mmWave PHY Channelization Scheme Reducing Chip Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in configuring a channelization scheme for the mmWave band that is compatible with sub-10 GHz bands, leading to different PHY and MAC designs, which increases costs and complexity due to the need for separate chip core designs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a mmWave channelization scheme that reuses PHY and MAC configurations of sub-10 GHz designs, defining minimum channel bandwidths wider than 20 MHz, and allowing specific PPDU formats to simplify Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) and channel bonding, while disabling legacy formats to ensure compatibility and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate PHY and MAC designs are implemented for mmWave band, then communication performance in mmWave band is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the sub-10 GHz PHY and MAC configurations universal by enabling them to operate in both sub-10 GHz and mmWave bands through channelization scheme adaptation. The same chip core design can be configured for different frequency bands without requiring separate dedicated designs, thus reducing complexity while maintaining communication performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the PHY and MAC layers by introducing band-specific channelization schemes (2.16 GHz minimum channel bandwidth for mmWave vs. 20 MHz for sub-10 GHz). This allows the same hardware design to adapt to different frequency bands through parameter reconfiguration rather than requiring separate designs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If legacy PPDU formats are supported in mmWave band, then backward compatibility is improved, but Clear Channel Assessment complexity and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and disables legacy PPDU format support specifically for the mmWave band while maintaining it for sub-10 GHz bands. By removing the unnecessary legacy format handling capability from mmWave operations, the CCA assessment complexity is reduced without affecting backward compatibility in bands where legacy formats are still relevant.
3Productivity
If channel bonding is implemented in mmWave band, then data throughput is improved, but channel assessment and management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mmWave spectrum into standardized 2.16 GHz channel units that can be bonded in defined combinations (2x, 4x, 8x channel bonding). This segmentation provides a structured approach to channel bonding that simplifies assessment and management compared to arbitrary channel combinations, enabling high throughput through systematic channel aggregation.
Data Source
AI summary
For example, a wireless communication device may be configured to generate a millimeter Wave (mmWave) Physical layer (PHY) Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) configured for transmission over an mmWave wireless communication channel according to an mmWave channelization scheme, the mm Wave channelization scheme defining a plurality of mmWave channels in an mmWave wireless communication frequency band, wherein the plurality of mmWave channels are based on a minimal mm Wave channel bandwidth (BW), wherein the minimal mm Wave channel BW is equal to or greater than 80 Megahertz (MHz) and not more than 640 MHZ; and to transmit the mmWave PPDU over the mm Wave wireless communication channel.