1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention are related to antenna arrays for communication systems. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention are directed to independently controlling modulated or unmodulated phase and modulated or unmodulated gain for two or more signals received or transmitted by an array of antenna elements using energy sampling techniques.
2. Background
Antenna arrays for communications can be categorized as transmit antenna arrays and receive antenna arrays.
Another challenge with conventional transmit antenna arrays (e.g., transmit antenna array 100 of
Conventional receive antenna arrays also suffer from drawbacks.
A need exists to address drawbacks in conventional transmit and receive antenna array designs.
In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises an array of antenna elements and a controller configured to independently control modulated or unmodulated phase and modulated or unmodulated gain for two or more signals received or transmitted by the array of antenna elements using energy sampling techniques.
Further features and advantages of the embodiments disclosed herein, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Such embodiments are presented herein for illustrative purposes only. Additional embodiments will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art based on the teachings contained herein.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the embodiments and to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the invention.
Embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, generally, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, generally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.
Embodiments herein disclose an agile multi-element electronic antenna steering method and technology. The antenna steering method and technology controls a composite beam of two or more antenna elements. The technology can be based on various sampling techniques such as, for example, D2p™ and D2d™ sampling techniques. D2p generally refers to creating highly linear RF power waveforms for receiver and transmitter technology. D2d generally refers to direct conversion receiver and transmitter technology that enables robust signal reception in environments that contain jamming signals. This is achieved by transmitting multiple redundant information frequency spectrums. The spectrums are spaced close together, thereby reducing communication bandwidth requirements. Both transmit and receive antenna beams are controlled, resulting in signals that are transmitted or received with the greatest efficiency. Transmission or reception includes complex modulation or demodulation operations.
In an embodiment, using D2p™ and D2d™ energy sampling technologies, phase shifting of a modulated radio frequency (RF) carrier signal can be accomplished at each element of an antenna array. Hence, information can be routed in digital, analog or hybrid forms up to the point of carrier modulation and carrier phase shifting at each array element. Moreover, due to efficiencies in D2p™ and D2d™ energy sampling technologies, these technologies can be highly integrated, thus providing the greatest flexibility in signal routing, array packaging and heat removal. Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a method that amalgamates and coordinates properly phased RF power modulation from a digital interface and clock at each array element of an antenna array or cluster of array elements.
Referring back to
With regard to the conventional transmit antenna array of
Referring back to
With regard to the conventional receive antenna array of
Advantages of the embodiments include, among other things, bulky phase shift components in the conventional transmit and receive antenna arrays can be replaced with fully integrated circuits, thereby reducing cost and size. In some embodiments, receive and transmit antenna elements can be the same physical structure or a mechanically shared realization.
The architectures and technologies in the sampled D2p™ and D2d™ antenna array architectures of
Processors associated with the sampled D2p™ and D2d™ antenna array architectures can be used to process any standards-based (such as relevant IEEE standards, organized-body-setting standards, and other uniform, or agreed-upon performance criteria for similar devices and/or functionality) or custom waveform without changing components, amplifiers, networks, etc. Conventional processing techniques do not share this benefit. This is not practical using conventional processing techniques.
In some cases, the conventional antenna architectures shown in
In addition the sampled D2p™ and D2d™ array processors can be operated in simplex, half duplex, full duplex, or multiplex architectures.
As used herein, the term Adjacent-Channel Power Ratio (ACPR) refers to a ratio of power in some adjacent band compared to the desired signal power in a band of interest. ACPR is usually measured in decibels (dB) as the ratio of an out of band power per unit bandwidth to an in band signal power per unit bandwidth. This measurement is usually accomplished in the frequency domain. Out of band power is typically unwanted.
As used herein, the term antenna array refers to an assembly of antenna elements with the proper dimensions, characteristics, and spacing, so as to maximize the intensity of radiation in desired directions.
As used herein, the term annihilation of information refers to transfer of information entropy into non-information bearing degrees of freedom no longer accessible to the information bearing degrees of freedom of the system and therefore lost in a practical sense even if an imprint is transferred to the environment through a corresponding increase in thermodynamic entropy.
As used herein, the term antenna gain refers to the effectiveness or alternatively the power transmission gain, generally expressed in decibels, of a directional antenna as relative to a given standard, such as a dipole or isotropic antenna.
As used herein, the term amplification refers to power amplification unless otherwise indicated.
As used herein, the terms aperture and sampling aperture refer to the time interval during which a sample of a signal is acquired or generated/created. An aperture can be characterized by a voltage, current, or energy (i.e. functions of time and pulses) value over the time interval. The aperture can be rectangular (time axis on the horizontal) or any other suitable shape. For example, the aperture can have a peak value for the voltage, current, or energy with a rise time and a fall time for the pulse shape associated with the function of time. The pulse shape over the aperture can be continuous, piece-wise continuous, or some hybrid of these two types of functions over the interval, including the interval boundaries. For the purposes herein, aperture times and pulse features can be variable quantities to enable various features of the invention.
As used herein, the term auto-correlation refers to a method of comparing a signal with itself. For example, Time—Auto Correlation compares a time shifted version of a signal with itself.
As used herein, the term bandwidth refers to a frequency span over which a substantial portion of a signal is restricted according to some desired performance metric. Often, a 3 dB metric is allocated for the upper and lower band (span) edge to facilitate the definition. However, sometimes a differing frequency span is allocated. Span can also be referred to as band or bandwidth depending on context.
As used herein, the term blended control function refers to a set of dynamic and configurable controls which are distributed to an apparatus according to an optimization algorithm which accounts for H(x), the input information entropy, the waveform standard, all significant hardware variables and operational parameters. Optimization provides a trade-off between thermodynamic efficiency and waveform quality. BLENDED CONTROL BY PARKERVISION™ is a registered trademark of ParkerVision, Inc., Jacksonville, Fla.
As used herein, the term bin refers to a subset of values or span of values within some range or domain.
As used herein, the term bit refers to a unit of information measure calculated using numbers with a base of 2.
As used herein, the term Boltzmann's Constant refers to kB≅1.38×10−2 3 Joules/Kelvin(J/K).
As used herein, the abbreviation C is an abbreviation for coulomb, which is a quantity of charge.
As used herein, the term capacity refers to the maximum possible rate for information transfer through a communications channel, while maintaining a specified quality metric. Capacity can also be designated (abbreviated) as C, or C with possibly a subscript, depending on context. It should not be confused with Coulomb, a quantity of charge.
As used herein, the term carrier signal refers to a signal which can be modulated in frequency, amplitude, or phase, for it to carry information. For instance, an AM radio transmitter modulates the amplitude of a carrier signal. An RF carrier signal is a carrier with a fundamental radio frequency which can be clearly specified in terms of some nominal frequency and amplitude prior to application of modulation.
As used herein, the term cascading refers to transferring a quantity or multiple quantities sequentially.
As used herein, the term cascading refers to using a power source connection configuration to increase potential energy.
As used herein, the term charge refers to the fundamental unit in coulombs associated with an electron or proton, ˜±1.602×10−19 C., or an integral multiplicity thereof.
As used herein, the term cluster refers to a fixed number of antenna elements accessed as a unit for the purpose of transmit or receive RF signal processing.
As used herein, the term complex phasor refers to a complex signal vector with a vector origin at the complex plane origin, which possesses a phase angle in the complex plane, which can be a dynamic function. An example dynamic phasor function is rotating the complex signal vector as a function of time within the complex plane. An example is show as element 608 in
As used herein, the term code refers to a combination of symbols which collectively can possess an information entropy.
As used herein, the term communication refers to transfer of information through space and time.
As used herein, the term communications channel refers to any path that transports a signal whether material or spatial in nature
As used herein, the term communications sink refers to a targeted load for a communications signal or an apparatus that utilizes a communication signal.
As used herein, the term complex plane refers to a plane with two perpendicular axes upon which complex numbers are represented. The horizontal axis represents the real number component (also called in phase (I) component where applicable for this disclosure), while the vertical axis represents the imaginary number component (also called quadrature phase (Q) component where applicable for this disclosure).
As used herein, the term complex signal envelope refers to a mathematical description of a signal suitable for RF application, such as the following:
As used herein, the terms composite beam, antenna beamwidth, and beam width refer to an angle between the points at which the intensity of an antenna is at half (or some other specified quantity) of its maximum value. A composite beam can be measured in the horizontal plane and/or the vertical plane. The composite beam or beamwidth can be a variable quantity depending on the gain and phase of the RF carrier at each antenna element and/or the physical construction of the antenna array. The composite beam or beamwidth can be steered or pointed in a direction relative to some reference direction, such as zero degrees azimuth and zero degrees elevation, for example. The pointing or steering can be dynamic and variable according to the gain and phase of the RF carrier at each antenna element whenever more than one antenna element is being controlled.
As used herein, the term compositing refers to the mapping of one or more constituent signals or portions of one or more constituent signals to domains and their subordinate functions and arguments according to a dynamic co-variance or cross correlation of said functions. Blended Controls weight the distribution of information to each constituent signal. The composite statistic of the blended controls is determined by an information source with source entropy of H(x), the number of the available degrees of freedom for the apparatus, the efficiency of each degree of freedom, and the corresponding potential to distribute a specific signal rate in each degree of freedom.
As used herein, the term constellation refers to the set of signal coordinates in the complex plane with values determined from aI(t) and aQ(t) and plotted graphically with aI(t) versus aQ(t) or vice versa.
As used herein, the term correlation refers to the measure by which the similarity of two or more variables can be compared. A measure of 1 implies they are equivalent and a measure of 0 implies the variables are completely dissimilar. A measure of (−1) implies the variables are opposite. Values between (−1) and (+1) other than zero also provide a relative similarity metric.
As used herein, the term complex correlation refers to correlation in which the variables which are compared are represented by complex numbers. The resulting metric can have a complex number result.
As used herein, the term covariance refers to a correlation operation for which the random variables of the arguments have their expected values extracted prior to performing correlation.
As used herein, the term cumulative distribution function (CDF or cdf) refers to the function in probability theory and statistics that describes the probability that a real-valued random variable X with a given probability distribution will be found at a value less than or equal to x. Cumulative distribution functions are also used to specify the distribution of multivariate random variables. A CDF can be obtained through an integration or accumulation over a relevant probability density (pdf) domain.
As used herein, the term data stream refers to the continuous flow of data over a communications channel.
As used herein, the term decoding refers to the process of extracting information from an encoded signal.
As used herein, the term decoding time refers to the time interval to accomplish decoding.
As used herein, the term degrees of freedom refers to the dimension, or dimensions, or subset of a dimension(s), of some space into which energy and/or information can individually or jointly be imparted and extracted. Such a space can be multi-dimensional and sponsor multiple degrees of freedom. A single dimension can also support multiple degrees of freedom.
As used herein, the term density of states for phase space refers to a set of relevant coordinates of some mathematical, geometrical space which can be assigned a unique time and/or probability, and/or probability density. The probability densities can statistically characterize meaningful physical quantities that can be further represented by scalars, vectors and tensors.
As used herein, the term desired degree of freedom refers to a degree of freedom that is efficiently encoded with information. These degrees of freedom are information conservative and energetically conservative. They are also known as information bearing degrees of freedom. These degrees of freedom can be deliberately controlled or manipulated to affect the causal response of a system through and application, algorithm or function.
As used herein, the abbreviation DCPS refers to a digitally controlled power or energy source.
As used herein, the term dimension refers to a metric of a mathematical space. A single space can have one or more than one dimension. Often, dimensions are orthogonal. Ordinary space has 3-dimensions: length, width and depth. However dimensions can include time metrics, frequency metrics, phase metrics, space metrics and abstract metrics as well, in any quantity or combination.
As used herein, the term direct to power (D2p™) refers to a direct to power modulator device.
As used herein, the term direct to data array processor (D2d™AP) refers to a D2d™ based processor suitable for controlling the gain and phase of a received or transmitted modulated carrier for the purpose of steering the beam of a plurality of antenna elements or for the purpose of direct RF down conversion or direct RF up conversion. The baseband interface can be in I and Q format for the information to be received or transmitted.
As used herein, the term direct to power array processor (D2p™AP) refers to a D2p™ based processor used for controlling the gain and phase of a transmitted modulated carrier for the purpose of steering the beam of a plurality of antenna elements or for the purpose of direct RF up conversion. The up converted data can be in I and Q format at the baseband transmit interface.
As used herein, the term distribution manifold refers to a structure or structures used to distribute received and/or transmit modulated RF carrier signals for the purpose of receive signal processing or transmit signal processing.
As used herein, the term domain refers to a range of values or functions of values relevant to mathematical or logical operations or calculations. Domains can apply to multiple dimensions and therefore bound hypergeometric quantities and they can include real and imaginary numbers, or any set of logical and mathematical functions and their arguments.
As used herein, the term down-convert refers to the process of removing the RF carrier from a modulated RF carrier. The process can include direct down conversion zero intermediate frequency (ZIF) at the down converted output or some other suitable lower intermediate frequency depending on application. The information modulated onto the RF carrier is preserved in the down conversion processed and conveyed by the down converter apparatus in a format suitable for subsequent processing.
As used herein, the terms down-converter and downconverter refer to a converter whose output frequency is lower than its input frequency. This contrasts with an up-converter whose output frequency is higher than that of the input. When the down conversion results in a zero frequency carrier output, it is referred to as ZIF. A direct conversion signal can be ZIF or some low relatively offset frequency which can be further resolved using digital signal processing.
As used herein, the term duty cycle refers to a ratio of pulse duration to pulse repetition period, expressed as a percentage or a decimal number depending on context. For example, the effective aperture duration of a pulse time divided by the time between successive pulses for a periodic pulse sequence.
As used herein, the term encoding refers to a process of imprinting information onto a waveform to create an information bearing function of time.
As used herein, the term encoding time refers to the time interval to accomplish encoding.
As used herein, the terms efficiency, output efficiency, and power efficiency refer to ratio of the useful power or energy output of a device or system to its total power or energy input.
As used herein, the term energy refers to the capacity to accomplish work where work is defined as the amount of energy required to move an object (material or virtual) through space and time.
As used herein, the term energy function refers to any function that can be evaluated over its arguments to calculate the capacity to accomplish work, based on the function arguments.
As used herein, the term energy partition refers to a function of a distinguishable gradient field, with the capacity to accomplish work.
As used herein, the terms energy source or energy sources refer to a device which supplies energy from one or more access nodes to one or more apparatus. One or more energy sources can supply a single apparatus. One or more energy sources can supply more than one apparatus.
As used herein, the term entropy refers to an uncertainty metric proportional to the logarithm of the number of possible states in which a system can be found according to the probability weight of each state. For example, information entropy is the uncertainty of an information source based on all the possible symbols from the source and their respective probabilities. As another example, physical entropy is the uncertainty of the states for a physical system with a number of degrees of freedom. Each degree of freedom can have some probability of energetic excitation.
As used herein, the term ergodic refers to stochastic processes for which statistics derived from time samples of process variables correspond to the statistics of independent ensembles selected from the process. For ergodic ensemble, the average of a function of the random variables over the ensemble is equal with probability unity to the average over all possible time translations of a particular member function of the ensemble, except for a subset of representations of measure zero.
As used herein, the term ether refers to an electromagnetic transmission medium, usually ideal free space unless otherwise implied.
As used herein, the term error vector magnitude (EVM) refers to a sampled signal that is described in vector space. The ratio of power in the unwanted variance (or approximated variance) of the signal at the sample time to the root mean squared power expected for a proper signal.
As used herein, the term Flutter™ refers to fluctuation of one or more energy partitions and any number of signal parameters. Includes interactively manipulating components outside of the energy source. FLUTTER™ is a registered trademark of ParkerVision, Inc. Jacksonville, Fla.
As used herein, the symbols ℑ{ } or {tilde over (ℑ)}{ } are used to indicate a “function of” the quantity or expression (also known as argument) in the bracket { }. The function can be in combination of mathematical and/or logical operation.
As used herein, the terms full-duplex (FDX) and full-duplex communication refer to a two-way communication which occurs simultaneously in both directions for a communications channel. This contrasts with half-duplex, in which communication can only occur in one direction at a time.
As used herein, the terms fundamental, fundamental frequency, fundamental component, and first harmonic refer to the sinusoidal component having the lowest frequency for a complex signal, wave, or vibration that is periodic. All integral multiples are called harmonics, such that the second harmonic is twice the fundamental frequency, the third harmonic is three times the fundamental frequency, and so on. Any even-numbered multiple of the fundamental frequency is called an even harmonic, and any odd-numbered multiple is called an odd harmonic.
As used herein, the term generation can refer to any one or more of the following: (1) the process of producing something, such as energy, a signal, a voltage, a current, a result, a set of instructions, etc. Generating can comprise one or more steps for a procedure; (2) the process of converting any form of energy into any other form of energy; (3) the process of converting another form of energy into electrical energy; (4) the process of producing a phase and/or a gain for a signal and/or waveform; (5) the process of producing an alternating current or voltage of a desired frequency; and (6) the process or procedure for producing a pulse of particular aperture and pulse characteristic.
As used herein, the terms half-duplex (HDX) and half-duplex communication refer to a two-way communication in which communication can only occur one direction at a time for a communications channel. This contrasts with full-duplex, in which communication can occur simultaneously in both directions.
As used herein, the term hyper geometric manifold refers to a mathematical surface described in a space with 4 or more dimensions. Each dimension can also comprise complex quantities.
As used herein, the term I refers to the symbol for an in phase component or real component of a complex signal representation.
As used herein, the term information entropy (usually given the symbol notation H(x)) refers to the entropy of a source alphabet or the uncertainty associated with the occurrence of symbols from a source alphabet. The metric H (x) can have units of bits or even bits/per second depending on context but is defined by
in the case where p(x)i is a discrete random variable. If p(x)i is a continuous random variable then:
With mixed probability densities, mixed random variables, both discrete and continuous entropy functions can apply with a normalized probability space of measure 1. Whenever b=2 the information is measured in bits. If b=e then the information is given in nats. H(x) can often be used to quantity an information source.
As used herein, the term information bearing function of time refers to any waveform, which has been encoded with information, and therefore becomes a signal.
As used herein, the term information bearing function refers to any set of information samples which can be indexed.
As used herein, the term instantaneous efficiency refers to a time variant efficiency obtained from the ratio of the instantaneous output power divided by the instantaneous input power of an apparatus, accounting for statistical correlations between input and output. The ratio of output to input powers can be averaged.
As used herein, the term local oscillator (LO) refers to local oscillator signal, a local oscillator device, a local oscillator waveform, or a local oscillator source.
As used herein, the term low-noise amplifier (LNA) refers to an amplifier that contributes an especially small amount of noise to the desired signal to be amplified. A LNA can be used, for example, to amplify a weak satellite signal that is reflected by a satellite dish.
As used herein, the term macroscopic degrees of freedom refers to the unique portions of application phase space whose separable probability densities can be manipulated by unique physical controls derivable from the function {tilde over (ℑ)}{H(x)v
As used herein, the term microscopic degrees of freedom refers to spontaneously excited due to undesirable modes within the degrees of freedom. These can include, for example, unwanted Joule heating, microphonics, proton emission and a variety of correlated and uncorrelated signal degradations.
As used herein, the term mixed partition refers to a partition comprising scalars or vectors tensors with real or imaginary number representation in any combination.
As used herein, the term module refers to a processing related entity, either hardware (such as electronic circuits, portions of electronic circuits, electronic components, and combinations of electronic components, including electronic circuit elements and/or portions thereof), software, or a combination of hardware and software, or software in execution. For example, a module can be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. One or more modules can reside within a process and/or thread of execution and a module can be localized on one chip or processor and/or distributed between two or more chips or processors. The term “module” can include, for example, software code, machine language or assembly language, an electronic medium that can store an algorithm or algorithm or a processing unit that is adapted to execute program code or other stored instructions.
As used herein, the term minimum mean square error refers to minimizing the quantity ({tilde over (X)}−X)2 where {tilde over (X)} is the estimate of X, a random variable {tilde over (X)} is usually an observable from measurement or can be derived from an observable measurement, or implied by the assumption of one or more statistics.
As used herein, the term multiple input multiple output (MIMO) refers to multiple antenna diversity.
As used herein, the term multiple input single output (MISO) refers to an operator that creates or generates an output signal from a composite of input signals. The operation or process/procedure can be some combination of nonlinear and linear functions of the inputs.
As used herein, the term modulated refers to any one or more of the following: (1) to modify a characteristic of a wave or signal proportionally to a characteristic present in another wave or signal. For example, to encode an RF carrier with information on its phase (i.e. phase modulation (PM)), frequency (i.e. frequency modulation (FM)), amplitude (i.e. amplitude modulation (AM)) or some combination of the three modulation types; and (2) to modify a characteristic of a carrier wave by an information-bearing signal, for example, as occurs in AM, FM, or PM.
As used herein, the term nat refers to a unit of information measure calculated using numbers with a natural logarithm base.
As used herein, the term node refers to a point of analysis, calculation, measure, reference, input or output, related to procedure, algorithm, schematic, block diagram or other hierarchical object.
As used herein, the abbreviation PAER refers to peak to average energy ratio, a parameter that can be measured in dB, if desired. PAER can also be defined as the ratio of some relatively extreme statistic of an energy function to its average.
As used herein, the abbreviation PAPR refers to peak to average power ratio, which can be measured in dB, if desired.
As used herein, the term partitions refers to boundaries within phase space that enclose points, lines, areas, and volumes. Partitions can possess physical or abstract description, and relate to physical or abstract quantities. Partitions can overlap one or more other partitions. Partitions can be described using scalars, vectors, tensors, real or imaginary numbers along with boundary constraints.
As used herein, the terms probability distribution and probability distribution function (PDF) refers to a mathematical function relating a value from a probability space to another space characterized by random variables.
As used herein, the term probability density (pdf) refers to the probability that a random variable or joint random variables possess versus their argument values. The pdf can be normalized so that the accumulated values of the probability space possesses a measure of the CDF.
As used herein, the term phase space refers to a conceptual space that can be composed of real physical dimensions as well as abstract mathematical dimensions, and described by the language of probability theory and geometry.
As used herein, the term power function refers to an energy function per unit time or the partial derivative of an energy function with respect to time. If the function is averaged, it is an average power. If the function is not averaged it can be referred to as an instantaneous power. Power function has units of energy per unit time and so each coordinate of a power function has an associated energy which occurs at an associated time. A power function does not change the units of its time distributed resource (i.e. energy).
As used herein, the term power source refers to an energy source which is described by a power function. It can possess a single voltage and/or current or multiple voltages and/or currents deliverable to an apparatus or a load. A power source can also be referred to as power supply.
As used herein, the term pseudo-phase space refers to an alternate representation or approximation of a phase space.
As used herein, the term Q refers to the symbol of a quadrature phase or imaginary component of a complex signal representation.
As used herein, the terms radio frequency (RF), RF frequency, and RF range refer to any one or more of the following: (1) a frequency or interval of frequencies utilized for communications within the electromagnetic spectrum; (2) a specific interval of RF frequencies, such as, for example, those in the radio spectrum; (3) a specific RF, such as that of a carrier wave or HF (high frequency), VHF (very high frequency), UHF (ultra-high frequency), SHF (super-high frequency); (4) a rate of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to 300 GHz, which corresponds to the frequency of radio waves, and the alternating currents, which carry radio signals. RF usually refers to electrical rather than mechanical oscillations, although mechanical RF systems do exist.
As used herein, the term RF power divider refers to an apparatus or circuit that splits an RF signal path into more than one branch for subsequent distribution of an RF carrier signal to processing functions/circuits.
As used herein, the term random process refers to an uncountable, infinite, time ordered continuum of statistically independent random variables. A random process can also be approximated as a maximally dense time ordered continuum of statistically independent random variables.
As used herein, the term random variable refers to a variable quantity which is non-deterministic but can be statistically characterized. Random variables can be real or complex quantities.
As used herein, the term rendered signal refers to a signal which has been generated as an intermediate result or a final result depending on context. For instance, a desired final RF modulated output can be referred to as a rendered signal.
As used herein, the term sample refers to a representation of characteristics or parameters of an information bearing function of time. The characteristics or parameters can be physical or abstract quantities. One or more samples can be used to render a representation of an Information Bearing Function of Time. This representation can be a reconstruction or rendering or set of electronic data, that is based on a priori information of the information bearing function of time. Samples can be assigned sample values, scalars, vectors, tensors or other mathematical quantity. Sample values can have associated indices for maintaining order, sequence, or orderly reference purpose. One form of ordering or sequence control is time ordering.
As used herein, the term sample function refers to a set of functions which comprise arguments to be measured or analyzed. For instance multiple segments of a waveform or signal could be acquired (“sampled”) and the average, power, or correlation to some other waveform, estimated from the sample functions.
As used herein, the term scalar partition refers to any partition comprising scalar values.
As used herein, the term signal refers to an energetic information bearing function of time.
As used herein, the term signal efficiency refers to thermodynamic efficiency of a system accounting only for the desired output average signal power divided by the total input power to the system on the average.
As used herein, the term signal ensemble refers to a set of signals or set of signal samples or set of signal sample functions.
As used herein, the term single envelope refers to a quantity obtained from (aI2+aQ2)1/2 where aI is the in phase component of a complex signal and aQ is the quadrature phase component of a complex signal. aI and aQ can be functions of time.
As used herein, the term signal phase refers to the angle of a complex signal or phase portion of a(t)e−jω
and the sign function is determined from the signs of aQ, aI to account for the repetition of modulo tan aQ/aI
As used herein, the terms simplex, simplex communication, and one-way communication refer to a communication in which data, voice, or the like is transmitted in one direction only for a communications channel. For example, one or more locations receive, but cannot transmit. Other examples include broadcasting and that utilized by one-way intercom systems.
As used herein, the term spectral distribution refers to energy, power, amplitude, phase or some other relevant metric versus frequency with a statistical characterization.
As used herein, statistical partition refers to any partition with mathematical values or structures, i.e., scalars, vectors, tensors, etc., characterized statistically.
As used herein, the term steering refers to process of pointing or directing an antenna beam so that the beamwidth is primarily focused in a desired direction, for example a particular azimuth and elevation.
As used herein, the terms subharmonic, sub-harmonic, and sub harmonic refer to an integral submultiple of a first harmonic. For example, the third sub-harmonic of a 9 MHz harmonic is 3 MHz. For the purpose of this disclosure, a first sub harmonic is equivalent to the first harmonic and the same as the fundamental unless otherwise specifically indicated.
As used herein, the terms switch or switched refer to a discrete change in one or more values and/or processing path, depending on context. A change of functions can also be accomplished by switching between functions.
As used herein, the term symbol refers to a segment of a signal, usually associated with some minimum integer information assignment in bits or nats.
As used herein, the term “tensor partition” refers to any partition comprising tensors.
As used herein, the term thermodynamic efficiency (usually represented by the symbol η) is accounted for accounted for by application of the 1st and 2nd Laws of Thermodynamics:
where Pout is the power in a proper signal intended for the communication sink, load or channel. Pin is measured as the power supplied to the communications apparatus while performing it's function. Likewise, Eout and Ein correspond to the proper energy out of an apparatus intended for communication sink, load, or channel, while Ein is the energy supplied to the apparatus.
As used herein, the term thermodynamic entropy refers to a probability measure for the distribution of energy amongst all degrees of freedom for a system. The greatest entropy for a system occurs at equilibrium by definition. Thermodynamic entropy is often represented with the symbol S. Equilibrium is determined when
“→” in this case means “tends toward”.
As used herein, the term thermodynamic flux refers to a concept related to the study of transitory and non-equilibrium thermodynamics. In this theory entropy can evolve according to probabilities associated with random processes or deterministic processes based on certain system gradients. After a long period, usually referred to as the relaxation time, the entropy flux dissipates and the final system entropy becomes the approximate equilibrium entropy of classical thermodynamics, or neo-classical statistical physics.
As used herein, the term thermodynamics refers to a physical science that accounts for the interaction of energy and matter. It encompasses a body of knowledge based on 4 fundamental laws that explain the transformation and transport of energy in a general manner.
As used herein, the undesired degree of freedom refers to a subset of degrees of freedom that gives rise to system inefficiencies such as energy loss or the non-conservation of energy and/or information loss and non-conservation of information. Loss here refers to unusable for its original targeted purpose.
As used herein, the term unit circle refers to a locus of points in the complex signal plane that lie on a circle with radius of unity and center located at the complex signal plane origin.
As used herein, the terms up-converter, up converter, and upconverter refer to a converter whose output frequency is higher than its input frequency. This contrasts with a down-converter, whose output frequency is lower than that of the input. A direct up converter converts a signal at baseband directly to a frequency with the RF fundamental as at least one of the frequency channels of its output spectrums.
As used herein, the terms variable energy source and variable energy supply refer to an energy source which can change values, with or without the assist of auxiliary functions, in a discrete or continuous or hybrid manner.
As used herein, the terms variable power source and variable power supply refer to a power source which can change values, with or without the assist of auxiliary functions, in a discrete or continuous or hybrid manner.
As used herein, the term vector partition refers to any partition comprising vector values.
As used herein, the term vector synthesis engine (VSE) refers to a processor that generates controls to implement the modulation process of the D2p™ and D2p™ AP complex up converters. A VSE can also generate the gain and phase control for branches of a multi-antenna element transmitter. A VSE can additionally or alternatively be used in conjunction with a D2d™ up conversion architecture.
As used herein, the term waveform refers to a particular instantiation of a function of time. A waveform is not required to be encoded with information.
As used herein, the term waveform efficiency refers to the efficiency calculated from the average waveform output power of an apparatus divided by its averaged waveform input power.
As used herein, the term work refers to energy exchanged between the apparatus and its communications sink, load, or channel as well as its environment. The energy is exchanged by the motions of charges, molecules, atoms, virtual particles and through electromagnetic fields as well as gradients of temperature.
As used herein, the term zero intermediate frequency (ZIF) refers to an RF receiver in which the frequency of the local oscillator signal is the same as the carrier frequency of the incoming signal and the resultant output of a received down conversion is centered at a frequency of zero Hz.
Sampled D2p™ and D2d™ Antenna Array Architectures
In an embodiment, the digital input data stream 322 is synchronously routed via parallel clock/control 324 and clock/control distribution network 3240-324n to separate sampled d2p transmit (TX) modulator modules 3300-330n (hereafter also referred to D2p™ modules or D2p™ AP™ modules, or TX modules) comprising converter functions, such as, for example, D2p™ up converter functions where the data is available on a parallel or serial bus instantiations 3220-322n to all TX branches. The D2p™ function in the up convert path can be supplanted by the D2d™ up converter technology as well. Thus it is understood that in any instantiation of a D2p™ up converter that is described in this disclosure that a D2d™ up converter can also be used. The clock/control distribution or distribution network 3240-324n (where “n” is any suitable number) can comprise one or more than one data control functions/signals, data clocking waveforms, gain and phase control, and sample clock, as well as multiple unique physical interface connections and conductors for each of up to n instantiations. The data (or digital information) 320 can be uniquely selected at each TX module (generally 330) or commonly accessed as specified for the application using one or more controls from the clock/control distribution (generally 324). The D2p™ modules (330) produce gain scaled and phase scaled RF carrier signals based on a sample clock, which can be harmonically or sub harmonically related to the desired output modulated RF carrier fundamental frequency and the various associated clock/controls 3240-324n and input data, or digital information 320. The outputs of D2p™ modules (330) are distributed to antenna elements 3400-340n. Information modulated onto the separate branch output signals can be identical or unique from branch to branch. In an embodiment, each D2p™ function can efficiently render a complex modulated RF signal at a specified power according to the D2p™ algorithm under distributed vector synthesis engine (VSE) (not shown in
In an embodiment, each receive antenna element 4020-402n (where “n” is any suitable number) receives an RF signal that can be amplified via LNA modules 4040-404n. The outputs from the LNA in each receive branch are further processed by the D2d™ energy sampled array (down) converters 4060-406n (hereafter also referred to as D2d™ down converters). The down converters support ZIF, low IF or other suitable IF applications. Each D2d™ down converter (generally 406) has a baseband output interface/signals 4120-412n, which can be digital or analog format. In the complex down converter case, the baseband outputs are I and Q. The information can be correlated or unique at the output of each branch D2d™ down converter (406). Although
In embodiments in which a combining function is used, a signal 416 at the combiner output can be produced of the most desirable character to maximize performance of the communications link. The most desirable character can mean a representation of the received signal or signals with the highest signal to noise plus interference ratio (S/(N+I)), greatest information throughput with lowest probability of error, and highest reliability for link access and maintenance.
In an embodiment, the architecture can support a single receive information waveform distributed amongst the antenna elements or multiple uniquely processed information waveforms.
In an embodiment, gain weighting and phase shifting in each branch can be accomplished within or in conjunction with the D2d™ down converter module in the example illustrated in
In an embodiment, the architecture illustrated in
There are at least two methods of digital gain adjustments which are possible per processing branch, where a processing branch is considered as the transmit or receive information signal path for an energy sampled D2p™ array processor (also referred to herein as “D2p™ AP”) and/or a sampled D2d™ array processor (also referred to herein as “d2dAP”).
Gain of a particular processing branch can be adjusted by the digital weight of analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion in the information path and/or a sample aperture width. Typically, the A/D information path will comprise I (In-Phase) and Q (Quadrature Phase) signals. The magnitude of these signals can be adjusted by rescaling maximum values as some back-off from the most significant magnitude bit or reducing average powers or some combination of the two techniques.
Some number of gain magnitude bits can be allocated to the up or down conversion sampling time aperture width. Gain is maximum for a specific sampling aperture width. At other aperture widths which deviate away from the optimal conversion aperture (specifically designed for a maximum gain), gain can decrease.
Phase of the carrier in each processing branch can also be adjusted modulo 360° with respect to a carrier reference phase. This is accomplished via a harmonic or sub harmonic sample clock and a complex sampler. The sample clock frequency is related to the carrier frequency by:
sample clock frequency=n·(carrier frequency), where n=1,2,3, . . .
f
clk
=n·f
c, where n=1,2,3, . . .
or
sample clock frequency=(carrier frequency)/N; where N=1,2,3, . . .
f
clk
=f
c
/N; where N=1,2,3, . . .
The phase of the harmonic or sub harmonic clock, where harmonic and sub harmonic are determined by the values n, N, respectively, is rotated around the unit circle of the complex plane by digital weighting of I and Q control.
There are at least two implementations for changing the relative carrier phases of each processing branch: direct and vector decomposition. The direct method is illustrated in
where φH
In an embodiment, the function sign {Q—weight, I—weight} is a function which tracks the polarity of in-phase and quadrature phase weights to determine in which quadrant the output complex phasor 608 resides on account of the ambiguity of the arctan function. The “direct” method creates a complex phasor illustrated in the complex plane by
Output complex phasor 608 is a rotating vector also called a complex phasor or simply phasor for the purposes of this disclosure. The unit circle 606 is a particular locus of points on the circle of radius unity with a center at the origin 612 of the complex plane. I-axis 602 and Q-axis 604 show arbitrary reference axes, set to zero degrees for illustration purposes. A circle radius of less than or greater than unity is possible as well and can be adjusted by the sample clock duty cycle/sampling aperture width as well as suitable gain weighting of the input orthogonal clock waveforms. The complex phasor 608 is composed of the real and imaginary component vectors formed from the I_weight and Q_weight and sampler or multiplier functions of
By suitable choice of I—weight, Q—weight and sign {Q—weight, I—weight}, any phase φSH
Example D2p™ AP™ and D2d™ AP Modules
aQ(t) is a time variant quadrature control which varies the complex signal envelope of the signal S(t). aI(t) is a time variant in-phase information or data stream which modulates the complex signal envelope of S(t). S(t) is therefore given by:
S(t)=aI(t)cos(ωct+φc(t))±jaQ(t)sin(ωct+φc(t)), where
Fc and φc can be obtained by using harmonic or sub harmonic frequencies as previously discussed.
In an embodiment, it is possible to generate relative phase shifts of S(t) by suitably choosing a fixed offset value for φc. The ± sign terms for the quadrature component aQ is a matter of convention for the preferred direction of rotation of the vector and/or the preferred definition for positive or negative angle offset or carrier phase, φc. The complex number j has been included to contemplate the complex exponential form of the equation as an optional mathematical representation.
The control signals a{tilde over (Q)}(t) 1006 and aĨ(t) 1008 signals, which are orthogonal to one another, can be given in terms of the original S(t) formulation for a given phase angle φc.
ã
Q(t)=a{tilde over (Q)}(t)cos(φc)+aĨ cos(π/2−φc)
ã
I(t)=a{tilde over (Q)}(t)cos(π/2−φc)+aĨ cos(φc)
In an embodiment, {tilde over (S)}(t) is given by:
{tilde over (S)}(t)=ãI(t)cos(ωct)±jãQ(t)sin(ωct)
{tilde over (S)}(t) is then a phase shifted version of S(t) implemented by suitable definition of I and Q components rather than direct phase sifting of the carrier clock. In this realization, the direct sampled clock phase shifter of
The process of controlling or resolving the ãI and ãQ components, as well as φc, applies to both up conversion and down conversion schemes discussed with regard to
Example D2d™ Complex Down Converter
In an embodiment, a differential RF inputs RF—in—p 2002 and RF—in—n 2004 are applied to the down converter input, such as, for example, the RF modulated carrier signal 806 of
The example down converter of
In embodiments in which the outputs are digitized, the outputs can be multiplexed in parallel or serial formats on digital distribution busses for subsequent DSP or baseband processor processing. The subsequent processing can comprise “proper combining” with other down converted paths, DC offset removal or reduction, filtering, additional demodulation, decoding, etc. “Proper combining” means that the various array element receive processing paths can be integrated to form a down converted path with superior signal to noise plus interference power ratios, (S/(N+I)), while preserving the information metrics of the down converted signal. Superior means a more preferable signal compared to the case of down conversion using a single antenna element processing path. Similar to the foregoing discussion, processing can also be accomplished using analog functions at baseband or near baseband, in part or whole.
In an embodiment, the down conversion from RF can be to zero IF or as close to an IF of DC as is practical given the preferred or available support hardware and software function limitations and configurations. Other suitable IF frequencies can also be supported depending on the harmonic or subharmonic clock frequency. For instance, a convenient lower frequency IF signal can be used in the down conversion such that the BB processor or DSP can complete the carrier stripping, synchronization and demodulation, DC offset removal procedures, etc., without requiring perfect phase and/or frequency synchronism between down conversion clocks and the received RF carrier.
Example D2p™ Complex Up Converter
In an embodiment, the D2p™ complex up converter comprises active and passive circuits operated in linear and nonlinear modes depending on the distributed controls 1202 from the VSE (not shown in
In an embodiment, at least two branches of the MISO inputs (1202, 1204) are generated by sub harmonic or harmonic sampling, or some combination of both sampling frequencies, for example I and Q sampled up conversion clocks 1204 (also referred to as sample clocks 1204). The sample apertures of the sample clocks 1204 can be controlled or sculpted in terms of amplitude, phase, rise times, fall times, and pulse width. Sample clocks 1204 can be phase shifted by the methods discussed with regard to
In an embodiment, both gain and phase of the up converted signal are individually controlled to enable a phased array, diversity, or MIMO antenna application.
In some embodiments, the D2p™ complex up converter employs D2p™ techniques disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,091,940, 6,740,549, 7,039,372, 7,050,508, 7,355,470, 7,184,723, 8,502,600, 7,647,030, 8,013,675, and 8,433,264, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Example D2d™ Complex Up Converter
In an embodiment, the I data streams (BBI+ 4002a and BBI− 4002b) and Q data streams (BBQ+ 4004a and BBQ− 4004b) data streams are independently sampled at a sub harmonic or harmonic frequency with a suitable sample aperture. In an embodiment, the sample apertures can be controlled or sculpted in terms of amplitude, phase, rise times, fall times, and pulse width (e.g., aperture width in time). The sampling aperture can be tailored to optimize power transfer to an energy storage network 4020, which can include energy storage module 4022 and/or suitable output filter 4024 to assist in the generation of the modulated RF output signals RF+ 4010a and RF− 4010b with desirable (designed or specified) spectral characteristics. The sampling apertures are associated with the pulse widths of the sampling waveforms and/or sampling signals LOI+ 4006a and LOI− 4006b (collectively signals 4006) and LOQ+ 4008a and LOQ− 4008b (collectively signals 4008). The indicated schematic values are example values, and embodiments are not limited to these values. Signals 4006 and 4008 can be 25% duty cycle clocks.
In an embodiment, the sampling signals 4006 and 4008 can be suitably sculpted to help achieve an overall output signal performance. In this context, suitably sculpted means that the signals are designed to trade off spectral content, as well as information content versus efficiency per branch so that a composite signal is optimized against some performance metric blend at the output of the MISO (not shown in
In an embodiment, both gain and phase of the up converted signal are individually controlled to enable a phased array, diversity, or MIMO antenna application.
In some embodiments, the D2d™ complex up converter employs D2d™ techniques disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,091,940, 6,740,549, 7,039,372, 7,050,508, 7,355,470, 7,184,723, 8,502,600, 7,647,030, 8,013,675, and 8,433,264, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
D2d™ Complex Down Converter
Down converter 1408 generates lower frequency output signals 1426 and 1428, corresponding to downconverted I and Q signals, respectively. Signals 1426 and 1428 can be matched using matching modules 1430 and 1432 to produce matched outputs BBI_out 1434 and BBQ_out 1436. The matching modules 1430 and 1432 are optional and can be used to optimize or enhance downconverted signals 1426 and 1428. Matching modules 1430 and 1432 can be an impedance or load matching circuit, circuitry, circuit elements, networks, or any combination thereof.
Additional processing details of a D2d™ complex down converter 1408 are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,061,551, 7,194,246, 7,218,907, 7,865,177, and 8,190,116, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties.
D2d™ Complex Up Converter
Up converter 1610 generates a higher frequency output signal 1626, which includes the upconverted I and Q signals. Signal 1626 can be matched using matching module 1630 to produce matched output RF_out 1632. The matching module 1630 is optional and can be used to optimize or enhance upconverted signal 1626. Matching module 1630 can be an impedance or load matching circuit, circuitry, circuit elements, networks, or any combination thereof.
Additional processing details of a D2d™ complex up converter 1608 are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,091,940, 6,740,549, 7,039,372, 7,050,508, 7,355,470, 7,184,723, 8,502,600, 7,647,030, 8,013,675, and 8,433,264, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties.
The present invention includes many alternate embodiments such as a method and apparatus for controlling one or more antennae comprising unique and independent control of modulated or unmodulated phase and gain for two or more signals using energy sampling methods. These sampling methods can include using a D2p™ sampled up converter or a D2d™ sampled down converter.
Additionally, embodiments of the invention are directed to direct sampled phase control implemented with a complex sampled up converter. This can be accomplished using a D2p™ sampled up converter. This can also be accomplished D2d™ sample down converter.
Embodiments of the invention can be used in a phased array application, MIMO application, and/or diversity processing application.
Further, embodiments of the invention can be used in simplex communication systems, half duplex systems, full duplex systems, multiplexed systems, or any combination thereof.
Embodiments of the invention can be used for point to multipoint RF distribution application and/or point to point RF link applications.
Embodiments of the invention are directed methods and apparatuses for transmit phase control through vector decomposition and projection at the sampled up converter. This can be accomplished in conjunction with methods and apparatuses for controlling one or more antennae comprising unique and independent control of modulated or unmodulated phase and gain for two or more signals using energy sampling methods.
According to some embodiments, the sampling apertures of the Tx sample clock and/or the sampling apertures of the Rx sample clock can be adjusted for the purpose of gain weighting.
In some embodiments, methods and apparatuses for controlling one or more antennae comprising unique and independent control of modulated or unmodulated phase and gain for two or more signals using energy sampling methods can include direct scaling of I and/or Q Baseband signals for gain control of Tx path and/or direct scaling of I and/or Q Baseband signals for gain control of Rx path.
Embodiments of the invention can be combined with dynamic steering of an antenna beam main lobe, steering of antenna beam ancillary lobes, steering of relative antenna beam nulls, or steering of any combination thereof.
It is to be appreciated that the Detailed Description section, and not the Summary and Abstract sections, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The Summary and Abstract sections can set forth one or more but not all example embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by the inventors, and thus, are not intended to limit the present invention and the appended claims in any way.
Embodiments of the present invention have been described above with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the relevant art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by a person skilled in the relevant art in light of the teachings and guidance.
The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described example embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/987,828 (Atty. Docket No. 1744.2400000), filed May 2, 2014, titled “Antenna Array Steering and Diversity Processing,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61987828 | May 2014 | US |