System and method for delay equalization of multiple transmission paths
First Claim
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1. A method of equalizing electrical delay of a plurality of signal paths, comprising:
- measuring electrical delay for each of the plurality of signal paths over a selected frequency range;
determining a linear relationship between phase and frequency for said frequency range at least in part through reference to measured electrical delay information; and
modifying the delay of one or more paths of said plurality of signal paths based at least in part on said linear relationship to provide a substantially equal electrical delay over said selected frequency range.
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Abstract
The present invention provides systems and methods for addressing the effects of non-linear phase response, such as by equalizing electrical delays among transmission paths. A preferred embodiment provides phase detection circuitry and phase adjustment circuitry in the signal paths of a multiple beam or phased array antenna to provide delay equalization of the signal paths. Communication systems implementing the systems and methods of the present invention are provided broadband phase calibration and, therefore, are enabled to provide controlled and predictable beam forming over a broad range of frequencies.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. A method of equalizing electrical delay of a plurality of signal paths, comprising:
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measuring electrical delay for each of the plurality of signal paths over a selected frequency range;
determining a linear relationship between phase and frequency for said frequency range at least in part through reference to measured electrical delay information; and
modifying the delay of one or more paths of said plurality of signal paths based at least in part on said linear relationship to provide a substantially equal electrical delay over said selected frequency range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of phase calibrating signal paths of a multiple beam communication system having a phased array antenna coupled to a beam forming matrix, wherein a plurality of antenna beam signal interfaces are provided by the beam forming matrix for coupling to a plurality of antenna beam signal paths of the communication system, the method comprising:
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selecting a first group of antenna beam signal paths from said plurality of antenna beam signal paths for delay equalization;
selecting a test frequency range and a test frequency increment/decrement;
measuring delay for each signal path of the first group of antenna beam signal paths with respect to said test frequency range at intervals substantially corresponding to said increment/decrement;
determining a relationship between phase and frequency for each signal path of the first group of antenna beam signal paths at least in part through reference to measured delay information associated therewith; and
adjusting a delay of one or more paths of the first group of antenna beam signal paths based at least in part on said relationship between phase and frequency. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for adjusting electrical delay of a plurality of signal paths, comprising:
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a plurality of signal paths;
phase comparison circuitry providing a comparison of a phase of an input signal with a phase of a feedback signal and providing information with respect to an electrical delay for each of the plurality of signal paths over a selected frequency range;
processor circuitry in communication with said phase comparison circuitry and operable upon said electrical delay information to determine a linear relationship between phase and frequency for each of the plurality of signal paths for said frequency range; and
phase adjustment circuitry in communication with said processor circuitry and accepting control signals therefrom to modify a delay of one or more signal paths of said plurality of signal paths based at least in part on said linear relationship. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A system for phase calibrating signal paths of a multiple beam communication system having a phased array antenna coupled to a beam forming matrix, wherein a plurality of antenna beam signal interfaces are provided by the beam forming matrix for coupling to a plurality of antenna beam signal paths of the communication system, the system comprising:
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a first group of antenna beam signal paths;
a test frequency source providing test frequency signals in a predetermined frequency range;
a phase comparator coupled to said first group of antenna beam signal paths and to a feedback signal path, wherein said phase comparator is adapted to measure delay for each signal path of the first group of antenna beam signal paths with respect to said test frequency signals provided by said test frequency source;
a processor-based system operable to determine a relationship between phase and frequency for each signal path of the first group of antenna beam signal paths at least in part through reference to measured delay information provided by said phase comparator; and
phase adjustment circuitry disposed in ones of said first group of antenna beam signal paths providing adjustable delays in said ones of said first group of antenna beam signal paths based at least in part on said relationship between phase and frequency. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification