Hybrid Multi-Beamforming Circuit With Shared TTD and VAP Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hybrid beamforming circuits face challenges in terms of size, cost, and power consumption due to the complexity and power requirements of fully connected beamforming systems, especially in millimeter-wave phased array systems, and the use of traditional phase shifters leads to beam steering errors across frequencies.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid multi-beamforming circuit structure that includes a power divider, power combiner, fine tuning with VAP (FTVAP) circuit, and beam tuning with VAP (BTVAP) circuit, utilizing numerical control phase shifters and true time delay circuits to control amplitude, phase, and time delay, with impedance transformation to match impedances and reduce insertion loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fully connected beamforming is used to increase the quantity of beams and antenna elements, then beam control options and transmission rate are improved, but circuit complexity and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The beamforming system is segmented into multiple sub-arrays, where each sub-array has its own beamforming network. This divides the fully connected structure into manageable segments, reducing overall circuit complexity while maintaining the ability to control multiple beams across different spatial regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the beamforming architecture by organizing sub-arrays in groups and applying beamforming at multiple levels (sub-array level and group level). This dimensional organization reduces the complexity of direct full-connection while preserving beam control versatility.
2Reliability
If TTD circuit is used in each amplitude and phase control channel of multi-channel and multi-beam system to prevent beam steering error across frequencies, then broadband performance is improved, but overall circuit size and costs are considerably great
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple TTD circuits are merged and shared across multiple channels and sub-arrays. Instead of dedicating a separate TTD circuit to each channel, the patent implements a shared TTD resource pool that serves multiple beamforming paths, significantly reducing the total circuit size while maintaining beam steering accuracy across frequencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The TTD circuits are designed with universal functionality to serve multiple purposes and channels. A single TTD circuit can be dynamically allocated to different channels and sub-arrays based on operational requirements, reducing the total number of TTD circuits needed while maintaining broadband performance across all channels.
3Productivity
If ADC with high sampling frequency is used to achieve fully digital beamforming, then processing capability is improved, but power consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies digital signal processing selectively to specific regions or channels where it provides the most benefit, rather than uniformly across all channels. This localized digital processing approach maintains high processing capability in critical areas while reducing overall power consumption compared to fully digital beamforming.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the sampling frequency and digital processing parameters based on operational requirements. Instead of using a fixed high sampling frequency across all conditions, the patent modifies processing parameters adaptively, reducing power consumption when full processing capability is not required while maintaining productivity when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the field of beamforming integrated circuits, and provides a hybrid multi-beamforming circuit structure, including: a power divider, receiving a first data stream for dividing the first data stream into a plurality of second data streams; and a power combiner, receiving the second data streams and combining the plurality of second data streams into a third data stream, where an input port of an FTVAP circuit is connected to an output port of the power divider, and an output port of the FTVAP circuit is connected to an input port of the power combiner, to control an amplitude, a phase, and time delay of the second data streams. A BTVAP circuit is connected to an input port of the power divider to control an amplitude, a phase, and time delay of the first data stream, or the BTVAP circuit is connected to an output port of the power combiner to control an amplitude, a phase, and time delay of the third data stream. The present invention is provided with a simple and proper structure, greatly improving an integration degree and reducing costs. The present invention is used in a phased array, implementing multi-beamforming and beam scanning.