| Abstract: | The various embodiments presented herein relate to beam steering an array
antenna by modifying intermediate frequency (IF) waveforms prior to
conversion to RF signals. For each channel, a direct digital synthesis
(DDS) component can be utilized to generate a waveform or modify
amplitude, timing and phase of a waveform relative to another waveform,
whereby the generation/modification can be performed prior to the IF
input port of a mixer on each channel. A local oscillator (LO) signal can
be utilized to commonly drive each of the mixers. After conversion at the
RF output port of each of the mixers, each RF signal can be transmitted
by a respective antenna element in the antenna array. Initiation of
transmission of each RF signal can be performed simultaneously at each
antenna. The process can be reversed during receive whereby timing,
amplitude, and phase of the received can be modified digitally post ADC
conversion. |