Antenna Device for Base Station MIMO and Beam Forming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radio base stations for cellular telephony systems face inefficiencies in power amplification and equipment usage due to separate antenna and radio chain requirements for Beam Forming (BF) and Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) transmissions, which are not typically used simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
An antenna device with dual input connections, polarization formers, and antennas of different polarizations, along with shared amplifiers and combiners, allowing for efficient signal combination and flexible operation between MIMO and BF modes, enabling simultaneous or separate use of these transmission methods with reduced equipment redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate antennas and radio chains are used for BF and MIMO transmissions, then the radio base station can support both transmission modes, but the equipment becomes voluminous and power amplifier resources are poorly utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal antenna device where the same physical antenna structure supports both BF and MIMO transmission modes through configurable polarization formers. The first and second antennas with different polarizations can be selectively activated or combined to serve different transmission requirements, eliminating the need for separate dedicated antenna systems for each mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the previously separate BF and MIMO antenna systems into a single integrated antenna device. The first and second antennas are combined in space, sharing common structural support and utilizing the same physical platform, thereby reducing overall equipment volume while maintaining functionality for both transmission modes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate antennas and radio chains are used for BF and MIMO transmissions, then the radio base station can support both transmission modes, but power amplifier resources are poorly utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The power amplifier resources are made universal by allowing the same amplifiers to serve both BF and MIMO modes through the configurable antenna device. The first and second power amplifiers can be dynamically allocated to different transmission modes based on operational requirements, maximizing resource utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic allocation of power amplifier resources between BF and MIMO modes. The polarization formers and antenna configuration can be adjusted in real-time to optimize the use of available power amplifier capacity according to the current transmission mode and traffic conditions.
3Reliability
If conventional separate antenna systems are used for BF and MIMO, then each transmission mode has dedicated equipment, but the overall system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal antenna device that performs the functions previously requiring separate dedicated systems. The same physical infrastructure supports both BF and MIMO operations through configurable polarization and signal routing, reducing system complexity while maintaining the reliability benefits of dedicated functionality through software-defined configuration.
4Productivity
If signals are combined using traditional signal combining methods, then multiple data streams can be transmitted, but signal losses occur during combining
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the polarization dimension to transmit multiple data streams simultaneously through different spatial orientations. By employing first and second antennas with different polarizations (e.g., vertical and horizontal), the system transmits signals in orthogonal polarization states that can be separated at the receiver, avoiding traditional signal combining losses entirely.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration optimizes power amplifier usage, reduces equipment volume, and allows for efficient signal transmission in both MIMO and BF modes by combining signals in the air, minimizing traditional signal combining losses.
Implementation Method 1
a first and a second polarization former, one for each of said data streams
Implementation Method 2
a first and a second antenna of respective first and second polarizations, as well as one amplifier for each of the antennas
Data Source
AI summary
The invention discloses an antenna device (500, 600, 700) for a radio base station in a cellular telephony system, which comprises a first and a second input connection for a first (D1) and a second (D2) data stream, and a first (510, 610, 710) and a second (511, 611, 711) polarization former, one for each of said data streams. The device also comprises a first (530, 630, 730) and a second (532, 632, 732) antenna of respective first and second polarizations, and one amplifier each. The device also comprises a first (515, 615, 715) and a second (516, 616, 716) combiner, so that the outputs from the polarization formers may be combined as input to each of the first and second antennas.