The IEEE International Microwave Symposium (IMS) 2024 to be held in Washington D.C. from June 16-21, will present its third thematic element towards “capitalizing across the spectrum”, which is around wireless technology and applications for areas of improvement. This area includes techniques and technologies for spectrum sharing and coexistence between active and passive users, interference mitigation, spectrum monitoring and metrology, energy efficiency and sustainability.
As 6G cellular communications networks move higher in frequency, the spectrum use overlaps with traditional SATCOM. The added bandwidth at these higher frequencies is attractive for network operators as more and more data-hungry users join the network. Our community helps solve these issues by developing and demonstrating capabilities to coexist. For example, SpectrumX, initiated by a 5-year, $25M center grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation, is the world’s largest academic hub where all radio spectrum stakeholders can innovate, collaborate, and contribute to maximizing social welfare of this precious resource.
Program Highlights:
"Real-world Performance Measurements of Cellular Networks Using Smartphones"
Monisha Ghosh, Professor of Electrical Engineering, University of Notre Dame and Former Chief Technology Officer at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Abstract: As 5G deployments increase in the newly allocated mid-band and mmWave spectrum, and discussions on 6G begin, it is important to characterize real-world performance of the enhancements made to 5G to determine how best to design the next generation of cellular networks. For example, how well does massive MIMO work in the real-world? How is sharing in CBRS performing? In this talk we will present recent results from detailed measurements of 4G and 5G in the various bands: mmWave (> 24 GHz), mid-band (2.5 - 3.98 GHz) and CBRS (3.55 - 3.7 GHz). Our studies demonstrate that mmWave 5G is severely limited in coverage, especially outdoors-to-indoors, while performance of 5G in mid-band also depends on network densification, contrary to popularly held beliefs. Our studies in CBRS show that secondary co-channel sharing as well as adjacent channel interference from high power deployments pose fundamental challenges for cellular networks in shared spectrum. We conclude with some directions for future network design based on our research that will allow 6G to be "sharing native".
- Workshops:
- WMC: Radio Spectrum for Microwave Practitioners
Conference: IMS
Organizers: Charles Baylis, Andrew Clegg
Organizer organizations: Baylor Univ., Google
Location: 144C
Abstract: This workshop will discuss radio spectrum usage from the view of a microwave practitioner. The basics of wireless spectrum allocation and regulation will be discussed. Presentations will describe the spectrum needs and challenges for defense and the commercial wireless industry, as well as how the test and measurement industry will be challenged. Core microwave technology innovations enabling future innovative spectrum usage will be discussed, including mm-wave devices and reconfigurable circuitry. Finally, a discussion of workforce development for spectrum science and engineering will conclude the presentations. The workshop will include an opening discussion and audience poll for topics of interest, as well as a closing panel session with the speakers for additional participant interaction.
WMC-1: Opening Discussion: Challenges in Wireless Spectrum Use
WMC-2: Introduction to the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Author: Andrew Clegg
Organisation: Google
WMC-3: Spectrum Regulation: As Real as Maxwell’s Equations
Author: Ira Keltz
Organisation: FCC
WMC-4: Current Spectrum Sharing Deployments and Plans
Author: Monisha Ghosh
Organisation: Univ. of Notre Dame
WMC-5: Commercial Wireless Challenges for Microwave Designers
Author: Tom Willis
Organisation: AT&T Labs
WMC-6: Spectrum Needs and Challenges for Defense
Author: Kelly Sherbondy
Organisation: Army Research Laboratory
WMC-7: mm-Wave Devices to Expand Spectrum Usage
Author: Robert M. Weikle
Organisation: Univ. of Virginia
WMC-8: Reconfigurable Circuitry for Adaptive Microwave Spectrum Sharing Systems
Author: Charles Baylis
Organisation: Baylor Univ.
WMC-9: The Use of Artificial-Intelligence in Radio Spectrum
Author: Robert J. Marks
Organisation: Baylor Univ.
WMC-10: Test and Measurement in the Changing Spectral Environment
Author: Nizar Messaoudi
Organisation: Keysight Technologies
WMC-11: Workforce Development in the Changing Spectral Environment
Author: Rashaunda Henderson
Organisation: Univ. of Texas at Dallas
WMC-12: Closing Panel: Answering Today’s Challenges and Addressing Future Considerations
- Panel Session:
- PL6: Weather vs. Wireless: How do We Balance the Use of Critical Microwave Bands?
Organizers: Renee Leduc, Paolo de Matthaeis, Beau Backus
Organizer organizations: Narayan Strategy, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University
Panelists: Andrew Clegg, Umair Javed, David Kunkee, Renee Leduc
Panelist organizations: Google, CTIA-The Wireless Association®, Aerospace Corporation, Narayan Strategy
Moderators: Jennifer Warren
Location: 207AB
Abstract: A recent high profile spectrum conflict has been between weather forecasters and the wireless industry on the use of passive microwave spectrum. While both sides are addressing critical economic and societal needs, there are many questions about the possibility for and impacts of coexistence, especially related to 50-58 GHz, which will be considered at the World Radiocommunication Conference-2027.
The wireless industry, as it deploys 5G technologies and plans for 6G, has a critical need to expand its access to spectrum to support the deployment of numerous wireless technologies that fuel economies and international competition. But the world is also facing increasing weather and climate related disasters that rely on improvements in environmental prediction to keep people and communities safe. Eighteen disasters in the US in 2022 (the third highest) had damage values above $1 billion (and an overall cost of $177.3 billion with 474 deaths).
This panel discussion will feature high level panelists from across the public, private and NGO sectors to discuss the increasing demand for passive microwave spectrum for both wireless tech and meteorology. The discussion will seek to foster more productive science and engineering discussions on these topics and highlight possible solutions for coexistence.
Chair: Julien Lintignat
Chair organization: XLIM (UMR 7252)
Co-chair: Charles F. Campbell
Co-chair organization: Qorvo
Location: 145AB
Abstract: This session presents the latest advances in reconfigurable filters and passive devices. The reconfigurable filters presented include a paper on a multi-functional bandpass filter that provides tunable attenuator and reflectionless phase shifter functionalities, and a liquid-metal-based filter with reconfigurable phase shifting properties. The session then transitions into passive devices, which include different ways to realize reconfigurable loads for phase shifters and a reconfigurable 90 nm GaAs MMIC quadrature coupler operating in the 17.3–21.2 GHz frequency range.
Sessions for Tuesday (18 June)
Tu4B-1: Multi-functional Bandpass Filter with Co-designed Tunable Attenuator and Reflectionless Phase Shifter Functionalities
Authors: Zixiao Zhang, Dimitra Psychogiou
Organisations: Univ. College Cork, Univ. College Cork
Time: 15:40 - 16:00
Tu4B-2: Liquid Metal-Enabled Multi-Functional Passive Device
Authors: Yi-Wen Wu, Lu Qian, Yi Wang
Organisations: Univ. of Birmingham, Univ. of Birmingham, Univ. of Birmingham
Time: 16:00 - 16:20
Tu4B-4: Monolithically Integrated Liquid Crystal Tunable Reflective Load for Millimeter-Wave Phase Shifter Applications
Authors: Hassan Kianmehr, Raafat R. Mansour
Organisations: Univ. of Waterloo, Univ. of Waterloo
Time: 16:20 - 16:40
Tu4B-5: Reconfigurable Quadrature Couplers
Author: Charles F. Campbell
Organisation: Qorvo
Time: 16:40 - 17:00
Sessions for Thursday (20 June)
- Th1H: Advances in Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces, Antennas and Beamformers
Chair: Nizar Messaoudi
Chair organization: Keysight Technologies
Co-chair: Najme Ebrahimi
Co-chair organization: Northeastern University
Location: 151AB
Abstract: This session showcases five papers in the area of reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), antennas, and beamformers. The first paper presents an 8GHz 32×32-element RIS to enhance non-line-of-sight (NLOS) communications. The second paper introduces a 16×16-element RIS array at 28 GHz, adopting a phase randomization technique introduced to suppress lobes. The third paper presents a 11-port wire antenna capable of beam steering from 5–18GHz. The fourth paper explores a space-time-modulated metamaterial antenna, functioning as a beam-space multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) receiver. The last paper presents a fully-passive, 4-channel RF beamformer at 12GHz for power-constrained applications.
Th1H-1: Scalable 32×32 1-Bit Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces for Upper-Mid Band 6G Communications
Authors: Sungeun Kim, Hong-seok Choi, Byung-Wook Min
Organisations: Yonsei Univ., Yonsei Univ., Yonsei Univ.
Time: 08:00 - 08:20
Th1H-2: A Scalable, Binary Phase, Millimeter-Wave Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface
Authors: Aditya S. Shekhawat, Bharath G. Kashyap, Russell W. Raldiris Torres, Georgios C. Trichopoulos
Organisations: Arizona State Univ., Arizona State Univ., Arizona State Univ., Arizona State Univ.
Time: 08:20 - 08:40
Th1H-3: A Wideband Configurable Multi-Port Wire Antenna
Authors: Sina Rezaeeahvanouee, Yahya Tousi
Organisations: Univ. of Minnesota, Univ. of Minnesota
Time: 08:40 - 09:00
Th1H-4: Spatial-Spectral Mapping Beamspace MIMO Receiver Enabled by a Programmable Space-Time-Modulated Metamaterial Antenna
Authors: Shaghayegh Vosoughitabar, Alireza Nooraiepour, Waheed Bajwa, Narayan Mandayam, Chung-Tse Michael Wu
Organisations: Rutgers Univ., Qualcomm, Rutgers Univ., Rutgers Univ., Rutgers Univ.
Time: 09:00 - 09:20
Th1H-5: A Fully-Passive 4-Channel RF Beamformer with Ultra-Low Insertion Loss at 12GHz X/Ku-Band for Low-Power Applications in 28nm CMOS
Authors: Matthew Giorgis Anderson, Sashank Krishnamurthy, Ali Niknejad, Jan Rabaey
Organisations: Univ. of California, Berkeley, Univ. of California, Berkeley, Univ. of California, Berkeley, Univ. of California, Berkeley
Time: 09:20 - 09:40
- Th2H: Advanced Circuits and Techniques for Next-Generation Wireless Systems
Chair: Kenneth E. Kolodziej
Chair organization: MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Co-chair: Marcus Pan
Co-chair organization: Semiconductor Research Corp.
Location: 151AB
Abstract: This session is comprised of papers that present advanced circuits and techniques for next-generation wireless systems. Discussion topics include active calibration for MIMO transmitters, a load-modulated balanced amplifier with an antenna interface, an analog self-interference canceller that mitigates tap loss, an integrated full-duplex front-end at 75–100 GHz, and a 130 GHz OOK-doubler circuit heterogeneously integrated with a glass antenna for scalable array systems.
Th2H-1: Active Calibration Approach Addressing Antenna Mutual Coupling and Power Amplifier Output Mismatch in Fully Digital MIMO Transmitters
Authors: Hoda Barkhordar-pour, Jin Gyu Lim, Ahmed Ben Ayed, Patrick Mitran, Slim Boumaiza
Organisations: Univ. of Waterloo, Univ. of Waterloo, Univ. of Waterloo, Univ. of Waterloo, Univ. of Waterloo
Time: 10:10 - 10:30
Th2H-2: Indirectly-Non-Reciprocal Load Modulated Balanced Amplifier with Equivalent Operation at Antenna Interface
Authors: Niteesh Bharadwaj Vangipurapu, Pingzhu Gong, Jiachen Guo, Kenle Chen
Organisations: Univ. of Central Florida, Univ. of Central Florida, Univ. of Central Florida, Univ. of Central Florida
Time: 10:30 - 10:50
Th2H-3: An Efficient Analog Self-Interference Canceller Using a Balanced Topology for Mitigating Inherent Multi-Tap Loss
Authors: Kamal D. Bhakta, Jean Paul Santos, Mohammadali Panahi, Maziar Hedayati, Lap K. Yeung, Yuanxun Ethan Wang
Organisations: Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, Univ. of California, Los Angeles, Univ. of California, Los Angeles, Univ. of California, Los Angeles, Univ. of California, Los Angeles
Time: 10:50 - 11:10
Th2H-4: Integrated 75-100 GHz In-Band Full-Duplex Front End GaN MMIC
Authors: Seth Johannes, Anthony Romano, Zoya Popovic
Organisations: University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Boulder
Time: 11:10 - 11:30
Th2H-5: A Compact 130 GHz CMOS OOK-Doubler with Embedded 10 Gb/s Modulator and Integrated Glass Antenna for Scalable Array Systems and Efficient Short-Range Communication
Authors: Shah Zaib Aslam, Hao Yan, Meysam Asghari, Najme Ebrahimi
Organisations: Univ. of Florida, Univ. of Florida, Univ. of Florida, Northeastern University
Time: 11:30 - 11:50
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