Modular architecture for feeding a phased antenna array

A modular beamforming architecture for receiving signals via a phased antenna array, the phased antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements grouped into a first portion of antenna elements and a second portion of antenna elements, wherein the modular beamforming architecture is based on a beamforming module comprising:

• a master integrated circuit, IC, configured to produce a low frequency signal based on a received radio frequency, RF, signal comprising a first portion of the RF signal and a second portion of the RF signal, wherein the low frequency signal comprises any one of an intermediate signal and a baseband signal, the master IC comprising:
• a plurality of beamforming submodules configured to perform phase shifting for beamforming for the first portion of the RF signal received by the first portion of antenna elements, for obtaining the first portion of the RF signal;
• at least one RF signal input configured to receive the second portion of the RF signal or the RF signal;
• when the at least one RF signal input is configured to receive the RF signal, further comprising a plurality of RF outputs for outputting the first portion of the RF signal received by the plurality of beamforming submodules;
• and
• a frequency conversion module configured to down convert the RF signal into the low frequency signal;
• and
• a plurality of satellite ICs configured to perform phase shifting for beamforming to the second portion of the RF signal received by the second portion of antenna elements, wherein each of the plurality of satellite ICs is configured to receive a part of the second portion of the RF signal that is received by a subset of the second portion of antenna elements, to perform phase shifting for beam forming to the respective part of the second portion of the RF signal, and to feed the respective part of the second portion of the RF signal towards one of the at least one RF signal input of the master IC.

A method for transmitting signals via a phased antenna array using a modular beamforming architecture, the phased antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements that is grouped into a first portion of antenna elements and a second portion of antenna elements, wherein the modular beamforming architecture is based on a beamforming module comprising a master IC and a plurality of satellite ICs, wherein the master IC:

• receives a low frequency signal, wherein the low frequency signal is any one of an intermediate frequency signal and a baseband signal;
• upconverts the low frequency signal into a radio frequency, RF, signal comprising a first portion of the RF signal and a second portion of the RF signal;
• comprises a plurality of beamforming submodules for performing phase shifting for the first portion of the RF signal for beamforming and to feed the phase shifted first portion of the RF signal to the first portion of antenna elements;
• and
• outputs the RF signal or the second portion of the RF signal;
• and
• wherein, when master IC is outputs the RF signal, the master IC comprises a plurality of RF inputs for receiving the first portion of the output RF signal for said beamforming submodules;
• and wherein the plurality of satellite ICs:
• feeds the second portion of the antenna elements, wherein each of the plurality of satellite ICs:
• receives a part of the RF signal or a part of the second portion of the RF signal output by the master IC;
• performs phase shifting to the received part of the RF signal or the second portion of the RF signal for beamforming;
• and
• feeds a subset of the second portion of antenna elements.

A method for receiving signals via a phased antenna array using a modular beamforming architecture, the phased antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements grouped into a first portion of antenna elements and a second portion of antenna elements, wherein the modular beamforming architecture is based on a beamforming module comprising a master IC and a plurality of satellite ICs, wherein the master IC:

• produces a low frequency signal based on a received radio frequency, RF, signal comprising a first portion of the RF signal and a second portion of the RF signal, wherein the low frequency signal comprises any one of an intermediate frequency, IF, signal and a baseband, BB, signal;
• comprises a plurality of beamforming submodules for performing phase shifting for beamforming for the first portion of the RF signal received by the first portion of antenna elements;
• receives the second portion of the RF signal or the RF signal;
• wherein, when the master IC receives the RF signal, the master IC comprises a plurality of RF outputs for outputting the first portion of the RF signal from said beamforming submodules;
• and
• down converts the RF signal to produce the low frequency signal;
• and the plurality of satellite ICs:
• perform phase shifting for beamforming to the second portion of the RF signal received the second portion of antenna elements, wherein each of the plurality of satellite ICs:
• receives a part of the second portion of the RF signal that is received by a subset of the second portion of antenna elements;
• performs phase shifting for beam forming to the respective part of the second portion of the RF signal;
• and
• feeds the respective part of the second portion of the RF signal towards one of the at least one RF signal input of the master IC.