Phased Array Antenna Bias Voltage Driver Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing phased array antennas require costly and complex manufacturing and operation due to the need for individual bias voltage drivers for each phase shifting device, limiting their ease of use and efficiency in adjusting the phase shift for signal emission and reception.
Innovation Solution
A bias voltage driver with multiple output channel terminal pairs allows for a tunable voltage difference between terminals, enabling efficient connection of phase shifting devices using commercial off-the-shelf source driver ICs, which are commonly used in display applications, to apply higher bias voltages and reduce manufacturing and operational costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a dedicated bias voltage driver is used for each phase shifting device, then the phase shift control precision is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple bias voltage drivers are merged into a single driver unit that can control multiple phase shifting devices. The driver has multiple output channels, each capable of independently controlling a phase shifting device, thereby reducing the total number of driver units while maintaining individual control precision.
Solution Approach 2:
A single bias voltage driver is designed to perform multiple functions by controlling multiple phase shifting devices simultaneously. The driver incorporates multiple output channels that can be independently adjusted, allowing one driver unit to replace multiple dedicated drivers.
2Measurement precision
If a dedicated bias voltage driver is used for each phase shifting device, then the phase shift control precision is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple bias voltage drivers are merged into a single driver unit that can control multiple phase shifting devices. The driver has multiple output channels, each capable of independently controlling a phase shifting device, thereby reducing the total number of driver units while maintaining individual control precision.
Solution Approach 2:
A single bias voltage driver is designed to perform multiple functions by controlling multiple phase shifting devices simultaneously. The driver incorporates multiple output channels that can be independently adjusted, allowing one driver unit to replace multiple dedicated drivers.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple output channel terminal pairs are used in the bias voltage driver, then the adaptability and phase shift range are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bias voltage driver is segmented into multiple output channel terminal pairs, where each pair can independently control a phase shifting device. This segmentation allows for independent adjustment of each channel while sharing common circuitry and control logic, achieving versatility without proportional complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
A single bias voltage driver is designed to perform multiple functions by controlling multiple phase shifting devices simultaneously. The driver incorporates multiple output channels that can be independently adjusted, allowing one driver unit to replace multiple dedicated drivers.
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
This configuration enables cost-effective and efficient operation of phased array antennas by allowing for a wider range of phase shifts, improved signal quality, and reduced response time, while simplifying the design and reducing interference.
Implementation Method 1
for each antenna element a corresponding phase shifting device, whereby the phase of each signal that is transmitted from the signal feed network to the respective antenna element or that is transmitted from the respective antenna element to the signal feed network is modified by the corresponding phase shifting device
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A phased array antenna comprises several antenna elements , a signal feed entry from or to which a signal is transmitted to or from the several antenna elements , and for each antenna element a corresponding phase shifting device , whereby the phase difference of each signal that is transmitted from the signal feed network to the respective antenna element or that is transmitted from the respective antenna element to the signal feed network is modified by the corresponding phase shifting device (5) in order to adjust the superposition of each signal according to the preferred direction of radiation of the phased array antenna . For each phase shifting device (5) a bias voltage is applied via two bias voltage electrode lines (16, 17) that are connected to a bias voltage driver (12). The bias voltage driver (12) comprises several output channel terminal pairs (15) with two output channel terminals (13, 14) whereby the bias voltage driver (12) is able to apply a tunable output channel voltage difference to each terminal pair (15). The two bias voltage electrode lines (16, 17) of each phase shifting device (5) are connected to a respective terminal pair (15).