US 11,641,217 B2 · Method and device for detecting the phase of a signal via a hybrid coupler, using a test signal

Abstract

In an embodiment method, a hybrid coupler comprises a first input receiving an analog signal, a second input receiving an additional analog signal phase shifted by 90° from the analog signal, and first and second outputs. The method comprises injecting into the second output a test signal having an initial test phase, iteratively generating a current test phase for the test signal, from the initial test phase to a final test phase equal to the initial test phase increased by at least one portion of one complete revolution, and, in each iteration, measuring the current peak value of the first output, and storing the current test phase and the current peak value as a maximum/minimum peak value if there is not a stored maximum/minimum peak value higher/lower than the current peak value, respectively, and determining a phase of the analog signal from the stored test phase.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method of operating a hybrid coupler in a power-combiner mode, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first input of the hybrid coupler, a first analog signal;
receiving, at a second input of the hybrid coupler, an additional analog signal that is phase shifted by 90° with respect to the first analog signal;
injecting, into a second output of the hybrid coupler, a test signal having an initial test phase;
iteratively generating a current test phase for the test signal, from the initial test phase to a final test phase equal to the initial test phase increased by at least one portion of one complete revolution, and, in each iteration:
measuring a current peak value of an output signal from a first output of the hybrid coupler;
and
storing in memory the current test phase and the current peak value as a maximum peak value or a minimum peak value in response to there not being a stored maximum peak value higher or a stored minimum peak value lower than the current peak value, respectively;
and
determining a phase of the first analog signal from the stored test phase.

6 more elements

An electronic device, comprising:

a hybrid coupler configured to operate in a power-combiner mode, the hybrid coupler comprising:
a first input configured to receive a first analog signal;
a second input configured to receive an additional analog signal that is phase shifted by 90° with respect to the first analog signal;
a first output configured to provide an output signal;
and
a second output;
a detecting circuit configured to:
inject, into the second output, a test signal having an initial test phase;
iteratively generate a current test phase for the test signal, from the initial test phase to a final test phase equal to the initial test phase increased by at least one portion of one complete revolution, and, in each iteration:
measure a current peak value of the output signal;
and
store in memory the current test phase and the current peak value as a maximum peak value or a minimum peak value in response to there not being a stored maximum peak value higher or a stored minimum peak value lower than the current peak value, respectively;
and
determine a phase of the first analog signal from the stored test phase.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and device for detecting the phase of a signal via a hybrid coupler, using a test signal

Life of this patent

Method and device for detecting the phase of a signal via a hybrid coupler, using a test signal

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22