Antenna Calibration Circuit for Beamforming Phase Error Correction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional antenna wireless devices experience decreased beamforming accuracy due to errors in detected values caused by temperature and line length differences between antenna elements and detectors.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a wireless device with a plurality of antenna elements, feed ports, detection ports, transceiver circuits, and reference transceiver circuits, where each transceiver circuit subjects signals to appropriate processing to detect and correct amplitude and phase deviations, adjusting transmission signals accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a detector is disposed immediately following a transmission power amplifier to detect transmission characteristics, then the detection function is simplified and integrated, but beamforming accuracy decreases due to errors from temperature and line length differences between antenna elements and detector

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetector integrationVSAvoidbeamforming accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the detection function into multiple reference transceiver circuits, each associated with specific antenna elements. This segmentation allows independent calibration of each antenna element's path characteristics, eliminating the accuracy degradation caused by centralized detector integration while maintaining functional integration through the phased array structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Reference transceiver circuits are introduced as intermediary components between the transmission power amplifiers and the detection system. These reference transceiver circuits receive copies of transmission signals and enable separate calibration of path characteristics, acting as mediators that eliminate temperature and line length differences affecting detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If detection ports are provided for each antenna element to enable individual path characteristic detection, then beamforming accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeamforming accuracyVSAvoidnumber of detection ports

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each reference transceiver circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: it receives transmission signals, calibrates path characteristics for associated antenna elements, and provides detection capabilities. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated detection ports for each antenna element, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining individual path characteristic detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The reference transceiver circuits are merged with the existing transceiver circuit architecture, sharing common components such as signal processing units and control logic. This merging approach enables individual path characteristic detection for each antenna element without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the reference transceiver circuits utilize shared resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration allows for higher beamforming accuracy by correcting differences in path characteristics between antenna elements and detectors, improving transmission and reception precision.

Implementation Method 1

a corresponding transceiver circuit of the transceiver circuits subjects a first signal to transmission processing including digital to analog conversion and up-conversion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDigital to analog conversion:

Implementation Method 2

subjects a first signal to transmission processing including digital to analog conversion and up-conversion to generate a second signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUp-conversion:

Implementation Method 3

the corresponding reference transceiver circuit subjects the second signal to processing including analog to digital conversion and down-conversion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAnalog to digital conversion:

Implementation Method 4

the corresponding reference transceiver circuit subjects the second signal to processing including analog to digital conversion and down-conversion to generate a third signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDown-conversion:

Data Source

PatentUS12034468B2Antenna wireless device

Publication Date: 2024.07.09 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP

AI summary

An antenna wireless device includes: antenna elements; feed ports respectively corresponding to the antenna elements; one or more detection ports each corresponding to some or all of the plurality of antenna elements; transceiver circuits respectively connected to feed ports; and one or more reference transceiver circuits each connected to a corresponding one or more of the one or more detection ports. For each antenna element, the transceiver circuit processes a first signal to generate a second signal, the second signal fed to the feed port is output to the reference transceiver circuit through the detection port, the reference transceiver circuit processes the second signal to generate a third signal, and detects an amplitude and phase deviation based on the first signal and the third signal, and the transceiver circuit adjusts a phase and an amplitude of a transmission signal based on the amplitude and phase deviation.