Antenna system with simultaneous beamforming and measurement capability

Abstract

An apparatus can include an antenna array that receives radio frequency signals and outputs analog signals, as described herein. The apparatus can also include an analog-to-digital signal converter that converts the analog signals to digital sample streams. Moreover, the apparatus can include a sample buffer that buffers subsets of the digital sample streams and a beamformer that generates one or more beam signals using the digital sample streams. Additionally, the apparatus can include a processor that determines spatial characteristics or spectral characteristics of the radio frequency signals based on the subsets of the digital sample streams.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to an antenna system with simultaneous beamforming and measurement capabilities. Background Technology

[0002] The following text deals with communications in general, and more specifically with digital beamforming antennas.

[0003] Communication equipment in a communication system can receive multiple signals arriving from multiple directions. Beamforming technology can be used to obtain one or more beam signals from a composite signal received at the communication equipment, wherein these beam signals can be associated with individual signals transmitted from one or more devices to the communication equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technology relates to improved methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses supporting simultaneous beamforming and measurement modes. The apparatus may include an antenna array that receives radio frequency signals and outputs analog signals. The apparatus may also include an analog-to-digital converter that converts these analog signals into a digital sample stream. Furthermore, the apparatus may include a sample buffer that buffers a subset of these digital sample streams and a beamformer that uses these digital sample streams to generate one or more beam signals. In some examples, the beamformer combines (e.g., irreversibly; for example, by summing portions of the digital sample stream) samples of the digital sample stream during the generation of the one or more beam signals. In some examples, the sample buffer stores a subset of the digital sample stream, which allows this subset to be retained for additional processing.

[0005] The device may also include a stream processor (which may include a network of distributed stream processors) that manages communication of one or more subsets of beam signals and digital sample streams within the receiving device. For example, the stream processor may be configured to deliver the one or more subsets of beam signals and digital sample streams from a distributed network of sample buffers and beamformers to a processor within the device. In some examples, the stream processor is configured to transmit the one or more subsets of beam signals and digital sample streams in an interleaved manner via a communication interface. The processor may determine the spatial or spectral characteristics of the radio frequency signal based on the subset of the digital sample streams. Attached Figure Description

[0006] Figure 1A A schematic diagram of a satellite communication system based on an example disclosed herein is shown.

[0007] Figure 1B A receiving device supporting simultaneous beamforming and measurement modes is shown, based on examples disclosed herein.

[0008] Figures 2 to 6A A receiving device supporting simultaneous beamforming and measurement modes is shown, based on examples disclosed herein.

[0009] Figure 6B A schematic diagram of signal propagation for a simultaneous beamforming and measurement mode is shown, based on examples disclosed herein.

[0010] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of signal processing for simultaneous beamforming and measurement modes is shown, based on examples disclosed herein.

[0011] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a process for simultaneous beamforming and measurement modes, based on examples disclosed herein, is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0012] (Sometimes referred to herein as a "receiving device") can receive radio frequency (RF) signals using an antenna array comprising multiple antenna elements. In some examples, the RF signals may include one or more communication signals transmitted from multiple devices located within the field of view of the receiving device. In some examples, the receiving device may use beamforming techniques to obtain the one or more communication signals received in the RF signals, wherein the one or more communication signals may correspond to signals carrying information intentionally or unintentionally transmitted to the receiving device from one or more other devices. To obtain the one or more communication signals, the receiving device may form a first beam in a first direction by applying a first set of beam weights to a stream of digital samples received from a first set of antennas, and may form a second beam in a second direction by applying a second set of beam weights to the stream of digital samples. The receiving device may use the first beam to obtain a first beam signal from the RF signals, and use the second beam to obtain a second beam signal from the RF signals, and so on. The receiving device may process (e.g., demodulate, decode) the first beam signal, the second beam signal, and any additional beam signals to obtain the one or more signals.

[0013] In some examples, the receiving device may use measurement techniques to identify spatial characteristics of a region within its field of view (e.g., the location of other devices, including communication equipment, jamming communication equipment, etc.). The receiving device may also, or alternatively, use measurement techniques to determine spectral characteristics (e.g., frequency information, phase information, etc.) of a region within its field of view for signals transmitted by other devices. Both beamforming and measurement techniques may involve processing a digital data stream obtained from each antenna element (and / or multiple groups of antenna elements) in an antenna array.

[0014] As the number of antenna elements supported by the receiving device increases, the amount of data generated from these elements may also increase. In some examples, the amount of generated data exceeds the bandwidth of the communication interface that communicatively couples the main processor to the antenna elements, which may hinder real-time processing of the generated data by a single computing node or processor. To support real-time processing of data generated by a large number of antenna elements (e.g., for beamforming), the receiving device may include distributed processing components (e.g., beamformers) that support processing a subset of the generated data. In some examples, each beamformer may generate data at a lower data rate than the data received at that beamformer. Because distributed beamforming techniques distribute information associated with digital sample streams across beamformers and convert multiple digital sample streams into beam signals with information loss, performing measurement operations using a distributed beamforming antenna architecture can be challenging.

[0015] To achieve simultaneous beamforming and measurement operation, the receiving device can be configured to retain a subset of the digital sample stream generated by a large number of antenna elements and support techniques for signaling the subset of digital sample stream to the main processor while simultaneously supporting beam signal generation. In some examples, the receiving device may include an antenna array comprising multiple antenna elements (e.g., hundreds or thousands of antenna elements). In some cases, these antenna elements may be grouped into antenna element groups. Each antenna element group may be coupled to a set of ADCs configured to convert the analog signals output from the antennas of the antenna element group into a corresponding digital sample stream. In some examples, each ADC may be coupled to one or more antenna elements in the corresponding antenna element group.

[0016] Each set of ADCs can output a digital sample stream to a corresponding element combiner configured to process that digital sample stream. The element combiner may include an element beamformer, an element sample buffer, and an element stream processor. The element beamformer can be used to apply one or more sets of beam weights to the digital sample stream received from the corresponding set of ADCs, and to sum the weighted digital sample streams together to obtain one or more subarray signals. The element sample buffer can buffer a subset of the digital sample stream for subsequent measurement operations, e.g., periodically or after a trigger is received. In some examples, aspects of the element sample buffer spanning multiple element combiners can buffer time-synchronized subsets of the digital sample streams received from multiple sets of corresponding ADCs.

[0017] In some examples, element combiners can be arranged in a daisy-chain configuration. In such cases, the element combiner at the first position of the daisy chain can (e.g., using an element stream processor) pass one or more subarray signals and a subset of the digital sample stream buffered in the element sample buffer at the element combiner to the adjacent element combiner. The adjacent element combiner can (e.g., using an element stream processor) combine the one or more received subarray signals with one or more subarray signals generated at the adjacent element combiner. The adjacent element combiner can also (e.g., using an element stream processor) check the received subset of the digital sample stream against a time-synchronized subset of the digital sample stream passed from the adjacent element combiner. Each element combiner can, for example, send the combined subarray signals and the checked subset of the digital sample stream to the next element combiner in the daisy-chain configuration in an interleaved manner. In some examples, the last element combiner in the daisy chain can, for example, send one or more beam signals and the checked subset of the digital sample stream to the main processor in an interleaved manner. In some examples, the element sample buffer can be processed locally and spatial and / or spectral information can be sent to the main processor. In some examples, element sample buffers can be processed locally and spatial and / or spectral information can be processed incrementally along a daisy chain.

[0018] In some examples, element combiners can be arranged in a common-feed configuration. In these cases, multiple element combiners can be coupled to subarray combiners. A subarray combiner can include a subarray beamformer and a subarray stream processor. The subarray beamformer can be used to combine subarray signals received from a corresponding set of element combiners to obtain one or more beam signals. The subarray stream processor can be used to check a time-synchronized subset of the digital sample stream received from a corresponding set of element combiners. The subarray stream processor can also be used, for example, to transmit the one or more beam signals and the checked time-synchronized subset of the digital sample stream to a main processor in an interleaved manner. Although a two-stage common-feed configuration (element combiner and subarray combiner) has been described, an additional-stage common-feed configuration (e.g., a subarray combiner with an additional stage) can be used. Additionally or alternatively, a combination of daisy-chaining and common-feed configurations can be used, wherein element combiners or subarray combiners are connected in a daisy-chaining or common-feed configuration. In some examples, element sample buffers can be processed locally and spatial and / or spectral information can be sent to the main processor. In some examples, the element sample buffer can be processed locally, and spatial and / or spectral information can be processed incrementally along a common structure. In some examples, the element sample buffer can be processed locally, and spatial and / or spectral data can be processed incrementally along a mixed daisy chain and common structure.

[0019] By using a distributed beamforming and measurement architecture, the complexity of devices supporting simultaneous beamforming and measurement modes can be reduced, and larger volumes of data can be managed. Furthermore, by storing a subset of the digital sample stream to support measurement modes, the amount of data instantaneously transmitted to support simultaneous beamforming and measurement modes can be reduced.

[0020] Figure 1A A schematic diagram of a satellite communication system supporting simultaneous beamforming and measurement modes, according to examples disclosed herein, is shown. Communication system 100 may use multiple network architectures, including a space segment 101 and a ground segment 102. Space segment 101 may include one or more satellites 119. Ground segment 102 may include one or more access node terminals 130 (e.g., gateway terminals, ground stations) and network devices 141 such as a network operations center (NOC), satellite and gateway terminal command centers, or other central processing centers or devices. Network device 141 may be coupled to access node terminals 130 and may control various aspects of communication system 100. In various examples, network device 141 may be co-located with or near access node terminals 130, or may be a remote device communicating with access node terminals 130 and / or network 140 via wired and / or wireless communication links. In some examples, ground segment 102 may also include user terminals 150 that provide communication services to them via satellite 119.

[0021] User terminal 150 may include various devices configured to transmit signals with satellite 119. These devices may include fixed terminals (e.g., ground-based geostationary terminals) or mobile terminals (such as terminals on ships, aircraft, land-based vehicles, etc.). User terminal 150 may transmit data and information to access node terminal 130 via satellite 119. Data and information may also be transmitted to destination devices (such as network device 141) or other devices or distributed servers associated with network 140.

[0022] Access node terminal 130 can transmit forward uplink signals 132 to satellite 119 and receive return downlink signals 133 from satellite 119. Access node terminal 130 may also be referred to as a ground station, gateway, gateway terminal, or hub. Access node terminal 130 may include access node terminal antenna system 131 and access node terminal transceiver 135. Access node terminal antenna system 131 may be bidirectional and designed with sufficient transmit power and receive sensitivity to reliably communicate with satellite 119. In some examples, access node terminal antenna system 131 may include a parabolic reflector with high directivity in the direction of satellite 119 and low directivity in other directions. Access node terminal antenna system 131 may include various alternative configurations and includes operational characteristics such as high isolation between orthogonal polarizations, high efficiency in the operating band, and low noise.

[0023] When communication services are supported, access node terminal 130 can schedule traffic to user terminal 150. Alternatively, such scheduling can be performed in other parts of the communication system 100 (e.g., at one or more network devices 141 that may include a network operations center (NOC) and / or a gateway command center). Although Figure 1A The illustration shows an access node terminal 130, but according to the examples of this disclosure, it can be implemented in a communication system having multiple access node terminals 130, each of which may be coupled to one or more networks 140.

[0024] Access node terminal 130 can provide an interface between network 140 and satellite 119, and in some examples, can be configured to receive data and information directed between network 140 and one or more user terminals 150. Access node terminal 130 can format this data and information for delivery to the corresponding user terminal 150. Similarly, access node terminal 130 can be configured to receive signals from satellite 119 (e.g., from one or more user terminals 150) to destinations accessible via network 140. Access node terminal 130 can also format received signals for transmission over network 140.

[0025] Network 140 can be any type of network and may include, for example, the Internet, Internet Protocol (IP) networks, intranets, wide area networks (WANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs), local area networks (LANs), virtual private networks (VPNs), virtual LANs (VLANs), fiber optic networks, hybrid fiber-coaxial networks, cable networks, public switched telephone networks (PSTNs), public switched data networks (PSDNs), public terrestrial mobile networks, and / or any other type of network that supports communication between devices as described herein. Network 140 may include both wired and wireless connections, as well as optical links. Network 140 can enable access node terminal 130 to connect to other access node terminals, which may communicate with the same satellite 119 or with different satellites 119 or other carriers.

[0026] Satellite 119 can be configured to support wireless communication between one or more access node terminals 130 and / or various user terminals 150 located within the service coverage area. In some examples, satellite 119 can be deployed in geostationary orbit such that its orbital position relative to ground equipment is relatively fixed or fixed within operational tolerances or other orbital windows (e.g., within an orbital slot). In other examples, satellite 119 can operate in any suitable orbit (e.g., low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), etc.).

[0027] Satellite 120 may include an antenna assembly 121 having one or more antenna feed elements. Each of these antenna feed elements may include, for example, a feed horn, a polarization transducer (e.g., a septum polarization horn, which may act as two combined elements with different polarizations), a multi-port multi-band horn (e.g., a dual-band 20 GHz / 30 GHz horn with dual polarization LHCP / RHCP), a cavity-backed slot, an inverted F, a slotted waveguide, a Vivaldi, a helical, a loop, a patch, or any other configuration or combination of interconnecting sub-elements of antenna elements. Each of these antenna feed elements may also include (or be otherwise coupled thereto) a radio frequency (RF) signal transducer, a low-noise amplifier (LNA), or a power amplifier (PA), and may be coupled to one or more transponders in satellite 120. The transponders may be used to perform signal processing, such as amplification, frequency conversion, beamforming, etc.

[0028] When supporting communication services, satellite 119 can receive forward uplink signals 132 from one or more access node terminals 130 and provide corresponding forward downlink signals 172 to one or more user terminals 150. Satellite 119 can also receive return uplink signals 173 from one or more user terminals 150 and provide corresponding return downlink signals 133 to one or more access node terminals 130. Access node terminals 130, satellite 119, and user terminals 150 can use various physical layer transmit modulation and coding techniques (e.g., adaptive coding and modulation (ACM)) to transmit signals. Satellite 119 may include one or more transponders, each transponder being coupled to one or more receiving elements and one or more transmitting antenna elements of an antenna.

[0029] Satellite 119 can communicate with access node terminal 130 by transmitting a return downlink signal 133 and / or receiving a forward uplink signal 132 via one or more access node terminal beams (e.g., access node beam 125, which may be associated with a corresponding access node beam coverage area 126). Access node beam 125 may, for example, support communication services (e.g., relayed by satellite 119) for one or more user terminals 150 or any other communication between satellite 119 and access node terminal 130. In some examples, access node beam 125 is one of a plurality of spot beams. Satellite 119 can communicate with access node terminal 150 by transmitting a forward downlink signal 172 and / or receiving a return uplink signal 173 via one or more user beams (e.g., user beam 127, which may be associated with a corresponding user beam coverage area 128). User beam 127 may support communication services for one or more user terminals 150 or any other communication between satellite 119 and user terminal 150. In some examples, user beam 127 is one of multiple spot beams. In some examples, satellite 119 may use either access node beam 125 or user beam 127 to relay communication from access node terminal 130 to user terminal 150 (i.e., access node terminal 130 and user terminal 150 may share a beam).

[0030] A receiving device (e.g., access node terminal 130, satellite 119, or user terminal 150) can use beamforming techniques as described herein to receive simultaneous communications from multiple transmitting devices (e.g., multiple access node terminals 130, satellite 119, or user terminal 150). As used herein, the phrase "receiving device" refers to a device configured to receive signals, but in some examples, the device may also be configured to transmit signals. In other words, the phrase "receiving device" is open-ended and does not necessarily mean that the device only receives. Communications received at the receiving device from different transmitting devices can have different angles of arrival. The receiving device can receive composite signals including communications from different transmitting devices and can use beamforming techniques to separate communications from different transmitting devices into corresponding beam signals. That is, communications received at the receiving device can be received via different beams (from the same or different devices), and the receiving device can use beamforming techniques to separate different communications into individual beam signals. Separating different communications can involve assigning multiple sets of beam weights (this can be referred to as using symbolic beams). The beam weights are applied to the signal received at the receiving device, where the received signal may include multiple spatial components. For example, applying a first set of beam weights to the received signal can result in the generation of a first beam signal corresponding to a transmission from a first transmitting device. And applying a second set of beam weights to the received signal can result in the generation of a second beam signal corresponding to a transmission from a second transmitting device.

[0031] To support beamforming technology, a receiving device can be configured to have an antenna array comprising multiple antenna elements. In some examples, a subset of the antenna elements is grouped together to form a subarray. To separate the spatial components of the received signal, the receiving device can process the signal received at each antenna element of the antenna array, thereby applying beam weights to the received signal and combining the weighted received signals to obtain multiple beam signals. In some examples, the receiving device includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) between the antenna elements and a processor configured to perform beamforming. The ADC can be used to convert the analog signal obtained at the antenna elements into a digital sample stream. The processor can apply one or more sets of beam weights to the digital sample stream to obtain one or more beam signals.

[0032] In some examples, the receiving device is equipped with a large number of antenna elements (e.g., hundreds). In some cases, each antenna element may be coupled to a corresponding ADC. Additionally or alternatively, multiple sets of antenna elements may be coupled to corresponding ADCs. In some cases, analog beamforming can be applied within a set of antenna elements. In either case, the receiving device can use the ADC to generate a large number of digital sample streams (e.g., hundreds) from analog signals received from corresponding antenna elements (or multiple sets of antenna elements). In some examples, to process the large amount of data generated by the ADC, a distributed beamformer may be used, which includes beamformers supporting the processing of a subset of the digital sample streams from the ADC. In some examples, the distributed beamformer may include a first-stage beamformer (which may be referred to as an element beamformer) configured to generate one or more beam signals based on digital signals obtained from a set of antenna elements. In some examples, the beam signals generated by the first-stage beamformer are referred to as subarray signals. The distributed beamformer may also include a second-stage beamformer (which may be referred to as a subarray beamformer) configured to combine the one or more subarray signals generated by the first-stage beamformer to obtain one or more beam signals. Additional stages of beamformers may be used depending on the size of the antenna array and the number of digital sample streams processed by each beamformer.

[0033] After a digital sample stream is processed by a beamformer to obtain one or more beam signals, the original data from the digital sample stream may be lost or removed. That is, the beamformer must remove spatial information present in multiple digital sample streams by extracting information associated with a specific receiving direction, while information associated with other directions is reduced. In some examples, the communication interface of the receiving device may not support transmitting digital sample streams (e.g., it may not have the bandwidth to transmit digital sample streams) to a single beamforming processor. Furthermore, in a single beamforming processor (e.g., a single computing node), beamforming for a large number of digital sample streams may be infeasible. For example, for high-bandwidth communication, each digital sample stream can have a sample rate exceeding 1 gigabits per second (Gs), and therefore the bandwidth required for more than a relatively small number (e.g., tens) of digital sample streams can exceed the available communication interface or beamforming processor. Therefore, a distributed beamforming architecture can locally apply beamforming to multiple sets of antenna elements to reduce the signal bandwidth and processing power required for each beamforming stage.

[0034] Measurement techniques can be used to learn information about signals from other transmitting devices. Measurement techniques can be used to determine spatial information (e.g., the orientation of the transmitting device relative to the receiving device) and / or spectral information (e.g., the carrier frequency of the signal received from the transmitting device). To determine spatial and / or spectral information, the receiving device can use signal processing techniques (e.g., eigenvector manipulation, FFT, super-resolution, etc.) to process stored signals associated with multiple antenna elements. In some examples, the receiving device can generate a graph of the detected signals based on either frequency or orientation. In some examples, the receiving device generates a graph of the detected signals based on both frequency and orientation. These detected signals can be directly passed to a main processor or incrementally processed by a processor's distribution network.

[0035] As the number of antenna elements supported by the receiving device increases, the amount of data generated from these antenna elements may also increase. In some examples, the amount of generated data exceeds the bandwidth of the communication interface that communicatively couples the main processor to the antenna elements, which may hinder real-time processing of the generated data by a single computing node or processor. To support real-time processing of data generated by a large number of antenna elements (e.g., for beamforming), the receiving device may include distributed processing components (e.g., beamformers) that support processing a subset of the generated data. In some examples, each beamformer may generate data at a lower data rate than the data received at that beamformer. Because distributed beamforming techniques distribute information associated with digital sample streams across beamformers and convert multiple digital sample streams into beam signals with information loss, performing measurement operations using distributed beamforming operations can be challenging.

[0036] To achieve simultaneous beamforming and measurement operation, the receiving device (e.g., satellite 119, access node terminal 130, or user terminal 150) can be configured to retain a subset of the digital sample stream generated by a large number of antenna elements and support techniques for signaling the subset of the digital sample stream and the generated beam signal to the main processor. In some examples, the receiving device may include an antenna array comprising multiple antenna elements (e.g., hundreds or thousands of antenna elements). In some cases, these antenna elements may be grouped into antenna element groups. Each antenna element group may be coupled to a set of ADCs configured to convert the analog signal output by the antennas of the antenna element group into a digital sample stream. In some examples, each ADC may be coupled to one or more antenna elements in the corresponding antenna element group.

[0037] Figure 1BA receiving device supporting simultaneous beamforming and measurement modes is illustrated according to an example disclosed herein. The receiving device 155 can be configured to (e.g., simultaneously) receive one or more signals from one or more transmitting devices. The receiving device 155 can be as described herein and in references. Figure 1A The satellite communication system can be access node terminal, satellite, or user terminal. Alternatively, the receiving device 155 can be used in a wireless system other than a satellite communication system. The receiving device 155 may include an antenna array 105, a signal converter 115, a beamformer 160, a sample buffer 165, a timing component 170, and a processor 175.

[0038] Antenna array 105 may include multiple antenna elements (e.g., hundreds or thousands of antenna elements), including a first antenna element 110-a and a Kth antenna element 110-k. Antenna elements 110 may be configured in a tiled (e.g., two-dimensional) array within antenna array 105. Antenna array 105 may be configured to receive RF signals (e.g., RF signal 103) incident on receiving device 155. Receiving RF signals may include converting the RF energy captured at the antenna array into an analog signal. Each antenna element in antenna array 105 may be configured to convert the RF energy captured at its respective antenna element into a corresponding analog signal 112. In some examples, RF signals received at multiple antenna elements may be combined (e.g., passively or actively) before being passed to the next component in receiving device 155. Analog signals 112 generated at different antenna elements 110 may differ from each other based on the location of the antenna elements, the angle of arrival of the RF signal 103 detected at the antenna elements, the orientation of the antenna elements, etc. In some examples, the differences in the analog signals 112 generated by different antenna elements 110 can be correlated with the spatial components of a composite signal received at antenna array 105, where the composite signal can be a signal comprising multiple signals transmitted from multiple devices. The spatial components of the composite signal can be used to obtain the different signals received in the composite signal from each other, for example, by forming a beam in a direction corresponding to the direction of arrival of the signals included in the composite signal. In some examples, Figure 1B The antenna elements shown may encompass multiple antenna elements of antenna array 105.

[0039] Signal converter 115 may include ADC 120, including a first ADC 120-a and an Nth ADC 120-n. Signal converter 115 may be configured to convert an analog signal 112 received from antenna array 105 into a digital signal. Signal converter 115 may also perform other functions, such as amplification or filtering. In some examples, the digital signal includes a discrete sample stream of the analog signal and is referred to as digital sample stream 122. The first ADC 120-a may be configured to receive a first analog signal 112-a from a first antenna element 110-a and convert the first analog signal 112-a into a first digital sample stream 122-a that includes continuous samples of the first analog signal 112-a (e.g., a continuous digital sample stream). Similarly, the Nth ADC 120-n may be configured to receive the Nth analog signal 112-n from a Kth antenna element 110-k. In some examples, the ADC 120 can be configured to convert analog signals 112 (e.g., combined analog signals) received from multiple antenna elements 110 into a digital sample stream 122. K can be equal to or greater than N.

[0040] Beamformer 160 can be configured to apply beamforming weights to digital sample stream 122 to obtain one or more beam signals 162 that can be based on received RF signal 103. Beamformer 160 can send one or more beam signals 162 to processor 175. In some examples, beamformer 160 is distributed across the signal processing system in receiving device 155. For example, beamformer 160 may include one or more element beamformers coupled to corresponding multiple sets of ADCs 120. Beamformer 160 may also include one or more subarray beamformers coupled to the one or more element beamformers.

[0041] In some examples, beamformer 160 may include weighting circuitry (e.g., multipliers, phase shifters) and one or more summers (e.g., adders). In some examples, the weighting circuitry may apply appropriate weights to corresponding digital sample streams 122, and the one or more summers may sum appropriate subsets of the weighted signals output by the multipliers. In some examples, the multipliers and summers may be implemented in application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or digital signal processors (DSPs).

[0042] Sample buffer 165 can be configured to obtain a subset of digital sample stream 122. The subset of digital sample stream 122 may include portions of the digital samples included in digital sample stream 122. Sample buffer 165 may temporarily store a subset of digital sample stream 122. In some examples, sample buffer 165 may be distributed across the signal processing system in receiving device 155. For example, sample buffer 165 may include one or more element sample buffers coupled to corresponding multiple sets of ADCs 120. Sample buffer 165 may also check subsets of digital sample stream 122 (e.g., from other sample buffers 165) to obtain a checked subset 167 before sending the checked subset 167 of digital sample stream 122 to processor 175. Sample buffer 165 may also process samples to extract spatial and / or spectral information to be passed to the stream processor.

[0043] In some examples, sample buffer 165 may include embedded or attached memory (e.g., cache or DRAM). The embedded or attached memory may be configured to store data upon receiving a timing signal (e.g., from timing unit 170). In some examples, the embedded or attached memory is coupled to circuitry for registering and writing a subset of the digital sample stream to the attached memory; this circuitry may be implemented in an ASIC, FPGA, or DSP. This circuitry may receive digital sample stream 122 and latch a portion of the digital sample stream after receiving the timing signal. After the one or more registers have captured a portion of the digital sample stream, a controller in the embedded or attached memory may be configured to write a portion of the digital sample stream to the attached memory.

[0044] Timing component 170 can be configured to trigger a sampling operation at sample buffer 165. For example, timing component 170 can send a timing signal to sample buffer 165, causing sample buffer 165 to acquire digital samples from digital sample stream 122 over a period of time (e.g., to store a subset of digital samples). Therefore, timing component 170 can trigger sample buffer 165 to store (e.g., buffer) a time-synchronized (e.g., time-synchronized with other sample buffers) subset of digital sample stream 122. In some examples, timing component 170 may include a clock. Timing component 170 may also include logic (e.g., programmable logic) coupled to the clock and used to generate timing signals at a desired periodicity.

[0045] Stream processor 173 can be configured to send a digital stream of data, whether groupable or ungroupable, to processor 175. The digital stream can be aligned using synchronization pulses or sequences. Stream processor 173 can be configured to group a verified subset 167 of beam signal 162 and digital sample stream 122 received from beamformer 160. For example, stream processor 173 can be configured to generate one or more first packets based on beam signal 162 and one or more second packets based on verified subset 167. Stream processor 173 can also be configured to interleave the first and second packets to obtain a combined packet stream 174. In some examples, stream processor 173 may include a first module for grouping beam signal 162, a second module for grouping verified subset 167, and a third module for interleaving the first and second packets to obtain the combined packet stream 174. In some examples, verified subset 167 may be provided in a polling rather than streaming manner. In some examples, modules in the stream processor generate packets according to a communication protocol supported by processor 175. The first, second, and third modules can be implemented in ASICs, FPGAs, or DSPs.

[0046] Processor 175 can be configured to process a verified subset 167 of beam signal 162 and digital sample stream 122 from a combined packet stream 174 received from stream processor 173. In some examples, processor 175 is configured to demodulate and decode beam signal 162 to obtain data embedded in RF signal 103. Processor 175 can also be configured to process verified subset 167 of digital sample stream 122 to determine spatial characteristics (e.g., angle of arrival) or spectral characteristics (e.g., frequency range used) of RF signal 103, or both. Processor 175 can also be configured to process verified subset 167 of digital sample stream 122 to combine spatial characteristics (e.g., angle of arrival) or spectral characteristics (e.g., frequency range used) of RF signal 103 from other instances of 165, or both.

[0047] Figure 2 A receiving device supporting simultaneous beamforming and measurement modes is illustrated according to examples disclosed herein. The receiving device 200 can be configured to (e.g., simultaneously) receive one or more signals from one or more transmitting devices. The receiving device 200 can be a wireless receiver, such as those described herein and in the references. Figure 1A The aforementioned access node terminal, satellite, or user terminal.

[0048] Receiver 200 may illustrate an exemplary daisy-chain architecture for processing digital sample streams output from a large number of antenna elements. Receiver 200 may include antenna array 205, signal converter 215, element combiner 230, intermediate interface 250, main interface 265, and processor 280. Antenna array 205 may be... Figure 1A An example of antenna array 105, and may include antenna elements 210, which may be Figure 1A An example of antenna element 110. Signal converter 215 may be... Figure 1A An example of a signal converter 115. In some examples, element beamformer 240 may be a beamformer (e.g., Figure 1B The beamformer 160 is part of the element sample buffer 235, and the element sample buffer 235 may be a sample buffer (e.g., Figure 1B Part of the sample buffer 165.

[0049] In some examples, ADC 220 can be configured to convert analog signals 212 received from antenna element 210 into a digital sample stream 222. In some examples, ADC 220 can be configured to convert analog signals 212 received from multiple antenna elements 210 (e.g., combined analog signals) into a digital sample stream 222, such as the last ADC in signal converter 215 (i.e., Figure 2 The bottommost ADC is shown in the diagram. Each ADC can be configured to output digital sample streams 222 to the corresponding element combiner 230. For example, the first ADC 220-a to the Nth ADC 220-n can be configured to output N digital sample streams 222 to the first element combiner 230-a, and the bottom set of ADCs can be configured to output L digital sample streams 222 to the Mth element combiner 230-m, where the values ​​of L and N can be the same or different.

[0050] The first element combiner 230-a may include a first element sample buffer 235-a, a first element beamformer 240-a, and a first element stream processor 245-a. The first element combiner 230-a can receive a continuous stream of digital samples from a digital sample stream 222. The first element combiner 230-a can be configured to convert a set of digital sample streams 222 received from a corresponding set of ADCs (e.g., first ADC 220-a to Nth ADC 220-n) into one or more first subarray signals 261-a (e.g., using the first element beamformer 240-a). To convert the set of digital sample streams 222 into one or more first subarray signals 261-a, the first element combiner 230-a may apply one or more sets of beam weights to the set of digital sample streams 222. In some examples, the digital sample stream 222 may be referred to as using symbolic... And beam weights can be referred to as using symbols For example, the first element combiner 230-a can combine the first set of beam weights. Second group of beam weights Applied to a set of digital sample streams 222 ( To obtain two sets of weighted digital sample streams ( )and( The first element combiner 230-a can also sum the corresponding weighted digital sample streams to obtain two first subarray signals 261-a (which can be represented as...). and ).

[0051] The first element combiner 230-a can also be configured to buffer (e.g., using the first element sample buffer 235-a) a subset of the digital sample stream 222, such as a time-synchronized subset of the digital sample stream 222. In some examples, the subset of the digital sample stream 222 may be referred to as a “snapshot.” ​​Viewing a portion of the digital sample stream 222 received over a duration (e.g., a 10 ms duration), the first element combiner 230-a can buffer a time-synchronized subset of the digital samples received in the digital sample stream 222 within a portion of that duration (e.g., during a window of 10 µs, 100 µs, or 1 ms within that duration). The first element combiner 230-a can also be configured to transmit one or more first subarray signals 261-a and a first buffered subset 266-a of the digital sample stream 222 to another component in the receiving device 200 (e.g., the M-th element combiner 230-m), for example, via intermediate interface 250 to the M-th element combiner 230-m. In some examples, the first element combiner 230-a is the first (or initial) element combiner 230 in a daisy-chain architecture. In other examples, the first element combiner 230-a is the middle element combiner 230 in a daisy-chain architecture.

[0052] The first element sample buffer 235-a can be configured to buffer a subset of the digital sample stream 222 received by the first element combiner 230-a. The first element beamformer 240-a can be configured to apply beam weights to the digital sample stream 222 and combine the resulting weighted signals to obtain one or more first subarray signals 261-a. The first element stream processor 245-a can be configured to manage the transmission of the subset of the digital sample stream 222 and one or more first subarray signals 261-a to other components in the receiving device 200. In some examples, the first element stream processor 245-a can be configured to periodically or aperiodically (e.g., in response to a trigger signal or event) store a subset of the digital sample stream 222 (e.g., temporarily) in the first element sample buffer 235-a. The first element stream processor 245-a can also be configured to periodically or aperiodically (e.g., in response to a trigger signal or event) transmit a subset of the digital sample stream 222 to another component in the receiving device 200. In some examples, the first element stream processor 245-a temporarily stores a set of time-synchronized samples corresponding to a single sampling event in the first element sample buffer 235-a. Additionally or alternatively, the first element stream processor 245-a may temporarily store a set of time-synchronized samples corresponding to multiple sampling events in the first element sample buffer 235-a. In some examples, the element sample buffer 235-a may perform operations to extract spectral and / or spatial information from the samples.

[0053] In some examples, the first element stream processor 245-a transmits a first buffered subset 266-a of the digital sample stream through a different communication interface than one or more first subarray signals 261-a. In some examples, the communication interface for the first buffered subset 266-a of the digital sample stream 222 may have a smaller bandwidth than the communication interface for the one or more first subarray signals 261-a. In other examples, the first element stream processor 245-a may transmit a subset of the digital sample stream 222 through the same communication interface as one or more first subarray signals 261-a. The first element stream processor 245-a may interleave the first buffered subset 266-a of the digital sample stream 222 with one or more first subarray signals 261-a to transmit the first buffered subset 266-a of the digital sample stream 222 and one or more first subarray signals 261-a through the same communication interface. In some examples, the first element stream processor 245-a can group a first buffer subset 266-a of the digital sample stream 222 and one or more first subarray signals 261-a (e.g., generate packets including these first buffer subsets and the one or more first subarray signals) to obtain packets. For example, the first buffer subset 266-a of the digital sample stream 222 can be included in a first packet, and one or more first subarray signals 261-a can be included in a second packet, and the first element stream processor 245-a can transmit the first and second packets in an interleaved manner through a communication interface (e.g., one or more first packets can be periodically included in a stream of second packets to obtain a combined packet stream). The packets may include a header providing information about the data included in the packets, such as indicating which element combiner generated the packets, a sampling index of the first buffer subset 266-a of the digital sample stream 222 (which indicates when the first buffer subset 266-a of the digital sample stream 222 was obtained relative to other subsets of these digital sample streams), the antenna elements associated with the packets, etc.

[0054] The M-th element combiner 230-m may include an M-th element sample buffer 235-m, an M-th element beamformer 240-m, and an M-th element stream processor 245-m, which can perform functions similar to those of the first element sample buffer 235-a, the first element beamformer 240-a, and the first element stream processor 245-a. The M-th element combiner 230-m can be similarly configured as the first element combiner 230-a. That is, the M-th element combiner 230-m can be configured based on a set of antenna elements (e.g., ...). Figure 2 The four bottom antenna elements shown are coupled to a set of ADCs (e.g., Figure 2The three bottom ADCs shown are used to obtain digital sample streams to generate one or more beam signals and buffered subsets of the digital sample streams. The M-th element combiner 230-m can be the last element combiner in the daisy-chain architecture.

[0055] The Mth element combiner 230-m can also be configured to receive a subset of the digital sample stream 222 and one or more subarray signals 261 from another element combiner. The Mth element combiner 230-m can be configured to combine one or more Mth subarray signals 261-m generated at the Mth element combiner 230-m with one or more first subarray signals 261-a obtained from the first element combiner 230-a to obtain one or more beam signals 262. Furthermore, the Mth element combiner 230-m can be configured to check the Mth buffered subset 266-m of the digital sample stream 222 buffered at the Mth element combiner 230-m with the first buffered subset 266-a of the digital sample stream 222 obtained from the first element combiner 230-a to obtain a checked subset 267 of the buffered subset 266 of the digital sample stream 222. When the first element combiner 230-a is an intermediate element combiner, it can be similarly configured to combine one or more first subarray signals 261-a and check the buffered subset 266 of the digital sample stream 222 against one or more subarray signals 261 and subsets of the digital sample stream 222 received from adjacent element combiners 230. Additionally, the Mth element combiner 230-m can be configured to transmit one or more beam signals 262 and the checked subset 267 of the digital sample stream 222 to another component within the receiving device 200, for example, via the main interface 265 to the processor 280.

[0056] In some examples, the M-th element beamformer 240-m may be additionally configured to combine one or more subarray signals 261 received from another element stream processor 245 with one or more M-th subarray signals 261-m generated by the M-th element combiner 230-m. In such cases, the M-th element beamformer 240-m may be referred to as an element / subarray beamformer. The M-th element stream processor 245-m may be additionally configured to manage the transmission of the verified subset 267 of the digital sample stream 222 and one or more beam signals 262 generated by the M-th element beamformer 240-m after the combination operation.

[0057] Intermediate interface 250 can be configured to communicatively couple the first element combiner 230-a to the Mth element combiner 230-m. Intermediate interface 250 may be able to transmit a certain amount of information from the first element combiner 230-a, allowing the transmission of a subset of one or more subarray signals 261 and digital sample stream 222, while supporting real-time transmission of one or more subarray signals 261. Intermediate interface 250 may be a bus comprising multiple parallel signal paths for parallel communication or a bus comprising a single signal path for serial communication. Intermediate interface 250 may be a network interface (such as Ethernet, Fibre Channel, or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) bus), a peripheral interface (such as a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, a Serializer-Deserializer (SERDES) bus, a Fast Passive Parallel (FPP) bus, or an optical interconnect).

[0058] The main interface 265 can be configured to communicatively couple the M-th element combiner 230-m to the processor 280. The main interface 265 can similarly be configured as an intermediate interface 250. The main interface 265 may be able to transmit a certain amount of information from the M-th element combiner 230-m, enabling the transmission of one or more beam signals 262 and a verified subset 267 of the digital sample stream 222, while supporting real-time transmission of one or more beam signals 262. In some examples, the bandwidth of the main interface 265 is greater than that of the intermediate interface 250, for example, to support the transmission of additional subsets of the digital sample stream. The main interface 265 can be a network interface (such as Ethernet, Fibre Channel, or ATM bus), a peripheral interface (such as a PCI bus, SERDES bus, FPP bus, or optical interconnect).

[0059] Processor 280 may include demodulator 285, signal analyzer 290, cross-correlator 295, and calibrator 298. In some examples, one or more of demodulator 285, signal analyzer 290, cross-correlator 295, and / or calibrator 298 may be located external to processor 280, and main interface 265 may be coupled to processor 280 and external components. Processor 280 may be configured to process a subset of one or more beam signals and digital sample streams received from M-th element combiner 230-m. Processor 280 may be configured to extract data from one or more beam signals 262 and use a verified subset 267 of digital sample stream 222 to determine the spatial and / or spectral characteristics of RF signals detected in the vicinity of receiving device 200 (e.g., within the field of view of the receiving device).

[0060] Demodulator 285 can be configured to demodulate one or more beam signals 262 received from the M-th element combiner 230-m, and then decode the demodulated beam signals. Signal analyzer 290 can be configured to analyze a verified subset 267 of the digital sample stream 222 received from the M-th element combiner 230-m. In some examples, signal analyzer 290 performs signal processing (e.g., convolution, eigenvector analysis, and / or FFT analysis) on the verified subset 267 of the digital sample stream 222. In some examples, processor 280 can use this analysis to generate a spatial / spectral graph indicating the directions of different RF signals received at antenna array 205 and the frequency ranges of the different signals received. In some examples, the spatial / spectral graph can be used to adjust a signal filter used to process the received RF signals, wherein the signal filter can be coupled to an antenna element or beamformer. For example, the spatial / spectral graph can be used to improve a bandpass filter to filter out frequencies associated with interfering RF signals identified by signal analyzer 290. The signal analyzer 290 can be used to identify targets of interest and buffer beam signals to support operations such as identification, communication, or surveillance.

[0061] Cross-correlator 295 can use a subset of the digital sample stream to identify the spatial and / or spectral characteristics of the detected RF signals. For example, cross-correlator 295 can identify similarities and / or differences between signals obtained at antenna elements of antenna array 205 (or cross-correlate these signals). Cross-correlator 295 can also be configured to adjust the beam weights applied to digital sample stream 222 by the beamformer based on the identified similarities and / or differences. For example, cross-correlator 295 can be configured to adjust the beam weights based on the identified differences to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of different signals. In some examples, cross-correlator 295 can be configured to process a checked subset 267 of digital sample stream 222 according to multiple sets of beam weights (e.g., calculated based on the estimated incident direction of the desired beam signal) to determine the set of beam weights with the highest signal strength or signal-to-noise ratio. In some examples, cross-correlator 295 can implement jitter for the receive beam of receiving device 200. In some examples, calibrator 298 may use a verified subset 267 of digital sample stream 222 to identify offsets between antenna elements of antenna array 205, wherein the offset of the identified set of antenna elements may differ from the offset determined for that set of antenna elements during the initial calibration phase. Calibrator 298 may also be configured to adjust the beam weights applied to the RF signal received from that set of antenna elements to compensate for the change in offset. Additionally or alternatively, calibrator 298 may measure the SNR of the RF signal while adjusting the beam weights and identifying one or more beam weights (e.g., corresponding to one or more antenna elements 210) that increase (e.g., maximize) the SNR of the signal. Calibrator 298 may also be configured to determine additional offsets (e.g., frequency offsets) for each antenna element to compensate for these offsets by adjusting components of signal converter 215 (e.g., local oscillator, mixer).

[0062] Figure 3 A receiving device supporting simultaneous beamforming and measurement modes is illustrated according to an example disclosed herein. The receiving device 300 can be configured to (e.g., simultaneously) receive one or more signals from one or more transmitting devices. The receiving device 300 can be as described herein and in the references. Figure 1A The access node terminal, satellite, or user terminal mentioned above. The receiving device 300 can be as described in the reference. Figure 2 An example of the receiving device 200.

[0063] Receiver 200 may illustrate an exemplary co-feed architecture for processing digital sample streams output from a large number of antenna elements. In some examples, the co-feed architecture may have lower latency and use less memory for coherent summation, while a daisy-chain architecture can simplify the layout and connectivity of the backplane and subarrays. Receiver 300 may include antenna array 305, signal converter 315, element combiner 330, intermediate interface 350, main interface 365, and processor 380, which may be as described in reference... Figure 2 Examples of the antenna array 205, signal converter 215, element combiner 230, intermediate interface 250, main interface 265, and processor 280.

[0064] The first element combiner 330-a and the Mth element combiner 330-m can receive and process data from, as referenced... Figure 2 The digital sample streams received by the multiple sets of ADCs. However, with Figure 2 Unlike other element combiners, the first element combiner 330-a and the Mth element combiner 330-m may not be configured to combine one or more subarray signals generated at the element combiner with one or more subarray signals received from another element combiner and to check a subset of the digital sample stream buffered at the element combiner with a subset of the digital sample stream received from another element combiner (or this capability may be disabled). Instead, the first element combiner 330-a and the Mth element combiner 330-m (and any element combiners therein) may transmit one or more subarray signals generated at the respective element combiner and a buffered subset of the digital sample stream buffered at the respective element combiner to the subarray combiner 335 via the first intermediate interface 350-a and the Mth intermediate interface 350-m.

[0065] The first intermediate interface 350-a can be configured to communicatively couple the first element combiner 330-a to the subarray combiner 335. The first intermediate interface 350-a may be able to transmit a certain amount of information from the first element combiner 330-a, allowing the transmission of buffered subsets of the one or more subarray signals and digital sample streams, while supporting real-time transmission of the one or more subarray signals. The first intermediate interface 350-a may be a bus including multiple parallel signal paths for parallel communication or a bus including a single signal path for serial communication. The Mth intermediate interface 350-m can be similarly configured as the first intermediate interface 350-a and configured to communicatively couple the Mth element combiner 330-m to the subarray combiner 335. The first intermediate interface 350-a may be a network interface (such as Ethernet, Fibre Channel, or ATM bus), a peripheral interface (such as a PCI bus, SERDES bus, FPP bus, or optical interconnect).

[0066] Subarray combiner 335 may include subarray beamformer 340 and subarray stream processor 345. Subarray combiner 335 may be configured to combine multiple sets of one or more subarray signals received from multiple element combiners to obtain one or more beam signals 362. Subarray combiner 335 may also be configured to check multiple buffered subsets of the digital sample stream received from multiple element combiners to obtain a checked subset 367 of the digital sample stream. In some examples, subarray combiner 335 may perform reference... Figure 2 The M-element combiner 230-m describes all or some of the functions for combining and verifying buffer subsets of subarray signals and digital sample streams.

[0067] The subarray beamformer 340 can be configured to combine multiple sets of one or more subarray signals received from multiple element combiners to obtain one or more beam signals 362. For example, the subarray beamformer 340 can be configured to combine a first set of one or more subarray signals 361 received from a first element combiner 330-a and a second set of one or more subarray signals received from an Mth element combiner 330-m.

[0068] Subarray stream processor 345 can be configured to check buffered subsets of digital sample streams received from multiple element combiners to obtain a checked subset 367 of the digital sample stream. For example, subarray stream processor 345 can be configured to combine a first buffered subset 366 of the digital sample stream received from a first element combiner 330-a and a second buffered subset of the digital sample stream received from an Mth element combiner 330-m. In some examples, subarray stream processor 345 may include a buffer for buffering the checked subset 367 of the digital sample stream. Subarray stream processor 345 can also be configured to interleave one or more beam signals 362 and the checked subset 367 of the digital sample stream for transmission to processor 380 via main interface 365. In some examples, subarray stream processor 345 groups one or more beam signals 362 and the checked subset 367 of the digital sample stream to obtain groups for transmission via main interface 365. For example, the subarray stream processor 345 can generate a first packet containing one or more beam signals 362 and a second packet containing a verified subset 367 of a digital sample stream, and the subarray stream processor 345 can transmit the first and second packets to the processor 380 in an interleaved manner in the combined packet stream.

[0069] The main interface 365 can be configured to communicatively couple the subarray combiner 335 to the processor 380. The main interface 365 may be able to transmit a certain amount of information from the first element combiner 330-a, enabling the transmission of one or more beam signals 362 and a verified subset 367 of the digital sample stream, while supporting real-time transmission of one or more beam signals 362. The main interface 365 may be a bus comprising multiple parallel signal paths for parallel communication or a bus comprising a single signal path for serial communication. In some examples, the bandwidth of the main interface 365 may be greater than the bandwidth of the individual interfaces between the element combiner and the subarray combiner, but less than the combined bandwidth of the individual interfaces between the element combiner and the subarray combiner. The main interface 365 may be a network interface (such as Ethernet, Fibre Channel, or ATM bus), or a peripheral interface (such as a PCI bus, SERDES bus, FPP bus, or optical interconnect).

[0070] Processor 380 may include a demodulator, signal analyzer, cross-correlator, calibrator, or any combination thereof. Processor 380 may similarly be configured to extract data, analyze signals, adjust beam weights, or any combination thereof, as referenced. Figure 2 The processor 280 is described.

[0071] Figure 4 A receiving device supporting simultaneous beamforming and measurement modes is illustrated according to an example disclosed herein. The receiving device 400 can be configured to (e.g., simultaneously) receive one or more signals from one or more transmitting devices. The receiving device 400 can be as described herein and in references. Figure 1A The access node terminal, satellite, or user terminal mentioned above. The receiving device 400 may be as described in this document and references. Figure 2 and Figure 3 An example of the receiving device.

[0072] Receiver 400 may illustrate an exemplary combined daisy-chain / co-feed architecture for processing digital sample streams output from a large number of antenna elements. Receiver 400 may include antenna array 405, signal converter 415, and processor 480, which may be... Figure 2 and Figure 3 Examples of the antenna array, signal converter, and processor described herein. The receiving device 400 may also include an element combiner 430 and a subarray combiner 435.

[0073] Antenna array 405 may include a first antenna set 407-a and a second antenna set 407-b. The first antenna set 407-a may include a first set of antenna elements coupled to a first set of ADCs, a first set of element combiners (e.g., including a first element combiner 430-a), and one or more subarray combiners (e.g., subarray combiner 435-a) in signal converter 415. The ADCs, element combiners, and subarray combiner 435-a coupled to the first antenna set 407-a may be configured according to a common feed architecture, as referenced. Figure 3 Similarly, in some examples, subarray combiner 435-a can also be arranged in a daisy-chain architecture with other subarray combiners (such as the Lth subarray combiner 435-l), as described in the reference. Figure 2 Similarly described, the subarray combiner 435-a can be located at the beginning or middle of the daisy chain.

[0074] The second antenna assembly 407-b may include a second set of antenna elements coupled to a second set of ADCs in signal converter 415, a second set of element combiners (e.g., including second element combiner 430-b), and one or more subarray combiners (e.g., Lth subarray combiner 435-l). This second set of antenna elements may also be configured according to a common feed architecture, as referenced in [reference needed]. Figure 3 Similarly described. The Lth subarray combiner 435-l can also be arranged in a daisy-chain architecture with other subarray combiners (such as subarray combiner 435-a). The Lth subarray combiner 435-l may be located at the tail position of the daisy-chain configuration. In some examples, subarray combiner 435 can be configured to combine subarray signals 461 received from the corresponding element combiner 430 to obtain one or more array signals 468. Subarray combiner 435 can also be configured to combine buffered subsets 466 of the digital sample stream from the corresponding element combiner 430 to obtain one or more array buffer subsets 470.

[0075] The Lth subarray combiner 435-l (and similarly, the subarray combiner 435-a when in the intermediate position) can combine one or more array signals generated at the Lth subarray combiner 435-l with one or more array signals 468 received from the adjacent subarray combiner (e.g., subarray combiner 435-a), as referenced. Figure 2 Similarly, this is described for combined subarray signals. The Lth subarray combiner 435-l (and similarly, the subarray combiner 435-a when in the intermediate position) can also check the array buffer subset of the digital sample stream obtained at the Lth subarray combiner 435-l against the array buffer subset 470 of the digital sample stream received from the adjacent subarray combiner (e.g., subarray combiner 435-a), as referenced. Figure 2 Similarly described. The Lth subarray combiner 435-1 can transmit one or more of the resulting beam signals 462 and a verified subset 467 of the digital sample stream to the processor 480. The processor 480 can process the received beam signals 462 and the verified subset 467 of the digital sample stream to obtain the transmitted data and determine the spectral and / or spatial characteristics of the RF signal transmitted near the receiving device 400.

[0076] Figure 5 A receiving device supporting simultaneous beamforming and measurement modes is illustrated according to an example disclosed herein. The receiving device 500 can be configured to (e.g., simultaneously) receive one or more signals from one or more transmitting devices. The receiving device 500 can be as described herein and in references. Figure 1A The access node terminal, satellite, or user terminal mentioned above. The receiving device 500 can be as described in this document and references. Figure 2 and Figure 3 An example of the receiving device.

[0077] Receiver 500 may illustrate an exemplary combined co-feed / daisy-chain architecture for processing digital sample streams output from a large number of antenna elements. Receiver 500 may include antenna array 505, signal converter 515, and processor 580, which may be... Figure 2 and Figure 3 Examples of the antenna array, signal converter, and processor described herein. The receiving device 500 may also include an element combiner 530 and a subarray combiner 535.

[0078] Antenna array 505 may include a first antenna set 507-a and a second antenna set 507-b. The first antenna set 507-a may include a first set of antenna elements coupled to a first set of ADCs and a first set of element combiners (e.g., including a first element combiner 530-a) in signal converter 515. The ADCs and element combiners coupled to the first antenna set 507-a may be configured according to a daisy-chain architecture, as shown in reference [reference needed]. Figure 2 Similarly, in some examples, the element combiner coupled to the first antenna set 507-a can also be coupled to the subarray combiner 535.

[0079] The second antenna assembly 507-b may include a second set of antenna elements coupled to a second set of ADCs and a second set of element combiners (e.g., including a second element combiner 530-b) in the signal converter 515. The ADCs and element combiners coupled to the second antenna assembly 507-b may be configured according to a daisy-chain architecture, as shown in the reference. Figure 2Similarly, in some examples, the element combiner coupled to the second antenna assembly 507-a can also be coupled to the subarray combiner 535. Therefore, the element combiner coupled to the first antenna assembly 507-a, the element combiner coupled to the second antenna assembly 507-b, and the subarray combiner 535 can be configured according to a common feed architecture, as described in reference [reference needed]. Figure 3 Described similarly.

[0080] Subarray combiner 535 can combine one or more subarray signals 561 generated at the first element combiner 530-a with one or more subarray signals 561 received from an additional element combiner (such as the second element combiner 530-b), as referenced. Figure 3 Similarly described. Subarray combiner 535 can also check a buffered subset 566 of the digital sample stream received from the first element combiner 530-a against a buffered subset 566 of the digital sample stream received from an additional element combiner (such as the second element combiner 530-b), as described in reference... Figure 3 Similarly described. Subarray combiner 535 can transmit one or more resulting beam signals 562 and a verified subset 567 of the digital sample stream to processor 580. Processor 580 can process the received beam signals 532 and the verified subset 567 of the digital sample stream to obtain the transmitted data and determine the spectral and / or spatial characteristics of the RF signal transmitted in the vicinity of receiving device 500.

[0081] Figure 6A A receiving device supporting simultaneous beamforming and measurement modes is illustrated according to an example disclosed herein. The receiving device 600-a can be configured to (e.g., simultaneously) receive one or more signals from one or more transmitting devices. The receiving device 600-a can be as described herein and in references. Figure 1A The access node terminal, satellite, or user terminal mentioned herein. The receiving device 600-a can be any of the types described in this document and references. Figures 2 to 3 An example of the receiving device.

[0082] Receiver 600-a may illustrate an exemplary extended common feed architecture for processing digital sample streams output from a large number of antenna elements. Receiver 600-a may include processor 680-a, which may be as described in reference... Figures 2 to 5 An example of the processor described. The receiving device 600-a may also include an antenna panel 601 and an array combiner 637-a.

[0083] The first antenna panel 601-a may include a first antenna array 605-a, and the Kth antenna panel 601-k may include a Kth antenna array 605-k. The first antenna array 605-a may include a first set of antenna elements, and the Kth antenna array 605-k may include a second set of antenna elements. In some examples, the first antenna array 605-a and the Kth antenna array 605-k are included in the same antenna array, but are physically separated from each other by a considerable distance (e.g., >1 meter). The first antenna panel 601-a may also include a first signal converter 615-a, a first element combiner 630-a-1, a second element combiner 630-a-2 (and possibly, an additional element combiner 630-a), and a first subarray combiner 635-a, which may be described herein and in reference. Figure 3 Examples of the signal converter, element combiner, and subarray combiner described herein. Element combiner 630 can transmit subarray signal 661 and a buffered subset 666 of the digital sample stream to subarray combiner 635.

[0084] Similarly, the Kth antenna panel 601-k may also include a Kth signal converter 615-k, element combiners 630-k-1 and 630-k-2 (and possibly, additional element combiner 630-k), and a Kth subarray combiner 635-k. The first antenna panel 601-a may also include a first interface 650-a, and the Kth antenna panel 601-k may include the Kth interface 650-k. The first interface 650-a may be configured to transmit information (e.g., array signal 668 and an array buffer subset 670 of the digital sample stream) from the first antenna panel 601-a to the array combiner 637-a. The Kth interface 650-k may be configured to transmit information (e.g., array signal 668 and an array buffer subset 670 of the digital sample stream) from the Kth antenna panel 601-k to the array combiner 637-a.

[0085] Array combiner 637-a can be configured to combine (via first subarray combiner 635-a) one or more array signals 668 received from first antenna panel 601-a and one or more array signals 668 received from additional antenna panels (e.g., from Kth antenna panel 601-k via Kth subarray combiner 635-k). Array combiner 637-a can also be configured to check an array buffer subset 670 of the digital sample stream received from first antenna panel 601-a (via first subarray combiner 635-a) and an array buffer subset 670 of the digital sample stream received from additional antenna panels (e.g., from Kth antenna panel 601-k via Kth subarray combiner 635-k). Array combiner 637-a can be configured to transmit the resulting one or more beam signals 662 and the checked subset 667 of the digital sample stream to processor 680-a. In order to synchronize the transmission of data transmitted throughout the receiving device 600-a, the receiving device 600-a may package the information into blocks (or "chunks"), as described in this document and references. Figure 6B A more detailed description.

[0086] Figure 6B A schematic diagram of signal propagation for a simultaneous beamforming and measurement mode is shown, according to examples disclosed herein. Schematic diagram 651-b may illustrate the propagation of signals within receiving device 600-a. In some examples, schematic diagram 651-b shows the propagation of data signals transmitted via a first interface 650-a (e.g., a first data signal including a first packet 655-b) and data signals transmitted via a Kth interface 650-k (e.g., a Kth data signal including a Kth packet 660-b).

[0087] As described herein, information within receiving device 600-a can be transmitted in groups or blocks to maintain synchronization across receiving device 600-a. In some examples, a first subarray combiner 635-a can transmit data (e.g., a subset of array buffers of one or more array signals and digital sample streams) associated with a first set of digital samples (e.g., N digital samples) to array combiner 637-a via a first interface 650-a. In some examples, the amount of digital samples associated with data transmission is based at least in part on the worst-case propagation delay of the signal within receiving device 600-a or on propagation errors or variations of the signal within receiving device 600-a. For example, if the worst-case propagation delay from the k-th antenna panel spans ten digital samples, then N can be equal to nine or less than nine. Alternatively, the amount of digital samples associated with data transmission can be selected such that the block length of the digital samples is greater than the propagation error or difference between the different element combiners 630 (e.g., the propagation difference between the element combiner 630 with the minimum propagation delay and the element combiner 630 with the maximum propagation delay, thus taking into account the differences in the interfaces including the first interface 650-a and the Kth interface 650-k). Similarly, the Kth subarray combiner 635-k can transmit data associated with the second set of digital samples to the array combiner 637-a via the Kth interface 650-k.

[0088] In some examples, a first subarray combiner 635-a transmits a first packet 655-b to array combiner 637-a via a first interface 650-a, and a Kth subarray combiner 635-k transmits a Kth packet 660-b to array combiner 637-a via a Kth interface 650-k. Array combiner 637-a can align the beginnings of the first packet 655-b and the Kth packet 660-b before processing the information received from the first subarray combiner 635-a and the Kth subarray combiner 635-k. In some examples, array combiner 637-a can continuously track the amount of received data samples, allowing array combiner 637-a to separate data packets or blocks from each other. After (e.g., temporally) synchronizing the received information, array combiner 637-a can combine one or more received beam signals and check a subset of the digital sample stream included in the received information. The array combiner 637-a can then transmit the resulting one or more beam signals and a verified subset of the digital sample stream to the processor 680-a, which can, as described herein and in references,... Figures 2 to 5 Information can be processed in a similar manner. By transmitting data in packets or blocks, the signaling overhead used to maintain time synchronization between signals (e.g., beam signals and signals comprising subsets of digital sample streams) can be reduced.

[0089] Figure 7A schematic diagram of signal processing for a simultaneous beamforming and measurement mode is shown, according to an example disclosed herein. The signal processing schematic diagram 700 may illustrate the reception of signals within a receiving device 703, which may be a reference device. Figures 2 to 6A An example of the receiving device.

[0090] Receiving device 703 may include one or more antenna arrays (such as antenna array 705), signal converter 715, element combiner 730, and processor 780. Antenna array 705 may include multiple antenna elements, wherein a subset of the antenna elements may be grouped together. Signal converter 715 may include multiple ADCs and may be described herein and in reference. Figures 2 to 6A Examples of the signal converters described herein. Element combiner 730 may include, as described herein and in the references. Figures 2 to 6A The aforementioned multi-element combiner. Processor 780 may be described herein and in reference. Figures 2 to 6A Examples of processors described herein. For instance, processor 780 may include one or more components of processor 280, which in some cases may coexist or be located in different locations or computing nodes.

[0091] The receiving device 703 may also include a subarray combiner 735, which may include, as described herein and in the references, Figures 2 to 6A The receiving device 703 may include one or more subarray combiners. In some examples, the receiving device 703 may not include a subarray combiner 735, for example, if the element combiner 730 is configured in a daisy-chain architecture. The receiving device may also include a timing component 760 and a control / status component 770. The element sample buffer may be polled directly or indirectly by the control / status component 770.

[0092] The receiving device may further include a first data intermediate interface 750-a, a second data intermediate interface 750-b, a main data interface 765, and a control interface 755. The first data intermediate interface 750-a may couple the signal converter 715 to the element combiner 730 and is configured to deliver a digital sample stream to the element combiner 730. The second data intermediate interface 750-b may couple the element combiner 730 to the subarray combiner 735 and is configured to deliver one or more beam signals and a subset of the digital sample stream to the subarray combiner 735. The main data interface 765 may couple the subarray combiner 735 to the processor 780 and is configured to deliver one or more beam signals and a verified subset of the digital sample stream to the subarray combiner 735. If the receiving device 703 does not include the subarray combiner 735, the second data intermediate interface 750-b and the main data interface 765 may be the same interface. Furthermore, the functionality for combining subarray signals and verifying buffered subsets of the digital sample stream can be moved within the element combiner 730. The control interface 755 can be coupled to the signal converter 715, element combiner 730, subarray combiner 735, processor 780, timing unit 760, control / status unit 770, or any combination thereof. The control interface 755 can be configured to deliver control information (e.g., clock signals, maintenance signals, etc.) within the receiving device 703. In some examples, the control interface 755 can be configured to deliver buffered subsets of the digital sample stream from the signal converter 715 or element combiner 730 to the processor 780.

[0093] As described herein, element combiner 730 and subarray combiner 735 can be configured to have a stream processor for managing the transmission of information across different interfaces. In some examples, element combiner 730 is configured to transmit one or more beam signals and a verified subset of digital sample streams in an interleaved manner via a second data intermediate interface 750-b. In other examples, element combiner 730 is configured to transmit one or more beam signals via the second data intermediate interface 750-b and a verified subset of digital sample streams via a control interface 755. Similarly, subarray combiner 735 can be configured to transmit beam signals and a verified subset of digital sample streams in an interleaved manner via a main data interface 765 or separately via the main data interface 765 and the control interface 755. In some examples, signal converter 715 can be configured (e.g., upon receiving a trigger signal) to continuously transmit digital sample streams via a first data intermediate interface 750-a and periodically transmit subsets of the digital sample streams to processor 780 via the control interface 755.

[0094] Timing component 760 can be configured to send a timing signal to components within receiving device 703. In some examples, timing component 760 can be configured to (e.g., periodically or non-periodically) transmit a timing signal causing components (e.g., signal converter 715 or element combiner 730) to capture a subset of samples from a digital sample stream. In some examples, the sample subsets are time-synchronized based on each component capturing a subset of samples at the same time and for the same duration based on the received signal. The timing signal (or a second timing signal transmitted by timing component 760) can also cause components to transmit the captured snapshots to processor 780.

[0095] Control / status unit 770 can be configured to manage the operation of receiving device 703. In some examples, control / status unit 770 can send signals to configure components within receiving device 703 to operate in a specific mode and / or to request operation information from components within receiving device 703. In some examples, control / status unit 770 can be configured (e.g., periodically or non-periodically) to transmit timing signals that cause components (e.g., signal converter 715 or element combiner 730) to capture a predetermined number of samples from a digital sample stream. The timing signals (or a second timing signal transmitted by control / status unit 770) can also cause components to transmit a subset of the captured digital sample stream to processor 780.

[0096] In some examples, receiving device 703 can receive a first signal 720-a and a second signal 720-b, which may be RF signals. The first signal 720-a may arrive from a first direction and be transmitted from a first device, and the second signal 720-b may arrive from a second direction and be transmitted from a second device. One or both of the first signal 720-a and the second signal 720-b may be intended for use by receiving device 703. In some examples, receiving device 703 may receive additional signals from different directions. Each antenna element of antenna array 705 can receive both the first signal 720-a and the second signal 720-b and output an analog signal corresponding to the first signal 720-a and the second signal 720-b. For example, due to the position and / or orientation of different antenna elements, the analog signals output by different antenna elements may differ from each other. These differences can be used to determine the spatial components of the signal (e.g., angle of arrival). The analog signal may be passed to signal converter 715. In some examples, the analog signal may be filtered (e.g., at frequency) before being passed to signal converter 715.

[0097] Signal converter 715 may include multiple ADCs for converting analog signals received from antenna array 705 into digital sample streams. Signal converter 715 may transmit the digital sample streams to element combiner 730 via a first data intermediate interface 750-a. In some examples, signal converter 715 may also (e.g., after receiving a trigger signal) transmit a subset of each digital sample stream via control interface 755. The digital sample stream output by the multiple ADCs can be represented as... The signal converter 715 may include (N + 1) ADCs, and each digital sample stream It can include the corresponding digital sample stream.

[0098] Element combiner 730 may include multiple element combiners, each of which can be coupled to a corresponding subset of the ADC and receive a corresponding set of digital sample streams. Each element combiner can process its respective set of digital sample streams received from the corresponding subset of the ADC. For example, the first element combiner can process the corresponding set of digital sample streams received from the corresponding subset of the ADC (which can be represented as...). (where J can be less than N) is converted into the first subarray signal ( It corresponds to the first signal 720-a) and the second subarray signal ( This corresponds to the second signal 720-b). The element combiner can also buffer a subset of digital samples in each digital sample stream, which is included in a corresponding set of digital sample streams, wherein the buffered subset of digital samples can be represented as... .

[0099] In some examples, the element combiner can combine its own generated subarray signals with those generated by adjacent element combiners, for example, when receiver 703 is configured in a daisy-chain configuration and subarray combiner 735 is not included in receiver 703. In this case, the second data intermediate interface 750-b and the main data interface 765 can be the same interface, and element combiner 730 can combine the subarray signals as a set of resulting beam signals via main data interface 765. and The data is transmitted to processor 780. In some examples, element combiner 730 may also transmit a time-synchronized subset of the digital samples (e.g., interleaved with the beam signal) to processor 780 via main data interface 765. In other examples, element combiner 730 may transmit a time-synchronized subset of the digital samples to processor 780 via control interface 755.

[0100] When the receiving device 703 includes a subarray combiner 735, the element combiner in the element combiner 730 can transmit the corresponding subarray signal to the subarray combiner 735 via the second data intermediate interface 750-b (e.g., when the receiving device 703 is configured in a common-feed configuration). The corresponding subarray signal can be represented as and , where L can be equal to the quantity of the element combiner in element combiner 730. The element combiner can also emit a corresponding buffer subset of the digital samples to subarray combiner 735 (where a subset of the digital samples can be represented as...). In other examples, the element combiner may transmit subarray signals to the subarray combiner 735 via a second data intermediate interface 750-b and transmit a subset of digital samples to the processor 780 via a control interface 755.

[0101] Subarray combiner 735 can process information received from element combiner 730. In some examples, subarray combiner 735 can combine multiple sets of subarray signals received from element combiner 730. To obtain a set of beam signals and The subarray combiner 735 can also verify a buffered subset of digital samples received from the element combiner. The subarray combiner 735 can transmit the resulting beam signal to the processor 780 via the main data interface 765. In some examples, the subarray combiner 735 can also transmit the buffered subset of digital samples via the main data interface 765, for example, by interleaving it with the resulting beam signal. In other examples, the subarray combiner 735 can transmit a subset of digital samples to the processor 780 via the control interface 755.

[0102] In some examples, timing component 760 and / or control / status component 770 may provide signals to components within receiving device 703 that support the storage and transmission of subsets of digital samples throughout receiving device 703. In some examples, timing component 760 and / or control / status component 770 (periodically or aperiodically) send timing signals that cause signal converter 715 or element combiner 730 to buffer samples of a continuous digital sample stream for a certain duration. After storing a subset of the digital sample stream, the stream processing component at signal converter 715 may perform operations that cause the subset of the digital sample stream to be transmitted, for example, via first data intermediate interface 750-a to element combiner 730 or via control interface 755 to processor 780. In other examples, if a subset of the digital sample stream is buffered at element combiner 730, the stream processing unit at element combiner 730 can perform operations that cause the subset of the digital sample stream to be sent, for example, to subarray combiner 735 via second data intermediate interface 750-b or to processor 780 via control interface 755.

[0103] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a process for simultaneous beamforming and measurement modes, according to examples disclosed herein, is shown. The operation of method 800 can be implemented by an access node terminal, satellite, user terminal, RF receiver, or components thereof, as described herein. In some examples, a processing system in the access node terminal and / or satellite executes a set of instructions to control functional elements of the satellite, thereby performing the functions. In some examples, the processing system provides multiple functions such as communication, identification, surveillance, or radar. Additionally or alternatively, the processing system may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the functions. In some examples, the processing system is as described herein... Figures 2 to 3 The receiving device can execute method 800.

[0104] At point 805, an analog signal can be output based on the radio frequency signal received at the antenna array. Operation of point 805 can be performed according to the techniques described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of point 805 can be determined by an antenna array as described herein (e.g., using...). Figures 2 to 7 (The antenna array in the antenna array) is used to perform this.

[0105] At 810, the analog signal can be converted into a digital sample stream. The operation of 810 can be performed according to the techniques described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 810 can be handled by an analog-to-digital converter (e.g., using...) as described herein. Figures 2 to 7 The signal converter described herein is used to perform the operation.

[0106] At 815, corresponding subsets of the digital sample stream can be buffered at the corresponding sample buffers, allowing these subsets to be time-synchronized with each other. The operation of 815 can be performed according to the techniques described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 815 can be handled by sample buffers as described herein (e.g., Figure 2 The first element of the sample buffer (235-a) is used to perform this. In some examples, a subset of the digital sample stream can be forwarded immediately (e.g., forwarded to a stream processor or main processor), instead of buffering a subset of the digital sample stream.

[0107] At 820, beam weights can be applied to the digital sample stream to obtain one or more beam signals. Operation at 820 can be performed according to the techniques described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation at 820 can be determined by a beamformer as described herein (e.g., Figure 2 and Figure 3 The first element beamformer 240-a or the subarray beamformer 340 is used to perform this.

[0108] At 825, the spatial characteristics, spectral characteristics, or both of the radio frequency signal can be determined based on a subset of the digital sample stream. Operation of 825 can be performed according to the techniques described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 825 can be handled by a processor as described herein (e.g., using...). Figures 2 to 7 The 825 is executed by one of the processors described. In some examples, aspects of the operation of the 825 can be implemented in hardware in parallel or in series with the hardware that implements the operation of the 820.

[0109] It should be noted that the methods described herein are possible specific implementations, and the operations and steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified, and other specific implementations are possible. Furthermore, portions of two or more methods may be combined.

[0110] An apparatus for communication is described. The apparatus may include: an antenna array configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals and output analog signals based on these RF signals; analog-to-digital (ADCs) coupled to the antenna array and configured to convert the analog signals into a digital sample stream; a sample buffer coupled to the ADCs and configured to buffer corresponding subsets of the digital sample stream, wherein the corresponding subsets of the digital sample stream are time-synchronized with each other; a beamformer coupled to the ADCs and configured to apply beam weights to the digital sample stream to obtain one or more beam signals; and a processor coupled to the sample buffer, configured to determine the spatial or spectral characteristics of the RF signals based on the subsets of the digital sample stream.

[0111] In some examples, the processor can be configured to adjust the beam weights applied by the beamformer based on spatial characteristics.

[0112] In some examples, the processor can be configured to adjust the corresponding offsets of one or more antenna elements used for the calibration of the antenna array, wherein the adjustment of the beam weights applied by the beamformer can be based on the corresponding offsets determined for the one or more antenna elements.

[0113] In some examples, beam weights are associated with a first direction of the beam used for communication with the target device, and the processor can be configured to determine a second direction of the beam used for communication with the target device based on spatial characteristics, wherein adjusting the beam weights applied by the beamformer can be based on the second direction of the beam.

[0114] In some examples, the processor can be configured to adjust the filters associated with the one or more beam signals based on spectral characteristics.

[0115] In some examples, the sample buffer includes a set of element sample buffers, each configured to buffer a subset of the digital sample stream associated with one or more antenna elements of the antenna array, and the beamformer includes a set of element beamformers, each configured to apply one or more beam weights to one or more digital sample streams in the digital sample stream to obtain a subarray signal.

[0116] In some examples, the apparatus includes a set of element combiners coupled to an analog-to-digital converter and comprising: respective element beamformers in the set of element beamformers configured to apply one or more beam weights to a respective digital sample stream output by a respective subset of the analog-to-digital converter to obtain a respective subarray signal; and respective element sample buffers in the set of element sample buffers configured to buffer a respective subset of the respective digital sample stream output by a respective subset of the analog-to-digital converter.

[0117] In some examples, the group element combiner can be configured to check a subset of the digital sample stream buffered at the respective element combiner against an additional subset of the digital sample stream received from the adjacent element combiner in the subarray grouped stream to obtain a checked subset of the digital sample stream.

[0118] In some examples, the corresponding element stream processor can be configured to combine one or more subarray signals generated by the corresponding element beamformer with additional subarray signals received in the subarray packet stream to obtain one or more beam signals, and to group the one or more beam signals and a verified subset of the digital sample stream to obtain a combined packet stream.

[0119] In some examples, the processor can be configured to: receive a combined packet stream from an element combiner in the group of element combiners, obtain a data stream based on the one or more beam signals in the combined packet stream, and determine spatial or spectral characteristics based on a verified subset of digital sample streams in the combined packet stream.

[0120] In some examples, the beamformer includes one or more subarray beamformers configured to combine subarray signals generated by respective element beamformers to obtain the one or more beam signals, and the device also includes one or more subarray combiners coupled to the set of element combiners and including a respective subarray beamformer among the one or more subarray beamformers configured to combine subarray signals to obtain the one or more beam signals.

[0121] In some examples, the group element combiner includes a corresponding element stream processor configured to group a subset of subarray signals generated by a corresponding element beamformer and a digital sample stream buffered by a corresponding element sample buffer to obtain a corresponding subarray group stream, and the one or more subarray combiners include a corresponding subarray stream processor configured to: receive a corresponding subarray group stream from a corresponding element combiner in the group element combiner; check a subset of the digital sample stream received from the corresponding element combiner based on the corresponding subarray group stream to obtain a checked subset of the digital sample stream; and group the one or more beam signals and the checked subset of the digital sample stream to obtain a combined group stream.

[0122] In some examples, the processor is configured to: receive a group stream of packets from the one or more subarray combiners, obtain a data stream based on the one or more beam signals in the group stream of the corresponding combination, and determine spatial or spectral characteristics based on a verified subset of digital sample streams in the group stream of the corresponding combination.

[0123] In some examples, the processor is configured to apply beam weights to the digital sample stream to obtain a weighted digital sample stream, and combine the weighted digital sample streams to obtain the one or more beam signals.

[0124] In some examples, the device includes a stream processor coupled to a beamformer and a sample buffer and configured to: interleave a subset of the one or more beam signals and digital sample streams; and transmit the interleaved subset of the one or more beam signals and digital sample streams via a communication interface.

[0125] Some examples of the device may include: a demodulator configured to receive the one or more beam signals via a communication interface, the demodulator being further configured to demodulate the one or more beam signals to obtain one or more data streams, and wherein a processor may be further configured to store a subset of digital sample streams and determine the spatial or spectral characteristics of the radio frequency signal based on analysis of the stored subset of the digital sample streams.

[0126] In some examples, the sample buffer is configured to receive timing signals associated with a subset of the captured digital sample stream, and to buffer the subset of the digital sample stream based on these timing signals.

[0127] Some examples of the device may include: a set of antenna arrays including an antenna array and a second antenna array configured to output a second analog signal; second analog-to-digital converters coupled to the second antenna array and configured to convert the second analog signal into a second digital sample stream; a second sample buffer coupled to the second analog-to-digital converters and configured to buffer corresponding subsets of the second digital sample stream, wherein the corresponding subsets of the second digital sample stream can be time-synchronized with each other; a second beamformer coupled to the second analog-to-digital converters and configured to apply second beam weights to the second digital sample stream to obtain one or more second beam signals; and an array combiner coupled to the beamformer and the second beamformer and configured to combine the one or more beam signals and the one or more second beam signals to obtain the one or more beam signals.

[0128] In some examples, the array combiner can be configured to calibrate a subset of a digital sample stream and a subset of a second digital sample stream to obtain a calibrated subset of the digital sample stream, and the processor can be configured to determine spatial or spectral characteristics based on the calibrated subset of the digital sample stream.

[0129] Some examples of the device may include a stream processor configured to group a subset of a digital sample stream into a first group and a subset of synchronously captured data from a second digital sample stream into a second group, wherein the length of the first group may be based on the propagation delay of the signal from the group of antenna arrays to the array combiner, and wherein the array combiner may be further configured to align the beginning of the first group with the beginning of the second group.

[0130] In some examples, each digital sample stream in a digital sample stream can be associated with one or more corresponding antenna elements of an antenna subarray of an antenna array.

[0131] The information and signals described herein can be represented using any of a variety of different techniques and skills. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout this specification can be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, light fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

[0132] The various exemplary blocks and modules described in connection with the disclosure herein can be implemented or performed by a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA, or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but alternatively, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a digital signal processor (DSP) and a microprocessor, a combination of multiple microprocessors, a combination of one or more microprocessors combined with a DSP core, or any other such configuration).

[0133] The functions described herein can be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software executed by a processor, these functions can be stored on or transmitted via a computer-readable medium as one or more instructions or code. Other examples and implementations are within the scope of this disclosure and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, the functions described herein can be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, or any combination thereof. Features implementing the functions can also be physically located in various locations, including distributed implementations, such that functional parts are implemented at different physical locations.

[0134] Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storage media and communication media, encompassing any medium that facilitates the transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Non-transitory storage media can be any available medium accessible by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, non-transitory computer-readable media can include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, optical disc read-only memory (CDROM) or other optical disc storage devices, magnetic disk storage devices or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transitory medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and is accessible by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Furthermore, any connection is appropriately referred to as computer-readable media. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of media. As used herein, disks and optical discs include CDs, laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs (DVDs), floppy disks, and Blu-ray discs, where disks typically copy data magnetically, while optical discs copy data optically using lasers. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0135] As used herein, including in the claims, the word "or" used in a list of items (e.g., a list of items prefixed with phrases such as "at least one of..." or "one or more of...") indicates an inclusive list, such that a list like "at least one of A, B, or C" means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Furthermore, as used herein, the phrase "based on" should not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions. For example, an exemplary step described as "based on condition A" may be based on both condition A and condition B without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In other words, as used herein, the phrase "based on" should be interpreted in the same manner as the phrase "at least partially based on".

[0136] In the accompanying drawings, similar parts or features may have the same reference labels. Furthermore, various parts of the same type can be distinguished by adding a ligature and a second label after the reference label, which distinguishes similar parts. If only the first reference label is used in this specification, this description applies to any of the similar parts having the same first reference label, regardless of the second reference label or other subsequent reference labels.

[0137] This specification, illustrated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, describes exemplary configurations and does not represent all achievable examples or all examples within the scope of the claims. The term "exemplary" as used herein means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration," and not "preferred" or "superior to other examples." Detailed descriptions include specific details to provide an understanding of the described techniques. However, these techniques may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the concepts of the described examples.

[0138] The description herein is provided to enable those skilled in the art to make or use this disclosure. Various modifications to this disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein, but is to be accorded the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A device for communication, comprising: Antenna arrays (105, 205, 305, 405) are configured to receive radio frequency signals (103) and output analog signals (112, 212) at least in part based on the radio frequency signals (103). Analog-to-digital converters (120, 220) are coupled to the antenna array (105, 205, 305, 405) and configured to convert the analog signal (112, 212) into a digital sample stream (122, 222). A sample buffer (165) coupled to the analog-to-digital converter (120, 220) and configured to buffer corresponding subsets of the digital sample streams (122, 222), wherein the corresponding subsets of the digital sample streams (122, 222) are time-synchronized with each other, wherein the sample buffer (165) includes a plurality of element sample buffers (235), each element sample buffer (235) being configured to buffer a subset of the digital sample streams (122, 222) associated with one or more antenna elements (110, 210) of the antenna array (105, 205, 305, 405); A beamformer (160), coupled to the analog-to-digital converters (120, 220) and configured to apply beam weights to the digital sample streams (122, 222) to obtain one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462), wherein the beamformer (160) comprises a plurality of element beamformers (240), each element beamformer (240) configured to apply one or more beam weights to one or more digital sample streams in the digital sample streams (122, 222) to obtain a subarray signal (261); and A processor (175), coupled to the sample buffer (165), is configured to determine the spatial characteristics of the radio frequency signal (103) based at least in part on a subset of the digital sample stream (122, 222).

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor (175) is further configured to: The beam weights applied by the beamformer (160) are adjusted at least in part based on the spatial characteristics.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor (175) is further configured to: Determine the corresponding offsets of one or more antenna elements (110, 210) for calibration of the antenna array (105, 205, 305, 405), wherein the beam weights applied by the beamformer (160) are adjusted at least in part based on the corresponding offsets determined for the one or more antenna elements (110, 210).

4. The apparatus according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the beam weight is associated with a first direction of the beam for communication with the target device, and wherein the processor (175) is further configured to: The second direction of the beam for communication with the target device is determined at least in part based on the spatial characteristics, wherein the beam weights applied by the beamformer (160) are adjusted at least in part based on the second direction of the beam.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor (175) is further configured to: The spectral characteristics of the radio frequency signal are determined at least in part based on a subset of the digital sample stream (122, 222); and The filters associated with the one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462) are adjusted at least in part based on the spectral characteristics.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A plurality of element combiners (230), coupled to the analog-to-digital converters (120, 220) and comprising: The respective element beamformer (240) of the plurality of element beamformers (240) is configured to apply one or more beam weights to the respective digital sample streams (122, 222) output by the respective subsets of the analog-to-digital converters (120, 220) to obtain the respective subarray signal (261), and The respective element sample buffer (235) among the plurality of element sample buffers (235) is configured to buffer a respective subset of the respective digital sample stream (122, 222) output by a respective subset of the analog-to-digital converter (120, 220).

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of element combiners (230) includes a corresponding element stream processor (245), the corresponding element stream processor being configured to: A subset of the digital sample streams (122, 222) buffered at the corresponding element combiner (230) is checked against an additional subset of the digital sample streams (122, 222) received from the adjacent element combiner (230) in the subarray group stream to obtain a checked subset (167) of the digital sample streams (122, 222).

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the corresponding element stream processor (245) is further configured to: One or more subarray signals (261) generated by the corresponding element beamformer (240) are combined with additional subarray signals (261) received in the subarray packet stream to obtain the one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462), and The verified subset (167) of the one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462) and digital sample streams (122, 222) is grouped to obtain a combined grouped stream (174).

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor (175) is configured to: Receive the combined packet stream (174) from the element combiner (230) among the plurality of element combiners (230); A data stream is obtained at least in part based on one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462) in the combined packet stream (174); and The spatial characteristics are determined at least in part based on the verified subset (167) of the digital sample streams (122, 222) in the grouped streams (174) of the combination.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: The beamformer (160) includes one or more subarray beamformers (340), which are configured to combine corresponding subarray signals (261) generated by the corresponding element beamformers (240) to obtain the one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462). The apparatus further includes one or more subarray combiners (355) coupled to the plurality of element combiners (230) and including a corresponding subarray beamformer (340) among the one or more subarray beamformers (340), the corresponding subarray beamformer being configured to combine a corresponding subarray signal (261) to obtain the one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462).

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: The plurality of element combiners (230) include corresponding element stream processors (245), which are configured to group subsets of the subarray signal (261) generated by the corresponding element beamformer (240) and digital sample streams (122, 222) buffered by the corresponding element sample buffer (235) to obtain corresponding subarray grouped streams, and The one or more subarray combiners (355) include a corresponding subarray stream processor (345), the corresponding subarray stream processor being configured to: Receive the corresponding subarray packet stream from the respective element combiner (230) of the plurality of element combiners (230). The subset of digital sample streams (122, 222) received from the corresponding element combiner (230) is checked at least in part based on the corresponding subarray grouping stream to obtain the checked subset (167) of the digital sample streams (122, 222), and The verified subset (167) of the one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462) and digital sample streams (122, 222) is grouped to obtain a combined grouped stream (174).

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor (175) is configured to: Receive the corresponding combined packet stream (174) from the one or more subarray combiners (355); A data stream is obtained at least in part based on one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462) in the corresponding combination of packet streams (174); and The spatial characteristics are determined at least in part based on the verified subset (167) of the digital sample streams (122, 222) in the grouped streams (174) of the corresponding combination.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the weighted digital sample stream (122, 222) is obtained at least in part based on applying the beam weights to the digital sample stream (122, 222), and wherein the beamformer (160) is further configured to: The weighted digital sample streams (122, 222) are combined to obtain the one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462).

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A stream processor (173), coupled to the beamformer (160) and the sample buffer (165) and configured to: Interweave subsets of the one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462) and the digital sample stream (122, 222); and The interleaved one or more beam signals (162) and a subset of the digital sample stream (122, 222) are transmitted to the processor (175) via the communication interface (265).

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: Demodulators (285, 385) are configured to receive the one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462) via a communication interface (265), and are further configured to demodulate the one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462) to obtain one or more data streams. The processor (175) is further configured to store a subset of the digital sample streams (122, 222) and to determine the spatial characteristics of the radio frequency signal (103) at least in part based on the analysis of the stored subset of the digital sample streams (122, 222).

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sample buffer (165) is further configured to: Receive timing signals associated with capturing a subset of the digital sample stream (122, 222); and A subset of the digital sample stream (122, 222) is buffered at least in part based on the timing signal.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: Multiple antenna arrays (605), the multiple antenna arrays including the antenna array (105, 205, 305, 405, 605-a) and a second antenna array (605-k) configured to output a second analog signal. A second analog-to-digital converter (615-k) is coupled to the second antenna array (605-k) and configured to convert the second analog signal into a second digital sample stream (122, 222). A second sample buffer, coupled to the second analog-to-digital converter (615-k), is configured to buffer corresponding subsets of the second digital sample streams (122, 222), wherein the corresponding subsets of the second digital sample streams (122, 222) are time-synchronized with each other. A second beamformer, coupled to the second analog-to-digital converter (615-k), is configured to apply second beam weights to the second digital sample stream (122, 222) to obtain one or more second beam signals; and An array combiner (637-a) coupled to the beamformer (160) and the second beamformer, and configured to combine the one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462) and the one or more second beam signals to obtain the one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462).

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein: The array combiner (637-a) is configured to cross-reference a subset of the digital sample stream (122, 222) and a subset of the second digital sample stream (122, 222) to obtain a cross-referenced subset (167) of the digital sample stream (122, 222), and The processor (175) is configured to determine the spatial characteristics at least in part based on the verified subset (167) of the digital sample stream (122, 222).

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising: A stream processor (173) is configured to group a subset of the digital sample stream (122, 222) into a first group (655-b) and to group a subset of the synchronously captured second digital sample stream (122, 222) into a second group (660-b). The length of the first group (655-b) is at least partially based on the propagation delay of the signal from the plurality of antenna arrays (605) to the array combiner (637-a), and The array combiner (637-a) is further configured to align the beginning of the first group (655-b) with the beginning of the second group (660-b).

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the digital sample streams (122, 222) is associated with one or more corresponding antenna elements (110, 210) of an antenna subarray of the antenna array (105, 205, 305, 405).

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: The spectral characteristics of the radio frequency signal (103) are determined at least in part based on a subset of the digital sample streams (122, 222).

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein: The spatial characteristics include the orientation of one or more devices transmitting the radio frequency signal (103), the corresponding angle of arrival of the radio frequency signal (103), or both. The spectral characteristics include the corresponding carrier frequency of the radio frequency signal (103), the corresponding frequency range used by the radio frequency signal (103), or both.

23. A communication method, comprising: The analog signals (112, 212) are output based at least in part on the radio frequency signals (103) received at the antenna array (105, 205, 305, 405). The analog signal (112, 212) is converted into a digital sample stream (122, 222). A corresponding subset of the digital sample streams (122, 222) is buffered at a sample buffer (165), wherein the corresponding subsets of the digital sample streams (122, 222) are time-synchronized with each other; Beam weights are applied to the digital sample stream (122, 222) to obtain one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462). The stream processor (173) interleaves a subset of the one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462) and the digital sample stream (122, 222); The stream processor (173) transmits a subset of the interleaved one or more beam signals (162) and the digital sample stream (122, 222) to the processor (175) via communication interfaces (265, 365); and The processor (175) determines the spatial characteristics of the radio frequency signal (103) based at least in part on a subset of the digital sample stream (122, 222).

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising: The beam weights are adjusted at least in part based on the spatial characteristics.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising: Determine corresponding offsets for one or more antenna elements (110, 210) for calibration of the antenna array (105, 205, 305, 405), wherein the beam weights are adjusted at least in part based on the corresponding offsets determined for the one or more antenna elements (110, 210).

26. The method of any one of claims 24 or 25, wherein the beam weight is associated with a first direction of the beam used for communication with the target device, the method further comprising: A second direction of the beam for communication with the target device is determined at least in part based on the spatial characteristics, wherein the beam weights are adjusted at least in part based on the second direction of the beam.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising: The spectral characteristics of the radio frequency signal are determined at least in part based on a subset of the digital sample stream (122, 222); as well as The filters associated with the one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462) are adjusted at least in part based on the spectral characteristics.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising: Store a subset of the corresponding digital sample streams (122, 222) associated with one or more corresponding antenna elements (110, 210) of the antenna array (105, 205, 305, 405); as well as One or more beam weights are applied to the corresponding digital sample streams (122, 222) to obtain the corresponding subarray signal (261).

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising: A subset of the digital sample stream (122, 222) is checked to obtain the checked subset (167) of the digital sample stream (122, 222). Combine one or more subarray signals (261) to obtain the one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462); and The verified subset (167) of the one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462) and digital sample streams (122, 222) is grouped to obtain a combined grouped stream (174).

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising: The spatial characteristics are determined at least in part based on the verified subset (167) of the digital sample streams (122, 222) in the grouped streams (174) of the combination.

31. A device for communication, comprising: Antenna arrays (105, 205, 305, 405) are configured to receive radio frequency signals (103) and output analog signals (112, 212) at least in part based on the radio frequency signals (103). Analog-to-digital converters (120, 220) are coupled to the antenna array (105, 205, 305, 405) and configured to convert the analog signal (112, 212) into a digital sample stream (122, 222). A sample buffer (165) coupled to the analog-to-digital converter (120, 220) and configured to buffer corresponding subsets of the digital sample streams (122, 222) that are time-synchronized with each other. A beamformer (160) coupled to the analog-to-digital converter (120, 220) and configured to apply beam weights to the digital sample stream (122, 222) to obtain one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462). A stream processor (173), coupled to the beamformer (160) and the sample buffer (165) and configured to: interleave a subset of the one or more beam signals (162, 262, 362, 462) and the digital sample stream (122, 222); and transmit the interleaved one or more beam signals (162) and the subset of the digital sample stream (122, 222) via a communication interface (265); and A processor (175), coupled to the stream processor (173), is configured to: receive, via the communication interface (265), a subset of one or more interleaved beam signals (162) and the digital sample streams (122, 222), and determine the spatial characteristics of the radio frequency signal (103) based at least in part on the subset of the digital sample streams (122, 222).

Images