Controller Configured to Improve DC Power Consumption of Phased Array Antennas
AssigneeCesiumAstro, Inc.
InventorsDanilo Dadic, Thomas Magesacher
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Abstract
The required equivalent isotropic radiated power of a phased array can vary rapidly due to changes of channel conditions, link properties, communication distance, or mode of operation. Maintaining maximum efficiency of a phased array antenna over the entire range of required equivalent isotropic radiated power levels is challenging but highly desirable. An array controller is disclosed that computes the optimal set of power amplifiers and beamformer elements to be activated in order to achieve the highest possible efficiency, or equivalently, the lower possible power consumption for the equivalent isotropic radiated power while maintaining the selected beam pattern.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a controller coupled to one or more of a beamformer circuit or a power amplifier array, the controller comprising:
- a computation unit to determine on/off control vectors for one or more of beamforming elements of the beamformer circuit or power amplifiers of power amplifier array;
- a first output configured to provide an on/off-control vector configured to selectively activate or deactivate one or more of the beamforming elements;
- a second output configured to provide an on/off-control vector to selectively activate or deactivate one or more of the power amplifiers.
A system comprising:
- a controller coupled to a beamformer circuit and a power amplifier array, the controller comprising:
- a computation unit to determine a first control vectors and a second control vector;
- a first output to provide the first control vector to the beamformer circuit to selectively activate or deactivate one or more beamforming elements;
- a second output configured to provide an on/off-control vector to selectively activate or deactivate one or more of the power amplifiers.
A system comprising
- a controller configured to:
- determine varying amplifier efficiency;
- determine one or more beamforming elements;
- and
- selectively activate the one or more beamforming elements within operational constraints of the power amplifier array to reduce DC power consumption of a phased array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.