Ultra-low-power mmWave Receiver Module for Massive MIMO

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges with high power consumption and inefficiency due to the requirement for high-linearity components in massive MIMO deployments, especially at high carrier frequencies, which limits the scalability and practicality of next-generation wireless communications.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of ultra-low-power, low-complexity MIMO radio cells that utilize nonlinear energy detectors and single-bit ADCs to demodulate or modulate signals directly from RF carriers without local oscillators, reducing linearity and power requirements through simple beamforming in the digital domain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If high-linearity components are used in massive MIMO deployments at high carrier frequencies, then signal demodulation performance is improved, but power consumption increases and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal demodulation performanceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver is divided into multiple independent radio cells, each with its own antenna element and simplified signal processing chain. This segmentation allows each cell to operate with low-power nonlinear detectors while maintaining overall system performance through digital signal processing at the base station.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional linear analog signal processing chains with nonlinear energy detectors that directly convert RF signals to baseband through envelope detection. This substitution eliminates the need for high-linearity components and local oscillators, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining demodulation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If high-linearity components are used in massive MIMO deployments at high carrier frequencies, then signal demodulation performance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal demodulation performanceVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes complex components such as local oscillators, mixers, and high-linearity amplifiers from the receiver architecture. By taking out these unnecessary components, the system achieves simplified radio cells that use only essential elements: antenna elements, nonlinear energy detectors, and single-bit ADCs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs simple, low-cost nonlinear energy detectors and single-bit ADCs that can be easily fabricated and replaced. These simplified components replace expensive, complex high-linearity components, reducing both device complexity and manufacturing cost while maintaining adequate performance through digital processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Manufacturing precision

If traditional narrowband design is used at high carrier frequencies, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but absolute operating bandwidth becomes high and power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign precisionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where the base station can activate or deactivate radio cells based on signal strength and traffic demands. This dynamic operation allows the system to maintain manufacturing precision through standardized cell designs while reducing power consumption by operating only the necessary number of cells at any given time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 results in significantly reduced power consumption, ease of fabrication, and increased scalability for wide bandwidths at high carrier frequencies, enabling more efficient and cost-effective wireless communication systems.

Implementation Method 1

A non-linear energy detector is communicatively coupled to the antenna terminal, wherein the non-linear energy detector is adapted to detect the baseband signal directly from the received RF signal without using a local oscillator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNonlinear detection:

Data Source

PatentUS11664840B2Ultra-low-power millimeter-wave to baseband receiver module for scalable massive MIMO

Publication Date: 2023.05.30 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving, by a first radio module at a first location, a wireless signal, to obtain a first received RF signal. The wireless signal includes information originating at a remote transmitter and conveyed via a wireless channel. An envelope of the first received RF signal is detected by the first radio module without requiring a local oscillator, to obtain a first baseband signal. The first baseband signal may be filtered and/or amplified, after which it is provided to a processor. The processor also obtains a second digital signal from a second radio module receiving the wireless signal at a second location and determines an estimate of the information originating at the remote transmitter according to the first and second signals. Other embodiments are disclosed.