Variable-Gain Phase Shifter for Linear Wide-Range Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing phase shifters for power amplifiers in communication devices have limited range and are nonlinear, making them unsuitable for applications requiring greater than 90 degrees of phase shift with consistent amplitude and linear control, which is essential for maintaining stability and efficiency in modern communication protocols.
Innovation Solution
A phase shifter design utilizing multiple variable gain elements and control signals to achieve a phase shift range exceeding 90 degrees with linear control and constant amplitude, implemented using a combination of hardware and software components to ensure precise phase adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional phase shifter is used, then the device complexity is low, but the phase shift range is limited to less than 90 degrees and the control is nonlinear
Solution Approach 1:
The phase shifter is divided into multiple cascaded stages, each providing a portion of the total phase shift. This segmentation allows the overall phase shift range to exceed 90 degrees while keeping each individual stage relatively simple, resolving the contradiction between extended range and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase shifter employs dynamically controllable elements that can adjust their characteristics in real-time. This dynamic control enables linear phase shift adjustment across the extended range, overcoming the limitation of traditional static phase shifters while maintaining manageable complexity through controlled adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a phase shifter with extended range is used, then the adaptability improves, but maintaining constant amplitude becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The phase shifter incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the output amplitude and adjust the control signals to maintain constant amplitude across the extended phase shift range. This feedback control resolves the contradiction by automatically compensating for amplitude variations that occur during phase adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes multiple parameters simultaneously - not only the phase shift parameter but also associated control parameters - to maintain constant amplitude. By coordinating changes in multiple parameters, the system achieves both extended phase range and amplitude stability.
3Device complexity
If a nonlinear phase control is used, then the device complexity is low, but the communication system performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The phase shifter transitions from static to dynamic control, enabling real-time adjustment of phase shift characteristics. This dynamic capability provides linear control that improves communication system performance while keeping the control mechanism manageable through systematic design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes control parameters to achieve linear phase response, improving communication reliability. By carefully selecting and adjusting control parameters, the system achieves linear control performance without excessive complexity in the control mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A phase shifter includes a plurality of variable gain elements, each variable gain element configured to receive one of a plurality of input signals, each input signal having a phase that is shifted with respect to each other input signal; and a control signal supplied to each variable gain element, where the control signals define a phase shift.