Extending beamforming capability of a coupled voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) array during local oscillator (LO) signal generation through fine control of a tunable frequency of a tank circuit of a VCO thereof
US9184498B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 17, 2014 |
| Grant date | Nov 10, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 8, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01Q3/40
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method includes implementing a coupled Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) array with a number of VCOs, and arranging a number of switched capacitor elements in a geometric proportion in a tank circuit of each VCO to provide for finesse in control of a tunable frequency of the tank circuit. The method also includes utilizing a voltage control input of a varactor element of the tank circuit solely for achieving phase separation between the each VCO and another VCO of the coupled VCO array based on the provision of finesse in the control of the tunable frequency of the tank circuit, 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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.