Phased Array PWM with Variable Carrier Frequency and Phase Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Phased array systems face errors in digital signal output due to frequency shifts caused by phase changes, which violate the time-invariance requirement, leading to side effects like frequency shifts and errors in signal generation.
Innovation Solution
A method that reconstructs digital signals by explicitly inducing frequency shifts away from the base frequency, allowing the carrier frequency to vary while preserving timing and phase accuracy, using a novel algorithm and hardware-efficient up-sampling technique to generate pulse-width modulated signals with dynamic phase changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the phase angle of phased array elements is changed dynamically, then the system adaptability is improved, but frequency shifts occur that cause errors in digital signal generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter being controlled from absolute phase angle to phase difference between elements. By controlling only the relative phase differences rather than absolute phase angles, the system achieves dynamic beam steering while maintaining a constant carrier frequency, thus eliminating frequency shifts and preserving signal generation accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If the carrier frequency is kept constant for time-invariance, then signal generation simplicity is improved, but dynamic phase changes cannot be implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the problem by changing what parameter is being dynamically adjusted. Instead of dynamically changing the carrier frequency or absolute phase angles, the system dynamically changes only the phase differences between elements while keeping the carrier frequency constant. This maintains time-invariance and signal generation simplicity while enabling adaptive beam steering through differential phase control.
Data Source
AI summary
Phased array systems rely on the production of an exact carrier frequency to function. Reconstructing digital signals by specified amplitude and phase is accomplished explicitly by inducing frequency shifts away from a base frequency implied by phase changes. Shifting the carrier frequency of a digitally controlled phased array while preserving the timing of the individual phase pulses enables more efficient driving of the phased array system when the phase of the drive signals change dynamically in time.