High dynamic range precision variable amplitude controller

An electronically scanned antenna array comprising:

• a plurality of antenna elements configured to transmit a beam comprising signals emitted by the antenna elements;
• and
• a plurality of amplitude controllers configured to adjust the amplitudes of signals provided to the antenna elements for emission, wherein each amplitude controller comprises:
• a gain portion configured to receive an input signal, to apply a controllable amount of amplitude adjustment to the input signal across the amplitude control range, and to provide an amplitude-adjusted form of the input signal as an output signal, wherein the gain portion comprises two or more amplification stages, each of the amplification stages comprising branches that are cross-coupled with branches of the other of the amplification stages;
• a current mirror portion configured to control the controllable amount of amplitude adjustment applied by the gain portion by providing control currents to the amplification stages, a maximum of the amplitude control range corresponding to control current being supplied to one of the amplification stages, a minimum of the amplitude control range corresponding to equal control currents being supplied to the amplification stages, wherein the amount of amplitude adjustment is varied between the minimum and maximum of the amplitude control range by increasing the control current to one of the cross-coupled amplification stages while decreasing the control current to the other of the amplification stages in an equal amount wherein the control current to one of the amplification stages is controlled in response to a first signal provided to a first transistor gate in the current mirror portion and wherein the control current to the other of the amplification stages is controlled in response to a second signal provided to a second transistor gate in the current mirror portion, wherein the first signal is increased and the second signal is decreased proportionally with respect to the first signal to increase the current to one of the amplification stages while decreasing the control current to the other of the amplification stages in an equal amount;
• and
• a load portion connected to the two amplification stages and configured to provide balanced impedances to the cross-coupled branches of the amplification stages throughout the amplitude control range, wherein the load portion is comprised of SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistors and each amplitude controller exhibits an absolute phase accuracy of + or −2 degrees over a temperature range of −40 degrees C. to 85 degrees C.

An electronically scanned antenna array comprising:

• a plurality of antenna elements configured to transmit a beam comprising signals emitted by the antenna elements;
• and
• a plurality of amplitude controllers configured to adjust the amplitudes of signals provided to the antenna elements for emission, wherein each amplitude controller comprises:
• a gain portion configured to receive an input signal, to apply a controllable amount of amplitude adjustment to the input signal across the amplitude control range, and to provide an amplitude-adjusted form of the input signal as an output signal, wherein the gain portion comprises two or more amplification stages, each of the amplification stages comprising branches that are cross-coupled with branches of the other of the amplification stages;
• a current mirror portion configured to control the amount of amplitude adjustment applied by the gain portion by providing control currents to the amplification stages, a maximum of the amplitude control range corresponding to control current being supplied to one of the amplification stages, a minimum of the amplitude control range corresponding to equal control currents being supplied to the amplification stages, wherein the amount of amplitude adjustment is varied between the minimum and maximum of the amplitude control range by increasing the control current to one of the cross-coupled amplification stages while decreasing the control current to the other of the amplification stages in an equal amount;
• and
• a load portion connected to the two amplification stages and configured to provide balanced impedances to the cross-coupled branches of the amplification stages throughout the amplitude control range, wherein the gain portion and the load portion are comprised of SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistors and each amplitude controller exhibits an absolute phase accuracy of + or −2 degrees over a temperature range of −40 degrees C. to 85 degrees C.,
• wherein the control current to one of the amplification stages is controlled in response to a first signal provided to a first transistor gate in the current mirror portion and wherein the control current to the other of the amplification stages is controlled in response to a second signal provided to a second transistor gate in the current mirror portion, wherein the first signal is increased and the second signal is decreased proportionally with respect to the first signal to increase the current to one of the amplification stages while decreasing the control current to the other of the amplification stages in an equal amount.

An amplitude controller for providing minimal phase alteration across an amplitude control range comprising:

• gain means for applying a controllable amount of amplitude adjustment to a received input signal the gain means comprising at least two amplification stages, each of the amplification stages comprising branches that are cross-coupled with branches of the other of the amplification stages;
• means for controlling currents supplied to the gain means to control the amount of amplitude adjustment, wherein the means for controlling current comprises a current mirror portion configured to control the controllable amount of amplitude adjustment applied by the gain means by providing control currents to the amplification stages, a maximum of the amplitude control range corresponding to control current being supplied to one of the amplification stages, a minimum of the amplitude control range corresponding to equal control currents being supplied to the two amplification stages;
• and
• load means for providing balanced impedances to the cross-coupled branches of the amplification stages throughout the amplitude control range, wherein the gain means and the load means are comprised of SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistors and the amplitude controller exhibits an absolute phase accuracy of + or −2 degrees over a temperature range of −40 degrees to 85 degrees C., wherein the amount of amplitude adjustment is varied between the minimum and maximum of the amplitude control range by increasing the control current to one of the amplification stages while decreasing the control current to the other of the amplification stages in an equal amount, wherein the control current to one of the amplification stages is controlled in response to a first signal provided to a first transistor gate in the current mirror portion and wherein the control current to the other of the amplification stages is controlled in response to a second signal provided to a second transistor gate in the current mirror portion, wherein the first signal is increased and the second signal is decreased proportionally with respect to the first signal to increase the current to one of the amplification stages while decreasing the control current to the other of the amplification stages in an equal amount.