# US 12,009,564 B2 · Multi mode phased array element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,009,564 B2 - Document ID: US12009564B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/236,435 - Filed: 2021-04-21 - Published: 2022-10-27 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-21 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: Qualcomm Incorporated - Inventors: Muhammad Hassan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009564B2 ## CPC - H01P 1/18: Phase-shifters (H01P1/165 takes precedence) - H04B 1/38: Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving - H01Q 3/28: varying the amplitude - H01Q 3/36: with variable phase-shifters - H01Q 21/0025: {Modular arrays} - H01Q 21/08: the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path {(waveguide fed H01Q21/0037)} - H03F 3/193: with field-effect devices (H03F3/195 takes precedence) - H03F 3/195: in integrated circuits - H03F 3/211: {using a combination of several amplifiers (H03F3/60 takes precedence)} - H03F 3/245: {with semiconductor devices only} - H03F 3/50: Amplifiers in which input is applied to, or output is derived from, an impedance common to input and output circuits of the amplifying element, e.g. cathode follower - H03F 3/68: Combinations of amplifiers, e.g. multi-channel amplifiers for stereophonics {(power amplifiers using a combination of several semiconductor amplifiers H03F3/211; combinations of amplifiers using coupling networks with distributed constants H03F3/602)} - H03G 3/3042: {in modulators, frequency-changers, transmitters or power amplifiers} - H03F 2200/294: the amplifier being a low noise amplifier [LNA] - H03F 2200/451: the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier - H03F 2200/541: Transformer coupled at the output of an amplifier - H03G 2201/103: being an amplifying element - H01P: WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE (operating at optical frequencies G02B) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H03F: AMPLIFIERS - H03G: CONTROL OF AMPLIFICATION ## Abstract A phased array element includes a transmit portion having a plurality of amplifier paths, each amplifier path having a driver amplifier and a power amplifier, a first transformer coupled to the power amplifier of a first amplifier path of the plurality of amplifier paths and a second transformer coupled to the power amplifier of a second amplifier path of the plurality of amplifier paths, a secondary winding of each of the first transformer and the second transformer coupled together by a common transformer segment, a transmit phase shifter switchably coupled to the plurality of amplifier paths, a receive portion coupled to the second transformer, the receive portion having a receive path having a low noise amplifier (LNA), and a receive phase shifter coupled to the LNA. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A phased array element, comprising: a transmit portion having a plurality of amplifier paths, each amplifier path having a driver amplifier and a power amplifier; a first transformer coupled to the power amplifier of a first amplifier path of the plurality of amplifier paths and a second transformer coupled to the power amplifier of a second amplifier path of the plurality of amplifier paths, a secondary winding of each of the first transformer and the second transformer coupled together by a common transformer segment; a transmit phase shifter switchably coupled to the plurality of amplifier paths; a receive portion coupled to the second transformer, the receive portion having a receive path having a low noise amplifier (LNA); and a receive phase shifter coupled to the LNA. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The phased array element of claim 1, wherein the secondary winding of the second transformer is coupled to an antenna element through a bump transition. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The phased array element of claim 1, wherein the phased array element is located on a millimeter wave integrated circuit (mmWIC). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The phased array element of claim 1, wherein a plurality of phased array elements are located on a millimeter wave integrated circuit (mmWIC) and a number of phased array elements that are coupled to respective antennas is less than a total number of the plurality of phased array elements. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The phased array element of claim 1, wherein the phased array element is configured to combine an output of the power amplifier in the first amplifier path with an output of the power amplifier in the second amplifier path and provide the combined outputs to an antenna element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The phased array element of claim 1, wherein the first transformer further comprises a tertiary winding and the second transformer comprises a tertiary winding, the tertiary winding of the first transformer coupled to a termination impedance, the tertiary winding of the second transformer coupled to the LNA. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The phased array element of claim 1, wherein the first amplifier path is disabled, the second amplifier path is enabled and coupled to an antenna element, and the common transformer segment is coupled to a system ground. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The phased array element of claim 1, wherein both the first amplifier path and the second amplifier path are enabled and the common transformer segment is configured to combine the power of the first amplifier path and the second amplifier path. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The phased array element of claim 1, wherein the transmit portion further comprises a variable capacitance configured to maintain a frequency response for a first transmit mode and a second transmit mode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The phased array element of claim 1, wherein the first amplifier path and the second amplifier path are configured to provide substantially equal power levels. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The phased array element of claim 1, wherein the first amplifier path and the second amplifier path are configured to provide different power levels. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The phased array element of claim 10, wherein the first amplifier path and the second amplifier path together are configured to provide approximately 3 dB higher power level than either of the first amplifier path and the second amplifier path alone. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The phased array element of claim 1, wherein the first amplifier path is configured to provide an output having a power level that is approximately 3 dB higher than a power level provided by the second amplifier path. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The phased array element of claim 1, further comprising a switch configured to switchably couple the common transformer segment to a system ground, wherein the first transformer, the second transformer, and the common transformer segment are configured to combine power of the first amplifier path and the second amplifier path by voltage combining when the first amplifier path and the second amplifier path are enabled and the switch is non-conductive. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The phased array element of claim 1, further comprising a switch configured to switchably couple a first portion of the common transformer segment coupled to the first transformer to a second portion of the common transformer segment coupled to the second transformer, wherein the first transformer, the second transformer, and the common transformer segment are configured to combine power of the first amplifier path and the second amplifier path by current combining when the first amplifier path and the second amplifier path are enabled and the switch is conductive. ### Claim 16 A phased array element, comprising: a transmit phase shifter; a plurality of transmit paths; a plurality of switches configured to selectively couple the transmit phase shifter to inputs of the plurality of transmit paths; a variable capacitor including a first terminal coupled to a node between the plurality of switches and the transmit phase shifter, and a second terminal coupled to ground; a receive portion coupled to an output of one or more of the plurality of transmit paths, the receive portion comprising at least a first receive path having a low noise amplifier (LNA); and a receive phase shifter coupled to the LNA. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The phased array element of claim 16, wherein an output of each path of the plurality of transmit paths is coupled to a respective bump transition, wherein the receive portion comprises a plurality of receive paths each having an LNA, wherein each LNA is coupled to a respective one of the bump transitions, and wherein outputs of all of the LNAs are coupled to the receive phase shifter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The phased array element of claim 16, further comprising a circuit configured to combine outputs of the plurality of transmit paths, and one or more switches configured to decouple the receive portion from all but one of the plurality of transmit paths.