Open AccessOptically Upconverted, Spatially Coherent Phased-Array-Antenna Feed Networks for Beam-Space MIMO in 5G Cellular Communications
Author(s) -
Dennis W. Prather,
Shouyuan Shi,
Garrett J. Schneider,
Peng Yao,
Christopher Schuetz,
Janusz Murakowski,
Joseph C. Deroba,
Fuquan Wang,
Matthew R. Konkol,
Dylan D. Ross
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
ieee transactions on antennas and propagation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.652
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1558-2221
pISSN - 0018-926X
DOI - 10.1109/tap.2017.2735549
Subject(s) - fields, waves and electromagnetics , aerospace , transportation , components, circuits, devices and systems
The densification of cellular networks and their soon-to-increase operational frequency is forcing new topological considerations in 5G networks. In particular, networks that enable extreme spatial discrimination are being considered as a means to significantly increase data capacity by realizing spatial-spectral channels that offer frequency reuse without co-channel or adjacent-channel interference. In this paper, we present a new approach to realizing such a capability based on optically upconverted, spatially coherent phased-array feed networks. The details of our approach, presented herein, include the design and initial demonstration of both transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) array systems that are used in tandem to form a down-/up-link for the purpose of characterizing both array and link performance. Design parameters and initial link characterization results are presented.