Millimeter-Wave Receiver Blocks: Envelope Detector and Limiting Amplifier

Millimeter-wave (mm Wave) communication systems have emerged as a cornerstone of next-generation wireless technologies, offering unprecedented data rates, low latency, and wide bandwidths. Noncoherent detection, which circumvents the need for phase and frequency synchronization, is a vital approach in mmWave receiver architectures. Two critical components for effective noncoherent detection are the envelope detector and the limiting amplifier. This proposal focuses on the design and implementation of these two blocks, optimized for mmWave frequencies.
Motivation
Traditional mmWave receiver architectures often rely on complex coherent detection schemes, which introduce significant challenges in terms of circuit complexity, power consumption, and sensitivity to phase noise. Noncoherent detection mitigates these issues, providing a simpler and more robust solution for mmWave communications, particularly in scenarios involving low signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) or high mobility. Envelope detectors and limiting amplifiers play pivotal roles in noncoherent detection by extracting amplitude information and ensuring signal integrity, respectively.
Objectives

1. Design and Implementation: Develop high-performance envelope detector and limiting amplifier blocks optimized for wideband mmWave frequencies.
2. Performance Optimization: Achieve high sensitivity, low noise, and low power consumption while maintaining compact circuit designs.
3. Integration: Ensure compatibility with existing mmWave receiver architectures and explore their potential in noncoherent detection schemes.
4. Validation: Verify the performance of the proposed designs through simulation and measurement under realistic mmWave conditions.

Expected Outcomes

• High-performance envelope detector and limiting amplifier blocks capable of supporting noncoherent detection in mmWave receivers.
• Significant reduction in receiver complexity and power consumption compared to traditional coherent detection systems.
• Enhanced robustness of mmWave communication systems in challenging environments such as high mobility and low SNR.