Analog Beamforming Weight Switching for Millimeter-Wave Channel Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
In millimeter-wave wireless communication systems, high-gain antennas are required for long-distance transmission, but using high-speed analog-to-digital converters for each antenna element is power and processing intensive, limiting the ability to perform full channel measurements due to the need for fewer digital converters than antenna elements.
Innovation Solution
A method using a single preamble to train and configure multiple antenna elements by switching beam forming weights during reception of training symbols, allowing for optimal beam forming weight computation and adaptation for subsequent data transmission without requiring feedback, enabling more efficient channel measurements and data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-speed analog-to-digital converters are used for each antenna element, then channel measurement capability is improved, but power consumption and processing requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antenna element signals in the analog domain using a combining network before a single analog-to-digital converter, merging the functionality of multiple converters into one to reduce power consumption while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces analog beamforming weights as an intermediary mechanism that enables a single ADC to effectively measure channels for multiple antenna elements by pre-processing signals in the analog domain, avoiding the need for multiple high-speed converters
2Use of energy by moving object
If the receiving station has fewer A/D converters than antenna elements, then power consumption is reduced, but the number of simultaneous channel measurements is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic switching of analog beamforming weights across multiple training symbols, allowing the system to sequentially measure different spatial directions or antenna elements over time, effectively increasing productivity without adding hardware converters
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary analog beamforming processing before digital conversion, pre-configuring the receiving station with multiple sets of beamforming weights that enable comprehensive channel measurement capabilities to be prepared in advance using a limited number of converters
3Use of energy by moving object
If analog beam forming is used, then power consumption and processing requirements are reduced, but the system requires training to configure optimal beam forming weights
Solution Approach 1:
The patent structures the training process using periodic training symbols with different beamforming weights, allowing the system to efficiently configure optimal weights through repeated measurements across multiple symbols, reducing the overall training time required
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for communicating a signal to a first station from a second station, the stations having antenna array. For communication in bands like 60GHz, it is advisable to carry out analog beam steering. But it is needed to compute all the beam forming weights in a single message. Then, the invention proposes that for each signal, in the preamble, a plurality of training symbols are included, wherein during each training symbol repetition, the receiving station adjusts at least one antenna parameter of the plurality of antennas and measuring the combined signal for computing a set of antenna weights to be applied for an analog beam forming on the antenna array for receiving the data field.