Multi-band massive mimo antenna array

Abstract

Methods disclosed herein may include configuring a plurality of transceiver modules in an antenna array with assigned receive signal weighting factors, the transceiver modules interconnected with high-speed data communication buses, and each transceiver module positioned adjacent to a respective antenna element in the antenna array; configuring the plurality of transceiver modules into inter-communicating module groups by enabling the associated high-speed data communication buses; receiving a plurality of wireless data signals with the plurality of transceiver modules and responsively generating a corresponding plurality of receive baseband data signals; generating a plurality of received beamformed signals by combining subsets of the receive baseband signals within each module group using the assigned receive signal weighting factors by transmitting the receive baseband signals between the transceiver modules within the module group; and demodulating the received beamformed signals.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of interconnected transceiver modules configured in an array, each transceiver module comprising:
 an oscillator configured to generate a phase-locked-loop (PLL) carrier frequency; 
 a serial data bus interface configured to receive a transmit digital baseband signal; 
 a plurality of phase circuits configured to receive the transmit digital baseband circuit; 
 a plurality of digital power amplifiers (DPAs) connected to the oscillator and to respective ones of the plurality of phase circuits, and configured to output a modulated transmit signal based on the transmit digital baseband signal and the PLL carrier frequency; 
 a power combiner to combine outputs of the plurality of DPAs into a transmit signal; and, 
   a plurality of antenna radiating elements configured in an array and connected to respective power combiners of the plurality of interconnected transceiver modules.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each transceiver module is configured to apply signal weights to adjust a phase of the transmit signal. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a calibration circuit configured to measure the transmit signal of each transceiver and to responsively adjust a signal weighting applied to adjust a phase of the transmit signal. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each transceiver module further comprises a low noise amplifier (LNA) to receive a radio frequency signal, and a frequency mixer connected to the LNA and to the oscillator for downconverting the received radio frequency signal. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of interconnected transceiver modules configured in an array comprise one or more columns or rows of transceiver modules are configured to use signal weights to perform beamforming. 
     
     
         6 . A method comprising:
 interconnecting a plurality of transceiver modules configured in an array;   at each transceiver module:
 generating a phase-locked-loop (PLL) carrier frequency with an oscillator; 
 receiving a transmit digital baseband signal using a serial data bus interface; 
 applying the transmit digital baseband signal to a plurality of phase circuits; 
 outputing a modulated transmit signal based on the transmit digital baseband signal from respective phase circuits and based on the PLL carrier frequency; 
 combining outputs of the plurality of DPAs, using a power combiner, to generate a transmit signal; and, 
   transmitting respective transmit signals from a plurality of antenna radiating elements configured in an array.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising applying signal weights to adjust a phase of the transmit signal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising measuring the transmit signal of each transceiver and responsively adjusting a signal weighting applied to adjust a phase of the transmit signal. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising receiving a radio frequency signal at a low noise amplifier (LNA) at each transceiver module, and using a frequency mixer connected to the LNA and to the oscillator, downconverting the received radio frequency signal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising configuring one or more columns or rows of transceiver modules to use signal weights to perform beamforming.