Samsung and University of California Santa Barbara: 6G Wireless Communications System

Main article: 6G (sixth generation of mobile communication)

2021: 6G Wireless Prototype Demo

Samsung Electronics, together with the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), demonstrated a prototype of a 6G wireless communication system using a terahertz frequency band. End-to-end wireless communication at 140 GHz is implemented using a fully digital beamforming solution, TAdviser was told on June 16, 2021 in Samsung Electronics.

The development of this prototype is an important milestone in studying the potential of the THz band for 6G wireless communications, the company is convinced. The terahertz frequency range is a huge spectrum with dozens of possible broadband channels with gigahertz bands. And this potentially means meeting the 6G requirements for terabits data per second. The peak data rate can be 50 times higher than that of the radio, and 5G delays on the radio will decrease to one tenth. Such capabilities will allow the implementation of 6G hyperconnection services and the next level of multimedia, such as advanced reality (XR), high-quality mobile holograms, etc.

16-channel phased antenna array module 140 GHz (middle), two-channel RFICs 140 GHz (left), 128-element antenna array (right)

The prototype of the end-to-end system presented by the developers consists of 16-channel transmitter modules and a receiver with a phased antenna array controlled by CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor structure), RFIC (radio frequency integrated circuits), as well as a main unit that generates signals with a bandwidth of 2 GHz and fast adaptive beam formation. During pilot tests, the prototype system reached a throughput of 6.2 Gbit at a distance of 15 meters with adaptive beam control at terahertz frequency (140 GHz).

Researchers at Samsung and the University of California Santa Barbara were working together to develop a phased antenna array module of the THz band, which is key to successful testing. The module requires a complex element layout technology that allows future use of chips on an industrial scale. Samsung's accurate digital beamforming calibration algorithm allows these modules to generate narrow beams with high directional accuracy and, accordingly, with high gain.

Samsung researchers: Wonsuk Choi, Shadi Abu-Surra and Gary Xu with a terahertz test system.

Working with the University of California, Santa Barbara, we were able to overcome many technological challenges and develop a concept validation system in the THz band, thereby exploring 6G use cases and network deployment scenarios. noted Senior Vice President Charlie Zhang, IEEE Fellow and Head of Regulatory Requirements and Mobility Innovation at Samsung Research America.

In July 2020, Samsung released an official document entitled "Next Generation Hyperconnection Technology for All," in which it outlined its vision for the next generation 6G communication system. To accelerate research in the field of 6G, Samsung Research, the center for research and development in the segment of end products Samsung Electronics, in May 2019 founded the Center for Advanced Research in the Field of Communications.