AAS Receiver Gain Tapering for Edge Antenna Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G cellular systems, Advanced Antenna Systems face challenges in controlling interference from uncoordinated UE signals, leading to increased noise figure and degraded signal-to-noise ratio due to the combined signal power overwhelming the receiver's dynamic range, particularly in scenarios where unwanted signals from different frequencies cannot be effectively filtered or power-controlled.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves different receiver control for antenna elements, particularly those at the edges of the array, using a combination of receiver block circuits, a combiner, a gain control circuit, and an interference control circuit to adjust gain and reduce interference, allowing edge antenna elements to operate with reduced gain while maintaining higher gain for less impacted elements, thereby improving signal separation and SNR.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If receiver gain is reduced for all antenna elements to prevent combined signal power from overwhelming the ADC dynamic range, then the receiver can process signals without overload, but the signal-to-noise ratio for wanted signals is degraded and noise figure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the antenna array into edge antenna elements and non-edge antenna elements, applying different gain control strategies to each segment. Edge antenna elements receive reduced gain to suppress unwanted signals, while non-edge elements maintain higher gain for optimal wanted signal reception, resolving the contradiction between preventing receiver overload and maintaining signal-to-noise ratio.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by implementing spatially selective gain control where different regions of the antenna array have different gain characteristics. Specifically, edge antenna elements operating in high-interference directions receive tapered gain reduction, while other elements maintain full gain, allowing the system to locally adapt to interference conditions without globally degrading signal quality.
2Ease of operation
If traditional power control is used to manage uncoordinated UE interference, then transmitting power can be controlled for served UEs, but no control is available for uncoordinated UEs creating interfering signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using the antenna array's beamforming capability and spatial filtering to indirectly control the reception of unwanted signals from uncoordinated UEs. Instead of directly controlling transmitting power (which is unavailable), the system uses receiver-side spatial processing to suppress interference, acting as a mediator between the uncontrolled interference source and the desired signal reception.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If digital filtering is used to remove unwanted signals on different frequencies, then frequency separation is achieved, but steep filter response is required increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electronic filtering system with a signal processing approach using beamforming and spatial filtering. Instead of relying on steep frequency-domain filters, the system uses the antenna array's spatial characteristics and digital signal processing to suppress unwanted signals, substituting complex filter design with more flexible spatial processing techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
A receiver (100) with an antenna array (150) provides interference reduction for blocking signals received by the receiver (100) by controlling different receiver blocks (110) associated with different antenna elements (112) of the array (150) differently, particularly for those antenna elements (112) in the corner or proximate a corner or edge of the array (150), responsive to a power level of a combined signal resulting from all antenna elements (112). As a result, the solution presented herein enables a receiver (100) to more accurately target the gain control such that the antenna elements (112) and associated receiver circuitry (110) most likely to be impacted by unwanted signals have a reduced gain, while the antenna elements (112) and associated receiver circuitry (110) less likely to be impacted by unwanted signals can operate with a higher gain.