Limiting Transmission Power to Protect Shared Low Noise Amplifiers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shared low noise amplifiers in user equipment (UE) that support multiple radio access technologies (RATs) like LTE and NR are prone to damage due to overlapping transmission and reception periods, leading to exposure to transmit power, which can cause damage and interference, especially in TDD configurations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a software-based solution that determines when a transmission by one RAT overlaps with a reception period of another RAT and limits the transmission power during such times to prevent damage to the low noise amplifier (LNA).
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transmission power is increased to improve communication performance, then signal quality improves, but the shared low noise amplifier may be damaged due to exposure to transmit power during overlapping periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system proactively identifies overlapping transmission and reception periods between different RATs and preemptively limits transmission power during these periods to prevent LNA damage before it occurs. This is achieved through coordination mechanisms that schedule power limitations in advance of potential damage scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission power is dynamically adjusted based on the operational state of shared components. When overlapping periods are detected between different RATs, the system automatically reduces power on the transmitting RAT to protect the LNA, and restores full power when overlap conditions are resolved, enabling adaptive power management.
2Device complexity
If multiple RATs share the same frequency band and LNA to reduce device complexity, then hardware cost decreases, but interference and damage risk increase due to simultaneous transmission and reception
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism that monitors the operational status of shared LNAs and detects overlapping transmission-reception periods between different RATs. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts transmission power levels to eliminate interference while maintaining the shared hardware architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables a single LNA to serve multiple RATs (LTE and NR) universally, allowing one hardware component to perform multiple functions. This multi-functionality is made possible through software-based coordination that manages the LNA's operation across different RATs, preventing simultaneous transmission and reception that would cause interference.
3Reliability
If transmission power is limited during reception periods to protect the LNA, then component reliability improves, but transmission throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuously limiting transmission power, the system applies partial power limitation only during specific overlapping periods when LNA damage risk exists. During non-overlapping periods, full transmission power is restored, ensuring that throughput is maximized while providing targeted protection when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for protecting shared low noise amplifiers by limiting transmission power. A method that may be performed by a user equipment (UE) includes determining that a transmission by the UE on a frequency band via a first radio access technology (RAT) overlaps in time with a period that the UE is configured to receive on the frequency band via a second RAT; and limiting transmission power on the first RAT during the period.