Antenna Diversity System Using SNR and Error Rate Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna diversity systems in wireless network devices rely on sampling signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) during packet reception, which is insufficient for making informed antenna selection, especially for signals like OFDM, and does not ensure the best antenna is chosen for transmission.
Innovation Solution
A wireless network device with a signal-to-noise ratio module, an error rate module, and an antenna selection module that measures and compares the SNR and error rates of multiple antennas over multiple packets to select the optimal antenna for transmission, based on predetermined criteria and timing signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If SNR is sampled only during packet preamble, then antenna selection is simple and fast, but the selection accuracy is insufficient especially for OFDM signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by measuring SNR during the packet preamble phase before actual data transmission begins. This allows the system to pre-determine which antenna provides better signal quality for OFDM packets, enabling informed antenna selection before the critical data transmission phase starts. The measurement is performed in advance during the preamble portion of the received packet.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by using the measured SNR values from packet preambles to dynamically select antennas for subsequent transmissions. The SNR measurement results feed back into the antenna selection decision-making process, allowing the system to adaptively choose the optimal antenna based on actual signal conditions observed during preamble reception.
2Reliability
If antenna selection is based on short-term SNR sampling, then the response is fast, but the reliability of antenna selection is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs SNR measurements during the packet preamble phase, which occurs before actual data transmission. This preliminary measurement approach allows the system to gather signal quality information in advance without extending the critical data transmission time, thereby maintaining fast response while improving selection reliability through actual signal sampling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the preamble portion of received packets to automatically perform SNR measurements for antenna selection purposes. The received packets themselves provide the measurement signal, eliminating the need for separate dedicated measurement signals or extended measurement periods, thus achieving reliable measurements without time penalty.
3Measurement precision
If multiple antennas are measured for each packet, then selection accuracy improves, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the packet structure into preamble and data portions, and uses only the preamble portion for SNR measurement purposes. This segmentation allows the system to perform measurements on a simplified, standardized portion of the packet that is identical across all packets, reducing processing complexity compared to analyzing entire packets with variable data contents.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and uses only the relevant SNR information from the packet preamble for antenna selection decisions. By taking out and focusing solely on the preamble portion which contains the essential signal quality indicators, the system avoids the complexity of processing entire packets while maintaining measurement accuracy for selection purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
A system including a diversity module and an antenna selection module. The diversity module is configured to measure i) a first signal-to-noise ratio and a first error rate for a first signal received via a first antenna, and ii) a second signal-to-noise ratio and a second error rate for a second signal received via a second antenna. The antenna selection is module configured to select the first antenna or the second antenna by comparing i) the first signal-to-noise ratio to the second signal-to-noise ratio, and ii) the first error rate to the second error rate.