Beamforming Circuit FIFO Buffer for Fast Antenna Beam Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G NR millimeter wave antenna arrays require significant time to change beam directions due to the need to transmit large amounts of data through serial interfaces for beam setting, which is inefficient.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a temporary storage circuit with a first-in-first-out region in the beamforming circuit to store beam indices, allowing the processor to sequentially read and set beam directions using a general-purpose input/output interface, reducing the time required for beam switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the processor transmits beam data through serial peripheral interface to set beam direction, then the beamforming circuit can control the antenna array to transmit signals in specific directions, but the beam switching time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-loads beam index data into a local buffer memory within the beamforming circuit before beam switching is needed. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming serial data transmission during actual beam switching operations, as the data is already available locally for immediate use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the beam control system into two functional parts: a processor that prepares beam data and a beamforming circuit with embedded buffer memory that stores and quickly accesses beam indices. This segmentation allows data preparation and data execution to occur in parallel, reducing overall beam switching time.
2Ease of operation
If the complete beam index is transmitted through serial peripheral interface and general-purpose input/output interface, then the beamforming integrated circuit can be controlled to switch beams, but the control process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the beam index storage function directly into the beamforming circuit's buffer memory, merging the data storage and beam control functions into a single integrated unit. This eliminates the need for separate serial peripheral interface and general-purpose input/output interface operations, simplifying the control process.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer memory within the beamforming circuit acts as an intermediary that stores beam indices locally, mediating between the processor and the beam switching operation. This intermediary eliminates the need for repeated complex interface transmissions by providing direct local access to beam control data.
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna device is provided, which includes an antenna array, a beamforming circuit and a processor. The beamforming circuit is connected to the antenna array, where the beamforming circuit is used for controlling the antenna array to perform beamforming, where the beamforming circuit includes a temporary storage circuit, where the temporary storage circuit includes a first-in-first-out region, and the first-in-first-out region stores multiple beam indices. The processor is connected to the beamforming circuit, where the processor is used for controlling the beamforming circuit through a first processing interface to sequentially read the multiple beam indexes by a first-in-first-out method, and set a direction of a beam of the antenna array according to the read beam index, where the read beam index corresponds to the direction of the beam of the antenna array. In addition, a beam control method is also disclosed herein.