och effektivitet.

Yes / A feasibility study of a novel configuration for a super-wide impedance planar antenna is presented based on a 2 × 2 microstrip patch antenna (MPA) using CST Microwave Studio. The antenna comprises a symmetrical arrangement of four-square patches that are interconnected to each other with cross-shaped high impedance microstrip lines. The antenna array is excited through a single feedline connected to one of the patches. The proposed antenna array configuration overcomes the main drawback of conventional MPA with a narrow bandwidth that is typically <5%. The antenna exhibits a super-wide frequency bandwidth from 20 GHz to 120 GHz for S11 < −15 dB, which corresponds to a fractional bandwidth of 142.85%. The antenna’s performance of bandwidth, impedance match, and radiation gain were enhanced by etching slots on the patches. With the inclusion of the slot, the maximum radiation gain and efficiency of the MPA increased to 15.11 dBi and 85.79% at 80 GHz, which showed an improvement of 2.58 dBi and 12.54%, respectively. The dimension of each patch antenna was 4.3 × 5.3 mm2 . The results showed that the proposed MPA is useful for various existing and emerging communication systems such as ultra-wideband (UWB) communications, RFID systems, massive multiple-output multiple-input (MIMO) for 5G, and radar systems. / This work was partially supported by the Innovation Program under grant agreement H2020-MSCA-ITN-2016 SECRET-722424 and financial support from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under grant EP/E022936/1.

Phased array element RF front ends typically use single pole double throw (SPDT) switches or circulators with high isolation to prevent leakage of transmit energy into the receiver circuits. However, as phased-array designs scale to the millimeter-wave range, with high degrees of integration, the physical size and performance degradations associated with switches and circulators can present challenges in meeting system performance and size/weight/power (SWAP) requirements. This work demonstrates a loss-aware methodology for analysis and design of switchless transmit/receive (T/R) circuits. The methodology provides design insights and a practical, generally applicable approach for solving the multi-variable optimization problem of switchless power amplifier/low-noise amplifier (PALNA) matching networks, which present optimal matching impedances to both the power amplifier (PA) and the low noise amplifier (LNA) while maximizing power transfer efficiency and minimizing dissipative losses in each (transmit or receive) mode of operation. Three PALNA example designs at W-band are presented in this dissertation, each following a distinct design methodology. The first example design in 32SOI CMOS leverages PA and LNA circuits that already include 50 Ω matching networks at both input and output. The second example design in 8XP SiGe develops the PA and LNA circuits and integrates the PA output and LNA input matching networks into the PALNA matching network that connects the PA and the LNA. The third design in 32SOI CMOS leverages the loss-aware PALNA design methodology to develop a PALNA that achieves simulated maximum power added efficiency of 18 % in transmit and noise figure of 7.5 dB in receive at 94 GHz, which is beyond the published state-of-art for T/R circuits. In addition, for comparison purposes, this dissertation also presents an efficient, switch-based T/R circuit design in 32SOI CMOS technology, which achieves a simulated maximum power added efficiency of 15 % in transmit and noise figure of 6.5 dB in receive at 94 GHz, which is also beyond the published state-of-art for T/R circuits. / Doctor of Philosophy / In military and commercial applications, phased arrays are devices primarily used to achieve focusing and steering of transmitted or received electromagnetic energy. Phased arrays consist of many elements, each with an ability to both transmit and receive radio frequency (RF) signals. Each element incorporates a power amplifier (PA) for transmit and a low noise amplifier (LNA) for receive, which are typically connected using a single pole double throw (SPDT) switch or a circulator with high isolation to prevent leakage of transmit energy into the receiver circuits. However, as phased arrays exploit the latest technological advances in circuit integration and their frequencies of operation increase, physical size and performance degradations associated with switches and circulators can present challenges in meeting system performance and size/weight/power (SWAP) requirements. This dissertation provides a loss-aware methodology for analysis and design of switchless transmit/receive (T/R) circuits where the switches and circulators are replaced by carefully designed power amplifier/low-noise amplifier (PALNA) impedance matching networks. In the switchless T/R circuits, the design goals of maximum power efficiency and minimum noise in transmit and receive, respectively, are achieved through impedance matching that is optimal and low-loss in both modes of operation simultaneously. Three distinct PALNA example designs at W-band are presented in this dissertation, each following a distinct design methodology. With each new design, lessons learned are leveraged and design methodologies are enhanced. The first example design leverages already available PA and LNA circuits and connects them using 50 Ω transmission lines whose lengths are designed to guarantee optimum impedance match in receive and transmit mode of operation. The second example design develops new PA and LNA circuits and connects them using 50 Ω transmission lines whose lengths are designed to simultaneously achieve optimum impedance matching for maximum power efficiency in transmit mode of operation and lowest noise in receive mode of operation. The third design leverages a loss-aware PALNA design methodology, a multi-variable optimization procedure, to develop a PALNA that achieves simulated maximum power added efficiency of 18 % in transmit and noise figure of 7.5 dB in receive at 94 GHz, which is beyond the published state-of-art for T/R circuits. In addition, for comparison purposes with the third PALNA design, this dissertation also presents an efficient, switch-based T/R circuit design, which achieves a simulated maximum power added efficiency of 15 % in transmit and noise figure of 6.5 dB in receive at 94 GHz, which is also beyond the published state-of-art for T/R circuits.

This thesis presents various integrated antenna solutions for different types of systems and applications, e.g. wireless sensors, broadband handsets, advanced base stations, MEMS-based reconfigurable front-ends, automotive anti-collision radars, and large area electronics. For wireless sensor applications, a T-matched dipole is proposed and integrated in an electrically small body-worn sensor node. Measurement techniques are developed to characterize the port impedance and radiation properties. Possibilities and limitations of the planar inverted cone antenna (PICA) for small handsets are studied experimentally. Printed slot-type and folded PICAs are demonstrated for UWB handheld terminals. Both monolithic and hybrid integration are applied for electrically steerable array antennas. Compact phase shifters within a traveling wave array antenna architecture, on single layer substrate, is investigated for the first time. Radio frequency MEMS switches are utilized to improve the performance of reconfigurable antennas at higher frequencies. Using monolithic integration, a 20 GHz switched beam antenna based on MEMS switches is implemented and evaluated. Compared to similar work published previously, complete experimental results are here for the first time reported. Moreover, a hybrid approach is used for a 24 GHz switched beam traveling wave array antenna. A MEMS router is fabricated on silicon substrate for switching two array antennas on a LTCC chip. A concept of nano-wire based substrate integrated waveguides (SIW) is proposed for millimeter-wave applications. Antenna prototypes based on this concept are successfully demonstrated for automotive radar applications. W-band body-worn nonlinear harmonic radar reflectors are proposed as a means to improve automotive radar functionality. Passive, semi-passive and active nonlinear reflectors consisting of array antennas and nonlinear circuitry on flex foils are investigated. A new stretchable RF electronics concept for large area electronics is demonstrated. It incorporates liquid metal into microstructured elastic channels. The prototypes exhibit high stretchability, foldability, and twistability, with maintained electrical properties. / wisenet