公开(公告)号：US09780449B2

公开(公告)日：2017-10-03

申请号：US14215778

申请日：2014-03-17

Applicant: Integrated Device Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Christopher T. Schiller ,  Jonathan Kennedy

IPC: H01Q3/42 ,  H01Q3/30 ,  H03B27/00 ,  H01Q3/00

CPC classification number: H01Q3/42 ,  H01Q3/30 ,  H03B27/00

Abstract: A method includes injecting a reference input signal into each Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) of a number of VCOs forming a coupled VCO array to reduce a level of injection energy required therefor. The reference input signal is configured to control operating frequency of the coupled VCO array. The method also includes utilizing a phase shift circuit: between individual VCOs of the coupled VCO array and/or in a path of injection of the reference input signal into one or more VCO(s) of the individual VCOs, and mixing outputs of the number of VCOs 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. Further, the method includes reducing a phase-steering requirement of the coupled VCO array during the beamforming based on the utilization of the phase shift circuit.

公开(公告)号：US09837714B2

公开(公告)日：2017-12-05

申请号：US14215650

申请日：2014-03-17

Applicant: Integrated Device Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Christopher T. Schiller ,  Jonathan Kennedy

IPC: H01Q3/42 ,  H01Q3/00

CPC classification number: H01Q3/42

Abstract: A method includes separating phase of Local Oscillator (LO) signals generated by individual Voltage Controlled Oscillators (VCOs) of a coupled VCO array through varying voltage levels of voltage control inputs thereto. The method also includes coupling the individual VCOs of the coupled VCO array to one another in a closed, circular configuration to increase phase difference between the phase separated LO signals generated by the individual VCOs compared to a linear configuration of the coupled VCO array. Further, the method includes mixing outputs of the individual VCOs of the circular 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.