Antenna Array Phase Controller Using PLL Frequency Synthesis

The patent replaces conventional phase shifters with a PLL-based frequency synthesizer system. Instead of using analog phase shifting components that suffer from phase imbalance and gain mismatch, the invention uses digital frequency synthesis with modular PLL units. Each antenna element is driven by a PLL frequency synthesizer that generates precise frequency signals with accurate phase control through digital division and selection, eliminating the analog component errors that caused phase and amplitude inaccuracies.

The patent extracts and removes the problematic coupled VCO injection and locking mechanism from the system. Instead of using coupled VCOs that introduce phase noise and frequency inaccuracy, the invention uses independent PLL frequency synthesizers for each antenna element. Each PLL operates autonomously with its own VCO, eliminating the need for coupling and injection locking between adjacent PLLs. This extraction of the problematic coupling mechanism while retaining independent frequency control capability resolves the phase noise and accuracy issues.

The patent implements a universal high-precision reference signal source that serves all PLL frequency synthesizers in the antenna array. Instead of each PLL requiring its own reference signal source, the invention uses a single high-precision reference oscillator that provides the reference signal to all PLL units. This universal reference source ensures that all frequency synthesizers operate with the same high-precision timing基准, thereby reducing phase noise across the entire system while maintaining the adaptability and flexibility of individual phase control for each antenna element.