Shared Phase Shifter Transceiver for Compact Beamforming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing phased array antenna transceivers face challenges with increased size and complexity due to the use of multiple phase shifters for each antenna element, which can lead to issues with power consumption, linearity, and noise characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A transceiver design that shares a single phase shifter for both receive and transmit modes, utilizing a vector sum passive phase shifter with active devices for variable amplification, reducing chip area and improving noise and linearity characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a phase shifter is used for each antenna element, then beam forming capability is achieved, but chip area and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple phase shifters into a single shared phase shifter that serves multiple antenna elements. The phase shifter is configured to selectively connect to different antenna elements based on control signals, allowing one phase shifter to perform the functions that would traditionally require multiple separate phase shifters, thereby reducing chip area while maintaining beam forming capability
Solution Approach 2:
The phase shifter is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple antenna elements and both transmit and receive modes. By incorporating switching mechanisms that allow the phase shifter to be selectively connected to different antenna elements, a single device performs what would traditionally require multiple dedicated phase shifters, reducing overall device complexity and chip area
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple phase shifters are used for each antenna element, then beam forming is enabled, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple phase shifter functions into a single shared phase shifter that is activated only when needed. The switching mechanism ensures that the phase shifter operates in a low-power state when not actively adjusting phases, and only consumes significant power during actual phase adjustment operations, thereby reducing overall power consumption compared to having multiple always-active phase shifters
Solution Approach 2:
The phase shifter operates periodically based on control signals rather than continuously. The switching mechanism activates the phase shifter only when phase adjustment is required for beam forming operations, and keeps it in a low-power state during idle periods, reducing average power consumption while maintaining beam forming capability
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple phase shifters are used for each antenna element, then beam forming is achieved, but linearity and noise characteristics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple phase shifter functions into a single high-quality phase shifter that can be optimized for superior linearity and noise characteristics. By consolidating the phase shifting function into one well-designed device rather than multiple simpler devices, the system achieves better overall performance in terms of signal integrity, linearity, and noise floor while maintaining beam forming capability
Data Source
AI summary
A transceiver includes a phase shifter configured to adjust phase of a receive signal input at a first node of the phase shifter to provide an output receive signal output from a second node of the phase shifter in a receive mode, and to adjust phase of a transmit signal input at the first node to provide an output transmit signal at the second node in a transmit mode.