Phased Array Sub-Array Amplification for Heat and Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Phased array antennas operating above six gigahertz face inefficiencies due to the need for dedicated power amplifiers for each antenna element, leading to heat management challenges and increased complexity, as well as the requirement for separate amplification at each sub-array, which can be inefficient and prone to failure.
Innovation Solution
A phased array antenna apparatus where a single power amplifier amplifies signals for all antenna elements in a sub-array, allowing the power amplifier to be located away from the antenna elements, reducing heat management needs and using fewer amplifiers, which can be more reliable and cost-effective, with the option for different power levels across sub-arrays for efficient beam shaping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a dedicated power amplifier is provided for each antenna element, then the required amplification level can be precisely controlled for each element, but the device complexity and heat management difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple power amplifiers are merged into a single shared power amplifier that serves all antenna elements in a sub-array. The single power amplifier amplifies the signal once, and then the signal is distributed to multiple sub-arrays, each with its own phase shifter and attenuator for precise control without requiring multiple power amplifiers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into functional blocks: a single power amplifier stage, followed by multiple sub-array stages with phase shifters and attenuators. This segmentation allows the amplification function to be separated from the beamforming control functions, reducing complexity while maintaining precision.
2Loss of energy
If a dedicated power amplifier is located close to each antenna element, then RF signal losses are minimized, but heat management becomes difficult and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The power amplifier is extracted from the antenna element location and placed in a separate, dedicated position. This allows the power amplifier to be physically removed from the heat management challenge zone while still providing effective amplification. The amplified signal is then distributed to sub-arrays through controlled transmission lines.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate amplification is provided at each sub-array, then beam shaping control is improved, but the number of failure points increases and manufacturing cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
A single power amplifier serves multiple sub-arrays simultaneously, providing universal amplification functionality. Each sub-array retains its own phase shifter and attenuator for independent beam shaping control, while sharing the common power amplifier resource, thus reducing the total number of failure points.
4Power
If multiple power amplifiers are used for different sub-arrays, then precise power level control is achieved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing uniform high-power amplification across all sub-arrays, the system uses a single power amplifier with local control at each sub-array through attenuators and phase shifters. This allows precise power level control at each location without requiring multiple high-cost power amplifiers.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides phased array antenna apparatus (200) for operation in frequencies above six gigahertz. The apparatus (200) comprises: a plurality of sub-arrays (208) together configured to form a phased array antenna, each sub-array (208) comprising at least four antenna elements (220), each antenna element (220) for receiving an input signal from the sub-array (220) and comprising: an antenna (230) for transmission of the input signal; and a signal modification component (222) to adjust a phase of the input signal during propagation to the antenna (230); and a plurality of power amplifiers (212), wherein each sub-array (208) is provided with a one of the plurality of power amplifiers (212), wherein each sub-array (208) is arranged to be provided with an amplified input signal, and each antenna element (220) of the sub-array (208) is configured to be provided with the amplified input signal of the respective sub-array (208) as the input signal to the antenna element (220), and wherein the power amplifier (212) for each sub-array (208) is configured to receive a phased array input signal for amplification and to output the respective amplified input signal to the respective sub-array (208). The power amplifier (212) for each sub-array (208) may be physically separate and distinct from each sub-array (208).