Wireless transceiver having a phased array antenna panel for transmitting circularly-polarized signals with modulated angular speed

• US 9,813,269 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2016
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Movandi Corporation
• Original Assignee: Movandi Corporation
• Inventors: Yoon, Seunghwan, Besoli, Alfred Grau, Rofougaran, Ahmadreza, Shirinfar, Farid, Rofougaran, Maryam, Gharavi, Sam, Boers, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Perez, James M
• Application Number:
  US15/292,379
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 375259-285, 375295-315
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits

Abstract

A radio frequency (RF) front end chip in a phased array antenna panel for transmitting a modulated circularly-polarized signal is disclosed. The RF front end chip includes an oscillator providing an angular speed modulation signal to a quadrature generation block, the quadrature generation block providing an in-phase signal and a quadrature signal based on the angular speed modulation signal, a first amplifier receiving the in-phase signal and a data signal, and providing a modulated horizontally-polarized signal, and a second amplifier receiving the quadrature signal and the data signal, and providing a modulated vertically-polarized signal, where a modulated circularly-polarized signal is generated based on the modulated horizontally-polarized signal and the modulated vertically-polarized signal. The angular speed modulation signal controls an angular speed of the modulated circularly-polarized signal. The data signal is encoded by the angular speed modulation signal.

Claims

1. A radio frequency (RF) front end chip in a phased array antenna panel, said RF front end chip comprising:

an oscillator providing an angular speed modulation signal to a quadrature generation block;

said quadrature generation block providing an in-phase signal and a quadrature signal based on said angular speed modulation signal;

a first amplifier receiving said in-phase signal and a data signal, and providing a modulated horizontally-polarized signal;

a second amplifier receiving said quadrature signal and said data signal, and providing a modulated vertically-polarized signal.

2. The RF front end chip of claim 1 wherein said angular speed modulation signal controls an angular speed of a modulated circularly-polarized signal that is generated based on said modulated horizontally-polarized signal and said modulated vertically-polarized signal.

3. The RF front end chip of claim 1 wherein said data signal is encoded by said angular speed modulation signal.

4. The RF front end chip of claim 2 wherein said oscillator varies an angular speed of said modulated circularly-polarized signal.

5. The RF front end chip of claim 1 wherein said data signal is provided by a master chip integrated in said phased array antenna panel.

6. The RF front end chip of claim 1 wherein said oscillator is a voltage controlled oscillator.

7. The RF front end chip of claim 2 wherein said modulated circularly-polarized signal is a right-handed modulated circularly-polarized signal or a left-handed modulated circularly-polarized signal.

8. The RF front end chip of claim 1 wherein each of said first amplifier and said second amplifier is coupled to a respective phase shifter.

9. A wireless transmitter using a phased array antenna panel for transmitting wireless signals comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency (RF) front end chips each coupled to a group of antennas;

at least one of said RF front end chips receiving a data signal from a master chip, and being configured to combine said data signal with an angular speed modulation signal to provide a modulated horizontally-polarized signal and a modulated vertically-polarized signal;

a modulated circularly-polarized signal that is generated based on said modulated horizontally-polarized signal and said modulated vertically-polarized signal for transmission by at least one of said group of antennas;

wherein said at least one RF front end chip comprises an oscillator providing said angular speed modulation signal to a quadrature generation block.

10. The wireless transmitter of claim 9 wherein said quadrature generation block provides an in-phase signal and a quadrature signal based on said angular speed modulation signal.

11. A wireless transmitter using a phased array antenna panel for transmitting wireless signals comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency (RF) front end chips each coupled to a group of antennas;

at least one of said RF front end chips receiving a data signal from a master chip, and being configured to combine said data signal with an angular speed modulation signal to provide a modulated horizontally-polarized signal and a modulated vertically-polarized signal;

a modulated circularly-polarized signal that is generated based on said modulated horizontally-polarized signal and said modulated vertically-polarized signal for transmission by at least one of said group of antennas;

wherein said at least one RF front end chip comprises a first amplifier receiving an in-phase signal and said data signal, and providing said modulated horizontally-polarized signal to said at least one of said group of antennas.

12. The wireless transmitter of claim 11 wherein said at least one RF front end chip comprises a second amplifier receiving a quadrature signal and said data signal, and providing said modulated vertically-polarized signal to said at least one of said group of antennas.

13. A wireless transmitter using a phased array antenna panel for transmitting wireless signals comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency (RF) front end chips each coupled to a group of antennas;

at least one of said RF front end chips receiving a data signal from a master chip, and being configured to combine said data signal with an angular speed modulation signal to provide a modulated horizontally-polarized signal and a modulated vertically-polarized signal;

a modulated circularly-polarized signal that is generated based on said modulated horizontally-polarized signal and said modulated vertically-polarized signal for transmission by at least one of said group of antennas;

wherein said at least one RF front end chip comprises an oscillator is configured to vary said angular speed of said modulated circularly-polarized signal.