Single-Chip Beamforming IC With FDIQ and Phase Calibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

The feasibility of future all or partial digital beamforming systems is hindered by the need to carefully control a wide range of operating parameters, including frequency-dependent quadrature imbalances and time-varying phase changes due to environmental factors such as temperature, voltage, and frequency.

Innovation Solution

An integrated circuit (IC) with beamforming circuitry, transceiver circuitry, synthesizer circuitry, and calibration systems to compensate for frequency-dependent quadrature and time-varying phase changes, incorporating a frequency-dependent quadrature (FDIQ) calibration system and an error vector (EV) calibration system to adapt to environmental factors, with blind adaptive calibration and look-up tables for phase adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If environmental factors such as temperature, voltage, and frequency variations are present, then beamforming system operation is maintained, but frequency-dependent quadrature imbalances and time-varying phase changes occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational continuity under environmental variationsVSAvoidquadrature balance and phase stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing calibration procedures before the beamforming system operates under varying environmental conditions. The FDIQ calibration system pre-compensates for frequency-dependent quadrature imbalances, and the EV calibration system pre-adjusts for time-varying phase changes. This allows the system to maintain precision without requiring continuous intervention when environmental factors change.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the FDIQ calibration system continuously monitors and adjusts quadrature balance based on actual operating conditions, and the EV calibration system feedback-adjusts phase parameters. This closed-loop approach enables the system to adapt to environmental variations while maintaining precision, resolving the contradiction between operational continuity and parameter stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If calibration systems are added to compensate for environmental factors, then beamforming precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeamforming parameter controlVSAvoidcalibration system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the calibration functions into the existing beamforming system architecture. The FDIQ calibration system and EV calibration system are integrated with the beamforming circuitry, sharing common components such as the phase shifters and signal paths. This merging approach reduces overall device complexity compared to having separate, standalone calibration systems, while still achieving the required precision for compensating environmental effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20260081645A1Integrated single-chip beamforming system

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 QORVO TEXAS LLC

AI summary

An integrated beamforming integrated circuit/system that combines beamforming circuitry, transceiver circuitry, synthesizer circuitry, a frequency-dependent quadrature (FDIQ) calibration system, and an error vector calibration system on a single chip for analog, hybrid, or digital beamforming.