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US 6,894,657 B2Granted
Bi-directional vector modulator
AssigneeFidelity Comtech, Inc.
InventorJoseph M. Carey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a system for providing a bi-directional vector modulator in which the signal can travel in either direction while the phase shift remains constant. In addition to the functionality of being a phase shifter, the disclosed invention acts as a vector modulator by having the ability to continuously control both the amplitude and phase of a signal.
Claims24
A system for bi-directionally modulating a signal and that produces an amplitude and phase shift that is the same for both transmission and reception comprising:
- a first power divider that splits an input signal into a first output signal and a second output signal, said first output signals and said second output signals having the same phase with respect to one another;
- a first variable attenuator connected to said first power divider that receives said first output signal of said first power divider to generate a first attenuated signal;
- a second variable attenuator connecting said first power divider that receives said second output signal of said first power divider to generate a second attenuated signal;
- a branch line coupler connected to said first variable attenuator and said second variable attenuator that receives said first attenuated signal and said second attenuated signal;
- said branch line coupler producing a first coupled output and a second coupled output that are in quadrature;
- a phase shifter connected to said branch line coupler that receives a signal from said second output of said branch line coupler producing a shifted output signal that is phase shifted 180 degrees;
- a third variable attenuator connected to said branch line coupler that receives said first coupled output from said branch line coupler to generate a third attenuated signal;
- a fourth variable attenuator connected to said phase shifter that receives said shifted output signal from said phase shifter to generate a fourth attenuated signal;
- and
- a second power divider connected to said third variable attenuator and said fourth variable attenuator, said second power divider that receives and combines said third attenuated signal and said fourth attenuated signal, said second power divider that combined said third attenuated signal and said fourth attenuated signal with the same phase with respect to one another, said second power divider that generates a final output signal.
7 more elements
A method of bi-directionally modulating a signal and that produces an amplitude and phase shift that is the same for both transmission and reception comprising:
- splitting an input signal into a first output signal and a second output signal with a first power divider, said first output signals and said second output signals having the same phase with respect to one another;
- receiving said first output signal of said first power divider with a first variable attenuator connected to said first power divider;
- generating a first attenuated signal with said first variable attenuator;
- receiving said second output signal of said first power divider with a second variable attenuator connected to said first power divider;
- generating a second attenuated signal with said second variable attenuator;
- receiving said first attenuated signal and said second attenuated signal with a branch line coupler connected to said first variable attenuator and said second variable attenuator;
- producing in quadrature, a first coupled output and a second coupled output with said branch line coupler;
- producing a 180 degree phase shifted output signal with a phase shifter connected to said branch line coupler that receives a signal from said second output of said branch line coupler;
- receiving said first coupled output from said branch line coupler with a third variable attenuator connected to said branch line coupler;
- generating a third attenuated signal with said third variable attenuator;
- receiving said shifted output signal from said phase shifter with a fourth variable attenuator connected to said phase shifter;
- generating a fourth attenuated signal with said fourth variable attenuator;
- receiving and combining said third attenuated signal and said fourth attenuated signal with the same phase with respect to one another with a second power divider connected to said third variable attenuator and said fourth variable attenuator;
- and
- generating a final output signal with said second power divider.
12 more elements
A method of bi-directionally modulating a signal and that produces an amplitude and phase shift that is the same for both transmission and reception comprising;
- splitting an input signal into a first output signal and a second output signal with a first 180-degree rat race coupler, said first output signals and said second output signals having the same phase with respect to one another;
- receiving said first output signal of said first 180-degree rat race coupler with a first variable attenuator connected to said first 180-degree rat race coupler;
- generating a first attenuated signal with said first variable attenuator;
- receiving said second output signal of said first 180-degree rat race coupler with a second variable attenuator connected to said first 180-degree rat race coupler;
- generating a second attenuated signal with said second variable attenuator;
- receiving said first attenuated signal and said second attenuated signal with a branch line coupler connected to said first variable attenuator and said second variable attenuator;
- producing in quadrature, a first coupled output and a second coupled output with said branch line coupler;
- receiving said first coupled output from said branch line coupler with a third variable attenuator connected to said branch line coupler;
- generating a third attenuated signal with said third variable attenuator;
- receiving said second coupled output from said branch line coupler with a fourth variable attenuator connected to said branch line coupler;
- generating a fourth attenuated signal with said fourth variable attenuator;
- receiving and combining said third attenuated signal and said fourth attenuated signal with the same phase with respect to one another with a second 180-degree rat race coupler connected to said third variable attenuator and said fourth variable attenuator;
- and
- generating a final output signal with said second 180-degree rat race coupler.
11 more elements
A phased array antenna system with N radiating/receiving elements comprising:
- a splitter/combiner that receives and divides an outbound RF signal into N split output signals when said antenna system is in transmit mode and that receives and combines N inbound modulated output signals and produces a single combined inbound RF signal when said antenna system is in receive mode;
- a parallel circuit of N bi-directional vector modulators that receives said split output signals and produces N outbound modulated output signals when said antenna system is in transmit mode, and that receives and modulates the N inbound emitter output signals and produces said N inbound modulated output signals when said antenna system is in receive mode;
- a controller that controls amplitude and phase shift introduced to said outbound modulated output signals by each of said N bi-directional vector modulators when said antenna system is in transmit mode, and that controls amplitude and phase shift introduced to said inbound modulated output signals by each of said N bi-directional vector modulators when said antenna system is in receive mode;
- and
- an array of N radiating/receiving elements that receives said N outbound modulated output signals and produces N outbound RF waves when said antenna system is in transmit mode, and that receives N inbound RF waves and produces said N inbound emitter output signals when said antenna system is in receive mode.
2 more elements
A method of transmitting RF signals with a phased array antenna system with N radiating/receiving elements comprising:
- splitting an outbound RF signal into N split output signals with a splitter/combiner;
- receiving said N split output signals with a parallel circuit of N bi-directional vector modulators;
- controlling the amplitude and phase shift introduced to said outbound modulated output signals by each of said N bi-directional vector modulators with a controller;
- producing N outbound modulated output signals with said N bi-directional vector modulators;
- receiving said N outbound modulated output signals with an array of N radiating/receiving elements;
- producing N outbound RF waves with said array of N radiating/receiving elements;
- receiving N inbound RF waves with said array of N radiating/receiving elements;
- controlling the amplitude and phase shift introduced to said inbound modulated output signals by each of said N bi-directional vector modulators with said controller;
- producing N inbound modulated output signals with said N bi-directional vector modulators;
- receiving and combining said N inbound modulated output signals with said splitter/combiner;
- and
- producing a single combined inbound RF signal with said splitter/combiner.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.