Phased Array Coupler with Phase Matrix for Low-Loss Beam Synthesis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Phased array systems experience significant power loss due to multiple stages of power dividers, necessitating high-gain amplifiers that risk signal oscillation, compromising beam synthesis accuracy and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a coupler device with a weighting network and phase matrix network, featuring tunable amplifiers and lossless couplers, to manage power distribution and phase adjustments, reducing power loss and enhancing beam synthesis capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple stages of power dividers are used to distribute signals to multiple antenna elements, then signal distribution coverage is improved, but power loss increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into multiple independent signal paths, each with its own amplifier and phase shifter. Instead of using multiple power divider stages to distribute one signal, the invention segments the signal generation process across parallel channels, eliminating the need for cascaded power dividers and their associated losses.
Solution Approach 2:
Individual amplifiers are introduced as intermediary devices between the signal source and each antenna element. These amplifiers act as mediators that can independently boost signal power for each channel, compensating for any distribution losses without requiring high-gain amplification at a centralized location that would risk oscillation.
2Power
If high-gain amplifiers are used to compensate for power loss, then signal amplification is improved, but signal oscillation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The amplification function is segmented across multiple low-to-moderate gain amplifiers, each serving a specific antenna channel. This distribution of amplification tasks prevents any single amplifier from operating at excessively high gain levels, thereby eliminating the oscillation risk associated with high-gain amplifiers while achieving the required overall signal strength through cumulative effect across multiple channels.
Solution Approach 2:
Each amplifier is designed with appropriate gain for its specific channel requirements rather than using a single high-gain amplifier for all channels. This localized optimization allows each amplifier to operate within stable gain ranges while collectively providing sufficient signal power to all antenna elements.
3Measurement precision
If precise amplitude and phase control is implemented for each antenna element, then beam synthesis accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each channel is equipped with a universal signal processing unit that includes both amplitude control and phase shifting capabilities. This multi-functional approach allows precise control of both parameters through integrated components rather than separate devices, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining beam synthesis accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamically controllable components including variable gain amplifiers and phase shifters that can be electronically adjusted without mechanical movement. This dynamic control enables precise amplitude and phase adjustment for beam forming while avoiding the mechanical complexity of traditional phase shifters and attenuators.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a coupler device for use in a phased array system. The coupler device includes a weighting network and a phase matrix network. The weighting network is configured to convert and amplify an input signal to obtain eight intermediate amplified signals. The phase matrix network is coupled to the weighting network, and is configured to generate eight output signals based on the eight intermediate amplified signals. An output array of the eight output signals are obtained by performing a matrix multiplication of an array of the eight intermediate amplified signals with a phase matrix of the phase matrix network.