Extending beamforming capability of a coupled voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) array during local oscillator (LO) signal generation through accommodating differential coupling between VCOs thereof
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- implementing a coupled Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) array with a plurality of VCOs;
mixing Local Oscillator (LO) signals generated through the plurality of VCOs of the coupled VCO array with signals from antenna elements of an antenna array to introduce differential phase shifts in signal paths coupled to the antenna elements during performing beamforming with the antenna array;
accommodating differential coupling between the VCOs to achieve an improved immunity to at least one of;
noise and interference during the beamforming, wherein the improved immunity is better than an immunity of the VCOs accommodating single-ended coupling instead of the differential coupling therebetween;
injection locking two or more VCOs of the coupled VCO array to each other; and
coupling a VCO of the coupled VCO array to another VCO thereof through a differential bidirectional coupling circuit.
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Abstract
A method includes implementing a coupled Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) array with a number of VCOs, and mixing Local Oscillator (LO) signals generated through the number of VCOs of the coupled VCO array with signals from antenna elements of an antenna array to introduce differential phase shifts in signal paths coupled to the antenna elements during performing beamforming with the antenna array. The method also includes accommodating differential coupling between the VCOs to improve immunity to noise and/or interference during the beamforming compared to the VCOs accommodating single-ended coupling therebetween.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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implementing a coupled Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) array with a plurality of VCOs; mixing Local Oscillator (LO) signals generated through the plurality of VCOs of the coupled VCO array with signals from antenna elements of an antenna array to introduce differential phase shifts in signal paths coupled to the antenna elements during performing beamforming with the antenna array; accommodating differential coupling between the VCOs to achieve an improved immunity to at least one of;
noise and interference during the beamforming, wherein the improved immunity is better than an immunity of the VCOs accommodating single-ended coupling instead of the differential coupling therebetween;injection locking two or more VCOs of the coupled VCO array to each other; and coupling a VCO of the coupled VCO array to another VCO thereof through a differential bidirectional coupling circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A beamforming system comprising:
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a coupled VCO array comprising a plurality of VCOs coupled to one another; an antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements; and a plurality of mixers, each of which is configured to mix an LO signal generated through a VCO of the coupled VCO array with a signal from an antenna element of the antenna array to introduce differential phase shifts in signal paths coupled to the antenna elements during performing beamforming with the antenna array, wherein the VCOs are configured to accommodate differential coupling therebetween to achieve an improved immunity to at least one of;
noise and interference during the beamforming, wherein the improved immunity is better than an immunity of the VCOs accommodating single-ended coupling instead of the differential coupling therebetween, andwherein at least one of; the beamforming system further comprises a combiner circuit to combine outputs of the plurality of mixers as part of the beamforming, and a number of the coupled VCO array is configured to be expanded based on a requirement of the beamforming. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A wireless communication system comprising:
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a beamforming system comprising; a coupled VCO array comprising a plurality of VCOs coupled to one another, an antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements, and a plurality of mixers, each of which is configured to mix an LO signal generated through a VCO of the coupled VCO array with a signal from an antenna element of the antenna array to introduce differential phase shifts in signal paths coupled to the antenna elements during performing beamforming with the antenna array, the VCOs being configured to accommodate differential coupling therebetween to achieve an improved immunity to at least one of;
noise and interference during the beamforming, wherein the improved immunity is better than an immunity of the VCOs accommodating single-ended coupling instead of the differential coupling therebetween; anda receiver channel configured to receive a combined output of the plurality of mixers of the beamforming system, wherein two or more VCOs of the coupled VCO array of the beamforming system are injected locked to each other, and wherein the beamforming system further comprises a differential bidirectional coupling circuit to couple a VCO of the coupled VCO array to another VCO thereof. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification