Transmitter system and method of operation therefor
First Claim
1. A transmitter system for transmitting a communication signal through an antenna array, said system comprising:
- a signal processing computer configured to receive an input signal and to generate a data stream that conveys phase and amplitude values which are responsive to said input signal, wherein said signal processing computer is configured so that said phase values describe phase point phase modulation values and beam formation phase offset values;
a plurality of direct modulators, wherein each of said direct modulators is adapted to receive a radio frequency (RF) carrier signal, is coupled to said signal processing computer to receive said data stream, and generates a communication signal component that exhibits a frequency substantially equivalent to a frequency of said RF carrier signal, a phase which is responsive to said phase values, and an amplitude which is responsive to said amplitude values; and
a plurality of antenna elements arranged so that each direct modulator couples to one of said antenna elements and so that said communication signal components generated by said direct modulators are simultaneously transmitted from said antenna elements and collectively form said communication signal.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A transmitter system (18) which transmits a communication signal (14) through a phased-array antenna (10) uses a signal processor (26) and a multiplicity of direct modulators (30). Each direct modulator (30) drives a single element (12) of the antenna (10). Each direct modulator (30) receives a digital baseband phase point data signal (62) from a digital data stream (28). The digital data stream (28) also conveys digital beam formation data (60). Each direct modulator (30) digitally combines the baseband phase point data (62) with the beam formation data (60) to produce digital streams that modulate an RF carrier signal (34). The digital data stream (28) is generated by a phased-array signal processor (26) which processes user data bits (86) received from any number of input signals (22) and processes beam signals (24). In one embodiment, the signal processor (26) calculates phase point data (62) representative of all input signals (22).
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A transmitter system for transmitting a communication signal through an antenna array, said system comprising:
-
a signal processing computer configured to receive an input signal and to generate a data stream that conveys phase and amplitude values which are responsive to said input signal, wherein said signal processing computer is configured so that said phase values describe phase point phase modulation values and beam formation phase offset values; a plurality of direct modulators, wherein each of said direct modulators is adapted to receive a radio frequency (RF) carrier signal, is coupled to said signal processing computer to receive said data stream, and generates a communication signal component that exhibits a frequency substantially equivalent to a frequency of said RF carrier signal, a phase which is responsive to said phase values, and an amplitude which is responsive to said amplitude values; and a plurality of antenna elements arranged so that each direct modulator couples to one of said antenna elements and so that said communication signal components generated by said direct modulators are simultaneously transmitted from said antenna elements and collectively form said communication signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A transmitter system for transmitting a communication signal through an antenna array, said system comprising:
-
a signal processing computer configured to receive an input signal and to generate a data stream that conveys phase and amplitude values which are responsive to said input signal; a plurality of direct modulators, wherein each of said direct modulators is adapted to receive a radio frequency (RF) carrier signal, is coupled to said signal processing computer to receive said data stream, and generates a communication signal component that exhibits a frequency substantially equivalent to a frequency of said RF carrier signal, a phase which is responsive to said phase values, and an amplitude which is responsive to said amplitude values, said direct modulators further comprising; a first register adapted to receive said data stream and configured to hold beam formation phase offset values; a second register adapted to receive said data stream and configured to hold phase point phase modulation values; a combination circuit coupled to said first and second registers and configured to generate a stream of element-specific phase values; and a modulator configured to modulate a phase parameter of said RF carrier signal in response to said stream of element-specific phase values; and a plurality of antenna elements arranged so that each direct modulator couples to one of said antenna elements and so that said communication signal components generated by said direct modulators are simultaneously transmitted from said antenna elements and collectively form said communication signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of transmitting a communication signal through an antenna array, said method comprising the steps of:
-
generating a data stream that conveys phase and amplitude values, said data stream being responsive to an input signal, wherein said generating step comprises the step of configuring said phase values to describe phase point phase modulation values and beam formation phase offset values; routing said data stream to each of a plurality of direct modulators; routing an RF carrier signal to each of said direct modulators; independently modulating said RF carrier signal at each of said direct modulators so that each direct modulator generates a communication signal component that exhibits a frequency substantially equivalent to a frequency of said RF carrier signal, a phase which is responsive to said phase values, and an amplitude which is responsive to said amplitude values; and radiating said communication signal components generated by said direct modulators to collectively form said communication signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of transmitting a communication signal through an antenna array, said method comprising the steps of:
-
generating a data stream that conveys phase and amplitude values, said data stream being responsive to an input signal; routing said data stream to each of a plurality of direct modulators; routing an RF carrier signal to each of said direct modulators; independently modulating said RF carrier signal at each of said direct modulators so that each direct modulator generates a communication signal component that exhibits a frequency substantially equivalent to a frequency of said RF carrier signal, a phase which is responsive to said phase values, and an amplitude which is responsive to said amplitude values, wherein said independently modulating step further comprises, for each of said direct modulators, the steps of; obtaining beam formation phase offset values from said phase values of said data stream; obtaining phase point phase modulation values from said phase values of said data stream; combining said beam formation phase offset values and said phase point phase modulation values to generate a stream of element-specific phase values; and varying a phase parameter of said RF carrier signal in response to said stream of element-specific phase values; and radiating said communication signal components generated by said direct modulators to collectively form said communication signal.
-
-
17. A transmitter system for transmitting a communication signal through an antenna array, said system comprising:
-
a signal processing computer configured to receive a plurality of input signals and to generate a data stream that conveys phase point phase modulation values, beam formation phase offset values, phase point amplitude modulation values, and beam formation amplitude offset values that are collectively responsive to said input signals; a plurality of direct modulators each of which are coupled to said signal processing computer and each of which comprises; a first register configured to hold a portion of said beam formation phase offset values, a second register configured to hold said phase point phase modulation values, a third register configured to hold a portion of said beam formation amplitude offset values, and a fourth register configured to hold said phase point amplitude modulation values, a phase combination circuit coupled to said first and second registers and configured to generate a stream of element-specific phase values, and an amplitude combination circuit coupled to said third and fourth registers and configured to generate a stream of element-specific amplitude values, and a modulator configured to generate a communication signal component by receiving an RF carrier signal, modulating a phase parameter of said RF carrier signal in response to said stream of element-specific phase values and modulating an amplitude parameter of said RF carrier signal in response to said stream of element-specific amplitude values; and a plurality of antenna elements arranged so that each direct modulator couples to one of said antenna elements and so that said communication signal components generated by said direct modulators are simultaneously transmitted from said antenna elements and collectively form said communication signal. - View Dependent Claims (18)
-
Specification