System for performing communication and wireless power transmission, wireless processing device, and antenna system

Abstract

To provide an antenna system that can expand an area where wireless power transmission from a base station is possible to an area close to the communication-possible area.SOLUTION: The antenna system includes a first array antenna that is used for both communication and wireless power transmission and a plurality of second array antennas that are dedicated for wireless power transmission and are spaced apart from the first array antenna and distributed in an area around the first array antenna. The antenna system may further include a plurality of first wireless signal processing units connected to each of a plurality of antenna elements of the first array antenna and a plurality of second wireless signal processing units provided for each of the plurality of second array antennas and connected to each of the plurality of antenna elements of the second array antennas.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system capable of communication and wireless power transfer (WPT), a wireless processing device and an antenna system. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a communication system in which communication is performed between a base station and a terminal device by using at least some of a plurality of radio resources set in a radio frame (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2017 / 164220 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional communication systems, terminal devices that connect to base stations for communication include portable terminal devices that mainly use power supplied from built-in batteries. These terminal devices require the cumbersome task of charging the built-in battery when the remaining charge in the built-in battery is low. In addition, terminal devices that use power supplied from a wired power line rather than a built-in battery are limited to use in places where such a power line is available. Thus, a power supply infrastructure that can supply power to various terminal devices that connect to base stations for communication has not yet been developed.

[0005] In the fifth generation and subsequent next-generation mobile communication systems, a rapid increase in terminal devices (e.g., user devices, IoT devices, etc.) that connect to base stations for communication is expected, and the development of communication infrastructure to handle the huge amount of traffic is underway. However, a power supply infrastructure capable of supplying power to the huge number of terminal devices that will perform the above-mentioned communication remains underdeveloped.

[0006] As a power supply infrastructure for supplying power to the above-mentioned terminal devices, a system that performs wireless power transmission (WPT) using a mobile communication base station is being considered. One of the problems with such a system is that, due to restrictions on the transmission power of radio waves transmitted from a base station during wireless power transmission, the wireless power transmission area in which a terminal device can receive the power of radio waves from a base station is narrower than the communication area in which the base station can communicate with the terminal device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An antenna system according to one aspect of the present invention is an antenna system that can be used for communication and wireless power transmission in a mobile communication system, comprising a first array antenna used for both communication and wireless power transmission, and a plurality of second array antennas dedicated to wireless power transmission that are distributed around the first array antenna and spaced apart from the first array antenna.

[0008] The antenna system may include a plurality of first radio signal processing units connected to each of a plurality of antenna elements of the first array antenna, amplifying a plurality of high-frequency signals corresponding to a dummy signal for downlink wireless power transmission, a downlink communication signal, and an uplink communication signal with different amplifiers, and multiplexing and transmitting the plurality of high-frequency signals via the antenna elements; and a plurality of second radio signal processing units provided for each of the plurality of second array antennas, connected to each of a plurality of antenna elements of the second array antenna, amplifying a high-frequency signal corresponding to a dummy signal for downlink wireless power transmission, and transmitting the high-frequency signal via the antenna elements.

[0009] In the antenna system, each of the first radio signal processing units may include a first phase shifter for controlling a phase of the dummy signal for wireless power transmission transmitted from the antenna element, a first amplifier for amplifying the dummy signal for wireless power transmission, a second phase shifter for controlling a phase of the downlink communication signal transmitted from the antenna element, a second amplifier for amplifying the downlink communication signal, a third amplifier for amplifying the uplink communication signal received via the antenna element, and a third phase shifter for controlling the phase of the uplink communication signal. Here, the first amplifier may be a bias adjustment type high efficiency amplifier or a waveform processing type high efficiency amplifier, the second amplifier may be an amplifier that improves efficiency in a linear region, and the third amplifier may be a low noise amplifier.

[0010] In the system, each of the second wireless signal processing units may include a fourth phase shifter for controlling a phase of the dummy signal for wireless power transmission transmitted from the antenna element, and a fourth amplifier for amplifying the dummy signal for wireless power transmission, wherein the fourth amplifier may be a bias adjustment type high efficiency amplifier or a waveform processing type high efficiency amplifier.

[0011] In the system, each of the plurality of first radio signal processing units may include a multiplexing processor that multiplexes the dummy signal for wireless power transmission, the downlink communication signal, and the uplink communication signal by a time division duplex (TDD) scheme. Here, a frame for wireless power transmission used for the dummy signal for wireless power transmission, a frame for downlink communication used for the downlink communication signal, and a frame for uplink communication used for the uplink communication signal may be time-divided and assigned to a communication frame, and the multiplexing processor may switch a connection between the antenna element and each of signal processing paths of the dummy signal for wireless power transmission, the downlink communication signal, and the uplink communication signal in synchronization with the frame for wireless power transmission, the frame for downlink communication, and the frame for uplink communication.

[0012] In the system, each of the first radio signal processing units may include a multiplexing processor that multiplexes the dummy signal for wireless power transmission, the downlink communication signal, and the uplink communication signal by a frequency division duplex (FDD) scheme. Here, the first array antenna may include an array antenna for wireless power transmission used for transmitting the dummy signal for wireless power transmission, and an array antenna for communication used for transmitting the downlink communication signal and receiving the uplink communication signal, and the first radio signal processing units may include a plurality of radio signal processing units for wireless power transmission connected to each of a plurality of antenna elements of the array antenna for wireless power transmission, amplifying a high-frequency signal of the dummy signal for wireless power transmission by an amplifier for wireless power transmission and transmitting the signal via the antenna element, and a plurality of radio signal processing units for communication connected to each of a plurality of antenna elements of the array antenna for communication, amplifying a plurality of high-frequency signals of the downlink communication signal and the uplink communication signal by different amplifiers, and multiplexing the plurality of high-frequency signals for transmission and reception via the antenna elements.

[0013] A radio processing device according to another aspect of the present invention includes any one of the antenna systems and an input / output signal processing unit connected to the plurality of first radio signal processing units and connected to the plurality of second radio signal processing units via a signal transmission line, the input / output signal processing unit including a signal separation unit that separates a downlink intermediate frequency signal including the dummy signal for wireless power transmission and the downlink communication signal into an intermediate frequency signal of the dummy signal for wireless power transmission and an intermediate frequency signal of the downlink communication signal, a first mixer that mixes the intermediate frequency signal of the dummy signal for wireless power transmission separated by the signal separation unit with a local oscillation signal of a predetermined frequency to generate a high frequency signal of the dummy signal for wireless power transmission, a second mixer that mixes the intermediate frequency signal of the downlink communication signal with the local oscillation signal to generate a high frequency signal of the downlink communication signal, and a third mixer that mixes the high frequency signal of the uplink communication signal with the local oscillation signal to generate the intermediate frequency signal of the uplink communication signal.

[0014] A radio processing device according to another aspect of the present invention includes any one of the antenna systems and an input / output signal processing unit connected to the multiple first radio signal processing units and connected to the multiple second radio signal processing units via a signal transmission line. The input / output signal processing unit includes a signal separation unit that separates a first branch signal, obtained by branching a downlink intermediate frequency signal including the dummy signal for wireless power transmission and the downlink communication signal, into an intermediate frequency signal of the dummy signal for wireless power transmission and an intermediate frequency signal of the downlink communication signal; a first mixer that mixes the intermediate frequency signal of the dummy signal for wireless power transmission separated by the signal separation unit with a local oscillation signal of a predetermined frequency to generate a high frequency signal of the dummy signal for wireless power transmission; a termination unit that terminates the intermediate frequency signal of the downlink communication signal separated by the signal separation unit; a second mixer that mixes a second branch signal, obtained by branching a downlink intermediate frequency signal including the dummy signal for wireless power transmission and the downlink communication signal, with the local oscillation signal to generate a high frequency signal of the downlink communication signal; and a third mixer that mixes the high frequency signal of the uplink communication signal and the local oscillation signal to generate the intermediate frequency signal of the uplink communication signal. Here, the input / output signal processing unit may further include an isolator that passes the first branched signal in one direction and transmits it to the signal separation unit.

[0015] A system according to still another aspect of the present invention is a system for wireless power transmission to a terminal device in a mobile communication system, comprising: any one of the wireless processing devices described above; and a communication signal processing unit that generates a downlink intermediate frequency signal including the dummy signal for wireless power transmission and the downlink communication signal, and processes an uplink intermediate frequency signal including the uplink communication signal.

[0016] The system may include a central station having the first array antenna, the plurality of first radio signal processing units, and the input / output signal processing unit, and a plurality of base stations connected to the input / output signal processing unit of the central station via the signal transmission line, each having the first array antenna and the plurality of first radio signal processing units.

[0017] In the system, the multiple base stations may perform beamforming control independent of each other and perform wireless power transmission individually for each of the multiple terminal devices. Here, the base station may acquire position information of the terminal devices located in the vicinity, and perform beamforming control for the terminal devices based on the position information of the terminal devices. Also, the base station may capture an image of the vicinity of the base station, and acquire the position information of the terminal devices based on the captured image.

[0018] In the system, the central station may include a remote radio head device having the first array antenna and the plurality of first radio signal processing units, and a baseband unit device having the communication signal processing unit, arranged at a position away from the remote radio head device and connected to the remote radio head device via a signal transmission line.

[0019] The system may include a terminal device capable of wireless power transmission via the first array antenna or the second array antenna of the wireless processing device, and the terminal device may have a wireless processing unit that receives a transmission signal including a dummy signal for wireless power transmission transmitted from the wireless processing device, and a power output unit that outputs, as received power, the power of a received signal that receives the transmission signal including the dummy signal for wireless power transmission. Effect of the Invention

[0020] According to the present invention, the area in which wireless power transmission from a base station is possible can be expanded so as to approach the area in which communication is possible. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a communication area and a WPT area in a system according to a comparative reference example. [Diagram 3]FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a communication area and a WPT area in the system according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a base station (aggregate station), a base station, and a terminal device that configure the system according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] Fig. 5(a) is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the arrangement of symbol points in the primary modulation of the QAM method of a communication signal transmitted from a base station (aggregate station) according to an embodiment. Fig. 5(b) is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the arrangement of symbol points in the modulation of a WPT dummy signal transmitted from the same base station (aggregate station). [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a graph showing an example of input / output power characteristics and efficiency characteristics of the power amplifiers of the base station (aggregate station) and the base station according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an antenna system applicable to the base station according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an antenna system applicable to the base station (aggregate station) according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a radio signal processing unit that constitutes the antenna system of FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a frame configuration of a signal transmitted and received by the antenna system of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of an antenna system applicable to the base station (aggregate station) according to the embodiment. [Figure 12] 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a radio signal processing unit that constitutes the antenna system of FIG. 11. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an antenna system having a separate antenna configuration applicable to the base station (aggregate station) according to the embodiment. [Figure 14]Fig. 14(a) is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a wireless signal processing unit for wireless power transmission (WPT) constituting the antenna system of Fig. 13. Fig. 14(b) is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a wireless signal processing unit for communication constituting the antenna system of Fig. 13. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the radio signal processing unit for communication that constitutes the antenna system of FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an example of an overall configuration of a system including a base station (central station) and a plurality of base stations according to the embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing another example of the overall configuration of a system including a base station (central station) and a plurality of base stations according to the embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of power supply to each of a plurality of terminal devices by beamforming according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The system according to the embodiment described in this specification is a system capable of wireless power transmission (WPT) from a mobile communication base station to a terminal device (for example, a mobile station (UE) or an IoT device) to be powered. The system according to the embodiment is a system that effectively utilizes unused wireless resources (resource blocks) that are not used for communication among a plurality of wireless resources (resource blocks) set in a downlink wireless frame to a terminal device such as a UE, for wireless power transmission (WPT) to the terminal device. The system according to the embodiment may be a wireless communication system between a base station and a terminal device having a wireless power transmission (WPT) function from the base station to the terminal device. The system according to the embodiment may also be a wireless power transmission (WPT) system from a base station to a terminal device having a wireless communication function between the base station and the terminal device.

[0023] In particular, in the system of this embodiment, the transmission signal for wireless power transmission sent from the base station is transmitted from the communication / WPT antenna (first array antenna) of the aggregation station, and can also be transmitted from WPT antennas (second array antennas) dedicated to wireless power transmission of multiple base stations that are distributed away from the communication / WPT antenna in an area centered on the communication / WPT antenna, thereby making it possible to expand the area in which wireless power transmission from the base station is possible so as to approach the area in which communication is possible (hereinafter also referred to as the "communication area").

[0024] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a system according to an embodiment. The system according to the embodiment includes a cellular base station (hereinafter also referred to as an "aggregator station") 10 that forms a communication area (cell) 10A and a wireless power transmission area (hereinafter also referred to as a "WPT area") 11A, and a plurality of base stations 50 connected to the base station (aggregator station) 10 via a signal transmission line 60. The system may also include a terminal device (hereinafter also referred to as a "UE" (user device)) 20 that is a power supply target and can connect to the base station 10 and wirelessly communicate with the base station 10 when present in the communication area 10A.

[0025] The UE 20 may be a mobile station of a mobile communication system, or may be a combination of a communication device (e.g., a mobile communication module) and various devices. The UE 20 may include, for example, an array antenna having a plurality of antenna elements. The UE 20 may be an IoT device (also called an "IoT device").

[0026] In FIG. 1, the base station 10 includes a plurality of array antennas 110 each having a large number of antenna elements, and can communicate with a plurality of UEs 20 using a massive MIMO (hereinafter also referred to as "mMIMO") transmission method. mMIMO is a wireless transmission technology that realizes large-capacity, high-speed communication by transmitting and receiving data using the array antennas 110. The base station 10 can also communicate with a plurality of UEs 20 using a multi-user (MU)-MIMO transmission method that performs beamforming to form a beam 10B for each of the plurality of UEs 20 in a time-division or simultaneously. By performing MU-MIMO transmission using a multi-element array antenna, it is possible to communicate by directing an appropriate beam to each UE 20 according to the communication environment of each UE 20, thereby improving the communication quality of the entire cell. In addition, it is possible to communicate with a plurality of UEs 20 using the same wireless resources (time and frequency resources), thereby expanding the system capacity.

[0027] 2, the center of a communication area 10A centered on an array antenna 110 serving as a first array antenna used for both communication and wireless power transmission of the base station (aggregation station) 10 is a WPT area 11A where wireless power transmission is performed directly from the base station 10 to the UE 20. However, due to regulations such as laws, the transmission power of radio waves during wireless power transmission from the base station 10 cannot be sufficiently increased, and radio waves transmitted by wireless power from the base station (aggregation station) 10 cannot be received at a distance from the base station 10, so the WPT area 11A is narrower than the communication area 10A as shown in the figure.

[0028] Therefore, in the system of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, in an area of ​​the communication area 10A that cannot be covered by the WPT area 11A of the base station (aggregation station) 10, array antennas 510(1) to 510(6) of multiple base stations 50(1) to 50(6) are provided as second array antennas dedicated to wireless power transmission, which are distributed away from the array antenna 110 of the base station 10. By forming WPT areas 51A(1) to 51A(6) from the base station 10 via the signal transmission line 60 and the array antennas 510(1) to 510(6) of the multiple base stations 50(1) to 50(6), the WPT area 11A of the base station 10 is substantially expanded to an area size equivalent to that of the communication area 10A. Note that, in the example of Fig. 3, the number of array antennas 510(1) to 510(6) of the base stations 50(1) to 50(6) is illustrated as six, but the number of the base stations 50 and the array antennas 510 may be two to five, or seven or more.

[0029] In each of the WPT areas 11A and 51A, unused wireless resources (resource blocks) that are not used for communication among resource blocks that are multiple wireless resources (time and frequency resources) that configure a downlink wireless frame from the base station 10 are utilized as wireless power transmission blocks. The base station 10 generates a transmission signal in which a dummy signal for wireless power transmission (hereinafter also referred to as a "WPT dummy signal") is assigned to the wireless power transmission block (WPT block), which is an unused wireless resource, in the downlink wireless frame to the UE 20, and transmits the transmission signal to the UE 20 in the WPT area 11A, and also transmits the transmission signal to each of the base stations 50(1) to 50(6) via the signal transmission line 60. The base stations 50(1) to 50(6) each transmit the transmission signal received from the base station 10 to the UE 20 in the WPT area 51A.

[0030] In particular, in fifth-generation or later-generation mobile communication systems, a technology called lean carrier has been proposed in which the minimum necessary reference signals (RS) and control signals are placed on only some of the subcarriers of a radio frame. It is expected that the unused radio resources in the radio frame can be effectively utilized to transmit wireless power to UE 20.

[0031] The radio waves of the communication signals transmitted and received between the base station 10 and the UE 20 and the radio waves of the transmission signals to which the WPT dummy signals are assigned, transmitted from the base station 10 to the UE 20, are, for example, millimeter waves or microwaves.

[0032] 4 is a block diagram showing an example of main configurations of a base station (aggregation station) 10, a base station 50, and a user equipment (UE) 20 constituting a system according to an embodiment. The base station 10 includes an antenna 110, a communication signal processing unit 120, and a radio processing device (radio processing unit) 130.

[0033] 4 may include a remote radio head (RRH) having a radio processing device 130, and a baseband unit (BBU) having a communication signal processing unit 120. The baseband unit (BBU) is disposed at a position away from the remote radio head (RRH) and is connected to the remote radio head via a wired communication line (for example, an optical line made of optical fiber).

[0034] The antenna 110 is, for example, an array antenna having a large number of antenna elements as shown in Fig. 1. There may be a single antenna 110 or multiple antennas 110. For example, multiple antennas 110 may be arranged corresponding to multiple sector cells.

[0035] The communication signal processing unit 120 is configured by, for example, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and processes signals such as various types of user data and control information transmitted and received between the UE 20 and the UE 20 .

[0036] The communication signal processing unit 120 generates a downlink transmission signal including a WPT dummy signal using a wireless resource that is not used for communication among a plurality of wireless resources during downlink communication with the UE 20. For example, the WPT dummy signal can be generated by modulating it with a modulation method that has a smaller PAPR (peak-to-average power ratio) (also called "peak height ratio") than the communication signal. For example, the WPT dummy signal may be a modulated signal that is modulated using a code of a Zadoff-Chu sequence and has a constant amplitude and a variable phase over time, or may be a signal modulated at a plurality of symbol points whose amplitude is maximum or near maximum among a plurality of symbol points of a digital modulation method. For example, the generation of the transmission signal may include a primary modulation such as QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) for communication signals and a modulation with a small PAPR for the WPT dummy signal, as well as a secondary modulation such as OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) modulation.

[0037] The radio processing device 130 transmits a transmission signal generated by the communication signal processing unit 120 from the antenna 110 to the UE 20, outputs a received signal received from the UE 20 via the antenna 110 to the communication signal processing unit 120, and transmits a high-frequency radio signal (RF signal) of the WPT dummy signal to the base station 50.

[0038] The process of including a WPT dummy signal using unused wireless resources in the transmission signal for downlink communication to UE 20, and the generation of a control signal (trigger signal) used for signal separation and signal synthesis, etc., described below, may be performed based on subframes that constitute the wireless frame of mobile communication.

[0039] In addition, the process of including a WPT dummy signal using unused wireless resources in the transmission signal of the downlink communication to the UE 20 may be performed autonomously by the base station 10, or may be performed based on a request or instruction from the UE 20 or a request or instruction from an external platform (e.g., a server, a cloud system).

[0040] In this embodiment, the radio processing device 130 controls one or more beams formed by the array antenna 110 based on the BF control signal. The radio processing device 130 also transmits a downlink transmission signal including a WPT dummy signal generated by the communication signal processing unit 120 to the UE 20 via the antenna 110.

[0041] The base station 10 may perform beamforming (BF) control to form an individual beam 10B for each UE 20 or for each UE group in a target area to which a plurality of UEs 20 belong, and perform wireless power transmission for each UE 20 or for each UE group, during downlink communication with the UE 20. The BF control for each UE 20 or for each UE group may be performed by digital BF control in the frequency domain in the communication signal processing unit 120, or may be performed by analog BF control in the radio processing device 130.

[0042] 4, the wireless processing device 130 includes an input / output signal processing unit 131, an antenna system 133 having a wireless signal processing unit (hereinafter also referred to as an "RF signal processing unit") 132 and an antenna 110, and a transmission signal conversion unit 134. The transmission signal conversion unit 134 converts an RF signal of a WPT dummy signal (WPT dummy RF signal) transmitted toward the base station 50 into a transmission signal that can be transmitted through a signal transmission line 60. For example, when an optical fiber to which RoF (Radio over Fiber) technology can be applied is used as the signal transmission line 60, the transmission signal conversion unit 134 can use an E / O (electrical signal / optical signal) converter that converts an electrical signal of the WPT dummy RF signal into an optical signal (transmission signal).

[0043] In FIG. 4, the base station 50 includes an antenna system 512 having a radio signal processor (hereinafter also referred to as an "RF signal processor") 511 and an antenna 510, and a transmission signal converter 513. The RF signal processor 511 controls the phase of the WPT dummy RF signal supplied to each antenna element of the antenna 510 to a predetermined phase, thereby performing beamforming control via the antenna 510 to transmit the WPT dummy RF signal. The transmission signal converter 513 converts a transmission signal received from the base station (aggregator) 10 via a signal transmission line 60 into a WPT dummy RF signal that can be processed by the RF signal processor 511. For example, when an optical fiber to which RoF technology can be applied is used as the signal transmission line 60, the transmission signal converter 513 can use an O / E (optical signal / electrical signal) converter that converts an optical signal (transmission signal) into an electrical signal of the WPT dummy RF signal.

[0044] 4, the UE 20 includes an antenna 210, a radio processing unit 220, a communication signal processing unit 230, a power output unit 240, and a battery 250. The antenna 210 is, for example, a small array antenna having a plurality of antenna elements. The radio processing unit 220 transmits transmission signals such as feedback information and user data generated by the communication signal processing unit 230 from the antenna 210 to the base station 10, and outputs received signals received from the base station 10 via the antenna 210 to the communication signal processing unit 230.

[0045] In this embodiment, the wireless processing unit 220 receives a transmission signal (WPT dummy RF signal) including a WPT dummy signal transmitted from the base station (aggregation station) 10 or the base station 50. The power output unit 240 has, for example, a rectifier, and outputs the power of a received signal that receives a transmission signal (WPT dummy RF signal) including a WPT dummy signal from the base station (aggregation station) 10 or the base station 50 as received power for charging the battery. The battery 250 can be charged by the received power output from the power output unit 240.

[0046] Fig. 5(a) is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the arrangement of symbol points 41 in the primary modulation of the QAM method of a communication signal transmitted from the base station 10 according to this embodiment. Fig. 5(a) is a constellation diagram showing the arrangement of multiple symbol points (64-value symbol points) in the case of the 64QAM method. Fig. 5(b) is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the arrangement of symbol points in the modulation of a WPT dummy signal transmitted from the base station 10 according to this embodiment. In Figs. 5(a) and 5(b), the horizontal axis indicates the in-phase channel component, and the vertical axis indicates the orthogonal channel component.

[0047] In this embodiment, an OFDM modulated signal having a lower PAPR (peak-to-average power ratio) than the communication signal is used as the WPT dummy signal. For example, in FIG. 5(a), a WPT dummy signal consisting of an OFDM modulated signal modulated only by the outermost or outermost peripheral symbol points 41S having the maximum amplitude among the multiple symbol points 41 of the QAM method for the communication signal may be used.

[0048] Also, as shown in the constellation diagram of Fig. 5(b), a WPT dummy signal may be used that is an OFDM modulated signal modulated at symbol point 42 where the phase changes with a constant amplitude over time. The OFDM modulated signal at symbol point 42 in Fig. 5(b) can be generated using, for example, a code of the Zadoff-Chu sequence.

[0049] FIG. 6 is a graph showing an example of the characteristics of the output power Pout [dBm] and the amplifier efficiency PAE [%] with respect to the input power Pin [dBm] of the amplifier of the base station 10 according to the present embodiment. The curve A in the figure is a simulation calculation result of the input / output characteristics showing the AC output power Pout [dBm] with respect to the AC input power Pin [dBm] of the amplifier. Also, the dashed curves B, C, and D in the figure are simulation calculation results of the PAE (power added efficiency) [%], which is one of the index values ​​of the efficiency with respect to the input power Pin [dBm] of the amplifier suitable for the uplink (UL) communication signal, the downlink (DL) communication signal, and the WPT dummy signal, respectively. Here, the PAE [%] of the amplifier is defined as (Pout-Pin) / Pdc. Pdc is the DC power input (applied) to the amplifier.

[0050] In the input / output characteristic A of Fig. 6, the region where the relationship between the input power Pin and the output power Pout is linear or nearly linear is suitable for low noise amplification of UL communication signals and power amplification of DL communication signals. In particular, characteristics of an amplifier suitable for amplifying UL communication signals require, for example, a high PAPR (peak-to-average power ratio), high linearity, wide dynamic range, and low noise. Also, characteristics of a power amplifier suitable for amplifying DL communication signals require, for example, a high PAPR, high linearity, and wide dynamic range. Examples of such power amplifiers include amplifiers that improve efficiency in the linear region, such as a Doherty amplifier, an envelope tracking amplifier, and an outphasing amplifier. It is.

[0051] Moreover, the saturation region of the input / output characteristic A in FIG. 6 is a region where the output power Pout is saturated or nearly saturated with respect to an increase in the input power Pin. The peak of the efficiency PAE of the power amplifier is located in the region near the boundary between the linear region and the saturation region, and this region is suitable for high-output and high-efficiency power amplification of the WPT dummy signal. For example, high efficiency, low PAPR, and large output power are required as characteristics of a power amplifier suitable for amplifying the WPT dummy signal. For example, this power amplifier may be a bias adjustment type high-efficiency amplifier such as a class A amplifier, a class B amplifier, a class C amplifier, or a class AB amplifier, or a waveform processing type high-efficiency amplifier such as a class E amplifier, a class F amplifier, or a class J amplifier. As the WPT dummy signal, an OFDM modulated signal with a PAPR (peak-to-average power ratio) lower than that of the communication signal may be used.

[0052] In the base station (aggregator station) 10 or base station 50 configured as above, the WPT dummy signal, DL communication signal, and UL communication signal may be amplified by an amplifier suitable for each signal. For example, as illustrated below, in the antenna system 133 of the base station (aggregator station) 10 or base station 50, a plurality of signal processing paths corresponding to the WPT dummy signal, DL communication signal, and UL communication signal may be configured, and each of the plurality of signal processing paths may be provided with an individual amplifier suitable for each signal.

[0053] Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an antenna system applicable to the base station 50 according to the embodiment. In Fig. 7, the antenna system 512 includes an array antenna (WPT array antenna) 510 for wireless power transmission (WPT) including a plurality (Nw) of antenna elements 5101(1) to 5101(Nw), and an RF signal processing unit 511 for wireless power transmission (WPT) connected to the WPT array antenna 510.

[0054] The RF signal processing unit 511 for wireless power transmission (WPT) has a plurality of (Nw) wireless signal processing units (hereinafter also referred to as "WPT dummy RF signal processing units") 5110(1) to 5110(Nw) that correspond one-to-one to the plurality of (Nw) antenna elements 5101(1) to 5101(Nw) of the array antenna 510. The plurality of WPT dummy RF signal processing units 5110(1) to 5110(Nw) are respectively connected to the corresponding antenna elements 5101(1) to 5101(Nw). In addition, the WPT dummy RF signal processing units 5110(1) to 5110(Nw) transmit the WPT dummy RF signal by controlling the phase of the WPT dummy RF signal to a predetermined phase, and performing beamforming control via the antenna elements 5101(1) to 5101(Nw).

[0055] Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an antenna system 133 applicable to the base station (aggregate station) 10 according to the embodiment. In Fig. 8, the antenna system 133 includes an array antenna 110 including a plurality (N pieces) of antenna elements 1101(1) to 1101(N), and an RF signal processing unit 132 of a TDD (Time Division Duplex) system connected to the array antenna 110.

[0056] The RF signal processing unit 132 has a plurality (N pieces) of radio signal processing units (hereinafter also referred to as "RF signal processing units") 1320(1) to 1320(N) that correspond one-to-one to the plurality (N pieces) of antenna elements 1101(1) to 1101(N) of the array antenna 110. The plurality of RF signal processing units 1320(1) to 1320(N) are respectively connected to the corresponding antenna elements 1101(1) to 1101(N), and amplify the WPT dummy RF signal, DL communication RF signal, and UL communication RF signal, which are high-frequency transmission signals of the downlink WPT dummy signal and DL communication signal, and the uplink UL communication signal, by a plurality of different amplifiers, and multiplex them by TDD (Time Division Duplex) method. In addition, the RF signal processing units 1320(1) to 1320(N) each control the phase of the WPT dummy RF signal, the DL communication RF signal, and the UL communication RF signal to a predetermined phase, thereby performing beamforming control via the antenna elements 1101(1) to 1101(N) to transmit and receive each signal.

[0057] Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an RF signal processing unit 1320 constituting the antenna system 133 of Fig. 8. Since the multiple RF signal processing units 1320(1) to 1320(N) have the same configuration, Fig. 9 will explain one RF signal processing unit 1320 with the identification number in parentheses omitted.

[0058] 9, the RF signal processing unit 1320 includes a first phase shifter 1321W for controlling the phase of the WPT dummy RF signal transmitted from the antenna element 1101, and a first amplifier (power amplifier) ​​1322W for amplifying the WPT dummy RF signal. The RF signal processing unit 1320 further includes a second phase shifter 1321D for controlling the phase of the DL communication RF signal transmitted from the antenna element 1101, a second amplifier (power amplifier) ​​1322D for amplifying the DL communication RF signal, a third amplifier (low noise amplifier) ​​1322U for amplifying the UL communication RF signal received via the antenna element 1101, and a third phase shifter 1321U for controlling the phase of the UL communication RF signal.

[0059] Moreover, the RF signal processing unit 1320 includes a signal changeover switch 1323 as a multiplexing processing unit that multiplexes the WPT dummy RF signal, the DL communication RF signal, and the UL communication RF signal by time division duplex (TDD) method. The signal changeover switch 1323 switches the connection between the antenna element 1101 and each of the signal processing paths of the WPT dummy RF signal, the DL communication RF signal, and the UL communication RF signal based on a predetermined control signal. The control signal may be generated in the communication signal processing unit 120 based on predetermined baseband scheduling information, for example.

[0060] Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the frame configuration of a WPT dummy signal, a DL communication signal, and a UL communication signal transmitted and received by the antenna system 133 in Fig. 8. The periods marked with "WPT", "DL", and "UL" in Fig. 10 are respectively a WPT frame 32 for transmitting a WPT dummy signal, a DL communication frame 31D for transmitting a DL communication signal, and a UL communication frame 31U for receiving a UL communication signal, which are assigned to the frame 30 of wireless communication between the base station 10 and the terminal device 20. The hatched periods in Fig. 10 are guard periods during which no signal is transmitted or received.

[0061] 10, the signal changeover switch 1323 may switch the connection between the antenna element 1101 and three signal processing paths via the amplifiers 1322W, 1322D, and 1322U of the WPT dummy RF signal, DL communication RF signal, and UL communication RF signal, respectively, in synchronization with the WPT frame 32, the DL communication frame 31D, and the UL communication frame 31U. For example, by switching the signal processing paths of the signal changeover switch 1323, the WPT dummy RF signal output from the first amplifier (power amplifier) ​​1322W during the WPT frame 32 is supplied to the antenna element 1101. Also, the DL communication RF signal output from the second amplifier (power amplifier) ​​1322D during the DL communication frame 31D is supplied to the antenna element 1101, and the UL communication RF signal output from the antenna element 1101 during the UL communication frame 31U is supplied to the third amplifier (low noise amplifier) ​​1322U.

[0062] 11 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of an antenna system 133 applicable to the base station (aggregate station) 10 according to the embodiment. In Fig. 11, the antenna system 133 includes an array antenna 110 including a plurality (N pieces) of antenna elements 1101(1) to 1101(N), and an RF signal processing unit 132 of an FDD (frequency division duplex) system connected to the array antenna 110.

[0063] The RF signal processing unit 132 has a plurality (N pieces) of radio signal processing units (RF signal processing units) 1325(1) to 1325(N) that correspond one-to-one to the plurality (N pieces) of antenna elements 1101(1) to 1101(N) of the array antenna 110. The plurality of RF signal processing units 1325(1) to 1325(N) are respectively connected to the corresponding antenna elements 1101(1) to 1101(N), and amplify the WPT dummy RF signal, the DL communication RF signal, and the UL communication RF signal with a plurality of different amplifiers, and multiplex them by FDD (frequency division duplex). In addition, the RF signal processing units 1325(1) to 1325(N) transmit and receive each signal by performing beamforming control via the antenna elements 1101(1) to 1101(N) by controlling the phases of the WPT dummy RF signal, the DL communication RF signal, and the UL communication RF signal to a predetermined phase.

[0064] Fig. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an RF signal processing unit 1325 constituting the antenna system 133 of Fig. 11. Note that since the multiple RF signal processing units 1325(1) to 1325(N) have similar configurations, Fig. 12 will explain one RF signal processing unit 1325 with the identification number in parentheses omitted.

[0065] 12, the RF signal processing unit 1325 includes a first phase shifter 1321W for controlling the phase of the WPT dummy RF signal transmitted from the antenna element 1101, and a first amplifier (power amplifier) ​​1322W for amplifying the WPT dummy RF signal. The RF signal processing unit 1325 further includes a second phase shifter 1321D for controlling the phase of the DL communication RF signal transmitted from the antenna element 1101, a second amplifier (power amplifier) ​​1322D for amplifying the DL communication RF signal, a third amplifier (low noise amplifier) ​​1322U for amplifying the UL communication RF signal received via the antenna element 1101, and a third phase shifter 1321U for controlling the phase of the UL communication RF signal.

[0066] Moreover, the RF signal processing unit 1325 includes an antenna duplexer (DUP: Duplexer) 1326 serving as a multiplexing processing unit that multiplexes the WPT dummy RF signal, the DL communication RF signal, and the UL communication RF signal by frequency division duplexing (FDD) method.

[0067] The antenna duplexer 1326 includes, for example, a transmission filter 1327W connected to an output end of a first amplifier (power amplifier) ​​1322W, a transmission filter 1327D connected to an output end of a second amplifier (power amplifier) ​​1322D, and a reception filter 1327U connected to an input end of a third amplifier (low noise amplifier) ​​1322U. The transmission filter 1327W is a bandpass filter (BPF) that has a frequency Fw of the WPT dummy RF signal as a passband and a frequency Fu of the UL communication RF signal as a stopband. The transmission filter 1327D is a bandpass filter (BPF) that has a frequency Fd of the DL communication RF signal as a passband and a frequency Fu of the UL communication RF signal as a stopband. The reception filter 1327U is a bandpass filter (BPF) that has a frequency Fu of the UL communication RF signal as a passband and a frequency Fw, Fd of the WPT dummy RF signal and the DL communication RF signal as a stopband. The output terminals of the transmitting filters 1327W and 1327D of the antenna duplexer 1326 and the input terminal of the receiving filter 1327U are connected to the antenna element 1101 via a phase shifter.

[0068] In the antenna duplexer 1326, the WPT dummy RF signal of frequency Fw output from the first amplifier (power amplifier) ​​1322W and the DL communication RF signal of frequency Fd output from the second amplifier (power amplifier) ​​1322D are combined and supplied to the antenna element 1101. In addition, the UL communication RF signal of frequency Fu output from the antenna element 1101 is supplied to the third amplifier (low noise amplifier) ​​1322U.

[0069] Fig. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an antenna system 133 having a separate antenna configuration applicable to the base station (aggregator) 10 according to the embodiment. In the configuration example of Fig. 13, as the above-mentioned array antenna 110, an array antenna for wireless power transmission (WPT) (hereinafter also referred to as "WPT array antenna") 110W and an array antenna for communication (hereinafter also referred to as "communication array antenna") 110C are separately provided. The antenna system 133 includes a WPT array antenna 110W consisting of a plurality (Nw) of antenna elements 1101W(1) to 1101W(Nw), an RF signal processing unit 132W for wireless power transmission (WPT) connected to the WPT array antenna 110W, a communication array antenna 110C consisting of a plurality (Nc) of antenna elements 1101C(1) to 1101C(Nc), and an RF signal processing unit 132C for communication connected to the communication array antenna 110C.

[0070] The RF signal processing unit 132W for wireless power transmission (WPT) has a plurality of (Nw) wireless signal processing units (hereinafter also referred to as "WPT dummy RF signal processing units") 1320W(1)-1320W(Nw) that correspond one-to-one to the plurality of (Nw) antenna elements 1101W(1)-1101W(Nw) of the array antenna 110. The plurality of WPT dummy RF signal processing units 1320W(1)-1320(Nw) are respectively connected to the corresponding antenna elements 1101W(1)-1101W(Nw). In addition, the WPT dummy RF signal processing units 1320W(1)-1320W(Nw) transmit the WPT dummy RF signal by controlling the phase of the WPT dummy RF signal to a predetermined phase, and performing beamforming control via the antenna elements 1101W(1)-1101W(Nw).

[0071] The communication RF signal processing unit 132C has a plurality of (Nc) radio signal processing units (hereinafter also referred to as "communication RF signal processing units") 1320C(1)-1320C(Nc) that correspond one-to-one to the plurality of (Nc) antenna elements 1101C(1)-1101C(Nc) of the communication array antenna 110C. The plurality of communication RF signal processing units 1320C(1)-1320C(Nc) are connected to the corresponding antenna elements 1101C(1)-1101C(Nc), respectively, and amplify the downlink DL communication RF signal and the UL communication RF signal by a plurality of different amplifiers, and multiplex them by TDD (Time Division Duplex) or FDD (Frequency Division Duplex). In addition, the communication RF signal processing units 1320C(1) to 1320C(Nc) each control the phase of a DL communication RF signal and a UL communication RF signal to a predetermined phase, thereby performing beamforming control via the antenna elements 1101C(1) to 1101C(Nc) to transmit and receive each signal.

[0072] Figures 14(a) and 14(b) are block diagrams showing examples of the configuration of a wireless power transmission (WPT) RF signal processing unit 1320W and a communication RF signal processing unit 1320C constituting the antenna system 133 in Figure 13. Note that since the multiple WPT dummy RF signal processing units 1320W and the communication RF signal processing unit 1320C each have a similar configuration, in Figures 14(a) and 14(b), the RF signal processing units 1320W and 1320C will be described with the identification numbers in parentheses omitted.

[0073] In FIG. 14(a), the WPT dummy RF signal processing unit 1320W includes a first phase shifter 1321W for controlling the phase of the WPT dummy RF signal transmitted from the antenna element 1101W of the WPT array antenna 110W, and a first amplifier (power amplifier) ​​1322W for amplifying the WPT dummy RF signal.

[0074] In FIG. 14(b), the communication RF signal processing unit 1320C includes a second phase shifter 1321D for controlling the phase of the DL communication RF signal transmitted from the antenna element 1101C, a second amplifier (power amplifier) ​​1322D for amplifying the DL communication RF signal, a third amplifier (low noise amplifier) ​​1322U for amplifying the UL communication RF signal received via the antenna element 1101C, and a third phase shifter 1321U for controlling the phase of the UL communication RF signal.

[0075] The communication RF signal processing unit 1320C further includes a signal changeover switch 1328 as a multiplexing processing unit that multiplexes the DL communication RF signal and the UL communication RF signal by time division duplex (TDD) method. The signal changeover switch 1328 switches the connection between the antenna element 1101C and each of the signal processing paths for the DL communication RF signal and the UL communication RF signal based on a predetermined control signal. The control signal may be generated in the communication signal processing unit 120 based on predetermined baseband scheduling information, for example.

[0076] Fig. 15 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the communication RF signal processing unit 1320C constituting the antenna system 133 of Fig. 13. Note that in Fig. 15, the communication RF signal processing unit 1320C will be described with the identification numbers in parentheses omitted. Also, in Fig. 15, description of parts similar to the configuration in Fig. 9 described above will be omitted.

[0077] In FIG. 15, the communication RF signal processing unit 1320C includes a second phase shifter 1321D for controlling the phase of the DL communication RF signal transmitted from the antenna element 1101C, a second amplifier (power amplifier) ​​1322D for amplifying the DL communication RF signal, a third amplifier (low noise amplifier) ​​1322U for amplifying the UL communication RF signal received via the antenna element 1101C, and a third phase shifter 1321U for controlling the phase of the UL communication RF signal.

[0078] The communication RF signal processing unit 1320C also includes an antenna duplexer (DUP) 1329 as a multiplexing processing unit that multiplexes the DL communication RF signal and the UL communication RF signal by frequency division duplexing (FDD). In the antenna duplexer 1329, the DL communication RF signal with frequency Fd output from the second amplifier (power amplifier) ​​1322D is supplied to the antenna element 1101C, and the UL communication RF signal with frequency Fu output from the antenna element 1101C is supplied to the third amplifier (low noise amplifier) ​​1322U.

[0079] 16 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a system including a base station (aggregation station) 10 and a plurality of base stations 50(1) to 50(Nr) according to an embodiment. In FIG. 16, an input / output signal processing unit 131 constituting a radio processing device (radio processing unit) 130 of the base station (aggregation station) 10 includes a signal separation unit 1311, a first mixer 1312, a second mixer 1313, a third mixer 1314, and a local oscillator 1315.

[0080] The signal separator 1311 separates the downlink intermediate frequency signal (baseband signal) output from the communication signal processor 120 into an intermediate frequency signal of a WPT dummy signal (WPT-IT) and an intermediate frequency signal of a DL communication signal (DL-IF).

[0081] The first mixer 1312 generates a WPT dummy RF signal (WPT-RF) by mixing the intermediate frequency signal (WPT-IT) of the WPT dummy signal with a local oscillation signal (LO) of a predetermined frequency output from a local oscillator 1315. The WPT dummy RF signal (WPT-RF) is converted into an optical signal by a transmission signal conversion unit (E / O converter) 134 and transmitted to each of the multiple (Nr) base stations 50(1) to 50(Nr) via a signal transmission line (optical fiber) 60.

[0082] In each of the multiple base stations 50(1) to 50(Nr), the optical signal received via the signal transmission line (optical fiber) 60 is converted into an electrical WPT dummy RF signal (WPT-RF) by the transmission signal conversion unit (O / E converter) 513(1) to 513(Nr) and supplied to an antenna system 512(1) to 512(Nr) having an array antenna.

[0083] A second mixer 1313 in an input / output signal processing unit 131 constituting a radio processing device (radio processing unit) 130 of the base station (aggregate station) 10 generates a DL communication RF signal (Tx-RF) by mixing an intermediate frequency signal (DL-IF) of a DL communication signal with a local oscillation signal (LO) of a predetermined frequency output from a local oscillator 1315. The DL communication RF signal (Tx-RF) is supplied to an RF signal processing unit 132 provided in an antenna system 133 via an RF signal line.

[0084] The third mixer 1314 in the input / output signal processing unit 131 mixes the UL communication RF signal (Rx-RF) input from the RF signal processing unit 132 of the antenna system 133 via the RF signal line with a local oscillation signal (LO) of a predetermined frequency output from the local oscillator 1315 to generate an intermediate frequency signal (UL-IF) of the UL communication signal, and outputs it to the communication signal processing unit 120.

[0085] 17 is a block diagram showing another example of the overall configuration of a system including a base station (aggregation station) 10 and a plurality of base stations 50(1) to 50(Nr) according to the embodiment. In FIG. 17, an input / output signal processing unit 131 constituting a radio processing device (radio processing unit) 130 of the base station (aggregation station) 10 includes an isolator 1316, a signal separation unit 1311, a termination unit 1317, a first mixer 1312, a second mixer 1313, a third mixer 1314, and a local oscillator 1315.

[0086] The signal separator 1311 separates the first branched signal, which is a downlink intermediate frequency signal (baseband signal) that is output from the communication signal processor 120, branched, and passed through the isolator 1316, into an intermediate frequency signal of a WPT dummy signal (WPT-IT) and an intermediate frequency signal of a DL communication signal (DL-IF). The intermediate frequency signal of the DL communication signal (DL-IF) is terminated by a termination unit 1317.

[0087] The first mixer 1312 generates a WPT dummy RF signal (WPT-RF) by mixing the intermediate frequency signal (WPT-IT) of the WPT dummy signal with a local oscillation signal (LO) of a predetermined frequency output from a local oscillator 1315. The WPT dummy RF signal (WPT-RF) is converted into an optical signal by a transmission signal conversion unit (E / O converter) 134 and transmitted to each of the multiple (Nr) base stations 50(1) to 50(Nr) via a signal transmission line (optical fiber) 60.

[0088] In each of the multiple base stations 50(1) to 50(Nr), the optical signal received via the signal transmission line (optical fiber) 60 is converted into an electrical WPT dummy RF signal (WPT-RF) by the transmission signal conversion unit (O / E converter) 513(1) to 513(Nr) and supplied to an antenna system 512(1) to 512(Nr) having an array antenna.

[0089] A second mixer 1313 in an input / output signal processor 131 constituting a radio processing device (radio processing unit) 130 of the base station (aggregator) 10 mixes a second branched signal (Tx-IF), which is a downlink intermediate frequency signal (baseband signal) output from the communication signal processor 120 and branched, with a local oscillation signal (LO) of a predetermined frequency output from a local oscillator 1315 to generate a DL communication RF signal (Tx-RF). The DL communication RF signal (Tx-RF) is supplied to an RF signal processor 132 provided in an antenna system 133 via an RF signal line.

[0090] The third mixer 1314 in the input / output signal processing unit 131 mixes the UL communication RF signal (Rx-RF) input from the RF signal processing unit 132 of the antenna system 133 via the RF signal line with a local oscillation signal (LO) of a predetermined frequency output from the local oscillator 1315 to generate an intermediate frequency signal (UL-IF) of the UL communication signal, and outputs it to the communication signal processing unit 120.

[0091] 1 to 17, in downlink communication from the base station (aggregation station) 10 and the base station 50 to the UE 20, wireless resources unused for communication can be effectively utilized as wireless power transmission blocks (WPT blocks) to perform wireless power transmission (WPT) from the base station (aggregation station) 10 and the base station 50 to the UE 20. In addition, the WPT areas 11A and 51A in which wireless power can be transmitted from the base station 10 can be expanded so as to approach the communication area 10A.

[0092] 1 to 17, each of the base stations 50 may perform beamforming control independent of each other and perform wireless power transmission individually to each of the multiple UEs 20. In this case, the base station 50 may capture an image of the surroundings of the base station 50 using an imaging device such as a camera, and obtain location information of the UE 20 based on the captured image (still image or video).

[0093] Fig. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of power supply by beamforming from a base station (aggregation station) 10 and a base station 50 to multiple UEs 20 according to this embodiment. In this embodiment, when multiple UEs 20(1) to 20(3) are present in a WPT area 11A (see Fig. 1 above) in a communication area 10A as shown in Fig. 18, the base station device 100 of the base station (aggregation station) 10 may supply power to each of the UEs 20(1) to 20(3) via beams 10B(1) to 10B(3) formed for each UE. The beams 10B(1) to 10B(3) may be formed by switching in a time division manner, for example.

[0094] 18, when multiple UEs 20(4)-20(6) are present in a WPT area 51A (see FIG. 1) in a communication area 10A, the base station 50 may feed power to each of the UEs 20(4)-20(6) via beams 50B(1)-50B(3) formed for each UE. The beams 10B(1)-10B(3) may be formed by switching in a time division manner, for example.

[0095] As described above, according to this embodiment, the WPT areas 11A and 51A in which wireless power can be transmitted from the base station 10 can be expanded so as to approach the communication area 10A.

[0096] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, by using a WPT dummy signal having a lower PAPR than the communication signal, the base station 10 can amplify the communication signal within a low output power range with a large margin so as to prevent spurious signals from occurring, and can achieve high output and high efficiency for the power amplifier when amplifying the WPT dummy signal.

[0097] Moreover, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to supply power to the terminal device 20 by utilizing radio resources that are not being used in communication between the base station 10 and the terminal device 20.

[0098] In addition, the present invention can provide a power supply infrastructure that can supply power to a large number of terminal devices 20 that can receive radio waves transmitted from a base station 10, thereby contributing to the achievement of Goal 9 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is to "build resilient infrastructure, promote industry, innovation and infrastructure."

[0099] The process steps described in this specification and the components of the system, radio processing device, terminal device (UE, IoT device), base station, central station, base station, mobile station, relay device, and control device can be implemented by various means. For example, these processes and components may be implemented by hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof.

[0100] Regarding hardware implementation, means such as processing units used to realize the above steps and components in an entity (e.g., various wireless communication devices, base station devices (Node B, Node G), terminal devices, hard disk drive devices, or optical disk drive devices) may be implemented in one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, electronic devices, other electronic units designed to perform the functions described in this specification, computers, or combinations thereof.

[0101] Also, for firmware and / or software implementation, the means such as processing units used to realize the above components may be implemented with programs (e.g., codes such as procedures, functions, modules, instructions, etc.) that execute the functions described herein. In general, any computer / processor readable medium tangibly embodying firmware and / or software codes may be used to implement the means such as processing units used to realize the above steps and components described herein. For example, the firmware and / or software codes may be stored in a memory and executed by a computer or processor, for example in a controller. The memory may be implemented within the computer or processor, or may be implemented externally to the processor. Also, the firmware and / or software codes may be stored in a computer or processor readable medium, such as a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a flash memory, a floppy disk, a compact disk (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a magnetic or optical data storage device, etc. The code may be executed by one or more computers or processors and may cause the computers or processors to perform certain aspects of the functionality described herein.

[0102] The medium may be a non-transitory recording medium. The code of the program may be in any format as long as it can be read and executed by a computer, a processor, or another device or machine, and the format is not limited to a specific format. For example, the code of the program may be any of source code, object code, and binary code, or may be a mixture of two or more of these codes.

[0103] Moreover, the description of the embodiments disclosed herein is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to the present disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples and designs described herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. [Explanation of symbols]

[0104] 10:Base station 10A: Communication area 10B: Beam 11A: WPT Area 20: Terminal device 30: Frame 31D: DL communication frame 31U: UL communication frame 32: WPT frame 50: Expansion station 50B: Beam 51A: WPT Area 60: Signal transmission line 110: Antenna (array antenna) 110C: Communication array antenna 110W: WPT array antenna 120: Communication signal processing section 130: Radio processing device (radio processing unit) 131: Input / output signal processing section 132: RF signal processing section 132C: RF signal processing unit for communications 132W: RF signal processing unit for wireless power transmission (WPT) 133: Antenna Systems 134: Transmission signal conversion unit 510: Antenna (array antenna) 511: RF signal processing section 512: Antenna Systems 513: Transmission signal conversion unit 1101: Antenna element 1311: Signal separation section 1312 :1st mixer 1313 :Second mixer 1314 :Third mixer 1315: Local oscillator 1316: Isolator 1317: Termination 1320: RF signal processing unit 1320C: Communication RF signal processing unit 1320W: WPT dummy RF signal processing unit 1321D: 2nd phase shifter 1321U: 3rd phase shifter 1321W: 1st phase shifter 1322D: Second amplifier (power amplifier) 1322U: 3rd amplifier (low noise amplifier) 1322W: 1st amplifier (power amplifier) 1323: Signal change switch 1325: RF signal processing unit 1326: Antenna duplexer 1327D: Transmission filter 1327U: Receive filter 1327W :Transmission filter 1328: Signal change switch 1329: Antenna duplexer 5101: Antenna element 5110: WPT Dummy RF Signal Processing Unit

Claims

1. A system that can be used for communication and wireless power transmission in a mobile communication system, A base station; a plurality of base stations connected to the base station; the base station comprises an antenna system having a first array antenna used for both communication and wireless power transmission, the plurality of base stations comprise an antenna system having a plurality of second array antennas dedicated to wireless power transmission, the second array antennas being distributed in an area around the first array antenna and spaced apart from the first array antenna.

2. 2. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the base station comprises: a first array antenna used for both the communication and wireless power transmission; a plurality of first radio signal processing units connected to a plurality of antenna elements of the first array antenna, respectively, amplifying a plurality of high frequency signals corresponding to a dummy signal for downlink wireless power transmission, a downlink communication signal, and an uplink communication signal, respectively, by different amplifiers, and multiplexing the plurality of high frequency signals to transmit and receive the signals via the antenna elements; An antenna system comprising:

3. 2. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the antenna system comprises: the plurality of second array antennas dedicated to wireless power transmission; and a plurality of second radio signal processing units provided for each of the plurality of second array antennas, connected to each of the plurality of antenna elements of the second array antenna, amplifying a high-frequency signal corresponding to a dummy signal for downlink wireless power transmission, and transmitting the high-frequency signal via the antenna elements.

4. 3. The antenna system of claim 2, Each of the plurality of first radio signal processing units comprises: a first phase shifter for controlling a phase of the dummy signal for wireless power transmission transmitted from the antenna element; a first amplifier that amplifies the dummy signal for wireless power transmission; a second phase shifter for controlling a phase of the downlink communication signal transmitted from the antenna element; a second amplifier for amplifying the downlink communication signal; a third amplifier for amplifying the uplink communication signal received via the antenna element; a third phase shifter for controlling a phase of the uplink communication signal; An antenna system comprising:

5. 4. The antenna system of claim 3, Each of the plurality of second radio signal processing units comprises: a fourth phase shifter for controlling a phase of the dummy signal for wireless power transmission transmitted from the antenna element; a fourth amplifier that amplifies the dummy signal for wireless power transmission; An antenna system comprising:

6. 3. The antenna system of claim 2, An antenna system characterized in that each of the multiple first radio signal processing units is provided with a multiplexing processing unit that multiplexes the dummy signal for wireless power transmission, the downlink communication signal, and the uplink communication signal using a time division duplex (TDD) method.

7. 7. The antenna system of claim 6, a frame for wireless power transmission used for a dummy signal for wireless power transmission, a frame for downlink communication used for the downlink communication signal, and a frame for uplink communication used for the uplink communication signal are assigned to communication frames in a time-division manner; the multiplexing processing unit switches connections between the antenna element and each of signal processing paths of the dummy signal for wireless power transmission, the downlink communication signal, and the uplink communication signal in synchronization with the frame for wireless power transmission, the frame for downlink communication, and the frame for uplink communication.

1. An antenna system comprising:

8. 3. The antenna system of claim 2, An antenna system characterized in that each of the multiple first wireless signal processing units is provided with a multiplexing processing unit that multiplexes the dummy signal for wireless power transmission, the downlink communication signal, and the uplink communication signal using a frequency division duplex (FDD) method.

9. 9. The antenna system of claim 8, The first array antenna includes: an array antenna for wireless power transmission used for transmitting the dummy signal for wireless power transmission; a communication array antenna used for transmitting the downlink communication signal and receiving the uplink communication signal, The plurality of first radio signal processing units include a plurality of radio signal processing units for wireless power transmission, each connected to a plurality of antenna elements of the array antenna for wireless power transmission, amplifying a high-frequency signal of the dummy signal for wireless power transmission by an amplifier for wireless power transmission, and transmitting the amplified high-frequency signal via the antenna elements; a plurality of radio signal processing units for communication, each connected to a plurality of antenna elements of the array antenna for communication, amplifying a plurality of high frequency signals of the downlink communication signal and the uplink communication signal by different amplifiers, and multiplexing the plurality of high frequency signals via the antenna elements for transmission and reception; 1. An antenna system comprising:

10. The antenna system of claim 2; an input / output signal processing unit connected to the plurality of first radio signal processing units and connected to a plurality of second radio signal processing units provided for each of the plurality of second array antennas via signal transmission lines, the input / output signal processing unit being connected to each of a plurality of antenna elements of the second array antenna, amplifying a high-frequency signal corresponding to a dummy signal for downlink wireless power transmission, and transmitting the high-frequency signal via the antenna element; The input / output signal processing unit includes: a signal separator that separates a downlink intermediate frequency signal including the dummy signal for wireless power transmission and the downlink communication signal into an intermediate frequency signal of the dummy signal for wireless power transmission and an intermediate frequency signal of the downlink communication signal; a first mixer that mixes an intermediate frequency signal of the dummy signal for wireless power transmission separated by the signal separation unit with a local oscillation signal of a predetermined frequency to generate a high frequency signal of the dummy signal for wireless power transmission; a second mixer that mixes the intermediate frequency signal of the downlink communication signal separated by the signal separator with the local oscillation signal to generate a high frequency signal of the downlink communication signal; a third mixer that mixes the high frequency signal of the uplink communication signal with the local oscillation signal to generate an intermediate frequency signal of the uplink communication signal; 13. A wireless processing device comprising:

11. The antenna system of claim 2; an input / output signal processing unit connected to the plurality of first radio signal processing units and connected to a plurality of second radio signal processing units provided for each of the plurality of second array antennas via signal transmission lines, the input / output signal processing unit being connected to each of a plurality of antenna elements of the second array antenna, amplifying a high-frequency signal corresponding to a dummy signal for downlink wireless power transmission, and transmitting the high-frequency signal via the antenna element; The input / output signal processing unit includes: a signal separator that separates a first branched signal obtained by branching a downlink intermediate frequency signal including the dummy signal for wireless power transmission and the downlink communication signal, into an intermediate frequency signal of the dummy signal for wireless power transmission and an intermediate frequency signal of the downlink communication signal; a first mixer that mixes an intermediate frequency signal of the dummy signal for wireless power transmission separated by the signal separation unit with a local oscillation signal of a predetermined frequency to generate a high frequency signal of the dummy signal for wireless power transmission; a termination unit that terminates an intermediate frequency signal of the downlink communication signal separated by the signal separation unit; a second mixer that mixes a second branched signal obtained by branching a downlink intermediate frequency signal including the dummy signal for wireless power transmission and the downlink communication signal with the local oscillation signal to generate a high frequency signal of the downlink communication signal; a third mixer that mixes the high frequency signal of the uplink communication signal with the local oscillation signal to generate an intermediate frequency signal of the uplink communication signal; 13. A wireless processing device comprising:

12. 2. The system of claim 1, The system is characterized in that the base station comprises: a wireless processing device according to claim 10 or 11; and a communication signal processing unit that generates a downlink intermediate frequency signal including the dummy signal for wireless power transmission and the downlink communication signal, and processes an uplink intermediate frequency signal including the uplink communication signal.

13. 13. The system of claim 12, the base station is a central station having the first array antenna, the plurality of first radio signal processing units, and the input / output signal processing unit, the plurality of base stations are connected to the input / output signal processing unit of the central station via the signal transmission line, and each of the base stations includes the second array antenna and the plurality of second radio signal processing units. A system characterized by:

14. 14. The system of claim 13, The system is characterized in that the multiple base stations perform beamforming control independent of each other and perform wireless power transmission individually to each of the multiple terminal devices.

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