Dual Connectivity Phase Coherency via Power Amplifier Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dual connectivity user equipment (UE) in wireless communication systems face phase coherency issues due to transmission power changes across different radio access technologies (RATs), such as LTE and NR, which affect the alignment and orthogonality of uplink transmissions, leading to phase noise and distortion.
Innovation Solution
A method where a base station determines if a UE is sharing a same power amplifier for multiple RATs and takes actions to align transmission boundaries and prioritize certain uplink channels to reduce the impact of phase coherence disruptions, ensuring phase continuity by synchronizing symbol and frequency hopping across RATs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a UE shares a same power amplifier to support multiple RATs, then device complexity and power consumption are reduced, but phase coherence is disrupted due to transmission power changes across different RATs
Solution Approach 1:
The base station determines in advance whether the UE is sharing a power amplifier across multiple RATs, and proactively configures transmission parameters to align power change boundaries before misalignment occurs. This preliminary detection and configuration prevents phase coherence disruption rather than reacting to it after occurrence.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts transmission parameters including aligning transmission power changes, symbol boundaries, and frequency hopping configurations across different RATs. By changing these parameters to be synchronized, the system maintains phase coherence while allowing power amplifier sharing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If transmission power changes are allowed across different RATs, then adaptability and power efficiency are improved, but phase noise and distortion increase affecting uplink transmission quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary counter-actions by aligning transmission power change boundaries and configuring uplink channels to occur at synchronized time points across RATs. This preemptive alignment prevents phase noise generation rather than attempting to correct it after transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station acts as an intermediary that coordinates and synchronizes transmission parameters between different RATs. It determines power amplifier sharing status and configures transmission boundaries, symbol alignment, and frequency hopping to ensure phase coherence is maintained while allowing flexible power transmission.
3Reliability
If transmission boundaries are aligned across RATs, then phase coherence is maintained, but scheduling flexibility and resource allocation options are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies alignment requirements selectively only to specific uplink channels and transmission parameters that are critical for phase coherence, rather than forcing complete synchronization of all transmissions. This partial alignment maintains phase coherence for essential signals while leaving other transmissions with greater scheduling flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for maintaining phase coherency in the event of changes to uplink transmit power. For example, the techniques described herein may help mitigate the impact on phase continuity of uplink transmissions by UEs capable of dual connectivity (DC).