Phased array antenna applications for universal frequency translation
First Claim
1. A method of steering an antenna beam and frequency translating an electromagnetic (EM) signal that corresponds to said antenna beam, the method comprising the steps of:
- (1) receiving a first EM signal and a second EM signal; and
(2) sampling said first EM signal according to a first control signal to generate a first down-converted signal, and sampling said second EM signal according to a second control signal to generate a second down-converted signal, wherein said second control signal is phase shifted with respect to said first control signal, and thereby said second down-converted signal is phase-shifted with respect to said first down-converted signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A universal frequency translation module (UFT) frequency translates an electromagnetic (EM) input signal by sampling the EM input signal according to a periodic control signal (also called an aliasing signal). By controlling the relative sampling time, the UFT module implements a relative phase shift during frequency translation. In other words, a relative phase shift can be introduced in the output signal by sampling the input signal at one point in time relative to another point in time. As such, the UFT module can be configured as an integrated frequency translator and phase-shifter. This includes the UFT module as an integrated down-converter and phase shifter, and the UFT module as an integrated up-converter and phase shifter. Applications of universal frequency translation and phase shifting include phased array antennas that utilize integrated frequency translation and phase shifting technology to steer the one or more main beams of the phased array antenna.
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Citations
85 Claims
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1. A method of steering an antenna beam and frequency translating an electromagnetic (EM) signal that corresponds to said antenna beam, the method comprising the steps of:
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(1) receiving a first EM signal and a second EM signal; and
(2) sampling said first EM signal according to a first control signal to generate a first down-converted signal, and sampling said second EM signal according to a second control signal to generate a second down-converted signal, wherein said second control signal is phase shifted with respect to said first control signal, and thereby said second down-converted signal is phase-shifted with respect to said first down-converted signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 79, 80, 81)
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16. A phased array antenna, comprising:
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a first signal path, including a first antenna element;
a first switch module coupled to said first antenna element; and
a first pulse generator coupled to said first switch module, wherein said first pulse generator generates a first plurality of pulses that control sampling by said first switch module;
a second signal path, including a second antenna element;
a second switch module coupled to said second antenna element; and
a second pulse generator coupled to said second switch module, wherein said second pulse generator generates a second plurality of pulses that control sampling by said second switch module; and
means for adjusting a trigger time of said second pulse generator relative to a trigger time of said first pulse generator. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A phased array antenna, comprising:
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a first signal path, including a first antenna element that received a first input signal;
a first switch module coupled to said first antenna element;
a first pulse generator that receives a first biased local oscillator signal and generates a first plurality of pulses that control sampling of said first input signal by said first switch module, wherein said first plurality of pulses have pulse widths that are sufficient to transfer energy from said first input signal during sampling by said first switch module; and
a first bias voltage that is used with a local oscillator signal to generate said first biased local oscillator signal;
a second signal path, including a second antenna element that receives a second input signal;
a second switch module coupled to said second antenna element;
a second pulse generator that receives a second biased local oscillator signal and generates a second plurality of pulses that control sampling of said second input signal by said second switch module, and wherein said second plurality of pulses have pulse widths that are sufficient to transfer energy from said second input signal during sampling by said second switch module; and
a second bias voltage that is used with said local oscillator signal to generate said second biased local oscillator signal; and
a controller that adjusts said first bias voltage and said second bias voltage to steer an antenna beam of said phased array antenna to a desired angle. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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37. The phased array antenna of 36, wherein said first pulse generator triggers and generates a pulse of said plurality of pulses when said first biased LO signal exceeds a threshold of said first pulse generator.
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38. The phased array antenna of 36, wherein said second pulse generator triggers and generates a pulse of said plurality of pules when said second biased LO signal exceeds a threshold of said second pulse generator.
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48. A phased array antenna, comprising:
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a first signal path, including a first antenna element;
a first switch module coupled to said first antenna element;
a first pulse generator that receives a first delayed local oscillator signal and generates a first plurality of pulses that control sampling of a first input signal by said switch module, wherein said first plurality of pulses have pulse widths that are sufficient to transfer energy from said first input signal during sampling by said first switch module; and
a first delay that delays a local oscillator signal to generate said first delayed local oscillator signal;
a second signal path, including a second antenna element;
a second switch module coupled said second antenna element;
a second pulse generator that receives a second delayed local oscillator signal and generates a second plurality of pulses that control sampling of a second input signal by said second switch module, and wherein said second plurality of pulses have pulse widths that are sufficient to transfer energy from said second input signal during sampling by said second switch module; and
a second delay that delays said local oscillator signal to generate said second delayed local oscillator signal;
a controller that adjusts said first delay and said second delay to steer an antenna beam of said phased array antenna to a desired angle. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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49. The phased array antenna of 48, wherein said first pulse generator triggers and generates a pulse when said first delayed LO signal exceeds a threshold of said first pulse generator.
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50. The phased array antenna of 48, wherein said second pulse generator triggers and generates a pulse when said second delayed LO signal exceeds a threshold of said second pulse generator.
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60. A method of steering an antenna beam and frequency translating a baseband signal that is transmitted by the antenna system, the method comprising the steps of:
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(1) receiving the baseband signal;
(2) splitting the baseband signal into at least two component signals, including a first baseband component and a second baseband component;
(3) sampling the first baseband component according to a first control signal to generate a first harmonically rich signal, and sampling a second baseband component according to a second control signal to generate a second harmonically rich signal, wherein said second control signal is phase shifted with respect to said first control signal, and thereby said second harmonically rich signal is phase-shifted with respect to said first harmonically rich signal; and
(4) transmitting a desired harmonic image from said first harmonically rich signal using a first antenna element, and transmitting a desired harmonic image from said second harmonically rich signal using a second antenna element. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
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82. A method of steering an antenna beam and frequency translating an EM signal that corresponds to said antenna beam, the method comprising the steps of:
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(1) receiving a first EM signal and a second EM signal;
(2) generating a first control signal and a second control signal;
(3) phase shifting said second control signal relative to said first control signal;
(4) sampling said first EM signal according to said first control signal to generate a first down-converted signal, and sampling said second EM signal according to said second control signal to generate a second down-converted signal;
(5) combining said first down-converted signal and said second down-converted signal, resulting in a combined down-converted signal; and
(6) adjusting said phase shift between said first control signal and said second control signal and thereby steering the antenna beam. - View Dependent Claims (83, 84, 85)
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Specification