Antenna Panel Control for Spatial Coverage in High Frequency Bands
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently controlling antenna panels, particularly in achieving omni-directional spatial coverage at high frequency bands, where beamforming reduces spatial coverage and requires complex panel management.
Innovation Solution
A method for a User Equipment (UE) to transmit capability messages and panel status reports to a Base Station (BS), including the number and activation state of antenna panels, allowing for dynamic activation and deactivation, and periodic or event-triggered reporting to optimize panel operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If beamforming technique is adopted to combat higher pathloss in high frequency band, then signal gain is improved, but spatial coverage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna array is divided into multiple independent antenna panels, each capable of forming its own beam. This segmentation allows the system to maintain beamforming gain while covering different spatial directions simultaneously through multiple panels, thus resolving the contradiction between signal gain and spatial coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from single-panel beamforming to multi-panel spatial division multiplexing. By adding the panel dimension, the system can form multiple beams in different directions at the same time, effectively expanding spatial coverage while maintaining the beamforming gain benefit through coordinated multi-panel operation.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple antenna panels are activated to achieve omni-directional spatial coverage, then spatial coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic panel activation and deactivation based on current communication conditions. The base station can configure the UE to activate only the necessary number of panels at any given time, adapting to changing spatial requirements. This dynamic approach maintains adequate spatial coverage while reducing device complexity by avoiding permanent activation of all panels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the activation state parameter of antenna panels dynamically. By controlling which panels are active versus inactive, the system can adjust spatial coverage requirements while managing device complexity. The base station provides configuration parameters that control panel activation states, enabling flexible adaptation without requiring complex UE-side decision-making.
3Measurement precision
If panel status reporting is transmitted frequently to enable adaptive panel control, then control accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic panel status reporting where the UE transmits panel status information at configured intervals rather than continuously. This periodic action provides the base station with adequate panel status information for adaptive control while significantly reducing signaling overhead compared to continuous reporting. The reporting period can be configured based on the rate of change of channel conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback mechanism where the UE reports panel status information to the base station, which then uses this information to optimize beamforming and panel configuration. This feedback loop enables adaptive panel control with appropriate reporting frequency, balancing the need for accurate panel status information against the cost of signaling overhead through intelligent feedback timing and content.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE) is provided. The UE includes a plurality of antenna panels. The method includes transmitting, to a Base Station (BS), a UE capability message that includes a number of the plurality of antenna panels; and transmitting, to the BS, a panel report that includes information of the plurality of antenna panels, the information associated with at least one of a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) and a Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS).