Backscatter Receiver Gain Grouping for Near-Far Signal Decoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
5G networks face challenges in efficiently supporting passive IoT devices, such as RFID tags, due to the near-far problem where backscattered signals from devices at different distances arrive at varying power levels, leading to decoding issues with a single gain state gain control module.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a network device with multiple receive chains grouped into clusters, each with adjustable gain control modules based on device distance and signal power levels, allowing for optimal gain states to process backscattered signals effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single gain state gain control module is used, then device complexity is reduced, but signal decoding reliability deteriorates due to the near-far problem
Solution Approach 1:
The receive chains are divided into multiple groups, with each group assigned a specific gain state. This segmentation allows different devices at different distances to be served by appropriately configured gain states, resolving the near-far problem while maintaining manageable system complexity through structured organization.
Solution Approach 2:
Different gain states are assigned to different groups of receive chains based on the distance of devices they serve. This local quality approach ensures that each group has the optimal gain state for its specific operational range, improving signal decoding reliability for devices at various distances from the network device.
2Reliability
If multiple gain states are implemented, then signal decoding reliability is improved for devices at different distances, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of implementing multiple gain states across all receive chains, the system segments receive chains into groups and assigns gain states to groups. This reduces the complexity burden on individual gain control modules while maintaining the benefits of multiple gain states for improving signal decoding reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gain control modules are designed to support multiple gain states, making them multi-functional. This universality allows the same hardware structure to handle different gain requirements for devices at various distances, improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Device complexity
If open-loop power control is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different device distances deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback information about device distance to select appropriate gain states for different groups of receive chains. This feedback mechanism enables the network device to adapt to devices at different distances without requiring complex open-loop power control, improving adaptability while managing complexity through informed gain state selection.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and techniques are described for wireless communications. For example, a network device can receive, via receive antennas, signals transmitted from one or more devices. Each receive antenna is within one group of two or more groups. The network device can adjust, using gain control modules, a power level of each signal to produce power adjusted signals. The gain control modules are within one group of the two or more groups. At least a portion of the gain control modules is associated with different gain states. The gain states are based on at least one of distances of the one or more devices from the network device or power levels of the signals transmitted from the one or more devices. The network device can process the power adjusted signals.