Base Station RF Path Switching for Low-Power Beamforming
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and power consumption of fully-digital antenna arrays in wireless communication systems, particularly due to the need for multiple RF chains, are exacerbated by the complexity of circuit design and limited beamforming capabilities in hybrid structures.
Innovation Solution
A base station design that includes a processing unit, RF units, antenna units, a control unit, and an adjusting unit, which generates baseband signals and control strategies to adjust RF signal gains by switching between high-gain and low-gain RF paths, reducing the number of components and maintaining signal transmission efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fully-digital structure is used for signal processing, then optimal theoretical performance is achieved, but cost and power consumption increase due to requiring an RF chain for each antenna
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna array into multiple sub-arrays, with each sub-array having its own RF chain. This segmentation allows the system to achieve good beamforming performance within each sub-array while reducing the total number of RF chains compared to a fully-digital structure, thereby lowering power consumption and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic switching between different RF paths with varying gains. The adjusting unit can switch between high-gain and low-gain paths based on signal requirements, enabling the system to adaptively optimize performance while reducing power consumption by not always using maximum gain paths.
2Measurement precision
If a fully-connected structure is used for analog beamforming, then finer beam formation is achieved, but cost and power consumption increase due to requiring a larger number of components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna array into multiple sub-arrays, where each sub-array can be independently controlled. This segmentation reduces the complexity of the phase shifter network compared to a fully-connected structure, as each sub-array requires fewer interconnections while still achieving effective beamforming through coordinated sub-array operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamic switching between different RF paths with varying gains to achieve fine beam control without requiring a fully-connected phase shifter network. By switching between high-gain and low-gain paths, the system can adjust beam characteristics dynamically, reducing the need for numerous fixed components.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If a sub-connected structure is used for analog beamforming, then cost and energy efficiency are improved, but beam direction and gain are limited by the lower number of components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic switching between multiple RF paths with different gains. The adjusting unit can switch between high-gain and low-gain paths based on the desired beam direction and gain requirements. This dynamic adaptability allows the sub-connected structure to overcome its inherent limitations in beam direction control while maintaining energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the RF paths to be multi-functional, where each RF path can serve multiple beam directions and gain requirements through the switching mechanism. This universality allows the system to achieve versatile beam control with fewer components, maintaining energy efficiency while improving adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A base station includes a processing unit, a plurality of radio frequency units, a plurality of antenna units, a control unit and an adjustment unit. The processing unit generates a baseband signal and provides a control strategy. The radio frequency units receive the baseband signal to generate a plurality of radio frequency signals. The antenna units transmit a plurality of output signals. The control unit receives the control strategy and generates a plurality of control signals according to the control strategy. The adjustment unit receives the radio frequency signals and the control signals, switches the connection of RF paths with high-gain or low-gain between the radio frequency units and the antenna units and adjusts gains of the radio frequency signals according to the control signals, so as to generate the output signals.