Beamformer RF Port Layout for Coupling Cancellation in Phased Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Phased array antennas face challenges in supporting multiple simultaneous data beams while maintaining reduced weight, size, and manufacturing costs, and require improved signal coupling cancellation techniques to enhance performance in wireless communication systems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a phased array antenna system with a beamformer module featuring differential signal pairs and serially fed frontend networks, which includes RF ports configured for coupling cancellation configurations to manage signal interference and improve beamforming capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If phased array antennas are configured to support increased number of simultaneous data beams, then beamforming capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple RF ports and their associated circuitry into an integrated beamformer module. The first and second RF ports with their respective impedance matching networks are merged into a single module that shares common components such as the third impedance matching network and coupling cancellation ports, thereby supporting multiple data beams while reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The beamformer module is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple RF signals through different differential signal pairs. The coupling cancellation ports and impedance matching networks are configured to work across multiple ports, enabling the same hardware structure to support increased number of simultaneous data beams without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If coupling cancellation ports are added to RF ports, then signal interference is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful coupling effects between RF ports into beneficial cancellation signals. By providing coupling cancellation ports that receive cancelled coupling signals and using differential signal pairs where one signal is the inverted version of the other, the circuitry transforms unwanted coupling interference into useful signal cancellation, thereby reducing signal interference while maintaining reasonable device complexity.
3Reliability
If impedance matching networks are configured for multiple RF ports, then signal transmission efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges impedance matching functionality across multiple RF ports by implementing a third impedance matching network that is shared between the first and second RF ports. This shared network approach maintains signal transmission efficiency for multiple ports while reducing the total number of discrete impedance matching components, thereby lowering manufacturing costs.
Data Source
AI summary
A phased array antenna system is provided. The phased array antenna system includes: a beamformer (BF) module comprising an antenna port coupled to an antenna element. The BF module includes first, second, and third radio frequency (RF) ports. The first and third RF ports are configured as a first differential signal pair and the second and third RF ports are configured as a second differential signal pair. The first RF port corresponds to a first RF signal and the second RF port corresponds to a second RF signal, different from the first RF signal.