In this paper, a receiver architecture is presented which is capable of handling angle-of-arrival (AOA) detection as well as data communication. The architecture of the proposed multifunction ...receiver is based on the multiport interferometer technique, and it integrates two previously reported six-port-based system functions that were realized as two distinct six-port receivers (SPRs). This unification of two SPRs is mainly achieved through a new configuration of RF/local oscillator (LO) signals at input ports, a new phase processing of the input signals within a structured eight-port passive network and a complementary postprocessing of the signals at the output of detectors. Using two RF input ports and two LO input ports that are switched in two consecutive time slots, the proposed multiport-based receiver (MPR) can estimate the AOA with a simple signal-processing algorithm. The plurality of the RF input ports can cause self-interference for the received communication signals. Therefore, a phasing network within the proposed eight-port wave correlator is devised such that the incoming quadrature modulated RF carriers are demodulated in an orthogonal manner at four output ports. It is found that receiving communication signal from a nonzero AOA makes imbalance between demodulated components. To this end, the proposed MPR can first find the angular position of the other unit and then recover the demodulation components through data fusion and postprocessing. The mathematical model for the developed MPR is derived along with the development of an appropriate calibration technique, and its principal functionality is theoretically analyzed. In addition, a transceiver architecture based on this MPR is implemented, and prototyped for operation around 77 GHz. The techniques for hybrid millimeter-wave system integration are explained in this paper. The proposed concept is proven and concluded with satisfactory measurements for both functions. This unified multifunction MPR can find applications in the future vehicle-to-vehicle radios and joint radar-communication systems.
The article considers theoretical justification for creating a measuring method for liquid level in tanks containing oil, petroleum products, liquefied gases, etc., by measuring frequency ...functionally related to the measured level. The novelty lies in the fact that the six-element phasing network of a generator with frequency set in accordance with the measured level is formed by three external resistances and two capacitors. The third capacitor contains two plates: the top plate made of foil-coated fiberglass is located on the floating roof, and the bottom plate is the tank bottom. The microcontroller processes information in accordance with the established algorithm and calibration tables, transmitting level, mass, volume, density and temperature results to the indicator.
