Phased Array Antenna Module Switch Circuit MIMO
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication devices face challenges in efficiently processing and transmitting signals in high-frequency bands like millimeter waves, particularly due to signal attenuation and misalignment issues, which can lead to reduced throughput and reliability.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a phased array antenna module with a switch circuit that connects RF circuits to ports based on control signals, allowing for efficient communication of RF signals polarized in different directions, and a back-end RFIC that processes baseband signals, reducing the number of connections and components, and thereby simplifying the device structure while supporting multiple MIMO streams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple antenna modules are used to support high frequency bands and MIMO systems, then signal quality and throughput are improved, but device complexity and number of connections increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple RF circuits (first RF circuit and second RF circuit) into a single antenna module, where both circuits share common ports (first port and second port) with the back-end RFIC. This merging reduces the number of separate connections and components while maintaining the capability to process multiple RF signals with different polarizations, thereby improving signal quality without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna module is designed with universal ports that can handle multiple functions: the first port and second port can each connect to either the first RF circuit or the second RF circuit through the switch circuit. This multi-functionality allows a single antenna module to support multiple MIMO streams with different polarizations, reducing the need for separate dedicated connections for each RF circuit and thereby reducing overall device complexity.
2Productivity
If multiple RF circuits are connected to multiple ports, then multiple MIMO streams can be processed, but the number of connections and components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a switch circuit that dynamically connects the first RF circuit and second RF circuit to the first port and second port based on control signals. This dynamic switching capability allows the system to flexibly allocate connections for processing multiple MIMO streams, enabling high data transmission rates while minimizing the number of permanent physical connections needed, as the same ports can be reassigned to different RF circuits as needed.
3Reliability
If antenna modules are spaced apart to enable signal communication, then communication reliability is improved, but device area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple RF circuits into a single antenna module, which consolidates the space required for these circuits and their connections. By integrating the first RF circuit and second RF circuit within one module that shares ports with the back-end RFIC, the overall device area is reduced compared to having separate antenna modules for each RF circuit, while maintaining communication reliability through the phased array configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an antenna module including: a phased array having a plurality of antennas and configured to communicate a first RF signal and a second RF signal, which are polarized in different directions; a front-end radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) including a first RF circuit configured to process or generate the first RF signal and a second RF circuit configured to process or generate the second RF signal; and a switch circuit configured to connect each of the first RF circuit and the second RF circuit to a first port or a second port of the antenna module according to a control signal. The first and second ports are each connectable to a back end RFIC that processes or generates a baseband signal.