Configurable Cellular Antenna Ports for PIM Mitigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cellular technologies face challenges in reducing passive intermodulation (PIM) interference, which is typically addressed through labor-intensive and costly manual means.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a signal processing component to control the ports of a configurable cellular antenna array, utilizing techniques such as uplink beam forming, spectral signature analysis, and antenna port reconfiguration to mitigate PIM interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If manual means are used to physically remove, clean, replace, etc. estimated PIM sources, then PIM interference reduction is achieved, but the process becomes tedious, labor intensive, and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePIM interferenceVSAvoidmanual labor intensity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical operations (physically removing, cleaning, replacing PIM sources) with an automated signal processing system that uses spectral signature analysis and beamforming to identify and mitigate PIM interference through digital signal processing, eliminating the need for manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-diagnosis and self-mitigation by automatically analyzing spectral signatures to identify PIM sources and configuring antenna ports to exclude them, enabling the system to reduce PIM interference without external manual assistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If manual means are used to physically remove, clean, replace, etc. estimated PIM sources, then PIM interference reduction is achieved, but the process becomes costly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePIM interferenceVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive manual labor and physical interventions with a cost-effective automated signal processing approach using spectral analysis and beamforming algorithms, significantly reducing the cost of PIM mitigation while maintaining effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If conventional CPRI based tools are used to measure PIM interference, then measurement capability is provided, but the system lacks automated mitigation capability

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePIM measurement capabilityVSAvoidautomated mitigation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where spectral signatures are continuously analyzed to identify PIM sources, and the system automatically adjusts antenna port configurations in real-time to mitigate interference, creating a closed-loop automated mitigation system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary spectral signature analysis to identify potential PIM sources before they affect communication, enabling proactive mitigation by pre-configuring antenna ports to exclude identified interference sources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250330209A1Port reconfiguration for passive intermodulation interference mitigation

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Embodiments for port reconfiguration for passive intermodulation interference mitigation are presented herein. A base station device comprises a signal processing component comprising a passive intermodulation interference component and an antenna configuration component. The passive intermodulation interference component determines passive intermodulation interference corresponding to uplink signals that have been received, via a configurable cellular antenna array of the base station device, from respective wireless devices of a group of wireless devices that have been communicatively coupled to the base station device. The antenna configuration component selects a defined configuration of a group of cellular antenna ports of the configurable cellular antenna array to facilitate a reduction of the passive intermodulation interference corresponding to the uplink signals.