QUALCOMM Incorporated
Beamforming circuit for multiple antennas

Abstract:

Apparatus and methods for multi-antenna wireless communication are provided. In an aspect, one or more input ports of a first layer two-dimensional (2D) Butler matrix are selected for communication of one or more streams by an array antenna over one or more beams. A control signal is applied to a control input pin of a first layer to second layer switch configurable, based on the control signal, to selectively connect first layer output ports of the first layer 2D Butler matrix to at least a subset of second layer input ports of a second layer 2D Butler matrix. One or more streams are then transmitted or received by an array antenna over one or more beams, wherein the array antenna includes a plurality of antenna elements, wherein each one of the plurality of antenna elements is associated with one output port of the second layer 2D Butler matrix.