Active Antenna Array Linearization Across Multiple Power Amplifiers
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of active transceiver branches in active antenna arrays increases, the complexity and hardware cost of linearization grow dramatically, leading to degraded processing power and efficiency, making it challenging to maintain signal quality and reduce unwanted emissions across multiple transmission paths.
Innovation Solution
The use of a single or limited number of pre-distorters to linearize multiple power amplifiers in active antenna arrays, allowing for simultaneous linearization across several beams without the need for separate pre-distortion of each amplifier, thereby reducing the number of linearizers and signal processing requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If separate pre-distorters are used for each power amplifier in active antenna arrays, then signal quality and unwanted emission reduction are improved, but device complexity and hardware cost increase dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate pre-distorters into a single shared pre-distorter that serves multiple power amplifiers simultaneously. This is achieved by combining the input signals to the pre-distorters and using a common pre-distortion processing unit, thereby reducing hardware complexity while maintaining the ability to linearize multiple amplifiers in an active antenna array.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention makes a single pre-distorter universal by enabling it to handle multiple input signals and serve multiple power amplifiers. The pre-distorter is configured to process signals from multiple transceiver branches through a combined input path, allowing one device to perform the function that previously required multiple separate devices.
2Manufacturing precision
If separate pre-distorters are used for each power amplifier, then signal quality is improved, but processing power and efficiency are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple pre-distortion processing functions into a single processing unit that handles multiple amplifiers simultaneously. This merging reduces the total processing overhead and computational burden compared to running separate pre-distortion algorithms for each amplifier, thereby improving processing efficiency while maintaining signal quality.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If separate pre-distorters are used for each power amplifier, then unwanted emissions are reduced, but hardware cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple separate pre-distorter hardware units into a single shared device that serves multiple power amplifiers. This consolidation directly reduces hardware cost by eliminating redundant components while maintaining the functionality needed to reduce unwanted emissions from multiple amplifiers simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
An transmitter arrangement and a method therein are provided for linearization of an active antenna array. The active antenna array comprises a plurality of antenna elements, which are associated with a plurality of power amplifiers. The active antenna array is further associated with a precoder having a number of input and output ports. The method comprises obtaining a first signal provided to the antenna array via a first input port of the precoder. The method further comprises adapting a pre-distorting linearizer connected to the first input port based on the first signal and on feedback from the plurality of antenna elements, resulting from the propagation of the first signal via the precoder, and via the plurality of power amplifiers. Embodiments are also provided for adapting a pre-distorting linearizer based on a plurality of input signals and feedback from the plurality of antenna elements.