Patent Description:
Beamforming is a technology that receives and transmits wireless signals directionally through an antenna array. The antenna array can superimpose transmission signals or receiving signals in a specific direction for a precise directional transmission. There are many circuit structures that performs beamforming, but different circuit structures not only affect the power added efficiency (PAE), but are also closely related to the production cost.

<CIT> discloses a mobile station including a baseband processor and an RF front-end module connected to the baseband processor and including a plurality of antenna modules and a controller, the plurality of antenna modules each including an antenna element and a transmission/reception circuit having a variable phase shifter connected to the antenna element.

One aspect of the present disclosure is a beamforming system according to claim <NUM>, comprising at least one beamforming device. The at least one beamforming device comprises a switch circuit and a beam former. The beam former comprises a plurality of antenna units. The plurality of antenna units is electrically connected to the switch circuit, receive and transmit a wireless signal according to a plurality of radiation angles, the plurality of radiation angles respectively corresponding to the plurality of antenna units are different form each other, and the switch circuit selectively switches one of the plurality of antenna units according to a control signal.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are by examples, and are intended to provide further explanation of the disclosure as claimed.

For the embodiment below is described in detail with the accompanying drawings, embodiments are not provided to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, the operation of the described structure is not for limiting the order of implementation. Drawings are for the purpose of illustration only, and not plotted in accordance with the original size.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected to" or "coupled to", it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element to another element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled," there are no intervening elements present. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes an associated listed items or any and all combinations of more.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a beamforming system <NUM> in some embodiments of the present disclosure. The beamforming system <NUM> includes a transceiver circuit <NUM>, a switch circuit <NUM> and a beam former <NUM>. The transceiver circuit <NUM> is configured to receive a wireless signal, or is configured to transmit the wireless signal out. The transceiver circuit <NUM> is electrically connected to a processor C of the beamforming system <NUM>. The processor C is configured to perform various operations, and may be implemented by a microcontroller, microprocessor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a logic circuit.

The switch circuit <NUM> is electrically connected to the transceiver circuit <NUM>. In some embodiments, the switch circuit <NUM> includes a first switch unit <NUM> and multiple second switch units <NUM>. The first switch unit <NUM> selectively conducts one of the multiple second switch units <NUM>. The first switch unit <NUM> includes a one-to-two switch, the second switch unit <NUM> includes two one-to-two switches. The switch circuit <NUM> may have a one-to-four selective switching function through the first switch unit <NUM> and the second switch unit <NUM>. The circuit structure of the switch circuit <NUM> is not limited to the circuit shown in <FIG>, and a one-to-eight the switch unit or other the switch circuit can also be used (as shown in <FIG>, the switch circuit <NUM> has eight selectively conductive terminals.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a beam former <NUM> in some embodiments of the present disclosure. The beam former <NUM> includes multiple antenna units 131A-131D. The antenna units 131A-131D receive signals according to the multiple radiation angle, the radiation angles corresponding to the antenna units131A-131D are different. The antenna units 131A-131D are electrically connected to four terminals of the switch circuit <NUM>, the switch circuit <NUM> selectively switches one of the antenna units 131A-131D according to a control signal transmitted by the processor C. In some embodiments, the switch circuit <NUM> selectively conducts one of the antenna units 131A-131D to the transceiver circuit <NUM> according to a control signal transmitted by the processor C.

When the switch circuit <NUM> conducts the antenna units 131A-131D to the transceiver circuit <NUM>, the transceiver circuit <NUM> receives or transmits the wireless signal by the beam former <NUM>. The switch circuit <NUM> selectively conducts one of the antenna units (e.g., antenna unit <NUM>), so as to adjust the radiation direction of the entire beam former <NUM>. For example, the radiation angle of the antenna unit <NUM> A corresponds to <NUM> degrees in the horizontal direction, the radiation angle of the antenna unit 131B corresponds to <NUM> degrees in the horizontal direction, the radiation angle of the antenna unit 131C corresponds to <NUM> degrees in the horizontal direction, and the radiation angle of the antenna unit 131D corresponds to <NUM> degrees in the horizontal direction, but the present disclosure is not limited to this.

For example, when the switch circuit <NUM> conducts the transceiver circuit <NUM> to the antenna unit 131A according to the received control signal, the radiation direction of the entire beam former <NUM> may be the radiation angle (<NUM> degrees) of the antenna units 131A. Similarly, when the switch circuit <NUM> conducts the transceiver circuit <NUM> to the antenna unit 131B according to the received control signal, the radiation direction of the entire beam former <NUM> may be the radiation angle (<NUM> degrees) of the antenna units 131B.

Specifically, the manufacturing process of the transceiver circuit <NUM> will have a significant impact on the cost and PAE of the beamforming system <NUM>. For example, if the transceiver circuit <NUM> is made by the manufacturing process for SiGe (i.e., the internal transistor is made of SiGe), the production cost is lower, but PAE is not ideal. On the other hand, if the transceiver circuit <NUM> is made by the manufacturing process for GaN (i.e., the internal transistor is made of GaN), PAE will be significantly increased, but the cost is extremely high.

In one embodiment, the transceiver circuit <NUM> is made by the manufacturing process for GaN to maintain PAE. As shown in <FIG>, since the beamforming system <NUM> is connected and selectively conducts one of the antenna units 131A-131D by the switch circuit <NUM>, the transceiver circuit <NUM> may only need to configure one channel to generate a high antenna gain.

As shown in <FIG>, the transceiver circuit <NUM>, the switch circuit <NUM> and the beam former <NUM> can be used as a passive beamforming device <NUM>. "Passive" means that the transceiver circuit <NUM> does not require an adjustment circuit to adjust the phase or the strength of the signal. The passive beamforming device <NUM> conducts the different antenna units 131A-131D in different states by the switch circuit <NUM>, so as to change the radiation direction of the entire beam former <NUM>. Accordingly, the accuracy of signal transmission, PAE and production cost will be ensured together.

In one embodiment, the antenna units 131A-131D may be implemented by a patch antenna. The antenna units 131A-131D each have a wire length or an area (or wire width) different from each other, so that each of the antenna units 131A-131D has a fixed and the different radiation angle and different radiation field pattern. In a non-claimed embodiment, the distribution position is different from each other. In some embodiments, the beam former <NUM> includes a circuit board P. The antenna units 131A-131D are arranged on the circuit board P. As shown in <FIG>, the circuit board P includes multiple feed points P10. The feed points P10 are connected to each other through wires P11, so that the feed points P10 and wires P11 are used to form the antenna units 131A-131D. The antenna units 131A-131D each have a wire length or an area different from each other, so that each of the antenna units 131A-131D has the different radiation angle (radiation field pattern).

In one embodiment, the transceiver circuit <NUM> is electrically connected to the switch circuit <NUM> and the processor C, and includes a first switching circuit <NUM>, a second switching circuit <NUM>, a receiving circuit <NUM> and a transmission circuit <NUM>. The receiving circuit <NUM> and the transmission circuit <NUM> are electrically connected between the first switching circuit <NUM> and the second switching circuit <NUM>. One terminal of the first switching circuit <NUM> is electrically connected to the switch circuit <NUM>, so as to selectively conduct the switch circuit <NUM> to the receiving circuit <NUM> or the transmission circuit <NUM>. One terminal of the second switching circuit <NUM> is electrically connected to a device. The first switching circuit <NUM> and the second switching circuit <NUM> are controlled by the the processor C, so as to selectively conducts the processor C to the switch circuit <NUM>. In other words, the transceiver circuit <NUM> may selectively transmit the received wireless signal to the device by the first switching circuit <NUM> and the second switching circuit <NUM>, or selectively transmit the wireless signal, which is generated by the device, to the switch circuit <NUM>.

In one embodiment, after actual testing, the beamforming system <NUM> with a passive beamforming device <NUM> has a power consumption of <NUM> watts. The power consumption of other types of beamforming devices has a power consumption of <NUM>-<NUM> watts. The Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) of the beamforming system <NUM> reaches 41dBm, which meets the standard. In addition, as mentioned above, since the transceiver circuit <NUM> can be configured with only one channel, the cost of the manufacturing process for GaN can be saved.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a beamforming system <NUM> in some embodiments of the present disclosure. In <FIG>, the similar components associated with the embodiment of <FIG> are labeled with the same numerals for ease of understanding. The specific principle of the similar component has been explained in detail in the previous paragraphs, and unless it has a cooperative relationship with the components of <FIG>, it is not repeated here.

In this embodiment, the beamforming system <NUM> may be a Hybrid structure, including the phase adjustment circuit <NUM> and multiple beamforming devices <NUM>. Alternatively stated, the phase adjustment circuit <NUM> may actively adjust the phase and strength of the wireless signal, and the beamforming device <NUM> passively switches the radiation direction through the switch circuit <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the phase adjustment circuit <NUM> is electrically connected to the processor and the beamforming devices <NUM>, and includes multiple phase gain adjusters <NUM>. The phase gain adjuster <NUM> is configured to adjust the first phase of the wireless signal in the first direction according to the adjustment command from the drive circuit <NUM>. In some embodiments, the phase adjustment circuit <NUM> is configured to adjust the signal phase in the vertical direction. In addition, in some embodiments, the phase adjustment circuit <NUM> is made by the manufacturing process for SiGe, that is, the phase adjustment circuit <NUM> includes a silicon germanium material transistor. One of ordinary skill in the art is aware of various circuit structures and principles of the phase adjustment circuit <NUM>, and thus a description in this regard is not further provided herein. The beamforming device <NUM> can be the "passive" beamforming device described in the previous embodiment. The beamforming device <NUM> includes the transceiver circuit <NUM>, the switch circuit <NUM> and the beam former <NUM>. One of ordinary skill in the art is aware of various circuit structures and principles of the switch circuit <NUM> and the beam former <NUM>, and thus a description in this regard is not further provided herein.

Specifically, the phase gain adjuster <NUM> includes a gain adjustment circuit 311a and a phase adjustment circuit 311b, so that when the phase gain adjuster <NUM> receives the adjustment command from the drive circuit <NUM>, the phase gain adjuster <NUM> adjusts the gain of the wireless signal first, and then adjusts the phase of the wireless signal. One of ordinary skill in the art is aware of various circuit structures and principles of the phase gain adjuster <NUM>, and thus a description in this regard is not further provided herein.

Each transceiver circuit <NUM> of the beamforming devices <NUM> is respectively electrically connected to one of the phase gain adjusters <NUM>. The beam former <NUM> of the beamforming device <NUM> has different radiation field patterns in the second direction. Therefore, the switch circuit <NUM> may selectively conduct one of the antenna units in the beam former <NUM>, so as to decide the radiation direction of the beam former <NUM> in the second direction. In other words, the beamforming device <NUM> adjusts the radiation direction the beam former <NUM> in the horizontal direction by the switch circuit <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the phase adjustment circuit <NUM> can actively adjust the radiation angle of the wireless signal in the first direction through the phase gain adjuster <NUM>. The beamforming device <NUM> passively adjusts the radiation angle of the wireless signal in the second direction through the switch circuit <NUM>. Accordingly, through the combination of the active and passive, the manufacturing process for SiGe and the manufacturing process for GaN, it may be balance costs and improve power conversion efficiency. In addition, since the beamforming system <NUM> includes multiple beamforming devices <NUM>, the beamforming system <NUM> can have a longer transmission distance with the same power consumption.

As shown in <FIG>, in one embodiment, the transceiver circuit <NUM> includes a first switching circuit <NUM>, a second switching circuit <NUM>, a transmission circuit <NUM> and a receiving circuit <NUM>. One terminal of the first switching circuit <NUM> is electrically connected to the switch circuit <NUM>. The transmission circuit <NUM> and the receiving circuit <NUM> are electrically connected to the other terminal of the first switching circuit <NUM>. The two terminals of the second switching circuit <NUM> are electrically connected to one of the phase gain adjusters <NUM>, the receiving circuit <NUM> and the transmission circuit <NUM>. The first switching circuit <NUM> selectively conducts the switch circuit <NUM> to the receiving circuit <NUM> or the transmission circuit <NUM>. The second switching circuit <NUM> selectively conducts the corresponding phase gain adjusters <NUM> to the receiving circuit <NUM> or the transmission circuit <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a beam former <NUM> in some embodiments of the present disclosure. In order to avoid the figure being complicated and difficult to identify, feed points and wires are not drawn in <FIG>. In this embodiment, the beam former <NUM> includes eight antenna units 431A-<NUM>. The antenna units 431A-<NUM> further include vertical polarization adjustment sections VP and horizontal polarization adjustment sections HP. That is, the vertical polarization adjustment sections VP of the antenna units 431A-<NUM> is configured to transmit and receive vertical polarization signals, respectively. The horizontal polarization adjustment sections HP of the antenna units 431A-<NUM> are configured to transmit and receive horizontal and vertical polarization signals, respectively. In this embodiment, the vertical polarization adjustment sections VP and the horizontal polarization adjustment sections HP of the antenna units 431A-<NUM> correspond to the radiation angles of "<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, -<NUM>, -<NUM>, -<NUM> And -<NUM> degrees", and has the function of a dual-polarized antenna.

In one embodiment, the beamforming system <NUM> of the Hybrid structure includes four channels. Alternatively stated, including four beam formers <NUM>. After actual testing, the EIRP of the beamforming system <NUM> is increased to about 53dBm, and the power consumption is 12W. If other types of beamforming systems have the same EIRP, their power consumption will be as high as about <NUM>-<NUM> watts.

In some other embodiments, the beamforming system <NUM> of the Hybrid structure includes eight channels. Alternatively stated, including eight beam formers <NUM>. After actual testing, the EIRP of the beamforming system <NUM> is increased to about 59dBm, and the power consumption is 24W. If other types of beamforming system have the same EIRP, their power consumption will be as high as about <NUM>-<NUM> watts, which is much higher than this disclosure.

Claim 1:
A beamforming system (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising at least one beamforming device (<NUM>), wherein the at least one beamforming device (<NUM>) comprises:
a switch circuit (<NUM>); and
a beam former (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising a plurality of antenna units (131A-131D, 431A-<NUM>), wherein the plurality of antenna units (131A-131D, 431A-<NUM>) is electrically connected to the switch circuit (<NUM>), and receives and transmits a wireless signal according to a plurality of radiation angles, the plurality of radiation angles respectively corresponding to the plurality of antenna units (131A-131D, 431A-<NUM>) being different form each other;
wherein:
the beam former (<NUM>, <NUM>) further comprises a circuit board (P) comprising feed points (P10) and wires (P11);
the plurality of antenna units (131A-131D, 431A-<NUM>) are arranged on the circuit board (P);
the plurality of antenna units (131A-131D, 431A-<NUM>) are formed each by a plurality of said feed points (P10) and wires (P11);
the plurality of antenna units (131A-131D, 431A-<NUM>) each have a wire length or an area different from each other, so that the plurality of radiation angles respectively corresponding to the plurality of antenna units (131A-131D, 431A-<NUM>) are different form each other;
characterized in that:
the beamforming system (<NUM>, <NUM>) also comprises a phase adjustment circuit (<NUM>) comprising a plurality of phase gain adjusters (<NUM>), wherein each of the plurality of phase gain adjusters (<NUM>) is respectively electrically connected to one of the at least one beamforming device (<NUM>); and
the phase adjustment circuit (<NUM>) is configured to adjust a first phase of the wireless signal in a first direction, and the switch circuit (<NUM>) selectively switches one of the plurality of antenna units (131A-131D, 431A-<NUM>) according to a control signal to adjust the wireless signal in a second direction.