Abstract: A method employing an array of antenna elements and a plurality of transceivers, each including (1) a transmitter chain; (2) a receiver chain; and (3) a duplexer having an input electrically connected to the transmitter chain, an output electrically connected to the receiver chain, and a duplexed port electrically connected to a different antenna element, the method involving: identifying among the plurality of transceivers a first and second subsets of transceivers such that together the first and second subsets of transceivers constitute all of the transceivers among the plurality of transceivers; for each transceiver within the first subset of transceivers, but not for the transceivers within the second subset of transceivers, introducing a ? degree phase shift between the duplexed port of the duplexer and the antenna element to which the duplexed port is electrically connected, wherein ?=?(2n+1)90°, and wherein n is an integer.

Abstract: A method of determining an orientation of a phased array antenna that involves positioning a communication device in front of the phased array antenna; with the phased array antenna, sequentially generating each beam pattern of a library of multiple beam patterns; for each of the sequentially generated beam patterns from the library of multiple beam patterns, measuring a received signal parameter, wherein the received signal parameters for the library of multiple transmit beam patterns form a measured received signal vector for the phased array antenna; and determining the orientation of the phased array antenna by comparing the measured received signal vector for the phased array antenna to each of a plurality of calculated received signal vectors.

Abstract: A method involving a MIMO communications system including a phased array antenna for establishing communication with a terminal located within a domain, the method including: defining a plurality of sub-domains within the domain; for each sub-domain, defining a corresponding set of analog phase weights to be applied to the phased array antenna for directing beams towards that sub-domain; in succession, selecting each sub-domain among the plurality of sub-domains and for each selected sub-domain: (a) applying the set of analog phase weights for that selected sub-domain to the phased array antenna; (b) performing channel sounding with the terminal while that sub-domain is selected; and (c) receiving feedback from the terminal for that selected sub-domain; and after selecting all sub-domains and from the received feedback, identifying a best sub-domain and identifying a best precoding matrix that in combination with the best sub-domain provides a best communication channel for the terminal.

Abstract: A method of communicating with UEs located within a serviced area, the method involving: defining a set of differently directed, narrow beams which collectively cover the serviced area; (a) during a first period of operation: (i) cycling through the beams one at a time by separately activating each beam in synchronization with the subframe structure of a signal from the BBU; and (ii) while each beam is activated, initiating channel sounding for all of the UEs in the serviced area; and (b) during a second period of operation immediately following the first period of operation: (i) cycling through all of the beams one at a time by separately activating each beam in synchronization with the subframe structure of the signal from the BBU; and (ii) while each beam is activated, transmitting data over that beam to the UEs in accordance with a scheduling scheme.

Abstract: A method of using a phased array antenna system to communicate with a mobile user equipment (UE), the method involving: repeatedly switching between a downlink (DL) transmission time period and an uplink (UL) transmission time period; during the DL transmission time period, simultaneously generating a DL transmit beam and a DL receive beam, wherein the DL transmit beam during the DL transmission time periods has a first DL transmit beam pattern; and during the UL transmission time period, simultaneously generating a DL transmit beam and a DL receive beam, wherein the DL transmit beam during the UL transmission time period has a second DL transmit beam pattern and wherein the second DL transmit beam pattern during the UL transmission time period is different from the first DL transmit beam pattern during the DL transmission time period.

Abstract: A method for initializing a phase adder circuit including a multiplier circuit with its two inputs receiving signals of frequency fo, a mixer circuit, an amplifier circuit, a low pass loop filter, and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), the method including: during a first phase, determining a reference voltage which when applied to the VCO causes it to produce a signal having a frequency of nf0; during a second phase, supplying a signal of frequency nfo to a first input of the mixer and a signal of frequency (nfo+?f) to a second input of the mixer; and determining an adjustment signal which when applied to the amplifier circuit causes the amplifier circuit to output a signal having a DC component equal to the reference voltage; and during a third phase, forming a primary phase locked loop (PLL) circuit including the mixer, the amplifier circuit, the low pass loop filter and the VCO; and applying the adjustment signal to the amplifier circuit.

Abstract: An electronic circuit including: a differential multiplier circuit with a first differential input and a second differential input and a differential output; and a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit including: (1) a balanced differential mixer circuit with a first differential input electrically connected to the differential output of the differential multiplier circuit, a second differential input, and an output; (2) a loop filter having an output and an input electrically connected to the output of the balanced differential mixer circuit; and (3) a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) circuit having an input electrically connected to the output of the loop filter and with an output electrically feeding back to the second differential input of the balanced differential mixer circuit.

Abstract: A signal transmission method involving: receiving M·N digital transmit signal streams, each of which represents a transmit signal for a different corresponding antenna element of an M×N array of antenna elements; generating P digital transmit-beam signal streams from the M·N digital transmit signal streams, wherein each of the P digital transmit-beam signal streams is a corresponding linear combination of the M·N digital transmit signal streams; within an R×T Hybrid Massive MIMO system having R·T antenna elements, by applying appropriate phase shifts in an analog domain, causing the R×T Hybrid Massive MIMO system to simultaneously generate a set of P independent, differently directed transmit beams; and mapping each of the P digital transmit beam signal streams to a corresponding different one of the P independent, differently directed transmit beams, wherein M, N, P, R and T are integers, wherein R·TM·N, and wherein P<M·N.

Abstract: A method involving an antenna array for wirelessly transmitting information carried by a source signal stream that includes a plurality of individual transmit signal streams, the method involving: mapping the plurality of transmit signal streams to a plurality of individual beam signal streams, wherein at least one of the beam signal streams of the plurality of beam signal streams is a combination of multiple transmit signal streams of the plurality of transmit signal streams; using the antenna array to generate a plurality of transmit beams; and sending each beam signal stream of the plurality of beam signal streams over a different transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams.

Abstract: A removable module for a phased array, the module including: a circuit board having a ground plane formed on one side of the circuit board; an antenna mounted on and extending away from a topside of the circuit board; circuitry on a backside of the circuit board, the circuitry including an RF front end circuit coupled to the antenna; and a group of one or more first connecters mounted on the backside of the circuit board, the first connectors for physically and electrically connecting and disconnecting the module from a master board through a corresponding group of one or more matching second connectors on the master board, the first connectors on the module having electrically conductive lines for carrying an externally supplied LO signal for the RF front end circuit and an IF signal for or from the RF front end circuit.

Abstract: An electronic circuit including: a differential multiplier circuit with a first differential input and a second differential input and a differential output; and a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit including: (1) a balanced differential mixer circuit with a first differential input electrically connected to the differential output of the differential multiplier circuit, a second differential input, and an output; (2) a loop filter having an output and an input electrically connected to the output of the balanced differential mixer circuit; and (3) a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) circuit having an input electrically connected to the output of the loop filter and with an output electrically feeding back to the second differential input of the balanced differential mixer circuit.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a phased array including an array of antenna elements, RF communication circuits each of which is electrically coupled to a different corresponding antenna element within the array of antenna elements, and a signal feed network that electrically couples a first signal line to second signal lines, wherein each second signal line is electrically coupled to a different corresponding RF communication circuit among the RF communication circuits, the method involving: performing a first phase of a calibration operation, the first phase of the calibration operation involving calibrating the signal feed network independent of the RF communication circuits; and performing a second phase of the calibration operation, the second phase of the calibration operation involving calibrating, independent of the signal feed network, each of the RF communication circuits until all RF communication circuits among the RF communication circuits are calibrated.

Abstract: A method for communicating with a plurality of communication devices (UEs) using a phased array antenna system including an array of antenna elements, the method involving: receiving a plurality of port signal streams, wherein the plurality of port signal streams was obtained by precoding a plurality of data streams, each data stream of the plurality of data streams intended for a different corresponding UE; and within the phased array antenna system, processing the plurality of port signal streams to (1) undo the precoding that was performed on the plurality of data streams, and (2) generate via the array of antenna elements a plurality of transmit beams, wherein each transmit beam is directed towards a corresponding different UE among the plurality of UEs and carries a corresponding transmit signal that is derived exclusively from the data stream among the plurality of data streams that is intended for that UE.

Abstract: An antenna system including: a metal base plate; an antenna element arranged on and extending away from the front side of the base plate; a circuit board including a ground plane, adjacent to, and in thermal contact with the base plate; a plurality of electrical components on the circuit board including a power amplifier and an I/O connector; a metal support plate separated from, parallel to, and facing the base plate, with the circuit board located between the base and support plates; a plurality of thermally conductive standoffs thermally connecting the base plate to the support plate; and a master board including an I/O connector mating with the I/O connector on the circuit board and electrically connecting the circuit board to the master board, the master board located between the circuit board and the support plate and including signal paths for routing signals to the circuit board.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a phased array including an array of antenna elements, RF communication circuits each of which is electrically coupled to a different corresponding antenna element within the array of antenna elements, and a signal feed network that electrically couples a first signal line to second signal lines, wherein each second signal line is electrically coupled to a different corresponding RF communication circuit among the RF communication circuits, the method involving: performing a first phase of a calibration operation, the first phase of the calibration operation involving calibrating the signal feed network independent of the RF communication circuits; and performing a second phase of the calibration operation, the second phase of the calibration operation involving calibrating, independent of the signal feed network, each of the RF communication circuits until all RF communication circuits among the RF communication circuits are calibrated.

Abstract: A method involving a serial interconnection system having a first node, a second node, a plurality of calibration nodes that are electrically connected in series by the serial interconnection system, and a plurality of connection nodes corresponding to the plurality of serially connected calibration nodes and electrically connected in series by the serial interconnection system, the method involving: for each of the plurality of calibration nodes performing a measurement procedure involving: injecting a corresponding reference signal into that calibration node; and while the corresponding reference signal is being injected into that calibration node, determining a summation of the phases of signals appearing at the first and second nodes; from the determined phase summations for the plurality of calibration nodes, computing phase corrections for each of the plurality of calibration nodes; and applying the phase corrections to the corresponding plurality of connection nodes.

Abstract: A system for use with beam signals, the system including: a crest factor reduction (CFR) module having inputs and corresponding outputs, wherein each of the inputs is for receiving a corresponding different beam signal of the beam signals and wherein each output corresponds to a different input of the plurality of inputs and is for outputting a different CFR-adjusted signal of a plurality of CFR-adjusted signals, each CFR-adjusted signal of the plurality of CFR-adjusted signals corresponding to a different beam signal of the plurality of beam signals; and a transmitter connected to the outputs of the CFR module, wherein the CFR module is configured to perform crest factor reduction on the beam signals to generate the plurality of CFR-adjusted signals, and wherein the crest factor reduction performed on the beam signals is based on a weighted sum of the magnitudes of multiple beams signals among the beam signals.

Abstract: An antenna system including: a metal base plate; an antenna element arranged on and extending away from the front side of the base plate; a circuit board including a ground plane, adjacent to, and in thermal contact with the base plate; a plurality of electrical components on the circuit board including a power amplifier and an I/O connector; a metal support plate separated from, parallel to, and facing the base plate, with the circuit board located between the base and support plates; a plurality of thermally conductive standoffs thermally connecting the base plate to the support plate; and a master board including an I/O connector mating with the I/O connector on the circuit board and electrically connecting the circuit board to the master board, the master board located between the circuit board and the support plate and including signal paths for routing signals to the circuit board.

Abstract: A method of testing a phased array antenna that includes a plurality of antenna element pairs, each antenna element pair of the plurality of antenna element pairs including a first antenna element and a second antenna element, the method including: for each antenna element pair of the plurality of antenna element pairs, performing a first cross element gain measurement from the first antenna element to the second antenna element of that antenna element pair; and determining whether there is a problem associated with the phased array antenna by examining the first cross element gain measurements for the plurality of antenna element pairs.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a serial interconnection system having a first node, a second node, calibration nodes that are electrically connected in series by the serial interconnection system, and connection nodes corresponding to the serially connected calibration nodes, the connection nodes electrically connected in series by the serial interconnection system, the calibration method involving: for each of the calibration nodes performing a measurement procedure involving: injecting a corresponding reference signal into that calibration node; and while the corresponding reference signal is being injected into that calibration node, measuring the phase difference of signals appearing at the first and second nodes; from the measured phase differences for the calibration nodes, computing phase corrections for each of the calibration nodes; and applying the phase corrections computed for each of the calibration nodes to the corresponding connection nodes.