# US 10,374,308 B2 · Signal distribution network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,374,308 B2 - Document ID: US10374308B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/301,920 - Filed: 2014-04-04 - Published: 2017-04-27 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-04 - Assignees: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Applicants: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) - Inventors: Johan Thorebäck - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10374308B2 ## CPC - H01Q 3/40: with phasing matrix - 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} - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract A signal distribution network for an N-port antenna arrangement. The signal distribution network comprises first circuitry for receiving at least one input signal and implementing splitting of the at least one input signal into N/2 output signals, where N>1. The signal distribution network comprises second circuitry for providing N output signals to a respective antenna port and implementing splitting of N/2 input signals into the N output signals. The signal distribution network comprises switching circuitry, the switching circuitry being operatively connected between the first circuitry and the second circuitry, the switching circuitry implementing selectable connectivity between the first circuitry and the second circuitry such that the N/2 output signals of the first circuitry are provided as the N/2 input signals of the second circuitry. The signal distribution network comprises control circuitry configured to control the switching circuitry so as to selectively connect outputs of the first circuitry to inputs of the second circuitry, thereby selectively directing the N/2 output signals through the switching circuitry. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A signal distribution network for an N-port antenna arrangement, comprising: first circuitry comprising reconfigurable phase shifting elements and hybrid couplers in matrix formation for receiving at least one input signal and arranged for splitting of the at least one input signal into N/2 output signals, where N is an even number greater than 2; second circuitry for implementing splitting of N/2 input signals into the N output signals and providing each of the N output signals to a respective antenna port of the N antenna ports; switching circuitry, the switching circuitry being operatively connected between the first circuitry and the second circuitry, the switching circuitry implementing selectable connectivity between the first circuitry and the second circuitry such that the N/2 output signals of the first circuitry are provided as the N/2 input signals of the second circuitry; and control circuitry configured to control the switching circuitry so as to selectively connect outputs of the first circuitry to inputs of the second circuitry, thereby selectively directing the N/2 output signals through the switching circuitry. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The signal distribution network according to claim 1, wherein the first circuitry comprises at least a first stage for receiving the at least one input signal and a second stage for providing the N/2 output signals, and wherein inputs of at least the first stage are pairwise connected. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The signal distribution network according to claim 1, wherein the second circuitry comprises mixers for adjusting phases of the N output signals before being provided to the respective antenna port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The signal distribution network according to claim 1, wherein the first circuitry comprises at least two stages and internal switches interconnecting the at least two stages, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the internal switches, thereby selectively directing the at least one input signal through the first circuitry. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The signal distribution network according to claim 1, wherein the switching circuitry comprises N/2 sets of phase adjustment values, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to control which entry in a respective one of the sets to phase adjust a respective one of the N/2 output signals of the first circuitry. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The signal distribution network according to claim 1, wherein at least one input of the first circuitry is electrically terminated. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The signal distribution network according to claim 1, wherein the switching circuitry comprises N inputs and N outputs. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The signal distribution network according to claim 1, wherein the first circuitry comprises N/2 inputs. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The signal distribution network according to claim 1, wherein the first circuitry comprises N/4 inputs. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The signal distribution network according to claim 1, wherein the second circuitry comprises N/2 inputs and N outputs. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The signal distribution network according to claim 1, wherein the switching circuitry implements an interconnection matrix. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The signal distribution network according to claim 1, wherein the first circuitry comprises at least one Butler matrix. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The signal distribution network according to claim 1, wherein the second circuitry comprises branchline hybrids. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The signal distribution network according to claim 1, wherein the second circuitry comprises Wilkinson splitters. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The signal distribution network according to claim 1, wherein the second circuitry is configured for operation at radio frequency. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The signal distribution network according to claim 1, further comprising signal processing circuitry interconnected between the switching circuitry and the second circuitry, wherein the signal processing circuitry implements at least one of a respective power amplifier, low-noise amplifier, filter, and mixer for each of the N/2 input signals to the second circuitry. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The signal distribution network according to claim 16, wherein the control circuitry further is configured to selectively connect outputs of the signal processing circuitry to inputs of the second circuitry. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) An antenna arrangement comprising: N antenna ports; and a signal distribution network, according to claim 1, coupled to the N antenna ports. ### Claim 19 A method for distributing a signal through a distribution network for an N-port antenna arrangement, the method comprising: receiving at least one input signal and splitting the at least one input signal into N/2 output signals by first circuitry utilizing reconfigurable phase shifting elements and hybrid couplers in matrix formation, where N is an even number than 2; selectively directing the N/2 output signals through switching circuitry so as to provide the N/2 output signals of the first circuitry as N/2 input signals to second circuitry by control circuitry; and splitting the N/2 input signals into N output signals and providing each of the N output signals to a respective antenna port by the second circuitry. ### Claim 20 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer program instructions that, when executed by a processing unit of a control circuitry, causes a signal distribution network for an N-port antenna arrangement to: receive at least one input signal and split the at least one input signal into N/2 output signals by first circuitry of the signal distribution network, the first circuitry comprising reconfigurable phase shifting elements and hybrid couplers in matrix formation, where N is an even number greater than 2; selectively direct the N/2 output signals through switching circuitry of the signal distribution network so as to provide the N/2 output signals of the first circuitry as N/2 input signals to second circuitry of the signal distribution network; and split the N/2 input signals into N output signals and provide each of the N output signals to a respective antenna port by the second circuitry.