Multi-Beam Antenna RF System for LTE Base Stations
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing cellular system, particularly the LTE system, requires separate RF systems for each antenna, leading to increased costs and limitations in using passive-type phased arrays due to the need for distributed phase control, which becomes impractical as frequencies increase.
Innovation Solution
A radio control station apparatus with a multi-beam antenna unit capable of controlling multiple beams and a single RF system for transmission, using multiplexing to allocate frequency channels or sub-carriers to each radio terminal apparatus, allowing for efficient communication by directing multiple beams and adjusting frequency allocation based on beam gain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate RF systems are provided for each antenna to control multiple beams, then beam control performance is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple RF systems into a single shared RF system that serves multiple antenna elements. The single RF system generates a composite signal that is distributed to multiple antennas, which then form multiple beams through phase control. This combining approach reduces the number of RF systems from N (one per antenna) to one, directly resolving the contradiction between beam control performance and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The single RF system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - it generates signals for multiple antenna elements that collectively form multiple beams. The RF system becomes a universal component that serves all antenna elements rather than being dedicated to a single antenna, enabling one RF system to replace multiple RF systems while maintaining beam control capabilities.
2Device complexity
If a passive-type phased array with distributed phase control is used, then structure is simplified, but adaptability to high frequencies is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary signal distribution mechanism that connects the single RF system to multiple antenna elements. Instead of directly controlling each antenna independently at high frequencies, the system uses a centralized phase control unit that distributes phase-adjusted signals to multiple antennas. This intermediary approach maintains structural simplicity while enabling high-frequency operation by centralizing the complex phase control functions.
3Productivity
If frequency channels are allocated to multiple radio terminal apparatuses simultaneously, then communication efficiency is improved, but interference between terminals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allocating different frequency channels to different spatial directions or beam regions. Each beam serving a specific radio terminal apparatus is assigned a dedicated frequency channel or subset of frequency channels, creating localized frequency allocation in space. This spatial-frequency mapping reduces interference between terminals by ensuring that terminals in different directions use different frequencies, while still achieving multiplexing and improved communication efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Communication efficiency can be enhanced during multiplex communication. A radio control station apparatus includes a multi-beam antenna unit capable of controlling each of a plurality of beam performances and an RF system for transmission. The RF system further includes a multiplexing unit configured to perform multiplexing by using a plurality of frequency channels or a plurality of sub-carriers, allocates at least one of the plurality of different frequency channels or at least one of the plurality of different sub-carriers to each of transmit signals to be transmitted to the plurality of radio terminal apparatuses, multiplexes the above allocated frequency channels or sub-carriers in the multiplexing unit, and transmits the multiplexed signal through the multi-beam antenna unit using a plurality of beams.