Multicarrier distributed active antenna
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An active antenna, comprising:
- an array of antenna elements;
a power amplifier module coupled to each of the antenna elements of the array;
the power amplifier module comprising a parallel combination of power amplifiers having inputs and combined outputs coupled for driving the respective antenna element of the array;
a power splitter coupled to the inputs of the parallel combination of power amplifiers; and
a power combiner coupled to the outputs of the parallel combination of power amplifiers;
wherein the power splitters associated with each parallel combination of power amplifiers are coupled to a common power splitter.
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Abstract
A distributed active antenna includes a power module having a parallel combination of power amplifiers for driving each antenna element of the distributed active antenna. A predistortion linearization circuit may be coupled to each power module to linearize the output of each antenna element of the distributed active antenna.
360 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An active antenna, comprising:
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an array of antenna elements;
a power amplifier module coupled to each of the antenna elements of the array;
the power amplifier module comprising a parallel combination of power amplifiers having inputs and combined outputs coupled for driving the respective antenna element of the array;
a power splitter coupled to the inputs of the parallel combination of power amplifiers; and
a power combiner coupled to the outputs of the parallel combination of power amplifiers;
wherein the power splitters associated with each parallel combination of power amplifiers are coupled to a common power splitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An active antenna, comprising:
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an array of antenna elements, wherein the antenna elements are arranged in one or more sub-arrays to define the array;
a power amplifier module coupled to each of the antenna elements of the array;
the power amplifier module comprising a parallel combination of power amplifiers having inputs and combined outputs coupled for driving the respective antenna element of the array;
a power splitter coupled to the inputs of the parallel combination of power amplifiers; and
a power combiner coupled to the outputs of the parallel combination of power amplifiers;
wherein the power splitters associated with each parallel combination of power amplifiers are coupled to a common power splitter. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An active antenna, comprising:
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an antenna element;
a power amplifier module coupled to the antenna element;
the power amplifier module comprising a parallel combination of power amplifiers having inputs and combined outputs coupled for driving the antenna elements;
a power splitter coupled to the inputs of the parallel combination of power amplifiers; and
a power combiner coupled to the outputs of the parallel combination of power amplifiers;
wherein the power splitters associated with each parallel combination of power amplifiers are coupled to a common power splitter. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An active antenna comprising:
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at least one antenna element;
a power amplifier module coupled to the antenna element;
the power amplifier module comprising a parallel combination of power amplifier, having inputs and combined outputs coupled for driving the antenna element;
a predistortion circuit coupled to the power amplifier module to suppress intermodulation distortion, the predistortion circuit including at least one amplifier having a similar transfer function as a transfer function of at least one amplifier of the power amplifier module.
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16. A method of forming a beam at an antenna having a parallel combination of power amplifiers having inputs and combined outputs for driving an antenna element, comprising:
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applying an RF signal to a first power splitter and splitting the RF signal with the first power splitter;
applying the split RF signal from the first power splitter to a second power splitter and splitting the split RF signal with the second power splitter;
applying the split RF signal from the second power splitter to the inputs of the parallel combination of power amplifiers;
amplifying the split RF signal with the parallel combination of power amplifier;
combining the amplified split RF signal at the outputs of the parallel combination of power amplifiers; and
forming a beam by transmitting the amplified RF signal with the antenna element. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of forming beams at an antenna having a parallel combination of power amplifiers having inputs end combined outputs for driving a respective one of a plurality of antenna elements, comprising:
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forming a sub-array of the plurality of antenna elements;
applying an RF signal to a first power splitter and splitting the RF signal with the first power splitter;
applying the split RF signal from the first power splitter to a second power splitter and splitting the split RF signal with the second power splitter;
applying the split RF signal from the second power splitter to the inputs of each parallel combination of power amplifiers associated with each of the plurality of antenna elements;
amplifying the split RF signal with the parallel combination of power amplifiers associated with each of the plurality of antenna elements;
combining the amplified split RF signal at the outputs of the parallel combination of power amplifiers; and
forming a plurality of beams by transmitting the amplified RF signal with the plurality of antenna elements. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. An active antenna, comprising:
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an array of antenna elements;
a power amplifier module coupled to each of the antenna elements of the array;
the power amplifier module comprising a parallel combination of power amplifiers having inputs and combined outputs coupled for driving the respective antenna element of the array; and
a predistortion circuit operatively coupled to each power amplifier module, the predistortion circuit being operable to suppress intermodulation distortion. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. An active antenna, comprising:
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an array of antenna elements, wherein the antenna elements are arranged in one or more sub-arrays to define the array;
a power amplifier module coupled to each of the antenna elements of the array;
the power amplifier module comprising a parallel combination of power amplifiers having inputs and combined outputs coupled for driving the respective antenna element of the array;
a power splitter coupled to the inputs of the parallel combination of power amplifiers;
a power combiner coupled to the outputs of the parallel combination of power amplifiers; and
a predistortion circuit operatively coupled to each power amplifier module, the predistortion circuit being operable to suppress intermodulation distortion. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. An active antenna, comprising:
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an antenna element;
a power amplifier module coupled to the antenna element;
the power amplifier module comprising a parallel combination of power amplifiers having inputs and combined outputs coupled for driving the antenna element; and
a predistortion circuit operatively coupled to the power amplifier module, the predistortion circuit being operable to suppress intermodulation distortion. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification