Multi-Antenna Receiver Switching via Guard Interval Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-antenna receivers require a separate demodulator/decoder path for each antenna element, leading to high hardware complexity, size, weight, and cost, especially in angle of arrival (AoA) based indoor positioning systems where simultaneous signal reception is not necessary, and there is a lack of real-time antenna switching synchronization for random access broadband radio transmissions like WLAN.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus that performs partial synchronization on RF signals from multiple antenna elements using a common demodulation and decoding channel path, switching between antenna elements during guard intervals to determine relative orientation characteristics, thereby reducing hardware complexity and ensuring accurate data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a separate demodulator/decoder path is used for each antenna element, then signal reception accuracy is improved, but hardware complexity increases linearly with the number of antenna elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple demodulator/decoder paths into a single shared path that is time-multiplexed across multiple antenna elements. The receiver chain is shared among all antenna elements through time-division multiplexing, where the single demodulator/decoder path sequentially processes signals from different antenna elements at different time intervals, thereby reducing hardware complexity while maintaining signal reception accuracy through proper synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic antenna switching that allows the receiver to adaptively select and switch between different antenna elements in real-time based on signal conditions. The system dynamically allocates the single demodulator/decoder path to different antenna elements as needed, enabling flexible resource utilization and reducing the need for permanent dedicated hardware paths for each antenna element.
2Device complexity
If antenna switching is performed during signal reception, then hardware complexity is reduced, but data loss may occur during switching transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary synchronization actions by identifying training symbols and establishing timing relationships before actual data reception begins. The system uses known training sequences to pre-synchronize the single demodulator/decoder path with incoming signals from each antenna element, ensuring that switching transitions occur at optimal moments and that data integrity is maintained during antenna element transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces control logic and synchronization mechanisms as intermediary components that manage the switching process between antenna elements. These intermediary elements coordinate the timing of antenna switching with the demodulator/decoder path operations, ensuring that transitions occur at appropriate boundaries and that no data is lost during the switching process.
3Measurement precision
If simultaneous signal reception from multiple antenna elements is implemented, then positioning accuracy is improved, but hardware requirements and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic sampling and time-division multiplexing where the single demodulator/decoder path periodically processes signals from different antenna elements in a cyclic manner. By systematically rotating through each antenna element at regular intervals and using synchronization techniques to maintain timing relationships, the system achieves effective multi-antenna signal processing with a single shared receiver chain, thereby reducing hardware requirements while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
Described herein are one or more apparatus, that at least partially synchronise with a first radio-frequency signal from a first antenna element, of an array of spatially distributed antenna elements in a multi-antenna array receiver, to determine the position of at least one of a repeated guard interval in the first radio-frequency signal from the first antenna element, the repeat occurring at a particular defined characteristic interval. The apparatus then use the determined position of the at least one guard interval in the first radio-frequency signal to switch to a second radio-frequency signal from a second antenna element, of the array of spatially distributed antenna elements in a multi-antenna receiver, and further determine a relative orientation of the multi-antenna receiver from a transmitter of the radio-frequency signals using characteristics determined for the first and second radio-frequency signals following the at least respective partial synchronisations.