Reconfigurable Hybrid Beamforming Antenna Sub-Array Selection Circuit
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Millimeter wave (mmWave) radio systems face challenges with high power consumption and cost due to strong spatial correlations among antennas, which reduce spatial diversity and channel capacity gains, necessitating a more efficient hybrid beamforming architecture.
Innovation Solution
A selection circuit and method for multiple input/output ports and antenna sub-arrays that combines digital signal processing modules, analog front-end and radio frequency chains, multiplexing circuits, and antenna sub-arrays, allowing for reconfigurable hybrid beamforming by optimizing antenna sub-array combinations based on channel state information and eigenvalues to balance power efficiency and directivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large antenna array is used to enhance signal intensity and directivity in mmWave systems, then beamforming gain and spatial diversity are improved, but the number of antennas increases causing strong spatial correlations that reduce channel capacity gain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the full antenna array into multiple sub-arrays that can be independently selected and configured. This segmentation allows the system to use only the necessary number of antennas for each communication session, optimizing the balance between spatial diversity and spatial correlation. By selectively activating sub-arrays based on channel conditions, the system achieves reliable signal transmission while maintaining channel capacity efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If digital beamforming is applied to large antenna arrays in mmWave systems, then signal processing precision is improved, but power consumption and cost increase dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial digital beamforming by applying digital processing only to a subset of antennas rather than all antennas in the array. This partial action approach maintains sufficient signal processing precision for reliable communication while significantly reducing the number of required ADC/DAC components and their associated power consumption. The system achieves the necessary processing precision through intelligent sub-array selection and combining techniques.
3Reliability
If fully connected hybrid beamforming architecture is used to provide narrow beams and high array gains, then signal performance is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fully connected hybrid beamforming architecture into a partially connected structure where not all antennas are connected to all RF chains. This segmentation maintains the essential beamforming capabilities and signal performance while significantly reducing the number of phase shifters and RF chain connections required. The system achieves acceptable signal performance through intelligent sub-array selection and combining techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic reconfigurability to the hybrid beamforming architecture, allowing the system to adaptively select and reconfigure antenna sub-arrays based on real-time channel conditions. This dynamic approach enables the system to optimize performance for different communication scenarios while using a simpler, more cost-effective hardware architecture that requires fewer fixed connections than fully connected designs.
4Reliability
If all AFE-RF chains are enabled simultaneously to provide narrow beams, then array gain is maximized, but power consumption increases without proportional channel capacity gain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by enabling only the necessary number of AFE-RF chains based on the selected antenna sub-array configuration and channel conditions. Rather than all chains operating simultaneously, the system dynamically activates only the subset needed to achieve the desired array gain and channel capacity, thereby reducing power consumption without sacrificing communication performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes operational parameters including the number of active AFE-RF chains, the size of selected antenna sub-arrays, and the beamforming weights based on real-time channel state information. This parameter adaptation allows the system to optimize the balance between array gain and power consumption for each communication session, achieving efficient resource utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a selection circuit and method of multiple input/output ports and antenna sub-arrays for reconfigurable hybrid beamforming. The selection circuit includes a plurality of digital signal processing modules, each electrically connected to a respective input/output port, a plurality of analog front end (AFE) and radio frequency (RF) chains, each electrically connected to a respective digital signal processing module, a plurality of multiplexing circuits, each electrically connected to any number of the AFE and RF chains, and a plurality of antenna sub-arrays, each electrically connected to a respective multiplexing circuit, wherein the multiplexing circuits set any number of the antenna sub-arrays to transmit/receive any number of electrical signals of input/output ports transmitted by the AFE and RF chains. The invention further provides a signal processing and transmission/reception system and a combination selection method of multiple input/output ports and antenna sub-arrays based on the selection circuit.