The Researchers with DARPA’s Efficient Linearized All-Silicon Transmitter ICs (ELASTx) program recently demonstrated an all-silicon, microchip-sized transmitter SoC, that operates at a whopping 94 GHz for the first time. This accomplishment settles the lack of sufficient power output and efficiency at millimeter-wave frequencies used for wireless communications systems made with gallium compounds and many other military applications, such as radar and guidance systems.
The all-silicon SoC transmitter uses a digitally assisted power amplifier, which in turn can dynamically, adapts amplifier performance characteristics to changing signal requirements. This vital capability also allows for simultaneous optimization of efficiency and linearity, which is a key goal of all transmitters and power amplifiers, as they are potentially designed to quickly deliver large amounts of data on the emerging, net-dependent battlefield.
“This accomplishment opens the door for co-designing digital CMOS and millimeter-wave capabilities as an integrated system on an all-silicon chip, which should also make possible new design architectures for future military RF systems. This SoC can support a range of modulation formats, so it’s possible to communicate to multiple systems using different waveforms from a single silicon chip, Its efficient silicon construction will significantly reduce SWAP [size, weight, and power] requirements for millimeter-wave applications, including compact satellite communications ground terminals for frontline troops. These new capabilities will provide connectivity to more service members faster and at lower cost.” said Dev Palmer, DARPA program manager.
