Frequency-independent receiver and beamforming technique
First Claim
1. An antenna array comprising:
- a plurality of antenna elements arranged in a matrix, the matrix having a number of columns and a number of rows, wherein each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements exists at a position within the matrix at an intersection of a column and a row and wherein each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements comprises a mixer configured to produce a phased superposition mix of a first signal and a second signal, wherein each antenna element comprises;
a respective antenna;
an output mixer coupled to the respective antenna and configured to produce a mix between a signal incident at the respective antenna and the phased superposition mix of the first signal and the second signal; and
an input mixer coupled to the respective antenna and configured to produce a mix between a third signal and the phased superposition mix of the first signal and the second signal;
a first set of phase shifters, each phase shifter of the first set of phase shifters being configured to apply a respective phase shift to an input signal; and
a second set of phase shifters, each phase shifter of the second set of phase shifters being configured to apply a respective phase shift to an input signal,wherein the first set of phase shifters are arranged such that the first signal is applied with a same phase shift to each mixer of each antenna element in a respective column of the matrix, andwherein the second set of phase shifters are arranged such that the second signal is applied with a same phase shift to each mixer of each antenna element in a respective row of the matrix.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Example systems and methods described herein relate to radio communication architectures and techniques for beamforming and down-conversion without a priori knowledge of the source location or frequency. An example radio receiver includes a plurality of antenna elements that include a first element, a second element, and a third element. The radio receiver also includes a plurality of mixers coupled to the plurality of antenna elements and a combiner coupled to the plurality of antenna elements. A signal incident on the first element is mixed with itself via a first mixer of the plurality of mixers. An output of the first mixer is mixed with a signal incident on the second element via a second mixer of the plurality of mixers, and an output of the second mixer is combined via the combiner with a signal incident on the third element.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. An antenna array comprising:
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a plurality of antenna elements arranged in a matrix, the matrix having a number of columns and a number of rows, wherein each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements exists at a position within the matrix at an intersection of a column and a row and wherein each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements comprises a mixer configured to produce a phased superposition mix of a first signal and a second signal, wherein each antenna element comprises; a respective antenna; an output mixer coupled to the respective antenna and configured to produce a mix between a signal incident at the respective antenna and the phased superposition mix of the first signal and the second signal; and an input mixer coupled to the respective antenna and configured to produce a mix between a third signal and the phased superposition mix of the first signal and the second signal; a first set of phase shifters, each phase shifter of the first set of phase shifters being configured to apply a respective phase shift to an input signal; and a second set of phase shifters, each phase shifter of the second set of phase shifters being configured to apply a respective phase shift to an input signal, wherein the first set of phase shifters are arranged such that the first signal is applied with a same phase shift to each mixer of each antenna element in a respective column of the matrix, and wherein the second set of phase shifters are arranged such that the second signal is applied with a same phase shift to each mixer of each antenna element in a respective row of the matrix. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method comprising:
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applying a first signal to each antenna element of a plurality of antenna elements, the plurality of antenna elements being arranged in a matrix, the matrix having a number of columns and a number of rows, wherein each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements exists at a position within the matrix at an intersection of a column and a row, wherein each antenna element comprises; a respective antenna; an output mixer coupled to the respective antenna and configured to produce a mix between a signal incident at the respective antenna and a phased superposition mix of the first signal and the second signal; and an input mixer coupled to the given antenna and configured to produce a mix between a third signal and the phased superposition mix of the first signal and the second signal; and applying a second signal to each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements; shifting a phase of the first signal such that for each application of the first signal to mixers positioned in a given column of the matrix, the first signal is applied with a same phase shift; shifting a phase of the second signal such that for each application of the second signal to mixers positioned in a respective row of the matrix, the second signal is applied with a same phase shift; and at each respective antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements, mixing the phase-shifted first signal applied to the respective antenna element with the phase-shifted second signal applied to the respective antenna element. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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Specification