Antenna Null Steering for Wireless Interference Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in reducing interference from neighboring devices, particularly in directional communication scenarios where achieving high antenna gains and minimizing signal interference from non-target devices is crucial.
Innovation Solution
The system generates frames with a duration field and a beam training sequence, including a Clear to Send (CTS) portion, to configure antennas and reduce interference by creating nulls aimed at non-target devices, allowing for efficient communication medium usage and interference mitigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If directional antenna configuration is used to achieve higher antenna gains, then signal transmission efficiency is improved, but interference from non-target devices may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring different antenna elements with different beamforming weights to create spatially selective radiation patterns. Each antenna element contributes to forming main lobes toward target devices and nulls toward non-target devices, achieving localized signal enhancement and interference suppression in specific directions simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the contradiction by adding a spatial dimension to signal transmission through directional beamforming. By controlling the phase and amplitude of signals across multiple antenna elements, the system creates three-dimensional radiation patterns with main lobes and nulls, transforming omnidirectional transmission into spatially selective transmission that achieves both high gain and interference reduction
2Object-affected harmful factors
If nulls are configured to reduce interference from non-target devices, then signal interference is reduced, but antenna gain in target directions may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the antenna array into multiple independently controllable antenna elements, each capable of contributing differently to the overall radiation pattern. This segmentation allows the system to form multiple simultaneous beam patterns - main lobes toward target devices and nulls toward non-target devices - by applying different beamforming weights to each element, thereby achieving both interference reduction and maintained gain
3Productivity
If beam training sequences are transmitted to configure antennas, then directional communication efficiency is improved, but communication medium usage time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing beam training and antenna configuration before actual data transmission. The beam training sequences are transmitted in advance to establish optimal beamforming weights and antenna configurations, allowing the system to achieve high-directional communication efficiency during the subsequent data transmission phase without repeatedly performing training
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic beamforming where antenna configurations can be adjusted based on channel conditions and interference patterns. The system dynamically optimizes beamforming weights during operation, allowing flexible adaptation to changing environments while maintaining efficient communication without requiring excessive training time
Data Source
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AI summary
A technique is disclosed for reducing interference in a communication system including a plurality of wireless devices. A first device transmits an RTS-TRN frame including a Request to Send (RTS) portion and a first beam training sequence to determine whether a communication medium is available to communicate with a second device. If the communication medium is available, the second device transmits a CTSTRN frame including a Clear to Send (CTS) portion and a second beam training sequence. One or more neighboring devices that receive the RTS-TRN frame and/or the CTS-TRN frame configure their respective antennas to generate one or more nulls aimed at the first and second devices when transmitting signals, as long as the first and second devices are communicating based on a duration field in the RTS-TRN frame and/or CTS-TRN frame. This reduces interference at the first and/or second devices.