Stmicroelectronics S.a.

Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique

Universitë De Bordeaux

Institut Polytechnique De Bordeaux

Stmicroelectronics France

Jeremie Forest

Vincent Knopik

Eric Kerherve

In an embodiment method for detecting the phase of an analog signal via a hybrid coupler operating in a power-combiner mode, the hybrid coupler comprises a first input intended to receive the analog signal, a second input intended to receive a reference signal having a reference phase and the same frequency as the analog signal, and two outputs, and is configured to generate, at these two outputs, a first output signal and a second output signal, respectively. The embodiment method comprises measuring peak values of the analog signal, of the reference signal, and of at least one of the first and second output signals, calculating the phase shift between the phase of the analog signal and the reference phase depending on the measured peak values, and determining the phase of the analog signal depending on the calculated phase shift and the reference phase.

Method and device for detecting the phase of a signal via a hybrid coupler, using a reference phase

In an embodiment method, a hybrid coupler comprises a first input receiving an analog signal, a second input receiving an additional analog signal phase shifted by 90&#xb0; from the analog signal, and first and second outputs. The method comprises injecting into the second output a test signal having an initial test phase, iteratively generating a current test phase for the test signal, from the initial test phase to a final test phase equal to the initial test phase increased by at least one portion of one complete revolution, and, in each iteration, measuring the current peak value of the first output, and storing the current test phase and the current peak value as a maximum/minimum peak value if there is not a stored maximum/minimum peak value higher/lower than the current peak value, respectively, and determining a phase of the analog signal from the stored test phase.

Method and device for detecting the phase of a signal via a hybrid coupler, using a test signal

In an embodiment, a method for determining the phase shift between a first signal and a second signal includes: delivering the first signal to a first input of a 90&#xb0; hybrid coupler; delivering the second signal to a second input of the 90&#xb0; hybrid coupler; determining a first piece of information relating to a power of a first output signal delivered to a first output of the 90&#xb0; hybrid coupler; determining a second piece of information relating to a power of a second output signal delivered to a second output of the coupler; and adjusting the phase of the second signal until obtaining a calibrated phase for which the first piece of information is substantially equal to the second piece of information, wherein the first and second signals have identical frequencies, and wherein the phase shift between the first signal and the second signal is equal to the calibrated phase.

Method and device for determining the phase shift between two signals

In an embodiment, a circuit includes first, second, and third 90&#xb0; hybrid couplers coupled between first and second antenna terminals, a pair of low-noise amplifiers (LNAs), and a pair of power amplifiers (PAs). The pair of LNAs is configured to receive first signals from the first and second antenna terminals and has an output configured to be coupled to a receive path. The second coupler is configured in power combiner mode for receiving the first signals. The pair of PAs is configured to transmit second signals via the first and second antenna terminals and has an input configured to be coupled to a transmit path. The third coupler is configured in power divider mode for transmitting the second signals.

Module for the emission/reception of signals, and corresponding communication device

A hybrid coupler operating in a power divider mode includes two inputs, two outputs, a capacitive module coupled between the inputs and the outputs or on each input and each output. The capacitive module has an adjustable capacitive value making it possible to adjust the central frequency. A calibration method includes: delivering a first reference signal having a first reference frequency on the first input of the hybrid coupler, measuring the peak value of a first signal delivered to the first output of the coupler and measuring the peak value of a second signal delivered to the second output of the coupler. The two peak values are compared and an adjustment of the capacitive value of the capacitive module is made until an equality of the peak values is obtained to within a tolerance.

Method and device for calibrating a hybrid coupler

An embodiment electronic device comprises at least two antennas for transmitting signals, and at least one transmission path, the transmission path including a first coupling stage including a power divider, variable-gain power amplifiers, and a second coupling stage including a power combiner. Each coupling stage includes two inputs and two outputs, the two inputs of the first coupling stage being configured to receive a power input signal. Each output of the first coupling stage is connected to a different input of the second coupling stage via the variable-gain power amplifiers, and each output of the second coupling stage is connected to a different antenna. A controller is configured to control the gains of the variable-gain power amplifiers according to the characteristics of the power input signal, the signals transmitted by the antennas, and the coupling stages.

Growing community of inventors

Villard Bonnot, France

Jeremie Forest