Antenna Device Digital Beam Forming ADC Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital beam forming (DBF) antenna devices face high cost and power consumption due to the need for multiple analog circuits, including high-power Analog to Digital Converters (ADCs), and suffer from signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) degradation in adaptive array configurations, especially when replacing analog beam forming systems.
Innovation Solution
An antenna device with a phased array configuration that uses multiple phase shifters to control signal phases, a phase value series acquiring unit, a combining unit, an ADC for digitization, frequency converting units, filtering units, and a beam forming unit to perform digital beam forming, reducing the number of ADCs and improving SNR by implementing frequency division multiplexing and digital signal processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple ADCs are used in DBF to process signals from multiple element antennas, then the beam forming capability and antenna pattern control accuracy are improved, but the cost and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple analog signals from different element antennas into a single composite signal that is then processed by a single ADC. This merging approach maintains the ability to perform digital beam forming while reducing the number of ADCs from multiple to one, thereby significantly lowering power consumption and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The single ADC is designed to handle multiple functions by processing a composite signal that contains information from all element antennas. Through digital signal processing, this single ADC performs the work that would otherwise require multiple dedicated ADCs, achieving multi-functionality with a single component.
2Measurement precision
If multiple ADCs are used in DBF to process signals from multiple element antennas, then the beam forming capability and antenna pattern control accuracy are improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple analog signals from different element antennas into a single composite signal that is then processed by a single ADC. This merging approach maintains the ability to perform digital beam forming while reducing the number of ADCs from multiple to one, thereby significantly lowering power consumption and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The single ADC is designed to handle multiple functions by processing a composite signal that contains information from all element antennas. Through digital signal processing, this single ADC performs the work that would otherwise require multiple dedicated ADCs, achieving multi-functionality with a single component.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If switches are used in adaptive array antenna to reduce the number of ADCs to one, then cost and power consumption are reduced, but signal-to-noise ratio deteriorates due to signal loss during switching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical switching system with a digital signal processing system. Instead of using physical switches that cause signal loss and noise, the invention uses digital processing techniques to combine and process signals from multiple antennas, eliminating the harmful effects of mechanical switching while maintaining low power consumption.
4Device complexity
If phase shifters are replaced with switches in adaptive array antenna, then the configuration is simplified and cost is reduced, but large changes to analog circuits are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical switching system with a digital signal processing system. Instead of using physical switches that cause signal loss and noise, the invention uses digital processing techniques to combine and process signals from multiple antennas, eliminating the harmful effects of mechanical switching while maintaining low power consumption.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is an antenna device including element antennas (1) for receiving signals, phase control units (3) for controlling the phases of the signals received by the element antennas (1), a phase value series acquiring unit (4) for acquiring phase value series in which phase values differing among the element antennas and changing with time are provided, a phase value setting unit (5) for setting the phase values to the phase control units (3) in accordance with the phase value series, a combining unit (6) for combining the signals whose phases are controlled into a composite signal, an ADC (7) for digitizing the composite signal, a frequency calculating unit (8) for calculating frequency shift amounts from the phase value series, DDCs (9) for performing frequency conversion on the digitized signal by using the frequency shift amounts, LPFs (10) each for performing low-pass filtering on the signal on which the frequency conversion is performed, and a beam forming unit (11) for forming one or more beam signals by using the signals on each of which the low-pass filtering is performed.