Wavelength-Division Optical Beamforming for Scalable Antenna Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beamforming technologies face challenges in achieving high-quality beams due to high power consumption and limited antenna allocation in subarray-based designs, especially with the increasing demand for higher frequency bands and larger antenna arrays.
Innovation Solution
A beamforming apparatus and method utilizing wavelength division multiplexing technology, incorporating a first laser signal source, modulators, optical splitting devices, wavelength selection units, and phase shifters to implement fully connected beamforming, allowing for efficient routing of light through wavelength and mode multiplexing, reducing complexity and size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If subarray-based design solution is used to meet increased antenna data requirement, then antenna quantity is increased, but power consumption increases and beam quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical phase control system with an optical system. Specifically, it uses optical beamforming to control the phase and amplitude of signals across multiple antenna elements, substituting electrical signal processing with optical signal processing. This substitution enables high-precision beam control with reduced power consumption, as optical systems can handle multiple antenna elements more efficiently without the power overhead of electrical phase shifters for each element.
2Quantity of substance
If subarray-based design solution is used, then antenna quantity is increased, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal optical beamforming architecture that can serve multiple antenna elements simultaneously. The optical system acts as a multi-functional platform that can control phase and amplitude across the entire antenna array, rather than requiring separate control circuits for each subarray. This universal approach reduces overall system complexity while supporting a large number of antenna elements.
3Ease of operation
If electrical phase control is used for beamforming, then beamforming function is achieved, but power consumption is high and apparatus size is large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical phase control with optical phase control. The optical beamforming system uses light to carry and control signal phases across the antenna array, eliminating the need for power-hungry electrical phase shifters at each antenna element. This substitution maintains full beamforming functionality while dramatically reducing power consumption and apparatus size.
4Ease of operation
If electrical phase control is used for beamforming, then beamforming function is achieved, but apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes electrical beamforming hardware with an optical beamforming system. The optical components required for phase and amplitude control are more compact than their electrical counterparts, especially when dealing with large antenna arrays. This substitution reduces the overall apparatus size while maintaining beamforming capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A beamforming apparatus and method are provided, to implement fully connected beamforming by using a wavelength division multiplexing technology. In this application, radio frequency signals are modulated on laser signals with different wavelengths; and then after combination and splitting, phase adjustment is selectively performed on the radio frequency signals with the different wavelengths on paths through wavelength selection units, to change transmit angles of beams transmitted at antenna ends. In another manner, in this application, radio frequency signals are modulated on laser signals with different wavelengths, each path of optical signal in the modulated radio frequency signal is split into a plurality of paths for phase adjustment, and then the phase-adjusted signals are combined and sent, to change transmit angles of beams transmitted at antenna ends. In addition, the solutions provided in this application are applicable to direct modulation, direct detection, and heterodyne or homodyne coherent detection.