Dual-Nested PLL Phased Array Without Lossy Phase Shifters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional phased array designs for mm-wave/sub-THz frequencies face challenges such as high power loss and consumption due to the use of phase shifters, which complicate the design and limit scalability, and existing solutions like injection-locked or coupled oscillators suffer from bandwidth limitations and phase fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
The proposed dual-nested PLL architecture eliminates the need for conventional phase shifters by using two nested loops that coherently lock frequency and phase, enabling scalable phased arrays with reduced power consumption and increased phase shift range through analog control voltage adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional phase shifters are used in phased array designs, then phase shifting capability is achieved, but power loss and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the conventional phase shifter component from the phased array system. Instead of using separate phase shifters, the invention integrates phase control directly into the oscillator circuits through coupling mechanisms, thereby eliminating the source of high power loss while preserving phase shifting capability through alternative means
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces coupling circuits as intermediary elements that mediate between oscillators to achieve phase control. These coupling circuits enable phase shifting through signal interaction rather than through conventional phase shifter components, reducing power loss while maintaining operational capability
2Ease of operation
If conventional phase shifters are used in phased array designs, then phase shifting capability is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the phase control function with the oscillator circuits by implementing coupling between oscillators. This integration eliminates the need for separate phase shifter components and their associated control circuits, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining phase shifting capability through the coupled oscillator system
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling circuits serve multiple functions simultaneously: they enable phase control, provide signal distribution, and facilitate oscillator synchronization. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated phase shifter components, reducing overall device complexity while preserving operational capability
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional phase shifters are used in phased array designs, then phase shifting capability is achieved, but scalability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the phased array into independent unit cells, each containing coupled oscillators that can operate autonomously. This modular segmentation allows individual unit cells to be replicated and scaled without proportionally increasing overall system complexity, as each cell is self-contained with integrated phase control through oscillator coupling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic phase control through adjustable coupling mechanisms between oscillators. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to different configurations and scaling requirements without requiring complex static phase shifter networks, thereby improving scalability while managing design complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques, systems and architectures for generating desired phase shifts in a phased array to control the directions of radiation in a wide range of angles are disclosed. Particularly, phased array architectures based on novel PLL-coupled phase shifting techniques for implementation in millimeter-wave (mm-wave) and sub-terahertz (sub-THz) operations range are described. In one aspect, a phased array including an array of unit cells is disclosed. In some embodiments, each unit cell in the array of unit cells includes a dual-nested PLL that is configured to effectuate phase locking and frequency locking to a reference signal from an adjacent unit cell. Moreover, each PLL includes control circuitry that can generate a wide range of phase shifts between adjacent unit cells to facilitate phased-array operations. Note that using the dual-nested PLL to generate a desired phase shift between adjacent radiating elements eliminates the use of conventional lossy phase shifters in the phased array.