Disjoint Subarray Beamforming for Lower-Complexity Multi-Beam Antennas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-beam phased array antennas are complex and costly due to the need for a large number of circuit components, making them inefficient in terms of cost and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A multi-beam phased array antenna system with disjoint sets of subarrays, where each subarray is assigned to only one beam and includes subarray beamforming circuitry, reducing the number of circuit elements and complexity while allowing simultaneous communication with multiple beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional multi-beam phased array antennas use a large number of circuit components to achieve multiple simultaneous beams, then the number of beams and communication capability are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna array is divided into multiple disjoint subarrays, where each subarray is independently assigned to a specific beam. This segmentation allows each subarray to be controlled separately, reducing the overall circuit complexity while maintaining multi-beam capability. The beamformer processes signals from each subarray independently, avoiding the need for complex inter-subarray signal processing.
Solution Approach 2:
Each subarray is designed to be universally applicable to a specific beam function, where the same subarray structure and beamforming circuitry can be reused across different beam assignments. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of unique circuit components needed, as each subarray type serves multiple potential beam roles.
2Reliability
If conventional multi-beam phased array antennas use more radiating elements to increase gain and narrow beam width, then the communication reliability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The total radiating elements are segmented into disjoint subarrays assigned to different beams. Each subarray maintains sufficient elements to achieve the desired gain and beam width for its assigned beam, while the overall system complexity is reduced through independent processing of each segment rather than managing a single large array for multiple beams.
3Device complexity
If disjoint sets of subarrays are assigned to each beam, then the circuit complexity and cost are reduced, but the performance metrics such as gain and beam flexibility are sacrificed
Solution Approach 1:
Each subarray is designed with slightly more radiating elements than the absolute minimum required for its assigned beam, providing excess capacity that maintains performance metrics while keeping the overall system simpler. This partial over-provisioning ensures that each disjoint subarray can achieve its target gain and beam width without requiring complex coordination with other subarrays.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves reduced cost and complexity by using each subarray for one beam, sacrificing some performance metrics for significant savings in circuit elements, enabling efficient and cost-effective simultaneous communication with multiple entities.
Implementation Method 1
When used for transmitting, the radio waves radiated by each individual radiating element combine and superpose with each other, adding together (interfering constructively) to enhance the power radiated in desired directions, and cancelling (interfering destructively) to reduce the power radiated in other directions.
Implementation Method 2
Arrays can be used to achieve greater gain (which increases communication reliability), to cancel interference from specific directions, to steer the radio beam electronically to point in different directions and/or for radio direction finding.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-beam phased array antenna system includes a beamformer responsive to control signals to convert between a plurality of subarray signals and a plurality of beam signals. The system also includes a plurality of subarrays to communicate a plurality of beams corresponding to the plurality of beam signals. Each subarray includes a plurality of radiating elements. Each subarray also includes subarray beamforming circuitry responsive to respective beam weights to adjust RF signals communicated with the radiating elements, and convert between the adjusted RF signals and one respective subarray signal. The system further includes a controller that determines two or more beams, wherein the two or more beams are the same communication type. The beamformer assigns disjoint subsets of subarrays to each of the determined two or more beams. The controller also provides the beam weights for each of the plurality of subarrays and provides the control signals to the beamformer.