Beam forming device, wireless communication device and beam forming method

Abstract

The invention discloses a beam forming device, a wireless communication device and a beam forming method, relates to the technical field of optical communication, and is used for improving the integration level of a wireless communication system. According to the invention, for beam forming of the K * N two-dimensional antenna array, the vertical angle and the horizontal angle of the beam are separately adjusted, and for a single user / data stream, only K + N optical phase shifters / optical delayers are needed, so that for M user / data streams, only M * (K + N) optical phase shifters / optical delayers are needed, the use number of the optical phase shifters / optical delayers can be reduced, and the user experience is improved. And the integration level of the beam forming system is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of optical communication technology, and in particular to a beamforming device, a wireless communication device, and a beamforming method. Background Art

[0002] With the development of intelligence and digitalization in various industries, the demand for spectrum bandwidth for wireless connections is increasing, and the radio frequency used by wireless communication systems is also getting higher and higher. However, as the frequency used increases, the propagation loss of the radio frequency signal will continue to increase, resulting in a deterioration in the signal-to-noise ratio of the wireless communication link, affecting the communication capacity. At present, high-frequency wireless communication systems (such as 5G millimeter waves) generally use beamforming technology to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the communication link. The current analog beamforming system uses a phase shifter (PS) to adjust the phase of the radio frequency signal transmitted by each antenna unit at the transmitting end, so that each radio frequency signal has the same phase when it arrives at the communication receiving end, forming a coherent superposition, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the signal.

[0003] For most wireless communication systems, such as cellular and WiFi, it is necessary to meet the needs of multiple users accessing at the same time. Therefore, for the beamforming system of multiple users / multiple data streams, the phases of the signals of multiple users / data streams are adjusted separately through phase shifters, and the RF signals of multiple users / data streams are combined before being fed into the corresponding antenna units. When the RF signals of different users / data streams arrive at the corresponding communication receiving end, they have the same phase and form a coherent superposition, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio of multiple users / data streams at the same time. However, at present, the RF signal of each user / data stream needs to pass through one phase shifter to each antenna unit. Taking the commonly used two-dimensional antenna array as an example, there are KxN antenna units, K and N are the number of rows and columns of the array respectively. To support M users / data streams, KxN phase shifters are required for each user / data stream. The beamforming system requires a total of KxNxM phase shifters, resulting in high complexity and poor integration. Summary of the invention

[0004] The embodiments of the present application provide a beamforming device, a wireless communication device, and a beamforming method, so as to improve the integration of a wireless communication system.

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a beamforming device, comprising a first phase shifting module, a second phase shifting module, and N second wave combining and demultiplexing units. The first phase shifting module is used to receive K first optical signals with different wavelengths, and to perform phase adjustment on the K first optical signals respectively, and then combine them into one combined optical signal and then send it out; the second phase shifting module is used to perform phase adjustment of N phase adjustment amounts on one combined optical signal to obtain N fourth optical signals, and output the N fourth optical signals one by one to the N second wave combining and demultiplexing units; the N second wave combining and demultiplexing units are used to respectively demultiplex the input fourth optical signal to obtain K×N fifth optical signals.

[0006] The beamforming device provided in the embodiment of the present application, in the downlink direction, for the beamforming of the K×N two-dimensional antenna array, compared with separately phase shifting the K×N signals of the K×N two-dimensional antenna array (that is, the number of phase shifts is K×N), the present application separately adjusts the vertical angle and the horizontal angle of the beam, which can reduce the number of phase shifts and thus reduce complexity.

[0007] In a possible implementation, the first phase shift module includes K first optical phase shift units and a first wavelength combining and decomposing unit; the K first optical phase shift units respectively receive one first optical signal and perform phase adjustment on the received first optical signal to obtain K second optical signals; wherein the wavelengths of the first optical signals input by different first optical phase shift units are different; and the first wavelength combining and decomposing unit is used to combine the K second optical signals to obtain one combined optical signal.

[0008] In a possible implementation manner, the first optical phase shifting unit is an optical phase shifter; or the first optical phase shifting unit is an optical delay device.

[0009] In a possible implementation, the first phase shifting module includes a first optical diffraction device and a first optical switch; the first optical diffraction device includes K input ports and Q output ports; the first optical diffraction device is used to receive K first optical signals through the K input ports and output Q second optical signals through the Q output ports; wherein the first optical signal input to each input port of the K input ports is subjected to different phase adjustment by the first optical diffraction device in a diffraction manner and then output through the Q output ports; the first optical switch is used to select one second optical signal from the Q second optical signals as a combined optical signal.

[0010] Exemplarily, the first optical diffraction device may be a lens. The first optical diffraction device may have different phase adjustment amounts for optical signals input from different input ports to the same output port, thereby achieving phase adjustment and multiplexing for multiple groups of different adjustment amounts. The first optical switch may select one optical signal for multiplexing (i.e., select one second optical signal) according to demand, thereby improving the adaptability of the beamforming device.

[0011] In a possible implementation, the second phase shifting module includes a combining and splitting unit and N second optical phase shifting units; the combining and splitting unit is used to split the combined optical signal into N third optical signals, and output them one by one to the N second optical phase shifting units; each of the N third optical signals includes K optical signals with different wavelengths; the N second optical phase shifting units are used to perform phase adjustment on one input third optical signal to obtain N fourth optical signals, and output the N fourth optical signals one by one to the N second combining and splitting units; the N second combining and splitting units are used to split one input fourth optical signal to obtain K×N fifth optical signals.

[0012] The beamforming device provided in the embodiment of the present application separately adjusts the vertical angle and the horizontal angle of the beam for the beamforming of a K×N two-dimensional antenna array in the downlink direction, and only requires K+N optical phase shifting units, which can reduce the number of optical phase shifting units used and improve the integration of the beamforming system.

[0013] In a possible implementation manner, different first optical phase shifting units have different phase adjustment values, and / or different second optical phase shifting units have different phase adjustment values.

[0014] In a possible implementation manner, the second optical phase shifting unit is an optical phase shifter; or the second optical phase shifting unit is an optical delay device.

[0015] By implementing phase adjustment through the above solution, the number of optical phase shifters / optical delay devices used can be reduced, and the integration degree of the beamforming system can be improved.

[0016] In a possible implementation, the second phase shift module includes a third optical switch, G optical splitters, and G third optical phase shift unit arrays, each of which includes N third optical phase shift units; the third optical switch includes an input port and G output ports, and is used to output a combined optical signal received from the input port of the third optical switch from a first output port among the G output ports; each of the G optical splitters includes an input port and N output ports, and the G input ports of the G optical splitters are optically connected one by one to the G output ports of the second optical switch; the N output ports of each of the G optical splitters are optically connected to the N third optical phase shift units of one of the third optical phase shift unit arrays. The phase shift units are optically connected one by one; different optical splitters are connected to different third optical phase shift unit arrays; the optical splitter optically connected to the first output port splits a received combined optical signal into N third optical signals, and outputs them one by one to the connected N third optical phase shift units; the N third optical phase shift units included in each of the G third optical phase shift unit arrays are optically connected one by one to the N second wave combining and decomposing units; different third optical phase shift unit arrays have different phase shift value ranges; the N third optical phase shift units are respectively used to adjust the phase of one input third optical signal to obtain N fourth optical signals, and output the N fourth optical signals one by one to the N second wave combining and decomposing units.

[0017] In the embodiment of the present application, the above structure is used to implement the adjustment of multiple groups of different phase adjustment amounts, and a group of phase adjustment amount configurations are selected, which can improve the adaptability of the beamforming device.

[0018] In a possible implementation, N second wave combining and demultiplexing units are respectively used to receive K sixth optical signals, combine the K sixth optical signals into one to obtain N seventh optical signals, and output the N seventh optical signals to the second phase shifting module; each of the N second wave combining and demultiplexing units receives K sixth optical signals with different wavelengths; the wavelengths of the K sixth optical signals received by any two second wave combining and demultiplexing units in the N second wave combining and demultiplexing units are the same in a one-to-one correspondence; the second phase shifting module is further used to respectively phase adjust the input N seventh optical signals and combine them into one combined optical signal; the first phase shifting module is further used to respectively phase adjust the K seventh optical signals with different wavelengths included in the combined optical signal to obtain K tenth optical signals.

[0019] The beamforming device provided in the embodiment of the present application can be used only for beamforming in the downlink direction, or one beamforming device can be used to support both uplink and downlink beamforming. Therefore, the beamforming device provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to both frequency division multiplexing wireless communication systems and time division multiplexing wireless communication systems. Regardless of the uplink or downlink direction, for the beamforming of the K×N two-dimensional antenna array, the vertical angle and the horizontal angle of the beam are adjusted separately, and only K+N optical phase shifting units are required, which can reduce the number of optical phase shifting units used and improve the integration of the beamforming system.

[0020] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a wireless communication device, comprising: a beamforming device as described in the first aspect or any implementation of the first aspect, a radio frequency optical signal generating unit, K×N photoelectric detection units, and K×N antenna units; the K×N photoelectric detection units are coupled to the K×N antenna units in a one-to-one correspondence; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; the radio frequency optical signal generating unit is used to generate M×K paths of the first optical signal and output it to the M beamforming devices; wherein, when M is greater than 1, each of the M beamforming devices inputs K paths of the first optical signal, and the modulated K paths of the first optical signal input to the same beamforming device are modulated The downlink RF signals are the same, and the downlink RF signals modulated on the first optical signals input to different beamforming devices are different; the K×N fifth optical signals generated by each of the M beamforming devices are output to the K×N photoelectric detection units; each of the K×N photoelectric detection units inputs M fifth optical signals, and the M fifth optical signals come from the M beamforming devices; each photoelectric detection unit is used to perform photoelectric processing on the input M fifth optical signals to obtain M electrical signals, and send the M electrical signals to corresponding antenna units; the K×N antenna units are respectively used to transmit the received electrical signals.

[0021] The wireless communication device of the embodiment of the present application can be applied to the beamforming scenario of a single user / data stream, and can also be applied to the beamforming scenario of multiple users / data streams. The present application is for the beamforming of a K×N two-dimensional antenna array, and the vertical angle and the horizontal angle of the beam are adjusted separately. For a single user / data stream, only K+N optical phase shifters / optical delays are required, and thus for M users / data streams, only M×(K+N) optical phase shifters / optical delays are required, which can reduce the number of optical phase shifters / optical delays used and improve the integrability of the beamforming system.

[0022] The wireless communication device may be any network device with wireless transceiver function or a radio frequency chip or module applied to the network device.

[0023] In a possible implementation, when M is equal to 1, the radio frequency optical signal generating unit includes K lasers, a wavelength multiplexer, a modulator, and a wavelength demultiplexer;

[0024] The K lasers are respectively used to emit a first laser signal, and the wavelengths of the first laser signals emitted by different lasers are different;

[0025] The wavelength multiplexer is used to multiplex K first laser signals emitted by the K lasers into one second laser signal;

[0026] The modulator is used to modulate the downlink radio frequency signal to be sent onto the second laser signal to obtain an optical modulation signal;

[0027] The wavelength demultiplexer is used to perform wavelength demultiplexing on the optical modulated signal to obtain K first optical signals.

[0028] Exemplarily, the optical phase shifting unit in the beamforming device may be an optical delay device.

[0029] In a possible implementation, when M is equal to 1, the radio frequency optical signal generating unit includes K lasers, a power divider, and K modulators;

[0030] The K lasers are respectively used to emit one first laser signal to obtain K first laser signals, and are emitted to the K modulators one by one, and the wavelengths of the first laser signals emitted by different lasers are different;

[0031] The power divider is used to divide the downlink radio frequency signal to be transmitted into K downlink radio frequency sub-signals, and send them to the K modulators one by one;

[0032] The K modulators are respectively used to modulate a received downlink radio frequency sub-signal onto a received first laser signal to obtain K first optical signals.

[0033] Exemplarily, the optical phase shifting unit in the beamforming device may be an optical delay device.

[0034] In a possible implementation, when M=1, the radio frequency optical signal generating unit includes K lasers, a wavelength multiplexer, an optical splitter, M modulators, and M wavelength demultiplexers;

[0035] The K lasers are respectively used to emit a first laser signal, and the wavelengths of the first laser signals emitted by different lasers are different;

[0036] The wavelength multiplexer is used to multiplex K first laser signals emitted by the K lasers into one second laser signal;

[0037] The optical splitter is used to split one channel of the second laser signal into M channels of the third laser signal, and output the signals to the M modulators in a one-to-one correspondence;

[0038] The M modulators are respectively used to modulate the downlink radio frequency signal to be sent to a received third laser signal to obtain M optical modulation signals, and output the M optical modulation signals to the M wavelength demultiplexers in a one-to-one correspondence; wherein different downlink radio frequency signals modulated by different modulators are different;

[0039] The M wavelength demultiplexers are respectively used to perform wavelength demultiplexing on a received optical modulation signal to obtain K first optical signals of different wavelengths.

[0040] In a possible implementation, when M is greater than 1, the radio frequency optical signal generating unit includes M radio frequency optical signal generating subunits, each of which includes K lasers, a wavelength multiplexer, an optical splitter, M modulators, and M wavelength demultiplexers. The function of each radio frequency optical signal generating subunit is the same as that of the radio frequency optical signal generating subunit in the above embodiment where M=1.

[0041] In a possible implementation, when M is equal to 1, the radio frequency optical signal generating unit includes an optical frequency comb generator, a first optical splitter, a modulator, and a first wavelength demultiplexer;

[0042] The optical frequency comb generator is used to generate an optical frequency comb, wherein the optical frequency comb includes optical signals of K wavelengths;

[0043] The optical splitter is used to split the optical frequency comb into two paths to obtain a first optical frequency comb and a second optical frequency comb;

[0044] The modulator is used to modulate the downlink radio frequency signal on the first optical frequency comb to obtain an optical modulated signal;

[0045] The first wavelength demultiplexer is used to perform wavelength demultiplexing on the optical modulated signal to obtain K first optical signals;

[0046] The wireless communication device further includes a second wavelength demultiplexer and K second optical splitters;

[0047] The second wavelength demultiplexer is used to perform wavelength demultiplexing on the second optical frequency comb to obtain K first optical carrier signals of different wavelengths, and output the K first optical carrier signals to the K second optical splitters in a one-to-one correspondence;

[0048] The K second optical splitters are respectively used to split one input first optical carrier signal into N second optical carrier signals to obtain K×N second optical carrier signals, and output the K×N second optical carrier signals to the K×N photoelectric detection units in a one-to-one correspondence;

[0049] Each of the photoelectric detection units is specifically used to perform photoelectric processing on one of the input fifth optical signals based on the input second optical carrier signal to obtain an electrical signal, and send the electrical signal to a corresponding antenna unit.

[0050] Exemplarily, the optical phase shifting unit in the beamforming device may be an optical phase shifter.

[0051] In a possible implementation, the K×N antenna units form an antenna array of K rows and N columns; the K paths of fifth optical signals output by the same second multiplexing / demultiplexing unit of the beamforming device are input to the K rows of antenna units belonging to the same column after passing through the corresponding photoelectric detection units; or,

[0052] The K×N antenna units form an antenna array of N rows and K columns; the K-path fifth optical signals output by the same second multiplexing / demultiplexing unit of the beamforming device are input to the K-column antenna units belonging to the same row after passing through the corresponding photoelectric detection units.

[0053] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a beamforming device, comprising N second wave combining and decomposing units, a first phase shifting module and a second phase shifting module; the N second wave combining and decomposing units are respectively used to receive K sixth optical signals, combine the K sixth optical signals into one to obtain N seventh optical signals, and output the N seventh optical signals to the second phase shifting module; each of the N second wave combining and decomposing units receives K sixth optical signals with different wavelengths; the wavelengths of the K sixth optical signals received by any two second wave combining and decomposing units of the N second wave combining and decomposing units are the same in a one-to-one correspondence; the second phase shifting module is used to respectively phase adjust the input N seventh optical signals and combine them into one combined optical signal; the first phase shifting module is used to respectively phase adjust the K seventh optical signals with different wavelengths included in the combined optical signal to obtain K tenth optical signals.

[0054] In a possible implementation, the first phase shift module includes a first wave combining and decomposing unit and K first optical phase shifting units; the first wave combining and decomposing unit is used to decompose the one-way combined optical signal into K-way ninth optical signals, and output the K-way ninth optical signals to the K first optical phase shifting units in a one-to-one correspondence; each of the K-way ninth optical signals includes N optical signals with the same wavelength;

[0055] The K first optical phase shifting units are used to respectively adjust the phase of one input ninth optical signal to obtain K tenth optical signals.

[0056] In a possible implementation, the second phase shift module includes N second optical phase shift units and a combining and splitting unit; the N second optical phase shift units are respectively used to adjust the phase of one input seventh optical signal to obtain N eighth optical signals; the combining and splitting unit is used to combine the N eighth optical signals into one combined optical signal;

[0057] In a possible implementation manner, different first optical phase shifting units have different phase adjustment values, and / or different second optical phase shifting units have different phase adjustment values.

[0058] The beamforming device provided in the embodiment of the present application separately adjusts the vertical angle and the horizontal angle of the beam for the beamforming of the K×N two-dimensional antenna array in the uplink direction, and only requires K+N optical phase shifting units, which can reduce the number of optical phase shifting units used and improve the integration of the beamforming system.

[0059] In a possible implementation manner, the first optical phase shift unit and the second optical phase shift unit are optical phase shifters; or the first optical phase shift unit and the second optical phase shift unit are optical delay devices.

[0060] In a possible implementation, the second phase shift module includes a second optical switch and a second optical diffraction device; the second optical switch includes an output port and G input ports; the second optical diffraction device includes G output ports and N input ports, the G output ports of the second optical diffraction device are optically connected one-to-one with the G input ports of the second optical switch, and the N input ports are optically connected one-to-one with the N second wavelength combining and decomposing units; the second optical diffraction device is used to receive the N seventh optical signals from the N input ports, and perform G different phase adjustments on each of the N seventh optical signals in a diffraction manner to obtain G eighth optical signals; and output the G eighth optical signals through the G output ports; the second optical switch is used to receive the G eighth optical signals through the G input ports of the third optical switch, select one eighth optical signal from the G eighth optical signals as a combined optical signal, and output it through the output port of the third optical switch.

[0061] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a wireless communication device, including a carrier signal generating unit, K×N antenna units, K×N optoelectronic modulation units, the beamforming device described in the third aspect or any implementation of the third aspect, K photodetectors, and a radio frequency combiner:

[0062] The K×N antenna units are respectively used to obtain one electrical signal to obtain K×N electrical signals, and output the K×N electrical signals one by one to the K×N optoelectronic modulation units;

[0063] The carrier signal generating unit is used to generate K×N optical carrier signals, and output the K×N optical carrier signals to the K×N optoelectronic modulation units in a one-to-one correspondence; the K×N optical carrier signals include N carrier signal groups, each of the N carrier signal groups includes K optical carrier signals with different wavelengths, and the wavelengths of the K optical carrier signals included in any two carrier signal groups in the N carrier signal groups are the same in a one-to-one correspondence;

[0064] The K×N optoelectronic modulation units are used to modulate the input electrical signal onto the received optical carrier signal to obtain K×N sixth optical signals, and output the K×N sixth optical signals to the beamforming device in a one-to-one correspondence; wherein the wavelengths of the sixth optical signals input to the same second wavelength combining / decomposing unit of the beamforming device are all different;

[0065] The K photodetectors are respectively used to receive a tenth optical signal from the beamforming device; perform photodetection processing on the input tenth optical signal to obtain K phase-shifted radio frequency signals;

[0066] The radio frequency combiner is used to combine the K phase-shifted radio frequency signals to obtain an uplink radio frequency signal.

[0067] In a possible implementation manner, the first optical phase shift unit and the second optical phase shift unit in the beamforming device are optical delay devices.

[0068] In a possible implementation, the carrier signal generating unit is further used to generate the remaining K optical carrier signals, the wavelengths of the remaining K optical carrier signals being the same as those of the K optical carrier signals included in any carrier signal group in the N carrier signal groups in a one-to-one correspondence; and outputting the remaining K optical carrier signals to the K photoelectric detectors accordingly;

[0069] The K photoelectric detectors are specifically used to perform photoelectric detection processing on the input tenth optical signal using the input optical carrier signal; the tenth optical signal input by the same photoelectric detector has the same wavelength as the input optical carrier signal.

[0070] In a possible implementation manner, the first optical phase shifting unit and the second optical phase shifting unit in the beamforming device are optical phase shifters.

[0071] In a possible implementation, the K×N antenna units form an antenna array of K rows and N columns; the K electrical signals output by the K rows of antenna units belonging to the same column are input to the same second multiplexing / demultiplexing unit of the beamforming device after passing through corresponding modulators, the antenna units belonging to the same row but different columns correspond to optical carrier signals of the same wavelength, and the antenna units belonging to different rows and the same column correspond to optical carrier signals of different wavelengths; or,

[0072] The K×N antenna units form an antenna array with N rows and K columns; the K electrical signals output by the K columns of antenna units belonging to the same row are input to the same second multiplexing / demultiplexing unit of the beamforming device after passing through the corresponding modulators; the antenna units in the same column correspond to optical carrier signals of the same wavelength, and the antenna units in different rows correspond to optical carrier signals of different wavelengths.

[0073] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a beamforming method, which is applied to a wireless communication scenario using an antenna array of K×N antenna units, including:

[0074] Receive K first optical signals, and perform phase adjustment on the received K first optical signals respectively and combine them into one combined optical signal;

[0075] Performing phase adjustments of N types of phase adjustment amounts on the one combined optical signal to obtain N fourth optical signals;

[0076] The N fourth optical signals are respectively demultiplexed to obtain K×N fifth optical signals.

[0077] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a beamforming method, which is applied to a wireless communication scenario using an antenna array of K×N antenna units, including:

[0078] Receiving K×N sixth optical signals respectively;

[0079] Each K sixth optical signals of the K×N sixth optical signals are combined into one to obtain N seventh optical signals; the wavelengths of the K sixth optical signals combined into one are all different; the wavelengths of the K sixth optical signals in any two seventh optical signals of the N seventh optical signals are the same in one-to-one correspondence;

[0080] Phase-adjusting the N seventh optical signals respectively and combining them into one combined optical signal;

[0081] The K optical signals with different wavelengths included in the combined optical signal are phase-adjusted respectively to obtain K-path tenth optical signals.

[0082] Based on the implementations provided in the above aspects, the present application can also be further combined to provide more implementations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0083] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the principle of analog beamforming;

[0084] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a beamforming system;

[0085] Figure 3A A schematic diagram of the structure of a beamforming device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0086] Figure 3B A schematic diagram of the structure of a first phase shifting device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0087] Figure 3C A schematic diagram of the structure of another first phase shifting device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0088] Figure 3D A schematic diagram of the structure of a second phase shifting device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0089] Figure 3E A schematic diagram of the structure of another second phase shifting device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0090] Figure 3F A schematic diagram of the structure of another second phase shifting device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0091] Figure 3G A schematic diagram of the structure of a beamforming device in the downlink direction provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0092] Figure 3H A schematic diagram of the structure of a beamforming device in the uplink direction provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0093] Fig. 3I A schematic diagram of the structure of another beamforming device in the downlink direction provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0094] Figure 3J A schematic diagram of the structure of another beamforming device in the uplink direction provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0095] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of separately adjusting the horizontal direction angle and the vertical direction angle of a two-dimensional beam provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0096] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of an optical phase shifting network provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0097] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of an optical delay network provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0098] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the structure of a beamforming device for downlink and uplink provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0099] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the structure of a wireless communication device applied to the downlink direction provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0100] Fig. 9 A schematic diagram of the structure of a wireless communication device applied to the downlink direction provided in Example 1 of an embodiment of the present application;

[0101] Fig.10 A schematic diagram of the structure of a wireless communication device applied to the downlink direction provided in Example 2 of an embodiment of the present application;

[0102] Fig.11 A schematic diagram of a structure of a wireless communication device applied to a downlink direction provided in Example 3 of an embodiment of the present application;

[0103] Fig.12 A schematic diagram of the structure of a wireless communication device applied to the downlink direction provided in Example 4 of an embodiment of the present application;

[0104] Fig.13 A schematic diagram of the structure of another wireless communication device applied to the downlink direction provided in Example 4 of an embodiment of the present application;

[0105] Fig.14 A schematic diagram of the structure of a wireless communication device applied to the downlink direction provided in Example 5 of an embodiment of the present application;

[0106] Fig.15 A structural diagram of a wireless communication device applied to the downlink direction provided in Example 6 of an embodiment of the present application;

[0107] Fig.16A A schematic diagram of the structure of a wireless communication device applied to the uplink direction provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0108] Fig. 16B A schematic diagram of the structure of another wireless communication device applied to the uplink direction provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0109] Fig.17A A schematic diagram of the structure of another wireless communication device applied to the uplink direction provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0110] Fig. 17B A schematic diagram of the structure of another wireless communication device applied to the uplink direction provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0111] Fig.18AA schematic diagram of the structure of another wireless communication device applied to the uplink direction provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0112] Fig.18B A schematic diagram of the structure of another wireless communication device applied to the uplink direction provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0113] Fig.19 A schematic diagram of the structure of a wireless communication device applied to uplink and downlink directions provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0114] Fig. 20 A schematic diagram of the structure of another wireless communication device applied to uplink and downlink directions provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0115] Fig.21 A schematic diagram of the structure of a network device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0116] Fig. 22 A schematic diagram of a beamforming method flow chart provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0117] Fig.23 A schematic diagram of another beamforming method flow chart provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0118] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0119] Among them, in the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means two or more than two. In addition, " / " indicates that the objects associated before and after are in an "or" relationship, for example, A / B can represent A or B; "and / or" in this application is only a kind of association relationship describing the associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In addition, in order to facilitate the clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, the words "first" and "second" are used to distinguish the same items or similar items with basically the same functions and effects. Those skilled in the art can understand that the words "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity and execution order, and the words "first" and "second" do not limit them to be different. It should also be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the specific description of some technical features in one embodiment can also be used to explain the corresponding technical features mentioned in other embodiments.

[0120] The embodiments of the present application provide a beamforming device, a wireless communication device, and a beamforming method, which are used to reduce the number of phase shifters used, reduce complexity, and improve integration in beamforming implementation.

[0121] The following is an introduction to the principle of beamforming. Figure 1 The figure shows the principle diagram of analog beamforming. After the RF signal is converted into an analog signal by a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), it is divided into multiple sub-signals by a mixer, and the phase of each sub-signal is adjusted by a phase shifter (PS), that is, the phase of the RF signal sent by each antenna unit is adjusted, and then sent out through the antenna through a power amplifier (PA), so that the phases of the RF signals of each channel are the same when they arrive at the communication receiving end, forming a coherent superposition, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the signal.

[0122] Based on the background technology, it is known that for a two-dimensional antenna array, there are KxN antenna elements, K and N are the number of array rows and columns respectively. To support M users / data streams, KxN phase shifters are required for each user / data stream. Figure 2 The beamforming system shown in FIG. 1 requires a total of KxNxM phase shifters. As the RF frequency used by wireless communication systems increases, the propagation loss of RF signals will continue to increase. Therefore, the transmitter (or receiver) of the wireless communication system generally uses more antenna units to allow more transmitted signals to produce coherent superposition, ensuring that higher frequency RF signals can also obtain sufficient signal-to-noise ratio. However, as the number of antenna units increases, the number of phase shifters required for the beamforming system will increase exponentially, and the analog electrical phase shift network (for example, Figure 2 The dotted box part) will face problems such as complex routing, severe signal crosstalk, and large insertion loss, and will ultimately be unable to support large-scale antenna arrays.

[0123] At present, microwave photon-based beamforming technology uses optical phase shifting networks to solve the problems of complex routing, severe signal crosstalk, and large insertion loss of electrical phase shifting networks. However, to achieve beamforming of KxN antenna units, optical phase shifting networks require KxN optical phase shifters; to achieve beamforming of KxN antenna units and M users / data streams, KxNxM optical phase shifters are required. With the substantial increase in the number of antennas in high-frequency systems, the integration of optical networks used for beamforming needs to be further improved.

[0124] Based on this, the embodiments of the present application provide a beamforming device, a wireless communication device, and a beamforming method to further improve the integrability of a beamforming optical network.

[0125] See also Figure 3AAs shown, it is a schematic diagram of the structure of the beamforming device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The beamforming device includes a first phase shifting module 200, a second phase shifting module 300 and N second optical phase shifting units. The N second wave combining and decomposing units are respectively a second wave combining and decomposing unit 305-1 to a second wave combining and decomposing unit 305-N. In the embodiment of the present application, the first phase shifting module performs phase adjustment from the horizontal direction of the beam, and the second phase shifting module performs phase adjustment from the vertical direction of the beam, or the second phase shifting module performs phase adjustment from the horizontal direction of the beam, and the first phase shifting module performs phase adjustment from the vertical direction of the beam, which can reduce the complexity compared with the current phase adjustment performed separately for the signal of each antenna unit.

[0126] From the perspective of downlink, the first phase shift module 200 receives K first optical signals with different wavelengths. For example, the K first optical signals with different wavelengths are r1 to r2. K . After phase adjustment is performed on K first optical signals, they are combined into one combined optical signal and then sent out. The second phase shift module 300 performs N phase adjustment amounts on one combined optical signal to obtain N fourth optical signals, and outputs the N fourth optical signals to N second combining and decomposing units one by one. The N second combining and decomposing units are respectively used to decompress the input fourth optical signal to obtain K×N fifth optical signals. For example, they are a 11 ~a KN .

[0127] From the uplink perspective, the N second wavelength combining and demultiplexing units are respectively used to receive K sixth optical signals, combine the K sixth optical signals into one to obtain N seventh optical signals, and output the N seventh optical signals to the second phase shifting module; each of the N second wavelength combining and demultiplexing units receives K sixth optical signals with different wavelengths; the wavelengths of the K sixth optical signals received by any two of the N second wavelength combining and demultiplexing units are the same in a one-to-one correspondence; the second phase shifting module 300 is used to respectively phase adjust the input N seventh optical signals and combine them into one combined optical signal; the first phase shifting module 200 is used to respectively phase adjust the K seventh optical signals with different wavelengths included in the combined optical signal to obtain K tenth optical signals.

[0128] In a first possible implementation manner, the first phase shift module 200 and / or the second phase shift module 300 may use an optical phase shift unit to implement phase adjustment.

[0129] In a possible example, when the first phase shift module 200 uses an optical phase shift unit to implement phase adjustment, the first phase shift module 200 may include K first optical phase shift units and a first wavelength combining and decomposing unit 302, see Figure 3BThe K first optical phase shifting units are respectively a first optical phase shifting unit 301 - 1 to a first optical phase shifting unit 301 -K.

[0130] In the downlink direction, K first optical phase shifting units 301-1 to 301-K respectively receive one first optical signal. Phase adjustment is performed on the received first optical signal to obtain K second optical signals; wherein the wavelengths of the first optical signals input by different first optical phase shifting units are different. The first wavelength combining and decomposing unit 302 combines the K second optical signals to obtain one combined optical signal.

[0131] In the uplink direction, the first wavelength combining and demultiplexing unit 302 demultiplexes the one-way combined optical signal into K-way ninth optical signals, and outputs the K-way ninth optical signals to the K first optical phase shifting units one by one; each of the K-way ninth optical signals includes N optical signals with the same wavelength. The K first optical phase shifting units respectively adjust the phase of the input one-way ninth optical signal to obtain K-way tenth optical signals.

[0132] In another possible example, when the second phase shift module 300 uses a phase shift unit to achieve phase adjustment, the second phase shift module 300 includes a light combining and splitting unit 303 and N second optical phase shift units. The N second optical phase shift units are respectively second optical phase shift units 304-1 to second optical phase shift units 304-N, see Figure 3C shown.

[0133] In some possible implementation scenarios, the second phase shift module 300 may support adjustment of multiple phase adjustment amounts. Figure 3DAs shown, the second phase shift module includes a third optical switch, G optical splitters and G third optical phase shift unit arrays, each of which includes N third optical phase shift units. The third optical switch includes an input port and G output ports, and is used to output a combined optical signal received from the input port of the third optical switch from a first output port among the G output ports; each of the G optical splitters includes an input port and N output ports, and the G input ports of the G optical splitters are optically connected one by one with the G output ports of the second optical switch; the N output ports of each of the G optical splitters are optically connected one by one with the N third optical phase shift units of one of the third optical phase shift unit arrays; different optical splitters are connected to different third optical phase shift unit arrays; and the first The optical splitter optically connected to the output port splits a received combined optical signal into N third optical signals, and outputs the signals one by one to the connected N third optical phase shifting units; the N third optical phase shifting units included in each of the G third optical phase shifting unit arrays are optically connected one by one to the N second combined / splitter units; different third optical phase shifting unit arrays have different phase shift value ranges; the N third optical phase shifting units are respectively used to perform phase adjustment on the input third optical signal to obtain N fourth optical signals, and output the N fourth optical signals one by one to the N second combined / splitter units.

[0134] In a second possible implementation manner, the first phase shifting module 200 and / or the second phase shifting module 300 may use an optical diffraction device (such as a lens) to implement phase adjustment in a diffraction manner.

[0135] In a possible example, when the first phase shift module 200 uses an optical diffraction device to achieve phase adjustment, the first phase shift module 200 may include a first optical diffraction device 401 and a first optical switch 402, see Figure 3E As shown. The first optical diffraction device 401 includes K input ports and Q output ports. The first optical diffraction device 401 receives K first optical signals through the K input ports and outputs Q second optical signals through the Q output ports. The first optical signal input to each of the K input ports is adjusted in different phases by the first optical diffraction device 401 in a diffraction manner and then output through the Q output ports. The first optical switch 402 is used to select one second optical signal from the Q second optical signals as a combined optical signal.

[0136] In another possible example, when the second phase shifting module 300 uses an optical diffraction device to achieve phase adjustment, the second phase shifting module 300 may include a second optical diffraction device 403 and a second optical switch 404, see Figure 3F As shown, the second optical switch 404 includes a first port and G second ports. The second optical diffraction device 403 includes G third ports and N fourth ports.

[0137] From the perspective of the downlink transmission direction, the first port is used as an input port, the second port is used as an output port, the third port is used as an input port, and the fourth port is used as an output port. The second optical switch 404 receives a combined optical signal from the input port of the second optical switch 404, and selects the first output port from the G output ports of the second optical switch 404 to output the combined optical signal. The G input ports of the second optical diffraction device 403 are optically connected one by one with the G output ports of the second optical switch. The N output ports of the second optical diffraction device 403 are optically connected one by one with the N second combining and decomposing units. The first input port of the second optical diffraction device 403 connected to the first output port of the second optical switch 404 receives a combined optical signal, performs phase adjustment of N different phase adjustment amounts on the combined optical signal in a diffraction manner to obtain N fourth optical signals, and outputs the N fourth optical signals one by one to the N second combining and decomposing units.

[0138] From the uplink receiving direction, the first port is used as an output port, the second port is used as an input port, the third port is used as an output port, and the fourth port is used as an input port. The second optical diffraction device 403 receives the N seventh optical signals from the N input ports, and performs G different phase adjustments on each of the N seventh optical signals in a diffraction manner to obtain G eighth optical signals; the G eighth optical signals are output through the G output ports of the second optical diffraction device 403. The second optical switch 404 receives the G eighth optical signals through the G input ports of the second optical switch, selects one eighth optical signal from the G eighth optical signals as a combined optical signal, and outputs it through the output port of the third optical switch.

[0139] The following describes the solution provided by the embodiment of the present application from the perspective of the beamforming device. Figure 3G-3J , which is a schematic diagram of the structure of a beamforming device provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 3G and Figure 3H The first phase shift module 200 and the second phase shift module 100 are described from the perspective that both use optical phase shift units to achieve phase adjustment. Fig. 3I The first phase shifting module 200 and the second phase shifting module 100 are described from the perspective of using optical diffraction devices to achieve phase adjustment. Figure 3J The description is made from the angle at which the first phase shifting module 200 uses an optical phase shifting unit to achieve phase adjustment, and the angle at which the second phase shifting module 100 uses an optical diffraction device to achieve phase adjustment.

[0140] See also Figure 3G and Figure 3H, a beamforming device, comprising K first optical phase shifting units, a first wave combining and demultiplexing unit 302, a wave combining and demultiplexing unit 303, N second optical phase shifting units and N second wave combining and demultiplexing units. The K first optical phase shifting units are respectively the first optical phase shifting unit 301-1 to the first optical phase shifting unit 301-K, and are optically connected to one end of the first wave combining and demultiplexing unit 302. The other end of the first wave combining and demultiplexing unit 302 is optically connected to one end of the wave combining and demultiplexing unit 303. The other end of the wave combining and demultiplexing unit 303 is coupled to the N second optical phase shifting units. The N second optical phase shifting units are respectively the second optical phase shifting unit 304-1 to the second optical phase shifting unit 304-N. The N second wave combining and demultiplexing units are respectively the second wave combining and demultiplexing unit 305-1 to the second wave combining and demultiplexing unit 305-N, and are optically connected to the second optical phase shifting units 304-1 to the second optical phase shifting units 304-N in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0141] The first optical phase shifter unit 301-1 to the first optical phase shifter unit 301-K can perform phase adjustment from the horizontal direction of the beam, and the second optical phase shifter unit 304-1 to the second optical phase shifter unit 304-N can perform phase adjustment from the vertical direction of the beam; or, the first optical phase shifter unit 301-K to the first optical phase shifter unit 301-K can perform phase adjustment from the vertical direction of the beam, and the second optical phase shifter unit 304-1 to the second optical phase shifter unit 304-N can perform phase adjustment from the horizontal direction of the beam. In some embodiments, different first optical phase shifters have different phase adjustment values, and different second optical phase shifters have different phase adjustment values. For example, the phase adjustment values ​​corresponding to the first optical phase shifter unit 301-1 to the first optical phase shifter unit 301-K are Δθ1~Δθ K For example, the phase adjustment values ​​corresponding to the second optical phase shift unit 304-1 to the second optical phase shift unit 304-N are respectively

[0142] The beamforming process is described below from the perspective of the downlink direction and the uplink direction respectively.

[0143] Downlink direction:

[0144] See also Figure 3G As shown, the first optical phase shift unit 301-1 to the first optical phase shift unit 301-K receive a first optical signal respectively. The wavelengths of the first optical signals input by different first optical phase shift units are different. For example, the K first optical signals with different wavelengths are r1 to r2. K Each first optical phase shift unit performs phase adjustment on the received first optical signal to obtain K second optical signals; different first optical phase shift units have different phase adjustment values.

[0145] The first wavelength combining and demultiplexing unit 302 combines the K second optical signals to obtain a combined optical signal. The combining process performed by the first wavelength combining and demultiplexing unit 302 can also be understood as wavelength multiplexing. The first wavelength combining and demultiplexing unit 302 sends the combined optical signal to the wavelength combining and demultiplexing unit 303.

[0146] The optical combining and splitting unit 303 splits the combined optical signal into N third optical signals, namely c1 to c N , and output the N third optical signals one by one to the second optical phase shifting units 304-1 to 304-N; ​​each of the N third optical signals includes K optical signals with different wavelengths.

[0147] The second optical phase shifting units 304-1 to 304-N respectively adjust the phase of one input third optical signal to obtain N fourth optical signals, and output the N fourth optical signals to the second wavelength combining / decombining units 305-1 to 305-N in a one-to-one correspondence; wherein different second optical phase shifting units have different phase adjustment values.

[0148] The second multiplexing / demultiplexing units 305-1 to 305-N respectively demultiplex one fourth optical signal input to obtain K×N fifth optical signals, for example, a and b are respectively 11 ~a KN The wavelength demultiplexing performed by the second wavelength combining and demultiplexing unit can also be understood as wavelength demultiplexing.

[0149] Uplink angle:

[0150] See also Figure 3H As shown, the second wavelength combining and demultiplexing units 305-1 to 305-N receive K sixth optical signals respectively. For example, N second wavelength combining and demultiplexing units receive K×N sixth optical signals, which are b 11 ~b KN . The second wave combining and demultiplexing units 305-1 to the second wave combining and demultiplexing units 305-N respectively combine K paths of sixth optical signals into one path to obtain N paths of seventh optical signals, and output the N paths of seventh optical signals to the N second optical phase shifting units in a one-to-one correspondence. It can be understood that each second wave combining and demultiplexing unit outputs one path of seventh optical signal, so that the N second wave combining and demultiplexing units output N paths of seventh optical signals. Each of the N second wave combining and demultiplexing units receives K paths of sixth optical signals with different wavelengths. The wavelengths of the K paths of sixth optical signals received by any two second wave combining and demultiplexing units among the N second wave combining and demultiplexing units are the same in a one-to-one correspondence. For example, the wavelengths of the K paths of optical signals received by each second wave combining and demultiplexing unit are λ1~λ K .

[0151] The second optical phase shifting units 304-1 to 304-N respectively adjust the phase of one input seventh optical signal to obtain N eighth optical signals, for example, d1 to d N Different second optical phase shift units have different phase adjustment values. For example, the phase adjustment values ​​corresponding to the second optical phase shift units 304-1 to 304-N are respectively

[0152] The optical combining and splitting unit 303 combines the N eighth optical signals into one combined optical signal.

[0153] The first wavelength combining and demultiplexing unit 302 demultiplexes one optical combined signal into K ninth optical signals, and outputs the K ninth optical signals to K first optical phase shifting units one by one; each ninth optical signal in the K ninth optical signals includes N optical signals with the same wavelength. The demultiplexing of the first wavelength combining and demultiplexing unit can also be understood as wavelength demultiplexing.

[0154] The first optical phase shift unit 301-1 to the first optical phase shift unit 301-K respectively adjust the phase of the input ninth optical signal to obtain K tenth optical signals; for example, h1 to h2 are respectively K Different first optical phase shifting units have different phase adjustment values.

[0155] The beamforming device provided in the embodiment of the present application separately adjusts the vertical angle and horizontal angle of the beam for the beamforming of the K×N two-dimensional antenna array in both the uplink and downlink directions, and only requires K+N optical phase shifting units, which can reduce the number of optical phase shifting units used and improve the integration of the beamforming system. For example, for a two-dimensional antenna array with K rows and N columns, Δθ1~Δθ K is the horizontal angle, is the angle from vertical. Figure 4 As shown, it is a schematic diagram of separately adjusting the horizontal angle and vertical angle of a two-dimensional beam.

[0156] The following is a description of the possible structures of each component. For the convenience of description, the figure numbers of each component will not be shown again.

[0157] (1) An optical phase shift unit, comprising a first optical phase shift unit and a second optical phase shift unit.

[0158] The K first optical phase shifting units and the N second optical phase shifting units respectively include two ports, such as a first port and a second port, one of which is used as an input port and the other can be used as an output port.

[0159] For the optical phase shifting unit, the embodiments of the present application may use an optical phase shifter (PS) or an optical time delay (TD). An optical phase shifter may also be called an optical phase shifter. A time delay may also be called a delayer. An optical phase shifter may be understood as directly adjusting the phase difference of a beam. An optical time delay may be understood as adjusting the delay difference of signals of different optical wavelengths to achieve the phase difference of the adjusted beam.

[0160] In some possible application scenarios, phase shifters are used for the K first optical phase shift units and the N second optical phase shift units. The beamforming device may also be called an optical phase shift network or an optical phase shift device. Figure 5 For the sake of convenience, the optical phase shifters corresponding to the K first optical phase shifting units are referred to as first optical phase shifters 1 to first optical phase shifters K. The phase differences of the beams adjusted by the first optical phase shifters 1 to first optical phase shifters K are Δθ1 to Δθ K The optical phase shifters corresponding to the N second optical phase shifting units are called second optical phase shifter 1 to second optical phase shifter N. The phase differences of the beams adjusted by the second optical phase shifter 1 to the second optical phase shifter N are respectively:

[0161] In some other possible application scenarios, optical delay devices may be used for the K first optical phase shift units and the N second optical phase shift units. Figure 6 As shown. The beamforming device can also be called an optical delay network or an optical delay device. For the sake of convenience, the optical delay devices corresponding to the K first optical phase shifting units are called first optical delay devices 1 to first optical delay devices K. The delay differences of the beams adjusted by the first optical delay devices 1 to first optical delay devices K are Δt1 to Δt K The optical delay devices corresponding to the N second optical phase shifting units are called second optical delay devices 1 to second optical delay devices N. The phase differences of the beams adjusted by the second optical delay devices 1 to second optical delay devices K are ΔT1 to ΔT N .

[0162] (2) A wave combining and decomposing unit, comprising a first wave combining and decomposing unit and a second wave combining and decomposing unit.

[0163] The wavelength division multiplexer / demultiplexer can be used in the beamforming device. For example, when the beamforming device is applied to the downlink direction, the wavelength division multiplexer / demultiplexer used by the first wavelength division multiplexer / demultiplexer is used as a wavelength division multiplexer, and the wavelength division multiplexer / demultiplexer used by the second wavelength division multiplexer / demultiplexer is used as a wavelength decomposition device. For another example, when the beamforming device is applied to the uplink direction, the wavelength division multiplexer / demultiplexer used by the first wavelength division multiplexer / demultiplexer is used as a wavelength decomposition device, and the wavelength division multiplexer / demultiplexer used by the second wavelength division multiplexer / demultiplexer is used as a wavelength division multiplexer.

[0164] (3) Combining and splitting unit:

[0165] The optical combiner / splitter unit can use an optical combiner / splitter. For example, when the beamforming device is applied to a scenario in the downlink direction, the optical combiner / splitter used by the optical combiner / splitter unit is used as an optical splitter. For example, when the beamforming device is applied to a scenario in the uplink direction, the optical combiner / splitter used by the optical combiner / splitter unit is used as an optical combiner.

[0166] See also Fig. 3I , Fig. 3I The first phase shifting module 200 and the second phase shifting module 100 are described from the perspective of using optical diffraction devices to achieve phase adjustment. Fig. 3I Described from the perspective of downlink transmission, the beamforming device includes a first optical diffraction device 401 and a first optical switch 402, a second optical diffraction device 403 and a second optical switch 404, and N second multiplexing and demultiplexing units 305-1 to 305-N.

[0167] The first optical diffraction device 401 receives K first optical signals through K input ports and outputs Q second optical signals through Q output ports. The first optical signal input to each of the K input ports is subjected to different phase adjustments by the first optical diffraction device 401 in a diffraction manner and then output through Q output ports. That is, the first optical signal input to each input port will be subjected to phase adjustments of Q different adjustment amounts, and then output from Q output ports after adjustment. In other words, each output port outputs a combined optical signal (also referred to as a second optical signal), that is, outputs Q combined optical signals, and then the first optical switch 402 selects one combined optical signal from the Q combined optical signals. Each combined signal includes K wavelengths of the first optical signal after phase adjustment. The phase adjustment amount of the combined optical signal output from different output ports may be different. The first optical switch 402 may select one combined optical signal according to demand. For example, the selection of the first optical switch 402 may be controlled by a controller (or a control device). Then, the second optical switch 404 receives a combined optical signal from the input port of the second optical switch 404, and selects a first output port from the G output ports of the second optical switch 404 to output the combined optical signal. The G input ports of the second optical diffraction device 403 are optically connected one by one with the G output ports of the second optical switch. The N output ports of the second optical diffraction device 403 are optically connected one by one with the N second combining and demultiplexing units. The first input port of the second optical diffraction device 403 connected to the first output port of the second optical switch 404 receives a combined optical signal, and performs phase adjustment of N different phase adjustment amounts on the combined optical signal in a diffraction manner to obtain N fourth optical signals, and outputs the N fourth optical signals one by one to the N second combining and demultiplexing units. Exemplarily, in the second optical diffraction device 403, the phase adjustment amounts of optical signals input from different input ports are different. For example, the second optical diffraction device can implement phase adjustment of N*G phase adjustment amounts. The second optical switch 404 can select, according to requirements, to which input port of the first optical diffraction device 403 the combined optical signal is input.

[0168] Figure 3J The description is made from the angle at which the first phase shifting module 200 uses an optical phase shifting unit to achieve phase adjustment, and the angle at which the second phase shifting module 100 uses an optical diffraction device to achieve phase adjustment. Figure 3J Describe from the perspective of uplink reception. Figure 3J As shown, the beamforming device includes K first optical phase shifting units, a first wave combining and decomposing unit 302, a second optical diffraction device 403, a second optical switch 404, and N second wave combining and decomposing units 305-1 to 305-N. Figure 3JAs shown, the second wavelength combining and demultiplexing units 305-1 to 305-N receive K sixth optical signals respectively. For example, N second wavelength combining and demultiplexing units receive K×N sixth optical signals, which are b 11 ~b KN . The second wave combining and demultiplexing units 305-1 to the second wave combining and demultiplexing units 305-N respectively combine K paths of sixth optical signals into one path to obtain N paths of seventh optical signals, and output the N paths of seventh optical signals to the N second optical phase shifting units in a one-to-one correspondence. It can be understood that each second wave combining and demultiplexing unit outputs one path of seventh optical signal, so that the N second wave combining and demultiplexing units output N paths of seventh optical signals. Each of the N second wave combining and demultiplexing units receives K paths of sixth optical signals with different wavelengths. The wavelengths of the K paths of sixth optical signals received by any two second wave combining and demultiplexing units among the N second wave combining and demultiplexing units are the same in a one-to-one correspondence. For example, the wavelengths of the K paths of optical signals received by each second wave combining and demultiplexing unit are λ1~λ K . The second optical switch 404 includes a first port and G second ports. The second optical diffraction device 403 includes G third ports and N fourth ports. The first port is used as an output port, the second port is used as an input port, the third port is used as an output port, and the fourth port is used as an input port. The second optical diffraction device 403 receives the N seventh optical signals from the N input ports, and performs G different phase adjustments on each of the N seventh optical signals in a diffraction manner to obtain G eighth optical signals. That is to say, each seventh optical signal is split into G optical signals in the second optical diffraction device 403 and undergoes different phase adjustments. And the seventh optical signals input from different input ports will be output from the G output ports after passing through the second optical diffraction device 403. Then each eighth optical signal includes N seventh optical signals after phase adjustment. The second optical switch 404 receives G eighth optical signals through the G input ports of the second optical switch, selects one eighth optical signal from the G eighth optical signals as a combined optical signal, and outputs it through the output port of the third optical switch. It can be understood that the combined optical signal includes K optical signals with different wavelengths. The first wavelength combining and decomposing unit 302 decomposes one combined optical signal into K ninth optical signals, and outputs the K ninth optical signals to K first optical phase shifting units one by one; each ninth optical signal in the K ninth optical signals includes N optical signals with the same wavelength. The K first optical phase shifting units respectively adjust the phase of the input ninth optical signal to obtain K tenth optical signals.

[0169] In the embodiments of the present application, a beamforming device may only support the application in the downlink direction, or only support the application in the uplink direction, or may support the application in both the downlink direction and the uplink direction. For example, in some application scenarios, two independent groups of beamforming devices may be used for the uplink and downlink directions, one group of beamforming devices is applied to the uplink direction, and the other is applied to the downlink direction. For another example, in some application scenarios, there is only one group of beamforming devices for the uplink and downlink directions, and this group of beamforming devices is used for both the uplink beamforming and the downlink beamforming, see Figure 7 shown.

[0170] In some possible implementations, the beamforming device may be applied to a wireless communication device including K×N antenna units. The wireless communication device may be any network device with wireless transceiver functions or a radio frequency chip or module applied to the network device. The network device may include, but is not limited to, a base station (e.g., Node B), an evolved Node B), an active antenna unit (AAU) device, a network device in a fifth generation (5G) communication system (e.g., a transmission point (TP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a small base station device, etc.), a network device in a future communication system, an access point (AP) in a wireless-fidelity (WiFi) network, a wireless relay node, a wireless backhaul node, etc.

[0171] The structure of the wireless communication device is described below.

[0172] See also Figure 8 , which is a schematic diagram of the structure of a wireless communication device applied to the downlink direction provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0173] The wireless communication device includes M beamforming devices 100, a radio frequency optical signal generating unit 201, a photoelectric detection unit array 203 and an antenna array 204. The photoelectric detection unit array 203 includes K×N photoelectric detection units. The antenna array includes K×N antenna units; the K×N photoelectric detection units are coupled to the K×N antenna units in a one-to-one correspondence; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The K×N antenna units are ANT 11 ~ANT KN .

[0174] In some possible application scenarios, M is 1, and the wireless communication device can be applied to the scenario of downlink transmission for a single user / data stream. Figure 8 Take M=1 as an example. In some other possible application scenarios, M is greater than 1, and the wireless communication device can be applied to the scenario of downlink transmission for M users / data streams.

[0175] The RF optical signal generating unit 201 generates M×K first optical signals and outputs them to M beamforming devices 100. When M is greater than 1, each of the M beamforming devices 100 inputs K first optical signals, and the downlink RF signals modulated on the K first optical signals input to the same beamforming device are the same, while the downlink RF signals modulated on the first optical signals input to different beamforming devices are different. Different downlink RF signals correspond to different users or to different downlink data streams.

[0176] The K×N fifth optical signals generated by each of the M beamforming devices 100 are output to K×N photoelectric detection units; each of the K×N photoelectric detection units inputs M fifth optical signals, and the M fifth optical signals come from the M beamforming devices.

[0177] Each photoelectric detection unit in the photoelectric detection unit array 203 is used to perform photoelectric processing on the input M fifth optical signals to obtain M electrical signals, and send the M electrical signals to the corresponding antenna unit.

[0178] The K×N antenna units in the antenna array 204 are respectively used to transmit the received electrical signals.

[0179] The following describes the structure of the wireless communication device from the perspective of the application of a single user / data stream and multiple users / data streams, and from the perspective of the downlink direction. For the convenience of description, the figure numbers of the various components are no longer illustrated. In the following examples, the first phase shift module 200 and the second phase shift module 300 are described from the perspective of using an optical phase shift unit to achieve phase adjustment. Of course, the first phase shift module 200 and / or the second phase shift module 300 using an optical diffraction device to achieve phase adjustment is also applicable, and no further examples are given.

[0180] Example 1 describes the structure of a wireless communication device from the perspective of a single user / data stream application. In Example 1, the beamforming device of the wireless communication device adopts Figure 6 The structure shown. Take the optical phase shift unit using an optical delay device as an example, take the first wavelength multiplexer 1-1 as an example, take the N second wavelength multiplexer 1-1 to wavelength demultiplexer 1-N as an example, and take the optical combiner 1-1 as an example.

[0181] See also Fig. 9 As shown, the radio frequency optical signal generating unit in the wireless communication device includes K lasers, a wavelength multiplexer 2-1, a modulator and a wavelength demultiplexer 2-1.

[0182] K lasers each emit a first laser signal, and different lasers emit first laser signals of different wavelengths. That is, K lasers emit K first laser signals of different wavelengths (which can be understood as optical carrier signals), for example, the wavelengths are λ1 to λ K . Then, a wavelength multiplexer (also called a wavelength division multiplexer) is used to multiplex the K first laser signals emitted by the K lasers into one second laser signal. After obtaining the downlink radio frequency signal (RF) to be sent, the wireless communication device modulates the RF onto K optical carriers of different wavelengths through a modulator. That is, the modulator modulates the downlink radio frequency signal to be sent onto the second laser signal to obtain an optical modulated signal. The modulator is a multi-wavelength single-sideband modulation, and simultaneously retains the optical carrier and the upper sideband signal. The present application refers to the optical carrier and the upper sideband modulated signal as optical modulated signals. Then, the demultiplexer 2-1 demultiplexes the optical modulated signal to obtain K first optical signals. That is, the demultiplexer 2-1 divides the optical modulated signal into K first optical signals according to the wavelength. Taking the example of an antenna array including K rows and N columns of antenna units, the K first optical signals correspond to the K rows of antenna units. Taking the example of an antenna array including K columns and N rows of antenna units, the K first optical signals correspond to the K columns of antenna units. The demultiplexer 2-1 outputs the K first optical signals one by one to the K first optical delay devices of the beamforming device. After the K first optical signals are respectively delayed by a first optical delay device, they are combined by the wavelength multiplexer 1-1, and then the optical splitter 1-1 is used to split N third optical signals, namely c1~c N Taking the antenna array including K rows and N columns of antenna units as an example, the c1~c N Corresponding to N columns of antenna units. Taking the antenna array including K columns and N rows of antenna units as an example, the c1~c N Corresponding to N rows of antenna units. Among them, c1~c N Each third optical signal in the above example contains K optical modulation signals with different wavelengths. N Each of the K optical modulated signals of different wavelengths in each third optical signal is delayed by the same amount through a second optical delay device, and different second optical delay devices have different delay amounts, thereby obtaining N fourth optical signals. Each of the N fourth optical signals is separated into K groups of optical modulated signals and output by a wavelength demultiplexer (a 1x ~a Kx ), a total of KxN fifth optical signals (a 11 ~a KN), which correspond to the K×N antenna units included in the K×N antenna array. Each fifth optical signal passes through a detector to obtain a radio frequency transmission signal after delay adjustment, and then is amplified by a power amplifier and fed into the corresponding antenna unit, which are ANT 11 ~ANT KN .

[0183] Example 2 describes the structure of a wireless communication device from the perspective of a single user / data stream application. In Example 2, the beamforming device of the wireless communication device adopts Figure 6 The structure shown. Take the optical phase shift unit using an optical delay device as an example, take the first wavelength multiplexer 1-1 as an example, take the N second wavelength multiplexer 1-1 to wavelength demultiplexer 1-N as an example, and take the optical combiner 1-1 as an example.

[0184] See also Fig.10 As shown, the radio frequency optical signal generating unit in the wireless communication device includes K lasers, K modulators, namely modulator 1-1 to modulator 1-K, and a power divider.

[0185] K lasers each emit a first laser signal, and different lasers emit first laser signals of different wavelengths. That is, K lasers emit K first laser signals of different wavelengths (which can be understood as optical carrier signals), for example, the wavelengths are λ1 to λ K After obtaining the downlink radio frequency (RF) signal to be transmitted, the wireless communication device divides the downlink radio frequency signal into K equal parts through a power divider, thereby obtaining K downlink radio frequency sub-signals. It can be understood that the downlink radio frequency sub-signal contains the same content as the downlink radio frequency signal, and is only slightly smaller in power than the downlink radio frequency signal. Each downlink radio frequency sub-signal is modulated onto the first laser signal (i.e., optical carrier signal) emitted by the corresponding laser through a modulator, thereby obtaining K first optical signals, namely r1 to r2. K . For example, modulator 1-1 modulates a downlink RF sub-signal onto a first laser signal with a wavelength of λ1. Taking the example of an antenna array including K rows and N columns of antenna units, the K first optical signals correspond to the K rows of antenna units. Taking the example of an antenna array including K columns and N rows of antenna units, the K first optical signals correspond to the K columns of antenna units. The modulators 1-1 to 1-K output the K first optical signals one-to-one to the K first optical delay devices of the beamforming device. For example, modulator 1-1 outputs the first optical signal r1 to the first optical delay device 1, modulator 1-2 outputs the first optical signal r2 to the first optical delay device 2, and so on. Modulator 1-K outputs the first optical signal r1 to the first optical delay device 1. KThe output value is in the first optical delay device K. The K first optical signals are respectively delayed by a first optical delay device, and then combined by the wavelength multiplexer 1-1, and then the optical splitter 1-1 is used to split N third optical signals, which are c1~c N Taking the antenna array including K rows and N columns of antenna units as an example, the c1~c N Corresponding to N columns of antenna units. Taking the antenna array including K columns and N rows of antenna units as an example, the c1~c N Corresponding to N rows of antenna units. Among them, c1~c N Each third optical signal in the above example contains K optical modulation signals with different wavelengths. N Each of the K optical modulated signals of different wavelengths in each third optical signal is delayed by the same amount through a second optical delay device, and different second optical delay devices have different delay amounts, thereby obtaining N fourth optical signals. Each of the N fourth optical signals is separated into K groups of optical modulated signals and output by a wavelength demultiplexer (a 1x ~a Kx ), a total of KxN fifth optical signals (a 11 ~a KN ), which correspond to the K×N antenna units included in the K×N antenna array. Each fifth optical signal passes through a detector to obtain a radio frequency transmission signal after delay adjustment, and then is amplified by a power amplifier and fed into the corresponding antenna unit, which are ANT 11 ~ANT KN .

[0186] Example 3 describes the structure of the wireless communication device from the perspective of M users / data streams, where M is greater than 1. In Example 3, the M beamforming devices of the wireless communication device adopt Figure 6 The structure shown. Taking the optical phase shift unit using an optical delay as an example, in order to distinguish different users / data streams, the K first optical delays included in the M beamforming devices are respectively referred to as the first optical delay 1-11 to the first optical delay 1-MK, and the N second optical delays included in the M beamforming devices are respectively referred to as the second optical delay 1-11 to the second optical delay 1-MN. Taking the M first wavelength combining and demultiplexing units included in the M beamforming devices as wavelength multiplexers 1-1 to 1-M as an example, the M×N second wavelength combining and demultiplexing units are respectively wavelength demultiplexers 1-11 to wavelength demultiplexers 1-MN as an example, and the M combining and demultiplexing units are respectively splitters 1-1 to splitters 1-M as an example.

[0187] See also Fig.11As shown, the radio frequency optical signal generating unit in the wireless communication device includes K lasers, a wavelength multiplexer 2-1, a splitter 2-1, M modulators, namely modulator 1 to modulator M, and M wavelength demultiplexers, namely wavelength demultiplexer 2-1 to wavelength demultiplexer 2-M.

[0188] K lasers each emit a first laser signal, and different lasers emit first laser signals of different wavelengths. That is, K lasers emit K first laser signals of different wavelengths (which can be understood as optical carrier signals), for example, the wavelengths are λ1 to λ K Then, a wavelength multiplexer (also called a wavelength division multiplexer) is used to multiplex the K first laser signals emitted by the K lasers into one second laser signal. Then, the second laser signal is split into M third laser signals by an optical splitter. The wireless communication device obtains M downlink RF signals to be sent, which are RF 1 ~RF M RF 1 ~RF M It can belong to M users or M data streams. The M downlink RF signals are modulated to the third laser signal through modulators 1 to M in a one-to-one manner in a single user / data stream manner, and then the corresponding first optical signal is obtained through the corresponding wavelength demultiplexer. For example, RF 1 After being modulated by modulator 1 to a third laser signal, a group of first optical signals is obtained after being demultiplexed by wavelength demultiplexer 2-1, including K first optical signals, which are respectively After being modulated by modulator 2 to a third laser signal, a group of first optical signals is obtained after being demultiplexed by wavelength demultiplexer 2-2, including K first optical signals, which are respectively By analogy, M is modulated to a third laser signal by modulator M, and then demultiplexed by wavelength demultiplexer 2-M to obtain a group of first optical signals, including K first optical signals, which are respectively Thus, M groups of first optical signals, i.e., M×K first optical signals, are obtained. Each group of first optical signals is subjected to phase shift processing by a beamforming device, and each beamforming device outputs K×N fifth optical signals, so that the M beamforming devices output M×K×N fifth optical signals, which are respectively: It can be understood that the downlink RF signal of each user / data stream will be fed into different antenna units. The K×N fifth optical signals output by each beamforming device (or the optical modulation signal (i.e., the fifth optical signal) corresponding to the same antenna unit for each user / data stream) are output one by one to K×N detectors, and the corresponding detectors perform detection processing to obtain the RF transmission signal. The detector here can be a segmented photoelectric detector, and each segment of the segmented photoelectric detector can detect an optical modulation signal separately, and combine the detected RF signals to obtain the RF transmission signal corresponding to the antenna unit. Each RF transmission signal is amplified by a power amplifier and fed into the corresponding antenna unit (ANT 11 ~ANT KN ). In some embodiments, different first optical delay devices have different delay amounts. For example, the delay amounts corresponding to M×K first optical delay devices are respectively Different second optical delay devices have different delay amounts. For example, the delay amounts corresponding to M×N first optical delay devices are respectively

[0189] Example 4 describes the structure of the wireless communication device from the perspective of M users / data streams, where M is greater than 1. In Example 3, the M beamforming devices of the wireless communication device adopt Figure 6 The structure shown. Taking the optical phase shift unit using an optical delay as an example, in order to distinguish different users / data streams, the K first optical delays included in the M beamforming devices are respectively referred to as the first optical delay 1-11 to the first optical delay 1-MK, and the N second optical delays included in the M beamforming devices are respectively referred to as the second optical delay 1-11 to the second optical delay 1-MN. Taking the M first wavelength combining and demultiplexing units included in the M beamforming devices as wavelength multiplexers 1-1 to 1-M as an example, the M×N second wavelength combining and demultiplexing units are respectively wavelength demultiplexers 1-11 to wavelength demultiplexers 1-MN as an example, and the M combining and demultiplexing units are respectively splitters 1-1 to splitters 1-M as an example.

[0190] See also Fig.12 As shown, the radio frequency optical signal generating unit in the wireless communication device includes M radio frequency optical signal generating subunits. Each radio frequency optical signal subunit includes K lasers, K modulators, namely modulators 1-1 to modulator 1-K, and a power divider. The M radio frequency optical signal subunits correspond to the M radio frequency optical signal subunits one by one. Different radio frequency optical signal subunits receive different downlink radio frequency optical signals, namely RF 1 ~RF M The working mode of each radio frequency optical signal subunit can refer to the working mode description of the radio frequency optical signal unit in Example 2, which will not be repeated here. Thus, the M radio frequency optical signal subunits generate M groups of first optical signals, that is, M×K first optical signals, which are respectively The operation of the subsequent M beamforming devices is described in the relevant description of Example 3, which will not be repeated here. In some embodiments, different first optical delay devices have different delay amounts. For example, the delay amounts corresponding to the M×K first optical delay devices are respectively Different second optical delay devices have different delay amounts. For example, the delay amounts corresponding to M×N first optical delay devices are respectively

[0191] It should be noted that M radio frequency optical signal sub-units can also share K lasers, and then by adding K optical splitters, each optical splitter divides the laser signal emitted by one laser into M paths, see Fig.13 shown.

[0192] Example 5 describes the structure of a wireless communication device from the perspective of a single user / data stream application. In Example 5, the beamforming device of the wireless communication device adopts Figure 5 Take the optical phase shifter as an example, the first wavelength multiplexer 1-1 as an example, the N second wavelength multiplexers 1-1 to 1-N as examples, and the optical splitter 1-1 as an example.

[0193] The solution provided in Example 5 needs to transfer the phase information of the optical signal to the RF signal. Therefore, it has two main differences from the previous solutions using optical delay devices: first, it needs to ensure that the initial phases of optical carrier signals of different wavelengths are the same; second, it needs to perform photoelectric detection through coherent detection, that is, only the single-sideband modulated optical signal passes through the optical phase shift network, and the optical carrier does not pass through the optical phase shift network, but is combined with the phase-shifted optical modulated signal before photoelectric detection.

[0194] See also Fig.14 As shown, the radio frequency optical signal generating unit in the wireless communication device includes an optical frequency comb generator, an optical splitter 2-1, a modulator 2-1, and a wavelength demultiplexer 2-1.

[0195] The optical frequency comb generator generates an optical frequency comb, which includes optical signals of K wavelengths. It can be understood that the optical frequency comb generator generates K optical carrier signals of different wavelengths with the same initial phase. Then the optical splitter divides the optical frequency comb into two paths to obtain a first optical frequency comb and a second optical frequency comb. The first optical frequency comb passes through a modulator, and the modulator modulates the downlink RF signal onto the first optical frequency comb to obtain an optical modulated signal. Then the wavelength demultiplexer demultiplexes the optical modulated signal to obtain K first optical signals, which are r1~r2. K Then K first optical signals r1~r KAfter the beamforming device performs phase shift processing, K×N fifth optical signals are output. The wireless communication device also includes a wavelength demultiplexer 3-1 and K second optical splitters, which are optical splitters 2-1 to 2-K. The wavelength demultiplexer 3-1 performs wavelength demultiplexing on the second optical frequency comb to obtain K first optical carrier signals of different wavelengths, and outputs the K first optical carrier signals one by one to the K second optical splitters. The K second optical splitters respectively divide the input first optical carrier signal into N second optical carrier signals to obtain K×N second optical carrier signals, and output the K×N second optical carrier signals one by one to the K×N photoelectric detection units. Furthermore, each detector is specifically used to perform photoelectric processing on the input fifth optical signal based on the input second optical carrier signal to obtain a radio frequency transmission signal, which is then amplified by a corresponding power amplifier and fed into a corresponding antenna unit.

[0196] In some embodiments, the wireless communication device may further include K×N combiners disposed between the beamforming device and the detection array. Each combiner is used to receive one second optical carrier signal and one fifth optical signal, and is used to combine the second optical carrier signal and the fifth optical signal and output them to the corresponding detector.

[0197] Example 6 describes the structure of the wireless communication device from the perspective of multiple users / data streams. In Example 5, the beamforming device of the wireless communication device adopts Figure 5 The structure shown. Taking the optical phase shifter as an example, in order to distinguish different users / data streams, the K first optical phase shifters respectively included in the M beamforming devices are referred to as the first optical phase shifter 1-11 to the first optical phase shifter 1-MK, and the N second optical phase shifters respectively included in the M beamforming devices are referred to as the second optical phase shifter 1-11 to the second optical phase shifter 1-MN. Taking the first combining and decomposing units respectively included in the M beamforming devices as wavelength multiplexers 1-1 to wavelength multiplexers 1-M as an example, the M beamforming devices respectively include N second combining and decomposing units respectively as wavelength demultiplexers 1-11 to wavelength demultiplexers 1-MN as an example, and the combining and decomposing units respectively included in the M beamforming devices as splitters 1-1 to splitters 1-M as an example.

[0198] See also Fig.15 As shown, the RF optical signal generating unit in the wireless communication device includes an optical frequency comb generator, a splitter 2-1, M modulators, namely modulator 1 to modulator M, and M wavelength demultiplexers, namely wavelength demultiplexer 2-1 to wavelength demultiplexer 2-M.

[0199] The optical frequency comb generator generates an optical frequency comb, which includes optical signals of K wavelengths. It can be understood that the optical frequency comb generator generates K optical carrier signals of different wavelengths with the same initial phase. Then the optical splitter divides the optical frequency comb into M+1 paths to obtain M first optical frequency combs and one second optical frequency comb. The M first optical frequency combs pass through M modulators one by one, and the corresponding modulator modulates the downlink RF signal onto the first optical frequency comb, thereby obtaining M optical modulated signals. Different optical modulators modulate different downlink RF optical signals, which are RF 1 ~RF M The M optical modulated signals are demultiplexed by M wavelength demultiplexers, and each wavelength demultiplexer outputs a group of first optical signals. For example, the wavelength demultiplexer 2-1 outputs a group of first optical signals, including K first optical signals, which are The wavelength demultiplexer 2-2 outputs a group of first optical signals, including K first optical signals, which are respectively By analogy, the wavelength demultiplexer 2-M outputs a group of first optical signals, including K first optical signals, which are respectively Each group of first optical signals is subjected to phase shift processing by a beamforming device, and each beamforming device outputs K×N fifth optical signals, so that M beamforming devices output M×K×N fifth optical signals, which are respectively: It is understandable that the downlink radio frequency signal of each user / data stream will be fed into a different antenna unit.

[0200] The wireless communication device also includes a wavelength demultiplexer 3-1. The wavelength demultiplexer 3-1 performs wavelength demultiplexing on the second optical frequency comb to obtain K first optical carrier signals of different wavelengths. The K×N fifth optical signals output by each beamforming device (or the optical modulation signal (i.e., the fifth optical signal) corresponding to the same antenna unit for each user / data stream) are output to K×N detectors one by one. Furthermore, each detector is specifically used to perform photoelectric processing on the input M fifth optical signals based on the input second optical carrier signal to obtain a radio frequency transmission signal, which is then amplified by a corresponding power amplifier and fed into the corresponding antenna unit.

[0201] In some embodiments, the wireless communication device may further include K×N combiners disposed between the beamforming device and the detection array. Each combiner is used to receive one second optical carrier signal and one fifth optical signal, and is used to combine the second optical carrier signal and the fifth optical signal and output them to the corresponding detector.

[0202] The structure of the wireless communication device is described below from the application perspectives of a single user / data stream and multiple users / data streams and from the perspective of the uplink direction.

[0203] See also Fig.16A and Fig. 16B Detailed description is given of a schematic diagram of the structure of a wireless communication device for uplink direction provided in an embodiment of the present application. Fig.16A It is a structural diagram of a wireless communication device applied to uplink direction for multiple users / data streams. Fig. 16B It is a structural schematic diagram of a wireless communication device applied to an uplink direction for a single user / data stream.

[0204] See also Fig.16A As shown, the wireless communication device includes M beamforming devices 100, namely beamforming devices 100-1 to beamforming devices 100-M, a carrier signal generating unit 205, an antenna array 204, an optoelectronic modulation array 206, an optoelectronic detection unit array 207, and M radio frequency combiners 208, namely radio frequency combiners 208-1 to radio frequency combiners 208-M. The optoelectronic modulation array 206 includes K×N modulators, namely modulators 2-11 to modulators 2-KN, and the optoelectronic modulation array 206 also includes K×N low noise amplifiers. The low noise amplifier is used to reduce the power of the electrical signal received from the antenna unit. The optoelectronic detection unit array 207 includes K×M photodetectors. The K×M photodetectors include M groups of photodetectors, and one group of photodetectors corresponds to a single user / data stream. M is greater than 1, and the wireless communication device also includes a splitter array 209. The beam splitter array 209 includes K×N beam splitters, namely beam splitter 3 - 11 to beam splitter 3 -KN.

[0205] The carrier signal generating unit 205 is used to generate at least K×N optical carrier signals and output the K×N optical carrier signals one by one to K×N modulators. The K×N optical carrier signals include N carrier signal groups, and each carrier signal group in the N carrier signal groups includes K optical carrier signals with different wavelengths.

[0206] The antenna array 204 includes K×N antenna elements (ANT 11 ~ANT KN ), respectively obtain one electrical signal to obtain K×N electrical signals, and output the K×N electrical signals one by one to K×N modulators.

[0207] K×N modulators modulate the input electrical signal onto the received optical carrier signal to obtain K×N sixth optical signals.

[0208] When M is greater than 1, K×N modulators output K×N sixth optical signals one by one to K×N optical splitters, and each optical splitter splits one sixth optical signal into M paths. It can be understood that K×N optical splitters split K×N sixth optical signals into M groups of sixth optical signals, and each group of sixth optical signals includes K×N sixth optical signals. The M groups are output one by one to M beamforming devices. Among them, the wavelengths of the sixth optical signals input to the same second multiplexing and demultiplexing unit of the same beamforming device are all different.

[0209] K×M photodetectors are used to receive K×M tenth optical signals from M beamforming devices; the K tenth optical signals received by the photodetectors belonging to the same group come from the same beamforming device. The K photodetectors included in each group of photodetectors respectively perform photodetection processing on the input tenth optical signal to obtain K phase-shifted radio frequency signals; the K phase-shifted radio frequency signals output by each group of photodetectors are input into the same radio frequency combiner.

[0210] The M RF combiners 208 are respectively used to combine the received K phase-shifted RF signals to obtain M uplink RF signals.

[0211] See also Fig. 16B As shown, when M=1, the wireless communication device includes a beamforming device 100, a carrier signal generating unit 205, an antenna array 204, an optoelectronic modulation array 206, an optoelectronic detection unit array 207, and a radio frequency combiner 208. The optoelectronic modulation array 206 includes K×N modulators 2-11 to 2-KN. The optoelectronic detection unit array 207 includes K photodetectors.

[0212] The carrier signal generating unit 205 is used to generate at least K×N optical carrier signals, and output the K×N optical carrier signals one by one to K×N modulators, wherein the K×N optical carrier signals include N carrier signal groups, each of the N carrier signal groups includes K optical carrier signals with different wavelengths; and the wavelengths of the remaining K optical carrier signals are all different.

[0213] The antenna array 204 includes K×N antenna elements (ANT 11 ~ANT KN ), respectively obtain one electrical signal to obtain K×N electrical signals, and output the K×N electrical signals one by one to K×N modulators.

[0214] K×N modulators modulate the input electrical signal onto the received optical carrier signal to obtain K×N sixth optical signals.

[0215] When M=1, K×N modulators output the K×N sixth optical signals one by one to a beamforming device; wherein the wavelengths of the sixth optical signals input to the same second multiplexing / demultiplexing unit of the beamforming device are all different. wherein the wavelengths of the sixth optical signals input to the same second multiplexing / demultiplexing unit of the beamforming device are all different.

[0216] K photodetectors are used to receive K tenth optical signals from the beamforming device, the tenth optical signal input by the same photodetector has the same wavelength as the input optical carrier signal; the K photodetectors respectively use the input optical carrier signal to perform photoelectric processing on the input tenth optical signal to obtain K phase-shifted radio frequency signals;

[0217] The RF combiner 208 is used to combine the received K phase-shifted RF signals to obtain an uplink RF signal.

[0218] For the convenience of description, the figure numbers of the components will not be shown later.

[0219] In one possible implementation, see Fig.17A The structure diagram of a wireless communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application is shown in FIG. The carrier signal generating unit includes an optical frequency comb generator, a wavelength demultiplexer 4 - 1 , and K optical splitters.

[0220] The optical frequency comb generating unit is used to generate an optical frequency comb, wherein the optical frequency comb includes optical signals of K wavelengths. The wavelength demultiplexer 4-1 is used to demultiplex the optical signals of the K wavelengths included in the optical frequency comb respectively, and obtain K carrier signals with different wavelengths. Furthermore, after passing through K optical splitters, each optical carrier signal is divided into N optical carrier signals, thereby obtaining K×N optical carrier signals.

[0221] For example, Fig.17A The structure of the medium carrier signal generating unit is applicable to a single user / data stream and also applicable to multiple users / data streams. Fig.17A Just take a single user / data stream as an example.

[0222] In another possible implementation, see Fig. 17B As shown, the carrier signal generating unit includes K lasers for emitting K laser signals with different wavelengths, and K optical splitters are optically connected to the K lasers in a one-to-one correspondence, for splitting one input laser signal into N paths, thereby obtaining K×N optical carrier signals.

[0223] In a possible implementation, the above Fig.16A , Fig. 16B , Fig.17A and Fig. 17B The optical phase shifting unit in the beamforming device may be an optical delay device.

[0224] In another possible implementation, the above Fig.16A , Fig. 16B , Fig.17A and Fig. 17B When the optical phase shifting unit of the beamforming device used can be an optical phase shifter, the carrier signal generating unit is also used to generate K optical carrier signals with different wavelengths. That is, the carrier signal generating unit generates K×N+K different optical carrier signals. Each of the N carrier signal groups includes K optical carrier signals with different wavelengths, and the wavelengths of the other K optical carrier signals with different wavelengths are the same in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0225] When M = 1, see Fig.18A As shown, each photodetector also inputs an optical carrier signal. The tenth optical signal input by the same photodetector has the same wavelength as the input optical carrier signal. The input optical carrier signal is used to perform photoelectric detection processing on the input tenth optical signal to obtain K phase-shifted RF signals.

[0226] When M is greater than 1, see Fig.18B As shown, the wireless communication device further includes K optical splitters, namely optical splitters 4-1 to 4-K. Optical splitters 4-1 to 4-K are used to receive the remaining K optical carrier signals with different wavelengths. Each optical splitter 4-x splits the received optical carrier signal into M paths.

[0227] Furthermore, each photodetector also inputs an optical carrier signal from the optical splitter. The tenth optical signal input by the same photodetector has the same wavelength as the input optical carrier signal. The input optical carrier signal is used to perform photoelectric detection processing on the input tenth optical signal to obtain K phase-shifted radio frequency signals.

[0228] In some application scenarios, the wireless communication device can be applied to both uplink and downlink scenarios. The uplink and downlink directions can share a set of antenna arrays, and in some embodiments, M beamforming devices can also be shared. For example, Figure 8 The wireless communication device in the downlink direction is shown Fig.16A The wireless communication devices in the uplink direction shown can be combined to share a set of antenna arrays.

[0229] For example, see Fig.19 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a possible wireless communication device. Fig.19 In the example, different beamforming devices are used for uplink and downlink. Fig.19Taking a single user / data stream as an example, the wireless communication device includes: an uplink beamforming device 100, a downlink beamforming device, a radio frequency optical signal generating unit 201, a photoelectric detection unit array 203, an antenna array 204, a carrier signal generating unit 205, an optoelectronic modulation array 206, a photoelectric detection unit array 207, and a radio frequency combiner 208. The wireless communication device also includes a transceiver switching unit 210 (or a transceiver isolation unit).

[0230] In the downlink direction, the transceiver switching unit 210 controls the connection between the antenna array 204 and the photodetection unit array 203. After the wireless communication device obtains the downlink radio frequency signal, the radio frequency optical signal generating unit 201 generates K-path first optical signals (i.e., downlink optical signals) based on the downlink radio frequency signal, and then the beamforming device 100 in the downlink direction performs phase adjustment or delay adjustment on the input K-path downlink optical signals, and outputs an optical signal (fifth optical signal) corresponding to the K×N antenna units included in the antenna array. And it can be understood that each fifth optical signal satisfies the required phase shift / delay adjustment. After passing through the photodetection unit array 203, each fifth optical signal obtains an RF transmission signal, and after passing through the transceiver switching unit 210, it is fed into the antenna array for transmission.

[0231] In the uplink direction, the transceiver switching unit 210 controls the connection between the antenna array 204 and the optoelectronic modulation array 206. The radio frequency receiving signal received by the wireless communication device through the antenna array enters the receiving link through the transceiver switching unit 210. The optoelectronic modulation array 206 modulates the input radio frequency receiving signal to the optical carrier signal generated by the carrier signal generating unit 205, thereby obtaining an uplink optical signal (i.e., the sixth optical signal). The beamforming device 100 in the uplink direction processes the input uplink optical signal so that each uplink optical signal satisfies the required phase shift / delay adjustment. The uplink optical signal after phase shift / delay passes through the optoelectronic detection unit array 207 and the radio frequency combiner 208, and outputs the uplink radio frequency signal.

[0232] Fig. 20 In the example, the same beamforming device is used for uplink and downlink. Fig. 20 Only a single user / data stream is taken as an example. The wireless communication device includes: a beamforming device 100, a radio frequency optical signal generating unit 201, a photoelectric detection unit array 203, an antenna array 204, a carrier signal generating unit 205, an optoelectronic modulation array 206, a photoelectric detection unit array 207, and a radio frequency combiner 208. The wireless communication device also includes a first transceiver switching unit 210-1 (or called a transceiver isolation unit), a second transceiver switching unit 210-2, and a third transceiver switching unit 210-3.

[0233] In the downlink direction, the first transceiver switching unit 210-1 controls the communication between the antenna array 204 and the photodetection unit array 203. The second transceiver switching unit 210-2 controls the communication between the photodetection unit array 203 and the beamforming device 100. The third transceiver switching unit 210-3 controls the communication between the RF optical signal generating unit 201 and the beamforming device 100.

[0234] After the wireless communication device obtains the downlink radio frequency signal, the radio frequency optical signal generating unit 201 generates K-channel first optical signals (i.e., downlink optical signals) based on the downlink radio frequency signal, and inputs them into the beamforming device 100 through the third transceiver switching unit 210-3. Then the beamforming device 100 performs phase adjustment or delay adjustment on the input K-channel downlink optical signals, and outputs an optical signal (fifth optical signal) corresponding to the K×N antenna units included in the antenna array. And it can be understood that each fifth optical signal satisfies the required phase shift / delay adjustment. Each fifth optical signal obtains a radio frequency transmission signal after passing through the second transceiver switching unit 210-2 and the photoelectric detection unit array 203, and after passing through the first transceiver switching unit 210-1, it is fed into the antenna array for transmission.

[0235] In the uplink direction, the first transceiver switching unit 210-1 controls the communication between the antenna array 204 and the photoelectric modulation array 206. The second transceiver switching unit 210-2 controls the communication between the photoelectric modulation array 206 and the beamforming device 100. The third transceiver switching unit 210-3 controls the communication between the photoelectric detection unit array 207 and the beamforming device 100.

[0236] The radio frequency receiving signal received by the wireless communication device through the antenna array enters the receiving link through the first transceiver switching unit 210-1. The radio frequency receiving signal is modulated by the photoelectric modulation array 206 onto the optical carrier signal generated by the carrier signal generating unit 205, thereby obtaining an uplink optical signal (i.e., the sixth optical signal), and is input into the beamforming device 100 through the second transceiver switching unit 210-2. The beamforming device 100 processes the input uplink optical signal so that each uplink optical signal satisfies the required phase shift / delay adjustment. The uplink optical signal after phase shift / delay passes through the third transceiver switching unit 210-3, the photoelectric detection unit array 207 and the radio frequency combiner 208, and outputs the uplink radio frequency signal.

[0237] In some embodiments, see Fig.21 As shown, the wireless communication device can be applied to the AAU, and the AAU can also include an analog-to-digital conversion (DAC) and up-conversion unit, a down-conversion and digital-to-analog conversion (ADC) unit, and a forward / backhaul data processing unit. Fig.21 The wireless communication device in the AAU is only Fig.19As an example, you can also use Fig. 20 The structure is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. The AAU is connected to the BBU, and the AAU and the BBU together constitute a network device. When the base station is in downlink transmission, the BBU forwards the downlink baseband signal and control information (which may include the control signal of the beamforming device in the present application) to the AAU; the forward data processing module in the AAU outputs a downlink digital baseband signal after processing, and obtains a downlink radio frequency signal through a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and an up-conversion unit and sends it to the wireless communication device. When the base station is in uplink reception, the uplink radio frequency signal output by the wireless communication device is then subjected to down-conversion and analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) units to obtain an uplink digital baseband signal, and finally the uplink baseband signal is sent to the BBU through the backhaul data processing unit.

[0238] The present application also provides a beamforming method, see Fig. 22 As shown, a flow chart of a beamforming method provided in an embodiment of the present application is provided. The beamforming method is applied to a wireless communication scenario using an antenna array of K×N antenna units. For example, it can be performed by the above-mentioned beamforming device. The method can be applied to a beamforming scenario in the downlink direction.

[0239] 2201. Receive K first optical signals, and perform phase adjustment on the received K first optical signals respectively to obtain K second optical signals; wherein the wavelengths of the K first optical signals are different, and the phase adjustment values ​​of different first optical signals are different.

[0240] 2202 , combine the K second optical signals to obtain one combined optical signal; and split the combined optical signal into N third optical signals.

[0241] 2203 , respectively perform phase adjustment on the N third optical signals to obtain N fourth optical signals; different third optical signals have different phase adjustment values.

[0242] 2204 , demultiplex the N fourth optical signals respectively to obtain K×N fifth optical signals.

[0243] See also Fig.23 As shown, a flow chart of a beamforming method provided in an embodiment of the present application is provided. The beamforming method is applied to a wireless communication scenario using an antenna array of K×N antenna units. For example, it can be performed by the above-mentioned beamforming device. The method can be applied to the beamforming scenario in the uplink direction.

[0244] 2301, receive K×N sixth optical signals.

[0245] 2302. Combine every K sixth optical signals in the K×N sixth optical signals into one to obtain N seventh optical signals; the wavelengths of the K sixth optical signals combined into one are all different; the wavelengths of the K sixth optical signals in any two of the N seventh optical signals are the same in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0246] 2303 , respectively perform phase adjustment on the N seventh optical signals to obtain N eighth optical signals; the phase adjustment values ​​of the seventh optical signals of different paths are different.

[0247] 2304 , combine the N eighth optical signals into one combined optical signal, and demultiplex the one combined optical signal into K ninth optical signals; each of the K ninth optical signals includes N optical signals with the same wavelength.

[0248] 2305 , respectively perform phase adjustment on the K ninth optical signals to obtain K tenth optical signals; the phase adjustment values ​​of the ninth optical signals of different paths are different.

[0249] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working process of the apparatus 60 for accessing the accessed device described above can refer to the corresponding process in the aforementioned method embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0250] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that all or part of the steps performed by the control unit to implement the above-mentioned embodiments can be completed by hardware or program to instruct the relevant hardware. The program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and the storage medium mentioned above can be a read-only memory, a random access memory, etc. Specifically, for example: the above-mentioned processing unit or processor can be a central processing unit, a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components or any combination thereof. Whether the above-mentioned functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to exceed the scope of this application.

[0251] When software is used for implementation, the method steps described in the above embodiments can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function according to the embodiment of the present application is generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from a website site, a computer, a server, or a data center by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) mode to another website site, computer, server, or data center. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server, a data center, etc. that contains one or more available media integration. The available medium can be a magnetic medium, (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a tape), an optical medium (e.g., a BD), or a semiconductor medium, etc.

[0252] The terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification and claims of the present application and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects, and need not be used to describe a specific order or sequential order. It should be understood that the terms used in this way can be interchangeable under appropriate circumstances, which is only to describe the distinction mode adopted by the objects of the same attributes when describing in the embodiments of the present application. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any of their variations are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, so that the process, method, system, product or equipment comprising a series of units need not be limited to those units, but may include other units that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or equipment.

[0253] The terms used in the embodiments of the present application are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present application. The singular forms "a", "an" and "the" used in the embodiments of the present application are also intended to include plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates other meanings.

[0254] As described above, the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A beamforming device, characterized in that: include: A first phase shift module, a second phase shift module and N second wave combining and decomposing units; The first phase shift module is used to receive K first optical signals with different wavelengths, perform phase adjustment on the K first optical signals respectively, and then combine them into one combined optical signal and then send it out; The second phase shift module is used to perform phase adjustment of N phase adjustment amounts on the one combined optical signal to obtain N fourth optical signals, and output the N fourth optical signals to the N second combining and decomposing units in a one-to-one correspondence; The N second wavelength combining and demultiplexing units are respectively used to demultiplex one input fourth optical signal to obtain K×N fifth optical signals.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The first phase shift module includes K first optical phase shift units and a first wave combining and decomposing unit; The K first optical phase shifting units respectively receive a first optical signal and perform phase adjustment on the received first optical signal to obtain K second optical signals; wherein the wavelengths of the first optical signals input by different first optical phase shifting units are different; The first wavelength combining and decomposing unit is used to combine the K second optical signals to obtain one combined optical signal.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that The first optical phase shift unit is an optical phase shifter; or the first optical phase shift unit is an optical delay device.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The first phase shifting module includes a first optical diffraction device and a first optical switch; The first optical diffraction device includes K input ports and Q output ports; The first optical diffraction device is used to receive K first optical signals through K input ports and output Q second optical signals through the Q output ports; wherein the first optical signal input to each input port of the K input ports is adjusted in different phases by the first optical diffraction device in a diffraction manner and then output through the Q output ports; The first optical switch is used to select one second optical signal from the Q second optical signals as the combined optical signal.

5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The second phase shifting module includes a light combining and splitting unit and N second optical phase shifting units; The optical combining and splitting unit is used to split the combined optical signal into N third optical signals, and output them to the N second optical phase shifting units in a one-to-one correspondence; each of the N third optical signals includes K optical signals with different wavelengths; The N second optical phase shifting units are respectively used to adjust the phase of one of the input third optical signals to obtain N fourth optical signals, and output the N fourth optical signals to the N second wavelength combining and decomposing units in a one-to-one correspondence.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that The second optical phase shift unit is an optical phase shifter; or the second optical phase shift unit is an optical delay device.

7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The second phase shifting module includes a second optical switch and a second optical diffraction device; The second optical switch comprises an input port and G output ports, and is used to receive a combined optical signal from the input port of the second optical switch, and select a first output port from the G output ports to output the combined optical signal; The second optical diffraction device comprises G input ports and N output ports, the G input ports of the second optical diffraction device are optically connected one by one with the G output ports of the second optical switch, and the N output ports are optically connected one by one with the N second wavelength combining and decomposing units; The first input port of the second optical diffraction device connected to the first output port of the second optical switch receives one channel of the combined optical signal, performs phase adjustment of N different phase adjustment amounts on the one channel of the combined optical signal in a diffraction manner to obtain N channels of fourth optical signals, and outputs the N channels of fourth optical signals to the N second combining and decomposing units in a one-to-one correspondence.

8. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The N second wave combining and demultiplexing units are respectively used to receive K sixth optical signals, combine the K sixth optical signals into one to obtain N seventh optical signals, and output the N seventh optical signals to the second phase shift module; each of the N second wave combining and demultiplexing units receives K sixth optical signals with different wavelengths; the wavelengths of the K sixth optical signals received by any two second wave combining and demultiplexing units in the N second wave combining and demultiplexing units are the same in one-to-one correspondence; The second phase shift module is further used to respectively adjust the phases of the N input seventh optical signals and combine them into one combined optical signal; The first phase shift module is further used to respectively adjust the phases of K seventh optical signals with different wavelengths included in the combined optical signal to obtain K tenth optical signals.

9. A wireless communication device, characterized in that: include: M beamforming devices according to any one of claims 1 to 8, radio frequency optical signal generating units, K×N photoelectric detection units and K×N antenna units; the K×N photoelectric detection units are coupled to the K×N antenna units in a one-to-one correspondence; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; The RF optical signal generating unit is used to generate M×K first optical signals and output them to the M beamforming devices; wherein, when M is greater than 1, each of the M beamforming devices inputs K first optical signals, and the downlink RF signals modulated on the K first optical signals input to the same beamforming device are the same, and the downlink RF signals modulated on the first optical signals input to different beamforming devices are different; The K×N fifth optical signals generated by each of the M beamforming devices are output to the K×N photoelectric detection units; each of the K×N photoelectric detection units inputs M of the fifth optical signals, and the M fifth optical signals come from the M beamforming devices; Each of the photoelectric detection units is used to perform photoelectric processing on the input M fifth optical signals to obtain M electrical signals, and send the M electrical signals to the corresponding antenna unit; The K×N antenna units are respectively used to transmit the received electrical signals.

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that When M is equal to 1, the radio frequency optical signal generating unit includes K lasers, a wavelength multiplexer, a modulator and a wavelength demultiplexer; The K lasers are respectively used to emit a first laser signal, and the wavelengths of the first laser signals emitted by different lasers are different; The wavelength multiplexer is used to multiplex K first laser signals emitted by the K lasers into one second laser signal; The modulator is used to modulate the downlink radio frequency signal to be sent onto the second laser signal to obtain an optical modulation signal; The wavelength demultiplexer is used to perform wavelength demultiplexing on the optical modulated signal to obtain K first optical signals.

11. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that When M is equal to 1, the radio frequency optical signal generating unit includes K lasers, a power divider, and K modulators; The K lasers are respectively used to emit one first laser signal to obtain K first laser signals, and are emitted to the K modulators one by one, and the wavelengths of the first laser signals emitted by different lasers are different; The power divider is used to divide the downlink radio frequency signal to be transmitted into K downlink radio frequency sub-signals, and send them to the K modulators one by one; The K modulators are respectively used to modulate a received downlink radio frequency sub-signal onto a received first laser signal to obtain K first optical signals.

12. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that When M is greater than 1, the radio frequency optical signal generating unit includes K lasers, a wavelength multiplexer, an optical splitter, M modulators and M wavelength demultiplexers; The K lasers are respectively used to emit a first laser signal, and the wavelengths of the first laser signals emitted by different lasers are different; The wavelength multiplexer is used to multiplex K first laser signals emitted by the K lasers into one second laser signal; The optical splitter is used to split one channel of the second laser signal into M channels of the third laser signal, and output the signals to the M modulators in a one-to-one correspondence; The M modulators are respectively used to modulate the downlink radio frequency signal to be sent to a received third laser signal to obtain M optical modulation signals, and output the M optical modulation signals to the M wavelength demultiplexers in a one-to-one correspondence; wherein different downlink radio frequency signals modulated by different modulators are different; The M wavelength demultiplexers are respectively used to perform wavelength demultiplexing on a received optical modulation signal to obtain K first optical signals of different wavelengths.

13. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that When M is equal to 1, the radio frequency optical signal generating unit includes an optical frequency comb generator, a first optical splitter, a modulator, and a first wavelength demultiplexer; The optical frequency comb generator is used to generate an optical frequency comb, wherein the optical frequency comb includes optical signals of K wavelengths; The optical splitter is used to split the optical frequency comb into two paths to obtain a first optical frequency comb and a second optical frequency comb; The modulator is used to modulate the downlink radio frequency signal on the first optical frequency comb to obtain an optical modulated signal; The first wavelength demultiplexer is used to perform wavelength demultiplexing on the optical modulated signal to obtain K first optical signals; The wireless communication device further includes a second wavelength demultiplexer and K second optical splitters; The second wavelength demultiplexer is used to perform wavelength demultiplexing on the second optical frequency comb to obtain K first optical carrier signals of different wavelengths, and output the K first optical carrier signals to the K second optical splitters in a one-to-one correspondence; The K second optical splitters are respectively used to split one input first optical carrier signal into N second optical carrier signals to obtain K×N second optical carrier signals, and output the K×N second optical carrier signals to the K×N photoelectric detection units in a one-to-one correspondence; Each of the photoelectric detection units is specifically used to perform photoelectric processing on one of the input fifth optical signals based on the input second optical carrier signal to obtain an electrical signal, and send the electrical signal to a corresponding antenna unit.

14. The device according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that: The K×N antenna units form an antenna array with K rows and N columns; the K-path fifth optical signals output by the same second multiplexing / demultiplexing unit of the beamforming device are input to the K-row antenna units belonging to the same column after passing through the corresponding photoelectric detection units; or, The K×N antenna units form an antenna array with N rows and K columns; The K-channel fifth optical signals output by the same second multiplexing / demultiplexing unit of the beamforming device pass through the corresponding photoelectric detection units and are input to the K columns of antenna units belonging to the same row.

15. A beamforming device, characterized in that: It includes N second wave combining and decomposing units, a first phase shifting module and a second phase shifting module; The N second wave combining and demultiplexing units are respectively used to receive K sixth optical signals, combine the K sixth optical signals into one to obtain N seventh optical signals, and output the N seventh optical signals to the second phase shift module; each of the N second wave combining and demultiplexing units receives K sixth optical signals with different wavelengths; the wavelengths of the K sixth optical signals received by any two second wave combining and demultiplexing units in the N second wave combining and demultiplexing units are the same in one-to-one correspondence; The second phase shift module is used to perform phase adjustment on the input N seventh optical signals respectively and combine them into one combined optical signal; The first phase shift module is used to perform phase adjustment on K seventh optical signals with different wavelengths included in the combined optical signal to obtain K tenth optical signals.

16. The device according to claim 15, characterized in that The first phase shifting module includes a first wave combining and decomposing unit and K first optical phase shifting units; The first wavelength combining and demultiplexing unit is used to demultiplex the one-channel combined optical signal into K-channel ninth optical signals, and output the K-channel ninth optical signals to the K first optical phase shifting units in a one-to-one correspondence; each of the K-channel ninth optical signals includes N optical signals with the same wavelength; The K first optical phase shifting units are respectively used to perform phase adjustment on one input ninth optical signal to obtain K tenth optical signals.

17. The device according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that The second phase shifting module includes N second optical phase shifting units and a light combining and splitting unit; The N second optical phase shifting units are respectively used to receive one seventh optical signal and perform phase adjustment on the received seventh optical signal to obtain N eighth optical signals; The optical combining and splitting unit is used to combine the N eighth optical signals into one combined optical signal.

18. The device according to claim 17, characterized in that The first optical phase shift unit and the second optical phase shift unit are optical phase shifters; or the first optical phase shift unit and the second optical phase shift unit are optical delay devices.

19. The device according to claim 17, characterized in that Different first optical phase shifting units have different phase adjustment values, and / or different second optical phase shifting units have different phase adjustment values.

20. The device according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that The second phase shifting module includes a second optical switch and a second optical diffraction device; the second optical switch includes an output port and G input ports; the second optical diffraction device includes G output ports and N input ports, the G output ports of the second optical diffraction device are optically connected one by one with the G input ports of the second optical switch, and the N input ports are optically connected one by one with the N second wavelength combining and decomposing units; The second optical diffraction device is used to receive the N seventh optical signals from the N input ports, and perform G different phase adjustments on each of the N seventh optical signals in a diffraction manner to obtain G eighth optical signals; and output the G eighth optical signals through the G output ports; The second optical switch is configured to receive G eighth optical signals through the G input ports of the third optical switch, select one eighth optical signal from the G eighth optical signals as a combined optical signal, and output it through the output port of the third optical switch.

21. A wireless communication device, characterized in that: It comprises a carrier signal generating unit, K×N antenna units, K×N photoelectric modulation units, a beamforming device according to any one of claims 15 to 20, K photoelectric detectors, and a radio frequency combiner: The K×N antenna units are respectively used to obtain one electrical signal to obtain K×N electrical signals, and output the K×N electrical signals one by one to the K×N optoelectronic modulation units; The carrier signal generating unit is used to generate K×N optical carrier signals, and output the K×N optical carrier signals to the K×N optoelectronic modulation units in a one-to-one correspondence; the K×N optical carrier signals include N carrier signal groups, each of the N carrier signal groups includes K optical carrier signals with different wavelengths, and the wavelengths of the K optical carrier signals included in any two carrier signal groups in the N carrier signal groups are the same in a one-to-one correspondence; The K×N optoelectronic modulation units are used to modulate the input electrical signal onto the received optical carrier signal to obtain K×N sixth optical signals, and output the K×N sixth optical signals to the beamforming device in a one-to-one correspondence; wherein the wavelengths of the sixth optical signals input to the same second wavelength combining / decomposing unit of the beamforming device are all different; The K photodetectors are respectively used to receive a tenth optical signal from the beamforming device; perform photodetection processing on the input tenth optical signal to obtain K phase-shifted radio frequency signals; The radio frequency combiner is used to combine the K phase-shifted radio frequency signals to obtain an uplink radio frequency signal.

22. The device according to claim 21, characterized in that The first optical phase shift unit and the second optical phase shift unit in the beamforming device are optical delay devices.

23. The device according to claim 21, characterized in that The carrier signal generating unit is further used to generate the remaining K optical carrier signals, wherein the wavelengths of the remaining K optical carrier signals are the same as the wavelengths of the K optical carrier signals included in any carrier signal group of the N carrier signal groups; and output the remaining K optical carrier signals to the K photoelectric detectors accordingly; The K photoelectric detectors are specifically used to perform photoelectric detection processing on the input tenth optical signal using the input optical carrier signal; the tenth optical signal input by the same photoelectric detector has the same wavelength as the input optical carrier signal.

24. The device according to claim 23, characterized in that The first optical phase shift unit and the second optical phase shift unit in the beamforming device are optical phase shifters.

25. The device according to any one of claims 21 to 24, characterized in that The K×N antenna units form an antenna array with K rows and N columns; the K electrical signals output by the K rows of antenna units belonging to the same column are input to the same second multiplexing / demultiplexing unit of the beamforming device after passing through the corresponding modulator, the antenna units belonging to the same row but different columns correspond to optical carrier signals of the same wavelength, and the antenna units belonging to different rows and the same column correspond to optical carrier signals of different wavelengths; or, The K×N antenna units form an antenna array with N rows and K columns; The K electrical signals output by the K columns of antenna units belonging to the same row are input to the same second multiplexing / demultiplexing unit of the beamforming device after passing through the corresponding modulator. The antenna units in the same column correspond to optical carrier signals of the same wavelength, and the antenna units in different rows correspond to optical carrier signals of different wavelengths.

26. A beamforming method, characterized in that: The beamforming method is applied to a wireless communication scenario using an antenna array of K×N antenna units, and includes: Receive K first optical signals, and perform phase adjustment on the received K first optical signals respectively and combine them into one combined optical signal; Performing phase adjustments of N types of phase adjustment amounts on the one combined optical signal to obtain N fourth optical signals; The N fourth optical signals are respectively demultiplexed to obtain K×N fifth optical signals.

27. A beamforming method, characterized in that: The beamforming method is applied to a wireless communication scenario using an antenna array of K×N antenna units, and includes: receiving K×N sixth optical signals; Each K sixth optical signals of the K×N sixth optical signals are combined into one to obtain N seventh optical signals; the wavelengths of the K sixth optical signals combined into one are all different; the wavelengths of the K sixth optical signals in any two seventh optical signals of the N seventh optical signals are the same in one-to-one correspondence; Phase-adjusting the N seventh optical signals respectively and combining them into one combined optical signal; Phases of K optical signals with different wavelengths included in the combined optical signal are respectively adjusted to obtain K tenth optical signals.

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