Extending beamforming capability of a coupled voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) array during local oscillator (LO) signal generation through a circular configuration thereof
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- generating Local Oscillator (LO) signals separated in phase by individual Voltage Controlled Oscillators (VCOs) of a VCO array based on varying voltage levels of voltage control inputs thereto;
coupling the individual VCOs of the VCO array to one another in a closed, circular configuration to increase phase difference between the phase separated LO signals generated by the individual VCOs compared to a linear configuration of the VCO array, each individual VCO of the coupled VCO array being electrically coupled to one individual VCO at an input thereof and to another individual VCO from an output thereof;
mixing outputs of the individual 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;
injection locking two or more VCOs of the coupled VCO array to each other; and
controlling operating frequency of the coupled VCO array through an independent reference frequency source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method includes separating phase of Local Oscillator (LO) signals generated by individual Voltage Controlled Oscillators (VCOs) of a coupled VCO array through varying voltage levels of voltage control inputs thereto. The method also includes coupling the individual VCOs of the coupled VCO array to one another in a closed, circular configuration to increase phase difference between the phase separated LO signals generated by the individual VCOs compared to a linear configuration of the coupled VCO array. Further, the method includes mixing outputs of the individual VCOs of the circular 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.
371 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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generating Local Oscillator (LO) signals separated in phase by individual Voltage Controlled Oscillators (VCOs) of a VCO array based on varying voltage levels of voltage control inputs thereto; coupling the individual VCOs of the VCO array to one another in a closed, circular configuration to increase phase difference between the phase separated LO signals generated by the individual VCOs compared to a linear configuration of the VCO array, each individual VCO of the coupled VCO array being electrically coupled to one individual VCO at an input thereof and to another individual VCO from an output thereof; mixing outputs of the individual 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; injection locking two or more VCOs of the coupled VCO array to each other; and controlling operating frequency of the coupled VCO array through an independent reference frequency source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A beamforming system comprising:
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a VCO array comprising a plurality of individual VCOs configured to generate LO signals separated in phase based on varying voltage levels of voltage control inputs thereto, the individual VCOs of the VCO array being coupled to one another in a closed, circular configuration to increase phase difference between the phase separated LO signals generated by the individual VCOs compared to a linear configuration of the VCO array, and each individual VCO of the coupled VCO array being electrically coupled to one individual VCO at an input thereof and to another individual VCO from an output thereof; an antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements; a plurality of mixers, each of which is configured to mix an output of the each individual 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 two or more VCOs of the coupled VCO array are injection locked to each other; and an independent reference frequency source to control operating frequency of the coupled VCO array. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A wireless communication system comprising:
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a beamforming system comprising; a VCO array comprising a plurality of individual VCOs configured to generate LO signals separated in phase based on varying voltage levels of voltage control inputs thereto, the individual VCOs of the VCO array being coupled to one another in a closed, circular configuration to increase phase difference between the phase separated LO signals generated by the individual VCOs compared to a linear configuration of the VCO array, and each individual VCO of the coupled VCO array being electrically coupled to one individual VCO at an input thereof and to another individual VCO from an output thereof; an antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements; a plurality of mixers, each of which is configured to mix an output of the each individual 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 two or more VCOs of the coupled VCO array are injection locked to each other; and an independent reference frequency source to control operating frequency of the coupled VCO array; and a receiver channel configured to receive a combined output of the plurality of mixers of the beamforming system. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification