Digital beamforming phased array
US8754811B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 8, 2011 |
| Grant date | Jun 17, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 23, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01Q3/267
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A transmitter includes an array antenna and a plurality of transmitter modules. Each transmitter module includes a phase-lock loop with a slipped-cycle counter for determining the number of cycles of slippage before locking. A source of frequency reference signals is coupled to the phase-lock loop of each module by a path of unknown length. The phase of the reference signals at each module is determined from the number of slipped cycles, and a phase or delay corrector is set to compensate for differences among the modules. The modules amplify the signals to be transmitted and apply the amplified signals to the antenna array by way of paths of controlled length.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.