Antenna Array Phase Centre Mapping for Broadcast Beamforming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional MIMO antenna systems face challenges in maintaining high radiation intensity and array gain due to the increased number of antenna ports, leading to reduced power per port and inefficient broadcast beamforming.
Innovation Solution
A transmit device with an antenna array configured to select and map logical antenna ports onto physical antenna ports, determining a phase centre location to optimize power amplification and beamforming, allowing for flexible phase centre creation and independent transmitter amplification for each port, thereby maximizing radiation intensity and array gain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number of antenna ports in a MIMO system is increased, then the system capacity and spatial coverage are improved, but the available power per antenna port decreases leading to reduced radiation intensity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antenna ports (specifically 8 antenna ports arranged in 4 antenna elements with 2 polarizations each) to form a unified antenna array that transmits broadcast signals collectively. This merging allows the system to maintain high total power output while achieving wide beam coverage, resolving the contradiction between having many ports and maintaining power per port for effective broadcast transmission.
2Area of stationary object
If conventional broadcast beamforming is used with multiple antenna ports, then spatial coverage is achieved, but array gain is reduced due to power distribution across multiple ports
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different beamforming weights and phase shifts to different antenna elements and polarizations based on their specific spatial orientations. Each antenna element is configured with optimized local parameters (weights, phases) to contribute effectively to the overall broadcast beam, maintaining high array gain while achieving wide spatial coverage through coordinated local optimizations.
3Use of energy by moving object
If all antenna ports are used for broadcast transmission, then power utilization is maximized, but beamforming control flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the 8 antenna ports into 4 antenna elements with 2 orthogonal polarizations each, allowing independent control and optimization of each segment. This segmentation enables the system to utilize all antenna ports for power maximization while maintaining beamforming flexibility through independent weight and phase control of each segmented element, resolving the contradiction between power utilization and control flexibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a transmit device for a wireless communication system (500), the transmit device (100) comprising: at least one logical antenna port (102) configured to provide a broadcast component signal; an antenna array (104) having M number of rows and N number of columns of antenna elements (106a, 106b,..., 106n), wherein each antenna element (106) comprises at least one physical antenna port (108) in one polarization; a processor (1 10) configured to select Q number of columns among the N number of columns, where Q≤ N, determine a phase centre location (PCL) for the logical antenna port (102), wherein the phase centre location (PCL) is arranged in a point on a vertical axis (A) located in the Q number of columns, map the logical antenna port (102) on the physical antenna ports (108a, 108b,..., 8q) of the Q number of columns based on the determined phase centre location (PCL); wherein the antenna array (104) is configured to transmit the broadcast component signal on the mapped physical antenna ports (108a, 108b,..., 108q) of the Q number of columns. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a corresponding method, a computer program, and a computer program product.