Digital Beamformer Calibration Feedback for Antenna Element Drift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Circuit heating during operation leads to signal distortion and temperature drift, degrading transmission performance in antenna arrays, particularly due to nonlinear distortion from power amplifiers.
Innovation Solution
A system for per-element digital calibration in antenna arrays using digital beamformer circuits, where calibration data is routed through existing paths to a central processor, enabling calibration during manufacturing or operation, and utilizing existing serial data paths to communicate calibration data without extra pins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If per-element calibration is implemented in antenna arrays, then signal quality and transmission performance are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reuses existing serial data paths and digital beamformer circuits for dual purposes: normal signal processing and calibration data transmission. The same physical infrastructure (serial interfaces, data paths, beamformer circuits) serves both operational and calibration functions, eliminating the need for separate dedicated calibration hardware and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration system uses the antenna array's own existing components (digital beamformers, serial data paths, power amplifiers) to perform self-calibration. The system calibrates itself by routing calibration data through its existing signal processing infrastructure, eliminating the need for external calibration equipment and reducing manufacturing complexity.
2Measurement precision
If dedicated calibration hardware and extra pins are added to antenna arrays, then calibration precision is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing serial data paths and digital beamformer circuits multi-functional by using them for both normal operation and calibration. The same physical infrastructure (serial interfaces, data paths, beamformer circuits) serves both operational and calibration functions, eliminating the need for separate dedicated calibration hardware and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration data is transmitted through existing digital signal paths that are already present in the system. Instead of creating new physical calibration channels, the system copies/utilizes the existing serial data infrastructure for calibration data transmission, maintaining calibration precision without adding hardware.
3Reliability
If calibration operations are performed during operation, then array performance is maintained, but signal distortion from heating increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where calibration data is continuously or periodically collected from the antenna elements during operation and fed back to the digital beamformers. This feedback loop allows the system to detect and correct for temperature-induced drift and signal distortion in real-time, maintaining array performance despite thermal effects from continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration operations can be performed periodically during operation rather than continuously or only during manufacturing. The system can toggle calibration operations at intervals, allowing thermal conditions to stabilize between calibration cycles while still maintaining performance through periodic correction of temperature-induced drift.
Data Source
AI summary
A system may include multiple digital beamformer (DBF) circuits coupled to an analog front end that includes an antenna array. Each DBF circuit is coupled to a subset of the antenna elements of the array. Each DBF may be configured to adjust coefficients of complex multipliers to selectively enable and disable beams, antenna elements, transmit paths, receive paths, or any combination thereof to enable per-element calibration of the antenna array.