We present a novel hybrid beamforming architecture for high speed 5G technologies. The architecture combines several new concepts to achieve significant hardware and cost reduction for large antenna arrays. Specifically, we employ an on-site code division multiplexing scheme to group several antenna elements into a single analog-to-digital converter (ADC). This approach significantly reduces analog hardware and power requirements by a factor of 8 to 32. Additionally, we employ a novel analog frequency independent beamforming scheme to eliminate phase shifters altogether and allow for coherent combining at the analog front-end. This approach avoids traditional phase-shifter-based approaches typically associated with bulky and inefficient components. Preliminary analysis shows that for an array of 800 elements, as much as 97% reduction in cost and power is achieved using the hybrid beamformer as compared to conventional beamformer systems.

A 10-GHz sub-harmonic Gilbert mixer is demonstrated in this paper using the 0.35 µm SiGe BiCMOS technology. The time-delay when the sub-harmonic LO (Local Oscillator) stage generates sub-harmonic LO signals is compensated by using fully symmetrical multiplier pairs. High RF-to-IF isolation and sub-harmonic LO Gilbert cell with excellent frequency response can be achieved by the elimination of the time-delay. The SiGe BiCMOS sub-harmonic micromixer exhibits 17 dB conversion gain, -74 dB 2LO-to-RF isolation, IP1 dB of -20 dBm, and IIP3 of -10 dBm. The measured double sideband noise figure is 16 dB from 100-kHz to 100-MHz because the SiGe bipolar device has very low 1/f noise corner.

An even-harmonic mixer using a bipolar differential pair (bipolar harmonic mixer;BHMIX) is theoretically analyzed from the direct conversion point of view; i.e, conversion gain, third-order input intercept point (IIP3), self-mixing induced dc offset level, and second-order input intercept point (IIP2). Also, noise are analyzed based on nonlinear large-signal model, and numerical results are given. Noises are treated as cyclostationary noises, thus all the folding effects are taken into account. Factors determining IIP3, IIP2, dc offset, and noise are identified and estimation procedures for these characteristics are obtained. For example, design guidelines for the optimal noise performance are given. Measured results support all the analysis results, and they are very useful in the practical BHMIX design.