Adaptive Distributed Transceiver Synchronization Over a 90 Meter Microwave Wireless Link

TL;DR

This paper introduces an adaptive system for synchronizing phase and frequency of radio-frequency transceivers over nearly 100 meters, enabling distributed beamforming in outdoor environments at frequencies up to 3 GHz.

Contribution

It presents a novel adaptive synchronization method using a spectrally-sparse waveform and self-mixing circuit for long-range wireless links.

Findings

Achieved continuous high-accuracy synchronization over 90 meters outdoors.

Supported phase-coherent beamforming at frequencies up to 3 GHz.

Maintained synchronization for durations up to seven days.

Abstract

We present an adaptive approach for synchronizing both the phase and frequency of radio-frequency transceivers over long-range wireless links to support distributed antenna array applications. To enable distributed beamforming between separate wireless nodes, the oscillators in the transceivers must operate at the same frequency, and their phases must be appropriately aligned to support phase-coherent beamsteering. Based on a spectrally-sparse waveform, a self-mixing circuit, and an adaptive control loop, we present a system capable of synchronizing the RF oscillators in separate transceivers over distances of nearly 100 m. The approach is based on a spectrally-sparse waveform for joint inter-node ranging and frequency transfer. A frequency reference is modulated onto one signal of a two-tone waveform transmitted by the primary node which is demodulated and used to lock the oscillator of the secondary node. The secondary node retransmits the two-tone signal which the primary node uses for a high-accuracy range measurement. From this range, the phase of the two transceivers can be aligned to support beamforming. We furthermore implemented an adaptive phase control approach to support high-accuracy phase coordination in changing environmental conditions. We demonstrate continuous high accuracy links over a 90 m distance in an outdoor environment for durations up to seven days, demonstrating sufficient phase coordination in changing weather conditions to support distributed beamforming at frequencies up to 3 GHz.