Beamforming Repeater Isolation Using Split Antenna Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless repeaters suffer from signal interference due to transmission radiation leaking into the reception path, affecting signal quality and stability.
Innovation Solution
A configurable beamforming repeater with a phased array of reception and transmission antennas, a signal processing chain, and a feedback path for real-time gain control to adjust amplifier gains, reducing interference by controlling beam direction and width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If wireless repeaters are used to extend signals, then coverage area is improved, but signal interference occurs due to transmission radiation leaking into reception path
Solution Approach 1:
The repeater system divides the antenna functions into separate reception antenna array and transmission antenna array, physically segmenting the receive and transmit paths to prevent radiation leakage interference while maintaining coverage extension capability
Solution Approach 2:
A beam controller is introduced as an intermediary component that manages beamforming operations for both reception and transmission antenna arrays, coordinating beam directions to minimize interference between transmit and receive signals while extending coverage
2Reliability
If beamforming is used to direct signals, then signal quality is improved, but device complexity increases due to phased array configuration and beam control
Solution Approach 1:
The beam controller serves multiple functions simultaneously: it controls beamforming for reception antenna array, controls beamforming for transmission antenna array, and coordinates between them to reduce interference, thereby improving signal quality without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The beamforming control functionality is merged into a single beam controller that manages both reception and transmission beams, consolidating what could be separate complex control systems into one unified controller to maintain signal quality while limiting complexity growth
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Improves reception and transmission isolation, reducing signal leakage and enhancing signal stability in both line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
a beamforming repeater that receives, at a first antenna array of the beamforming repeater, a signal via directional beamforming
Implementation Method 2
A feedback path of the repeater adjusts a gain of an amplifier based on an output of the at least one power amplifier
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A wireless repeater beamforms a receive signal, at a first antenna array. The repeater retransmits, via a second antenna array, a beamformed signal. The repeater may adjust the receive and/or transmit beam in order to avoid signal interference caused by the retransmission. The repeater may monitor an output of a power amplifier (PA) in a signal processing chain and adjust a gain to a PA driver to the PA and/or a gain to one or more low noise amplifiers (LNAs) in the signal processing chain in order to improve or maintain transmission stability in the repeater.