Phased Array Beamforming for Spatial Power Limits and Priority
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in managing radiated power levels and spatial priority, leading to interference and underutilization of spatial resources, particularly in spectrum access systems where different wireless devices have varying priorities, and existing solutions lack effective methods to manage interference and power levels without causing disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A systematic beamforming method that adjusts beam patterns to limit power in unwanted directions while maintaining signal quality in desired directions, using a well-defined matrix operation to create controlled sidelobes and manage interference, allowing for opportunistic transmission and enhanced channel diversity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If power back-off is used to limit interference, then interference levels are reduced, but spatial resource utilization is under-utilized and transmission efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating power levels in different spatial directions. Instead of uniformly reducing power in all directions (power back-off), the system applies higher power in desired directions and lower power in unwanted directions, achieving both interference reduction and efficient spatial resource utilization through direction-specific power control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from scalar power control to vector-based beamforming in the spatial domain. By introducing angular dimensions (θ, φ) and using phased array antenna elements with complex weights, the system controls power distribution across multiple spatial dimensions simultaneously, enabling precise interference management without sacrificing overall transmission efficiency.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If complete transmitter shutdown is performed to avoid interference, then interference is eliminated, but resource utilization becomes highly inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively applying power reduction only in specific unwanted directions rather than completely shutting down the transmitter. The beamforming system maintains full power transmission in desired directions while applying power back-off only in interference-prone directions, achieving partial suppression of harmful effects without sacrificing overall system productivity.
3Productivity
If numerical optimization is used to manage power levels, then power distribution is optimized, but computational burden increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating beamforming weights and power distribution patterns based on channel state information and interference constraints. The system prepares optimization results in advance before actual transmission, allowing real-time operation to simply apply pre-computed weights without performing complex numerical optimization during time-critical transmission phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optimization parameters from continuous power level adjustments to discrete beamforming weights applied to antenna elements. By transforming the problem into selecting from predefined beam patterns and adjusting complex weights with fixed precision, the system reduces computational complexity while maintaining effective power distribution control.
4Device complexity
If single-rank transmission is used to reduce complexity, then computational complexity is reduced, but multi-layer and multi-user MIMO transmission capabilities are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by decomposing the complex multi-layer MIMO transmission problem into independent spatial streams, each with its own beamforming weights and power control. The system processes multiple layers separately through spatial multiplexing, applying beamforming optimization to each stream individually, thereby managing complexity through division while maintaining overall high-capacity MIMO transmission.
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
This approach enhances spatial resource utilization by creating stronger multipath channels and improved channel diversity, enabling higher rank transmissions and harmonized spatial sharing in spectrum access systems, while maintaining desired signal qualities and adhering to regulatory power limits.
Implementation Method 1
employ beamforming and spatial multiplexing techniques to control the spatial distribution of the signals radiated by the array to maximize the signal strengths at desired receiver locations
Implementation Method 2
The transmitter 16 has a beamformer 18 which determines a set of weights to apply to antenna elements 20 of a phased array antenna 22
Implementation Method 3
The weights may be phases that are applied via phase shifters 24. The weights applied to the antenna elements 20 may be calculated to steer one or more beams in the directions of the WDs 8
Implementation Method 4
The transmitter 16 may use one or more precoders to focus the signals in desired directions
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and network node for management of beams radiated by a phased array antenna of a network node to comply with regulatory or other constraints are provided. According to one aspect, a network node is configured to selectively transmit radio frequency beams in a plurality of directions on a plurality of layers to a plurality of wireless devices. The network node includes processing circuitry configured to direct and beams to a first set of directions while suppressing energy radiated in a second set of directions according to algorithms that modify a precoder to achieve a distribution of radiated energy without computationally burdensome optimization algorithms.