Antenna Feed Digital Beamformer Power Split Network
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna feed systems for active antenna arrays in cellular networks are costly and power-intensive due to the need for multiple transceivers, which increases complexity and reduces efficiency in providing adaptive beamforming for various tilt angles.
Innovation Solution
A reduced number of transceivers are used in conjunction with a digital beamformer and a power split network with multiple stages of power splitters and phase shifters, including a variable phase shifter, to generate multiple RF signals with varying phases and amplitudes for an increased number of antennas, allowing for efficient adaptive beamforming and reduced complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple transceivers are used in the antenna feed system, then beamforming performance and coverage are improved, but cost and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple transceiver functions into a single transceiver by integrating a digital beamformer and an RF beamformer. The digital beamformer processes baseband signals to create multiple beamformed signals, which are then converted to RF and distributed to multiple antennas. This merging reduces the number of transceivers from multiple to one, thereby reducing power consumption and cost while maintaining beamforming capability through coordinated signal processing across the antenna array.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a digital beamformer as an intermediary component between the baseband processor and the RF transceiver. This digital beamformer acts as a mediator that takes a single baseband signal and generates multiple beamformed signals with different spatial characteristics. By placing this intermediary in the signal path, the system achieves multiple beamforming outputs from a single transceiver, resolving the contradiction between needing multiple transceivers for beamforming and the desire to reduce power consumption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transceivers are deployed for adaptive beamforming, then spatial signal separation and capacity are enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple transceivers into a single transceiver system by combining digital beamforming and RF beamforming in one architecture. Instead of having separate transceivers for each antenna, the system uses one transceiver with integrated digital and RF beamformers that coordinate to provide spatial signal separation. This merging reduces device complexity by eliminating redundant transceiver components while maintaining the adaptability needed for spatial separation through software-defined beamforming algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes a single transceiver universal by enabling it to perform multiple functions that would traditionally require separate transceivers. The digital beamformer can generate multiple independent beamformed signals, and the RF beamformer can distribute these signals to multiple antennas with different beam directions and characteristics. This multi-functionality allows one transceiver to replace multiple transceivers, reducing system complexity while maintaining spatial signal separation capability.
3Measurement precision
If a full antenna array with individual transceivers is used, then beamforming precision and sectorization are improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines digital signal processing and RF beamforming in a single transceiver architecture to achieve full beamforming precision without requiring a transceiver for each antenna. The digital beamformer precisely controls the phase and amplitude of signals for each antenna element, and the RF beamformer distributes these precisely controlled signals to the antenna array. This merging maintains beamforming precision while reducing manufacturing cost by eliminating the need for multiple expensive transceiver units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the physical hardware approach of using multiple transceivers with a software-defined digital beamforming approach. Instead of relying on multiple independent transceiver hardware units, the system uses digital signal processing algorithms to achieve precise beamforming control. This substitution of mechanical/hardware complexity with software intelligence reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining or improving beamforming precision through flexible, reconfigurable digital beamforming algorithms.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure A1~A1(b)
Figure 2
AI summary
An antenna feed for generating signals for an active antenna array including multiple antennas for transmitting transmission beams having selected tilt angles, the antenna feed comprising a digital beamformer operable to receive an input broadband signal and to generate a plurality N of output broadband signals, each having an associated phase and amplitude, a plurality N of transmission signal generators, each operable to receive one of the said plurality N of output broadband signals and to generate a corresponding plurality N of first RF signals, and a feed network comprising a power split network operable to receive the said plurality N of first RF signals and to generate a plurality P of second RF signals, each having an associated amplitude and an associated phase shift applied using a variable phase shifter of a phase shift network, the feed network operable to supply respective ones of the plurality P of second RF signals to respective ones of the multiple antennas, M, of the said active antenna array, where P≥M>N.