Apple Inc.
Systems and methods for coarse scan beamforming using subarrays

Abstract:

A communication device has multiple antennas in an antenna array, and applies the same input power to each antenna. A controller of the communication device instructs phase shifters to form a first subarray with a first pair of the antennas and a second subarray with a second pair of the antennas. The controller causes the first subarray to generate a first beam and causes the second subarray to generate a second beam, wherein the first beam combines in phase with the second beam to generate a coarse beam. The coarse beam may have increased beam width while exhibiting decreased peak gain loss.