300 GHz transmitter with controllable holographic antennas - HoloOnC

• Applicants: Professor Dr.-Ing. Dietmar Kissinger; Professor Dr.-Ing. Christian Waldschmidt
• Subject Area: Communication Technology and Networks, High-Frequency Technology and Photonic Systems, Signal Processing and Machine Learning for Information Technology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 556676862

In millimeter wave systems above 100 GHz for communication and sensor applications, a major challenge is to achieve a high EIRP (Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power), i.e. to provide high directional transmit power. This applies in particular to transmitters that are not built with tubes but with integrated circuits (ICs). The reasons for this include the limited maximum output power of the power amplifiers, the limited efficiency of integrated antennas and lossy assembly and interconnect technology for the ICs. The efficiency (PAE) of power amplifiers is usually only a few percent above 100 GHz; with silicon-based chip technology, this is further limited by the comparatively low breakdown voltage of the technology. As the output power of integrated transmit antennas is not sufficient for many millimeter-wave applications, the emitted beam must be focused in order to achieve a high EIRP. In many applications, however, beam steering is required in order to direct the emitted signals in a specific direction depending on the situation. This project application tackles this problem and introduces a novel approach to beam focusing and scanning. A new basic concept is to be researched in which holographic antennas are designed to be controllable for the first time, i.e. with the possibility of beam steering. The actual beam steering takes place via an adaptive hologram, which can be changed using integrated switches in the hologram. The concept is intended for the upper millimeter wave range, so that the controllable holographic antenna is to be implemented as a chip-integrated antenna in an IC. The project aims to work out the interactions of the new holographic antenna concept. Based on this, a design methodology for the antenna and circuit design will be derived. A demonstrator will be used for verification at the end of the project. The new concept is based on the topics of integrated antennas, holographic antennas, power generation and integrated switches, for which the applicants have done extensive preliminary work.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants