Polar-Combining Miniature Antenna Array Without DPD Overhead

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Solution Overview

Problem

Massive MIMO systems face inefficiencies in power amplifiers, particularly at lower power levels, where traditional power amplifiers become less efficient and digital pre-distortion (DPD) is costly and power-hungry, making it impractical for applications requiring high power efficiency at low power outputs.

Innovation Solution

The integration of polar power amplifiers with precise control over phase and amplitude, eliminating the need for DPD, enables high-efficiency RF chains and beamforming in microcomponent massive MIMO arrays, suitable for 5G and mmWave technologies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If traditional power amplifiers are used in Massive MIMO systems, then the system can achieve basic transmission functionality, but power efficiency deteriorates at lower power levels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower efficiencyVSAvoidpower output level

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the power amplification function into multiple independent power amplifier units, each capable of operating efficiently at lower power levels. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high power efficiency across different power output levels by using multiple smaller amplifiers rather than one large amplifier operating inefficiently at low power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple power amplifier units to achieve the required total power output while maintaining high efficiency. By merging the outputs of multiple efficient low-power amplifiers through combining networks, the system achieves both high power efficiency and sufficient total power output for Massive MIMO transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If digital pre-distortion (DPD) is used to improve linearity, then transmission quality is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the complex DPD function from the system by using power amplifiers with inherently high linearity. Instead of adding DPD circuitry to correct non-linearities, the design selects amplifier technologies that naturally maintain signal linearity, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining transmission quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex, power-hungry DPD processing with simpler, more efficient amplifier designs that achieve similar or better linearity performance through hardware design rather than digital signal processing. This substitution reduces both computational complexity and power consumption while maintaining transmission reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Measurement precision

If DPD is implemented for linearity correction, then transmission accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes digital signal processing (DPD) with analog/RF-based solutions through the use of highly linear power amplifier designs. This replacement eliminates the need for power-intensive digital processing while maintaining or improving transmission accuracy, thereby reducing overall power consumption of the RF chain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operating parameters and characteristics of the power amplifiers to achieve high linearity without requiring DPD. By selecting amplifiers with specific linear characteristics and optimizing their operating points, the system achieves high transmission accuracy while avoiding the power consumption penalty of digital pre-distortion processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11923924B2Miniature antenna array with polar combining architecture

Publication Date: 2024.03.05 PARALLEL WIRELESS INC

AI summary

A microcomponent massive MIMO array is presented. The microcomponent massive array includes a general purpose processor and an integrated power amplifier and transmitter device including a software defined radio (SDR) and a plurality of polar power amplifiers (PAs) disposed on a single integrated circuit, wherein the integrated power amplifier and transmitter device is in communication with the general purpose processor. The microcomponent massive MIMO array further includes an antenna array in communication with the integrated power amplifier and transmitter device.