Antenna RF Path Switching for Full Duplex Self-Interference Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Full duplex operation in radio transceivers is hindered by self-interference due to transmission energy leaking into the reception path, causing interference in the received signal.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with radio frequency paths for antenna elements that allows for determining and controlling which paths are used for transmission or reception, enabling flexible operation modes including full duplex, time division duplex, and frequency division duplex, with phase shifters and amplifiers optimizing isolation and beam forming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If full duplex operation is implemented with overlapping frequency ranges for transmission and reception, then communication efficiency and spectral utilization are improved, but self-interference increases causing degradation of received signal quality
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna array is segmented into multiple antenna elements that can be independently controlled and configured. This segmentation allows the system to apply different beamforming weights and spatial filtering to different antenna elements, enabling the separation of transmission and reception signal paths in the spatial domain, thereby reducing self-interference while maintaining full duplex operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by implementing antenna-specific beamforming weights and spatial filtering characteristics for each antenna element. This allows the system to optimize the radiation pattern and directional characteristics of individual antennas, creating localized signal enhancement in desired directions and suppression in interference directions, thus reducing self-interference at the receiver
2Device complexity
If the same radio frequency path is used for both transmission and reception, then device complexity is reduced, but self-interference cannot be controlled and received signal quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality by enabling antenna elements to dynamically switch between transmission and reception roles based on operational requirements. The same physical antenna infrastructure serves multiple functions (transmission, reception, or both simultaneously with different beamforming configurations), eliminating the need for completely separate transmit and receive antenna paths while still controlling self-interference through spatial processing
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic beamforming weight adjustment and real-time spatial filtering that can adapt the radio frequency path characteristics during operation. This dynamic control allows the same physical antenna elements to be steered toward or away from interference sources, effectively controlling self-interference without requiring separate static transmit and receive paths
3Object-affected harmful factors
If antenna elements are separated into dedicated transmission and reception groups, then self-interference is reduced, but the number of radio frequency paths and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing optimal beamforming weight sets for different operational scenarios (full duplex, time division duplex, frequency division duplex). This allows the system to quickly switch between configurations without real-time complex computations, reducing the practical complexity of implementing multiple antenna paths while maintaining the ability to separate transmit and reception groups when needed
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprising: radio frequency paths for antenna elements of an array of antenna elements; and means for: determining which of a first group of radio frequency paths are transmission radio frequency paths to be used for transmission and which of a second group of radio frequency paths are reception radio frequency paths to be used for reception; and controlling when to use the determined transmission radio frequency paths for transmission and the determined reception radio frequency paths for reception.