Communication Equipment

Abstract

To suppress the increase in power consumption of a communication device.SOLUTION: The communication device for multi-carrier communication includes an intermediate frequency converter that upconverts parallel transmission signals into intermediate frequencies for each group, a multiplexer that synthesizes the intermediate frequency upconverted transmission signals for each group, and a wireless frequency converter that upconverts the synthesized transmission signals to wireless frequencies.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication device. [Background technology]

[0002] Multicarrier transmission is a method for expanding the transmission bandwidth. In multicarrier transmission, multiple narrowband signals called "subcarriers" are frequency-multiplexed, and all narrowband signals are transmitted from the same transmitting antenna, for example. If the number of subcarriers is M, M signals are transmitted in parallel on the same wireless link, so the communication speed is M times that of one subcarrier.

[0003] A representative technology for multicarrier transmission is orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). In OFDM, the frequency interval between adjacent subcarriers is 1 / T u Transmission is performed using subcarriers of T u is the symbol length for each subcarrier. In other words, OFDM is a multiplexing method that performs parallel transmission by converting the transmission signal sequence from serial to parallel, dividing it into blocks, modulating the subcarriers for each block, and arranging the modulated subcarriers at the above frequency intervals.

[0004] Any two subcarriers are orthogonal on the frequency axis, and in an ideal transmission, there would be no interference between the subcarriers after demodulation at the receiving end. On the other hand, in multicarrier transmission other than OFDM, in order to avoid interference at the receiving end, the subcarriers are separated in the frequency domain and transmitted so that the spectra of any two subcarriers do not overlap with each other. For this reason, multicarrier transmission other than OFDM has lower frequency utilization efficiency compared to OFDM.

[0005] The main advantage of OFDM compared to single-carrier is that it is easier to tolerate frequency and phase distortions in the received signal caused by transmitter imperfections or propagation through the wireless channel. For example, by using a known transmitted signal, the receiver can easily compensate for and demodulate the signal due to frequency-dependent distortions.

[0006] In recent years, wireless communication systems such as 5G (5th Generation) have been required to provide faster communication speeds, lower latency, and larger capacity, and in order to meet these demands, the carrier frequencies of communication devices are being increased. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0007] [Non-Patent Document 1] Minoru Okada, "Fundamentals of OFDM", Microwave Workshop and Exhibition (MWE2003), Basic Lecture 02, Digital Modulation and Demodulation Technology, November 2003, [Retrieved September 9, 2014], Internet〈URL: http: / / www.apmc-mwe.org / mwe2004 / ja_mwe2003_TL / TL02-02.pdf〉 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, as the carrier frequency increases, the power consumption of the communication device increases.

[0009] One of the objectives of the present disclosure is to suppress an increase in power consumption of a communication device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The communication device disclosed herein is a communication device that performs multi-carrier communication, and includes an intermediate frequency converter that upconverts parallel transmission signals to an intermediate frequency for each group, a multiplexer that combines the transmission signals upconverted to the intermediate frequency for each group, and a radio frequency converter that upconverts the combined transmission signals to a radio frequency. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress an increase in power consumption of a communication device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a block configuration of a communication device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 4 is a diagram showing an example of frequency characteristics of a signal output from an IF converter. FIG. [Diagram 3] 4 is a diagram showing an example of frequency characteristics of a signal output from an RF converter. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a communication device according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 5] 4 is a diagram showing an example of frequency characteristics of a signal output from an IF converter. FIG. [Figure 6] 4 is a diagram showing an example of frequency characteristics of a signal output from an RF converter. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a block configuration of a communication device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining examples of setting the phase amount of a high-frequency phase shifter; [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a block configuration of a communication device according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a block configuration of a communication device according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a block configuration of a communication device according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 12]FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of a block configuration of a communication device according to a seventh embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] (First embodiment) A multicarrier signal is a wideband signal in which multiple subcarriers are modulated with a blocked transmission signal and multiplexed in the frequency domain. Generally, in a communication path with a constant bandwidth ratio, a higher frequency can ensure a wider bandwidth. For example, in the case of a device with a bandwidth ratio of 10%, at 1 GHz, it can operate in a 100 MHz bandwidth, while at 100 GHz, it can operate in a 100 times larger bandwidth of 10 GHz. However, since the wavelength becomes shorter as the frequency increases, the free space propagation loss Lf shown in the following formula (1) increases as the frequency increases for the same distance. In formula (1), "r" indicates the propagation distance, and "λ" indicates the wavelength.

[0015]

number

[0016] In addition, in order to ensure the reception SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) at the receiver due to each modulation method, for example, the antenna gain is increased or the transmission power is increased in proportion to the bandwidth. Here, if there are restrictions on physical installation, there is a limit to the increase in antenna gain. Therefore, it is necessary to make up for the shortfall caused by the increase in antenna gain by increasing the transmission power.

[0017] In addition, in general, in a multicarrier signal, the frequency of each subcarrier is different, and the phase of the signal spectrum is independent, so that the envelope of the vector of the composite signal fluctuates greatly. One of the parameters indicating the degree of envelope fluctuation is the PAPR (Peak to Average Power Ratio), which indicates the ratio of the maximum power value to the average power value of the signal. For example, in a modulated wave of 64QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation), the PAPR is 5.9 in a single carrier, whereas the PAPR is 9.5 in OFDM with 32 subcarriers. Therefore, in order to ensure a larger backoff in amplifying a multicarrier signal, the amplifier is required to have a high output. Furthermore, since the heat dissipation mechanism accompanying the high output also becomes larger, it becomes difficult to miniaturize the transmitter by integrating the antenna and the amplifier. In addition, in the high frequency band, it becomes difficult to increase the output due to the characteristics of the transistor used in the amplifier. Therefore, a configuration is required in which a low-output amplifier is used to amplify a wideband signal to an output that can ensure the required SNR in the receiver.

[0018] In addition, the lower the frequency band, the larger the relative bandwidth becomes, making wideband signal processing more difficult. For example, an analog baseband signal is obtained by D / A (digital to analog) converting a digital baseband signal, but the wider the bandwidth of the converted signal, the more power the D / A converter consumes. Therefore, power consumption can be reduced by dividing a wideband subcarrier group into individual subcarriers, generating a baseband signal for each subcarrier, and performing narrowband transmission.

[0019] On the other hand, for example, by dividing a wideband signal into multiple subcarriers and amplifying and then combining each subcarrier, the signal band input to each amplifier can be narrowed. Also, losses in other components can be reduced. However, since the combiner has a combining loss, it is necessary to increase the output power of the amplifier. Furthermore, when dividing the band of a modulation method in which each subcarrier is not independent, such as OFDM, it is necessary to maintain the relationship of the subcarriers before division after combining.

[0020] From the above viewpoint, the amplifier is required to have a maximum output power that is proportional to the signal bandwidth in order to secure the required SNR at the receiver. However, in the amplification of a wideband signal with a single amplifier, the maximum output power required for the amplifier may not be achieved. Even if the amplifier can achieve the maximum output power, the power consumption increases with the increase in the speed of the D / A converter in the generation of a wideband multicarrier signal.

[0021] The communication device of the present invention achieves multi-carrier transmission by dividing a wideband signal into narrow bands, transmitting the narrow bands, and then combining the signals back into a wideband signal in space. This allows the communication device to reduce power consumption. Furthermore, the communication device can increase the maximum output power required for the amplifier with a simple configuration. Furthermore, the communication device can be made smaller.

[0022] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a block configuration of a communication device 1 according to a first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the communication device 1 includes a serial-to-parallel converter 11, a group generator 12, a plurality of BB (Base Band) generating units 13, a plurality of D / A converters 14, a plurality of IF (Intermediate Frequency) converters 15, a plurality of multiplexers 16, a plurality of RF (Radio Frequency) converters 17, a plurality of amplifiers 18, and a plurality of antennas 19.

[0023] Hereinafter, when distinguishing between the multiple BB generators 13, they may be described as the xth group BB generator 13, the yth branch BB generator 13, or the zth BB generator 13. When distinguishing between the multiple D / A converters 14, the multiple IF converters 15, the multiple multiplexers 16, the multiple RF converters 17, the multiple amplifiers 18, and the multiple antennas 19, they may be described in the same manner as the above-mentioned BB generator 13.

[0024] The serial-to-parallel converter 11 converts a serial data sequence into a parallel data sequence. The serial-to-parallel converter 11 may convert the serial data into M pieces of parallel data and output M' pieces of parallel data that satisfy the following formula (1). This is so that the number of parallel data pieces grouped into N groups by the group generator 12 described later is the same in each group. The data may be referred to as transmission data, a signal, or a transmission signal.

[0025] For example, M is a predetermined integer equal to or greater than 2. The data m (an integer) converted into parallel data satisfies 1≦m≦M.

[0026] n is an integer satisfying 1≦n≦N, and N is the number of groups into which the group generator 12, which will be described later, groups the parallel data. For example, in Fig. 1, the group generator 12 outputs parallel data grouped into a first group, ..., an nth group, ..., an Nth group. In this case, M' may satisfy the following formula (2).

[0027] M' = M + (N - Mod (M / N)) (2)

[0028] The parallel data m' (an integer) output from the serial-to-parallel converter 11 satisfies 1≦m'≦M'. If Mod(M / N)≠0, the data sequence from the (M+1)th output to the M'th output of the serial-to-parallel converter 11 is set to 0.

[0029] The group generator 12 groups the parallel data output from the serial-to-parallel converter 11 into N groups and outputs the groups. For example, the group generator 12 groups the parallel data output from the serial-to-parallel converter 11 into a first group, ..., an nth group, ..., an Nth group.

[0030] Each group has P branches, which are numbered from the first branch to the Pth branch, where P is an integer and is expressed by the following formula (3).

[0031] P=M' / N (3)

[0032] It is to be noted that p in the p-th branch shown in FIG.

[0033] The group generator 12 generates groups such as the nth output, the (n+N)th output, the (n+2N)th output, (omitted below) of the serial-to-parallel converter 11 as the nth group. Therefore, the pth branch of the nth group corresponds to the (n+N(p-1))th output of the serial-to-parallel converter 11, and the (n+N(p-1))th output of the serial-to-parallel converter 11 is input to the (n+N(p-1))th BB generator 13.

[0034] The BB generation unit 13 generates a BB signal for the data output from the group generator 12. For example, the BB generation unit 13 generates a BB signal for the data output from the group generator 12. B The output of the (n+N(p−1))th BB generator 13 is input to the (n+N(p−1))th D / A converter 14.

[0035] The D / A converter 14 converts the analog BB signal into a digital signal. The output of the (n+N(p-1))-th D / A converter 14 is input to the (n+N(p-1))-th IF converter 15.

[0036] The IF converter 15 converts the signal output from the D / A converter 14 to an intermediate frequency. The (n+N(p-1))th IF converter 15 performs frequency conversion using the (n+N(p-1))th low-frequency local signal, and the center frequency fc of the output signal from the (n+N(p-1))th IF converter 15 is given by the following equation (4).

[0037] fc=f B +f L +((n-1)+N(p-1))Δf (4)

[0038] where f L is the lowest frequency of the low-frequency local signal. Δf is the frequency interval between adjacent branches and is a fixed value. L+((n-1)+N(p-1))Δf” is the low frequency local signal (LO Lnp The output signal of the (n+N(p-1))th IF converter 15 has a frequency of f B +f L +((n-1)+N(p-1)) are combined via an n-th multiplexer 16 that has a passband of +((n-1)+N(p-1)).

[0039] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the frequency characteristic of the signal output from IF converter 15. In FIG.

[0040] Fig. 2(1) shows the frequency characteristics of the signal output from IF converter 15 in the first group in Fig. 1. The center frequencies of the output signals from IF converter 15 in each of the first branch of the first group, the second branch of the first group, ..., the pth branch of the first group, ..., the Pth branch of the first group are as shown in Fig. 2(1).

[0041] Fig. 2(2) shows the frequency characteristics of the signal output from IF converter 15 in the n-th group in Fig. 1. The center frequencies of the output signals from IF converter 15 in each of the first branch of the n-th group, the second branch of the n-th group, ..., the p-th branch of the n-th group, ..., the P-th branch of the n-th group are as shown in Fig. 2(2).

[0042] Returning to the explanation of Fig. 1, the multiplexer 16 is configured by a parallel connection (filter bank) of multiple band-pass filters that block signals other than the output of the (n+N(p-1))th IF converter 15. The output of the nth multiplexer 16 is input to the nth RF converter 17.

[0043] The n-th RF converter 17 converts the signal output from the n-th multiplexer 16 into the n-th high frequency local signal LO Hn Here, the nth high-frequency local signal (LO Hn The frequency f of the signal output from the n-th RF converter 17 is a fixed value. r is the nth high-frequency local signal (LO Hn) frequency is f H Then, it is shown by the following equation (5).

[0044] f r =f B +f L +f H +((n-1)+N(p-1))Δf (5)

[0045] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the frequency characteristics of the signal output from RF converter 17. The frequency characteristics of the output signal from RF converter 17 in the first group in Fig. 1 are as shown in Fig. 3(1). The frequency characteristics of the output signal from RF converter 17 in the nth group in Fig. 1 are as shown in Fig. 3(2).

[0046] Returning to the explanation of Fig. 1, the nth amplifier 18 amplifies the signal output from the nth RF converter 17. The signal amplified in the nth amplifier 18 is fed to the nth antenna 19 and radiated into space.

[0047] It should be noted that with respect to the branch corresponding to the data sequence from the (M+1)th output to the M′th output of the serial-to-parallel converter 11, it is not necessary to actually construct the branch.

[0048] When OFDM is applied to the communication device 1, in each branch up to the input of the n-th multiplexer 16, the bandwidth of the modulated wave becomes a narrowband signal of Δf, which is 1 / M of the required bandwidth when the data sequence is directly modulated. Therefore, the bandwidth required for element circuits or parts (components) up to the multiplexer is 1 / M, making it easy to improve the performance of each component. Similarly, in multicarriers other than OFDM, the bandwidth required for element circuits or parts up to the multiplexer is smaller, making it easy to improve the performance of each component.

[0049] For example, in the amplifier 18, the flatness of the gain is improved, and it becomes easier to reduce power consumption. It is also known that the wider the bandwidth of the D / A converter 14, the greater the power consumption. The narrower the bandwidth, the lower the power consumption, which also contributes to miniaturization from the viewpoint of heat dissipation. Furthermore, since the n-th multiplexer 16 combines the signals of each band, the insertion loss is only the insertion loss of the filter constituting the multiplexer 16, which is smaller than when a combiner is used. Furthermore, since each signal input to the n-th multiplexer 16 is detuned in frequency by NΔf, bands other than the own band can be sufficiently attenuated by selecting N and Δf.

[0050] The communication device 1 uses at least M low-frequency local signals with a frequency difference of Δf. For example, a DDS (Direct Digital Synthesizer) may be used to generate the low-frequency local signals. The DDS is a circuit that can generate a sine wave of a desired frequency from a high-speed clock generation circuit, and can generate the frequency with high resolution. When a frequency higher than the oscillation frequency of the DDS is applied to the low-frequency local signal, a DDS can be used to generate multiple sine waves with a frequency difference of Δf, and the frequency can be up-converted to generate a sine wave of any frequency with a frequency difference of Δf.

[0051] Furthermore, when OFDM is applied to the communication device 1, the high frequency local signal may be generated from a common signal source and distributed for use in all branches. A group of signals distributed within a bandwidth of "N(P-1)Δf+Δf" is input to the n-th RF converter 17, but the RF converter 17 can generally be used in a wide band. Furthermore, the n-th amplifier 18 and the n-th antenna 19 can also support a wide band. Meanwhile, the amplifier 18 amplifies the energy of the entire band by dividing it into N parts, so that the output power can be reduced to 1 / N times that of the case where the same amplifier amplifies the entire band collectively. Although the number of amplifiers 18 is N times, the amount of heat dissipation can be reduced by lowering the output of each amplifier 18, and thus the size can be reduced, including the heat sink.

[0052] The transmission signals radiated from each antenna 19 become plane waves in the far field. The transmission signals are combined in the far field, and M' subcarriers are combined to generate a wideband signal with a bandwidth of ((N-1)+N(P-1))Δf+B. B indicates the bandwidth of the subcarriers.

[0053] When a receiving antenna is in the far field, the signal received by the receiving antenna becomes the above-mentioned wideband signal. Among them, the data sequence from the (M+1)th output to the M'th output of the serial-to-parallel converter 11 may be set to 0, in which case the bandwidth is reduced.

[0054] When OFDM transmission, which has excellent frequency utilization efficiency, is applied to the communication device 1, efficient transmission is possible without inserting guard bands. However, there is a possibility that a shift in phase characteristics between subcarriers may affect demodulation performance at the receiving side. For example, when the signals transmitted from each branch are OFDM subcarriers, there is a possibility that the demodulation performance may be deteriorated due to a phase error between the subcarriers. However, in such a case, by detecting the phase error at the receiving side and feeding it back to the transmitting side, the transmitting side can control the phase between the subcarriers of the transmission signal to suppress the phase error at the receiving side.

[0055] As described above, the communication device 1 has an IF converter 15 that upconverts the parallel transmission signals to an intermediate frequency for each group, a multiplexer 16 that combines the transmission signals upconverted to the intermediate frequency for each group, and an RF converter 17 that upconverts the combined transmission signal to a radio frequency.

[0056] As a result, the transmission signal processed by the communication device 1 is narrowbanded in each of the first group, ..., nth group, ..., Nth group. Therefore, the communication device 1 can suppress an increase in power consumption.

[0057] For example, the wider the bandwidth of the D / A converter 14 and the amplifier 18, the greater the power consumption, but the transmission signals processed by the communication device 1 are grouped and narrowed in bandwidth, so the increase in power consumption is suppressed. Also, the communication device 1 can have a smaller heat dissipation mechanism, allowing it to be miniaturized.

[0058] (Second embodiment) In the first embodiment, the frequency of the IF converter 15 is different for each branch of each group, but in the second embodiment, a common low-frequency local signal is used for each group, and the frequency of the low-frequency local signal is made different for each branch (within a group). Hn The frequency of each group is f H In the first embodiment, the frequency of the RF converter 17 is fixed at 100 MHz, whereas in the second embodiment, the frequency of the RF converter 17 is made different for each group. The following describes the differences from the first embodiment.

[0059] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a block configuration of a communication device 2 according to the second embodiment. In Fig. 4, the same components as those in Fig. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 4, the same combination of frequencies of the low-frequency local signal input to the IF converter 15 is used in each group.

[0061] For example, the low-frequency local signal LO input to the IF converter 15 of the first branch of the first group L11 and a low-frequency local signal LO input to the IF converter 15 of the first branch of the n-th group. L11 The same frequency is used for both the low-frequency local signal LO L1p and a low-frequency local signal LO input to the IF converter 15 of the pth branch of the nth group. L1p The same frequency is used for both the low-frequency local signal LO L1Pand a low-frequency local signal LO input to the IF converter 15 of the Pth branch of the nth group. L1P The same frequency is used for both.

[0062] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the frequency characteristic of the signal output from IF converter 15. In FIG.

[0063] Fig. 5(1) shows the frequency characteristics of the signal output from IF converter 15 in the first group in Fig. 4. The center frequencies of the output signals from IF converter 15 in each of the first branch of the first group, the second branch of the first group, ..., the pth branch of the first group, ..., the Pth branch of the first group are as shown in Fig. 5(1).

[0064] Fig. 5(2) shows the frequency characteristics of the signal output from IF converter 15 in the n-th group in Fig. 4. The center frequencies of the output signals from IF converter 15 in each of the first branch of the n-th group, the second branch of the n-th group, ..., the p-th branch of the n-th group, ..., the P-th branch of the n-th group are as shown in Fig. 5(2).

[0065] Returning to the explanation of FIG. 4, the frequency of the low-frequency local signal of the pth branch of the nth group is "f L +N(p-1)Δf", which is P frequencies where p is "1 to P". Therefore, the communication device 2 in FIG. 4 only needs to generate P low-frequency local signals with a frequency difference of NΔf.

[0066] On the other hand, the frequency of the high-frequency local signal input to the RF converter 17 is “f H +(n-1)Δf", which is N frequencies where n is 1 to N. Therefore, it is sufficient to generate N local signals with a frequency difference of Δf.

[0067] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the frequency characteristics of the signal output from RF converter 17. The frequency characteristics of the output signal from RF converter 17 in the first group in Fig. 4 are as shown in Fig. 6(1). The frequency characteristics of the output signal from RF converter 17 in the nth group in Fig. 4 are as shown in Fig. 6(2).

[0068] Therefore, the communication device 2 in Fig. 4 has (P+N) / (P×N) times as many low-frequency local signals and high-frequency local signals as the communication device 1 in Fig. 1. Therefore, the communication device 2 in Fig. 4 can use the same components in the first to Nth groups, making it easy to procure or maintain each component. Furthermore, the communication device 2 in Fig. 4 can reduce costs.

[0069] As described above, the IF converter 17 receives a common low-frequency local signal LO L11 , …, L.O. L1p , …, L.O. L1P The transmission signal is up-converted to an intermediate frequency using a low frequency local signal LO. L11 , …, L.O. L1p , …, L.O. L1P The frequency of each signal is different within each group. The RF converter 17 up-converts the transmission signal combined for each group to a radio frequency using a high-frequency local signal having a different frequency for each group. This allows the communication device 2 to reduce the number of RF converters 17 compared to the communication device 1.

[0070] (Third embodiment) In the third embodiment, a phase shifter is inserted between the RF converter 17 and the amplifier 18 .

[0071] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a block configuration of a communication device 3 according to a third embodiment. In Fig. 7, the same components as those in Fig. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 7, the communication device 3 has a high-frequency phase shifter 31 between the RF converter 17 and the amplifier 18.

[0073] High frequency phase shifter 31 controls the phase of the n-th group of signals. The phase amounts of the transmission signals output from antenna 19 are controlled (set) in n-th high frequency phase shifter 31, and the signals are combined in the far field in radiation direction θ.

[0074] Fig. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of setting the phase amount of the high-frequency phase shifter 31. Fig. 8 shows the RF converter 17, the high-frequency phase shifter 31, the amplifier 18, and the antenna 19 of the communication device 3 shown in Fig. 7.

[0075] Each transmission signal output from antenna 19 is synthesized in the far field by M subcarriers, and becomes a wideband signal with a bandwidth of ((N-1)+N(P-1))Δf+B. If a receiving antenna is located in the far field with the radiation direction θ, the signal received by the receiving antenna becomes the above-mentioned wideband signal.

[0076] The n-th high frequency phase shifter 31 detects a phase difference φ between the first antenna and the n-th antenna. n The phase amount is set so as to satisfy the following equation (6): d denotes the distance (m) between adjacent antennas 19, and λ denotes the wavelength of the transmission signal.

[0077]

number

[0078] As described above, the communication device 3 has the high-frequency phase shifter 31 that controls the phase of the transmission signal up-converted to a radio frequency. As a result, the transmission signal transmitted from the communication device 3 is synthesized in the far field of the radiation direction θ, and the receiving communication device located in the far field of the radiation direction θ can properly receive the transmission signal of the communication device 3.

[0079] (Fourth embodiment) In the fourth embodiment, a phase shifter is inserted at the input of the high frequency local signal of the RF converter 17 .

[0080] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a block configuration of a communication device 4 according to the fourth embodiment. In Fig. 9, the same components as those in Fig. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 9, the communication device 4 has a high-frequency phase shifter 41 at the input of the high-frequency local signal of the RF converter 17.

[0082] A high frequency local signal is input to the high frequency phase shifter 41. The high frequency phase shifter 41 controls the phase of the high frequency local signal and outputs it to the RF converter 17. The high frequency phase shifter 41 adjusts, for example, a phase difference φ between the first antenna and the n-th antenna. n The phase of the high frequency local signal is controlled so as to satisfy the above equation (6).

[0083] As described above, the communication device 4 has the high-frequency phase shifter 41 that controls the phase of the high-frequency local signal input to the RF converter 17. As a result, the transmission signals transmitted from the communication device 4 are combined in the far field of the radiation direction θ, and a receiving communication device located in the far field of the radiation direction θ can properly receive the transmission signal from the communication device 4.

[0084] (Fifth embodiment) In the fifth embodiment, a phase shifter is inserted at the input of the low-frequency local signal of the IF converter 15 .

[0085] Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a block configuration of a communication device 5 according to the fifth embodiment. In Fig. 10, the same components as those in Fig. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0086] As shown in Fig. 10, the communication device 5 has a low-frequency phase shifter 51 at the input of the low-frequency local signal of the IF converter 15. Note that Fig. 10 does not show the first group of components shown in Fig. 1.

[0087] A low-frequency local signal is input to the low-frequency phase shifter 51. The low-frequency phase shifter 51 controls the phase of the low-frequency local signal and outputs it to the IF converter 15. The low-frequency phase shifter 51, for example, adjusts the phase difference φ n The phase of the low-frequency local signal is controlled so as to satisfy the above equation (6).

[0088] As described above, the communication device 5 has the low-frequency phase shifter 51 that controls the phase of the low-frequency local signal input to the IF converter 15. As a result, the transmission signals transmitted from the communication device 5 are combined in the far field of the radiation direction θ, and the receiving communication device located in the far field of the radiation direction θ can properly receive the transmission signal from the communication device 5.

[0089] (Sixth embodiment) In the sixth embodiment, an amplitude phase shifter is inserted between the RF converter 17 and the amplifier 18 .

[0090] Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a block configuration of a communication device 6 according to the sixth embodiment. In Fig. 11, the same components as those in Fig. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 11, the communication device 6 has a high-frequency amplitude phase shifter 61 between the RF converter 17 and the amplifier 18 .

[0092] The n-th high-frequency amplitude and phase shifter 61 controls the amplitude and phase of the n-th group of signals. The amplitude and phase of each transmission signal output from the antenna 19 is controlled in the n-th high-frequency phase shifter 31.

[0093] Below, we will explain the case where the radiation direction is "θ=0". However, in cases other than "θ=0", the third to fifth embodiments can be applied and the phase of each antenna 19 can be adjusted, so we will omit the explanation.

[0094] For example, when the multicarrier signal is OFDM, since each subcarrier is not independent, it is required to maintain the relationship of the subcarriers before division after combining. The nth high-frequency amplitude phase shifter 61 detects and corrects the amount of fluctuation in the amplitude and phase of the nth branch. The amount of fluctuation may be detected by extracting a part of the signal power of the nth branch and comparing it with a reference signal, or information on the amount of correction may be fed back from the receiving side.

[0095] When the receiving antenna is located at a distance d from antenna 19 that satisfies the following equation (7), the receiving antenna is not in the far field, and a phase difference occurs between each transmission signal according to the path difference. Therefore, the relationship between the subcarriers before division cannot be maintained in spatial synthesis. Even in this case, the nth high-frequency amplitude phase shifter 61 detects and corrects the amount of fluctuation in the amplitude and phase of the nth branch. The amount of fluctuation may be detected by extracting a part of the signal power of the nth branch and comparing it with a reference signal, or information on the amount of correction may be fed back from the receiving side. Note that D in equation (7) indicates the aperture length of the antenna.

[0096]

number

[0097] As described above, the communication device 6 has the high frequency amplitude phase shifter 61 that controls the amplitude and phase of the transmission signal up-converted to a radio frequency. As a result, the transmission signal transmitted from the communication device 6 is synthesized in the far field of the radiation direction θ, and the receiving communication device located in the far field of the radiation direction θ can properly receive the transmission signal of the communication device 6.

[0098] (Seventh embodiment) In the seventh embodiment, an example of the configuration of a receiver will be described.

[0099] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a block configuration example of a communication device 7 according to a seventh embodiment. The communication device 7 shown in FIG. 12 is, for example, a receiver. The communication device 7 has an antenna 71, a switch 72, an amplifier 73, a power sensor (PS: Power Sensor) 74, an adder 75, an RF converter 76, a demultiplexer 77, an IF amplifier 78, an IF converter 79, an A / D (analog to digital) converter 80, an equalizer 81, and a BB processing unit 82. Although FIG. 12 shows only components in one group, the communication device 7 may have components in multiple groups. For example, the communication device 7 may have N components (first group, ..., nth group, ..., Nth group).

[0100] The antenna 71 receives a multicarrier signal. For example, the antenna 71 receives a multicarrier signal transmitted from the communication devices 1 to 6 described in the first to sixth embodiments. The multicarrier signal received by the antenna 71 may be referred to as a signal, a received signal, data, or received data.

[0101] The switch 72 switches between transmitting and receiving a signal. When the switch 72 is switched to the receiving side, the antenna 71 and the amplifier 73 are connected. When the switch 72 is switched to the transmitting side, for example, the antenna 71 and the amplifier 18 of the communication devices 1 to 6 may be connected. That is, the communication device 7 shown in FIG. 12 may function as both a transmitter and a receiver.

[0102] The amplifier 73 amplifies the received signal. For example, a low-noise amplifier (LNA) may be used as the amplifier 73.

[0103] The power sensor 74 detects the power of the received signal output from the amplifier 73. The amplifier 73 may control the amplification factor based on the power detected by the power sensor 74, for example.

[0104] A received signal is input to the RF converter 76 via an adder 75. The power of the received signal can be increased by providing a plurality of antennas 71 and in-phase combining the received signals at each antenna in the adder 75. Note that in order to in-phase combine the received signals at each antenna, a phase shifter may be provided before the input to the adder 75 to adjust the phase of each received signal.

[0105] The RF converter 76 down-converts the radio frequency of the input received signal to an IF frequency. For example, a high-frequency local signal having a frequency input to the RF converters 17 of the communication devices 1 to 6 described in the first to sixth embodiments may be input to the RF converter 76.

[0106] The demultiplexer 77 is configured by a parallel connection (filter bank) of a plurality of band pass filters that block signals other than the IF frequency of the corresponding IF converter 79. The output of the demultiplexer 77 is input to the IF converter 79 via an IF amplifier 78.

[0107] The IF converter 79 down-converts the received signal of the IF frequency output from the amplifier 78 to the BB frequency. The IF converter 79 may receive, for example, a low-frequency local signal of the frequency input to the IF converters 15 of the communication devices 1 to 6 described in the first to sixth embodiments.

[0108] The A / D converter 80 converts the analog received signal output from the IF converter 79 into a digital received signal.

[0109] The equalizer 81 corrects the frequency characteristics of the received signal output from the A / D converter 80 .

[0110] The BB processing unit 82 performs BB processing on the received signal output from the equalizer 81. The BB processing unit 82 also converts parallel data into serial data and outputs it to a downstream circuit.

[0111] As described above, the communication device 7 has an RF converter 76 that down-converts the received radio frequency signal to an intermediate frequency, a demultiplexer 77 that splits the received signal down-converted to the intermediate frequency by group, and an IF converter 79 that down-converts the split received signal to the BB frequency.

[0112] As a result, the received signals processed by the communication device 7 are narrowed into each of the first group, ..., nth group, ..., Nth group. Therefore, the communication device 7 can suppress an increase in power consumption.

[0113] For example, the amplifier 73, IF amplifier 78, and A / D converter 80 consume more power as the bandwidth becomes wider, but the received signals processed by the communication device 7 are grouped and narrowed in bandwidth, so that the increase in power consumption is suppressed. Also, the communication device 7 can have a smaller heat dissipation mechanism, allowing it to be miniaturized.

[0114] The present disclosure has been described above. The multiplexer described above is composed of multiple filters, but the bandwidth of the filters does not need to be constant. In general, when filters are configured with a structure that results in the same relative bandwidth, the passband width differs depending on the center frequency.

[0115] For example, if the relative bandwidth is 5%, then the passband is 250 MHz when the center frequency is 5 GHz, but 500 MHz when the center frequency is 10 GHz. Therefore, the higher the frequency band, the more likely it is that the multiplexer can be made more compact by using a filter with a wider frequency band. Here, the filters that make up the multiplexer only need to be able to sufficiently attenuate adjacent frequency bands, so there are no particular operational problems even if the filter bandwidth is freely selected. Note that if the filters have different passband widths, a band signal that corresponds to the filter passband width is formed when the group is configured.

[0116] Furthermore, the embodiments may be combined. For example, the communication device 2 according to the second embodiment may be provided with the phase shifter and the amplitude phase shifter described in the third to sixth embodiments.

[0117] The low frequency local signal may also be referred to as an IF local signal. The high frequency local signal may also be referred to as an RF local signal. The frequency of the high frequency local signal is higher than the frequency of the low frequency local signal. The radio frequency may also be referred to as a radio carrier frequency.

[0118] (Hardware configuration) The block diagrams used to explain the above embodiments show functional blocks. These functional blocks (components) are realized by any combination of at least one of hardware and software. The method of realizing each functional block is not particularly limited. That is, each functional block may be realized by using one device that is physically or logically combined, or may be realized by using two or more devices that are physically or logically separated and directly or indirectly connected (for example, by wire, wirelessly, etc.). The functional blocks may be realized by combining the one device or the multiple devices with software.

[0119] Functions include, but are not limited to, judgment, determination, judgment, calculation, computation, processing, derivation, investigation, search, confirmation, reception, transmission, output, access, resolution, selection, selection, establishment, comparison, assumption, expectation, consideration, broadcasting, notifying, communicating, forwarding, configuring, reconfiguring, allocation, mapping, assignment, etc. For example, a functional block (component) that performs the function of transmission is called a transmitting unit or a transmitter. In either case, as described above, there is no particular limitation on the method of realization.

[0120] For example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the serial-to-parallel converter 11, the group generator 12, the BB generation unit 13, the equalizer 81, and the BB processing unit 82 may have some or all of their functions realized by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a DSP (Digital Processing Unit). Also, the serial-to-parallel converter 11, the group generator 12, the BB generation unit 13, the equalizer 81, and the BB processing unit 82 may be configured to include hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and some or all of their functions may be realized by the hardware.

[0121] (Information notification, signaling) The notification of information is not limited to the aspects / embodiments described in the present disclosure, and may be performed using other methods. For example, the notification of information may be performed by physical layer signaling (e.g., Downlink Control Information (DCI), Uplink Control Information (UCI)), higher layer signaling (e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling, broadcast information (Master Information Block (MIB), System Information Block (SIB))), other signals, or a combination thereof. In addition, the RRC signaling may be called an RRC message, and may be, for example, an RRC Connection Setup message, an RRC Connection Reconfiguration message, or the like.

[0122] (Applicable system) Each aspect / embodiment described in the present disclosure may be applied to at least one of systems using LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE-A (LTE-Advanced), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4G (4th generation mobile communication system), 5G (5th generation mobile communication system), FRA (Future Radio Access), NR (New Radio), W-CDMA (registered trademark), GSM (registered trademark), CDMA2000, UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20, UWB (Ultra-WideBand), Bluetooth (registered trademark), and other suitable systems, and next-generation systems extended based on these. In addition, a combination of multiple systems (e.g., a combination of at least one of LTE and LTE-A and 5G, etc.) may be applied.

[0123] (Processing procedures, etc.) The order of the steps, sequences, flow charts, etc. of each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be changed unless inconsistent. For example, the methods described in this disclosure present elements of various steps using an example order, and are not limited to the particular order presented.

[0124] (Base station operation) In the present disclosure, a specific operation performed by a base station may be performed by its upper node in some cases. In a network consisting of one or more network nodes having a base station, it is clear that various operations performed for communication with a terminal may be performed by at least one of the base station and other network nodes other than the base station (e.g., MME or S-GW, etc., but are not limited to these). Although the above example illustrates a case in which there is one other network node other than the base station, it may also be a combination of multiple other network nodes (e.g., MME and S-GW).

[0125] (Input / Output direction) Information, etc. (see the "Information, Signals" section) may be output from a higher layer (or a lower layer) to a lower layer (or a higher layer). It may also be input / output via multiple network nodes.

[0126] (Handling of input and output information, etc.) The input and output information may be stored in a specific location (e.g., memory) or may be managed using a management table. The input and output information may be overwritten, updated, or added to. The output information may be deleted. The input information may be transmitted to another device.

[0127] (Judgment method) The determination may be based on a value represented by a single bit (0 or 1), a Boolean value (true or false), or a numerical comparison (e.g., comparison with a predetermined value).

[0128] (software) Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

[0129] Additionally, software, instructions, information, etc. may be transmitted or received over a transmission medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using wired and / or wireless technologies (such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)), and / or wireless technologies (such as infrared, microwave, etc.), then these wired and / or wireless technologies are included within the definition of transmission media.

[0130] (Information, Signals) The information, signals, etc. described in this disclosure may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies. For example, the data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof.

[0131] In addition, the terms described in this disclosure and the terms necessary for understanding this disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings. For example, at least one of a channel and a symbol may be a signal (signaling). Also, a signal may be a message. Also, a component carrier (CC) may be called a carrier frequency, a cell, a frequency carrier, etc.

[0132] ("System", "Network") As used in this disclosure, the terms "system" and "network" are used interchangeably.

[0133] (parameter, channel name) In addition, the information, parameters, etc. described in the present disclosure may be represented using absolute values, may be represented using relative values ​​from a predetermined value, or may be represented using other corresponding information. For example, a radio resource may be indicated by an index.

[0134] The names used for the above-mentioned parameters are not limiting in any way. Moreover, the formulas using these parameters may differ from those explicitly disclosed in this disclosure. The various channels (e.g., PUCCH, PDCCH, etc.) and information elements may be identified by any suitable names, and therefore the various names assigned to these various channels and information elements are not limiting in any way.

[0135] (Base station (wireless base station)) In this disclosure, terms such as "base station (BS)", "radio base station", "fixed station", "NodeB", "eNodeB (eNB)", "gNodeB (gNB)", "access point", "transmission point", "reception point", "transmission / reception point", "cell", "sector", "cell group", "carrier", "component carrier", etc. may be used interchangeably. A base station may also be referred to by terms such as a macro cell, a small cell, a femto cell, a pico cell, etc.

[0136] A base station can accommodate one or more (e.g., three) cells. When a base station accommodates multiple cells, the entire coverage area of ​​the base station can be partitioned into multiple smaller areas, and each smaller area can also be provided with communication services by a base station subsystem (e.g., a small indoor base station (RRH: Remote Radio Head)). The term "cell" or "sector" refers to a part or the entire coverage area of ​​a base station and / or a base station subsystem that provides communication services in this coverage.

[0137] (Terminal) In this disclosure, the terms "Mobile Station (MS)", "user terminal", "User Equipment (UE)", "terminal", etc. may be used interchangeably.

[0138] A mobile station may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, or some other suitable terminology.

[0139] (Base station / Mobile station) At least one of the base station and the mobile station may be called a transmitting device, a receiving device, a communication device, etc. At least one of the base station and the mobile station may be a device mounted on a moving body, the moving body itself, etc. The moving body may be a vehicle (e.g., a car, an airplane, etc.), an unmanned moving body (e.g., a drone, an autonomous vehicle, etc.), or a robot (manned or unmanned). At least one of the base station and the mobile station may include a device that does not necessarily move during communication operation. For example, at least one of the base station and the mobile station may be an IoT (Internet of Things) device such as a sensor.

[0140] Furthermore, the base station in the present disclosure may be read as a user terminal. For example, each aspect / embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to a configuration in which communication between a base station and a user terminal is replaced with communication between a plurality of user terminals (which may be called, for example, D2D (Device-to-Device) or V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything)). In this case, the terminal may be configured to have the functions of the above-mentioned base station. Furthermore, terms such as "uplink" and "downlink" may be read as terms corresponding to terminal-to-terminal communication (for example, "side"). For example, an uplink channel, a downlink channel, etc. may be read as a side channel.

[0141] Similarly, the terminal in the present disclosure may be read as a base station. In this case, the base station may be configured to have the functions of the terminal described above.

[0142] (Meaning and interpretation of terms) As used in this disclosure, the terms "determining" and "determining" may encompass a wide variety of actions. "Determining" and "determining" may include, for example, judging, calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up, search, inquiry (e.g., searching in a table, database, or other data structure), ascertaining, and the like. "Determining" and "determining" may also include receiving (e.g., receiving information), transmitting (e.g., sending information), input, output, accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory), and the like. In addition, "judgment" and "decision" can include considering resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, comparing, etc., to be a "judgment" or "decision." In other words, "judgment" and "decision" can include considering some action to be a "judgment" or "decision." In addition, "judgment" can be interpreted as "assuming," "expecting," "considering," etc.

[0143] The terms "connected," "coupled," or any variation thereof, refer to any direct or indirect connection or coupling between two or more elements, and may include the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are "connected" or "coupled" to each other. The coupling or connection between elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. For example, "connected" may be read as "access." As used in this disclosure, two elements may be considered to be "connected" or "coupled" to each other using at least one of one or more wires, cables, and printed electrical connections, as well as electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the radio frequency range, microwave range, and optical (both visible and invisible) range, as some non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples.

[0144] The reference signal may be abbreviated as RS (Reference Signal) and may be called a pilot depending on the applicable standard.

[0145] As used in this disclosure, the phrase "based on" does not mean "based only on," unless expressly stated otherwise. In other words, the phrase "based on" means both "based only on" and "based at least on."

[0146] Any reference to an element using a designation such as "first," "second," etc. does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used in this disclosure as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements. Thus, a reference to a first and a second element does not imply that only two elements may be employed or that the first element must precede the second element in some way.

[0147] The "part" in the configuration of each of the above devices may be replaced with "means," "circuit," "device," etc.

[0148] When the terms "include," "including," and variations thereof are used in this disclosure, these terms are intended to be inclusive, similar to the term "comprising." Further, when used in this disclosure, the term "or" is not intended to be an exclusive or.

[0149] A radio frame may consist of one or more frames in the time domain. Each of the one or more frames in the time domain may be called a subframe. A subframe may further be composed of one or more slots in the time domain. A subframe may have a fixed time length (e.g., 1 ms) that is independent of numerology.

[0150] Numerology may be a communication parameter that applies to the transmission and / or reception of a signal or channel, such as SubCarrier Spacing (SCS), bandwidth, symbol length, cyclic prefix length, Transmission Time Interval (TTI), number of symbols per TTI, radio frame structure, a particular filtering operation performed by the transceiver in the frequency domain, a particular windowing operation performed by the transceiver in the time domain, etc.

[0151] A slot may be composed of one or more symbols (such as an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, a Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) symbol, etc.) in the time domain. A slot may be a time unit based on numerology.

[0152] A slot may include multiple minislots. Each minislot may be composed of one or multiple symbols in the time domain. A minislot may also be called a subslot. A minislot may be composed of fewer symbols than a slot. A PDSCH (or PUSCH) transmitted in a time unit larger than a minislot may be called PDSCH (or PUSCH) mapping type A. A PDSCH (or PUSCH) transmitted using a minislot may be called PDSCH (or PUSCH) mapping type B.

[0153] A radio frame, a subframe, a slot, a minislot, and a symbol each represent a time unit for transmitting a signal. The radio frame, the subframe, the slot, the minislot, and the symbol may each be referred to by a different name.

[0154] For example, one subframe may be called a transmission time interval (TTI), multiple consecutive subframes may be called a TTI, or one slot or one minislot may be called a TTI. That is, at least one of the subframe and the TTI may be a subframe (1 ms) in the existing LTE, a period shorter than 1 ms (for example, 1-13 symbols), or a period longer than 1 ms. Note that the unit expressing the TTI may be called a slot, a minislot, or the like, instead of a subframe.

[0155] Here, TTI refers to, for example, the minimum time unit for scheduling in wireless communication. For example, in an LTE system, a base station performs scheduling to allocate radio resources (such as frequency bandwidth and transmission power that can be used by each user terminal) to each user terminal in TTI units. Note that the definition of TTI is not limited to this.

[0156] The TTI may be a transmission time unit for a channel-encoded data packet (transport block), a code block, a code word, etc., or may be a processing unit for scheduling, link adaptation, etc. When a TTI is given, the time interval (e.g., the number of symbols) in which a transport block, a code block, a code word, etc. are actually mapped may be shorter than the TTI.

[0157] In addition, when one slot or one minislot is called TTI, one or more TTIs (i.e., one or more slots or one or more minislots) may be the minimum time unit of scheduling. Also, the number of slots (minislots) constituting the minimum time unit of scheduling may be controlled.

[0158] A TTI having a time length of 1 ms may be called a normal TTI (TTI in LTE Rel. 8-12), a normal TTI, a long TTI, a normal subframe, a normal subframe, a long subframe, a slot, etc. A TTI shorter than a normal TTI may be called a shortened TTI, a short TTI, a partial or fractional TTI, a shortened subframe, a short subframe, a minislot, a subslot, a slot, etc.

[0159] In addition, a long TTI (e.g., a normal TTI, a subframe, etc.) may be interpreted as a TTI having a time length exceeding 1 ms, and a short TTI (e.g., a shortened TTI, etc.) may be interpreted as a TTI having a TTI length shorter than the TTI length of a long TTI and equal to or greater than 1 ms.

[0160] A resource block (RB) is a resource allocation unit in the time domain and the frequency domain, and may include one or more consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain. The number of subcarriers included in an RB may be the same regardless of the numerology, for example, 12. The number of subcarriers included in an RB may be determined based on the numerology.

[0161] In addition, the time domain of the RB may include one or more symbols and may be one slot, one minislot, one subframe, or one TTI in length. Each of one TTI, one subframe, etc. may be composed of one or more resource blocks.

[0162] Note that one or more RBs may be called a physical resource block (PRB), a sub-carrier group (SCG), a resource element group (REG), a PRB pair, an RB pair, or the like.

[0163] Furthermore, a resource block may be composed of one or more resource elements (REs). For example, one RE may be a radio resource region of one subcarrier and one symbol.

[0164] A Bandwidth Part (BWP), which may also be referred to as a fractional bandwidth, may represent a subset of contiguous common resource blocks (RBs) for a numerology on a carrier, where the common RBs may be identified by the index of the RBs relative to a common reference point of the carrier. PRBs may be defined in a BWP and numbered within the BWP.

[0165] The BWP may include a BWP for UL (UL BWP) and a BWP for DL ​​(DL BWP). One or more BWPs may be configured for a UE within one carrier.

[0166] At least one of the configured BWPs may be active, and the UE may not expect to transmit or receive a given signal / channel outside the active BWP. Note that the terms "cell", "carrier", etc. in this disclosure may be replaced with "BWP".

[0167] The above-mentioned structures of radio frames, subframes, slots, minislots, symbols, etc. are merely examples. For example, the number of subframes included in a radio frame, the number of slots per subframe or radio frame, the number of minislots included in a slot, the number of symbols and RBs included in a slot or minislot, the number of subcarriers included in an RB, the number of symbols in a TTI, the symbol length, the cyclic prefix (CP) length, etc. may be changed in various ways.

[0168] In this disclosure, where articles have been added due to translation, such as a, an, and the in English, the disclosure may include that the nouns following these articles are in the plural form.

[0169] In the present disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other." The term may also mean "A and B are each different from C." Terms such as "separate" and "coupled" may also be interpreted in the same way as "different."

[0170] (Variations of form, etc.) Each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be used alone, in combination, or switched according to execution. In addition, notification of specific information (e.g., notification that "X is the case") is not limited to being done explicitly, but may be done implicitly (e.g., not notifying the specific information).

[0171] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described in the present disclosure. The present disclosure can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims. Therefore, the description of the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative and does not have any limiting meaning on the present disclosure.

[0172] (Appendix 1) a serial-to-parallel converter converts the data sequence into M parallel data sequences, where M is a predetermined integer equal to or greater than 2 and m is an integer satisfying 1≦m≦M; where N is a predetermined integer equal to or greater than 1, n is an integer satisfying 1≦n≦N, M′=M+(N-Mod(M / N)), m′ is an integer satisfying 1≦m′≦M′, and the serial-to-parallel converter outputs M′ pieces of data; The data sequence from the (M+1)th output to the M'th output of the serial-to-parallel converter is set to 0, P is an integer expressed as P=M' / N, and p is an integer satisfying 1≦p≦P. The group generator divides the M' outputs of the serial-to-parallel converter into N groups, The n-th group is composed of the 1st branch to the P-th branch, and the (n+N(p-1))-th output of the serial-to-parallel converter is connected to the p-th branch. The (n+N(p-1))th output of the serial-to-parallel converter is input to the (n+N(p-1))th BB generator, The output of the (n+N(p-1))th BB generation unit is input to the (n+N(p-1))th D / A converter, The output of the (n+N(p-1))th D / A converter is input to the (n+N(p-1))th IF converter, The (n+N(p-1))th IF converter performs frequency conversion using the (n+N(p-1))th low-frequency local signal, The frequency of the (n+N(p-1))th low-frequency local signal is detuned by Δf from the frequency of the low-frequency local signal of the adjacent branch, The output of the (n+N(p-1))th IF converter is combined via an n-th multiplexer whose passband is the output frequency of the (n+N(p-1))th IF converter; The multiplexer is composed of a plurality of band-pass filters connected in parallel to reject signals other than the output of the (n+N(p-1))th IF converter, The output of the nth multiplexer is input to the nth RF converter; The nth RF converter performs frequency conversion using the nth high frequency local signal; The output of the nth RF converter is input to the nth amplifier, The output of the nth amplifier is fed to the nth transmitting antenna and radiated into space. Transmitting device.

[0173] (Appendix 2) a serial-to-parallel converter converts the data sequence into M parallel data sequences, where M is a predetermined integer equal to or greater than 2 and m is an integer satisfying 1≦m≦M; where N is a predetermined integer equal to or greater than 1, n is an integer satisfying 1≦n≦N, M′=M+(N-Mod(M / N)), m′ is an integer satisfying 1≦m′≦M′, and the serial-to-parallel converter outputs M′ pieces of data; The data sequence from the (M+1)th output to the M'th output of the serial-to-parallel converter is set to 0, P is an integer expressed as P=M' / N, and p is an integer satisfying 1≦p≦P. The group generator divides the M' outputs of the serial-to-parallel converter into N groups, The n-th group is composed of the 1st branch to the P-th branch, and the (n+N(p-1))-th output of the serial-to-parallel converter is connected to the p-th branch. The (n+N(p-1))th output of the serial-to-parallel converter is input to the (n+N(p-1))th BB generator, The output of the (n+N(p-1))th BB generation unit is input to the (n+N(p-1))th D / A converter, The output of the (n+N(p-1))th D / A converter is input to the (n+N(p-1))th IF converter, The (n+N(p-1))th IF converter performs frequency conversion using the (n+N(p-1))th low-frequency local signal, The frequency of the low-frequency local signal of the pth branch is detuned by Δf from the frequency of the low-frequency local signal of an adjacent branch in the group N, The output signal of the (n+N(p-1))th IF converter is input to an nth multiplexer whose passband is the output signal frequency of the (n+N(p-1))th IF converter, The output of the nth multiplexer is input to the nth RF frequency converter; The nth RF frequency converter performs frequency conversion using the nth high frequency local signal; The frequency of the high frequency local signal of the nth branch is detuned by PΔf from the frequency of the high frequency local signal of the adjacent branch, The output of the nth RF frequency converter is input to the nth amplifier; The output of the nth amplifier is fed to the nth transmitting antenna and radiated into space. Transmitting device.

[0174] (Appendix 3) In the transmitting device according to claim 1 or 2, an nth high frequency phase shifter is connected to the output of the nth RF frequency converter; The output of the nth high frequency phase shifter is input to the nth amplifier, The output of the nth amplifier is fed to the nth antenna and radiated into space. Transmitting device.

[0175] (Appendix 4) In the transmitting device according to claim 1 or 2, an n-th high frequency phase shifter is connected to an n-th high frequency local signal input terminal of the n-th RF frequency converter; The output of the n-th RF frequency converter is input to the n-th amplifier; The output of the nth amplifier is fed to the nth antenna and radiated into space. Transmitting device. [Industrial Applicability]

[0176] The present disclosure is useful in a multi-carrier transmission system that transmits information via multiple carrier waves in a wideband signal transmission. [Explanation of symbols]

[0177] 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 Communication equipment 11 Serial-to-parallel converter 12 Group Generator 13 BB generation section 14 D / A converter 15,79 IF converter 16 Multiplexer 17,76 RF converter 18,73 Amplifier 19,71 Antenna 31,41 High frequency phase shifter 51 Low Frequency Phase Shifter 61 High Frequency Amplitude Phase Shifter 72 Switch 74 Power Sensor 75 Adder 77 Demultiplexer 78 IF Amplifier 80 A / D Converter 81 Equalizer 82 BB Processing Section

Claims

1. A communication device that performs multi-carrier communication, an intermediate frequency converter for up-converting the parallel transmission signals to an intermediate frequency for each group; a multiplexer that combines the transmission signals up-converted to an intermediate frequency for each group; a radio frequency converter for up-converting the combined transmission signal to a radio frequency; the intermediate frequency converter up-converts the transmission signal to the intermediate frequency by using a first local signal common to each group; the frequency of the first local signal varies within the group; The radio frequency converter up-converts the transmission signal combined for each group to a radio frequency by using a second local signal having a different frequency for each group; The signals synthesized for each group and up-converted to a radio frequency are fed to antennas provided corresponding to each group. Communications equipment.

2. The multiplexer is configured with a filter bank having the intermediate frequency as a passband. The communication device according to claim 1 .

3. and a phase shifter for controlling the phase of the transmission signal up-converted to a radio frequency.

3. A communication device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A phase shifter for controlling the phase of a radio frequency local signal input to the radio frequency converter.

3. A communication device according to claim 1 or 2.

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