2D Active Antenna Array FD-MIMO Beamforming Calibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current 5G communication systems face challenges in accommodating high-order multi-user MIMO transmission and reception without complicating the design and implementation of base stations and user equipment, particularly due to the use of large numbers of antennas for spatially multiplexed signals.

Innovation Solution

A method for operating a base station in a wireless communication system using a full-dimensional multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) beamforming scheme, which involves receiving signals, calibrating precoders to compensate for sample level mismatch and delay differences in CPRI connections, and adjusting phases to perform in-phase beamforming for multiple user equipments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a large number of antennas are used for high-order multi-user MIMO transmission and reception, then system throughput and data rates are improved, but device complexity and implementation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem throughputVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the large-scale antenna array into multiple sub-arrays, where each sub-array is controlled by a separate RF unit. This segmentation allows the base station to manage high-order MU-MIMO transmissions by dividing the overall antenna system into smaller, more manageable units, thereby maintaining high system throughput while reducing the complexity of controlling each individual antenna element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If sample level mismatch and delay differences are not compensated in CPRI connections, then device complexity is reduced, but beamforming precision and signal quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeamforming precisionVSAvoidcalibration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary calibration actions to detect and compensate for sample level mismatches and delay differences in CPRI connections before beamforming operations commence. By performing these calibration steps in advance, the system ensures precise beamforming without adding complexity to the real-time signal processing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Length of stationary object

If phases of multiple channels are not adjusted to be in-phase, then device complexity is reduced, but transmission distance and signal strength decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission distanceVSAvoidphase adjustment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the base station receives signals from user equipments, performs calibration to detect phase differences across multiple channels, and adjusts the phases to be in-phase. This feedback-driven phase adjustment ensures optimal signal strength and transmission distance while managing the complexity through automated calibration procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3219023B12d active antenna array operation for wireless communication systems
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3219023B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3219023B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3219023B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a pre 5G or 5G communication system to be provided for supporting higher data rates beyond 4G communication system such as LTE. A method for operating a large scale antenna array in a wireless communication system includes receiving one or more signals. The one or more signals include information for beamforming to a plurality of user equipments (UEs) using a full-dimensional multiple-input multiple-output (FD-MIMO) beamforming scheme. The FD-MIMO beamforming scheme includes same time resources and same frequency resources that are co-scheduled to the plurality of UEs. The method further includes identifying a time delay of the one or more signals associated with one or more antenna arrays that are distributed in the large scale antenna array and performing a multi-user (MU) joint beamforming on the one or more signals to one or more UEs.