Multi-Antenna Beamforming with Frequency-Time Domain Split

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing MIMO and beamforming transceiver architectures face issues such as slow beam tracking, lack of channel knowledge per antenna, high complexity, and high power consumption, particularly in digital BF with a large number of antennas.

Innovation Solution

A two-step beamforming process is implemented, where the first step is performed in a frequency domain and the second in the time domain, combining digital signals to analog signals for transmission, using spatio-temporal filters and reducing the number of digital streams to optimize power consumption and complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If digital beamforming is used with a large number of antennas, then full channel knowledge for all antennas is achieved, but processing complexity and power consumption become very high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel knowledgeVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the beamforming processing into two distinct domains: frequency-domain precoding for channel estimation and digital beamforming, followed by time-domain analog beamforming. This segmentation allows channel knowledge to be obtained in the frequency domain for a reduced number of beams, rather than processing all antenna channels digitally, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining necessary channel information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using frequency-domain precoding as a bridge between full digital beamforming and pure analog beamforming. This intermediary stage processes a reduced number of beams in the frequency domain, obtaining channel knowledge selectively, while the remaining beamforming is performed in the time domain with lower complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If digital beamforming is used with a large number of antennas, then full channel knowledge for all antennas is achieved, but power consumption becomes very high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel knowledgeVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If analog beamforming is used, then power consumption is reduced, but beam tracking speed becomes slow and channel knowledge per antenna is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidbeam tracking speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing frequency-domain precoding and digital beamforming before the analog beamforming stage. This preliminary digital processing establishes channel knowledge and beam directions in advance, enabling faster beam tracking compared to pure analog beamforming, while the subsequent analog stage maintains lower power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Device complexity

If hybrid beamforming is used, then a balance is achieved between digital and analog processing, but complexity remains significant

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing complexityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the beamforming processing from the time domain to the frequency domain for the precoding stage. This parameter change (domain transformation) enables more efficient processing with reduced complexity, as frequency-domain operations can be performed with fewer computational resources compared to time-domain processing of multiple antenna channels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12609744B2Method for a multi-antenna transmitter and receiver arrangement, a computer program product, a multi-antenna transmitter and receiver arrangement, a wireless device, and a transceiver node

Publication Date: 2026.04.21 BEAMMWAVE AB

AI summary

A method for a multi-antenna transmitter and receiver arrangement, the multi-antenna transmitter and receiver arrangement being comprisable in a wireless device, WD or in a transceiver node, TNode, the method comprising: obtaining a first plurality of arrays, each array comprising digital signals, each digital signal comprising information; performing first beamforming processing on the first plurality of arrays to obtain a second plurality of processed digital signals; performing second beamforming processing in a time domain on the second plurality of processed digital signals to obtain a third plurality of digital signals; combining the third plurality of digital signals to obtain a third plurality of combined digital signals; converting each of the third plurality of combined digital signals to respective analog signals; and transmitting each of the analog signals. Corresponding computer program product, multi-antenna transmitter and receiver arrangement, wireless device, and transceiver node are also disclosed.