Inductively-coupled antenna array
First Claim
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1. A beam-forming system, comprising:
- a plurality of integrated antenna units, wherein each integrated antenna unit includes an oscillator inductively coupled through a transformer to an antenna;
a network configured to inductively-couple phasing information to each oscillator so as to phase lock at least a subset of the oscillators; and
a controller to control the phasing information, wherein the integrated antenna units, the network, and the controller are all integrated on a substrate.
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Abstract
An antenna array comprises a plurality of integrated antenna units. Each integrated antenna unit includes an oscillator coupled through a transformer to an antenna. The oscillators are formed on a semiconductor substrate and the antennas and transformers are formed in metal layers overlaying the semiconductor substrate.
71 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A beam-forming system, comprising:
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a plurality of integrated antenna units, wherein each integrated antenna unit includes an oscillator inductively coupled through a transformer to an antenna;
a network configured to inductively-couple phasing information to each oscillator so as to phase lock at least a subset of the oscillators; and
a controller to control the phasing information, wherein the integrated antenna units, the network, and the controller are all integrated on a substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An integrated antenna unit, comprising:
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an antenna;
a transformer having a first pair of windings and a second pair of windings, wherein the first pair of windings and the second pair of windings have a common winding coupled to the antenna; and
an oscillator coupled through the first pair of windings to receive signals from the antenna and coupled through the second pair of windings to transmit signal to the antenna, wherein the oscillator is formed within an active layer overlaying a semiconductor substrate and the antenna and the transformer are formed in metal layers overlaying the active layer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification