Apparatus, system, and method for integrated modular phased array tile configuration
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for phased array antenna communications, the apparatus comprising:
- a phased array antenna tile comprising a plurality of antenna elements, each phased array antenna tile having a plurality of edges;
a beamformer module integrated into the phased array antenna tile, and comprising a plurality of phase shifters and one or more of a combiner and a splitter, the beamformer module electrically coupled to each antenna element to process directional signals for the plurality of antenna elements in the analog domain, wherein each phase shifter is configured to adjust a phase of a signal of and antenna element and wherein the combiner is configured to combine a signal from each of the plurality of antenna elements of the phased array antenna tile configured to receive a signal and wherein the splitter is configured to split a signal to provide a signal to each of the plurality of antenna elements of the phased array antenna tile configured to send a signal; and
a plurality of cascadable connection points disposed along a perimeter of the phased array antenna tile for connecting the phased array antenna tile to one or more additional phased array antenna tiles, wherein the cascadable connection points provide structural support between the phased array antenna tile and the connected one or more additional phased array antenna tiles and maintain relative positioning between antenna elements on adjacent phased array antenna tiles, wherein the cascadable connection points comprise attachment fixtures that mechanically connect the phased array antenna tile to the one or more additional phased array antenna tiles along an edge of the phased array antenna tile, wherein the cascadable connection points provide structural support between the phased array antenna tile and the connected one or more additional phased array antenna tile independent of additional structure, wherein the cascadable connection points comprise a high-frequency connector along each edge of the phased array antenna tile that provides radio-frequency (“
RF”
) inputs, RF outputs, and signal grounds, and a low-frequency connector along each edge of the phased array antenna tile that provides direct current (“
DC”
) power supply connections, digital control lines, and power grounds.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for phased array antenna communications. A phased array antenna tile includes a plurality of antenna elements. A beamformer module is integrated into the phased array antenna tile. The beamformer module is electrically coupled to each antenna element to process directional signals for the plurality of antenna elements. A plurality of cascadable connection points are disposed along a perimeter of the phased array antenna tile for connecting the phased array antenna tile to one or more additional phased array antenna tiles.
540 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for phased array antenna communications, the apparatus comprising:
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a phased array antenna tile comprising a plurality of antenna elements, each phased array antenna tile having a plurality of edges; a beamformer module integrated into the phased array antenna tile, and comprising a plurality of phase shifters and one or more of a combiner and a splitter, the beamformer module electrically coupled to each antenna element to process directional signals for the plurality of antenna elements in the analog domain, wherein each phase shifter is configured to adjust a phase of a signal of and antenna element and wherein the combiner is configured to combine a signal from each of the plurality of antenna elements of the phased array antenna tile configured to receive a signal and wherein the splitter is configured to split a signal to provide a signal to each of the plurality of antenna elements of the phased array antenna tile configured to send a signal; and a plurality of cascadable connection points disposed along a perimeter of the phased array antenna tile for connecting the phased array antenna tile to one or more additional phased array antenna tiles, wherein the cascadable connection points provide structural support between the phased array antenna tile and the connected one or more additional phased array antenna tiles and maintain relative positioning between antenna elements on adjacent phased array antenna tiles, wherein the cascadable connection points comprise attachment fixtures that mechanically connect the phased array antenna tile to the one or more additional phased array antenna tiles along an edge of the phased array antenna tile, wherein the cascadable connection points provide structural support between the phased array antenna tile and the connected one or more additional phased array antenna tile independent of additional structure, wherein the cascadable connection points comprise a high-frequency connector along each edge of the phased array antenna tile that provides radio-frequency (“
RF”
) inputs, RF outputs, and signal grounds, and a low-frequency connector along each edge of the phased array antenna tile that provides direct current (“
DC”
) power supply connections, digital control lines, and power grounds. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for phased array antenna communications, the system comprising:
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a plurality of phased array antenna tiles juxtaposed in a regular pattern, each phased array antenna tile comprising a plurality of antenna elements, each phased array antenna tile having a plurality of edge; a beamformer module integrated into each phased array antenna tile, and comprising a plurality of phase shifters and a combiner, each beamformer module electrically coupled to each antenna element of a corresponding phased array antenna tile to process directional signals for the plurality of antenna elements in the analog domain, wherein each phase shifter is configured to adjust a phase of a signal of an antenna element and wherein the combiner is configured to combine a signal from each of the plurality of antenna elements of the phased array antenna tile configured to receive a signal and wherein the splitter is configured to split a signal to provide a signal to each of the plurality of antenna elements of the phased array antenna tile configured to send a signal; a plurality of cascadable connection points disposed along a perimeter of each phased array antenna tile, wherein the cascadable connection points provide structural support between the phased array antenna tile and the connected one or more additional phased array antenna tiles and maintain relative positioning between antenna elements on adjacent phased array antenna tiles, wherein a subset of connection points on one phased array antenna tile mate with a corresponding subset of connection points on one or more juxtaposing phased array antenna tiles, wherein the cascadable connection points comprise attachment fixtures that mechanically connect the phased array antenna tile to the one or more additional phased array antenna tiles along an edge of the phased array antenna tile, wherein the cascadable connection points provide structural support between the phased array antenna tile and the connected one or more additional phased array antenna tiles independent of additional structure, wherein the cascadable connection points comprise a high-frequency connector along each edge of the phased array antenna tile that provides radio-frequency (“
RF”
) inputs, RF outputs, and signals grounds, and a low-frequency connector along each edge of the phased array antenna tile that provides direct current (“
DC”
) power supply connections, digital control lines, and power grounds; andan interface module that connects to a subset of connection points not mated between juxtaposing phased array antenna tiles. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for transmitting and receiving phased array antenna communications, the apparatus comprising:
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a phased array antenna tile comprising a plurality of antenna elements, each phased array antenna tile having a plurality of edges; a beamformer integrated into the phased array antenna tile, and comprising a plurality of phase shifters, a combiner and a splitter, the beamformer module electrically coupled to each antenna element to process directional signals for the plurality of antenna elements, in the analog domain wherein each phase shifter is configured to adjust a phase of a signal of an antenna element and wherein the combiner is configured to combine a signal from each of the plurality of antenna elements of the phased array antenna tile configured to receive a signal and wherein the splitter is configured to split a signal to provide a signal to each of the plurality of antenna elements of the phased array antenna tile configured to send a signal, wherein the beamformer module sends directional transmit signals to the plurality of antenna elements and receives directional receive signals from the plurality of antenna elements; and a plurality of cascadable connection points disposed along a perimeter of the phased array antenna tile for connecting the phased array antenna tile to one or more additional phased array antenna tiles, wherein the cascadable connection points provide structural support between the phased array antenna tile and the connected one or more additional phased array antenna tiles and maintain relative positioning between antenna elements on adjacent phased array antenna tiles, wherein the cascadable connection points comprise attachment fixtures that mechanically connect the phased array antenna tile to the one or more additional phased array antenna tiles along an edge of the phased array antenna tile, wherein the cascadable connection points provide structural support between the phased array antenna tile and the connected one or more additional phased array antenna tiles independent of additional structure, wherein the cascadable connection points comprise a high-frequency connector along each edge of the phased array antenna tile that provides radio-frequency (“
RF”
) inputs, RF outputs, and signal grounds, and a low-frequency connector along each edge of the phased array antenna tile that provides direct current (“
DC”
) power supply connections, digital control lines, and power grounds. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification