PCB Technical - Characteristics of 60GHz Wireless Technology

Wireless interconnection is being used more and more widely. This trend is evident in consumer electronics, where the mobile phone and tablet markets have rapidly promoted the adoption of various wireless standards over the past decade. The number of Wi-Fi hotspots in the region has exceeded 175 million and is expected to reach 330 million in 2018. The total number of Bluetooth-enabled products has also increased, with 400% growth in the number of Bluetooth-enabled audio devices between 2014 and 2018. Most wireless technologies use the same 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, which are becoming increasingly crowded. Smartphone subscriptions in 2015 are estimated to be 3.4 billion, each of which means more data needs, constantly pushing the resources of mobile phone networks and authorized bands to the limit.

In recent years, a new solution has emerged that can solve the resource constraints faced by the existing bands and break the constraints of existing wireless solutions. In the millimeter wave (30 GHz - 300 GHz) band, the 60 GHz band stands out because of its potential. This band is not authorized in many areas, so it is very convenient for many applications. This opens up the possibility for the emergence of a new set of integrated Gigabit transceivers capable of providing a vast amount of bandwidth over the already crowded 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.

Many applications benefit from 60 GHz technology. In the field of data transmission, 60 GHz technology is being used to replace existing Wi-Fi applications to achieve data transfer rates as high as 4.6 Gbps, five times faster than existing 802.11ac[4] standards. WirelessHD? Standards enable video streaming between consumer electronic devices. Manufacturers are already adding WirelessHD support for laptops, smartphones, digital TV, video projectors, and virtual reality headphones, and expect WirelessHD to be used in mobile applications, home theaters and other computing devices. Other areas have also begun to develop 60 GHz technology, including wireless return applications for office buildings and campuses, which rely on 60 GHz data transfer applications to quickly and easily build interconnections between buildings and wireless connectors for lighter and more stable equipment. However, the demand for higher wireless width and high-speed HD video transmission is not limited to consumer electronics. Industry can also benefit from millimeter-wave technology. This article provides readers with an overview of 60 GHz technology, which not only covers existing consumer electronics applications, but also explores potential applications of millimeter-wave technology across many different industrial domains.

Overview of 60 GHz Wireless Technology

Regulatory bodies, including the United States FCC, have designated exemption bands for various industries. The 60 GHz band has a bandwidth of more than 7 GHz [5]. It provides more than 20 times the bandwidth resources compared to the 5GHz bandwidth.

The 60 GHz band has a wide spectrum range, provides gigabyte-level network capacity, and has several key propagation and attenuation characteristics from which new high-performance wireless solutions can benefit.

The 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands are suitable for medium-range transmission and are ideal for local network architectures such as Wi-Fi. The 60 GHz band has relatively shorter signal propagation distances and attenuates as it passes through air and solid structures, making it an ideal choice for short-range applications. In order to make full use of the advantage of 60 GHz band, phased array antenna, highly directional beam and beam control technology are needed. Redis Semiconductor provides Radio Frequency Transceivers (RF) based on SiBEAM technology, which are manufactured and packaged using standard CMOS IC technology.

application

The characteristic of millimeter-wave technology is that antennas need to be turned in a certain range to target, and different types of applications can be classified according to different ranges. In order to demonstrate the relevant technology, we have divided three application types: 10mm, 1-10m and 100m and above.

[10mm] Wireless connector

Within a very short distance (usually around 10mm), 60 GHz technology can be used as an efficient alternative to cables. Specially designed wireless transmitter and receiver ICs can be used to transmit data at very high rates over short distances, replacing wired connections.

The 60 GHz technology can also be used as an alternative solution for physical interfaces. It is useful for applications that require durability of equipment because it eliminates physical interfaces, which are one of the common failures of electronic equipment and one of the main entrances to water, dust and other particles that can harm electronic equipment. In addition to failure rates, some specialized interfaces, such as those that connect a removable tablet notebook to a base device or a traditional notebook base, often require significantly more development and implementation costs than standardized connectors.

[1-10m] Wireless Data/Audio

In the medium distance applications (1-10m), 60 GHz technology can be used as a high-speed alternative solution to existing wireless applications such as Wi-Fi and a cable alternative solution for wireless video.

802.11ad is a 60 GHz data transmission standard defined by IEEE, which also defines 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11n and 802.11ac Wi-Fi standards. Major players in the industry, such as Qualcomm, are integrating 802.11ad into their product [6], which enables ultra-fast video and data transmission for users.

60 GHz technology is particularly suited for wireless cable replacement solutions. High bandwidth, low latency, point-to-point architecture and indoor transmission characteristics make it an ideal alternative solution for indoor cables. This technology can play a role in the Home Theater System (Fig. 1) for high-definition video transmission. This technology enables consumers to place video content output devices and TV screens freely and flexibly, providing consumers with great convenience. The WirelessHD standard is emerging as a technology in the field of high-quality video transmission that takes full advantage of the 60 GHz band to achieve a superior wireless user experience.

Gigabit Outdoor Wireless Link

Millimeter-wave technology can also play an important role in future applications of wireless return infrastructure, such as the next generation 5G mobile communication infrastructure, fixed access return expansion, and point-to-point links on campus. The wireless capacity of 60 GHz channels and highly optimized radio frequency links can achieve the ideal "wireless optical fiber" to replace the existing optical return applications.

There are many schemes competing with each other in the market, but most systems are currently based on the IEEE 802.11ad standard. In addition to the indoor applications mentioned earlier, the revision to the existing 802.11 standard covers the use of 60 GHzmm band to support long-distance link (up to 500 meters) applications. It uses the same beam control technology developed for 10-meter room interconnection to support other applications such as access point connections and outdoor return links.

Industrial applications

The enormous opportunities that 60 GHz technology brings to the consumer electronics field are already evident, and the technological development in this field will continue to develop rapidly. As the 60 GHz solution continues to expand in the consumer electronics market, manufacturers in the industry are also exploring how to use the technology. For many industrial applications, they can also benefit from 60 GHz technology just like many applications in consumer electronics, with millimeter-wave technology enabling manufacturers to eliminate cables and improve mobility and flexibility. Moreover, many new applications, such as target detection or gesture recognition using millimeter-wave technology, have attracted much attention in the industrial field.

Mechanical vision

Industrial mechanical vision systems are mainly used to inspect or guide robots in manufacturing products [7]. They are indispensable tools in modern factories to assist in the manufacture of high-quality, accurate products in various industrial fields, involving electronics, manufacturing and cutting-edge garment production. Mechanical vision consists of three basic elements: an image capturer (similar to a camera, an image sensor captures raw data), a computer or processor that analyzes the data, and an interconnection link. Machine vision image capturers now support higher and higher resolution, usually by connecting to a computer through a multicore cable and then processing the image.

There are currently many standards for data transmission over cables. However, cable solutions face many limitations. For robot-guided applications, cables can affect action, and image captures and cables need to be carefully planned and laid out. In addition, standard cable lengths (often between 5 and 30 meters, unless expensive optical fibers are used) are a major drawback, especially when considering that the cable has to pass through industrial machinery and many obstacles, which means that the computer needs to be close to the factory area. Because computers and cables need to be managed, there are many barriers, and computers exposed to harsh industrial environments can lead to shorter life.

Traditional wireless solutions are not ideal alternatives to cables because they have high latency and require image compression. Any delay caused by the use of wireless solutions will increase manufacturing time and cost because the production line will have to slow down to accommodate the processor time required by the computer. At the same time, image compression will make it more difficult for the computer to parse the captured image.

With a 60 GHz wireless solution, one or more image captures can be installed on a machine without video cables. These image capturers can directly transfer data to a computer or connect to a wireless link to connect to a control center. Wireless video enables the robot to move freely, helps reduce hidden dangers in factory areas, makes it easy to set up new equipment, and allows computers to move from factory areas to more controlled environments. In recent years, the demand for mechanical vision has increased dramatically, and 60 GHz technology is dedicated to providing flexibility and convenience to systems in today's complex work areas.

Monitor

Industrial monitoring is another area where millimeter-wave technology can work. Monitoring systems in many offices, factories, and manufacturing facilities are obsolete and provide only low image resolution. Upgrading these systems often requires reinstalling existing cables to match new equipment, often costing millions of dollars. WirelessHD greatly simplifies the process of refurbishing these facilities by wirelessly transferring higher-quality video to nearby receivers as long as it is connected to the existing power grid in the old system.

Medical care

Medical applications can also benefit greatly from 60 GHz technology. Digital imaging is a key diagnostic tool for doctors, especially in operating rooms, where higher-quality images can be enhanced to provide more effective treatment for patients. However, inserting a complete set of computer equipment into the operating room poses numerous problems, and the problem will be a bunch of cables that are difficult to sterilize, possibly leading to safety hazards. Millimeter-wave technology can help, for example, by wirelessly transferring real-time video from a microcamera to a nearby monitor or directly to a headset display mounted in a surgeon's goggles. This ensures a sterile room environment and reduces the hard work of installing new equipment.

Another potential innovation of 60 GHz technology in the operating room is gesture control. Millimeter-wave gesture recognition can detect and read the movement track of your finger, which is more difficult to work in a variable lighting environment and will have a significant impact than the existing infrared camera technology. Reliable gesture control can replace the buttons on the machine, making it easier to sterilize the device.

summary

60 GHz technology is a hot new direction in the field of wireless interconnection. In addition to the exciting variety of consumer electronics products on the market today, there are also a large number of industrial applications based on millimeter wave technology. The prominent advantages of 60 GHz technology, such as low latency, high bandwidth and standardized interfaces, make it an ideal choice for many industrial applications with bright prospects.