Active Antenna Failure Compensation via Adaptive DBF Coefficients

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing table lookup compensation method for active antennas is inefficient due to its inflexible adjustment and heavy workload, especially when dealing with multiple antenna arrays and various failure types, leading to an exponential increase in failure mode data table size.

Innovation Solution

A real-time failure compensation method that detects DBF coefficient differences in transceiver channels, calculates new adaptive DBF coefficients through optimization processing, and updates them to compensate for failures, reducing the workload and improving flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the table lookup compensation method is used, then the failure compensation function is implemented, but the workload increases exponentially and the adjustment flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefailure compensation functionVSAvoidfailure mode data table size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic DBF coefficient adjustment through iterative optimization algorithms (such as genetic algorithms or gradient descent) that continuously adapt coefficients based on real-time failure detection, replacing the static table lookup method. This allows the system to handle any failure mode without pre-calculating all possible scenarios, thus avoiding exponential growth in data table size while maintaining reliability through adaptive compensation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the approach from storing fixed DBF coefficient tables to dynamically calculating optimal coefficients by changing optimization parameters (such as objective functions and constraint conditions) based on detected failure modes. This parameter-based adaptive approach eliminates the need for extensive pre-computation and storage of failure mode data, reducing system complexity while preserving compensation effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If multiple antenna arrays are disposed for multi-channel signals, then the signal transmission capability is improved, but the failure compensation workload increases exponentially

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal transmission capabilityVSAvoidcompensation calculation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the compensation calculation process into independent channel-specific optimizations rather than computing all possible multi-channel failure combinations. By treating each transceiver channel's DBF coefficient optimization independently through iterative algorithms, the system avoids the exponential complexity that would arise from considering all multi-array failure modes simultaneously, thus reducing calculation time while maintaining multi-channel transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial optimization by focusing computational resources on optimizing DBF coefficients only for affected channels when failures are detected, rather than re-optimizing all channels. This selective approach significantly reduces the compensation calculation time for multi-antenna systems while still achieving effective failure compensation for the impacted signal paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Power

If the transceiver channel unit operates with high voltage and large power, then the signal processing capability is enhanced, but the temperature rises causing failures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal processing capabilityVSAvoidfailure rate
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements real-time feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor transceiver channel performance and detect failures caused by thermal effects. When failures are detected, the system automatically triggers DBF coefficient optimization and compensation, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to thermal-induced failures. This feedback approach maintains high power signal processing capability while compensating for reliability degradation through adaptive coefficient adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3133752B1Failure compensation method and apparatus for an active antenna, and active antenna device
Publication Date: 2018.05.23 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3133752B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3133752B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3133752B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A failure compensation method and apparatus for an active antenna, and an active antenna device are provided. The method includes: detecting a Digital Beam-forming (DBF) coefficient of each of multiple transceiver channels in real time; when a failure of any one of the transceiver channels is detected, obtaining a current group of DBF coefficients of the multiple transceiver channels at a current failure status and corresponding failure mode information; performing optimization processing on the current group of DBF coefficients through a preset optimization algorithm, so as to calculate a first group of DBF coefficients which is more adaptive to the failure mode information relative to the current group of DBF coefficients; and updating the DBF coefficients of the transceiver channels according to the first group of DBF coefficients. Under the premise that not much preparation calculation work needs to be done, the active antenna can obtain optimized DBF coefficient values through an automatic solution, and automatically distribute the optimized DBF coefficient values to the transceiver channels, thereby adjusting the performance of the entire active antenna device and reducing the influence of a failed transceiver channel on the performance of the active antenna.