Digital Beamforming Layout With Common LO for Wideband Phased Arrays

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Phased array antennas face challenges in achieving increased bandwidth while maintaining a high main lobe to side lobe power ratio, and require reduced weight, size, manufacturing cost, and power consumption, with the added complexity of aligning antenna direction with signal sources in communication systems.

Innovation Solution

A digital beamforming system comprising a plurality of antenna elements, integrated circuit chips, and a local oscillator generating a common local oscillator signal to synchronize RF signal transmission and reception across multiple DBF chips, with a hierarchical network ensuring equal signal pathway lengths to prevent phase differences, allowing for efficient beamforming without physical reorientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If phased array antennas are configured to increase bandwidth, then signal coverage and data rate improve, but maintaining high main lobe to side lobe power ratio becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovebandwidthVSAvoidmain lobe to side lobe power ratio

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The phased array antenna is divided into multiple independently controllable antenna elements, each capable of being individually phased and amplitude-controlled. This segmentation allows precise manipulation of the radiation pattern to maintain high main lobe to side lobe ratios across wide bandwidths by adjusting each element's contribution to the overall beam pattern.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts phase and amplitude parameters for each antenna element based on operating frequency and desired beam direction. By changing these parameters in real-time, the antenna maintains optimal main lobe to side lobe ratios across different bandwidth conditions without physical reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If traditional antenna systems are used to align with signal sources, then signal quality improves, but physical repositioning and reorientating become impractical

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidphysical repositioning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical repositioning and reorientating of antennas with electronic beamforming capabilities. By using phase shifters and amplitude controllers on multiple antenna elements, the system can electronically steer and focus beams in any desired direction without physically moving the antenna structure, thereby maintaining high signal quality while eliminating mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If phased array antennas with multiple elements are implemented, then beamforming capability improves, but weight, size, and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeamforming abilityVSAvoidantenna weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the antenna elements, phase shifters, amplitude controllers, and signal processing circuits into a unified phased array structure. By merging these components into a coordinated system with shared control mechanisms and common support structures, the overall weight is reduced compared to having separate systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The phased array antenna system is designed to perform multiple functions including transmission, reception, beam steering, and pattern shaping using the same set of antenna elements and control circuits. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated structures for each operation, thereby reducing overall weight and size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Measurement precision

If phased array antennas are configured for high performance beamforming, then signal directionality improves, but power requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal directionalityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system activates only the necessary number of antenna elements and control circuits required to achieve the desired beamforming performance for current operating conditions. By using partial action rather than full system activation, power consumption is reduced while maintaining adequate signal directionality for the application requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12183988B2Half duplex mode digital beamforming device

Publication Date: 2024.12.31 SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP

AI summary

In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a first digital beamformer (DBF) associated with a first subset of antennas of a phased array antenna, the first DBF including a transmit section associated with transmission of a first signal at a first frequency in a transmit mode and a receive section associated with receiving of a second signal at a second frequency in a receive mode, the second frequency being different from the first frequency. The apparatus includes a second DBF associated with a second subset of antennas of the phased array antenna. The first and second DBFs are configured to receive a local oscillator signal having the first frequency from a common local oscillator in the transmit mode and receive the local oscillator signal having the second frequency from the common local oscillator in the receive mode.