Active Antenna Array Predistortion Using Common Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for mobile communication systems requires more radio stations, leading to higher costs and complexity due to nonlinearities introduced by amplifiers in transmit paths, which distort payload signals and necessitate individual predistortion for each path, increasing hardware and maintenance requirements.
Innovation Solution
A radio station with a single digital predistortion module for all transmit paths, using a common feedback path and digital predistortion update module to impose and update predistortion, reducing hardware complexity and costs by using a single predistortion for all paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If individual predistortion modules are used for each transmit path to correct amplifier nonlinearities, then signal quality is improved, but device complexity and hardware costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual predistortion modules into a single shared predistortion module that serves all transmit paths. The feedback signals from multiple paths are combined and processed together to generate a single predistortion correction signal that is applied to all paths, thereby reducing hardware complexity while maintaining signal quality through collective optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The single predistortion module is designed to handle multiple transmit paths simultaneously, making it a universal component that performs the predistortion function for all paths. This multi-functional approach allows one module to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate modules, reducing overall device complexity.
2Productivity
If more radio stations are deployed to meet increasing mobile communication demand, then system capacity is improved, but maintenance costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the predistortion functionality into a single shared module across multiple transmit paths within a radio station, the patent reduces the number of components that require maintenance. Fewer individual predistortion modules mean fewer potential failure points and simplified maintenance procedures, making it easier to maintain system capacity as more radio stations are deployed.
3Power
If amplifiers are used in transmit paths to amplify signals, then transmission power is improved, but nonlinear distortion of payload signals occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies predistortion to the signal before it enters the amplifier. By pre-applying a distortion that is the inverse of the amplifier's expected nonlinearity, the signal is prepared in advance so that when it passes through the amplifier, the combined effect linearizes the overall transfer characteristic, maintaining signal quality while enabling high transmission power.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful nonlinear effect of the amplifier into a beneficial linearizing effect. By deliberately applying inverse distortion through the predistortion module, the amplifier's nonlinearity is transformed from a source of distortion into a means of achieving linear amplification when combined with the predistorted signal.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a radio station providing a digital predistortion to be imposed on a payload signal. The digital predistortion is usable as a general predistortion for several transmit paths of the radio station. The radio station provides coupled transmit signals to be combined within a combiner forming a common feedback signal. The common feedback signal is relayed along a common feedback path. A digital predistortion update unit to updates the digital predistortion in order to linearize a transfer characteristics of the transmit paths. The disclosure relates to a method of digitally predistorting a payload signal in order to linearize a transmit characteristics of the transmit paths. The disclosure further relates to computer program products for the manufacture of the radio station and/or a computer product for the execution of the method digitally predistorting. The disclosure further relates to an antenna array comprising the radio station.