Multi-mode active circuit control and activation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9325543-B2
Application number	US-201213674077-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 11, 2012
Priority date	Nov 11, 2012
Publication date	Apr 26, 2016
Grant date	Apr 26, 2016

Abstract

An active circuit control system that utilizes multiple PWM signals to activate and power an array of active components, requiring minimal wiring between the multi-mode signal conditioner and active components. Signal conditioning and filtering is implemented to allow transmission of power and control signals for multiple components over a single or multiple transmission lines. The circuit can be used to provide supply voltage and control signals for active antennas, switch networks, and other components in communication systems and electronic devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-mode active circuit control system, comprising:
a multi-mode signal conditioner coupled to a transceiver, the multi-mode signal conditioner configured to receive a plurality of signals from the transceiver and combine the plurality of signals to form a combined signal; and
a tuning decoder coupled to the multi-mode signal conditioner via a transmission line extending therebetween, the tuning decoder adapted to receive the combined signal from the multi-mode signal conditioner and produce a plurality of control and supply signals therefrom for communicating with at least one active component and a feed associated with a multi-mode active antenna,
wherein said control and supply signals produced by the tuning decoder are sent using a lower amplitude input pulse width modulation with direct current offset to reduce the power variations seen by the transceiver and overall system noise.

2. The multi-mode active circuit control system of claim 1 , further comprising a control cable adapted to communicate the supply and control signals to a location not coincident with the transceiver.

3. The multi-mode active circuit control system of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of tuning decoders; each of said tuning decoders coupled to said multi-mode signal conditioner.

4. The multi-mode active circuit control system of claim 3 , wherein each of said plurality of tuning decoders is adapted to convert the combined signal into multiple control and supply signals for configuring a plurality of active devices.

5. The multi-mode active circuit control system of claim 1 , wherein said control and supply signals are sent using a series of digital bits, wherein the series of digital bits contains digital information for controlling the active components.

6. The multi-mode active circuit control system of claim 1 , wherein the system is adapted to communicate said control signals only when a state needs to change and constant direct current is sent otherwise.

7. The multi-mode active circuit control system of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of signals received by the multi-mode signal conditioner comprise at least one radiofrequency signal and at least one pulse width modulation signal.

8. The multi-mode active circuit control system of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of control and supply signals produced by the tuning decoder comprise: at least one radiofrequency signal for communicating with an antenna feed of the multi-mode active antenna, and at least one control signal for communicating with an active component of the multi-mode active antenna.

9. A multi-mode active circuit control system, comprising:
a multi-mode signal conditioner coupled to a transceiver, the multi-mode signal conditioner configured to receive at least one radiofrequency (RF) signal and at least one pulse width modulation (PWM) signal from the transceiver and combine the RF and PWM signals to form a combined signal; and
a tuning decoder coupled to the multi-mode signal conditioner via a transmission line extending therebetween, the tuning decoder adapted to receive the combined signal from the multi-mode signal conditioner and decode said combined signal to produce at least one decoded RF signal and at least one control signal, wherein the tuning decoder is configured to communicate the at least one control signal to an active component of a multi-mode antenna, and wherein the tuning decoder is further configured to communicate the at least one decoded RF signal with a feed of the multi-mode antenna; and
wherein said control and decoded RF signals produced by the tuning decoder are communicated using a lower amplitude input pulse width modulation with direct current offset to reduce the power variations seen by the transceiver and overall system noise.

10. The multi-mode active circuit control system of claim 9 , comprising a plurality of tuning decoders; each of said tuning decoders coupled to said multi-mode signal conditioner; wherein each of said plurality of tuning decoders is adapted to convert the combined signal into multiple control and supply signals for configuring a plurality of active devices.

Assignees

• Ethertronics Inc

Inventors

• Desclos Laurent
• Rowson Sebastian

Classifications

• H04L25/4902 Primary

  Pulse width modulation; Pulse position modulation · CPC title

• H04B1/40

  Circuits · CPC title