Base station antenna unit and base station equipment

Abstract

The invention provides a base station antenna unit and base station equipment. The base station antenna unit comprises a first circuit, a second circuit, a reserved interface, a logic switch and a base station antenna connected to the first circuit. Wherein the logic switch is used for controlling the connection and disconnection of the first circuit and the second circuit, and controlling the connection and disconnection of the second circuit and the reserved interface; and the reserved interface is used for accessing an external antenna. The application at least solves the technical problem that a base station in the prior art is only used for realizing communication and has a single function.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a base station antenna unit and a base station device. Background Art

[0002] With the development of mobile Internet and Internet of Things technologies, more and more industries, such as manufacturing, transportation, smart medical care, etc., have the demand for the integration of communication and perception to achieve information collection, transmission and application.

[0003] For communication operators, in order to adapt to this development trend, how to achieve interaceptive integration in base stations is a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide a base station antenna unit and base station equipment, which can enable traditional base stations to achieve interaceptive integration.

[0005] In order to achieve the above purpose, the embodiment of the present application is implemented as follows:

[0006] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a base station antenna unit, comprising: a first circuit, a second circuit, a reserved interface, a logical switch, and a base station antenna connected to the first circuit; wherein the logical switch is used to control the connection and disconnection between the first circuit and the second circuit, and to control the connection and disconnection between the second circuit and the reserved interface; the reserved interface is used to connect to an external antenna.

[0007] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a base station device, comprising the base station antenna unit described in the first aspect above.

[0008] Based on the base station antenna unit of this embodiment or the base station device including the base station antenna unit, in the scenario where there is a need for communication and perception fusion, an external antenna can be connected to the reserved interface, and the logic switch controls the connection and disconnection of the first circuit and the second circuit, as well as the connection and disconnection of the second circuit and the reserved interface, so as to utilize the local original base station antenna and the additional external antenna for communication and perception, and realize the integration of base station interaception. In addition, for scenarios with only communication needs, there is no need to connect an external antenna to the reserved interface, and the base station antenna unit retains the traditional communication function normally. The entire structure has been reasonably simplified, and the external antenna can be plugged in and used according to field needs to avoid hardware waste. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in the embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0010] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a base station antenna unit according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0011] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a reserved interface of a base station antenna unit according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0012] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of a working frame of a base station antenna unit according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0013] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of circuit connections of a base station antenna unit in different time slots according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0014] Figure 5 A circuit connection diagram of a base station antenna unit used as an external antenna in an embodiment of the present application;

[0015] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of basic circuit connections of a base station antenna unit in an embodiment of the present application in practical applications;

[0016] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of circuit connections of a base station antenna unit according to an embodiment of the present application when the first logic switch is used;

[0017] Figure 8 Another circuit connection diagram of the base station antenna unit of the embodiment of the present application when the first logic switch is adopted;

[0018] Fig. 9 Another circuit connection diagram of the base station antenna unit of the embodiment of the present application when the first logic switch is adopted;

[0019] Fig.10 This is a circuit connection diagram of the base station antenna unit of an embodiment of the present application when the second logic switch is adopted;

[0020] Fig.11 Another circuit connection diagram of the base station antenna unit of the embodiment of the present application when the second logic switch is adopted;

[0021] Fig.12 Another circuit connection diagram of the base station antenna unit of the embodiment of the present application when the first logic switch is adopted;

[0022] Fig.13 Another circuit connection diagram of the base station antenna unit of the embodiment of the present application when the second logic switch is adopted;

[0023] Fig.14 This is another circuit connection diagram of the base station antenna unit of an embodiment of the present application when the first logic switch is adopted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions in this specification, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of this specification, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this specification, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work should fall within the scope of protection of this specification.

[0025] On the one hand, an embodiment of the present application provides a base station antenna unit, also called an active antenna unit (Active Antenna Unit, AAU). Figure 1 It is a structural diagram of the AAU embodiment of the present application, including: a first circuit, a second circuit, a reserved interface, a logic switch and a base station antenna connected to the first circuit.

[0026] in:

[0027] The reserved interface is used to connect to an external antenna. It should be noted that this embodiment does not specifically limit the form, position, and connection form of the reserved interface with the external antenna. Figure 2 An example of a reserved interface structure is shown, which specifically integrates a radio frequency interface, a control interface, and a power supply interface. The radio frequency interface is used to connect to a matching external antenna; the control interface and the power supply interface are reserved for AAU beamforming or beam scanning. During beamforming or beam scanning, the matching external antenna has electronic phase shifters and other devices that need to be powered and controlled.

[0028] The logic switch is used to control the connection and disconnection between the first circuit and the second circuit, and to control the connection and disconnection between the second circuit and the reserved interface.

[0029] In scenarios where there is a need for communication and perception fusion, an external antenna can be connected to the reserved interface, and the logic switch controls the connection and disconnection between the first circuit and the second circuit, as well as the connection and disconnection between the second circuit and the reserved interface, so as to utilize the local original base station antenna and the additional external antenna for communication and perception, and realize the integration of base station interaception. In addition, for scenarios where there is only a communication need but no perception, there is no need to connect an external antenna to the reserved interface, and the base station antenna unit retains the traditional communication function normally. The entire structure has been reasonably simplified, and the external antenna can be plugged in and used according to the field needs, avoiding hardware waste.

[0030] The following is an introduction to the principles of AAU communication and perception.

[0031] The traditional AAU uses the time division duplex (TDD) mode to realize the time division transmission and reception of communication signals through the base station antenna. The AAU of this embodiment introduces active sensing function on the basis of time division duplex communication. That is, the AAU transmits the sensing signal to the target area in the pre-configured sensing time slot, and at the same time, receives the echo signal (that is, the sensing signal) reflected by the sensing signal.

[0032] Figure 3 The working frame structure of the AAU of this embodiment for the scenario of communication and perception fusion is illustrated. C is the communication time slot; P is the perception reception time slot; S is the freely configurable time slot. Among them, the communication time slot is subdivided into a communication transmission time slot and a communication reception time slot in the time division duplex mode. The communication transmission time slot transmits the communication signal, and the communication reception time slot receives the communication signal. The switching between communication and perception is completed in the freely configurable time slot S, that is, the freely configurable time slot S provides a certain reserved time for the switching.

[0033] Under the above working frame structure, refer to Figure 4 As shown, the logic switch is specifically used for:

[0034] In a communication transmission time slot, controlling the first circuit to be disconnected from the second circuit, and controlling the second circuit to be disconnected from the reserved interface, so as to drive the base station antenna to send a communication signal through the first circuit;

[0035] In the communication receiving time slot, the first circuit is controlled to be connected with the second circuit, and the second circuit is controlled to be disconnected from the reserved interface, so as to receive the communication signal collected by the base station antenna through the second circuit;

[0036] In the sensing time slot after the reserved interface is connected to the external antenna, the first circuit is controlled to be disconnected from the second circuit so as to drive the base station antenna to send the sensing signal through the first circuit; and the second circuit is controlled to be connected to the reserved interface so as to receive the sensing signal (echo) collected by the external antenna through the second circuit. It should be noted that the sensing signal is sent and received simultaneously in the sensing time slot, which is different from the time-sharing transmission and reception of the communication signal.

[0037] In addition, Figure 4 On this basis, the AAU of this embodiment may further include: a load arranged outside the first circuit and the second circuit. The logic switch is specifically used to: control the first circuit to be connected to the load during the communication transmission time slot and the perception time slot, so that the load performs overcurrent protection on the first circuit; and control the first circuit to be disconnected from the load during the communication reception time slot, so that the load stops the first circuit from performing overcurrent protection, so as to avoid affecting the reception sensitivity of the communication or perception signal.

[0038] In addition, reference Figure 5 As shown, the logic switch can control the first circuit and the second circuit to be connected under normal conditions (power-off state), and control the second circuit to be connected to the reserved interface. When the logic switch is in normal conditions, this AAU can be used as an external antenna of other AAUs to access the reserved interfaces of other AAUs. That is, other AAUs receive the sensing signals through the base station antenna of this AAU during the sensing time slot. In practical applications, the AAU of this embodiment is a small-volume flat-panel structure like the traditional AAU. For scenarios where an external antenna cannot be provided, the two AAUs of this embodiment can be connected to each other through the reserved interface to realize the inter-sensory function without occupying too much space.

[0039] In practical applications, reference Figure 6 As shown, the AAU is also provided with: a digital processing module controlled by a baseband processing unit (Building Baseband Unit, BBU).

[0040] The output end of the digital processing module is connected to the first circuit after digital-to-analog conversion, that is, the output digital signal is converted into a communication signal or perception signal to be finally transmitted; the input end of the digital processing module is connected to the second circuit after digital-to-analog conversion, that is, the communication signal or perception signal collected by the second circuit is received by the AAU as a digital signal after digital-to-analog conversion.

[0041] In addition, the AAU also includes a first amplifier arranged in the first circuit and a second amplifier arranged in the second circuit. The first amplifier is used to: perform signal gain on the communication signal to be sent by the base station antenna in the communication transmission time slot; perform signal gain on the perception signal to be sent by the base station antenna in the perception time slot; the second amplifier is used to: perform signal gain on the communication signal collected by the base station antenna in the communication reception time slot.

[0042] Figure 6 This is the basic structure of the AAU in this embodiment. Figure 6 On this basis, the specific implementation method of the logic switch of this embodiment is introduced in detail.

[0043] Implementation method 1

[0044] refer to Figure 7 , Figure 8 As shown, the logic switch of the present implementation is composed of a first single-pole double-throw switch K1 and a second single-pole double-throw switch K2. K1 and K2 include a moving contact 0 as a "knife handle", a first static contact 1 and a second static contact 2 that can be selectively connected to the "knife handle". Among them, the moving contact 0 of K1 is connected to the first circuit through a circulator (the circulator serves as the access port of the circuit and will not be repeated in the following text), the first static contact 1 of K1 is connected to the first static contact 1 of K2, the moving contact 0 of K2 is connected to the second circuit, and the second static contact 2 of K2 is connected to the reserved interface. The input end of the first amplifier is connected to the first circuit, and the output end of the first amplifier is connected to the moving contact 0 of the first single-pole double-throw switch K1. The input end of the second amplifier is connected to the moving contact 0 of the second single-pole double-throw switch K2, and the output end of the second amplifier is connected to the second circuit.

[0045] When there is only a communication demand, the original base station antenna of AAU completes the time-sharing transmission and reception of communication signals. Figure 7 As shown: in the communication transmission time slot, the moving contact 0 of K1 is thrown to the second static contact 2 to connect the load to the first circuit, and the load is prevented from directly burning the circuit by transmitting high-power communication signals; the moving contact 0 of K2 can be thrown to the second static contact 1 or the second static contact 2. In the communication reception time slot, the moving contact 0 of K1 is thrown to the second static contact 2, and the moving contact 0 of K2 is thrown to the first static contact 1, so that the first circuit is connected to the second circuit, so that the communication signal collected by the base station antenna can reach the digital processing module through K1 and K2.

[0046] When there is a need for communication and perception fusion, an interface is reserved for external matching antennas. The communication time slots (communication transmission time slots and communication reception time slots) can be referred to Figure 7 As shown, no further details will be given here. In the sensing time slot, refer to Figure 8 As shown, the moving contact 0 of K1 is thrown to the second static contact 2 to connect the load to the first circuit, and the moving contact 0 of K2 is thrown to the second static contact 2 to connect to the reserved interface. The whole machine transmits the sensing signal through the original base station antenna of AAU and receives the sensing signal through the matching antenna. Since the original base station antenna of AAU and the matching antenna are two independent antennas, the isolation between the two antennas is relatively high, so the influence of transmission on reception is relatively small, and the sensing ability is relatively high.

[0047] It should be noted that the position of the second amplifier in the second circuit is not unique, and this implementation does not specifically limit it. As another feasible method, as shown in reference 9, the input end of the second amplifier can be connected to the first static contact 1 of the first single-pole double-throw switch K1, and the output end of the second amplifier can be connected to the first static contact 1 of the second single-pole double-throw switch K2.

[0048] Implementation method 2

[0049] refer to Fig.10 , Fig.11 As shown, in this implementation, the logic switch is a double-pole double-throw switch, including a first moving contact a, a second moving contact b, a first static contact 1, a second static contact 2, a third static contact 3 and a fourth static contact 4. Among them, the first moving contact a corresponds to the third static contact 3 and the fourth static contact 4 respectively, the first moving contact a is connected to the first circuit, the third static contact 3 is connected to the second static contact 2, and the fourth static contact 4 is connected to the load; the second moving contact b corresponds to the first static contact 1 and the second static contact 2 respectively, the second moving contact b is connected to the second circuit, and the first static contact 1 is connected to the reserved interface. The input end of the first amplifier is connected to the first circuit, and the output end of the first amplifier is connected to the first moving contact a of the double-pole double-throw switch; the input end of the second amplifier is connected to the second moving contact b of the double-pole double-throw switch, and the output end of the second amplifier is connected to the second circuit.

[0050] When only communication is required, refer to Fig.10 As shown: in the communication transmission time slot, the first moving contact a is thrown to the fourth static contact 4 to connect the load to the first circuit, and the load prevents the amplified communication signal from directly burning the circuit, and the second moving contact b is thrown to the second static contact 2 or the first static contact 1. In the communication reception time slot, the first moving contact a is thrown to the third static contact 3, and the second moving contact b is thrown to the second static contact 2, so that the first circuit and the second circuit are connected, and the communication signal collected by the base station antenna can finally reach the digital processing module.

[0051] When there is a need for communication and perception fusion, an interface is reserved for external matching antennas. The communication time slots (communication transmission time slots and communication reception time slots) can be referred to Fig.10 As shown, no further details will be given here. In the sensing time slot, refer to Fig.11 As shown, the first moving contact a is thrown to the fourth static contact 4 to connect the load to the first circuit, and the second moving contact b is thrown to the fourth static contact 4 to connect the external signal to the second circuit. The whole machine transmits the sensing signal through the original base station antenna of the AAU and receives the sensing signal through the matching antenna.

[0052] The above is an introduction to logic switches.

[0053] On the basis of the above, a third amplifier may be further provided on the reserved interface side of the present embodiment to amplify the signal power of the received perception signal so as to improve the collection sensitivity of the perception signal.

[0054] Here, the implementation of the logic switch including the first single-pole double-throw switch K1 and the second single-pole double-throw switch K2 is taken as an example. Fig.12As shown, the input end of the third amplifier is connected to the reserved interface, and the output end of the third amplifier is connected to the second static contact of the second single-pole double-throw switch. Based on the above, depending on the position of the second amplifier, the third amplifier can be connected to the second circuit in series with the second amplifier, or can be connected to the second circuit in parallel with the second amplifier.

[0055] Alternatively, taking the implementation of a logic switch including a single double-pole double-throw switch as an example, refer to Fig.13 As shown, the input end of the third amplifier is connected to the reserved interface, and the output end of the third amplifier is connected to the first static contact 1 of the double-pole double-throw switch.

[0056] It should be noted that the traditional core function of the base station antenna of the AAU in this embodiment is to transmit communication signals. Therefore, in the sensing time slot, it is used as a signal transmitting antenna, and the external supporting antenna is used as a signal collecting antenna. Of course, if the external supporting antenna is no different from the base station antenna in hardware, that is, the supporting antenna can also be used to transmit communication signals that meet the requirements, then the AAU can also use the external supporting antenna as a signal transmitting antenna and the local original antenna as a signal collecting antenna. Taking the implementation method of the logic switch including the first single-pole double-throw switch K1 and the second single-pole double-throw switch K2 as an example, refer to Fig.14 As shown, K1 controls the on-off of the first circuit and the second circuit, and K2 of the logic switch controls the on-off of the first circuit and the reserved interface.

[0057] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present application further provides a base station device, comprising the base station antenna unit described above.

[0058] Based on the base station antenna unit, the base station device of this embodiment can connect an external antenna to the reserved interface in scenarios where there are communication and perception requirements. The logic switch controls the connection and disconnection between the first circuit and the second circuit, as well as the connection and disconnection between the second circuit and the reserved interface, so as to utilize the local original base station antenna and the additionally connected external antenna for communication and perception, thereby realizing the inter-sensory integration of the base station. For scenarios where there are no perception requirements, there is no need to connect an external antenna to the reserved interface, and the base station antenna unit retains the traditional communication function normally. It can be seen that the entire structure of the base station device of this embodiment has been reasonably simplified, and the external antenna can be plugged in and used according to field requirements to avoid hardware waste.

[0059] In practical applications, the reserved interface of the base station device in this embodiment can be connected to the external antenna through a radio frequency cable. The advantage of this is that if the radio frequency cable is long enough, the position between the base station antenna and the external antenna can be flexibly adjusted, thereby minimizing the self-interference phenomenon between the base station antenna sending the sensing signal and the external antenna receiving the sensing signal.

[0060] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of this specification may be provided as methods, systems or computer program products. Therefore, this specification may take the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware. Moreover, this specification may take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0061] The above is a description of a specific embodiment of the specification. Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions or steps recorded in the claims can be performed in an order different from that in the embodiments and still achieve the desired results. In addition, the processes depicted in the drawings do not necessarily require the specific order or continuous order shown to achieve the desired results. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing are also possible or may be advantageous.

[0062] The above are only embodiments of this specification and are not intended to limit this specification. For those skilled in the art, this specification may be subject to various changes and modifications. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of this specification shall be included in the scope of the claims of this specification. In addition, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work shall fall within the scope of protection of this document.

Claims

1. A base station antenna unit, characterized in that: include: A first circuit, a second circuit, a reserved interface, a logic switch and a base station antenna connected to the first circuit; wherein the logic switch is used to control the connection and disconnection between the first circuit and the second circuit, and to control the connection and disconnection between the second circuit and the reserved interface; and the reserved interface is used to connect to an external antenna.

2. The base station antenna unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The functions of the logic switch include at least one of the following: In a communication transmission time slot, controlling the first circuit to be disconnected from the second circuit, and controlling the second circuit to be disconnected from the reserved interface, so as to drive the base station antenna to send a communication signal through the first circuit; In a communication receiving time slot, controlling the first circuit to be connected to the second circuit, and controlling the second circuit to be disconnected from the reserved interface, so as to receive the communication signal collected by the base station antenna through the second circuit; In a sensing time slot after the reserved interface is connected to an external antenna, controlling the first circuit to be disconnected from the second circuit, so as to drive the base station antenna to send a sensing signal through the first circuit; And, controlling the second circuit to be connected to the reserved interface so as to receive the perception signal collected by the external antenna through the second circuit.

3. The base station antenna unit according to claim 2, characterized in that: Also included: a load disposed outside the first circuit and the second circuit; The functions of the logic switch also include at least one of the following: In the communication transmission time slot and the sensing time slot after the reserved interface is connected to the external antenna, controlling the first circuit to be connected to the load so that the load performs overcurrent protection on the first circuit; During the communication receiving time slot, the first circuit is controlled to be disconnected from the load, so that the load stops performing overcurrent protection on the first circuit.

4. The base station antenna unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The logic switch comprises a first single-pole double-throw switch and a second single-pole double-throw switch; the first single-pole double-throw switch and the second single-pole double-throw switch each comprise a moving contact, a first stationary contact and a second stationary contact; Among them, the moving contact of the first single-pole double-throw switch is connected to the first circuit, the first static contact of the first single-pole double-throw switch is connected to the first static contact of the second single-pole double-throw switch, the moving contact of the second single-pole double-throw switch is connected to the second circuit, and the second static contact of the second single-pole double-throw switch is connected to the reserved interface.

5. The base station antenna unit according to claim 4, characterized in that: Also includes: A first amplifier, wherein an input end of the first amplifier is connected to the first circuit, and an output end of the first amplifier is connected to a moving contact of the first single-pole double-throw switch.

6. The base station antenna unit according to claim 4, characterized in that: Also includes: a second amplifier, wherein an input end of the second amplifier is connected to a moving contact of the second single-pole double-throw switch, and an output end of the second amplifier is connected to the second circuit; Alternatively, the input end of the second amplifier is connected to the first static contact of the first single-pole double-throw switch, and the output end of the second amplifier is connected to the first static contact of the second single-pole double-throw switch.

7. The base station antenna unit according to claim 4, characterized in that: Also includes: A third amplifier, wherein an input end of the third amplifier is connected to the reserved interface, and an output end of the third amplifier is connected to the second static contact of the second single-pole double-throw switch.

8. The base station antenna unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The logic switch is composed of a double-pole double-throw switch; the double-pole double-throw switch includes a first moving contact, a second moving contact, a first stationary contact, a second stationary contact, a third stationary contact and a fourth stationary contact; Among them, the first moving contact corresponds to the third static contact and the fourth static contact respectively, the first moving contact is connected to the first circuit, the third static contact is connected to the second static contact, and the fourth static contact is connected to the load; the second moving contact corresponds to the first static contact and the second static contact respectively, the second moving contact is connected to the second circuit, and the first static contact is connected to the reserved interface.

9. The base station antenna unit according to claim 8, characterized in that: Also includes: A first amplifier, wherein an input end of the first amplifier is connected to the first circuit, and an output end of the first amplifier is connected to a first moving contact of the double-pole double-throw switch.

10. The base station antenna unit according to claim 8, characterized in that: Also includes: A second amplifier, wherein an input end of the second amplifier is connected to the second moving contact of the double-pole double-throw switch, and an output end of the second amplifier is connected to the second circuit.

11. The base station antenna unit according to claim 8, characterized in that: Also includes: A third amplifier, wherein an input end of the third amplifier is connected to the reserved interface, and an output end of the third amplifier is connected to the first static contact of the double-pole double-throw switch.

12. The base station antenna unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The reserved interface includes at least one of the following: A radio frequency interface of the external antenna; Control interface for beamforming and / or beam scanning; A power supply interface for the beam forming and / or the beam scanning.

13. A base station device, characterized in that: It comprises a base station antenna unit as described in any one of claims 1-12.

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