Antenna Subset Beam Weighting for Lower-Power UE Beamforming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional analog beamforming methods for selecting antenna elements in wireless communication systems are less effective due to factors like hand/body blockages and wider angular spreads, leading to increased power consumption and computational complexity, especially at higher frequencies.
Innovation Solution
A multi-step approach is employed to select a subset of antenna elements and determine beam weights using eigenvector-based procedures, reducing power consumption and computational overhead while improving signal quality in complex environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional analog beamforming methods are used to select antenna elements, then beamforming can be achieved, but power consumption increases and computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary antenna elements (subset) from the full antenna array based on signal quality metrics, rather than using all antenna elements. This extraction reduces the number of active components, thereby lowering power consumption while maintaining reliable signal quality through selective antenna element utilization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of antenna element selection from traditional analog beamforming approaches to an information-theoretic approach using mutual information and entropy. By transforming the selection criterion into a parameter-based optimization (selecting elements that maximize mutual information between received signals and transmitted data), the system achieves lower power consumption while maintaining signal quality
2Reliability
If traditional analog beamforming methods are used to select antenna elements, then beamforming can be achieved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/analog beamforming process with an information-theoretic computational approach. Instead of using complex analog signal processing and physical beam steering, the system uses mathematical models (mutual information, entropy) to select optimal antenna elements, significantly reducing computational complexity while maintaining signal quality through intelligent selection rather than brute-force computation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the antenna array into subsets based on the importance and contribution of individual antenna elements to signal quality. By dividing the full antenna array into meaningful subsets and selecting only the most relevant elements, the system reduces computational complexity compared to processing the entire array, while maintaining reliable signal quality through focused analysis of critical elements
3Area of stationary object
If all antenna elements are used for beamforming, then signal coverage is maximized, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential antenna elements needed for effective beamforming by evaluating each element's contribution to signal quality metrics (mutual information, entropy). This extraction allows the system to maintain adequate signal coverage using a subset of antenna elements rather than all elements, thereby reducing power consumption while preserving necessary coverage areas
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality analysis by evaluating and weighting individual antenna elements based on their specific contribution to signal quality in different spatial regions. Not all antenna elements are treated equally; instead, elements with higher local quality (better signal contribution) are selected for active beamforming, allowing the system to maintain coverage where needed while powering down less effective elements to reduce overall power consumption
Data Source
AI summary
A method for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE) and related apparatus are provided. In the method, the UE receives, from a network entity, a first set of reference signals associated with a first number of available antenna elements on the UE, and selects, based on the first set of reference signals, a second number of selected antenna elements from the first number of available antenna elements. The second number may be smaller than the first number. The UE further communicates data via the second number of the antenna elements based on a set of beam weights. The set of beam weights may be based on a second set of reference signals generated based on the second number of selected antenna elements.