Phased Array Antenna Beam Control With Shared Reference Path Memory
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Phased array antennas require a large amount of memory to store set values for various antenna beam patterns, transmissions, receptions, and polarizations, leading to inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A phased array antenna design that stores set values for a predefined reference path and controls amplitudes and phases of other paths using these values, reducing the need for memory by sharing set values across multiple signal paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If set values are stored for all signal paths (transmission and reception) to enable precise beam pattern control, then the control precision is improved, but the memory size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the set value storage for transmission signal paths and reception signal paths into a single storage unit. The same set values stored in memory are used to control both transmission signals and reception signals, eliminating the need for separate storage for each path while maintaining precise beam pattern control for both transmission and reception operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage unit is designed to serve multiple functions: it stores set values that are universally applicable to both transmission signal paths and reception signal paths. This multi-functional approach allows the same stored values to control beam patterns during both transmission and reception, reducing the overall memory requirement while maintaining control precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate set values are stored for transmission and reception signal paths to optimize performance, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the memory management for transmission and reception signal paths into a single unified storage unit. This merging approach maintains the adaptability to optimize both transmission and reception performance while significantly reducing the complexity of memory management by eliminating the need for separate memory structures and management protocols for each signal path.
Data Source
AI summary
A phased array antenna (1) includes: a plurality of antenna elements (11a to 11d); a plurality of signal paths (R11 and R12) that are connected to each of the antenna elements; a storage unit (M) configured to store a set values of at least one of amplitudes or phases of a signal passed through at least one predefined reference path among the plurality of signal paths with regard to at least one of the antenna elements, and an amplitude and phase control unit (22 or 26) configured to control at least one of the amplitude or the phase of the signal passed through the reference path connected to the antenna element by using the set value stored in the storage unit, and configured to control amplitude or phase of signal passed through the signal path other than the reference path.