Systems and methods are provided for a digital beamformed phased array feed. The system may include a radome configured to allow electromagnetic waves to propagate; a multi-band software defined antenna array tile; a power and clock management subsystem configured to manage power and time of operation; a thermal management subsystem configured to dissipate heat generated by the multi-band software defined antenna array tile; and an enclosure assembly. The multi-band software defined antenna array tile may include a plurality of coupled dipole array antenna elements; a plurality of frequency converters; and a plurality of digital beamformers.

Systems and methods are provided for a digital beamformed phased array feed. The system may include a radome configured to allow electromagnetic waves to propagate; a multi-band software defined antenna array tile; a power and clock management subsystem configured to manage power and time of operation; a thermal management subsystem configured to dissipate heat generated by the multi-band software defined antenna array tile; and an enclosure assembly. The multi-band software defined antenna array tile may include a plurality of coupled dipole array antenna elements; a plurality of frequency converters; and a plurality of digital beamformers.

The disclosure is directed to a method for measuring an angle of arrival (AoA), with a steerable phased array. The method would include but not limited to: receiving a signal by the steerable phased array with a first steering angle and with a second steering angle; obtaining a first power-related information (PRI1) of the signal corresponding to the first steering angle; obtaining a second power-related information (PRI2) of the signal corresponding to the second steering angle; and calculating an AoA of the signal based on the first power-related information and the second power-related information, wherein the first steering angle is different from the second steering angle, and an absolute difference between the first steering angle and the second steering angle is less than FNBW/2.

A receiver circuit is disclosed. The receiver circuit includes a receiver antenna or a receiver antenna arrays oriented at a receiver orientation angle and configured to receive a plurality of RF signals transmitted from a transmitter circuit including a transmit antenna or a transmit antenna array oriented at a transmitter orientation angle. A controller A) calculates first and second AoAs based on a first signal at a first receiver antenna array, and calculates third and fourth AoAs based on a second signal at a second receiver antenna array, and/or B) calculates first and second AoDs based on a third signal from a first transmit antenna array, and calculates third and fourth AoDs based on a fourth signal from a second transmit antenna array. The controller also determines which of the first and second AoAs is correct, and/or determines which of the first and second AoDs is correct.

A receiver circuit is disclosed. The receiver circuit includes a receiver antenna or a receiver antenna arrays oriented at a receiver orientation angle and configured to receive a plurality of RF signals transmitted from a transmitter circuit including a transmit antenna or a transmit antenna array oriented at a transmitter orientation angle. A controller A) calculates first and second AoAs based on a first signal at a first receiver antenna array, and calculates third and fourth AoAs based on a second signal at a second receiver antenna array, and/or B) calculates first and second AoDs based on a third signal from a first transmit antenna array, and calculates third and fourth AoDs based on a fourth signal from a second transmit antenna array. The controller also determines which of the first and second AoAs is correct, and/or determines which of the first and second AoDs is correct.

Signals are received from antenna elements in an antenna array, and respective phase shifts are applied to the received signals. The respective phase shifts are relative to a channel phase shift associated with each antenna element, and correspond to side angles from a current antenna beam direction of the antenna array. Control signals based on the phase shifted signals are generated to control the channel phase shifts, to provide beamforming tracking.

A method for alignment of a first node with a second node in a wireless communication network. The method comprises directing a first node first antenna beam at a first pointing angle, using a second node antenna beam for scanning a first volume with objects being able to generate signal reflections/diffraction, detecting a first signal property of reflected/diffracted signals; and saving scan angles resulting in said first signal property exceeding a first threshold level. The method further comprises directing the second node antenna beam at said saved angles, and, for each such angle: using a first node second antenna beam for scanning; and detecting at least a second signal property of reflected/diffracted signals; exchanging information between the nodes comprising first node second antenna beam pointing direction angles resulting in said second signal property exceeding a second threshold level and said saved angles; and selecting angles for communication.

A method for alignment of a first node with a second node in a wireless communication network. The method comprises directing a first node first antenna beam at a first pointing angle, using a second node antenna beam for scanning a first volume with objects being able to generate signal reflections/diffraction, detecting a first signal property of reflected/diffracted signals; and saving scan angles resulting in said first signal property exceeding a first threshold level. The method further comprises directing the second node antenna beam at said saved angles, and, for each such angle: using a first node second antenna beam for scanning; and detecting at least a second signal property of reflected/diffracted signals; exchanging information between the nodes comprising first node second antenna beam pointing direction angles resulting in said second signal property exceeding a second threshold level and said saved angles; and selecting angles for communication.

A method performed by a network node (10) for finding a direction to a wireless device (20) in a wireless communication network is provided. The method comprises the step (S1) of the network node transmitting reference signal pairs on at least one pair of correlated antennas. Each reference signal pair has a unique phase difference between the signals in the signal pair, and the unique phase differences of the reference signal pairs are distributed over a given angular interval. The method further comprises the step (S2) of the network node receiving from the wireless device, in response to each pair of reference signals, a respective indication of a preferred pre-coding matrix, and the step (S3) of the network node determining a direction to the wireless device based on the received indications, information representative of the phase differences of the reference signal pairs, and phase information related to the indicated preferred pre-coding matrices.

A method performed by a network node (10) for finding a direction to a wireless device (20) in a wireless communication network is provided. The method comprises the step (S1) of the network node transmitting reference signal pairs on at least one pair of correlated antennas. Each reference signal pair has a unique phase difference between the signals in the signal pair, and the unique phase differences of the reference signal pairs are distributed over a given angular interval. The method further comprises the step (S2) of the network node receiving from the wireless device, in response to each pair of reference signals, a respective indication of a preferred pre-coding matrix, and the step (S3) of the network node determining a direction to the wireless device based on the received indications, information representative of the phase differences of the reference signal pairs, and phase information related to the indicated preferred pre-coding matrices.