Analog Beam Steering Preamble for Limited-ADC Channel Training
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In millimeter-wave wireless communication, high-gain antennas require multiple channels for effective beam forming, but the use of high-speed analog-to-digital converters for each antenna is power and processing intensive, limiting the number of channel measurements that can be performed simultaneously due to the constraint of fewer analog-to-digital converters than antenna elements.
Innovation Solution
A method using a single preamble to train multiple antenna elements by combining analog signals with a configuration field containing repeated training symbols, allowing for the adjustment and measurement of antenna parameters to compute optimal beam forming weights for analog beam forming, enabling more comprehensive channel measurements and efficient data reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-speed analog-to-digital converters are used for each antenna element, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple antenna elements are combined into a single antenna array that shares common analog-to-digital converters. The patent describes an antenna array with N elements that uses only M converters (where M < N), allowing multiple elements to share conversion resources and reducing overall power consumption while maintaining measurement capabilities through sequential or parallel sharing arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The analog-to-digital converters are designed to serve multiple antenna elements simultaneously or sequentially. The patent shows that the same M converters can handle signals from N antenna elements by time-division multiplexing or parallel processing, making the converters universal resources that perform multiple functions across different antenna channels.
2Measurement precision
If high-speed analog-to-digital converters are used for each antenna element, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple antenna elements are combined into a single antenna array that shares common analog-to-digital converters. The patent describes an antenna array with N elements that uses only M converters (where M < N), allowing multiple elements to share conversion resources and reducing overall power consumption while maintaining measurement capabilities through sequential or parallel sharing arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the measurement process, using training symbols repeated multiple times to enable full channel measurement with fewer converters. By extending measurements across time (multiple training symbol repetitions), the system compensates for having fewer spatial converters, effectively trading time for hardware complexity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If fewer analog-to-digital converters are used than antenna elements, then power consumption is reduced, but productivity decreases due to limited simultaneous measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic repetition of training symbols in the transmitted signal. These repeated training symbols provide multiple measurement opportunities over time, allowing the receiver to accumulate channel information across multiple periods. This periodic structure enables full channel measurement even when the number of converters is limited, by performing measurements sequentially across different time instances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a preamble structure containing repeated training symbols before the actual data transmission. This preliminary action allows the receiver to perform channel measurements and estimate channel characteristics in advance, using the training symbols as reference signals. By preparing measurements during the preamble period, the system compensates for the limited number of converters and ensures accurate channel knowledge is available before data reception begins.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for communicating a signal to a first station from a second station, the stations having antenna array. For communication in bands like 60 GHz, it is advisable to carry out analog beam steering. But it is needed to compute all the beam forming weights in a single message. Then, the invention-proposes that for each signal, in the preamble, a plurality of training symbols are included, wherein during each training symbol repetition, the receiving station adjusts at least one antenna parameter of the plurality of antennas and measuring the combined signal for computing a set of antenna weights to be applied for an analog beam forming on the antenna array for receiving and/or transmitting the data field.