Coverage Enhancing Device With Separate Ports for Signal Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coverage enhancing devices face challenges in achieving active gain while preventing signal interference and oscillation due to electromagnetic coupling between received and transmitted signals.

Innovation Solution

The use of distinct antenna ports with different polarizations and spatial separation to receive and transmit amplified signals, eliminating the need for circulators and improving signal isolation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If active gain is used to amplify reflected signals in coverage enhancing devices, then signal strength is improved, but electromagnetic coupling causes signal leakage and oscillation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal strengthVSAvoidsignal leakage and oscillation

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna element is divided into multiple antenna ports (first antenna port for receiving, second antenna port for transmitting). This segmentation allows the received signal and amplified transmitted signal to be separated into different ports, reducing electromagnetic coupling and preventing signal leakage from the transmit port back to the receive port, thereby eliminating oscillation while maintaining active gain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If the same antenna port is used for both receiving and transmitting amplified signals, then device complexity is reduced, but signal isolation deteriorates causing interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidsignal isolation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna element is segmented into multiple antenna ports with distinct functions: the first antenna port is dedicated to receiving signals, while the second antenna port is dedicated to transmitting amplified signals. This functional segmentation provides natural signal isolation without requiring additional complex isolation components, thereby maintaining both low device complexity and high signal isolation reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If circulators are used to prevent signal leakage, then signal isolation is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal isolationVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the need for circulators by using multiple antenna ports for signal transmission and reception. The signal isolation function that would traditionally require a circulator is achieved instead through the inherent isolation between different antenna ports, thereby removing the complex and costly circulator component while maintaining signal isolation reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Object-generated harmful factors

If transient behaviors and self-oscillation are prevented through improved isolation, then interference is reduced, but device design complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveinterferenceVSAvoiddevice design

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna element is segmented into multiple antenna ports to provide natural signal isolation. This segmentation prevents transient behaviors and self-oscillation by ensuring that amplified transmitted signals do not couple back into the receive port, thereby reducing interference without requiring complex additional isolation mechanisms or design modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 reduces interference and oscillation, allowing for improved signal isolation and support for both rank 1 and rank 2 transmissions.

Implementation Method 1

an amplifier configured to amplify the first signal for provision of a first amplified signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSignal amplification:

Implementation Method 2

The second antenna port is a different antenna port than the first antenna port... improved isolation of amplified signals, in particular between received and transmitted signals... reduce transient behaviors and avoid self-oscillation, caused by the leakage of amplified signals into a particular polarized receive port

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic coupling isolation:

Data Source

PatentUS20250300720A1A device and method for improved isolation of coverage enhancing devices

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

A coverage enhancing device is disclosed. The coverage enhancing device includes at least one antenna element. The coverage enhancing device includes a first antenna port associated with the at least one antenna element and configured to receive a first signal. The coverage enhancing device includes an amplifier in communication with the first antenna port, the amplifier configured to amplify the first signal for provision of a first amplified signal. The coverage enhancing device includes a second antenna port in communication with the amplifier, wherein the second antenna port is configured to transmit the first amplified signal. The second antenna port is a different antenna port than the first antenna port.