Polar Phased-Array Transmitter with Digital Phase Shifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing phased-array transmitters face challenges with low system efficiency, high power consumption, and phase/amplitude errors due to the need for balancing efficiency and linearity, while polar transmitters have limitations in data rate and channel bandwidth, failing to meet requirements for wide frequency band and high scanning resolution.
Innovation Solution
A polar phased-array transmitter is developed, featuring a polar signal generator that performs quadrature-to-polar conversion, separate amplitude and phase paths, and digital predistortion to improve phase-shift resolution and efficiency, enabling high scanning resolution and wide frequency band operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If RF phase shift technology is used with phase shifters connected in series in the radio frequency path, then phase shifting capability is achieved, but non-linearity of phase shifters causes amplitude error and reduces transmitter performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional RF phase shifter (electronic/mechanical component) with a digital phase shifting approach. The baseband signal is processed digitally to achieve phase shifting before being converted to RF, thereby eliminating the non-linearity and amplitude errors associated with analog RF phase shifters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs phase shifting in advance during baseband signal processing, before the signal reaches the RF stage. By pre-compensating for phase adjustments in the digital domain, the system avoids introducing amplitude errors that would occur if phase shifting were performed at the RF stage using non-linear phase shifters.
2Ease of operation
If analog modulation technology is used in phased-array transmitter, then beam direction steering is achieved, but system efficiency is low and power consumption is high due to the need to balance efficiency and linearity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces analog modulation and RF processing with digital signal processing approaches. By performing signal generation, modulation, and phase control in the digital domain, the system achieves beam direction steering with much lower power consumption, as digital logic operations are more energy-efficient than analog RF amplification and modulation circuits.
3Ease of operation
If polar transmitter with analog amplitude and phase modulation is used, then amplitude and phase control is achieved, but data rate is low and channel bandwidth is narrow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters by moving from analog continuous modulation to digital discrete signal processing. This enables higher data rates through more efficient modulation schemes and wider bandwidth utilization, while maintaining precise amplitude and phase control through digital signal processing algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a polar phased-array transmitter and a mobile terminal. One example mobile terminal includes a baseband chip, the polar phased-array transmitter, and an antenna array. The baseband chip is configured to generate a quadrature digital baseband signal. The polar phased-array transmitter is configured to perform quadrature-to-polar conversion on the quadrature digital baseband signal to generate n amplitude signals and n phase signals, separately perform phase modulation and phase shifting on the n phase signals by using a local oscillator signal to obtain n phase modulation signals, and perform amplitude modulation and power amplification on the n phase modulation signals by using the amplitude signals to obtain n radio frequency signals. n is a natural number greater than 1. The antenna array is configured to obtain the n radio frequency signals from the polar phased-array transmitter, and transmit the n radio frequency signals.