Array Antenna Output Power Estimation Using Calibration Coefficients

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication devices using array antennas face challenges in accurately measuring output power, especially at high frequencies like 5G millimeter wave frequencies, leading to high transmission loss and increased power consumption due to excessive transmission power requirements.

Innovation Solution

A device and method that include a controller, power amplifiers, and power detectors to estimate output power by calculating a correction coefficient during a calibration mode, allowing for accurate power adjustment in normal communication modes, thereby optimizing power usage and reducing consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If array antennas are used to increase antenna gain and compensate for high transmission loss, then communication effectiveness is improved, but power consumption and heat emission increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication effectivenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calibration by measuring actual output power at different gain settings and storing correction coefficients before normal operation. This preliminary action enables accurate power estimation during communication without requiring continuous high-power transmission, thus resolving the contradiction between communication effectiveness and power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously estimating output power using correction coefficients and adjusting power amplifier gain accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures communication effectiveness is maintained while optimizing power consumption by avoiding excessive transmission power

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Power

If output power is increased to compensate for transmission loss, then receive power is improved, but the tradeoff between output power and power consumption worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput powerVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts power amplifier gain based on estimated output power and correction coefficients rather than using fixed high power settings. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to use minimum necessary power for each communication condition, resolving the tradeoff between output power and power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of power amplifier gain based on correction coefficients derived from calibration measurements. By adjusting this parameter dynamically according to actual antenna output characteristics, the system achieves efficient power utilization without sacrificing communication performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If power detectors are used to measure output power, then power control capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to accurately measure array antenna output power

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower control capabilityVSAvoidoutput power measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces correction coefficients as an intermediary between power detector readings and actual antenna output power. These coefficients, derived from calibration measurements, mediate the inaccurate direct measurements to produce accurate power estimates, thus improving measurement precision while maintaining power control capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces direct mechanical/power measurement with a computational estimation approach using correction coefficients. This substitution transforms the measurement problem from a physical measurement challenge to a mathematical calculation, achieving high precision without requiring complex measurement hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12040844B2Device and method of estimating output power of array antenna

Publication Date: 2024.07.16 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A wireless communications device may include a controller configured to, in a calibration mode, obtain a first output value of a first power detector after setting a first power amplifier to a first gain and obtain a second output value of the first power detector after setting the first power amplifier to a second gain, wherein the controller may estimate, in a normal mode, output power of a first antenna from an output value of the first power detector, based on a correction coefficient calculated using the first output value and the second output value.