Inter-Transceiver Antenna Calibration via Phase Difference Subtraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inter-transceiver antenna calibration methods suffer from calibration inaccuracy due to propagation path differences and require additional assistant nodes, leading to increased costs and complexity, especially in scenarios with multiple CoMP sets.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for inter-transceiver antenna calibration that directly determines and compensates for the inter-loop phase response difference between transceivers' reference path loops without a third-party assistant node, using phase difference collection and subtraction to accurately calibrate the phase response differences between transceivers' transmission and reception paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If node-assistant inter-transceiver antenna calibration is used, then inter-transceiver antenna calibration can be performed, but calibration inaccuracy occurs due to propagation path differences and additional assistant nodes are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the assistant node from the calibration system, allowing direct calibration between transceivers. By removing the intermediate assistant node, the system avoids propagation path differences that cause calibration inaccuracy while reducing system complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric calibration signal transmission where transceivers exchange calibration signals in a direct peer-to-peer manner rather than through a symmetric assistant node structure. This asymmetric approach allows each transceiver to directly measure and compensate for its own path characteristics, eliminating the propagation path difference problem.
2Reliability
If assistant nodes are introduced for inter-transceiver antenna calibration, then calibration can be performed, but costs increase due to deployment of additional nodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the assistant node component entirely from the calibration architecture, enabling transceivers to perform self-calibration or mutual calibration directly. This extraction eliminates the need for additional hardware deployment, reducing costs while maintaining calibration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables transceivers to perform calibration autonomously using their own transmitted and received signals. Each transceiver uses its own signal characteristics and measurements to determine calibration parameters, eliminating the need for external assistant nodes and reducing system cost.
3Reliability
If node-assistant calibration method is used, then inter-transceiver calibration is enabled, but computational complexity increases due to signal distortion compensation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the signal distortion compensation step from the calibration process by eliminating the assistant node. Since calibration signals travel direct paths between transceivers without passing through intermediate nodes, propagation-induced distortions are minimized, reducing computational complexity for signal processing.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus in a radio base station for inter-transceiver antenna calibration. The method comprises collecting a first phase difference between a first signal and a first reception signal and a second phase difference between a second signal and a second reception signal. The first signal is transmitted through a reference transmission path of a first transceiver and received through a reference reception path of a second transceiver as the first reception signal. The second signal is transmitted through a reference transmission path of the second transceiver and received through a reference reception path of the first transceiver as the second reception signal. The method further comprises determining and compensating for an inter-loop phase response difference between a first reference path loop of the first transceiver and a second reference path loop of the second transceiver by subtracting the second phase difference from the first phase difference. The first reference path loop consists of the reference transmission path and the reference reception path of the first transceiver, and the second reference path loop consists of the reference transmission path and the reference reception path of the second transceiver.