Analog Devices, Inc.
Digital beamforming for cellular technology applications

Abstract:

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to cellular technology applications of beamforming performed in the digital domain. In one aspect, an RF system for performing digital beamforming on a per-carrier basis is disclosed, where different phase and/or amplitude adjustments are applied to signals of different frequency ranges (i.e., to different carrier signals). In another aspect, an RF system for performing digital beamforming on a per-antenna basis is disclosed, where different phase and/or amplitude adjustments are applied to signals transmitted from or received by different antennas. In some embodiments, an RF system may be configured to implement both digital beamforming on a per-carrier basis and digital beamforming on a per-antenna basis. The RF systems disclosed herein allow implementing programmable beamforming in the digital domain in a manner that is significantly less complex than conventional implementations.