Hybrid analog/digital beamforming

Abstract

An apparatus includes a plurality of feeds that form analog beams. The plurality of feeds is divided into a plurality of panels, each panel including one or more feeds from the plurality of feeds. The apparatus also includes processing circuitry, which determines a target area for communications coverage and divides the target area into a plurality of regions. The processing circuitry generates, for each region, a plurality of analog beams. A subset of panels of the plurality of panels generates one or more analog beams of the plurality of analog beams. The plurality of analog beams covering each region forms a cluster. The processing circuitry generates, in each cluster, one or more hybrid beams. Each hybrid beam is a digital beam that is generated by combining one or more analog beams of the plurality of analog beams corresponding to the cluster.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of feeds configured to form analog beams, wherein the plurality of feeds is divided into a plurality of panels, each panel including one or more feeds from the plurality of feeds; and   processing circuitry that is configured to perform operations comprising:
 determining a target area for communications coverage; 
 dividing the target area into a plurality of regions; 
 generating, for each region, a plurality of analog beams, wherein a subset of panels of the plurality of panels generates one or more analog beams of the plurality of analog beams, and wherein the plurality of analog beams covering each region forms a cluster; and 
 generating, in each cluster, one or more hybrid beams, wherein each hybrid beam is a digital beam that is generated by combining one or more analog beams of the plurality of analog beams corresponding to the cluster.