APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATED MODULAR PHASED ARRAY TILE CONFIGURATION

• US 20110109507A1
• Filed: 11/09/2010
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ovzon LLC
• Original Assignee: Linear Signal, Inc.
• Inventors: Warnick, Karl F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,872,719 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/368
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0025 Modular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays

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.

Claims

1. An apparatus for phased array antenna communications, the apparatus comprising:

a phased array antenna tile comprising a plurality of antenna elements;

a beamformer module integrated into the phased array antenna tile, the beamformer module electrically coupled to each antenna element to process directional signals for 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.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, 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.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cascadable connection points comprise one or more of radio-frequency (“

RF”

) inputs, RF outputs, direct current (“

DC”

) connections, control lines, signal grounds, and power grounds.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more low noise amplifiers integrated into the phased array antenna tile, wherein the phased array antenna tile comprises a receiver and the beamformer module receives the directional signals from the plurality of antenna elements.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the one or more low noise amplifiers are disposed between the plurality of antenna elements and the beamformer module.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the one or more low noise amplifiers are integrated with the beamformer module.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more power amplifiers integrated into the phased array antenna tile, wherein the phased array antenna tile comprises a transmitter and the beamformer module provides the directional signals to the plurality of antenna elements.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more power amplifiers are disposed between the plurality of antenna elements and the beamformer module.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more power amplifiers are integrated with the beamformer module.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the beamformer module comprises an integrated chip.

11. A system for phased array antenna communications, the system comprising:

a plurality of phased array antenna tiles juxtaposed in a regular pattern, each phased array antenna tile comprising a plurality of antenna elements;

a beamformer module integrated into each phased array antenna tile, 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;

a plurality of cascadable connection points disposed along a perimeter of each phased array antenna tile, 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; and

an interface module that connects to a subset of connection points not mated between juxtaposing phased array antenna tiles.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of phased array antenna tiles comprises one or more of a receiver and a transmitter.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the cascadable connection points comprise attachment fixtures that mechanically connect the plurality of phased array antenna tiles.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the cascadable connection points comprise one or more of radio-frequency (“

RF”

) inputs, RF outputs, direct current (“

DC”

) connections, control lines, signal grounds, and power grounds.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising one or more low noise amplifiers integrated into each phased array antenna tile, wherein the plurality of phased array antenna tiles comprises a receiver and the beamformer modules receive the directional signals from the plurality of antenna elements.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising one or more power amplifiers integrated into each phased array antenna tile, wherein the plurality of phased array antenna tiles comprises a transmitter and the beamformer modules provide the directional signals to the plurality of antenna elements.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein each beamformer module comprises an integrated chip.

18. An apparatus for transmitting and receiving phased array antenna communications, the apparatus comprising:

a phased array antenna tile comprising a plurality of antenna elements;

a beamformer module integrated into the phased array antenna tile, the beamformer module electrically coupled to each antenna element to process directional signals for the plurality of antenna elements, the beamformer module sending directional transmit signals to the plurality of antenna elements and receiving 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.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising one or more duplexer circuits electrically coupled to the plurality of antenna elements, the one or more duplexer circuits allowing each antenna element to both transmit and receive.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the plurality of antenna elements comprise one or more transmit antenna elements interleaved among one or more receive antenna elements.