Time-Interleaved Phased Array Receiver for Direct RF Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wideband phased array systems face challenges with high complexity, power consumption, and implementation costs, and lack scalability and reconfigurability to support various applications, particularly in RF systems operating from DC to 50 GHz.
Innovation Solution
A time-interleaved transceiver architecture that co-designs phased array receivers with analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) for direct RF sampling, eliminating signal distribution and LO signal distribution, enabling scalable and power-efficient operation with adaptable bandwidth and sampling rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If signal distribution and LO signal distribution are used in wideband phased array systems, then the system can support multiple parallel channels, but the complexity, power consumption, and implementation costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wideband signal reception task into multiple parallel channels, each handling a specific frequency band. The receiver is segmented into multiple independent receive chains that can be time-interleaved, allowing the system to process wideband signals without requiring a single complex high-speed ADC, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining parallel channel capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements time-interleaved sampling where multiple ADCs operate in alternating time slots on different channels. This dynamic time-division multiplexing approach allows the system to achieve effective wideband sampling without requiring all channels to operate simultaneously at full speed, reducing power consumption and complexity compared to static parallel architectures
2Speed
If high sampling rate ADCs are used for wideband signal digitization, then the bandwidth and sampling rate capability are improved, but the power consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single high-speed ADC that would consume excessive power, the patent segments the sampling function across multiple lower-speed ADCs operating in parallel on different channels. Each ADC operates at a manageable sampling rate appropriate for its assigned bandwidth, collectively achieving the required overall sampling rate while keeping individual power consumption low
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs time-interleaved sampling where multiple ADCs take partial samples at different time intervals. Each ADC operates at a lower sampling rate than the overall system requirement, but their combined output through time-interleaving achieves the effective high sampling rate needed for wideband signal processing, avoiding the need for each ADC to operate at excessive speeds
3Adaptability or versatility
If LO signal distribution is implemented across phased array elements, then direct RF to digital conversion is enabled, but the power consumption and heat generation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the LO signal distribution function from the system architecture. Instead of distributing LO signals to multiple phased array elements, the system uses direct sampling techniques where the ADCs directly sample the RF signals without requiring LO mixing at each element, thereby eliminating the power-consuming LO distribution network while maintaining the ability to cover wide frequency ranges through digital processing
4Productivity
If signal distribution is used for parallel channel digitization, then multiple channels can be processed simultaneously, but bandwidth limitations are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements time-interleaved periodic sampling where different ADCs sample at different time intervals in a repeating pattern. This periodic time-division approach allows multiple channels to be processed simultaneously over time without requiring physical signal distribution that would limit bandwidth, as each channel is sampled in its designated time slot without signal division losses
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for digitizing signals from a plurality of channels in parallel, using a time interleaved and beam-forming receiver, such as a phased array, applying appropriate delays, and performing the digitization using analog-to-digital converters sized based on the reciprocal of the number of channels. The system includes a delay line applying a tunable delay to the received signals before the signals are digitized.