Digitized Phased Array PA Control for Saturation-Mode Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Phased array communication systems face challenges in optimizing power efficiency and linearity of power amplifiers, leading to excessive power consumption and thermal issues due to primarily operating in linear mode, which causes distortion and reduces efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A communication system with a digitized subarray that controls power amplifiers in transmitters to operate in saturation mode, selecting portions based on symbol amplitude, and compensating for distortion through digital pre-distortion, utilizing a digitized control unit and signal generation unit to optimize power efficiency and reduce distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the power amplifier operates in linear mode to maintain signal linearity, then signal quality is improved, but power efficiency deteriorates and thermal issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches the power amplifier between linear mode and saturation mode based on signal requirements. The digitized control unit selectively activates subsets of transmitters, allowing the PA to operate in saturation mode for improved efficiency while the phased array combines signals to maintain the required linearity and signal quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The phased array is divided into multiple independent transmitters, each with its own power amplifier. The digitized control unit selectively activates subsets of these transmitters based on the amplitude requirements of the signal being transmitted. This segmentation allows the system to use fewer transmitters operating in efficient saturation mode rather than all transmitters operating in less efficient linear mode.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the power amplifier operates in saturation mode to improve power efficiency, then power efficiency is improved, but signal distortion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses digital pre-distortion as a form of feedback control. The digitized control unit applies correction algorithms to the input signals before they reach the power amplifiers, anticipating and compensating for the non-linear distortion that will occur when the PAs operate in saturation mode. This allows the system to achieve high efficiency while maintaining signal fidelity.
Solution Approach 2:
The phased array combines signals from multiple transmitters at the antenna level. By carefully controlling the phase and amplitude of each transmitter's output, the system can reconstruct a high-quality combined signal even when individual transmitters operate in saturation mode with some distortion. The constructive interference of properly phased signals masks the individual distortions.
3Reliability
If all transmitters are activated to maintain signal linearity, then signal quality is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The digitized control unit activates only the necessary subset of transmitters based on the amplitude requirements of the signal being transmitted. For signals with lower amplitude requirements, fewer transmitters are activated, reducing power consumption while still meeting the signal quality requirements. This partial action approach avoids the excessive power consumption of activating all transmitters regardless of need.
4Measurement precision
If power amplifiers operate in linear mode to reduce distortion, then signal precision is improved, but thermal issues worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operating mode of power amplifiers based on real-time signal requirements. When high signal precision is needed, the control unit activates transmitters in linear mode. When power efficiency is prioritized and distortion can be tolerated or corrected, transmitters switch to saturation mode, reducing thermal load. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to manage thermal issues while maintaining signal precision when required.
Solution Approach 2:
By dividing the phased array into multiple independent transmitters, the thermal load is distributed across fewer active devices when operating in saturation mode. The digitized control unit can select subsets of transmitters, allowing the inactive ones to cool down while maintaining signal precision through the active transmitters combined with digital pre-distortion correction.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application discloses a communication system including a digitized subarray, a data generator, a modulator, a digitized control unit, and a signal generation unit. The digitized subarray includes a plurality of first transmitters, each including a power amplifier for amplifying an RF signal and an antenna element for transmitting the RF signal amplified by the first power amplifier. The data generator produces a digital data for transmission, and the modulator converts the digital data into a symbol according to a predetermined signal modulation scheme. The digitized control unit selects a portion of the first transmitters in the digitized subarray for performing amplification and transmission according to an amplitude of the symbol. The signal generation unit generates the RF signal and provides the RF signal to the selected portion of first transmitters according to the symbol.