Shared Phase Shifter Architecture for mmW Beamforming
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current millimeter-wave (mmW) transceiver systems require multiple phase shifters for beamforming, leading to increased circuit area and noise figure, which is undesirable for 5G and 6G communication applications.
Innovation Solution
A shared single-ended phase shifter architecture is implemented, utilizing in-phase and quadrature variable gain amplifiers (I VGA and Q VGA) and a hybrid quadrature generator (HQG) to provide a combined signal at a desired phase, reducing the number of electromagnetic elements and noise stages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple phase shifters are implemented for beamforming in mmW transceivers, then beamforming capability is achieved, but circuit area increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two adjacent receive elements into a single shared phase shifter unit. The first and second receive elements share common components including the hybrid quadrature generator, electromagnetic elements, and combining circuitry. This merging reduces the total number of phase shifters from four (two per element) to two (one shared pair), directly reducing circuit area while maintaining beamforming capability through the shared architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared phase shifter unit performs multiple functions: it processes signals from both first and second receive elements, provides phase shifting for both elements through shared electromagnetic elements, and generates combined outputs for both elements. The hybrid quadrature generator and combining circuitry serve universal purposes across multiple signal paths, reducing overall circuit complexity and area.
2Ease of operation
If multiple phase shifters with minimum gain stages are implemented, then signal phase shifting is achieved, but noise figure increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the signal paths of two adjacent receive elements into a shared phase shifter unit, the patent reduces the total number of minimum gain stages from four to two. Fewer stages mean fewer noise-contributing components, directly lowering the overall noise figure while maintaining the ability to perform signal phase shifting through the shared electromagnetic elements and combining circuitry.
3Adaptability or versatility
If four phase shifters are implemented for two adjacent TX/RX elements, then phase control for each element is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the phase control functionality for two adjacent receive elements into a shared phase shifter unit. Instead of implementing four separate phase shifters (two per element), the design uses one shared pair of phase shifters with common components including the hybrid quadrature generator and electromagnetic elements. This reduces device complexity by 50% in the receive path while maintaining independent phase control capability through the shared architecture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution minimizes circuit area and maintains low noise figure, effectively reducing the number of phase shifters required while maintaining signal quality for mmW communication systems.
Implementation Method 1
a hybrid quadrature generator (HQG) configured to receive the single-ended I output of the first EM element and the single-ended Q output of the second EM element, the HQG configured to provide a combined signal at a desired phase
Data Source
AI summary
A phase shifter for a millimeter wave (mmW) communication system including an in phase variable gain amplifier (I VGA) and a quadrature VGA (Q VGA) configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals, the I VGA and the Q VGA configured to provide a selectable output to primary sides of first and second electromagnetic (EM) elements, respectively, the first EM element configured to provide a single-ended I output and the second EM element configured to provide a single-ended Q output, and a hybrid quadrature generator (HQG) configured to receive the single-ended I output of the first EM element and the single-ended Q output of the second EM element, the HQG configured to provide a combined signal at a desired phase.