Lens-Coupled Antenna Arrays for Full-Duplex Interference Nulling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beamforming techniques using unified linear arrays for wireless communications face challenges with high cost, complexity, and power consumption, while lens loaded antennas suffer from increased self-interference, limiting efficient full-duplex operations.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced beamforming configuration using a lens coupled with antenna arrays, where phase shifters are used to form beams, reduces interference by forming downlink signals with energy portions below a threshold, allowing concurrent uplink and downlink communications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beamforming techniques using unified linear arrays are used for wireless communications, then communication capability is provided, but cost, complexity, and power consumption are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the unified linear array into separate transmit antenna array and receive antenna array, allowing independent optimization of each array's function and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the interfering signal portion from the downlink transmission using null steering, preventing self-interference from affecting uplink reception
2Reliability
If lens loaded antennas are used, then beamforming capability is achieved, but self-interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-calculating and applying null steering weights to the downlink signal to create nulls in the directions of the receive antenna arrays, preventing self-interference before it occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful self-interference into a benefit by using the known transmit signal characteristics to deliberately create nulls that protect the receive arrays, turning the interference problem into a solution
3Reliability
If downlink signals are transmitted with high energy, then transmission quality is improved, but interference to receive antenna arrays increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating direction-specific nulls in the downlink signal, allowing high energy transmission in directions away from receive arrays while suppressing energy in directions toward receive arrays
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 improves signal quality, supporting better full-duplex operations and increasing throughput in wireless networks.
Implementation Method 1
the second signal being focused in a direction of the second antenna array based on the lens
Implementation Method 2
transmitting, from a first antenna array of the first communications device, a first signal through a lens of the first communications device in a direction of a second communications device
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A communications device may transmit a first signal. The first signal may be transmitted from a first antenna array of the communications device through a lens of the communications device in a direction. An energy of a portion of the first signal may be below a threshold based on a position of a second antenna array of the communications device. The portion of the first signal may correspond to a portion of a reflection of the first signal that overlaps with the position of the second antenna array. The communications device may concurrently receive, at the second antenna array, a second signal originating from another direction, where the second signal may be focused in the direction of the second antenna array based on the lens.