System-Level Analysis for Integrated Power Amplifier Design in mmWave Consumer Wireless Communications

System-level specifications for the design of integrated power amplifiers in mmWave wireless communications are derived in the paper. To this aim emerging standards for consumer applications such as wireless ultra-high definition (UHD) multimedia streaming or Gbit wireless LAN are considered (WirelessHD, WiGig, ECMA387, IEEE.802.11.ad, IEEE802.15.3c and upcoming 5G). A power amplifier design in 65 nm CMOS Silicon on Insulator (SOI) technology, targeting a 9 GHz UWB window from 57 to 66 GHz, is also proposed. To increase the power delivered to the antenna up to 18 mW, being still in the limit of maximum 1 dB compression point, multiple PA cores have been combined through a Wilkinson power combiner, but other solutions can be also explored for a better power efficiency and linearity.