Antenna Array Beam Forming via Sub-Sector Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beam forming technologies, such as those in LTE release 10, are limited by the number of antenna ports, resulting in restricted angular resolution and beam forming gain, especially with dual polarized uniform linear array antennas, which hampers the performance and capacity of wireless communications networks.
Innovation Solution
The method involves dividing an angular sector into sub-sectors using port weights to create virtual antenna ports, alternatingly transmitting reference signals for channel state information acquisition, allowing for simultaneous use of multiple antenna ports and denser sampling, thereby enhancing beam forming gain and spatial resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the number of antenna ports is increased to improve beam forming gain, then the beam forming gain improves, but the device complexity and system overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The angular sector is divided into multiple sub-sectors, and reference signals are transmitted alternately in different sub-sectors using different sets of antenna ports. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high beam forming gain through denser sampling in each sub-sector while managing complexity by reusing antenna ports across different time instances for different sub-sectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic transmission of reference signals in an alternating pattern across different sub-sectors. By periodically switching between different sets of antenna ports for different sub-sectors, the system achieves comprehensive channel state information acquisition without requiring all antenna ports to be active simultaneously, thus managing system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If the number of antenna ports is increased to improve spatial resolution, then the spatial resolution improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the angular sector into sub-sectors and using different sets of antenna ports for each sub-sector, the patent achieves high spatial resolution within each sub-sector through denser sampling. The segmentation approach allows the system to achieve fine angular resolution without requiring all antenna ports to be active simultaneously, thus managing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The alternating periodic transmission of reference signals across different sub-sectors enables the system to achieve high spatial resolution through time-sequential sampling. By periodically switching between different antenna port sets, the system accumulates fine-grained spatial information without the complexity of having all ports active at once.
3Speed
If reference signals are transmitted in all sub-sectors simultaneously using all antenna ports, then the channel state information acquisition speed improves, but the interference between reference signals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the reference signal transmission in both spatial (sub-sectors) and temporal (alternating transmission) dimensions. By transmitting reference signals alternately in different sub-sectors rather than simultaneously across all sub-sectors, the system avoids reference signal interference while still achieving comprehensive channel state information acquisition through the alternating pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The alternating periodic transmission of reference signals across different sub-sectors eliminates interference by ensuring that not all sub-sectors transmit reference signals simultaneously. The periodic switching pattern allows each sub-sector to receive clean reference signals while maintaining overall system efficiency through the systematic rotation across all sub-sectors.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided beam forming using an antenna array. The antenna array is configured to transmit across an angular sector. The angular sector is divided into at least two sub-sectors by respective port weights being applied to respective physical antenna ports of the antenna array. A respective set of virtual antenna ports is determined for each sub-sector. A first set of reference signals for acquiring channel state information on the set of virtual antenna ports is alternatingly transmitted in each one of the at least two sub-sectors.