Hybrid Beamforming Feed Network for Frequency-Division Multi-Beams

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Solution Overview

Problem

The U6G base station system's hybrid beamforming architecture in dense urban enhanced mobile broadband scenarios faces challenges such as prolonged channel estimation periodicity due to multi-beam sweeping, incomplete spatial domain information, and deteriorated user frequency division experience, limiting communication capacity.

Innovation Solution

A communication apparatus with a series-parallel feeding dispersion architecture that includes first and second delayers and phase shifters, allowing for frequency division multi-beams with adjustable delays and phase shifts, reducing complexity and enabling non-dispersive beams.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a parallel-feeding dispersion architecture is used to implement frequency division multi-beam, then communication capacity is improved, but device complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication capacityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the signal transmission path into multiple channels, with each channel handling a specific frequency band and beam direction. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each channel while reducing the overall complexity compared to a fully parallel architecture, as each channel can be processed separately through the shared delayer network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the delay adjustment function into a shared delayer structure that serves multiple channels simultaneously. Instead of having separate delay circuits for each channel in a parallel architecture, the invention combines these functions into a unified delayer network that can adjust delays for multiple frequency bands and beam directions through coordinated control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multi-beam sweeping is performed in time division multiplexing mode, then beam coverage is improved, but channel estimation periodicity is prolonged causing channel aging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam coverageVSAvoidchannel estimation periodicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic beam sweeping across multiple frequency bands, where each frequency band periodically transmits reference signals for channel estimation. This periodic action on multiple frequencies simultaneously reduces the effective channel estimation periodicity compared to single-frequency time-division sweeping, thereby mitigating channel aging while maintaining comprehensive beam coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the frequency parameter by performing beam sweeping across multiple frequency bands simultaneously rather than sequentially in time. This parameter change from temporal to spectral domain allows parallel channel estimation on multiple frequencies, reducing the time required for complete channel estimation while maintaining beam coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If a single beam is used for transmission, then device complexity is reduced, but spatial domain information becomes incomplete

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidspatial domain information
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds the frequency dimension to the spatial domain by transmitting multiple beams simultaneously on different frequency bands. This dimensionality change from purely spatial (single beam) to spatio-frequency (multiple beams on multiple frequencies) allows complete spatial domain information to be captured while using a relatively simple device architecture that shares common delay and phase adjustment resources across frequencies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4686110A1Communication apparatus and communication device
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4686110A1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~2
  • EP4686110A1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)
  • EP4686110A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

This application provides a communication apparatus and a communication device, and relates to the field of communication technologies, to simplify the communication apparatus and improve performance of the communication apparatus while implementing a frequency division multi-beam. The communication apparatus includes at least one first delayer and a plurality of channels, where each of the plurality of channels has a first end and a second end, there is one first delayer coupled between first ends of any two adjacent channels in the plurality of channels, and second ends of the plurality of channels are coupled to a plurality of antenna elements in an antenna array; and each of the plurality of channels includes a second delayer and a first phase shifter that are coupled.