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

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
implementing a coupled Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) array with a plurality of VCOs; implementing a plurality of switched capacitor elements in a tank circuit of each VCO of the coupled VCO array; arranging switched capacitor elements of the plurality of switched capacitor elements in a geometric proportion to provide for finesse in control of a tunable frequency of the tank circuit; 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 plurality 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.