Antenna Module Hybrid Phase Shifter Side Lobe Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna modules with only digital phase shifters face increased circuit scale and side lobe issues due to phase discretization errors.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a fixed phase shifter that adds a predetermined offset phase value to the phase shifted by digital phase shifters, reducing circuit scale and side lobe levels by adjusting the phase of signals to antenna elements, thereby improving directivity and beam control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If only digital phase shifters are used, then circuit scale is reduced, but phase discretization error increases leading to higher side lobe levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines digital phase shifters with a fixed phase shifter in a hybrid configuration. The fixed phase shifter provides continuous phase adjustment capability while digital phase shifters provide discrete phase control, merging the advantages of both approaches to reduce side lobe levels without significantly increasing circuit scale
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed phase shifter is selectively applied to specific antenna elements (e.g., edge elements or symmetric pairs) rather than uniformly to all elements. This local application targets the specific areas where phase discretization errors most significantly impact side lobe levels, optimizing the trade-off between circuit scale and performance
2Object-generated harmful factors
If analog phase shifters are added to digital phase shifters, then side lobe level is reduced, but circuit scale increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying analog phase shifters uniformly across all antenna elements, the patent selectively applies fixed phase shifters to specific elements (such as edge elements or symmetric pairs). This localized approach reduces the overall circuit scale while still achieving side lobe level reduction where it is most needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial analog phase correction by applying fixed phase shifters to only a subset of antenna elements rather than all elements. This partial action is sufficient to reduce side lobe levels caused by edge element discretization errors without requiring full analog phase shifter coverage, thus limiting circuit scale increase
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna module includes digital phase shifters, a plurality of antenna elements arranged in a first direction, and a fixed phase shifter. Each of the digital phase shifters changes a phase of a signal to a first phase value. The fixed phase shifter changes a phase of a signal to a second phase value, the second phase value being obtained by adding a predetermined offset phase value to the first phase value. A middle point of a virtual line is an antenna center and connects a center of an antenna element located on an end in the first direction and a center of an antenna element located on a different end. Under a symmetrical condition, an antenna center among the plurality of antenna elements are paired as an antenna element pair, the fixed phase shifter is electrically connected to at least one antenna element of the antenna element pair.