Element-level self-calculation of phased array vectors using direct calculation
This patent application describes systems, devices, and methods for element-level self-calculation of phased array vectors by a beam forming ASIC using direct calculation such as for fast beam steering.
1. A phased array system comprising:
a beam forming controller; and
at least one beam forming integrated circuit, each beam forming integrated circuit managing a plurality of array elements, wherein the beam forming controller provides variable element-independent multiplier components to the at least one beam forming integrated circuit to steer to a specified direction, and wherein each beam forming integrated circuit includes circuitry configured to directly calculate phase settings for the array elements supported by the beam forming integrated circuit based on the variable element-independent multiplier components provided by the beam forming controller and constant element-dependent multiplier components for computing the phase setting values for the array elements supported by the beam forming integrated circuit.
2. The phased array system of claim 1 , wherein each beam forming integrated circuit includes a memory storing the constant element-dependent multiplier components.
3. The phased array system of claim 1 , wherein the variable element-independent multiplier components comprise variable element-independent x and y multiplier components.
4. The phased array system of claim 3 , wherein the constant element-dependent multiplier components comprise constant element-dependent x and y multiplier components
x
n
_
=
2
π
h
x
,
n
and
y
n
_
=
2
π
h
y
,
n
,
and wherein the variable element-independent x and y multiplier components comprise variable element-independent x and y multiplier components
x
′
=
F
task
F
design
sin
θcosϕ
and
y
′
=
F
task
F
design
sin
θsinϕ
.
5. The phased array system of claim 1 , wherein the beam forming controller computes the multiplier components dynamically.
6. The phased array system of claim 1 , wherein the beam forming controller stores pre-computed multiplier components.
7. The phased array system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one beam forming integrated circuit includes a plurality of beam forming integrated circuits, and wherein the beam forming controller broadcasts the variable element-independent multiplier components to the plurality of beam forming integrated circuits.
8. The beam forming integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the variable element-independent multiplier components are N-bit codewords in which different bits represent different angular components.
9. The beam forming integrated circuit of claim 8 , wherein the N-bit codewords include an addition/subtraction indicator.
10. The beam forming integrated circuit of claim 8 , wherein the direct calculation of phase settings for the array elements based on the variable element-independent multiplier components provided by the beam forming controller uses binary shift registers and binary addition.
11. The phased array system of claim 1 , further comprising the plurality of array elements managed by each beam forming integrated circuit.
12. The phased array system of claim 11 , wherein the array elements are patch antennas.
13. The phased array system of claim 12 , wherein the patch antennas are formed on a laminar printed circuit board.
14. A beam forming integrated circuit for managing a plurality of array elements, the beam forming integrated circuit comprising circuitry configured to directly calculate phase settings for the array elements based on variable element-independent multiplier components provided by a beam forming controller to steer to a specified direction and constant element-dependent multiplier components for computing the phase setting values for the array elements supported by the beam forming integrated circuit.
15. The beam forming integrated circuit of claim 14 , further comprising a memory storing the constant element-dependent multiplier components.
16. The beam forming integrated circuit of claim 14 , wherein the variable element-independent multiplier components comprise variable element-independent x and y multiplier components.
17. The beam forming integrated circuit of claim 16 , wherein the constant element-dependent multiplier components comprise constant element-dependent x and y multiplier components
x
n
_
=
2
π
h
x
,
n
and
y
n
_
=
2
π
h
y
,
n
,
and wherein the variable element-independent x and y multiplier components comprise variable element-independent x and y multiplier components
x
′
=
F
task
F
design
sin
θcosϕ
and
y
′
=
F
task
F
design
sin
θsinϕ
.
18. The beam forming integrated circuit of claim 14 , wherein the variable element-independent multiplier components are N-bit codewords in which different bits represent different angular components.
19. The beam forming integrated circuit of claim 18 , wherein the N-bit codewords include an addition/subtraction indicator.
20. The beam forming integrated circuit of claim 18 , wherein the direct calculation of phase settings for the array elements based on the variable element-independent multiplier components provided by the beam forming controller uses binary shift registers and binary addition.