Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

Paul Lee Pearson

David Francois Jacquet

Marc Gens

Pascal Triaire

Masoud Kahrizi

Robert Baummer, Jr

Jean-Noel Rozec

Fabrice Jean André Belvèze

Francois Lucien Emile Icher

In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a first baseband section to receive a calibration signal; a first radio frequency (RF) section configured to generate a RF calibration signal based on modulating the calibration signal. The calibration signal comprises an orthogonal code based signal. The apparatus includes a second RF section to receive the RF calibration signal and generate a received calibration signal based on demodulating the RF calibration signal; a calibration section; a first antenna electrically coupled to the first RF section and configured to transmit the RF calibration signal; and a second antenna electrically coupled to the second RF section and configured to receive the RF calibration signal. The calibration section is configured to determine one or more of gain, baseband delay, or RF delay to calibrate the first RF section; and the second antenna is switchable between receiving the RF calibration signal and transmitting an encoded data signal.

Over-the-air calibration of antenna system

In an embodiment, a communications system includes a first transmitter including a digital beamforming baseband section configured to receive an input signal to be transmitted, the input signal at a baseband frequency, and a modulation section electrically coupled to the digital beamforming baseband section and a first antenna of a phased array antenna. The modulation section is configured to receive a local oscillator signal at a first local oscillator frequency and apply a baseband frequency shift to the input signal to generate a baseband frequency shifted input signal. The modulation section generates a modulated signal based on the input signal. The communication system includes a second transmitter included in a second IC chip of the plurality of IC chips electrically coupled to a second antenna and configured to provide a second modulated signal at the carrier frequency and a second LO leakage signal at a second local oscillator frequency.

Near zero intermediate frequency (NZIF) compensation of local oscillator leakage

In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a transmit section including a first baseband section and a first radio frequency (RF) section, wherein the transmit section is configured to receive a calibration signal, the first RF section is configured to generate a RF calibration signal based on modulating the calibration signal. The calibration signal comprises an orthogonal code based signal; and a receive section configured to receive the RF calibration signal over-the-air, the receive section includes a second RF section and a calibration section, the second RF section is configured to generate a received calibration signal based on the RF calibration signal, the received calibration signal and a reference signal associated with the RF calibration signal comprise inputs to the calibration section and the calibration section is configured to determine one or more of gain, baseband delay, or RF delay compensation values, based on the inputs, to calibrate the transmit section.

In an embodiment, a communications system includes a transmitter including a digital beamforming baseband section including a digital mixer, the digital beamforming section configured to receive an input signal to be transmitted, the input signal at a baseband frequency; and a modulation section electrically coupled to the digital beamforming baseband section, the modulation section including an up converter configured to receive a local oscillator signal at a local oscillator frequency. The digital mixer is configured to apply a baseband frequency shift to the input signal to generate a baseband frequency shifted input signal at a different frequency from the baseband frequency. The up converter is configured to up convert the baseband frequency shifted input signal based on the local oscillator signal to generate a modulated signal at a carrier frequency, wherein the local oscillator frequency is different from the carrier frequency.

In an embodiment, an apparatus included in a communications system includes a transmit section including a first baseband section and a first radio frequency (RF) section, wherein the transmit section is configured to receive a calibration signal, the first RF section is configured to generate a RF calibration signal based on the calibration signal, and wherein the calibration signal comprises an orthogonal code based signal; and a receive section configured to receive the RF calibration signal over-the-air, wherein the receive section includes a second RF section and a calibration section, wherein the second RF section is configured to generate a received calibration signal based on the RF calibration signal, and wherein the calibration section is configured to determine one or more of gain, baseband delay, or RF delay compensation values, based on the inputs, to calibrate the transmit section.

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Biviers, France

Paul Lee Pearson