# US 10,320,093 B2 · Phased array control circuit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,320,093 B2 - Document ID: US10320093B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/253,426 - Filed: 2016-08-31 - Published: 2018-03-01 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-31 - Assignees: Anokiwave, Inc. - Applicants: Anokiwave, Inc. - Inventors: Kristian N. Madsen; Wade C. Allen; Jonathan P. Comeau; Robert J. McMorrow; David W. Corman; Nitin Jain; Robert Ian Gresham; Gaurav Menon; Vipul Jain - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10320093B2 ## CPC - H01Q 21/22: Antenna units of the array energised non-uniformly in amplitude or phase, e.g. tapered array or binomial array - H01Q 3/24: varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching - H01Q 3/26: varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture ({H01Q3/12,} H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence) - H04B 7/0617: {for beam forming} - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract In certain exemplary embodiments, register banks are used to allow for fast beam switching (FBS) in a phased array system. Specifically, each beam forming channel is associated with a register bank containing M register sets for configuring such things as gain/amplitude and phase parameters of the beam forming channel. The register banks for all beam forming channels can be preprogrammed and then fast beam switching circuitry allows all beam forming channels across the array to be switched to use the same register set from its corresponding register bank at substantially the same time, thereby allowing the phased array system to be quickly switched between various beam patterns and orientations. Additionally or alternatively, active power control circuitry may be used to control the amount of electrical power provided to or consumed by one or more individual beam forming channels such as to reduce DC power consumption of the array and/or to selectively change the effective directivity of the array. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A phased array system comprising: a plurality of beam forming elements; a plurality of beam forming channels, each beam forming channel including beam forming circuitry configured to process signals for a discrete beam forming element; and for each beam forming channel, a corresponding register bank comprising a plurality of individually addressable and programmable register sets and fast beam switching circuitry that receives fast beam switching control signals from a fast beam switching control interface, each register set configured to store operating parameters for the beam forming channel, the fast beam switching circuitry configured to provide operating parameters from a selected one of the register sets to the beam forming channel based on the fast beam switching control signals from the fast beam switching control interface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A phased array system according to claim 1, wherein the fast beam switching circuitry is configured to allow for random access to the register sets. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A phased array system according to claim 1, wherein the fast beam switching circuitry is configured to allow for sequential access to the register sets. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A phased array system according to claim 1, wherein the fast beam switching circuitry is configured to allow for round-robin access to the register sets. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A phased array system according to claim 1, further comprising a programming interface for programming the register banks. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A phased array system according to claim 5, wherein the fast beam switching control interface is part of the programming interface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A phased array system according to claim 5, wherein the fast beam switching control interface is separate from the programming interface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A phased array system according to claim 1, wherein the fast beam switching circuitry is configured to select the register set based on a parallel address. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A phased array system according to claim 1, wherein the fast beam switching circuitry is configured to select the register set based on a clock signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A phased array system according to claim 1, wherein the operating parameters include an amplitude parameter and a phase parameter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A phased array system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the beam forming channels is a dual-mode beam forming channel including transmit path circuitry for operating in a transmit mode, receive path circuitry for operating in a receive mode, and mode selection circuitry for switching between the transmit mode and the receive mode based on a mode selection parameter in the operating parameters for the beam forming channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A phased array system according to claim 1, wherein at least one beam forming channel includes active power control circuitry configured to selectively control DC power consumption of the beam forming channel based on a power control parameter for the beam forming channel for at least one of (1) reducing DC power consumption of the phased array system or (2) selectively changing the effective directivity of the phased array system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A phased array system according to claim 12, wherein the power control parameter for the beam forming channel is derived from the operating parameters provided to the beam forming channel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A phased array system according to claim 12, wherein the power control parameter for the beam forming channel is derived from a register separate from the register bank. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A phased array system according to claim 12, wherein the active power control circuitry is configured to selectively turn on and off at least some beam forming circuitry of the beam forming channel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) A phased array system according to claim 12, wherein the active power control circuitry is configured to selectively adjust a power level of at least some beam forming circuitry of the beam forming channel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A phased array system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of beam forming integrated circuits, each beam forming integrated circuit implementing at least one beam forming channel and corresponding register bank. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A phased array system according to claim 1, wherein the register banks include a sufficient number of register sets for being preprogrammed with parameters for beams covering a full 2D scan volume of the phased array system. ### Claim 19 A beam forming integrated circuit for use in a phased array system, the beam forming integrated circuit comprising: at least one beam forming channel, each beam forming channel including beam forming circuitry configured to process signals for a discrete beam forming element; and for each beam forming channel, a corresponding register bank comprising a plurality of individually addressable and programmable register sets and fast beam switching circuitry that receives fast beam switching control signals from a fast beam switching control interface, each register set configured to store operating parameters for the beam forming channel, the fast beam switching circuitry configured to provide operating parameters from a selected one of the register sets to the beam forming channel based on the fast beam switching signals from the fast beam switching control interface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A beam forming integrated circuit according to claim 19, wherein the fast beam switching circuitry is configured to allow for random access to the register sets. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) A beam forming integrated circuit according to claim 19, wherein the fast beam switching circuitry is configured to allow for sequential access to the register sets. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) A beam forming integrated circuit according to claim 19, wherein the fast beam switching circuitry is configured to allow for round-robin access to the register sets. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) A beam forming integrated circuit according to claim 19, further comprising a programming interface for programming the register banks. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A beam forming integrated circuit according to claim 23, wherein the fast beam switching control interface is part of the programming interface. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) A beam forming integrated circuit according to claim 23, wherein the fast beam switching control interface is separate from the programming interface. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) A beam forming integrated circuit according to claim 19, wherein the fast beam switching circuitry is configured to select the register set based on a parallel address. ### Claim 27 (depends on 19) A beam forming integrated circuit according to claim 19, wherein the fast beam switching circuitry is configured to select the register set based on a clock signal. ### Claim 28 (depends on 19) A beam forming integrated circuit according to claim 19, wherein the operating parameters include an amplitude parameter and a phase parameter. ### Claim 29 (depends on 19) A beam forming integrated circuit according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the beam forming channels is a dual-mode beam forming channel including transmit path circuitry for operating in a transmit mode, receive path circuitry for operating in a receive mode, and mode selection circuitry for switching between the transmit mode and the receive mode based on a mode selection parameter in the operating parameters for the beam forming channel. ### Claim 30 (depends on 19) A beam forming integrated circuit according to claim 19, wherein at least one beam forming channel includes active power control circuitry configured to selectively control DC power consumption of the beam forming channel based on a power control parameter for the beam forming channel for at least one of (1) reducing DC power consumption of the phased array system or (2) selectively changing the effective directivity of the phased array system. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) A beam forming integrated circuit according to claim 30, wherein the power control parameter for the beam forming channel is derived from the operating parameters provided to the beam forming channel. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) A beam forming integrated circuit according to claim 30, wherein the power control parameter for the beam forming channel is derived from a register separate from the register bank. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) A beam forming integrated circuit according to claim 30, wherein the active power control circuitry is configured to selectively turn on and off at least some beam forming circuitry of the beam forming channel. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) A beam forming integrated circuit according to claim 30, wherein the active power control circuitry is configured to selectively adjust a power level of at least some beam forming circuitry of the beam forming channel. ### Claim 35 (depends on 19) A beam forming integrated circuit according to claim 19, wherein the register banks include a sufficient number of register sets for being preprogrammed with parameters for beams covering a full 2D scan volume of the phased array system. ### Claim 36 A phased array system comprising: a plurality of beam forming elements; and a plurality of beam forming channels, each beam forming channel including beam forming circuitry configured to process signals for a discrete beam forming element, wherein at least one beam forming channel further includes active power control circuitry configured to selectively control DC power consumption of the beam forming channel based on programmable operating parameters for the beam forming channel including a power control parameter for the beam forming channel for at least one of (1) reducing DC power consumption of the phased array system or (2) selectively changing the effective directivity of the phased array system. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) A phased array system according to claim 36, further comprising, for each beam forming channel, at least one register set for providing operating parameters to the beam forming channel, wherein the power control parameter for the beam forming channel is derived from such operating parameters. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) A phased array system according to claim 36, further comprising, for each beam forming channel, at least one register set for providing operating parameters to the beam forming channel; and at least one power control register, separate from such register sets, for providing the power control parameter for the beam forming channel. ### Claim 39 (depends on 36) A phased array system according to claim 36, wherein the active power control circuitry is configured to selectively turn on and off at least some beam forming circuitry of the beam forming channel. ### Claim 40 (depends on 36) A phased array system according to claim 36, wherein the active power control circuitry is configured to selectively adjust a power level of at least some beam forming circuitry of the beam forming channel. ### Claim 41 A beam forming integrated circuit for use in a phased array system, the beam forming integrated circuit comprising: at least one beam forming channel, each beam forming channel including beam forming circuitry configured to process signals for a discrete beam forming element, wherein at least one beam forming channel further includes active power control circuitry configured to selectively control DC power consumption of the beam forming channel based on programmable operating parameters for the beam forming channel including a power control parameter for the beam forming channel for at least one of (1) reducing DC power consumption of the phased array system or (2) selectively changing the effective directivity of the phased array system. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) A beam forming integrated circuit according to claim 41, further comprising, for each beam forming channel, at least one register set for providing operating parameters to the beam forming channel, wherein the power control parameter for the beam forming channel is derived from such operating parameters. ### Claim 43 (depends on 41) A beam forming integrated circuit according to claim 41, further comprising, for each beam forming channel, at least one register set for providing operating parameters to the beam forming channel; and at least one power control register, separate from such register sets, for providing the power control parameter for the beam forming channel. ### Claim 44 (depends on 41) A beam forming integrated circuit according to claim 41, wherein the active power control circuitry is configured to selectively turn on and off at least some beam forming circuitry of the beam forming channel. ### Claim 45 (depends on 41) A beam forming integrated circuit according to claim 41, wherein the active power control circuitry is configured to selectively adjust a power level of at least some beam forming circuitry of the beam forming channel. ### Claim 46 A beam forming method comprising: preconfiguring a plurality of register sets in each of a plurality of register banks with parameters for beams covering a full 2D scan volume of a phased array system; selecting a register set for a beam forming operation; and sending fast beam switching control signals to activate the selected register set across the plurality of register banks for performing the beam forming operation.