Phased array transmission methods and apparatus

摘要

A phased array transmitter includes a plurality of vector modulators, an in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) signal generator, and a multiphase generator. The output phases of the plurality of vector modulators, and hence the direction of transmission of the phased array transmitter, are set and controlled by adjusting both the magnitude ratios of I/Q signal pairs generated by the I/Q signal generator and applied to I and Q inputs of the plurality of vector modulators and phases of a plurality of local oscillator (LO) signal phases generated by the multiphase generator and applied to LO inputs of the plurality of vector modulators. Setting and controlling the output phases of the vector modulators by varying both the magnitude ratios of the I/Q signal pairs and the phases of the LO signal phases allows the output phases of the plurality of vector modulators to be more precisely set and controlled than if the output phases were to be set and controlled only through the LO paths or only through the I/Q signal paths of the plurality of vector modulators.

主权项

1. An apparatus for controlling phases of electrical signals in a phased array transmitter, comprising:
an in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) signal generator configured to generate a plurality of different I/Q signal pairs, each different I/Q signal pair having an I/Q magnitude ratio that is individually set and controlled by the I/Q signal generator; a multiphase generator configured to generate a plurality of local oscillator (LO) signals, each LO signal having an LO signal phases; and a plurality of vector modulators, each vector modulator having in-phase and quadrature inputs configured to receive a different one of the I/Q signal pairs generated by said I/Q signal generator and an LO input configured to receive one of the LO signals generated by said multiphase generator, said plurality of vector modulators configured to generate a plurality of vector modulator output signals having a plurality of output phases determined by both the I/Q magnitude ratios of the plurality of I/Q signal pairs received from said I/Q signal generator and the LO signal phases of the LO signals received from said multiphase generator.