Phase Shifter Gain Control via Segmented Amplifier Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Phase shifters in phased array systems for millimeter wave communications and radar face significant phase errors due to parasitic capacitances in amplifiers, making accurate beam forming and beam steering challenging.
Innovation Solution
A phase shifter design incorporating multiple amplifier circuit units with transistors having grounded gates and sources, where the gains are controlled by activating specific numbers of these units to minimize phase errors, and using on-off control to manage impedance and reduce phase shifts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If amplifiers are used to amplify millimeter wave signals in a phase shifter, then the signal gain is improved, but phase errors increase due to parasitic capacitances
Solution Approach 1:
The amplifier is divided into multiple amplifier circuit units (first, second, third, fourth units) that can be independently controlled. By segmenting the amplification function across multiple units with different parasitic capacitance characteristics, the system can select or combine units to achieve desired gain while minimizing phase errors from parasitic capacitances.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters by controlling the on-off states of individual amplifier circuit units based on the desired amplification factor. Different combinations of amplifier units are activated to achieve different gain levels while maintaining phase accuracy, effectively adapting the system parameters to minimize phase errors at each gain setting.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the gain of amplifiers is controlled to generate desired phase signals, then phase shifting capability is improved, but phase errors increase due to parasitic capacitance effects
Solution Approach 1:
The phase shifter is segmented into multiple independently controllable amplifier circuit units, each contributing to the overall phase shifting capability. By selectively activating specific units, the system achieves fine-grained phase control while compensating for parasitic capacitance effects through appropriate unit selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the on-off states of amplifier circuit units based on the desired phase output. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the phase shifter to adapt to different phase requirements while maintaining accuracy by optimizing which amplifier units are active at each operating point.
Data Source
AI summary
A phase shifter includes a first variable amplifier circuit configured to receive and amplify a first signal having a first phase; and a second variable amplifier circuit configured to receive and amplify a second signal having a second phase different from the first phase. The phase shifter is configured to generate an output signal having a desired phase by phase combination of an output of the first variable amplifier circuit and an output of the second variable amplifier circuit, and the first variable amplifier circuit and the second variable amplifier circuit each includes a plurality of amplifier circuit units. The amplifier circuit unit includes a first transistor with a grounded gate and a second transistor with a grounded source, and gains of the first variable amplifier circuit and the second variable amplifier circuit are specified according to the number of amplifier circuit units to be activated.