Multi-beam phased array antenna having a set of mutually prime sub-arrays

Abstract

The multi-beam phased array antenna system includes a beamformer for converting between multiple subarray signals and multiple beam signals in response to a control signal. The system also includes multiple subarrays for communicating multiple beams corresponding to the multiple beam signals. Each subarray includes multiple radiating elements. Each subarray also includes subarray beamforming circuitry for conditioning RF signals communicated with the radiating elements in response to respective beam weights and for converting the conditioned RF signals between one respective subarray signal and a respective subarray signal. The system further includes a controller for determining two or more beams, the two or more beams being of the same communication type. The beamformer assigns disjoint subsets of the subarrays to each of the two or more determined beams. The controller also provides beam weights for each of the multiple subarrays and provides a control signal to the beamformer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Related Applications) This patent application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 959,146, filed on January 9, 2020, entitled "Reconfigurable Multi-Beam Phased Array Antenna", the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] (Field of the Invention) The present disclosure generally relates to antenna systems. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an antenna system comprising a phased array antenna having a plurality of subarrays for simultaneously communicating a plurality of beams.

Background Art

[0003] An antenna array (or array antenna) is a set of a plurality of radiating elements that operate as a single antenna for transmitting or receiving radio waves. Individual radiating elements (often simply referred to as "elements") can be connected to a receiver and / or transmitter by a circuit that applies appropriate amplitude and / or phase adjustments to the signals received and / or transmitted by the radiating elements. When used for transmission, the radio waves radiated by each individual radiating element are combined and superimposed on each other, added (constructively interfered) to enhance the power radiated in a desired direction, and canceled (destructively interfered) to reduce the power radiated in another direction. Similarly, when used for reception, the signals received separately from individual radiating elements are combined in appropriate amplitude and / or phase relationships to enhance the signal received from a desired direction and cancel the signals from undesired directions.

[0004] An antenna array can achieve a higher gain (directivity) with a narrow radio wave beam than can be achieved by a single antenna. Generally, the more individual radiating elements used, the higher the gain and the narrower the beam. Some antenna arrays (such as phased array radars) can be composed of thousands of individual antennas. Using an array, a larger gain can be achieved (which enhances communication reliability), thereby canceling interference from a specific direction, electronically steering the radio beam to point in different directions, and / or detecting the radio direction.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] One embodiment relates to a multi-beam phased array antenna system. The multi-beam phased array antenna system can include a beamformer for converting a plurality of sub-array signals and a plurality of beam signals in response to a control signal. The multi-beam phased array antenna system can also include a plurality of sub-arrays for communicating a plurality of beams corresponding to the plurality of beam signals. Each sub-array of the plurality of sub-arrays can include a plurality of radiating elements. Each sub-array can also include a sub-array beamforming circuit that adjusts an RF signal communicated with the plurality of radiating elements in response to respective beam weights, and converts the adjusted RF signal and one of the plurality of sub-array signals, wherein each of the respective sub-array signals corresponds to one specific beam of the plurality of beams. The multi-beam phased array antenna system can further include a controller for determining two or more beams of the plurality of beams, wherein the two or more beams are of the same communication type. The controller can assign mutually exclusive subsets of the plurality of sub-arrays to each of the two or more selected beams such that each sub-array of the plurality of sub-arrays is assigned to only one specific beam of the plurality of beams. The controller can also provide respective beam weights to each of the plurality of sub-arrays based on the assignment, and provide a control signal to the beamformer based on the assignment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] The present disclosure describes a multi-beam phased array antenna system that can communicate multiple beams simultaneously. The multi-beam phased array antenna system can be mounted on an entity (e.g., an aircraft or a ground vehicle) and utilized to communicate with one external entity or multiple external entities (e.g., one or more satellites). Each of the multiple beams can represent multiple radio frequency (RF) signals that constructively and / or destructively interfere to provide desired characteristics. The multi-beam phased array antenna system includes a phased array antenna that can be formed from multiple sub-arrays. In some embodiments, the sub-arrays are arranged as tiles. Each of the multiple sub-arrays includes multiple radiating elements for communicating multiple beams through free space to another entity.

[0024] The multi-beam phased array antenna system can include a beamformer that converts multiple sub-array signals and multiple beam signals, and each of the beam signals corresponds to one of the multiple beams. Further, each of the multiple sub-array signals is provided to only one of the sub-arrays of the phased array antenna. The beamformer can be composed of digital logic, analog circuits, or a combination thereof.

[0025] Each of the plurality of sub-arrays can include a sub-array beamforming circuit that adjusts an RF signal communicated with a respective one of the plurality of radiating elements based on a beam weight. Further, the sub-array beamforming circuit can be configured to convert the adjusted RF signal and a respective sub-array signal of one of the plurality of sub-array signals. In some embodiments, the beamforming circuit can include a sub-array beamforming network (BFN) connected to a beamformer and a plurality of radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) chips connected to respective radiating elements.

[0026] The multi-beam phased array antenna system can include a controller that dynamically controls the operation of each of the plurality of sub-arrays and the beamformer. More specifically, the controller can be configured / programmed to determine two or more beams from the plurality of beams. The two or more determined beams include two beams of the same communication type. As used herein, "communication type" refers to the direction of communication such as transmission or reception such that the two or more determined beams include at least two receive beams or at least two transmit beams. Two beams of the same communication type are different if at least one of their frequencies, polarizations, and pointing directions is different. In response to the determination of two or more beams, the controller assigns mutually exclusive subsets of the sub-arrays of the plurality of sub-arrays to each of the two or more determined beams. In this way, each sub-array of the plurality of sub-arrays is assigned to a particular beam of only one of the plurality of beams. The controller can provide respective beam weights for each of the plurality of sub-arrays and provide a control signal to the beamformer based on the assignment.

[0027] The controller can be configured to change the determination of two or more beams over time. For example, when an entity equipped with a multi-beam phased array antenna system moves and / or an entity (or entities) with which the multi-beam phased array antenna system communicates moves, the controller can dynamically determine beams for transmitting and / or receiving data from different satellites (or other entities) and reassign mutually exclusive subsets of the phased array antenna. In this way, it is possible to implement make-before-break communication with two satellites simultaneously using a multi-beam phased array antenna system. For example, considering the situation where a multi-beam phased array antenna system is mounted on an entity, a multi-beam phased array antenna system can be used to provide two-way communication with a first satellite using a phased array antenna. When the communication with the first satellite begins to deteriorate (e.g., due to a change in the position of the entity), the multi-beam phased array antenna system can establish two-way communication with a second satellite using the same phased array antenna before the communication with the first satellite is lost.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows an example of a multi-beam phased array antenna 100. The multi-beam phased array antenna system 100 communicates multiple beams simultaneously. As used herein, the term "communicate" (and its derivatives) with respect to a signal refers to the transmission and / or reception of the signal, and does not require both transmission and reception, nor does it exclude either transmission or reception. The multi-beam phased array antenna system 100 includes a phased array antenna 104 formed by J sub-arrays 108, where J is an integer greater than 1. In some embodiments, the phased array antenna 104 can represent multiple antennas (e.g., a transmit antenna and a receive antenna). In other embodiments, the phased array antenna 104 represents a single antenna.

[0029] In this embodiment, there are 14 sub-arrays 108 labeled SA-1... SA-14. In other embodiments, there may be more or fewer sub-arrays 108. Each sub-array 108 includes a plurality of radiating elements that communicate radio frequency (RF) signals into free space. Each of the J sub-arrays 108 includes a sub-array beamforming circuit that converts an RF signal and a sub-array signal. More specifically, the sub-array beamforming circuit can include signal paths for combining and / or splitting RF signals for conversion. Further, the sub-array beamforming circuit of each of the J sub-arrays 108 can include circuit components such as a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) chip that can amplify and / or phase shift an RF signal based on beam weights.

[0030] In some embodiments, each of the J sub-arrays 108 can have the same shape (e.g., having a top surface with the same shape). Embodiments of shape a can include a hexagon (as shown in FIG. 1), a square, a rhombus, a triangle, etc. In other embodiments, the phased array antenna 104 can include different sets of sub-arrays 108 having different shapes, such as a first set of one or more sub-arrays 108 having a first shape, a second set of one or more sub-arrays 108 having a second shape, etc. In yet other embodiments, each of the J sub-arrays 108 can have a different shape. In some embodiments, the sub-arrays 108 can be arranged in a regular lattice (e.g., a triangle, a square, etc.). The sub-arrays 108 arranged in such a lattice can be arranged, for example, edge-to-edge (e.g., forming continuous apertures). In other embodiments, the sub-arrays 108 can be arranged in an irregular pattern.

[0031] The phased array antenna 104 is configured such that mutually exclusive subsets of subarrays 108 are assigned to communicate a particular one of a plurality of beams, each of the plurality of beams being capable of communicating with another entity such as a satellite or a terrestrial station. As used herein, "mutually exclusive subsets" refers to subsets of a set (e.g., a set of 14 subarrays) where each individual mutually exclusive subset has no members in common with another mutually exclusive subset. For example, the first through seventh subarrays 108 (SA-1...SA-7) are assigned to the first beam, the eighth through fourteenth subarrays 108 (SA-8..SA-14) are assigned to the second beam, the first through seventh subarrays 108 (SA-1...SA-7) are the first mutually exclusive subset of subarrays 108, and the eighth through fourteenth subarrays 108 (SA-8...SA-14) are the second mutually exclusive subset of subarrays. In this scenario, the first beam and the second beam can be in the same direction or different directions and can communicate simultaneously. In this way, the phased array antenna 104 can be utilized to transmit and receive different beams that are transmitted to the same entity in the same direction and transmitted from the same entity, or the phased array antenna 104 can be utilized to communicate with two different entities simultaneously.

[0032] Each of the J subarrays 108 communicates a subarray signal to the beamformer 112, resulting in the presence of J subarray signals. The beamformer 112 can be implemented as a plurality of beamforming networks (BFNs) or as digital logic (e.g., a field programmable gate array (FPGA)). In either situation, the beamformer 112 can convert the J subarray signals into K beam signals, where K is an integer greater than or equal to 1. Each beam signal corresponds to only one (exactly one) beam.

[0033] Each of the K beam signals can be a transmit or receive signal that includes embedded data. Each of the K beam signals can communicate with the K modems 116. The K modems 116 can be utilized to encode or decode data on the corresponding beam signal of the K beam signals.

[0034] The multi-beam phased array antenna system 100 can include a controller 120 that can control the operation of the beamformer 112 and the J sub-arrays 108 of the phased array antenna 104. In some embodiments, the controller 120 can be implemented as, for example, one or more processor cores having embedded instructions. In other embodiments, the controller 120 can be implemented as a computing platform such as a system having a non-transitory machine-readable medium (e.g., memory) that stores machine-readable instructions and one or more processor cores that execute the machine-readable instructions.

[0035] As described above, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 100 communicates multiple beams simultaneously. Each beam communicated by the phased array antenna system 100 operates as either a transmit beam or a receive beam. In an embodiment where a given beam is a given receive beam, energy is received by the radiating elements of sub-array 108 and converted into an RF signal. As will be described in more detail below, a subset of one or more of the sub-arrays 108 is assigned to a given receive beam by the controller 120. The sub-array beamforming circuit of each sub-array 108 in the subset adjusts its RF signal in response to the beam weights from the controller 120 and combines its RF signals to form respective sub-array signals associated with the given receive beam. Next, the sub-array signals from each sub-array 108 in the subset are provided to the beamformer 112. In response to control signals from the controller 120, the beamformer 112 adjusts and combines the sub-array signals from the subset to form a given receive beam signal (e.g., beam signal 1) corresponding to the given receive beam. One or more other subsets of the sub-arrays are similarly assigned by the controller 120 to each of the other receive beam(s), provide beam weights, and form respective sub-array signals associated with the other assigned receive beams. The beamformer 112 similarly adjusts and combines each respective set of one or more sub-array signals associated with each of the other respective receive beams to form other receive beam signals. Next, each of the K receive beam signals is provided to a given one of the K modems 116. In response to the beam signal, a given modem 116 decodes the data on the beam signal for use by an external system.

[0036] Conversely, in an embodiment where a given beam is a given transmission beam, a given modem 116 of the K modems 116 receives data for transmission from an external system. In response to the data, the given modem 116 encodes data on a given beam signal of the K beam signals, where the given beam signal is provided to the beamformer 112. In response to a control signal, the beamformer 112 converts the given beam signal into a given set of one or more subarray signals associated with the given transmission beam. The beamformer 112 then provides each respective subarray signal of the given set to a respective corresponding subarray 108 of the subset of subarrays determined by the controller 120 for the given transmission beam. In response to beam weights, the subarray beamforming circuitry of each subarray 108 within the subset converts each respective subarray signal into a set of RF signals. Each of the RF signals propagates into free space as a given beam by radiating elements of each respective subarray 108 within the subset of subarrays 108, thereby forming the given transmission beam. The multi-beam phased array antenna system 100 similarly forms other transmission beams, if any.

[0037] The beamforming circuits of the J subarrays 108 can be implemented as receive beamforming circuits and / or transmit beamforming circuits. The receive beamforming circuits are assigned to receive beams (such as the given receive beams described above), and the transmit beamforming circuits are assigned to transmit beams (such as the given transmit beams described above). Each instance of the beamforming circuit includes active components (e.g., phase shifters and / or amplifiers) configured to adjust a specific type of signal in one direction. More specifically, the receive beamforming circuits are configured to adjust and combine RF signals to form subarray signals associated with the receive beams that are then provided to the beamformer 112. Conversely, the transmit beamforming circuits are configured to obtain subarray signals associated with the transmit beams from the beamformer, split the subarray signals into RF signals, and adjust them for transmission into free space.

[0038] The controller 120 can provide control signals to the beamformer 112 to cause the individual subarrays 108 to be assigned to specific beams. In other words, the beamformer 112 assigns the individual subarrays 108 to specific beams in response to the control signals provided by the controller 120. Further, the controller 120 can provide beam weights to the subarray beamforming circuits of the J subarrays 108. In response to the beam weights, each of the subarray beamforming circuits of the J subarrays 108 adjusts the respective RF signals for communication on the respective radiating elements.

[0039] The beam weights provided by the controller 120 can be implemented as control signals that control the operation of each one of the J subarrays 108. The beam weights can control the operation of phase shifters, amplifiers, filters, switches, etc. of the subarray beamforming circuits.

[0040] The beam weights provided to sub-array 108 and the control signals provided from controller 120 to beamformer 112 define a beam (transmitted or received) communicated by the radiating elements of sub-array 108 through constructive and destructive interference that focuses the energy communicated in a particular direction. More specifically, the beam weights applied by each of sub-arrays 108 adjust (e.g., amplify and / or phase shift) the RF signals communicated by each respective sub-array 108, along with the control signals used by the beamformer, to condition the sub-array signals associated with each beam and enable steering of the beam to focus the energy communicated in a particular direction.

[0041] During operation, the controller 120 can determine two or more beams from a plurality of beams for communication. The two or more beams can be determined, for example, based on the position of the multi-beam phased array antenna system 100 and the position of an external entity that communicates wirelessly with the multi-beam phased array antenna system 100. The determination of the two or more beams includes operations performed by the controller 120 to determine the number of beams to form and the desired characteristics (e.g., beam width, gain, side lobe level, cross polarization, etc.) of each beam of the two or more beams. More specifically, the controller 120 can be configured to weight a plurality of factors to determine the number and characteristics of the beams in the two or more beams. These factors can include the identification of the entity being communicated with (e.g., a satellite), the directionality of communication with each entity (e.g., whether the communication is unidirectional (transmission or reception) or bidirectional (transmission and reception)), the position of each entity relative to the orientation of the phased array antenna 104, and the desired link performance between the phased array antenna 104, the entity, and / or the interference level that may occur in other directions, but are not limited thereto. Further, in some embodiments, only a subset of these factors can be considered by the controller 120 to determine the two or more beams. In other embodiments, a superset of these factors can be considered by the controller 120 to determine the two or more beams.

[0042] Two or more of the plurality of beams determined by the controller 120 include at least two beams of the same communication type. That is, the two or more beams include at least two transmit beams or at least two receive beams. The two beams of the same communication type are different in at least one of their frequency, polarization, and pointing direction.

[0043] In some embodiments, the controller 120 can simultaneously determine a first receive beam for receiving data from a first entity (e.g., a first satellite) and a second receive beam for receiving data from a second entity (e.g., a second satellite). As a result, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 100 has two receive beams. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the controller 120 can determine a first transmit beam for transmitting data to a first entity and a second transmit beam for transmitting data to a second entity. In such a situation, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 100 can simultaneously perform bi-directional communication with two different external entities such as two different satellites. For example, one satellite can be a low-earth orbit satellite and another satellite can be a geostationary orbit satellite. Alternatively, both such satellites can be low-earth orbit satellites or both satellites can be geostationary orbit satellites. In any of such situations, the controller 120 can simultaneously determine a first beam for transmitting data to a first satellite, a second beam for receiving data from the first satellite, a third beam for transmitting data to a second satellite, and a fourth beam for receiving data from the second satellite. In this embodiment, the first and second beams can have the same direction, and the third and fourth beams can also have the same direction. Thereby, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 100 can implement make-before-break communication with two satellites. More specifically, the controller 120 can determine the first and second beams for communicating with a first satellite and subsequently determine the third and fourth beams for communicating with a second satellite before communication with the first satellite is lost.

[0044] In other embodiments, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 100 can communicate with three or more entities simultaneously. Further, in other embodiments, the controller 120 can be configured to communicate with a particular entity using only one beam (e.g., a transmit beam or a receive beam), such that the multi-beam phased array antenna system 100 transmits or receives data only with a particular entity to provide one-way communication.

[0045] In response to determining two or more beams from a plurality of beams, the controller 120 can assign mutually exclusive subsets of J sub-arrays of the phased array antenna 104. For example, as illustrated, the controller 120 can assign sub-arrays 1-3, 6-8, and 11 as a first mutually exclusive subset of the sub-array 108 to a first beam, and sub-arrays 4-5, 9-10, and 13-14 as a second mutually exclusive subset of the sub-array 108 to a second beam. In the illustrated embodiment, the second mutually exclusive subset of the sub-array 108 is shaded for illustrative purposes.

[0046] The assignment of mutually exclusive subsets of the sub-array 108 can be based on, for example, the characteristics of the beam to be communicated with an external entity. Such characteristics of a given beam can include, for example, the aperture size and shape of the given beam. For example, a particular sub-array 108 can be determined to take into account the beam width and / or signal strength required to communicate with an external entity.

[0047] Based on the assignment, the controller 120 can calculate the beam weights required for each individual sub - array 108. The beam weights can characterize the phase shift and / or amplification of the RF signals required for the characteristics of a particular beam (e.g., aperture size and shape). In this embodiment, different sub - arrays 108 within the same co - prime subset can have different beam weights. Further, different sub - arrays 108 of different co - prime subsets can also have different beam weights. That is, the beam weight of each individual sub - array 108 can be adjusted for the particular beam to which each sub - array 108 is assigned. The controller 120 can provide beam weights to each of the J sub - arrays 108 in the phased array antenna 104. Each sub - array beam - forming circuit of each sub - array 108 can adjust the RF signals communicated with the respective radiating elements in response to the beam weights provided by the controller 120. In other words, in response to the beam weights, each sub - array beam - forming circuit of each sub - array can adjust the RF signals communicated with the radiating elements accordingly.

[0048] Assigning the sub - arrays 108 to a particular beam and / or beam weight can be dynamically changed by the controller 120. For example, the controller 120 can re - assign some (or all) of the sub - arrays 108 to a new beam and / or recalculate the beam weights to compensate for a change in the position of the entity accommodating the multi - beam phased array antenna system 100 and / or a change in the position of an external entity communicating with the multi - beam phased array antenna system 100 (e.g., a satellite), or to comply with regulatory requirements.

[0049] In addition, in response to the assignment (or re-assignment), the controller 120 provides a control signal to the beamformer 112. In response to the control signal, the beamformer 112 combines each subarray signal into one corresponding beam signal out of K beam signals. As a result, each subarray signal is a component of only one beam signal. For example, in a situation where there are two beam signals, i.e., a first beam signal and a second beam signal, the subarray signals associated with the first mutually exclusive subset of subarrays 108 can be combined into the signal path of the first beam signal. Thus, the beamformer 112 can convert the subarray signals associated with the first mutually exclusive subset of subarrays 108 and the first beam signal. Similarly, in this situation, the beamformer 112 combines the subarray signals associated with the second mutually exclusive subset into the signal path associated with the second beamforming signal. Thus, the beamformer 112 can convert the subarray signals associated with the second mutually exclusive subset of subarrays 108 and the second beam signal.

[0050] When the position of the multi-beam phased array antenna system 100 changes and / or the position of an external entity changes, the controller 120 can determine different beams of the K beams and dynamically assign mutually exclusive subsets of the subarrays 108 to the determined beams. In this way, different beams can be communicated simultaneously using the same phased array antenna 104 formed by J subarrays 108. Thus, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 100 can establish communication with one or more entities via the determined beams.

[0051] Conventional multi-beam antennas may include circuitry that enables all radiating elements to contribute to each beam. However, such conventional multi-beam antennas are very complex because they require a large number of circuit components and thus increase costs accordingly. In contrast, each of the J sub-arrays 108 includes a sub-array beamforming circuit that can be used to contribute to only one beam of a particular communication type (i.e., only one transmit beam and / or only one receive beam). That is, each of the J sub-arrays 108 includes a single instance of a beamforming sub-array circuit for a particular communication type that is 1 (e.g., implemented as a combiner / splitter network). There is a G-th port device (where "1" corresponds to the sub-array signal and G is the number of RF signals processed by the beamforming sub-array circuit), and one set of G-th adjustment circuits, which results in sub-array radiating elements that contribute to one beam of a particular communication type. In embodiments where a given sub-array 108 includes radiating elements used for both transmission and reception, the beamforming circuit of a given sub-array 108 can include a receive beamforming circuit (which can be used to contribute to only one receive beam) and a transmit beamforming circuit (which can be used to contribute to only one transmit beam). The multi-phase array antenna 100 can have lower performance metrics in some applications compared to conventional multi-beam antennas, but the multi-phase array antenna 100 has reduced cost and complexity compared to conventional multi-beam antennas. More specifically, the multi-phase array antenna 100 of FIG. 1 sacrifices performance by using only each of the J sub-arrays 108 for one beam, but significantly saves cost / complexity by greatly reducing the circuit elements.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a sub-array 200 that can be used in a phased array antenna. The sub-array 200 can be used to implement one of the J sub-arrays 108 of the phased array antenna 104 of FIG. 1.

[0053] The sub-array 200 includes G radiating elements 204, where G is an integer greater than 1. Each of the G radiating elements 204 can be implemented, for example, as a patch antenna, a slot antenna, or a combination thereof. Each of the G radiating elements 204 can be used to communicate an RF signal 206. In an embodiment where the sub-array 200 is assigned to a transmit beam, each of the G radiating elements 204 transmits the RF signal 206 into free space. The RF signal 206 communicated by the G radiating elements 204 can be horizontally polarized, vertically polarized, circularly polarized, or the like. In an embodiment where the sub-array 200 is assigned to a receive beam, each of the G radiating elements 204 receives the RF signal 206 from free space.

[0054] Each of the G radiating elements 204 communicates with a sub-array beamforming circuit 208. The sub-array beamforming circuit 208 can include a beamforming circuit, a phase shifter, an amplifier, a combiner / splitter circuit, etc. for converting the G RF signals 206 and the sub-array signal 218. The sub-array signal 218 can communicate with a beamformer such as the beamformer 112 of FIG. 1. The sub-array beamforming circuit 208 can include a port 214 of the sub-array signal 218. In an example where the sub-array 200 is used to contribute to a given beam of one particular communication type (e.g., a transmit beam or a receive beam), the sub-array 200 includes only one port for the sub-array signal 218 such that the sub-array beamforming circuit communicates only one sub-array signal 218 at a time associated with the given beam. In an example where the sub-array 200 is used to contribute to one receive beam and one transmit beam, the sub-array 200 includes only one port for the received sub-array signal associated with the receive beam and only one port for the transmitted sub-array signal associated with the transmit beam (see, e.g., FIG. 16).

[0055] In the illustrated embodiment, the sub-array beamforming circuit 208 includes a sub-array BFN 212. The sub-array BFN 212 can include the sub-array signal ports 214 of the sub-array beamforming circuit 208. The sub-array beamforming circuit 208 also includes G adjustment circuits 216 that communicate each respective RF signal 206 with a corresponding radiating element 204. Each of the G adjustment circuits 216 can be implemented as a separate circuit component, an IC chip (or multiple IC chips), such as a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) chip or combinations thereof. For example, in some embodiments, each adjustment circuit 216 can be implemented by an RFIC chip such that the RFIC chip and the radiating element 204 can be in a one-to-one correspondence. In other embodiments, including embodiments where multiple radiating elements 204 are connected to a single RFIC chip, other ratios of radiating elements 204 to RFIC chips can exist. In the illustrated embodiment, each adjustment circuit 216 communicates the RF signal 206 to each respective radiating element 204. In such a situation, one RF signal 206 communicated to each respective radiating element 204 can be vertically polarized, and another signal communicated to each respective radiating element 204 can be horizontally polarized. In other embodiments, each adjustment circuit 216 can communicate a single RF signal 216 with each respective radiating element 204.

[0056] Furthermore, the sub-array BFN 212 communicates a sub-array component signal 218 with each of the adjustment circuits 216. The sub-array BFN 212 is configured to convert the sub-array signal 218 and the RF signal 206. Each of the G adjustment circuits 216 adjusts (e.g., amplifies and / or phase-shifts) each respective RF signal 206 communicated with a respective radiating element 204. Thus, in cooperation, the sub-array BFN 212 and the G adjustment circuits 216 convert the sub-array signal 218 and the RF signals 206 communicated with the G radiating elements 204.

[0057] The sub-array 200 can contribute to a portion of the transmit beam and / or can contribute to a portion of the receive beam. In an embodiment where the sub-array 200 contributes to a portion of the receive beam, energy is received by the G radiating elements 204 and converted into an RF signal 206. The sub-array beamforming circuit 208 adjusts and combines the RF signal 206 to form a sub-array signal 218 that is provided to the beamformer. More specifically, in response to the beam weights, each of the G adjustment circuits 216 adjusts the RF signal 206 and provides the corresponding adjusted RF signal 206 to the sub-array BFN 212. In response to the adjusted RF signals 206, the sub-array BFN 212 combines the adjusted RF signals 206 and provides the sub-array signal 218 through port 214.

[0058] In an embodiment where the sub-array 200 contributes to a portion of the transmit beam, the sub-array beamforming circuit 208 receives the sub-array signal 218 associated with the transmit beam from the beamformer. In response to the sub-array signal, the beamforming circuit 208 converts the sub-array signal into G RF signals 204. More specifically, the sub-array BFN 212 receives the sub-array signal 218 at port 214 provided by the beamformer. The sub-array BFN 212 converts the sub-array signal 218 into G RF signals 206 that are provided to the respective adjustment circuits 216. The adjustment circuits 216 adjust the respective RF signals 206 in response to the beam weights and provide the respective RF signals 206 to the corresponding radiating elements 204, where each of the RF signals 206 propagates into free space to contribute to the transmit beam.

[0059] The beamforming circuit 208 can be implemented as a receive beamforming circuit and / or a transmit beamforming circuit. In an embodiment where the beamforming circuit 208 is implemented as a receive beamforming circuit, the beamforming circuit can be assigned to a receive beam (such as the receive beam described above). Conversely, in an embodiment where the beamforming circuit 208 is implemented as a transmit beamforming circuit, the beamforming circuit 208 can be assigned to a transmit beam (such as the transmit beam described above). The G adjustment circuits 216 of the beamforming circuit 208 include active components (such as phase shifters and / or amplifiers) configured to adjust the RF signal 206 in one direction. More specifically, the receive beamforming circuit 208 is configured to adjust the RF signal 206 and combine it to form a subarray signal 218 associated with the receive beam. Conversely, the transmit beamforming circuit is configured to divide and adjust the subarray signal 218 associated with the transmit beam into the RF signal 216 for transmission into free space to contribute to the transmit beam.

[0060] The subarray beamforming circuit 208 can adjust the RF signal 206 based on beam weights 220 provided from a controller such as the controller 120 of FIG. 1. More specifically, the beam weights 220 can be provided to each of the G adjustment circuits 216. Each of the G adjustment circuits 216 can include active components and / or other circuits capable of adjusting the RF signal 206. For example, each adjustment circuit 216 can include an amplifier and / or a phase shifter that can be used to amplify and / or phase shift the RF signal 206 communicated with the respective radiating element 204. The amount of amplification and / or phase shift is controlled by the beam weights 220. In other words, in response to the beam weights 220, each adjustment circuit 216 amplifies and / or phase shifts the RF signal 206 communicated with the respective radiating element 204.

[0061] In some embodiments, sub-array BFN212 is passive 1. The Gth circuit includes a combiner / splitter for combining or splitting the sub-array signal 218 into one of the RF signals 206 for adjustment by the G adjustment circuits 216. More specifically, in one embodiment, a combiner / splitter can be utilized to combine the RF signal 206 provided from the adjustment circuit 216 into the sub-array signal 218. In other embodiments, the combiner / splitter of sub-array BFN212 can split the sub-array signal 218 into the RF signal 206 provided to the adjustment circuit 216. Sub-array 200 is shown with the adjustment circuit 216 separated from sub-array BFN212, but in some embodiments, the adjustment circuit 216 can be integrated with sub-array BFN212.

[0062] As shown, the beam weights 220 provided from the controller can be determined to individually adjust the RF signals 206 communicated by the G radiating elements 204. That is, the sub-array beamforming circuit 208 adjusts the RF signal 206 accordingly in response to the beam weights 220 such that the sub-array 200 operates in cooperation with other sub-arrays (e.g., other sub-arrays within a mutually exclusive subset determined for a particular beam) to communicate the beam into free space.

[0063] As shown, sub-array 200 (representing any of the J sub-arrays 108 of FIG. 1) has exactly one instance of the beamforming circuit 208 for a particular communication type. Further, the sub-array beamforming circuit 208 is a 1:G port device. More specifically, port 214 corresponds to "1" and G corresponds to the G RF signals 206 communicated by the G adjustment circuits 216. Further, as shown, the sub-array beamforming circuit 208 includes exactly one set of the G adjustment circuits 216 such that the components of sub-array 208 contribute to only one beam of a particular communication type. In contrast, a conventional multi-beam phased array antenna that uses each radiating element for each of the M beams is 2 *M 1:X port devices (where X is the total number of radiating elements in the array), and a total of M * has an adjustment circuit for X (a set of X adjustment circuits for each beam). The use of all radiating elements in each beam can provide good performance because the entire antenna aperture is used. However, conventional multi-beam antennas also have higher cost and complexity than the multi-beam phased array antenna 100 of FIG. 1 (utilizing J sub-arrays 200) due to the necessary additional circuit elements. As a result, the multi-phased array antenna 100 of FIG. 1 using J sub-arrays 200 may have lower performance metrics in some applications compared to conventional multi-beam antennas, but the multi-phased array antenna 100 of FIG. 1 has reduced cost and complexity. More specifically, by providing the sub-array 200 as a 1:G port device and G adjustment circuits 216 that contribute to only one beam, the multi-phased array antenna 100 of FIG. 1 using J sub-arrays 200 can achieve a significant savings in cost / complexity (by significantly reducing circuit elements) compared to conventional phased array antennas.

[0064] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a multi-beam phased array antenna system 300 that includes a beamformer 302 implemented in an analog circuit. The multi-beam phased array antenna system 300 can be utilized to implement the multi-beam phased array antenna system 100 of FIG. 1. Thus, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 300 communicates multiple beams simultaneously. The beamformer 302 may be available for implementing the beamformer 112 of FIG. 1. Further, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 300 includes a phased array antenna 304 that can be utilized to implement the phased array antenna 104 of FIG. 1. Thus, the phased array antenna 304 can be formed of J sub-arrays 308, such as the J sub-arrays 108 of FIG. 1. Further, each of the J sub-arrays 308 of the phased array antenna 304 can be implemented by an example of the sub-array 200 of FIG. 2. In some embodiments, the phased array antenna 304 can represent multiple antennas (e.g., a transmit antenna and a receive antenna). More specifically, in some embodiments, the phased array antenna 304 can represent multiple contiguous sections of the J sub-arrays 308 to form individual antennas. Such contiguous sections of the J sub-arrays 308 that form individual antennas can be spaced apart from each other. Further, these contiguous sections of the J sub-arrays 308 are available for independent operation (e.g., one phased array antenna is for a receive beam and another phased array antenna is for a transmit beam). In other embodiments, the phased array antenna 304 represents a single antenna. In such a situation, the J sub-arrays 308 can be arranged in a contiguous pattern, and different sub-arrays 308 of the J sub-arrays 308 can be assigned to different beams.

[0065] Each of the J sub-arrays 308 includes a sub-array beamforming circuit that converts an RF signal and a sub-array signal such that the phased array antenna 304 communicates with the beamformer 302 via J sub-array signals. As described above, the beamformer 302 is implemented by an analog circuit. More specifically, the beamformer 302 can include K BFNs 312. Each of the K BFNs 312 can convert a subset of the J sub-array signals and a particular one of the K beam signals. Each beam signal corresponds to only one beam.

[0066] Each of the K beam signals can be either a transmission signal or a reception signal that includes data embedded at a given time during the operation of the multi-beam phased array antenna system 300. More specifically, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 300 can be configured to switch the assignment of beam signals between transmission signals or reception signals. Each of the K beam signals can communicate with a modem 116 among the K modems 316. The K modems 316 can be used to encode or decode data on the corresponding beam signals of the K beam signals.

[0067] The beamformer 302 can include J switches 320. Each of the J switches 320 can be connected to only one of the J sub-arrays 308. Each of the J switches 320 can be implemented as a single-pole multi-throw switch configured to electrically connect one of each of the J sub-arrays 308 to a determined one of the K BFNs 312. That is, at any given point in time, each of the J switches 320 can be connected to its respective sub-array 308 and to any one of the K BFNs 312. Each of the J switches 320 can be implemented as a transistor-based solid-state switch or as an electromechanical switch.

[0068] The multi-beam phased array antenna system 300 can include a controller 324 that can control the operation of the beamformer 302 and the J sub-arrays 308 of the phased array antenna 304. In some embodiments, the controller 324 can be utilized to implement the controller 120 of FIG. 1. The controller 324 can provide a control signal to the beamformer 302 to cause the individual sub-arrays 308 to be assigned to specific beams. Further, the controller 324 can provide beam weights to the sub-array beamforming circuits of the J sub-arrays 308. In response to the beam weights, each of the sub-array beamforming circuits of the J sub-arrays 108 can adjust their respective RF signals for communication at their respective radiating elements.

[0069] Further, the control signal provided by the controller 324 can control the states of the J switches 320. In other words, the state of each of the J switches 320 responds to the control signal provided from the controller 324. Thus, in response to the control signal, each of the J switches 320 connects a respective one of the J sub-arrays 308 to a determined one of the K BFNs 312. In this way, each of the J sub-arrays 308 is electrically connected to only one of the BFNs 312.

[0070] During operation, the controller 324 can determine two or more beams from a plurality of beams. The two or more determined beams include two beams of the same communication type (e.g., at least two receiving beams or at least two transmitting beams). The two or more beams can be determined, for example, based on the position of the multi-beam phased array antenna system 300 and the position of an external entity that wirelessly communicates with the multi-beam phased array antenna system 300. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the controller 120 can determine four (4) beams from a plurality of beams to establish two-way communication with two different entities (e.g., two different satellites). Thereby, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 300 can achieve make-before-break communication with two satellites.

[0071] In other embodiments, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 300 can communicate with three or more satellites simultaneously. Further, in other embodiments, the controller 324 can be configured to communicate with a specific satellite using only one beam, such that the multi-beam phased array antenna system 300 transmits or receives data only with a specific satellite (e.g., for one-way communication).

[0072] In response to determining two or more beams from a plurality of beams, the controller 324 can assign a mutually exclusive subset of the J sub-arrays 308 of the phased array antenna 304 to the two or more determined beams. The assignment of the mutually exclusive subset of sub-arrays 308 can be based on, for example, the characteristics of the beam communicated with the external entity (e.g., aperture size and shape).

[0073] Based on the assignment, the controller 324 can calculate the beam weights required for each individual sub-array 308. The beam weights can characterize the phase shift and / or amplification of the RF signal required for the characteristics of a particular beam (e.g., aperture size and shape). The beam weights applied by each of the sub-arrays 308 adjust (e.g., amplify and / or phase shift) the RF signals communicated by each respective sub-array 308, along with the control signals used by the beamformer 302, to adjust the sub-array signals associated with each beam and enable beam steering to focus the energy communicated in a particular direction. Assigning the sub-arrays 308 to a particular beam and / or beam weights can be dynamically changed by the controller 324. For example, the controller 324 can reassign some (or all) of the sub-arrays 308 to a new beam and / or recalculate the beam weights to compensate for a change in the position of the entity accommodating the multi-beam phased array antenna system 300 and / or a change in the position of an external entity communicating with the multi-beam phased array antenna system 300 (e.g., a satellite), or to comply with regulatory requirements.

[0074] In addition, in response to the assignment, the controller 324 provides control signals to the beamformer 302. More specifically, the controller provides control signals to each of the J switches 320. In response to the control signals, each of the switches 320 electrically connects one of each of the J sub-arrays 308 to a particular BFN 312 of the K BFNs 312.

[0075] In some embodiments, each of the K BFN312s (or some subset thereof) can include a phase shifter 328. Each phase shifter 328 can adjust the phase of each sub-array signal communicated with a subset of the switches 320 connected thereto. For example, if the first BFN312 (BFN1) is connected to the first through Jth switches 320 (switch 1 and switch J), the phase shifter 328 of the first BFN312 can phase-shift the first sub-array signal communicated with the first sub-array 308 and the Jth sub-array signal communicated with the Jth sub-array 308.

[0076] Each phase shifter 328 of the K BFN312s can apply a phase shift based on a control signal. In other words, each phase shifter 328 shifts the phase of a subset of the J sub-array signals in response to a control signal provided from the controller 324. In this way, the control signal provided from the controller 324 can control the state of each of the J switches 320 and the phase shifter 328 of each of the BFN312s.

[0077] By implementing an analog circuit, namely a beamformer 302 comprising J switches and K BFN312s, a relatively simple and low-power multi-beam phased array antenna system 300 can be provided. Further, as demonstrated, the K BFN312s operate in cooperation with the J switches to facilitate communication on at least two beams simultaneously.

[0078] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a multi-beam phased array antenna system 400 that includes a beamformer 402 having a digital circuit. The multi-beam phased array antenna system 400 can be utilized to implement the multi-beam phased array antenna system 100 of FIG. 1. Thus, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 400 communicates a plurality of beam signals simultaneously. The beamformer 402 can be utilized to implement the beamformer 112 of FIG. 1. Further, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 300 includes a phased array antenna 404 that can be utilized to implement the phased array antenna 104 of FIG. 1. Thus, the phased array antenna 504 can be formed of J sub-arrays 408 such as the J sub-arrays 108 of FIG. 1. Further, each of the J sub-arrays 408 of the phased array antenna 404 can be implemented by an example of the sub-array 200 of FIG. 2. In some embodiments, the phased array antenna 404 can represent a plurality of antennas (e.g., a transmit antenna and a receive antenna). In other embodiments, the phased array antenna 404 represents a single antenna.

[0079] Each of the J sub-arrays 408 includes a sub-array beamforming circuit that converts an RF signal and a sub-array signal such that the phased array antenna 404 communicates with the beamformer 402 and J sub-array signals. As described above, the beamformer 402 is implemented by a digital circuit. More specifically, the beamformer 402 can include digital logic 412. The digital logic 412 can be implemented, for example, as an FPGA or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip. In other embodiments, the digital logic 412 can be implemented as a controller that provides a computing platform for implementing a virtual gate array. The digital logic 412 can include logic gates for converting K beam signals and J digital sub-array signals.

[0080] Each of the K beam signals can be a transmission or reception signal that includes embedded data. Each of the K beam signals can communicate with a modem 416 among the K modems 416. The K modems 416 can be used to encode or decode data on the corresponding beam signals of the K beam signals.

[0081] The beamformer 402 can include J digital-to-analog converters (DACs) 420. Each of the J DACs 420 can be connected to one of the J subarrays 408 and to the digital logic 412. Each of the J DACs 420 can convert a digital subarray signal and an (analog) subarray signal. In some embodiments, each of the DACs 420 can convert each digital subarray signal into an analog version of a digital signal corresponding to the subarray signal provided to each subarray 408. In other embodiments, each of the DACs 420 can convert a subarray signal provided from each subarray 408 into a digitized version of the subarray signal and provide the corresponding digital subarray signal to the digital logic 412. In still other embodiments, the DACs 420 can convert each digital subarray signal into each subarray signal and convert each subarray signal into each digital subarray signal.

[0082] The multi-beam phased array antenna system 400 can include a controller 424 that can control the operation of the beamformer 402 and the J sub-arrays 408 of the phased array antenna 404. In some embodiments, the controller 424 can be utilized to implement the controller 120 of FIG. 1. The controller 424 can provide a control signal to the beamformer 402, and this control signal causes the beamformer 402 to assign the individual sub-arrays 408 to a specific beam. Further, the controller 424 can provide beam weights to the sub-array beamforming circuits of the J sub-arrays 408. In response to the beam weights, each of the sub-array beamforming circuits of the J sub-arrays 408 can adjust its respective RF signal for communication at its respective radiating element.

[0083] More specifically, the control signal provided by the controller 424 can be provided to the digital logic 412 of the beamformer 402. In response to the control signal, the digital logic 412 can establish a signal path between each beam signal and its respective digital sub-array signal connected to one of the J DACs 420. The signal path provides phase delays, combinations, and / or splits for converting each beam signal and digital sub-array signal. Similarly, each of the J DACs 420 responds to a control signal provided from the controller 424. For example, each of the DACs 420 can apply beam weights (amplification and / or phase shift) to the digital sub-array circuits communicating with the digital logic 412.

[0084] During operation, the controller 424 can determine two or more beams from a plurality of beams. The two or more determined beams include two beams of the same communication type (e.g., at least two receive beams or at least two transmit beams). The two or more beams can be determined, for example, based on the position of the multi-beam phased array antenna system 400 and the position of an external entity that wirelessly communicates with the multi-beam phased array antenna system 400. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the controller 424 can determine four (4) beams from a plurality of beams to establish two-way communication with two different entities (e.g., two different satellites). Thereby, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 400 can implement make-before-break communication with two satellites.

[0085] In other embodiments, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 400 can communicate with three or more satellites simultaneously. Further, in other embodiments, the controller 424 can be configured to communicate with a specific satellite using only one beam, such that the multi-beam phased array antenna system 400 transmits or receives data only with a specific satellite (e.g., for one-way communication).

[0086] In response to determining two or more beams from a plurality of beams, the controller 424 can assign a mutually exclusive subset of the J sub-arrays 408 of the phased array antenna 404 to the two or more determined beams. The assignment of the mutually exclusive subset of sub-arrays 408 can be based on, for example, the characteristics of the beam (e.g., aperture size and shape) that is communicated with the external entity.

[0087] Based on the assignment, the controller 424 can calculate the beam weights required for each individual sub - array 408. The beam weights can characterize the phase shift and / or amplification of the RF signal required for the characteristics of a particular beam (e.g., aperture size and shape). The beam weight applied by each of the sub - arrays 408 adjusts (e.g., amplifies and / or phase - shifts) the RF signal communicated by each respective sub - array 408, along with the control signal used by the beamformer 402, to adjust the sub - array signals associated with each beam, enable beam steering, and focus the energy communicated in a particular direction. The assignment of specific beams and / or beam weights to the sub - arrays can be dynamically changed by the controller 424. For example, the controller 424 can re - assign some (or all) of the sub - arrays 408 to a new beam and / or recalculate the beam weights to compensate for a change in the position of the entity housing the multi - beam phased - array antenna system 400 and / or a change in the position of an external entity communicating with the multi - beam phased - array antenna system 400 (e.g., a satellite), or to comply with regulatory requirements.

[0088] In addition, in response to the allocation, the controller 424 provides a control signal to the beamformer 402. More specifically, the controller provides the control signal to each of the digital logic 412 and the J DACs 420. In response to the control signal, the digital logic 412 provides a signal path between each respective digital subarray signal and the corresponding beam signal of the K beam signals. As an example, the digital logic 412 can associate a first set of subarray signals with a first beam of the determined two or more beams and a second subset of the subarray signals with a second beam of the determined two or more beams of the plurality of beams. In addition, in response to the control signal, each of the J DACs 420 can apply a beam weight to each respective digital subarray signal and convert each respective digital subarray signal and each respective subarray signal communicated with each respective subarray 408 of the phased array antenna 404.

[0089] Implementing the beamformer 402 with a digital circuit including the digital logic 412 provides a simple and dynamic multi-beam phased array antenna system 400. In particular, the K beam signals supported by the digital logic 412 can be changed dynamically (e.g., by reconfiguring the digital logic 412). In this way, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 400 can be adapted to change its operation over time without changing the hard-wired circuitry.

[0090] FIG. 5 shows an example of a multi-beam phased array antenna system 500 that includes a beamformer 502 implemented by a plurality of IC chips. The multi-beam phased array antenna system 500 can be used to implement the multi-beam phased array antenna system 100 of FIG. 1. Thus, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 500 communicates a plurality of beam signals simultaneously. The beamformer 502 can be used to implement the beamformer 112 of FIG. 1. Further, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 300 includes a phased array antenna 504 that can be used to implement the phased array antenna 104 of FIG. 1. Thus, the phased array antenna 504 can be formed by J sub-arrays 508 such as the J sub-arrays 108 of FIG. 1. Further, each of the J sub-arrays 508 of the phased array antenna 504 can be implemented by an example of the sub-array 200 of FIG. 2. In some embodiments, the phased array antenna 504 can represent a plurality of antennas (e.g., transmit antennas and receive antennas). In other embodiments, the phased array antenna 504 represents a single antenna.

[0091] Each of the J sub - arrays 508 can include a sub - array beamforming circuit that converts an RF signal and a sub - array signal such that the phased - array antenna 504 communicates with the beamformer 502 over J sub - array signals. As described above, the beamformer 502 is implemented by a plurality of IC chips. More specifically, the beamformer 502 can include J interconnected beam - conversion circuits 512, where each of the J interconnected beam - conversion circuits 512 is connected to only one of the sub - arrays 508. In some embodiments, each of the J beam - conversion circuits 512 can be implemented as an ASIC or a controller with embedded instructions. In other embodiments, each of the J beam - conversion circuits 512 can be implemented by individual circuit components. In the illustrated embodiment, the J beam - conversion circuits 512 are arranged in a daisy chain to enable each of the J beam - conversion circuits 512 to communicate. In other embodiments, each of the J beam - conversion circuits 512 can communicate over the communication bus of the beamformer 502.

[0092] Each of the J beam - conversion circuits 512 can convert a respective sub - array signal and K beam signals. Each of the K beam signals can be a transmit or receive signal that includes embedded data. Each of the K beam signals can communicate with a respective one of the K modems 516. The K modems 516 can be used to encode or decode data on the corresponding beam signals of the K beam signals.

[0093] In the illustrated embodiment, each of the K modems 516 communicates with a first beam - conversion circuit 512 (beam - conversion circuit 1). In such a situation, the first beam - conversion circuit 512 can relay the beam signal to other beam - conversion circuits 512. In other embodiments, each of the K modems 516 can communicate with the beam - conversion circuits 512 via a communication bus. Each of the J beam - conversion circuits 512 can include an internal DAC (or other circuit) for converting one of the K beam signals and the sub - array signal.

[0094] The multi-beam phased array antenna system 500 can include a controller 524 that can control the operation of the beamformer 502 and the J sub-arrays 508 of the phased array antenna 504. In some embodiments, the controller 524 can be utilized to implement the controller 120 of FIG. 1. The controller 524 can provide a control signal to the beamformer 502 to cause the individual sub-arrays 508 to be assigned to specific beams. Further, the controller 524 can provide beam weights to the sub-array beamforming circuits of the J sub-arrays 508. In response to the beam weights, each of the sub-array beamforming circuits of the J sub-arrays 508 can adjust the respective RF signals for communication on the respective radiating elements.

[0095] More specifically, the control signal provided by the controller 524 can be provided to the J beam conversion circuits 512 of the beamformer 502. In response to the control signal, the J beam conversion circuits 512 can establish a signal path between the respective beam signals and the respective digital sub-array signals coupled to one of the J beam conversion circuits 512. The signal path can provide phase delays, combinations, and / or splits for converting the respective beam signals and sub-array signals.

[0096] During operation, the controller 524 can determine two or more beams from a plurality of beams. The two or more determined beams include two beams of the same communication type (e.g., at least two receive beams or at least two transmit beams). The two or more beams can be determined, for example, based on the position of the multi-beam phased array antenna system 500 and the position of an external entity that wirelessly communicates with the multi-beam phased array antenna system 500. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the controller 524 can determine four (4) beams from a plurality of beams to establish two-way communication with two different entities (e.g., two different satellites). Thereby, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 500 can achieve make-before-break communication with two satellites.

[0097] In other embodiments, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 500 can communicate with three or more satellites simultaneously. Further, in other embodiments, the controller 524 can be configured to communicate with a particular satellite using only one beam, such that the multi-beam phased array antenna system 500 transmits or receives data only with a particular satellite (e.g., for one-way communication).

[0098] In response to determining two or more beams from a plurality of beams, the controller 524 can assign a disjoint subset of the J sub-arrays 508 of the phased array antenna 504 to the two or more determined beams. The assignment of the disjoint subset of the sub-arrays 508 can be based on, for example, the characteristics of the beams communicated with the external entity (e.g., aperture size and shape).

[0099] Based on the assignment, the controller 524 can calculate the beam weights required for each individual subarray 508. The beam weights can characterize the phase shift and / or amplification of the RF signals required for the characteristics of a particular beam (e.g., aperture size and shape). The beam weights applied by each of the subarrays 508 adjust (e.g., amplify and / or phase shift) the RF signals communicated by each respective subarray 508, along with the control signals used by the beamformer 502, to adjust the subarray signals associated with each beam, enable beam steering, and focus the energy communicated in a particular direction. The assignment of particular beams and / or beam weights to the subarrays can be dynamically changed by the controller 524. For example, the controller 524 can reassign some (or all) of the subarrays 508 to a new beam and / or recalculate the beam weights to compensate for a change in the position of the entity accommodating the multi-beam phased array antenna system 500 and / or a change in the position of an external entity communicating with the multi-beam phased array antenna system 500 (e.g., a satellite), or to comply with regulatory requirements.

[0100] In addition, in response to the assignment, the controller 524 provides control signals to the beamformer 502. More specifically, the controller provides control signals to the J beam conversion circuits 512. In response to the control signals, each of the J beam conversion circuits 512 provides a signal path between the respective subarray signal and the corresponding beam signal of the K beam signals. In addition, in response to the control signals, each of the J beam conversion circuits 512 can apply the beam weights to the respective digital subarray signals and convert the respective digital subarray signals and the respective subarray signals communicated with the respective subarrays 508 of the phased array antenna 504.

[0101] By implementing a beamformer 502 with J beam conversion circuits 512, a simple and dynamic multi-beam phased array antenna system 500 is provided. In particular, the K beam signals supported by the J beam conversion circuits 512 can be dynamically changed (e.g., by reconfiguring each of the J beam conversion circuits 512). In this way, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 500 can be adapted to change its operation over time without changing the hard-wired circuitry.

[0102] FIGS. 6-8 show an embodiment of a phased array antenna 600 that communicates two beams simultaneously. The phased array antenna 600 can be utilized to implement the phased array antenna 104 of FIG. 1. The phased array antenna 600 includes twelve sub-arrays 604 labeled SA-1... SA-12. In other embodiments, more or fewer sub-arrays 604 may be present. Each sub-array 604 can be implemented using the sub-array 200 of FIG. 2.

[0103] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment 608 in which the phased array antenna 600 communicates with a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite 610 in a first direction 614 via a first beam and communicates with a geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) satellite 620 in a second direction 624 via a second beam. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, sub-arrays 8-12 (SA-8... SA-12) are assigned to communicate on the first beam and in the first direction 614, and sub-arrays 1-7 (SA-1... SA-7) communicate in the second direction 624 on the second beam. In the embodiment 608 of FIG. 6, the first direction 614 and the second direction 624 are presumed to be opposing (or substantially opposing) directions. For illustrative purposes, a first line 626 perpendicular to the first direction 614 is included, and a second line 628 perpendicular to the second direction 624 is also included. In the embodiment 608 shown in FIG. 6, there are more sub-arrays 604 assigned to the second beam to communicate with the GEO satellite 620 than the sub-arrays 604 assigned to the first beam to communicate with the LEO satellite 610. In some embodiments, more sub-arrays 604 can be assigned to the second beam to communicate with the GEO satellite 620 to compensate for the GEO satellite 620 being farther away from the phased array antenna 600 and then the LEO satellite 610.

[0104] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment 650 in which the phased array antenna 600 communicates with the LEO satellite 654 in a first direction 658 via a first beam and communicates with the GEO satellite 662 in a second direction 668 via a second beam. In the embodiment 650 shown in FIG. 7, the sub-arrays 9-12 (SA-8...SA-12) are assigned to communicate on the first beam and in the first direction 658, and the sub-arrays 1-8 (SA-1...SA-8) communicate in the second direction 624 on the second beam. For illustrative purposes, a first line 670 perpendicular to the first direction 658 is included, and a second line 672 perpendicular to the second direction 668 is also included. In the embodiment 650 shown in FIG. 7, there are more sub-arrays 604 assigned to the second beam for communicating with the GEO satellite 662 than the sub-arrays 604 assigned to the first beam for communicating with the LEO satellite 654 (e.g., to compensate for the distance of the GEO satellite 662 from the LEO satellite 654).

[0105] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment 680 in which the phased array antenna 600 communicates with the LEO satellite 684 in a first direction 686 via a first beam and communicates with the GEO satellite 688 in a second direction 690 via a second beam. In the embodiment 680, the first direction 686 and the second direction 690 are presumed to be substantially the same direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the sub-arrays 8-12 (SA-8...SA-12) are assigned to communicate on the first beam and in the first direction 686, and the sub-arrays 1-8 (SA-1...SA-8) communicate in the second direction 690 on the second beam. For illustrative purposes, a first line 692 perpendicular to the first direction 686 is included, and a second line 694 perpendicular to the second direction 690 is also included. In the embodiment 680 shown in FIG. 8, there are more sub-arrays 604 assigned to the second beam for communicating with the GEO satellite 688 than the sub-arrays 604 assigned to the first beam for communicating with the LEO satellite 684 (e.g., to compensate for the distance of the GEO satellite 688 from the LEO satellite 684).

[0106] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the phased array antenna 600 can communicate with different satellites using multiple beams simultaneously. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the phased array antenna 600 in FIGS. 6 to 8 can be dynamically changed to change the direction of the beam.

[0107] FIG. 9 shows an exemplary chart 900 of boresight gain versus noise temperature (decibels per kelvin (dB / K)) for different numbers of subarrays assigned to two beams of a phased array antenna such as the phased array antenna 104 in FIG. 1. In the example illustrated by chart 900, the phased array antenna includes 20 subarrays, and each subarray is assigned to one of the two beams. Chart 900 demonstrates that the performance of the beam can be changed by changing the number of subarrays assigned. As shown in chart 900, more subarrays assigned to a particular beam (beam 1 or beam 2) result in higher performance for that particular beam.

[0108] FIGS. 10 to 12 show an embodiment of a multi-beam phased array antenna system 1000 including a first phased array antenna 1004 and a second phased array antenna 1008. The first phased array antenna 1004 can be configured as a transmitting antenna for transmitting a beam to an external entity such as a satellite. The second phased array antenna 1008 can be configured as a receiving antenna for receiving a beam transmitted from an external entity such as a satellite. Thus, in some embodiments, the first phased array antenna 1004 can be utilized to transmit a beam to a given satellite, and the second phased array antenna 1008 can be utilized to receive a beam from a given satellite. In this way, the multi-beam phased array antenna system 1000 enables two-way communication with a given satellite.

[0109] To implement the phased array antenna 104 of FIG. 1, the first phased array antenna 1004 and the second phased array antenna 1008 can be used respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the first phased array antenna 1004 and the second phased array antenna 1008 are spaced apart from each other. In other embodiments, the first phased array antenna 1004 and the second phased array antenna 1008 can be overlapped with each other such that the radiation elements of the subarray used for transmission are within a first region that at least partially overlaps a second region including the radiation elements of the subarray used for reception.

[0110] The first phased array antenna 1004 includes a plurality of diamond-shaped subarrays 1012, only one of which is labeled. Each of the diamond-shaped subarrays 1012 can be used to implement an instance of the subarray 200 of FIG. 2. The second phased array antenna 1008 includes a plurality of hexagonal-shaped subarrays 1020 and a plurality of diamond-shaped subarrays 1024, only one of each of which is labeled. Each of the hexagonal-shaped subarrays 1020 and the diamond-shaped subarrays 1024 of the second phased array antenna 1008 can also be used to implement an instance of the subarray 200 of FIG. 2.

[0111] Disjoint subsets of the plurality of diamond-shaped subarrays 1012 of the first phased array antenna 1004 can be assigned to communicate (receive) different beams. Similarly, disjoint subsets of the plurality of hexagonal-shaped subarrays 1020 and the diamond-shaped subarrays 1024 of the second phased array 1008 can be assigned to communicate (transmit) different beams.

[0112] FIG. 10 shows an embodiment 1030 in which a multi-beam phased array antenna system 1000 includes two phased array antennas each communicating two or more beams. More specifically, in embodiment 1030, the sub-arrays of the first phased array antenna 1004 are assigned to three different receive beams, namely beam 1, beam 2, and beam 3. Further, in embodiment 1030, the sub-arrays of the second phased array antenna 1008 are assigned to transmit beams, namely beam 4 and beam 5. Alternatively, the sub-arrays assigned to each beam, as well as the number of transmit and / or receive beams, may be different from this embodiment. FIG. 10 includes a legend identifying the beams to which the individual diamond-shaped sub-arrays 1012 of the first phased array antenna 1004 are assigned, and the hexagonal-shaped sub-arrays 1020 and diamond-shaped sub-arrays 1024 of the second phased array antenna 1008 are assigned. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the two phased array antennas 1004 and 1008 are arranged separately in that way.

[0113] FIG. 11 shows another embodiment 1050 in which a multi-beam phased array antenna system 1000 communicates with five beams simultaneously with different assignments of mutually exclusive subsets. FIG. 12 shows yet another embodiment 1070 in which a multi-beam phased array antenna system 1000 communicates with five beams simultaneously with different assignments of mutually exclusive subsets.

[0114] As shown in FIGS. 10-12, the same multi-beam phased array antenna system 1000 can be utilized to communicate multiple beams simultaneously. Further, the assignment of sub-arrays (e.g., the diamond-shaped sub-arrays 1012 of the first phased array antenna 1004, and the hexagonal-shaped sub-arrays 1020 and diamond-shaped sub-arrays 1024 of the second phased array antenna 1008) can be dynamically assigned to control the direction of beam, performance, and aperture shape of the beams communicated by the multi-beam phased array antenna system 1000.

[0115] FIG. 13 shows a block diagram of a sub-array 1300 for a phased array antenna showing the logic interconnect of one of the J sub-arrays 108 of FIG. 1 and / or the sub-array 200 of FIG. 2 operating in receive mode. The sub-array 1300 can be dynamically assigned to a particular beam of a plurality of beams. Further, the received sub-array signal 1302 can be provided to a beamformer using the sub-array 1300. The beamformer can be implemented using the architecture of the beamformer 112 of FIG. 1, the beamformer 302 of FIG. 3, or the beamformer 402 of FIG. 4. In the illustrated embodiment, G radiating elements 1304 communicate with a sub-array beamforming circuit 1308.

[0116] The sub-array beamforming circuit 1308 can include G RFIC chips 1312 and a receive (RX) sub-array BFN circuit 1316. Each of the G RFIC chips 1312 can be connected to a respective radiating element 1304. Each of the RFIC chips 1312 adjusts the received RF signal 1314 and provides the adjusted RF signal 1314 to the RX sub-array BFN circuit 1316. The RX sub-array BFN circuit 1316 can be used to implement the sub-array BFN 212. The RX sub-array BFN circuit 1316 can be connected to a beamformer. The RX sub-array BFN circuit 1316 can combine the G RF signals 1314 from the G RFIC chips 1312 to form the received sub-array signal 1302. The received sub-array signal 1302 can be provided to a beamformer. The RX sub-array BFN circuit can include a port 1318 connected to the beamformer. The RX sub-array BFN circuit 1316 can provide the received sub-array signal 1302 to the beamformer via the port 1318.

[0117] In the illustrated embodiment, each RFIC chip 1312 can include an amplifier 1320 and a phase shifter 1324. The G RFIC chips 1312 can receive beam weights 1326 from a controller 1328 that can be implemented by the controller 120 of FIG. 1. The beam weights 1326 can be calculated by the controller 1328 based on the beam to which the subarray 1300 is assigned. In some embodiments, the beam weights 1326 can control the gain of each amplifier 1320 and / or the phase shift applied by each phase shifter 1324. Thus, in some embodiments, each amplifier 1320 can be implemented as a variable gain amplifier, a switched attenuator circuit, or the like.

[0118] During operation, the signal received by each of the G radiating elements 1304 (or some subset thereof) can be converted into an RF signal 1314 and provided to the corresponding RFIC chip 1312 for conditioning. Each amplifier 1320 of the RFIC chip 1312 can amplify the provided RF signal 1314, and each phase shifter 1324 can apply a phase shift to output G conditioned RF signals 1314. In some embodiments of the subarray 1300 of FIG. 13, the phase shifter 1324 can apply a variable amount of phase adjustment in response to the beam weights 1326 provided from the controller 1328. Additionally or alternatively, the amplifier 1320 can provide a variable amount of amplitude adjustment in response to the beam weights 1326 provided from the controller 1328. The G RF signals 1314 can be provided to the RX subarray BFN circuit 1316. The RX subarray BFN circuit 1316 can combine the G RF signals 1314 to form a received subarray signal 1302 that can be provided to a beamformer for further processing.

[0119] FIG. 14 shows a block diagram of a sub-array 1400 for a phased array antenna showing the logic interconnect of one of the J sub-arrays 108 of FIG. 1 and / or the sub-array 200 of FIG. 2 operating in transmit mode. The sub-array 1400 can be dynamically assigned to a particular beam of a plurality of beams. Further, in response to receiving a sub-array signal 1403 from a beamformer, the sub-array 1400 can transmit an RF signal 1402 into free space. The beamformer can be implemented using the architecture of the beamformer 112 of FIG. 1, the beamformer 302 of FIG. 3, or the beamformer 402 of FIG. 4. In the illustrated embodiment, G radiating elements 1404 communicate with a sub-array beamforming circuit 1408.

[0120] The sub-array beamforming circuit 1408 can include G RFIC chips 1412 and a transmit (TX) sub-array BFN circuit. Each of the G RFIC chips 1412 can be connected to a respective radiating element 1404. Each of the RFIC chips 1412 conditions the RF signal 1402 received from the TX sub-array BFN circuit 1416 and provides the conditioned RF signal 1402 to a respective radiating element 1404. The TX sub-array BFN circuit 1416 can be used to implement the sub-array BFN 212 of FIG. 2. The TX sub-array BFN circuit 1416 can be connected to the beamformer via a port 1418.

[0121] In the illustrated embodiment, each RFIC chip 1312 can include an amplifier 1420 and a phase shifter 1424. The G RFIC chips 1412 can receive beam weights 1414 from a controller 1428 that can be implemented by the controller 120 of FIG. 1. The beam weights 1414 can be calculated by the controller 1428 based on a particular beam to which the subarray 1400 is assigned. In some embodiments, the beam weights 1414 can control the gain of each amplifier 1420 and / or the phase shift applied by each phase shifter 1424. Thus, in some embodiments, each amplifier 1420 can be implemented as a variable gain amplifier, a switched attenuator circuit, or the like.

[0122] During operation, a transmit beam signal 1403 can be provided from a beamformer to a TX subarray BFN circuit 1416. The TX subarray BFN circuit 1416 divides the transmit beam signal 1403 into G RF signals 1402 that can be provided to the G RFIC chips 1412. Each of the G RFIC chips 1412 can adjust the corresponding RF signal 1402 to generate an adjusted RF signal 1402, and provide this adjusted RF signal to the corresponding radiating element 1404. In some embodiments of the subarray 1400 of FIG. 13, the phase shifter 1424 can apply a variable amount of phase adjustment in response to the beam weights 1414 provided from the controller 1428. Additionally or alternatively, the amplifier 1420 can provide a variable amount of amplitude adjustment in response to the beam weights 1414 provided from the controller 1428. Each radiating element 1404 propagates the corresponding adjusted RF signal 1402 into free space.

[0123] FIG. 15 shows a block diagram of a sub-array 1500 for a phased array antenna showing the logic interconnect of one of the J sub-arrays 108 of FIG. 1 and / or sub-arrays 200 operating in half-duplex mode. The sub-array 1500 can be dynamically assigned to a particular one of a plurality of beams. The beamformer can be implemented using the architecture of beamformer 112 of FIG. 1, beamformer 302 of FIG. 3, or beamformer 402 of FIG. 4. In the illustrated embodiment, G radiating elements 1504 communicate with a sub-array beamforming circuit 1508. In half-duplex mode, the sub-array 1500 switches between a receive mode and a transmit mode.

[0124] The sub-array beamforming circuit 1508 can include G RFIC chips 1512 and a sub-array BFN circuit 1514. Each of the G RFIC chips 1512 can be connected to a respective radiating element 1504. In the illustrated embodiment, each RFIC chip 1512 can include a receive path 1516 and a transmit path 1520. The receive path 1516 can include a receive amplifier 1524 and a receive phase shifter 1528 for conditioning a signal received from the corresponding radiating element 1504. Similarly, the transmit path 1520 can include a transmit amplifier 1532 and a transmit phase shifter 1536 for conditioning the corresponding RF signal 1522 provided from the sub-array BFN circuit 1514.

[0125] The sub-array BFN circuit 1514 can include a port 1538 connected to the beamformer. The port 1538 of the sub-array BFN circuit 1514 can be utilized to receive a transmit sub-array signal 1515 from the beamformer or to provide a received sub-array signal 1516 to the beamformer.

[0126] Each RFIC chip 1512 can also include a pair of switches 1540 (e.g., transistor switches) for switching between a receive mode and a transmit mode. The RFIC chip 1512 can receive a beam weight 1542 from a controller 1544 that can be implemented by the controller 120 of FIG. 1. The beam weight 1542 can control the states of the pair of switches 1540 to switch the subarray 1500 from the receive mode to the transmit mode or vice versa. Additionally, in some embodiments, the beam weight 1542 provided from the controller 1544 can control the variable amount of amplitude adjustment applied by each receive amplifier 1524 and each transmit amplifier 1532. Thus, in some embodiments, each receive amplifier 1524 and each transmit amplifier 1532 can be implemented as a variable gain amplifier, a switched attenuator circuit, etc. Similarly, in some embodiments, the beam weight 1542 provided from the controller 1544 can control the variable amount of phase adjustment applied by each receive phase shifter 1528 and each transmit phase shifter 1536.

[0127] During operation in the receive mode, the controller 1544 sets the switch 1540 of the RFIC chip 1512 to route signals through the receive path 1516. Also, in the receive mode, each of the G radiating elements 1504 (or some subset thereof) that receive the RF signal 1522 can provide it to the corresponding RFIC chip 1512 for adjustment. Each receive amplifier 1524 of the RFIC chip 1512 amplifies the provided signal, and each receive phase shifter 1528 applies a phase shift to output the G RF signals 1522. The G RF signals 1522 can be provided to the subarray BFN circuit 1514. The subarray BFN circuit 1514 can combine the G RF signals 1522 to form a received subarray signal 1516 that can be provided to a beamformer for processing.

[0128] During operation in the transmission mode, the controller 1544 sets a pair of switches 1540 in the transmission path 1520 for the transmission of a transmission sub-array signal 1515 that can be provided from the beamformer to the sub-array BFN circuit 1514. The sub-array BFN circuit 1514 divides the transmission sub-array signal 1515 into G RF signals 1522 that can be provided to G RFIC chips 1512. Each of the G RFIC chips 1512 can adjust the corresponding RF signal 1522 based on the beam weights 1542 to generate an adjusted RF signal 1522 that can be provided to the corresponding radiating element 1504. In the illustrated embodiment, adjusting can include a transmission phase shifter 1536 that phase-shifts the RF signal 1522 based on the beam weights 1542, and a transmission amplifier 1532 that amplifies the RF signal 1522. Each radiating element 1504 propagates the corresponding adjusted RF signal 1522 into free space.

[0129] In the half-duplex mode, the sub-array 1500 switches between the receive mode and the transmit mode. In this way, the G radiating elements 1504 can be used for both the transmission and reception of RF signals 1522.

[0130] FIG. 16 shows a block diagram of a sub-array 1600 for a phased array antenna showing the logic interconnect of one of the J sub-arrays 108 of FIG. 1 and / or the sub-array 200 operating in frequency division duplex mode. The sub-array 1600 can be dynamically assigned to a specific beam of a plurality of beams. The sub-array 1600 can communicate with a beamformer that can be implemented using the architecture of the beamformer 112 of FIG. 1, the beamformer 302 of FIG. 3, or the beamformer 402 of FIG. 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the G radiating elements 1604 communicate with the sub-array beamforming circuit 1508. In frequency division duplex mode, the sub-array 1600 can include circuitry for processing the RF signal 1602 received in the receive band and propagating the RF signal 1602 in the transmit band.

[0131] The subarray beamforming circuit 1608 can include G RFIC chips 1612 and a subarray BFN circuit 1614. Each of the G RFIC chips 1612 can be connected to a respective radiating element 1604. In the illustrated embodiment, each RFIC chip 1612 can include a receive beamforming circuit along a receive path 1616 and a transmit beamforming circuit along a transmit path 1620. The receive beamforming circuit can include a receive amplifier 1624 and a receive phase shifter 1628 for conditioning a signal received from a corresponding feed 1604. Similarly, the transmit beamforming circuit can include a transmit amplifier 1632 and a transmit phase shifter 1636 for conditioning a corresponding RF signal 1602 provided from the subarray BFN circuit 1614.

[0132] The subarray BFN circuit 1614 can include a first port 1638 and a second port 1639, each connected to a beamformer. The first port 1638 of the subarray BFN circuit 1614 can be utilized to receive a transmit subarray signal 1615 from the beamformer. The second port 1648 can be utilized to provide a received subarray signal 1616 to the beamformer.

[0133] Additionally, the receive path 1616 can include an input receive filter 1640 and an output receive filter 1644. The input receive filter 1640 and the output receive filter 1644 can be implemented as relatively narrow bandpass filters that remove signals at frequencies outside the receive band. Thus, the input receive filter 1640 and the output receive filter 1644 can have a passband with a set stop band. Similarly, the transmit path 1620 can include an input transmit filter 1648 and an output transmit filter 1652. The input transmit filter 1648 and the output transmit filter 1652 can be implemented as relatively narrow bandpass filters that remove signals at frequencies outside the transmit band. Thus, the input transmit filter 1648 and the output transmit filter 1652 can have a passband set to the transmit band. In other embodiments, the output receive filter 1644 and the output transmit filter 1652 can be replaced with another component such as an RF circulator.

[0134] The RFIC chip 1612 can receive the beam weights 1658 from a controller 1660 that can be implemented by the controller 120 of FIG. 1. The beam weights 1658 can be calculated by the controller based on a specific beam to which the subarray 1600 is assigned. In some embodiments, the beam weights 1658 control the passband and / or bandwidth of the input receive filter 1640 and the output receive filter 1644. Similarly, in some embodiments, the beam weights 1658 provided from the controller 1660 control the passband and / or bandwidth of the input transmit filter 1648 and the output transmit filter 1652. Additionally or alternatively, the beam weights 1658 provided from the controller 1660 can control the amplitude adjustment variable applied by each receive amplifier 1624 and each transmit amplifier 1632. Thus, in some embodiments, each receive amplifier 1624 and each transmit amplifier 1632 can be implemented as a variable gain amplifier, a switched attenuator circuit, etc. Similarly, in some embodiments, the beam weights 1658 provided from the controller 1660 can control the phase adjustment variable applied by each receive phase shifter 1628 and each transmit phase shifter 1636.

[0135] During operation, sub-array 1600 can operate simultaneously in a receive mode and a transmit mode based on the frequency of signals traversing sub-array 1600. More specifically, RF signals 1602 can be received by each of G radiating elements 1604 (or some subset thereof), and these RF signals 1602 can be provided to corresponding RFIC chips 1612 for conditioning. Signals within the passband (receive band) of input receive filter 1640 can be conditioned (e.g., amplified and phase shifted) by receive path 1616 of the corresponding RFIC chip 1612. The conditioned RF signals 1602 can be filtered by output receive filter 1644 and provided as RF signals 1602 to sub-array BFN circuit 1614. In this manner, sub-array BFN circuit 1614 receives G RF signals 1602 from G RFIC chips 1612, and each of the received G RF signals 1602 can be within the receive band. Sub-array BFN circuit 1614 can combine the received G RF signals 1602 to form a received sub-array signal 1616 that can be provided to a beamformer for further processing via second port 1639.

[0136] Furthermore, simultaneously with the reception of RF signals, transmit sub-array signal 1615 can be provided to sub-array BFN circuit 1614 at second port 1638 from a beamformer. Sub-array BFN circuit 1614 divides transmit sub-array signal 1615 into G RF signals 1602 that can be provided to G RFIC chips 1612. Input transmit filter 1648 of each of the G RFIC chips 1612 removes signals outside the passband (transmit band). Additionally, transmit path 1620 can condition (phase shift and amplify) the corresponding RF signal 1602 to generate a conditioned RF signal that can be provided to the corresponding radiating element 1604 through output transmit filter 1652. Each radiating element 1604 propagates the corresponding conditioned RF into free space.

[0137] In sub-array 1600, the frequency of the traversing signal controls the routing of the signal through sub-array 1600. In this way, radiation element 1604 can be used for both transmission and reception of RF signal 1602. In other embodiments, different radiation elements 1604 can be used for transmission and reception such that the sub-array includes a first set of radiation elements 1604 for transmission and a second (different) set of radiation elements for reception. The two sets of radiation elements can overlap within each sub-array 1600 such that, for example, the radiation elements 1604 used for transmission are within a first region that at least partially overlaps a second region that includes the radiation elements 1604 used for reception. Additionally, in some embodiments, sub-array 1600 can have an architecture that switches intermittently between a transmit mode and a receive mode to provide half-duplexing.

[0138] FIG. 17 shows a block diagram of a sub-array 1700 for a phased array antenna showing the logic interconnects of one of the J sub-arrays 108 of FIG. 1 and / or a sub-array 200 operating in a polarization dual mode that can be a particular configuration of a half-duplex mode. Sub-array 1700 can dynamically allocate to a particular beam of a plurality of beams. Sub-array 1700 can communicate with a beamformer that can be implemented using the architecture of beamformer 112 of FIG. 1, beamformer 302 of FIG. 3, or beamformer 402 of FIG. 4. In the illustrated embodiment, G radiation elements 1704 communicate with a sub-array beamforming circuit 1708. In the polarization dual mode, sub-array beamforming circuit 1708 can include circuitry for processing an RF signal 1710 received in a first polarization and propagating the RF signal 1710 in a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization.

[0139] The sub-array beamforming circuit 1708 can include G RFIC chips 1712 and a sub-array BFN circuit 1714. Each of the G RFIC chips 1712 can be connected to a respective radiating element 1704. In the illustrated embodiment, each RFIC chip 1712 can include a receive path 1716 and a transmit path 1720. The receive path 1716 can include a receive amplifier 1724 and a receive phase shifter 1732 for conditioning an RF signal 1710 received from a corresponding radiating element 1704. Similarly, the transmit path 1720 can include a transmit amplifier 1734 and a transmit phase shifter 1738 for conditioning a corresponding RF signal 1710 provided by the sub-array BFN circuit 1714.

[0140] The sub-array BFN circuit 1714 can include a port 1715 connected to a beamformer. The port 1715 of the sub-array BFN circuit 1714 can be utilized to receive a transmit sub-array signal 1737 from the beamformer or transmit a received sub-array signal 1739 to the beamformer.

[0141] The receive path 1716 can be connected to a first port 1740 of the radiating element 1704, and the transmit path 1720 can be connected to a second port 1744 of the radiating element 1704. The first port 1740 of the radiating element 1704 can be configured to output an RF signal 1710 received by the radiating element 1704 in a first polarization, and the second port 1744 of the radiating element 1704 can be configured to transmit a signal received by the radiating element 1704 in a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization. For example, the first polarization can be a vertical polarization, the second polarization can be a horizontal polarization, and vice versa. Alternatively, the first polarization can be a right hand circular polarization (RHCP), the second polarization can be a left hand circular polarization (LHCP), and vice versa.

[0142] Each RFIC chip 1712 can also include a switch 1748 (e.g., a transistor switch) for switching between a receive mode and a transmit mode. The RFIC chip 1712 can receive a beam weight 1713 from a controller 1760 that can be implemented by the controller 120 of FIG. 1. The beam weight 1713 can be calculated by the controller 1760 based on the beam assigned to the subarray 1700. The beam weight 1713 can control the state of the switch 1748 to switch the subarray 1700 from the receive mode to the transmit mode or vice versa. Additionally, in some embodiments, the beam weight 1713 provided from the controller 1760 can control the variable amplitude adjustment amount applied by each receive amplifier 1724 and each transmit amplifier 1734. Thus, in some embodiments, each receive amplifier 1724 and each transmit amplifier 1734 can be implemented as a variable gain amplifier, a switched attenuator circuit, etc. Similarly, in some embodiments, the beam weight 1713 provided from the controller 1760 can control the variable phase adjustment amount applied by each receive phase shifter 1732 and each transmit phase shifter 1738.

[0143] During operation in the receive mode, the controller 1760 sets the switch 1748 of the RFIC chip 1712 to route signals through the receive path 1716. Also, in the receive mode, the RF signals 1710 in the first polarization dual mode received by each of the G radiating elements 1704 (or some subset thereof) can be provided to the corresponding RFIC chip 1712 for adjustment. Each receive amplifier 1724 of the RFIC chip 1712 can amplify the provided signal, and each receive phase shifter 1732 can apply a phase shift to output the G RF signals 1710. The G RF signals 1710 can be provided to the subarray BFN circuit 1714. The subarray BFN circuit 1714 can combine the G RF signals 1710 to form a received subarray that can be provided to the beamformer for processing.

[0144] During operation in the transmission mode, the controller 1760 sets the switch 1748 to the transmission path 1720 to transmit the transmission beam signal 1737, which can be provided from the local system to the sub-array BFN circuit 1714. The sub-array BFN circuit 1714 divides the transmission beam signal 1737 into G RF signals 1710 that can be provided to the G RFIC chips 1712. Each of the G RFIC chips 1712 can adjust the corresponding RF signal 1710 and provide the adjusted RF signal 1710 to the corresponding radiating element 1704. In the illustrated embodiment, the adjustment can include a transmission phase shifter 1738 that phase-shifts the RF signal 1710 based on the beam weight 1713, and a transmission amplifier 1734 that amplifies the RF signal 1710. Each radiating element 1704 propagates the corresponding adjusted RF signal 1710 into free space.

[0145] In the polarization dual mode, the sub-array 1700 switches between the reception mode and the transmission mode. However, by utilizing the orthogonality of the signals at the first port 1740 and the second port 1744 of the G radiating elements 1704, each RFIC chip 1712 can be implemented by a single switch 1748 to reduce signal loss. Additionally, in this way, the same radiating element 1704 can be used for both the transmission and reception of the RF signal 1710.

[0146] What has been described above are examples. Of course, it is not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies, but those skilled in the art will recognize that many further combinations and permutations are possible. Accordingly, this disclosure is intended to cover all such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of this application, including the appended claims. As used herein, the term "includes" means including but not limited to, and the term "including" means including but not limited to. The term "based on" means based at least in part on. Additionally, if this disclosure or the claims recite an element or its equivalent as "a", "an", "a first", or "another", the element (or its equivalent) so recited may include one or more such elements and should not be construed as excluding or requiring two or more such elements.

Claims

1. A multi-beam phased array antenna system (100), comprising: a beamformer (112) for converting a plurality of sub-array signals and a plurality of beam signals in response to a control signal; a plurality of sub-arrays (108) for communicating a plurality of beams corresponding to the plurality of beam signals, wherein each sub-array of the plurality of sub-arrays comprises: a plurality of radiating elements (204), and a sub-array beamforming circuit (208) that adjusts an RF signal (206) communicated with the plurality of radiating elements (204) in response to respective beam weights (220), and converts the adjusted RF signal (206) and one of the plurality of sub-array signals (218), wherein each of the respective sub-array signals (218) corresponds to a specific beam of the plurality of beams, the plurality of sub-arrays (108) comprising the sub-array beamforming circuit (208); a controller (120), comprising: determining two or more beams out of the plurality of beams, wherein the two or more beams are of the same communication type; assigning mutually exclusive subsets of the plurality of sub-arrays (108) to each of the determined two or more beams such that each sub-array (108) of the plurality of sub-arrays (108) is assigned to only one specific beam of the plurality of beams; providing the respective beam weights of each of the plurality of sub-arrays (108) based on the assignment; providing the control signal to the beamformer (112) based on the assignment; A multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) having the above components.

2. The sub-array beamforming circuit (208) of each of the plurality of sub-arrays: A set of radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) chips (216) connected to the plurality of radiating elements, each RFIC chip (216) of the set of RFIC chips (216) applying the calculated beam weights to the RF signal (206) in response to the beam weights (220) provided from the controller (120). The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to claim 1, further comprising a set of radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) chips (216).

3. Each of the sub-array beamforming circuits (208) of the plurality of sub-arrays includes an amplifier and a phase shifter that amplify and phase-shift the RF signal communicated with the plurality of radiating elements (204) in response to the beam weights (220) provided by the controller (120). The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to claim 1 or 2.

4. Each of the sub-array beamforming circuits (208) of the plurality of sub-arrays The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a sub-array beamforming network (BFN) (212) having a signal path that provides conversion between the respective sub-array signals (218) and the RF signal (216).

5. The controller (120) assigns a first subset of the mutually exclusive subsets of the sub-arrays (108) to a first determined beam of the two or more determined beams, and assigns a second subset of the mutually exclusive subsets of the sub-arrays (108) to a second determined beam of the two or more beams. At least one of the direction, frequency, and polarization of the first beam is different from the direction, frequency, and polarization of the second beam. The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The two or more determined beams include at least four determined beams, and the system A transmitting antenna including a first subset of sub-arrays (108) and a second subset of sub-arrays of the mutually exclusive subsets of sub-arrays (108). A receiving antenna including a third subset of the subarray and a fourth subset of the subarray of the relatively prime subsets of the subarray (108), and further comprising: The controller (120) assigns the first subset of the subarray (108) to transmit the first beam among the at least four determined beams, assigns the second subset of the subarray (108) to transmit the second beam among the at least four determined beams, assigns the third subset of the subarray (108) to receive the third beam among the at least four determined beams, and assigns the fourth subset of the subarray (108) to receive the fourth beam among the at least four determined beams. The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to claim 6, wherein the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna are separated from each other.

8. The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to claim 6, wherein the transmitting antenna at least partially overlays the receiving antenna.

9. The first and second subarrays of the plurality of subarrays (108) have a first shape. The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The third subarray of the plurality of subarrays (108) has a second shape different from the first shape. The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to claim 9.

11. The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the plurality of subarrays are arranged in a regular grid.

12. The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the plurality of subarrays are arranged in an irregular pattern.

13. The beamformer (312) is A plurality of beamforming networks (BFNs) (312), each of the plurality of BFNs (312) being associated with only one of the plurality of beams, a plurality of beamforming networks (BFNs) (312); A plurality of switches (320), each switch (320) being connected to a given subarray (308) of the plurality of subarrays (308) and a given BFN (312) of the plurality of BFNs (312), the state of each of the plurality of switches (320) responding to the control signal from the controller (324), a plurality of switches (320), the multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. The plurality of switches (320) responding to the control signal from the controller (324) connect each subarray (308) in a first subset of the mutually exclusive subarrays (308) of the subarray (308) to a first BFN (312) of the plurality of BFNs (312) associated with the first determined beam, and each subarray (312) in a second subset of the mutually exclusive subarrays (308) of the subarray to a second BFN (312) of the plurality of BFNs (312) associated with the second beam, the multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to claim 13.

15. The first BFN (312) responding to the control signal from the controller (324) applies a beam weight to the subarray signal associated with the first subset of the subarray (308), and the second BFN (312) responding to the control signal from the controller (324) applies a beam weight to the subarray signal associated with the second subset of the subarray (308), the multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to claim 14.

16. The beamformer is Further comprising digital logic (412) for forming each beam in the plurality of beams in response to the control signal from the controller (424), the digital logic (412) being connected to each of the plurality of sub-arrays (408), and the digital logic (412) responding to the control signal from the controller (424) associates a first set of sub-array signals with a first beam of the determined two or more beams of the plurality of beams, and associates a second subset of sub-array signals with a second beam of the determined two or more beams of the plurality of beams. The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

17. The beamformer (402) further comprises a set of analog / digital converters (ADCs) (420) connected between the digital logic (412) and each of the plurality of sub-arrays (408), and when the multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) is used for reception processing, each ADC (420) in the set of ADCs (420) communicates the respective sub-array signal with each of the plurality of sub-arrays (408). The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to claim 16.

18. Further comprising a set of modems (116), each modem (116) in the set of modems (116) being connected to the beamformer (112), and each modem (116) communicates data encoded in one of the plurality of beam signals with the beamformer (112). The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. Each of the plurality of sub-arrays (408) has a regular tile-shaped upper surface. The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or claims 10 to 18.

20. Each respective sub-array signal of the plurality of sub-array signals corresponds to only one specific beam of the plurality of beams. The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

21. The subarray beamforming circuit (208) of each subarray of the plurality of subarrays that responds to the beam weight (220) provided by the controller (120) converts each adjusted RF signal and only one subarray signal (218) of a first communication type. The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

22. The subarray beamforming circuit (208) of each subarray of the plurality of subarrays (108) includes a subarray signal port (214) for communicating the respective one subarray signal (218) of the plurality of subarray signals (218). The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to claim 21.

23. The subarray beamforming circuit (208) of each subarray has only one subarray signal port (214). The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to claim 22.

24. The subarray beamforming circuit (208) of each subarray of the plurality of subarrays (108) further converts each adjusted RF signal and only one subarray signal (218) of a second communication type, and The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to claim 22, further comprising a second subarray signal port (214) for communicating the respective one subarray signal (218) of the second communication type.

25. The beamformer (502) further includes a plurality of interconnected beam conversion circuits (512), and each beam conversion circuit (512) is connected to each subarray (508) of the plurality of subarrays (508). The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 24.

26. The two or more beams are transmission beams. The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 25.

27. The two or more beams are reception beams. The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 26.

28. The sub-array beamforming circuit of each sub-array of the plurality of sub-arrays is a receiving sub-array beamforming circuit, and each sub-array of the plurality of sub-arrays further includes a transmitting sub-array beamforming circuit (208) that adjusts an RF signal (206) communicated with the plurality of radiating elements (204) in response to respective beam weights (220) and converts one of the plurality of sub-array signals (218) into the adjusted RF signal (206), and each of the respective sub-array signals (218) corresponds to a specific transmission beam of the plurality of beams. The controller further determines two or more transmission beams among the plurality of beams, The multi-beam phased array antenna system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 27, which assigns a mutually prime subset of the sub-arrays (108) of the plurality of sub-arrays (108) to each of the determined two or more transmission beams.

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