Beam steerable communication apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed is a beam steerable communication apparatus comprising a focusing element with a focal plane, a plurality of antenna elements disposed on the focal plane of the focusing element, a beamforming network which has a plurality of antenna ports and a plurality of beamforming ports, at least one radio frequency transceiver capable to control the phase of carrier frequency signals on its independent outputs, and a baseband modem, wherein each antenna port of the beamforming network is coupled to at least one antenna element, each beamforming port of the beamforming network is coupled to an independent transceiver output, and the phase distribution law formed on the beamforming ports is determined by a baseband modem control commands to the transceivers, said phase distribution law is to combine or distribute signal power on all beamforming ports from or to at least one antenna port of the beamforming network, wherein each radio frequency transceiver includes at least a phase shifter, a Tx/Rx switch, LNA, PA, up and down-conversion mixers, LO generation circuit, receive power combining and transmit power distribution schemes. The technical result of the invention is in the capability of providing efficient beam steering with high gain antennas with all the prospect features of phased antenna arrays, such as the ability to combine/distribute signal power between several RF amplifiers, thus, facilitating linearity requirements and increasing an output power of a transmitter. The present invention can be used, without limitations, in radio relay point-to-point communication systems, e.g. for forming backhaul networks of cellular mobile communication, in car radars and other radars, in local and personal communication systems, in satellite and intersatellite communication systems, etc.