Feeder network, antenna system and communication device

Abstract

This application provides a feed network, an antenna system, and a communication device. By combining a power divider and a combiner, aperture multiplexing is achieved, which can reduce energy crosstalk between channels, improve beam pattern consistency, and thus suppress the level of the upper half-space grating sidelobes and reduce the power integration in the upper half-space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a power supply network, antenna system and communication equipment. Background Technology

[0002] To improve base station-satellite interference suppression capabilities, regulations on total radiated power (TRP) suppression in the upper half-space have been proposed, requiring the upper half-space TRP integral of all downscan beams in the millimeter-wave band to be <25dBm / 200MHz. However, current conventional millimeter-wave modules exhibit a 5dB gap in TRP suppression capabilities. When used in China, power back-off is necessary, easily leading to a loss in equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) performance, severely impacting competitiveness. From an antenna perspective, it is necessary to reduce the distribution of the beamforming pattern in the upper half-space, suppress the upper half-space grating sidelobes, reduce the upper half-space power integral, and simultaneously maintain, as far as possible, the same directivity and air interface TRP performance as traditional antenna solutions. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Based on this, this application provides a feeding network that can reduce the distribution of beamforming pattern in the upper half-space, suppress the level of grating sidelobes in the upper half-space, and reduce the power integral in the upper half-space.

[0004] In a first aspect, a feed network is provided, comprising: N first devices, each first device including a power divider and a first combiner, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1; the power divider includes an input port and multiple output ports; the input port of the power divider is used to receive an input first signal; the power divider divides the first signal into multiple signals and outputs the multiple signals to corresponding antenna elements through the multiple output ports; the first combiner includes multiple input ports and an output port; the first input port of the first combiner is connected to the first output port of the power divider and is used to receive a signal input from the first output port; the output port of the first combiner is used to combine the signals input from the multiple input ports of the first combiner and output the combined signal to the corresponding antenna element; wherein the first input port of the first combiner is one of the multiple input ports, and the first output port of the power divider is one of the multiple output ports.

[0005] In the technical solution of this application, by combining the power divider and the combiner, aperture multiplexing is achieved, which can reduce energy crosstalk between channels, improve the consistency of beam pattern, and thus suppress the level of the upper half-space grid sidelobe and reduce the power integration in the upper half-space.

[0006] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, M of the N first devices further include a second combiner, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to N. The second combiner includes multiple input ports and one output port. The first input port of the second combiner is connected to the second output port of the power divider and is used to receive signals input from the second output port. The output port of the second combiner is used to combine the signals input from the multiple input ports of the second combiner and output the combined signal to the corresponding antenna element. The first input port of the second combiner is one of the multiple input ports of the second combiner, and the second output port of the power divider is any one of the multiple output ports except the first output port. Based on the above technical solution, through the arrangement and combination of combiners, power dividers, and combiners, the feed network can achieve beam null cancellation in scenarios with any number of chips / antennas, improving the high upper half-space TRP suppression performance.

[0007] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the second input port of the first combiner in the i-th first device is connected to the second output port of the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device, wherein the second input port of the first combiner in the i-th first device is any one of the multiple input ports of the first combiner in the i-th first device other than the first input port of the first combiner in the i-th first device, and the second output port of the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device is any one of the multiple output ports of the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device other than the first output port of the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device, wherein 1≤i<i+1≤N, and i is an integer.

[0008] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, at least one power divider is provided between the first combiner in the i-th first device and the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device, where 1 ≤ i < i+1 ≤ N, and i is an integer. Based on the above technical solution, the combination and sorting of power dividers and combiners enable the feed network to achieve beam null cancellation in scenarios with any number of chips / antennas, thereby improving the high upper half-space TRP suppression performance.

[0009] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, at least one combiner is provided between the first combiner in the i-th first device and the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device, where 1≤i<i+1≤N and i is an integer.

[0010] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the power divider includes any one of the following: a W-type power divider or a T-type power divider. Based on the above technical solution, the energy distribution of the beam in the upper half of the sky can be further suppressed.

[0011] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the isolation degree of the combiner is higher than a first threshold. Based on the above technical solution, the isolation degree of the combiner can be improved, thereby reducing energy crosstalk between channels.

[0012] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the insertion loss of the power divider is lower than the second threshold. Based on the above technical solution, the insertion loss of the power divider can be reduced.

[0013] In a second aspect, an antenna system is provided, including a feed network as described in the first aspect and any implementation thereof, and one or more antenna elements, the feed network being connected to the antenna elements.

[0014] Thirdly, a communication device is provided, including a baseband processing unit and an antenna system as described in the second aspect, wherein the baseband processing unit is connected to the antenna system.

[0015] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the baseband processing unit is connected to the feed network; or, the antenna system further includes a radio frequency processing unit, through which the baseband processing unit is connected to the feed network.

[0016] Fourthly, a communication system is provided, including a core network device and the communication device described in the third aspect, wherein the communication device is communicatively connected to the core network device. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the communication system according to an embodiment of this application.

[0018] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a base station 110 according to an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0019] Figure 3 It is a major component of antenna system 01.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first device in a power supply network provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first device in a power supply network, provided in another embodiment of this application.

[0022] Figure 6This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first device in a power supply network, provided in another embodiment of this application.

[0023] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first device in a power supply network, provided in another embodiment of this application.

[0024] Figure 8 This diagram shows a comparison of the effects of the technical solutions in this application and traditional solutions.

[0025] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the hardware architecture of a base station. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions in this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" as described in this specification mean that one or more embodiments of this application include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment. Therefore, phrases such as "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," "in still other embodiments," etc., appearing in different parts of this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more, but not all, embodiments," unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0028] The terms “including,” “comprising,” “having,” and variations thereof all mean “including but not limited to,” unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0029] In the various embodiments of this application, the terms "first," "second," etc., are merely to indicate that multiple objects are different. For example, "first output port" and "second output port" are only to indicate different output ports. They should not have any impact on the output ports themselves or their number, and the aforementioned "first," "second," etc., should not impose any limitations on the embodiments of this application.

[0030] The antenna system, communication device, and communication system of this application embodiment can be applied to various communication systems, including but not limited to: Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD) system, Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) system, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) system, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, 5th Generation (5G) communication system, Device to Device (D2D) system, Vehicle to Everything (V2X) system, or future communication networks, etc.

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application. The communication system may include an access network 100 and a core network (CN) 200. The access network 100 may be a radio access network (RAN). The access network 100 includes base stations 110 (such as 110a and 110b, collectively referred to as 110), and the base stations 110 can communicate with the core network equipment in the CN 200. It should be understood that in this embodiment of the application, the base station may also be referred to as a communication device. For ease of understanding, the term base station will be used to describe communication devices in the following description.

[0032] Specifically, base station 110 can be a base transceiver station (BTS) in a GSM or CDMA system, a Node B (NB) in a WCDMA system, an evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE system, or a radio controller in a cloud radioaccess network (CRAN) scenario. Alternatively, the base station can include a relay station, access point, vehicle-mounted equipment, wearable device, base station in a 5G network, or base station in a future communication network, etc., and is not limited in this respect.

[0033] Base station 110 can also be called access network equipment or access node. It can be located in base station subsystem (BBS), UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN), or evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRAN) to provide cell coverage of wireless signals so as to enable communication between terminal equipment and wireless network.

[0034] Base station 110 can also be a base transceiver station (BTS) in GSM or CDMA systems, a node B (NB) in WCDMA systems, an evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB) in LTE systems, a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation base station (gNB) in 5G communication systems, a next-generation base station in future communication networks, an access network device or module of an access network device in an open RAN (ORAN) system, a base station in a future communication network, or an access node in a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system. A base station can also be a central unit (CU), distributed unit (DU), CU-control plane (CP), CU-user plane (UP), or radio unit (RU) as described below.

[0035] In the ORAN system, CU can also be called O-CU, DU can also be called open (O)-DU, CU-CP can also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP can also be called O-CU-UP, and RU can also be called O-RU. The base station in this application can be a macro base station, micro base station, or indoor station, or it can be a relay node or donor node, or it can be a radio controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario. Alternatively, the base station can also be a server, vehicle-mounted equipment, wearable devices, and g nodes (gNodeB or gNB) in new radio (NR) systems, access network equipment in future evolved networks, etc. For example, the base station in V2X technology can be a roadside unit (RSU), and there are no specific limitations on this.

[0036] Optionally, the communication system 100 described above may also include at least one terminal device (such as 120a-120j, collectively referred to as 120).

[0037] Specifically, the terminal device can be a device with wireless signal receiving and transmitting functions, capable of sending electrical signals to or receiving signals from a base station. The terminal device can also be called a user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal, etc. Terminal devices can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grids, smart furniture, smart offices, smart wearables, intelligent transportation, smart cities, etc. The terminal device can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, wearable device, vehicle, aircraft, ship, robot, robotic arm, smart home device, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology or device form used in the terminal.

[0038] The number of devices in the above communication system is for illustrative purposes only and is not limited thereto. In actual applications, the communication system may include more terminal devices, more base stations, and other devices.

[0039] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a base station 110 according to an embodiment of this application is shown, as follows: Figure 2 As shown, base station 110 may include antenna system 01 (antenna system may also be referred to as antenna) and baseband processing unit 06.

[0040] The baseband processing unit 06 is connected to the antenna system 01. For example, the baseband processing unit 06 and the antenna system 01 can be connected together via optical fiber or cable. The antenna system 01 may include... Figure 2 The antenna element 11 shown may also include a radome 12. The antenna element 11 can be placed inside the radome 12. For details regarding the specific structure of the antenna system 01, please refer to the relevant description below; it will not be repeated here.

[0041] Optionally, the base station 110 may also include a radio frequency processing unit 05, and the baseband processing unit 06 may be connected to the feeder network through the radio frequency processing unit 05.

[0042] Specifically, the components located inside the radome 12 in the antenna system 01 can be connected to the radio frequency (RF) processing unit 05 via cables, and the baseband processing unit 06 can be connected to the components through the RF processing unit 05. In this way, the RF processing unit 05 can perform frequency selection, amplification, and down-conversion processing on the signals received by the antenna system 01, converting them into intermediate frequency (IF) signals or baseband signals and sending them to the baseband processing unit 06; alternatively, the RF processing unit 05 can also up-convert and amplify the baseband processing unit 06 or the IF signals, converting them into electromagnetic waves through the antenna system 01 for transmission.

[0043] It should be understood that the radio frequency processing unit 05 can also be called a remote radio unit (RRU), and the baseband processing unit 06 can also be called a baseband unit (BBU).

[0044] It should also be understood that, in one possible implementation, the radio frequency processing unit 05 may be integrated with the antenna system 01, and the baseband processing unit 06 may be located at the far end of the antenna system 01, such as... Figure 2 As shown, at this time, the RF processing unit 05 and the antenna system 01 can be collectively referred to as an active antenna unit (AAU). It should be noted that... Figure 2 This is just one example of the positional relationship between the RF processing unit 05 and the antenna system 01. In another possible implementation, the RF processing unit 05 and the baseband processing unit 06 may also be located at the far end of the antenna system 01.

[0045] See also Figure 2The base station 110 may further include: an antenna adjustment bracket 02, a mounting frame 03, a cable 04, a grounding device 07, and a connector seal 08. Specifically, the antenna system 01 can be mounted on the mounting frame 03 via the antenna adjustment bracket 02 to facilitate the reception or transmission of signals by the antenna system 01. Exemplarily, the mounting frame 03 can be a pole or a tower, etc. In some other embodiments, the antenna system 01 can also be directly mounted on the mounting frame 03.

[0046] Grounding device 07 is installed on feeder 05. Grounding device 07 can perform electrical grounding, lightning protection, overvoltage protection, and maintenance of equipment performance, which helps to ensure the stability and safety of base station 110.

[0047] The connector seal 08 is provided at the connection between the antenna radome 12 and the cable 04 of the antenna system 01, and at the connection between the grounding device 07 and the cable 04, to provide insulation and sealing. The connector seal 08 can be at least one of insulating sealing tape or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) insulating adhesive. Of course, the connector seal 08 can also have other structures and is not limited to the form of tape.

[0048] It should be noted that, in practical applications, the antenna adjustment bracket 02 and other equipment can be provided by the site provider. The antenna system 01, radio frequency processing unit 05, and baseband processing unit 06 in the base station can be provided by the base station manufacturer. The base station in this embodiment may also exclude the antenna adjustment bracket 02; it only needs to include a bracket capable of mounting the antenna to the pole, and this bracket may not have an adjustment function.

[0049] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figure 3 The main components of antenna system 01 are explained.

[0050] Figure 3 As a major component of antenna system 01, antenna system 01 may include at least one or more antenna elements and a feeding network.

[0051] The antenna element is the basic structural unit of the antenna system 01, used to radiate or receive radio waves. An antenna system 01 may include one or more antenna elements, and the frequencies of different antenna elements may be the same or different. The antenna element may also be called a radiating element, radiator, antenna vibrator, vibrator, etc., and this application does not limit the terminology.

[0052] The feed network is primarily used for power supply, i.e., providing power. In this embodiment, the feed network is connected to the antenna element, feeding the signal to the antenna element according to a preset amplitude and phase. Alternatively, the feed network can also transmit the received signal to the base station's signal processing unit according to a preset amplitude and phase. The feed network typically consists of controlled impedance transmission lines. In this embodiment, the feed network may include devices such as phase shifters, combiners, and power dividers. Further descriptions of combiners and power dividers are provided below and will not be repeated here.

[0053] Optionally, the antenna system may also include a transmission mechanism and a calibration network. The feed network can be connected to the transmission mechanism to achieve different radiation beam directions. The feed network can also be connected to the calibration network to obtain the calibration signals required by the antenna system, enabling the feed network to feed the signals to the antenna element or the signal processing unit of the base station according to preset amplitude and phase.

[0054] Optionally, the antenna system 01 may also include an antenna radome (i.e., the antenna radome 12 mentioned above) (not shown), wherein various devices are installed inside the antenna radome. The antenna radome has good electromagnetic wave penetration characteristics in terms of electrical performance and can withstand the influence of harsh external environments in terms of mechanical performance, thereby protecting the devices inside the antenna radome from the influence of the external environment.

[0055] Optionally, the antenna system 01 may further include a reflector (not shown) disposed inside the radome. The reflector, also known as a base plate, antenna panel, or metal reflective surface, can improve the receiving sensitivity of the antenna signal, reflect and focus the antenna signal onto the receiving point, and block or shield interference from other radio waves from the opposite direction. Typically, the antenna element can be located on one side of the reflector, and the feed network can be located on the other side.

[0056] It should be understood that Figure 3 The structure of the antenna system shown is merely an example, and this application does not limit it.

[0057] To facilitate understanding, before introducing the embodiments of this application, the technical terms involved in the embodiments of this application will be introduced first.

[0058] T-type power divider: A device that splits the energy of one input signal into two or more outputs with equal or unequal energy. It usually distributes the energy equally. According to the output, it is divided into two-way power divider, three-way power divider, four-way power divider, and six-way power divider. No isolation resistor is added between the branches. According to the matching law of multi-port networks, the theoretical echo of the branch is not less than -6dB, and the isolation between the branches is poor.

[0059] W-type power divider: A device that splits the energy of one input signal into two or more outputs with equal or unequal energy. By adding isolation resistors between the branches, the theoretical full-port echo can be fully matched, and the theoretical isolation between the branches can achieve an ideal isolation state.

[0060] The amplitude-phase ratio of a power divider refers to its ability to maintain not only the ratio between input and output power but also precise consistency in signal amplitude and relative synchronization in phase during signal transmission. Ideally, a power divider should divide the input signal into several equal parts, with consistent signal strength (amplitude) and phase difference (i.e., the offset of the signal's sinusoidal waveform) between each branch. This helps ensure the performance and stability of the signal throughout the system. However, in certain special applications, such as directional antenna arrays or filter designs with specific requirements, it may be permissible for the amplitude-phase characteristics of each output to differ. This is no longer considered a "power divider" in the standard sense but rather a customized solution that is adjusted according to the specific application scenario.

[0061] Combiner: Generally used for signal transmission, its function is to combine two or more different radio frequency signals into one and send it to the radio frequency device for antenna transmission. The combiner generally has two or more input ports and only one output port. At the same time, it is necessary to avoid mutual interference between the signals of each port and to have high requirements for the isolation between each transmitted signal.

[0062] An active integrated phased array (AIP) chip is a high-performance integrated circuit that integrates a radio frequency front-end, power amplifier, and control circuitry. AIP chips are typically connected directly to the antenna array's feed network using specialized packaging technologies, such as ceramic wafer packaging or direct bonding. Each array element corresponds to a channel on the chip, and data signals are transmitted to the corresponding element via the feed line, thereby achieving phase adjustment and power amplification.

[0063] As described in the background section, to comply with regulations on total radiated power (TRP) suppression in the upper half-space, it is necessary to reduce the distribution of the antenna's transmitted beam in the upper half-space and decrease the power integral in the upper half-space. Based on this, this application aims to provide a feed network that can reduce the distribution of the antenna's transmitted beam in the upper half-space and decrease the power integral in the upper half-space, while maintaining the same directivity and air interface TRP performance as conventional antenna solutions. The feed network provided in this application will be described in detail below with reference to specific accompanying drawings.

[0064] Figure 4 This is a schematic structural diagram of a power supply network 40 provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0065] like Figure 4 As shown, the power supply network 40 includes N first devices, for example... Figure 4 The first device 41, first device 42, ..., first device 4n shown are illustrated, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. For ease of description, they will be referred to below as... Figure 4 Taking one of the first devices (such as first device 41) as an example, the specific structure of the first devices included in the power supply network will be described. It should be understood that the specific structure of other first devices in the power supply network can be referred to the relevant description of the specific structure of first device 41, and will not be repeated here.

[0066] Specifically, the first device 41 includes a power divider 411 and a first combiner 412. The power divider 411 includes an input port and multiple output ports. The input port is used to receive an input first signal, for example, the input port is used to receive a first signal input from an AIP chip (not shown in the figure). After receiving the first signal, the power divider 411 divides the first signal into multiple signals and outputs these multiple signals to the corresponding antenna elements through the multiple output ports. It should be noted that the multiple signals and the multiple output ports are in one-to-one correspondence; that is, the power divider outputs the multiple signals to the corresponding antenna elements through the corresponding output ports.

[0067] In this embodiment, each output port of the power divider 411 can correspond to one antenna element, meaning multiple output ports correspond one-to-one with multiple antenna elements. The power divider outputs multiple signals to their respective antenna elements through the corresponding output ports. For example, taking a power divider 411 with output ports 1, 2, and 3 as an example, and taking the power divider 411 as dividing a first signal into signal 1, signal 2, and signal 3 as an example, then signal 1 is output to antenna element 1 through output port 1, signal 2 is output to antenna element 2 through output port 2, and signal 3 is output to antenna element 3 through output port 3. It should be noted that antenna elements 1, 2, and 3 are completely identical in performance and type.

[0068] See also Figure 4 The first combiner 412 includes multiple input ports and one output port. The first input port of the first combiner 412 is connected to the first output port of the power divider 411. The first input port of the first combiner 412 is one of the multiple input ports (e.g., ...). Figure 4 The input port shown is #1), and the first output port of the power divider 411 is one of multiple output ports (e.g., input port #1). Figure 4Output port 3 is shown in the diagram. In this embodiment, the first input port of the first combiner 412 is used to receive the signal input from the first output port of the power divider 411. Further, the first combiner 412 combines multiple signals input from multiple input ports of the first combiner 412 and outputs the combined signal through the output port to the antenna element corresponding to the first combiner. It should be understood that in this embodiment, the antenna element corresponding to the first combiner 412 and the antenna element corresponding to the power divider 411 are independent of each other, but the antenna element corresponding to the first combiner 412 and the antenna element corresponding to the power divider 411 are completely identical in performance and type. For example, the antenna element corresponding to the first combiner 412 is antenna element 4, which is also completely identical in performance and type to the antenna elements 1 to 3 described above.

[0069] Based on this technical solution, the combination of the first combiner 412 and the power divider 411 can reduce energy crosstalk between channels and improve the consistency of the beam pattern.

[0070] It should be noted that, in one possible implementation, the amplitude-phase ratio of each output port of the power divider 411 is the same, meaning that the signal strength (amplitude) and phase difference output by each output port are consistent. In another possible implementation, the amplitude-phase ratio of each output port of the power divider 411 can be different, meaning that the signal strength (amplitude) and phase difference output by each output port do not necessarily have to be consistent.

[0071] It should also be noted that, Figure 4 The power divider 411 shown is a three-power divider, meaning it includes one input port and three output ports. It should be understood that the power divider 411 could also be a two-power divider, or even a four-power divider, etc. This application does not limit its application in this regard. The specific type of power divider is determined by the actual process design. It should also be understood that in this embodiment, the power dividers in the N first devices can be of the same type, for example, each of the N first devices may have a three-power divider; or, the power dividers in the N first devices can be of different types, for example, some of the N first devices may have three-power dividers, while others may have four-power dividers. It should be understood that the above are merely examples, and this application does not limit its application in this regard.

[0072] Optionally, in one possible implementation, when N=1, i.e., the power supply network includes only one first device, the first output port of the power divider is connected to the first input port of the first combiner, and the second input port of the first combiner is connected to the load. The second input port of the first combiner is any one of the multiple input ports of the first combiner other than the first input port, or in other words, the second input port of the first combiner is any one of the input ports that is not connected to the output port of the power divider.

[0073] For example, such as Figure 4 As shown, Figure 4 Taking a first combiner comprising two input ports (input port #1 and input port #2) and one output port (output port #1), and a power divider being a three-way power divider, as an example. The output port 3 of the power divider is connected to the input port #1 of the first combiner, and the input port #2 of the first combiner is connected to the load.

[0074] Alternatively, in another possible implementation, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, i.e., the power supply network includes at least two first devices, the power supply network can be understood as being formed by interconnecting different first devices. Assume i is an integer 1 ≤ i < i+1 ≤ N.

[0075] The first input port of the first combiner in the i-th first device is connected to the first output port of the power divider in the i-th first device, and the second input port of the first combiner in the i-th first device is connected to the second output port of the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device. The second input port of the first combiner in the i-th first device is any one of the multiple input ports of the first combiner other than the first input port, and the second output port of the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device is any one of the multiple output ports of the power divider other than the first output port.

[0076] For example, taking N=3 as an example, that is, the power supply network includes 3 first devices, which can be first device #1, first device #2, and first device #3 respectively. The following is in conjunction with... Figure 5 The internal connection structure of the three first devices included in the power supply network will be described. It should be noted beforehand that... Figure 5 As shown, the first device #1 includes a power divider 411 and a first combiner 412, the first device #2 includes a power divider 421 and a first combiner 422, and the first device #3 includes a power divider 431 and a first combiner 432. It should be understood that... Figure 5 Each of the first devices includes a three-way power divider, and each of the first combiners has two input ports. Figure 5 This is merely an example and does not constitute a limitation.

[0077] like Figure 5 As shown, the input port #1 of the first combiner 412 is connected to the output port 3 of the power divider 411, the input port #2 of the first combiner 412 is connected to the output port 1 of the power divider 421, the output port 3 of the power divider is connected to the input port #1 of the first combiner 422, the input port #2 of the first combiner 422 is connected to the output port 1 of the power divider 431, the output port 3 of the power divider 431 is connected to the input port #1 of the first combiner 432, and the input port #2 of the first combiner 432 is connected to the load.

[0078] For example, taking N=4 as an example, the power supply network includes four first devices, which can be first device #1, first device #2, first device #3, and first device #4, respectively. The following is a combination of... Figure 6 The internal connection structure of the four first devices included in the power supply network will be described. It should be noted beforehand that... Figure 6 As shown, the first device #1 includes a power divider 411 and a first combiner 412; the first device #2 includes a power divider 421 and a first combiner 422; the first device #3 includes a power divider 431 and a first combiner 432; and the first device #4 includes a power divider 441 and a first combiner 442. It should be understood that... Figure 6 Each of the first devices includes a three-way power divider, and each of the first combiners has two input ports. Figure 6 This is merely an example and does not constitute a limitation.

[0079] like Figure 6 As shown, the input port #1 of the first combiner 412 is connected to the output port 3 of the power divider 411; the input port #2 of the first combiner 412 is connected to the output port 1 of the power divider 421; the output port 3 of the power divider 411 is connected to the input port #1 of the first combiner 422; the input port #2 of the first combiner 422 is connected to the output port 1 of the power divider 431; the output port 3 of the power divider 431 is connected to the input port #1 of the first combiner 432; the input port #2 of the first combiner 432 is connected to the output port 1 of the power divider 441; the output port 3 of the power divider 441 is connected to the input port #1 of the first combiner 442; and the input port #2 of the first combiner 442 is connected to the load.

[0080] It should be understood that Figure 5 and Figure 6 The connection structure shown is merely an example, and this application does not impose any limitations on it.

[0081] Optionally, in one possible implementation, M of the N first devices may further include a second combiner, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to N.

[0082] In other words, the M first devices can be composed of a first combiner, a power divider, and a second combiner. The second combiner includes multiple input ports and one output port. The first input port of the second combiner is connected to the second output port of the power divider, and is used to receive signals input from the second output port of the power divider. The output port of the second combiner is used to combine the signals input from the multiple input ports and output the combined signal to the antenna element corresponding to the second combiner. The second output port of the power divider can be any one of the multiple output ports except for the first output port. It should be noted that the connection between the first combiner and the power divider can be referred to the relevant description above, and will not be repeated here.

[0083] As an example, the structure of the M first devices is described below using one of the first devices (denoted as first device #a for ease of description).

[0084] like Figure 7 As shown, Figure 7 This is a schematic structural diagram of a first device #a provided in yet another embodiment of this application. (See diagram below.) Figure 7 As shown, the first device #a may include a second combiner, a power divider, and a first combiner. It should be noted beforehand that the connection between the power divider and the first combiner in the first device #a can be found in the preceding text. Figure 4 The descriptions of the power splitter 411 and the first combiner 412 are not repeated here. For simplicity, the following text only describes the connection between the second combiner and the power splitter.

[0085] like Figure 7 As shown, the second combiner includes multiple input ports and one output port. The first input port of the second combiner is connected to the second output port of the power divider and is used to receive the signal input from the second output port of the power divider. The output port of the second combiner is used to combine the signals input from the multiple input ports of the second combiner and output the combined signal to the antenna element corresponding to the second combiner. The first input port of the second combiner is one of the multiple input ports of the second combiner (e.g., ...). Figure 7 The input port #2 of the power divider is any one of the multiple output ports of the power divider other than the first output port (e.g., input port #2). Figure 7 Output port 1 in the middle). It should be understood that, Figure 7 The connections shown are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0086] It should be noted that in the embodiments of this application, the antenna unit (such as antenna unit 5) corresponding to the second combiner 713 is completely consistent with the antenna units 1 to 4 mentioned above in terms of performance and type.

[0087] Alternatively, in one possible implementation, it is assumed that Figure 7 The corresponding power supply network includes only one first device, which comprises a first combiner, a power divider, and a second combiner, i.e., N = M = 1. In this implementation, the second input port of the first combiner in the first device is connected to the load, and the second input port of the second combiner is also connected to the load. The second input ports of the first and second combiners are input ports other than the first input port among multiple input ports; in other words, neither the second input port of the first nor the second combiner is connected to the output port of the power divider.

[0088] Alternatively, in one possible implementation, see [link to previous section]. Figure 4 At least one power divider is provided between the first combiner in the i-th first device and the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device.

[0089] For example, when a power divider (e.g., power divider #1) is provided between the first combiner in the i-th first device and the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device, the second input port of the first combiner in the i-th first device is connected to the first output port of the power divider #1, and one of the output ports of the power divider #1 is connected to the input port of the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device. The second input port of the first combiner can be any one of the multiple input ports other than the first input port, and will not be described further below.

[0090] For example, when multiple power dividers are provided between the first combiner in the i-th first device and the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device, the second input port of the first combiner in the i-th first device is connected to one of the multiple output ports (e.g., the first output port) of the power divider adjacent to the first combiner (e.g., power divider #1), and the second output port of the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device is connected to the input port of the power divider adjacent to that power divider (e.g., power divider #m). The second output port of the power divider can be any one of the multiple output ports other than the first output port, and will not be described further below.

[0091] For example, take the first combiner in the i-th first device and the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device as an example, where two power dividers are set between them, such as power divider #1 and power divider #2.

[0092] The second input port of the first combiner in the i-th first device is connected to one of the multiple output ports (e.g., the first output port) of the power divider #1. Another output port of the power divider #1 is connected to the input port of the power divider #2. One of the multiple output ports of the power divider #2 is connected to the input port of the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device. The first output port of the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device is connected to the first input port of the first combiner in the (i+1)-th first device.

[0093] Alternatively, in another possible implementation, see [link to previous section]. Figure 4 At least one combiner is provided between the first combiner in the i-th first device and the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device.

[0094] For example, when a combiner (e.g., combiner #1) is provided between the first combiner in the i-th first device and the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device, the first input port of the first combiner in the i-th first device is connected to the first output port of the power divider in the i-th first device, the second input port of the first combiner in the i-th first device is connected to the output port of combiner #1, and one of the input ports of combiner #1 is connected to the second output port of the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device.

[0095] For example, when multiple combiners are provided between the first combiner in the i-th first device and the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device, the first input port of the first combiner in the i-th first device is connected to the first output port of the power divider in the i-th first device, and the second input port of the first combiner in the i-th first device is connected to a combiner adjacent to the first combiner (e.g., combiner #1). The second output port of the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device is connected to one of the input ports of a combiner adjacent to that power divider (e.g., combiner #m).

[0096] For example, take the first combiner in the i-th first device and the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device as an example, where two combiners are set between them, such as combiner #1 and combiner #2.

[0097] The second input port of the first combiner in the i-th first device is connected to the output port of combiner #1, one of the input ports of combiner #1 is connected to the output port of combiner #2, and one of the input ports of combiner #2 is connected to the second output port of the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device.

[0098] It should be understood that the embodiments of this application use a special analysis algorithm to combine and sort the number and position of power dividers and combiners (first combiner, second combiner) included in the feed network, so that the feed network can achieve beam null cancellation in any scenario with any number of AIP chips / antennas, thereby improving the high upper half-space TRP suppression performance. The following is in conjunction with Figure 8 Table 1 illustrates the advantages of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application compared with traditional solutions.

[0099] like Figure 8 As shown, the feed network provided in this application embodiment achieves a certain degree of aperture multiplexing at the array scale, so that while the phase gradient of the array factor remains unchanged, it further narrows the beamwidth of the single-channel subarray pattern and reduces the subarray sidelobes, effectively reducing the grid sidelobe level and energy distribution of the beam pattern after array synthesis in the upper half space.

[0100] Furthermore, as can be seen from the data in Table 1, compared with traditional technical solutions, the technical solution provided in this application embodiment can achieve a high level of TRP suppression. At the same time, this solution does not introduce channel power weighting, has no obvious air interface TRP performance degradation, such as no TRP loss, and the EIRP loss is also improved by 3 to 7 dB compared with the existing solution, and the cost is also the lowest.

[0101] Table 1

[0102]

[0103] It should be noted that, in the embodiments of this application, the power divider mentioned above can be a W-type power divider or a T-type power divider. It should be understood that the embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0104] Alternatively, in one possible implementation, the power dividers included in the N first devices can be of the same type, for example, the power dividers in each first device are either T-type power dividers or W-type power dividers.

[0105] Alternatively, in another possible implementation, the types of power dividers included in the N first devices can also be different. For example, some first devices may have T-type power dividers, while others may have W-type power dividers.

[0106] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the TRP suppression performance of the W-type power divider is better than that of the T-type power divider. That is, choosing a W-type power divider can improve the consistency of the beam pattern, thereby better suppressing the energy distribution of the beam in the upper half of the sky. For example, experimental data analysis shows that the TRP suppression performance of the W-type power divider is approximately 2 dB better than that of the T-type power divider.

[0107] It should also be noted that the isolation of the combiner mentioned above needs to be higher than the first threshold, and the insertion loss of the power divider needs to be lower than the second threshold. The first and second thresholds are set according to specific process requirements, and this application does not impose any limitations on them.

[0108] Furthermore, embodiments of this application also provide a schematic diagram of the hardware architecture of the base station, such as... Figure 9 As shown, Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the hardware architecture of a base station. The base station provides wireless access from user equipment to the network and includes one or more processors 910 and one or more transceivers 930, each transceiver 930 (including a receiver Rx and a transmitter Tx). Optionally, it also includes one or more memories 920. The processors 910, memories 920, and transceivers 930 can be connected via a bus. One or more transceivers 930 are connected to the antenna system (such as antenna 940 in the figure) in the above embodiments. The one or more processors 910 include computer program code. The transceivers 930 can be connected to the core network via a link (e.g., a link to the core network) or to other base stations via wired or wireless links.

[0109] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0110] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0111] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0112] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0113] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0114] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0115] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A power supply network, characterized in that, include: There are N first devices, each consisting of a power divider and a first combiner, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The power divider includes one input port and multiple output ports. The input port of the power divider is used to receive an input first signal. The power divider splits the first signal into multiple signals and outputs the multiple signals to corresponding antenna elements through the multiple output ports. The first combiner includes multiple input ports and one output port. The first input port of the first combiner is connected to the first output port of the power divider and is used to receive signals input from the first output port. The output port of the first combiner is used to combine the signals input from the multiple input ports of the first combiner and output the combined signal to the corresponding antenna element. Wherein, the first input port of the first combiner is one of the plurality of input ports, and the first output port of the power divider is one of the plurality of output ports.

2. The power supply network according to claim 1, characterized in that, M of the N first devices further include a second combiner, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to N. The second combiner includes multiple input ports and one output port. The first input port of the second combiner is connected to the second output port of the power divider and is used to receive signals input from the second output port. The output port of the second combiner is used to combine the signals input from the multiple input ports of the second combiner and output the combined signal to the corresponding antenna element. Wherein, the first input port of the second combiner is one of the multiple input ports of the second combiner, and the second output port of the power divider is any one of the multiple output ports other than the first output port.

3. The power supply network according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second input port of the first combiner in the i-th first device is connected to the second output port of the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device. Wherein, the second input port of the first combiner in the i-th first device is any one of the multiple input ports of the first combiner in the i-th first device, excluding the first input port of the first combiner in the i-th first device; and the second output port of the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device is any one of the multiple output ports of the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device, excluding the first output port of the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device. Where 1≤i<i+1≤N, and i is an integer.

4. The power supply network according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that, At least one power divider is provided between the first combiner in the i-th first device and the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device. Where 1≤i<i+1≤N, and i is an integer.

5. The power supply network according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that, At least one combiner is provided between the first combiner in the i-th first device and the power divider in the (i+1)-th first device. Where 1≤i<i+1≤N, and i is an integer.

6. The power supply network according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The power divider includes any one of the following: W-type power divider and T-type power divider.

7. The power supply network according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The isolation of the combiner is higher than the first threshold.

8. The power supply network according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The insertion loss of the power divider is lower than the second threshold.

9. An antenna system, characterized in that, It includes a feed network as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, and one or more antenna elements, the feed network being connected to the antenna elements.

10. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes a baseband processing unit and an antenna system as described in claim 9, wherein the baseband processing unit is connected to the antenna system.

11. The communication device according to claim 10, characterized in that, The baseband processing unit is connected to the feed network; or, the antenna system further includes a radio frequency processing unit, and the baseband processing unit is connected to the feed network through the radio frequency processing unit.

12. A communication system, characterized in that, It includes core network equipment and the communication equipment as described in claim 10 or 11, wherein the communication equipment is communicatively connected to the core network equipment.

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