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Application US20190253125
Published 2019-08-15
Beamformer Lattice For Phased Array Antennas
In embodiments, an apparatus includes a beamformer including a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, a plurality of input vias, and a plurality of output vias. Each input of the plurality of inputs electrically couples to a respective input via of the plurality of input vias. Each output of the plurality of outputs electrically couples to a respective output via of the plurality of output vias. The beamformer is included in a first layer, wherein the plurality of input vias are configured to electrically couple to termination trace ends of a plurality of hierarchical networks provided on at least second and third layers, and wherein the plurality of hierarchical networks comprises at least three hierarchical networks.
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- 1. An apparatus comprising:
a beamformer including a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs; a plurality of input vias, wherein each input of the plurality of inputs electrically couples to a respective input via of the plurality of input vias; and a plurality of output vias, wherein each output of the plurality of outputs electrically couples to a respective output via of the plurality of output vias; wherein the beamformer is included in a first layer, wherein the plurality of input vias are configured to electrically couple to termination trace ends of a plurality of hierarchical networks provided on at least second and third layers, and wherein the plurality of hierarchical networks comprises at least three hierarchical networks.
- 17. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of beamformer cells arranged in a particular arrangement in a first layer, wherein each beamformer cell of the plurality of beamformer cells comprises:
a beamformer including a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs,
a plurality of input vias having first and second ends, wherein each first end of an input via of the plurality of input vias electrically couples to a respective input of the plurality of inputs and each second end of the input via of the plurality of input vias electrically couples to a terminating trace segment of a multiplex feed network located in a second layer, and
a plurality of output vias having third and fourth ends, wherein each third end of an output via of the plurality of output vias electrically couples to a respective output of the plurality of outputs and each fourth end of the output via of the plurality of output vias electrically couples to an antenna element of a plurality of antenna elements located in a third layer,
wherein each beamformer cell of the plurality of beamformer cells is positioned in the first layer to minimize routing distance to associated antenna elements.
- 28. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of first electrically conductive traces oriented in a first direction in a first layer of a stack; a plurality of second electrically conductive traces oriented in a second direction, different from the first direction, in a second layer of the stack; a plurality of first vias electrically coupling the plurality of first electrically conductive traces to respective traces of the plurality of second electrically conductive traces to define a plurality of first hierarchical networks; a plurality of third electrically conductive traces oriented in the first direction in a third layer of the stack; a plurality of fourth electrically conductive traces oriented in the second direction in a fourth layer of the stack; and a plurality of second vias electrically coupling the plurality of third electrically conductive traces to respective traces of the plurality of fourth electrically conductive traces to define a plurality of second hierarchical networks, wherein open ends of the first or second traces at a last stage of the plurality of first hierarchical networks comprise a plurality of first ends and open ends of the third or fourth traces at a last stage of the plurality of second hierarchical networks comprise a plurality of second ends, and wherein a first end of the plurality of first ends and a corresponding second end of the plurality of second ends are non-collinear to each other in a direction perpendicular to a major plane of the first layer.
- 32. An apparatus comprising:
a beamformer including a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, and the beamformer included in a first printed circuit board (PCB) layer; a plurality of input vias, wherein each input of the plurality of inputs electrically couples to a respective input via of the plurality of input vias; a first electrically conductive trace segment extending from a first last stage node of a first hierarchical network, wherein the first electrically conductive trace segment includes a first termination end at an end opposite the first last stage node, wherein the first termination end electrically couples to a first input via of the plurality of input vias; and a second electrically conductive trace segment extending from a second last stage node of a second hierarchical network, wherein the second electrically conductive trace segment includes a second termination end at an end opposite the second last stage node, wherein the second termination end electrically couples to a second input via of the plurality of input vias, wherein the first hierarchical network is disposed above and aligned with the second hierarchical network, wherein the first and second electrically conductive trace segments are differently shaped from each other.
