The BEAT RFIC chip interfaces directly to the phased array antenna elements. The RFIC acts as the RF front-end module, interfacing between the antenna and the Prime. It is equivalent to a micro BUC and LNB unit.
The RFIC front-end chips fulfil the following functions:
- Drives the transmit power to the antenna element. Targeting +10 dBm (P1dB) per antenna element.
- Amplifies the received signal with a low noise amplifier.
- Electronically control the polarization between RH and LH.
- Down-converts and up-converts the signal to and from the IF frequencies used by the DBF Prime chip.
- Control the polarization – V/H or LH/RH
High Level Block diagram of single transceiver:
Beat – Ku Band specifications:
- RF transceiver containing 4x IQ TX upconverters and 4 x IQ RX downconverters
- Supports Ku band frequencies:
- TX: 14GHz – 14.5GHz
- RX: 10.7 – 12.75GHz
- TX RF BW=500MHz, RX RF BW =880 MHz
- Supports automatic circular polarization control by embedding 0o/90o phase controllable phase shifters
- Filters implemented in the IF and RF paths. The filters are required for anti-aliasing, noise rejection and enable concurrent operation of the Tx and Rx paths (Receive Reject filter, Transmit Reject Filter).
- Supports external RF LO “daisy chaining” to multiple chipsets and internal distribution to 4 TX/RX chains
- TX P1dB = 10dBm
- LNA1 NF =2 dB
