Active Antenna Array Sub-Sector Beam Control for SIR Improvement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3G WCDMA networks face challenges in maintaining optimal signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) and data transmission rates due to limited flexibility in antenna beam-forming, which leads to increased noise floors and power consumption, especially in densely loaded cells with multiple UEs transmitting on the same frequency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of active antenna array technology with multiple digital receive patterns, including sector beams and sub-sector beams, allows for spatial filtering and improved SIR performance by processing signals independently and using polarized diversity, thereby reducing interference and enhancing Eb/No ratios without increasing signal processing complexity excessively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fixed beam pattern antenna arrays are used, then device complexity is reduced, but signal-to-interference ratio deteriorates due to inability to perform spatial filtering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna array into multiple independently controllable beam-forming units, each capable of generating separate beam patterns. This segmentation allows the system to create multiple digital receive patterns (sector beams and sub-sector beams) that can be independently optimized for different spatial directions, thereby improving signal-to-interference ratio through spatial filtering while managing complexity through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic beam pattern adjustment by allowing the antenna array to switch between different receive patterns based on signal conditions. The system can dynamically create and switch between sector beams and sub-sector beams, adjusting the beam patterns in real-time to track mobile stations and optimize spatial filtering, thus improving SIR without requiring permanently complex hardware
2Reliability
If multiple digital receive patterns are implemented, then spatial filtering and SIR performance are improved, but signal processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The signal processing function is segmented into multiple parallel beam-forming units, each handling a specific receive pattern. This allows independent processing of sector beams and sub-sector beams without requiring complex sequential processing, improving SIR performance while distributing computational complexity across multiple simpler parallel processing paths
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple beam-forming units and their associated processing functions into an integrated antenna array system. By merging the spatial filtering, beam pattern generation, and signal processing functions into a unified architecture, the system achieves improved SIR performance while avoiding the complexity overhead of completely separate processing systems
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional antenna arrays with fixed beam patterns are used, then power consumption is reduced, but noise floor increases due to limited spatial filtering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes interference signals from the received signal space by implementing digital receive patterns that spatially filter out unwanted signals. By taking out the harmful interference components through spatial filtering in the digital domain, the system reduces the noise floor without requiring additional physical filtering components that would consume power
4Object-affected harmful factors
If active antenna array technology with multiple receive patterns is deployed, then interference reduction is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna array is segmented into multiple beam-forming units that can be independently controlled to create different receive patterns. This segmentation allows interference reduction through spatial filtering while managing complexity by dividing the overall system into modular, independently manageable units rather than requiring a monolithic complex system
Data Source
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AI summary
A wireless communication system comprises a network element (315) operably coupled to an antenna array for communicating with a remote wireless communication unit (305). The antenna array comprises a plurality of radiating elements where at least one first radiating element of the plurality of radiating elements is arranged to create a radiation pattern that comprises a sector beam (405). The plurality of radiating elements comprises at least one second radiating element arranged to create a major portion of at least one sub-sector beam (420, 425, 430) within the sector beam (405).