U.S. patent application number 13/301811 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-22 for phase-arrayed transceiver.
Invention is credited to Zhiming Deng, Chuan-Kang Liang, Ti-Ku Yu, Jing-Hong Conan Zhan.
Application Number | 20120294338 13/301811 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47155938 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120294338 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zhan; Jing-Hong Conan ; et
al. |
November 22, 2012 |
PHASE-ARRAYED TRANSCEIVER
Abstract
A phased-array transceiver includes: a plurality of antennas; a
plurality of transceiving elements respectively coupled to the
plurality of antennas, at least one of the transceiving elements
comprising a first transmitting circuit and a first receiving
circuit; a signal processing block; and a first distributed
network, coupled between the signal processing block and the
transceiving elements, wherein the transceiving elements, the
signal processing block, and the first distributed network are
configured as a single chip, and a first path from the antenna
through the first receiving circuit to the signal processing block
and a second path from the signal processing block through the
first transmitting circuit to the antenna share at least partial
signal traces of the phased-array transceiver.
Inventors: |
Zhan; Jing-Hong Conan;
(Hsinchu City, TW) ; Liang; Chuan-Kang; (San Jose,
CA) ; Yu; Ti-Ku; (Yilan County, TW) ; Deng;
Zhiming; (San Jose, CA) |
Family ID: |
47155938 |
Appl. No.: |
13/301811 |
Filed: |
November 22, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61487346 |
May 18, 2011 |
|
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61487347 |
May 18, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
375/219 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01Q 3/30 20130101; H03F
3/19 20130101; H03F 3/21 20130101; H03F 2200/294 20130101; H04B
1/40 20130101; H01Q 21/0025 20130101; H04B 1/44 20130101; H03F
2200/451 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
375/219 |
International
Class: |
H04B 1/38 20060101
H04B001/38 |
Claims
1. A phase-arrayed transceiver, comprising: a plurality of
antennas; a plurality of transceiving elements, coupled to the
plurality of antennas, respectively, at least one of the
transceiving elements comprising a first transmitting circuit and a
first receiving circuit; a signal processing block; and a first
distributed network, coupled between the signal processing block
and the transceiving elements; wherein the transceiving elements,
the signal processing block, and the first distributed network are
configured as a single chip, and a first path from the antenna
through the first receiving circuit to the signal processing block
and a second path from the signal processing block through the
first transmitting circuit to the antenna share at least partial
signal traces of the phase-arrayed transceiver.
2. The phase-arrayed transceiver of claim 1, wherein the at least
one transceiving element further comprises: a switching device,
arranged to selectively couple one of the first transmitting
circuit and the first receiving circuit to the corresponding
antenna.
3. The phase-arrayed transceiver of claim 1, wherein the at least
one transceiving element further comprises a phase shifter and a
switching device, and the first transmitting circuit comprises: a
power amplifier, arranged to amplify an output of the phase
shifter; and the first receiving circuit comprises: a low-noise
amplifier, arranged to generate an output to the phase shifter;
wherein the switching device is arranged to selectively couple one
of the power amplifier and the low-noise amplifier to the phase
shifter.
4. The phase-arrayed transceiver of claim 1, wherein the at least
one transceiving element further comprises: a switching device,
arranged to selectively couple one of the first transmitting
circuit and the first receiving circuit to a connection port of the
first distributed network.
5. The phase-arrayed transceiver of claim 4, wherein the first
transmitting circuit comprises: a first phase shifter; and a power
amplifier, arranged to amplify an output of the first phase
shifter; and the first receiving circuit comprises: a second phase
shifter; and a low-noise amplifier, arranged to generate an output
to the second phase shifter; wherein the switching device is
arranged to selectively couple one of the first phase shifter and
the second phase shifter to the connection port of the first
distributed network.
6. The phased-array transceiver of claim 4, wherein the first
transmitting circuit comprises: a first mixer, arranged to generate
a first mixer output by up-converting an output of the switching
device; and a power amplifier, arranged to amplify the first mixer
output; the first receiving circuit comprises: a low-noise
amplifier; and a second mixer, arranged to generate a second mixer
output to the switching device by down-converting an output of the
low-noise amplifier; and the phased-array transceiver further
comprises: an oscillator, arranged to generate a reference
oscillating signal; a second distributed network, arranged to
transmit the reference oscillating signal; and a phase shifter,
arranged to receive the reference oscillating signal through the
second distributed network and generate a phase-shifted reference
oscillating signal according to the reference oscillating signal;
wherein both of the first mixer and the second mixer receive the
phase-shifted reference oscillating signal to generate the first
mixer output and the second mixer output, and the switching device
is arranged to selectively couple one of the first mixer and the
second mixer to the connection port of the first distributed
network.
7. The phase-arrayed transceiver of claim 4, wherein the first
transmitting circuit comprises: a first phase shifter; a first
mixer, arranged to generate a first mixer output by up-converting
an output of the first phase shifter; and a power amplifier,
arranged to amplify the first mixer output; and the first receiving
circuit comprises: a low-noise amplifier; a second phase shifter;
and a second mixer, arranged to generate a second mixer output to
the second phase shifter by down-converting an output of the
low-noise amplifier; wherein the switching device is arranged to
selectively couple one of the first phase shifter and the second
phase shifter to the connection port of the first distributed
network.
8. The phase-arrayed transceiver of claim 7, further comprising: an
oscillator, arranged to generate a reference oscillating signal;
and a second distributed network, arranged to transmit the
reference oscillating signal; wherein both the first mixer and the
second mixer receive the reference oscillating signal through the
second distributed network.
9. The phase-arrayed transceiver of claim 1, wherein the
transceiving elements further include a second transceiving
element, the second transceiving element comprises a second
transmitting circuit and a second receiving circuit, and a third
path from the antenna through the second receiving circuit to the
signal processing block and a fourth path from the signal
processing block through the second transmitting circuit to the
antenna share at least partial signal traces of the phase-arrayed
transceiver.
10. The phase-arrayed transceiver of claim 9, wherein the first
distributed network comprises a coupler having a first connection
port, a second connection port, and a third connection port; the
third connection port is coupled to the first connection port and
the second connection port, and arranged to receive signals from or
transmit signals to the signal processing block; and the at least
one transceiving circuit further comprises: a first switching
device, arranged to selectively couple the first transmitting
circuit or the first receiving circuit to the first connection
port; and the second transceiving circuit further comprises: a
second switching device, arranged to selectively couple the second
transmitting circuit or the second receiving circuit to the second
connection port.
11. A transceiving element of a phase-arrayed transceiver,
comprising: a transmitting circuit, disposed on a transmitting
signal path; and a receiving circuit, disposed on a receiving
signal path; wherein the transmitting signal path and the receiving
signal path share at least a partial signal trace; and the
transmitting circuit and the receiving circuit are disposed in a
single chip.
12. The transceiving element of claim 11, further comprising: a
switching device, arranged to selectively couple one of the
transmitting circuit and the receiving circuit to an antenna;
wherein the switching device is disposed in the single chip.
13. The transceiving element of claim 11, further comprising a
switching device, wherein the transmitting circuit comprises: a
phase shifter; and a power amplifier, arranged to amplify an output
of the phase shifter; and the receiving circuit comprises: a phase
shifter; and a low-noise amplifier, arranged to generate an output
to the phase shifter; wherein the switching device is arranged to
selectively couple one of the power amplifier and the low-noise
amplifier to the phase shifter.
14. The transceiving element of claim 11, further comprising: a
switching device, arranged to selectively couple one of the
transmitting circuit and the receiving circuit to a connection port
of a distributed network.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Applications No. 61/487,346 and 61/487,347, which were filed on
2011 May 18 and are included herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention is related to a phase-arrayed
transceiver, and more particularly to a low cost phase-arrayed
transceiver.
[0003] Phase-arrayed transceivers are widely used in wireless
communication systems. Phase-arrayed transceivers comprise a
plurality of phase-arrayed channels, wherein a typical
phase-arrayed channel comprises a transmitter and a receiver.
Conventionally, the transmitter and the receiver of a phase-arrayed
transceiver are completely separate from each other for ease of
design and implementation, which means that the transmitter and the
receiver in a phase-arrayed transceiver are coupled to different
respective antennas and different phase shifters. The conventional
architecture of the phase-arrayed transceivers therefore requires
numerous phase shifters and large-area distribution networks, which
consequently increases the manufacture cost. Accordingly, how to
reduce the chip size of the phase-arrayed transceivers is an urgent
problem in this field.
SUMMARY
[0004] One objective of the presented embodiment is to provide a
phase-arrayed transceiver.
[0005] According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a
phase-arrayed transceiver is provided. The phase-arrayed
transceiver comprises a plurality of antennas, a plurality of
transceiving elements, a signal processing block, and a first
distributed network. The plurality of transceiving elements is
respectively coupled to the plurality of antennas; at least one of
the transceiving elements comprises a first transmitting circuit
and a first receiving circuit. The first distributed network is
coupled between the signal processing block and the transceiving
elements, wherein the transceiving elements, the signal processing
block, and the first distributed network are configured as a single
chip. A first path from the antenna through the first receiving
circuit to the signal processing block and a second path from the
signal processing block through the first transmitting circuit to
the antenna at least partially share signal traces of the
phased-array transceiver.
[0006] According to a second embodiment of the present invention, a
transceiving element of a phased-array transceiver is provided. The
transceiving element of the phased-array transceiver comprises a
transmitting circuit and a receiving circuit. The transmitting
circuit is disposed on a transmitting signal path. The receiving
circuit is disposed on a receiving signal path, wherein the
transmitting signal path and the receiving signal path share at
least a partial signal trace; and the transmitting circuit and the
receiving circuit are disposed in a single chip.
[0007] These and other objectives of the present invention will no
doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after
reading the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a phased-array transceiver
according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a transceiving element of
the phased-array transceiver according to a second embodiment of
the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a transceiving element of
the phased-array transceiver according to a third embodiment of the
present invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a phased-array transceiver
according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a transceiving element of
the phased-array transceiver according to a fifth embodiment of the
present invention.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a phased-array transceiver
according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a transceiving element of
the phased-array transceiver according to a seventh embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Certain terms are used throughout the description and
following claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled
in the art will appreciate, electronic equipment manufacturers may
refer to a component by different names. This document does not
intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but
not function. In the following description and in the claims, the
terms "include" and "comprise" are used in an open-ended fashion,
and thus should be interpreted to mean "include, but not limited to
. . . ". Also, the term "couple" is intended to mean either an
indirect or direct electrical connection. Accordingly, if one
device is coupled to another device, that connection may be through
a direct electrical connection, or through an indirect electrical
connection via other devices and connections.
[0016] Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a diagram illustrating a
phased-array transceiver 100 according to an embodiment of the
present invention. In this embodiment, the phased-array transceiver
100 is a 16-channel phased-array transceiver, but this is not a
limitation of the present invention. The phased-array transceiver
100 comprises a plurality of antennas 102a-102p, a plurality of
transceiving elements 104a-104p, a first distributed network 106,
and a signal processing block 108. The plurality of transceiving
elements 104a-104p is respectively coupled to the plurality
antennas 102a-102p. Each of the transceiving elements 104a-104p
comprises a transmitting circuit and a receiving circuit, wherein
the transmitting circuit (e.g. the transmitting circuit of the
transceiving element 104a) is utilized to transmit a signal having
a relative phase to one antenna (e.g. the antenna 102a), wherein
the signal having the relative phase is generated by the signal
processing block 108; and the receiving circuit (e.g. the receiving
circuit of the transceiving element 104a) is utilized to receive a
signal having a relative phase from the corresponding antenna (e.g.
the antenna 102a).
[0017] The first distributed network 106 is coupled between the
signal processing block 108 and the transceiving elements
104a-104p. In addition, the transceiving elements 104a-104p, the
signal processing block 108, and the first distributed network 106
are configured as a single chip. According to the embodiment, a
path from one antenna through the corresponding receiving circuit
to the signal processing block 108 and a path from the signal
processing block 108 through the corresponding transmitting circuit
to the antenna share at least partial signal traces of the
phased-array transceiver 100. For example, a first path from the
antenna 102a through the receiving circuit of the transceiving
element 104a to the signal processing block 108 and a second path
from the signal processing block 108 through the transmitting
circuit of the transceiving element 104a to the antenna 102a share
at least partial signal traces (e.g. the signal trace labeled as
1062a in FIG. 1) of the phased-array transceiver 100.
[0018] In this embodiment, the first distributed network 106
comprises 21 conducting paths 1062a-1062u and five couplers
106a-106e, wherein the conducting paths 1062a-1062p are
respectively coupled to the transceiving elements 104a-104p as
shown in FIG. 1. The coupler 106a is utilized for transferring the
signals between the conducting paths 1062a-1062p and the conducting
path 1062g. More specifically, the first coupler 106a is utilized
for combining the signals from the transceiving elements 104a-104d
and outputting the combined signal to the conducting path 1062g, or
transmitting the signal from the conducting path 1062g to the
transceiving elements 104a-104d. Similarly, the coupler 106b is
utilized for transferring the signals between the conducting paths
1062e-1062h and the conducting path 1062r. The coupler 106c is
utilized for transferring the signals between the conducting paths
1062i-1062l and the conducting path 1062s. The coupler 106d is
utilized for transferring the signals between the conducting paths
1062m-1062p and the conducting path 1062t. In addition, the coupler
106e is utilized for transferring the signals between the
conducting paths 1062q-1062t and the conducting path 1062u.
[0019] According to the first distributed network 106, the
conducting path 1062u is the shared signal trace between the
couplers 106a-106d and the signal processing block 108. The
conducting path 1062q is the shared signal trace between the
conducting paths 1062a-1062d and the coupler 106d. The conducting
path 1062r is the shared signal trace between the conducting paths
1062e-1062h and the coupler 106d. The conducting path 1062s is the
shared signal trace between the conducting paths 1062i-1062l and
the coupler 106d. The conducting path 1062t is the shared signal
trace between the conducting paths 1062m-1062p and the coupler
106d. Moreover, the conducting path 1062a is the shared signal
trace between the transmitting circuit and the receiving circuit of
the transceiving element 104a and the coupler 106a. The conducting
path 1062b is the shared signal trace between the transmitting
circuit and the receiving circuit of the transceiving element 104b
and the coupler 106a. By the same token, the conducting path 1062p
is the shared signal trace between the transmitting circuit and the
receiving circuit of the transceiving element 1044 and the coupler
104d.
[0020] By sharing the signal traces between the signal processing
block 108 and the antennas 102a-102p, the area of the first
distributed network 106 can be largely reduced in comparison with
the conventional counterpart. It should be noted that the signal
processing block 108 may be a baseband processing circuit or a
mixer.
[0021] Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a diagram illustrating a
transceiving element 200 of a phased-array transceiver according to
an embodiment of the present invention. The transceiving element
200 may be the embodiment of one transceiving element in the
plurality of transceiving elements 104a-104p. The transceiving
element 200 comprises a first switching device 202, a transmitting
circuit 204, a receiving circuit 206, a second switching device
208, and a phase shifter 210. The first switching device 202 is
arranged to selectively couple one of the transmitting circuit 204
and the receiving circuit 206 to the corresponding antenna. In this
embodiment, the corresponding antenna is labeled as 212 for
brevity. The transmitting circuit 204 comprises a power amplifier
204a, which is arranged to amplify an output of the phase shifter
210. The receiving circuit 206 comprises a low-noise amplifier
206a, which is arranged to generate an output to the phase shifter
210. Furthermore, the second switching device 208 is arranged to
selectively couple one of the power amplifier 204a and the
low-noise amplifier 206a to the phase shifter 210.
[0022] It should be noted that another three transceiving elements
200b-200d having a similar configuration to the transceiving
element 200, a coupler 200e, and a signal processing block 200f,
respectively, are also shown in FIG. 2 for illustrative purposes.
The coupler 200e has five connection ports Na, Nb, Nc, Nd, and Ne,
where the transceiving elements 200a-200d are coupled to the
connection ports Na, Nb, Nc, Nd respectively, and the connection
port Ne is coupled to the conducting path 214. The coupler 200e is
arranged to receive signals from the connection port Ne and
transmit signals to the connection ports Na, Nb, Nc, Nd, or receive
signals from the connection ports Na, Nb, Nc, Nd and transmit
signals to the connection port Ne. According to the transceiving
element 200, the antenna 212 is the shared antenna of the
transmitting circuit 204 and the receiving circuit 206, and the
phase shifter 210 is the shared phase shifter of the transmitting
circuit 204 and the receiving circuit 206. The conducting path 214
is the shared signal trace from the phase shifter 210 to the signal
processing block 200f and from the signal processing block 200f to
the phase shifter 210. Furthermore, the above-mentioned coupler may
be a 4-to-1 combiner.
[0023] More specifically, when the phased-array transceiver
operates in the signal transmitting mode, the first switching
device 202 is controlled to connect the output terminal of the
power amplifier 204a to the antenna 212 and disconnect the input
terminal of the low-noise amplifier 206a from the antenna 212, and
the second switching device 208 is controlled to connect the input
terminal of the power amplifier 204a to the output terminal of the
phase shifter 210 and disconnect the output terminal of the
low-noise amplifier 206a from the input terminal of the phase
shifter 210. It should be noted that, even though the input
terminal and the output terminal of the phase shifter 210 are
illustrated by the same terminal in FIG. 2, those skilled in the
art should readily understand that this is only for illustrative
purposes. Accordingly, the pre-transmitted signal generated by the
signal processing block 200f can be transferred to the antenna 212
via the conducting path 214 (which includes the coupler 200e), the
phase shifter 210, the second switching device 208, the power
amplifier 204a, and the first switching device 202.
[0024] When the phased-array transceiver operates in the signal
receiving mode, the first switching device 202 is controlled to
connect the input terminal of the low-noise amplifier 206a to the
antenna 212 and disconnect the output terminal of the power
amplifier 204a from the antenna 212, and the second switching
device 208 is controlled to connect the output terminal of the
low-noise amplifier 206a to the input terminal of the phase shifter
210 and disconnect the input terminal of the power amplifier 204a
from the output terminal of the phase shifter 210. Accordingly, the
wireless signal received from the antenna 212 can be transferred to
the signal processing block 200f, the first switching device 202,
the low-noise amplifier 206a, the second switching device 208, the
phase shifter 210, and the conducting path 214 (which includes the
coupler 200e), in which the antenna 212, the phase shifter 210, and
the conducting path 214 are shared elements.
[0025] Please refer to FIG. 3, which is a diagram illustrating a
transceiving element 300 of a phased-array transceiver according to
an embodiment of the present invention. The transceiving element
300 may be the embodiment of one transceiving element in the
plurality of transceiving elements 104a-104p. The transceiving
element 300 comprises a first switching device 302, a transmitting
circuit 304, a receiving circuit 306, and a second switching device
308. The first switching device 302 is arranged to selectively
couple one of the transmitting circuit 304 and the receiving
circuit 306 to the corresponding antenna. In this embodiment, the
corresponding antenna is labeled as 310 for brevity. The
transmitting circuit 304 comprises a power amplifier 304a and a
first phase shifter 304b. The power amplifier 304a is arranged to
amplify an output of the first phase shifter 304b. The receiving
circuit 306 comprises a low-noise amplifier 306a and a second phase
shifter 306b. The low-noise amplifier 306a is arranged to generate
an output to the second phase shifter 306b. Furthermore, the second
switching device 308 is arranged to selectively couple one of the
transmitting circuit 304 and the receiving circuit 306 to a
connection port N1 of the distributed network.
[0026] It should be noted that another three transceiving elements
300b-300d having the similar configuration to the transceiving
element 300, a coupler 300e, and a signal processing block 300f,
respectively, are also shown in FIG. 3 for illustrative purposes.
According to the transceiving element 300, the antenna 310 is the
shared antenna of the transmitting circuit 304 and the receiving
circuit 306. The conducting path 312 is the shared signal trace
from the transmitting circuit 304 to the signal processing block
300f and from the signal processing block 300f to the receiving
circuit 306.
[0027] More specifically, when the phased-array transceiver
operates in the signal transmitting mode, the first switching
device 302 is controlled to connect the output terminal of the
power amplifier 304a to the antenna 310 and disconnect the input
terminal of the low-noise amplifier 306a from the antenna 310, and
the second switching device 308 is controlled to connect the input
terminal of the first phase shifter 304b to the connection port N1
of the distributed network and disconnect the output terminal of
the second phase shifter 306b from the connection port N1.
Accordingly, the pre-transmitted signal generated by the signal
processing block 300f can be transferred to the antenna 310 via the
conducting path 312 (which includes the coupler 300e), the second
switching device 308, the first phase shifter 304b, the power
amplifier 304a, and the first switching device 302.
[0028] Moreover, when the phased-array transceiver operates in the
signal receiving mode, the first switching device 302 is controlled
to connect the input terminal of the low-noise amplifier 306a to
the antenna 310 and disconnect the output terminal of the power
amplifier 304a from the antenna 310, and the second switching
device 308 is controlled to connect the output terminal of the
second phase shifter 306b to the connection port N1 and disconnect
the input terminal of the first phase shifter 304b from the
connection port N1. Accordingly, the wireless signal received from
the antenna 310 can be transferred to the signal processing block
300f, the first switching device 302, the low-noise amplifier 306a,
the second phase shifter 306b, the second switching device 308, and
the conducting path 312 (which includes the coupler 300e), in which
the antenna 310 and the conducting path 312 are shared
elements.
[0029] Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a diagram illustrating a
phased-array transceiver 400 according to an embodiment of the
present invention. In this embodiment, the phased-array transceiver
400 is an 8-channel phased-array transceiver, but this is not a
limitation of the present invention. The phased-array transceiver
400 comprises a plurality of antennas 402a-402h, a plurality of
transceiving elements 404a-404h, a first distributed network 406,
an oscillator 408, a second distributed network 410, a plurality of
phase shifters (PS) 412a-412h, and a signal processing block 414,
wherein the first distributed network 406 comprises all the signal
traces from the signal processing block 414 to the plurality of
transceiving elements 404a-404h, and the second distributed network
410 comprises all the signal traces from the oscillator 408 to the
plurality of phase shifters 412a-412h. The plurality of
transceiving elements 404a-404h is respectively coupled to the
antennas 402a-402h. Each of the transceiving elements 404a-404h
comprises a transmitting circuit and a receiving circuit, wherein
the transmitting circuit (e.g. the transmitting circuit of the
transceiving element 404a) is utilized to transmit a signal having
a relative phase to one antenna (e.g. the antenna 402a), wherein
the signal having the relative phase is generated by the signal
processing block 414; and the receiving circuit (e.g. the receiving
circuit of the transceiving element 404a) is utilized to receive a
signal having a relative phase from the corresponding antenna (e.g.
the antenna 402a).
[0030] The first distributed network 406 is coupled between the
signal processing block 414 and the transceiving elements
404a-404h. The oscillator 408 is arranged to generate a reference
oscillating signal Sosc. The second distributed network 410 is
arranged to transmit the reference oscillating signal Sosc. The
plurality of phase shifters 412a-412h are arranged to receive the
reference oscillating signal Sosc through the second distributed
network 410 and respectively generate a plurality of phase-shifted
reference oscillating signals according to the reference
oscillating signal Sosc. In addition, the signal processing block
414 may be a digital baseband processing circuit, and the
transceiving elements 404a-404h, the first distributed network 406,
the oscillator 408, the second distributed network 410, the
plurality of phase shifters 412a-412h, and the signal processing
block 414 are configured as a single chip.
[0031] According to the embodiment, a path from one antenna through
the corresponding receiving circuit to the signal processing block
414 and a path from the signal processing block 414 through the
corresponding transmitting circuit to the antenna share at least
partial signal traces of the phased-array transceiver 400. For
example, a first path from the antenna 402a through the receiving
circuit of the transceiving element 404a to the signal processing
block 414 and a second path from the signal processing block 414
through the transmitting circuit of the transceiving element 404a
to the antenna 402a share at least partial signal traces (i.e. the
signal trace labeled as 4062a in FIG. 4) of the phased-array
transceiver 400. Furthermore, a path from one phase shifter
corresponding to one transceiving element through the second
distributed network 410 to the oscillator 408 and a path from
another phase shifter corresponding to another transceiving element
through the second distributed network 410 to the oscillator 408
share at least partial signal traces of the phased-array
transceiver 400. For example, a path from the phase shifter 412a
corresponding to the transceiving element 404a through the second
distributed network 410 to the oscillator 408 and a path from the
phase shifter 412b corresponding to the transceiving element 402b
through the second distributed network 410 to the oscillator 408
share at least partial signal traces (i.e. the signal trace labeled
as 4062b in FIG. 4) of the phased-array transceiver 400. It should
be noted that the plurality of phase shifters 412a-412h may provide
different phases upon the reference oscillating signal Sosc to
generate the plurality of phase-shifted reference oscillating
signals.
[0032] Please refer to FIG. 5, which is a diagram illustrating a
transceiving element 500 of a phased-array transceiver according to
an embodiment of the present invention. The transceiving element
500 may be the embodiment of one transceiving element in the
plurality of transceiving elements 404a-404h. The transceiving
element 500 comprises a first switching device 502, a transmitting
circuit 504, a receiving circuit 506, a second switching device
508, and a phase shifter 510. The first switching device 502 is
arranged to selectively couple one of the transmitting circuit 504
and the receiving circuit 506 to the corresponding antenna. In this
embodiment, the corresponding antenna is labeled as 512 for
brevity. The transmitting circuit 504 comprises a transmitter
front-end circuit 504a, and a mixer 504b. The mixer 504b is
arranged to generate a mixer output Sm1 by up-converting an output
of a connecting terminal of the second switching device 508. The
transmitter front-end circuit 504a at least comprises a power
amplifier (not shown) to amplify the mixer output Sm1 for
generating the amplified mixer output to the first switching device
502.
[0033] The receiving circuit 506 comprises a receiver front-end
circuit 506a, and a mixer 506b. The receiver front-end circuit 506a
comprises at least a low-noise amplifier (not shown). The second
mixer 506b is arranged to generate a mixer output Sm2 to a
connecting terminal of the second switching device 508 by
down-converting the output of the low-noise amplifier.
[0034] The phase shifter 510 receives the reference oscillating
signal Sosc from the second distributed network 410, and generates
the phase-shifted reference oscillating signal Sof the mixer 504b
and the mixer 506b. The mixer 504b and the mixer 506b receive the
phase-shifted reference oscillating signal Sof for generating the
mixer output Sm1 and the mixer output Sm2 respectively. The first
switching device 502 is arranged to selectively couple one of the
transmitter front-end circuit 504a and the receiver front-end
circuit 506a to the antenna 512.
[0035] More specifically, when the phased-array transceiver
operates in the signal transmitting mode, the first switching
device 502 is controlled to connect the output terminal of the
transmitter front-end circuit 504a to the antenna 512 and
disconnect the input terminal of the receiver front-end circuit
506a from the antenna 512, and the second switching device 508 is
controlled to connect the input terminal of the mixer 504b to the
connection port N2 of the distributed network 406 and disconnect
the output terminal of the mixer 506b from the connection port
N2.
[0036] Furthermore, when the phased-array transceiver operates in
the signal receiving mode, the first switching device 502 is
controlled to connect the input terminal of the receiver front-end
circuit 506a to the antenna 512 and disconnect the output terminal
of the transmitter front-end circuit 504a from the antenna 512, and
the second switching device 508 is controlled to connect the output
terminal of the mixer 506b to the connection port N2 and disconnect
the input terminal of the mixer 504b from the connection port
N2.
[0037] Please refer to FIG. 6, which is a diagram illustrating a
phased-array transceiver 600 according to an embodiment of the
present invention. In this embodiment, the phased-array transceiver
600 is an 8-channel phased-array transceiver, but this is not a
limitation of the present invention. The phased-array transceiver
600 comprises a plurality of antennas 602a-602h, a plurality of
transceiving elements 604a-604h, a first distributed network 606,
an oscillator 608, a second distributed network 610, and a signal
processing block 612, wherein the first distributed network 606
comprises all the signal traces from the signal processing block
612 to the plurality of transceiving elements 604a-604h, and the
second distributed network 610 comprises all the signal traces from
the oscillator 608 to the plurality of transceiving elements
604a-604h. The plurality of transceiving elements 604a-604h is
respectively coupled to the antennas 602a-602h. Each of the
transceiving elements 604a-604h comprises a transmitting circuit
and a receiving circuit, wherein the transmitting circuit (e.g. the
transmitting circuit of the transceiving element 604a) is utilized
to transmit a signal having a relative phase to one antenna (e.g.
the antenna 602a), wherein the signal having the relative phase is
generated by the signal processing block 612; and the receiving
circuit (e.g. the receiving circuit of the transceiving element
604a) is utilized to receive a signal having a relative phase from
the corresponding antenna (e.g. the antenna 602a).
[0038] The first distributed network 606 is coupled between the
signal processing block 614 and the transceiving elements
604a-604h. The oscillator 608 is arranged to generate a reference
oscillating signal Sosc2. The second distributed network 610 is
arranged to transmit the reference oscillating signal Sosc2 to the
transceiving elements 604a-604h. In addition, the signal processing
block 612 may be a digital baseband processing circuit, and the
transceiving elements 604a-604h, the first distributed network 606,
the oscillator 608, the second distributed network 610, and the
signal processing block 612 are configured as a single chip.
[0039] According to the embodiment, a path from one antenna through
the corresponding receiving circuit to the signal processing block
612 and a path from the signal processing block 612 through the
corresponding transmitting circuit to the antenna share at least
partial signal traces of the phased-array transceiver 600. For
example, a first path from the antenna 602a through the receiving
circuit of the transceiving element 604a to the signal processing
block 612 and a second path from the signal processing block 612
through the transmitting circuit of the transceiving element 604a
to the antenna 602a share at least partial signal traces (i.e. the
signal trace labeled as 6062a in FIG. 6) of the phased-array
transceiver 600. Furthermore, a path from one transceiving element
through the second distributed network 610 to the oscillator 608
and a path from another transceiving element through the second
distributed network 610 to the oscillator 608 share at least
partial signal traces of the phased-array transceiver 600. For
example, a path from the transceiving element 604a through the
second distributed network 610 to the oscillator 608 and a path
from the transceiving element 604b through the second distributed
network 610 to the oscillator 608 share at least partial signal
traces (i.e. the signal trace labeled as 6062b in FIG. 6) of the
phased-array transceiver 600. It should be noted that, in this
embodiment, the reference oscillating signal Sosc2 may be generated
by different oscillators.
[0040] Please refer to FIG. 7, which is a diagram illustrating a
transceiving element 700 of a phased-array transceiver according to
an embodiment of the present invention. The transceiving element
700 may be the embodiment of one transceiving element in the
plurality of transceiving elements 604a-604h. The transceiving
element 700 comprises a first switching device 702, a transmitting
circuit 704, a receiving circuit 706, and a second switching device
708. The first switching device 702 is arranged to selectively
couple one of the transmitting circuit 704 and the receiving
circuit 706 to the corresponding antenna. In this embodiment, the
corresponding antenna is labeled as 712 for brevity. The
transmitting circuit 704 comprises a transmitter front-end circuit
704a, a mixer 704b, and a phase shifter 704c. The mixer 704b is
arranged to generate a mixer output Sm3 by up-converting an output
of the phase shifter 704c. The input terminal of the phase shifter
704c is connected to a connecting terminal of the second switching
device 708. The transmitter front-end circuit 704a at least
comprises a power amplifier (not shown) to amplify the mixer output
Sm3 for generating the amplified mixer output to the first
switching device 702.
[0041] The receiving circuit 706 comprises a receiver front-end
circuit 706a, a mixer 706b, and a phase shifter 706c. The receiver
front-end circuit 706a comprises at least a low-noise amplifier
(not shown). The second mixer 706b is arranged to generate a mixer
output Sm4 to the phase shifter 706c by down-converting the output
of the low-noise amplifier. The output terminal of the phase
shifter 706c is connected to a connecting terminal of the second
switching device 708. Furthermore, the second switching device 708
is arranged to selectively couple one of the phase shifter 704c and
the phase shifter 706c to the first distributed network 606.
[0042] In addition, the phase shifters 704c and 706c may be
baseband phase shifters or intermediate-frequency phase shifters.
The mixer 704b and the mixer 706b receive the reference oscillating
signal Sosc2 for generating the mixer output Sm3 and the mixer
output Sm4 respectively. The first switching device 702 is arranged
to selectively couple one of the transmitter front-end circuit 704a
and the receiver front-end circuit 706a to the antenna 712.
[0043] More specifically, when the phased-array transceiver
operates in the signal transmitting mode, the first switching
device 702 is controlled to connect the output terminal of the
transmitter front-end circuit 704a to the antenna 712 and
disconnect the input terminal of the receiver front-end circuit
706a from the antenna 712, and the second switching device 708 is
controlled to connect the input terminal of the phase shifter 704c
to the connection port N3 of the distributed network 606 and
disconnect the output terminal of the phase shifter 706c from the
connection port N3.
[0044] When the phased-array transceiver operates in the signal
receiving mode, the first switching device 702 is controlled to
connect the input terminal of the receiver front-end circuit 706a
to the antenna 712 and disconnect the output terminal of the
transmitter front-end circuit 704a from the antenna 712, and the
second switching device 708 is controlled to connect the output
terminal of the phase shifter 706c to the connection port N3 and
disconnect the input terminal of the phase shifter 704c from the
connection port N3.
[0045] The presented phase-arrayed transceivers are arranged to
share the signal traces between the signal processing block and the
plurality of antennas, and/or share the signal traces between the
oscillator and the plurality of mixers; therefore, the area of the
distributed networks can be largely reduced in comparison with the
conventional counterpart. Accordingly, the costs of the presented
phase-arrayed transceivers are greatly reduced.
[0046] Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous
modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made
while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the
above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes
and bounds of the appended claims.
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