Phased Array Beamforming with Distributed Phase-Slope Calculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional digital control circuits for phased arrays face challenges with increasing beamwidth requirements and large lookup tables, leading to impractical search times and resource consumption as the number of antenna elements grows.
Innovation Solution
Implement a distributed calculation of beamforming parameters by offloading nonlinear phase slope parameter calculations to an off-chip device and using smaller, shared mapping tables within the beam forming ICs to determine phase shift parameters based on antenna locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of antenna elements in a phased array is increased to achieve narrower beamwidth and higher directional gain, then the beamforming precision and directional control are improved, but the size of lookup tables and the complexity of digital control circuits increase significantly, leading to impractical search times and resource consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex nonlinear phase slope parameter calculations from the beam forming IC and offloads them to an off-chip device. This separation removes the computational burden from the integrated circuit, allowing the IC to use only simple linear calculations and small lookup tables while maintaining high beamforming precision for large phased arrays
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the beamforming calculation process into two distinct parts: (1) nonlinear phase slope parameter calculations performed by an off-chip device, and (2) linear phase shift parameter calculations performed by the beam forming IC using small lookup tables. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall system complexity
2Measurement precision
If traditional digital control circuits use large lookup tables to accommodate increasing numbers of antenna elements, then beamforming accuracy is maintained, but search time and power consumption become impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the time-consuming nonlinear calculations from the beam forming IC and performs them in advance in an off-chip device. This allows the IC to use pre-calculated phase slope parameters and only perform fast linear calculations with small lookup tables, dramatically reducing search time while maintaining beamforming accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs the complex nonlinear phase slope parameter calculations in advance using measured antenna element positions, and stores the results for reuse. This preliminary action eliminates the need to perform complex calculations in real-time during beamforming operations, reducing search time while preserving accuracy
3Measurement precision
If the phased array uses more antenna elements to achieve narrower beamwidth, then directional gain and beam control precision are improved, but the resource requirements and power consumption of the beam forming circuit increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power-intensive nonlinear calculations from the beam forming IC and performs them in an off-chip device. This allows the IC to operate with low power consumption using only simple linear calculations and small lookup tables, enabling support for large phased arrays with many antenna elements without proportionally increasing power requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the computational approach from performing complex nonlinear calculations in real-time to using pre-calculated parameters and simple linear operations. This parameter change dramatically reduces the computational complexity and power consumption of the beam forming IC while maintaining the ability to support large phased arrays with high beam control precision
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for operating a phased array are described. In an example, a system may convert a desired beam direction of a desired beam into at least one phase slope parameter. The phased array may include a plurality of antennas connected to a plurality of front-end circuits of a beam forming circuit, and each antenna may be connected to a respective front-end circuit. For each antenna among the plurality of antennas, the system may determine a phase shift parameter of the antenna based on the at least one phase slope parameter and a physical location of the antenna. For each antenna among the plurality of antennas, the system may map the determined phase shift parameter of the antenna to control settings for a front-end circuit connected to the antenna.