Power Amplifier Antenna Configuration for Wireless Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication systems face a challenge in reducing power consumption while maintaining adequate directional radio coverage, as existing solutions either lead to increased interference or inadequate coverage when reducing the number of power amplifiers.
Innovation Solution
The system employs two configurations of power amplifiers and antennas, with the second configuration using fewer power amplifiers than antennas, where at least one power amplifier is connected to multiple antennas via antenna branches configured with different delays based on the inverse bandwidth of the signal, allowing for switching between configurations to reduce power consumption and ensure directional coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If fewer power amplifiers are used to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but directional radio coverage becomes inadequate due to deep nulls in the radiation pattern
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching between multiple operational configurations of power amplifiers and antennas. The system can adaptively select between a first configuration (with more power amplifiers for full coverage) and a second configuration (with fewer power amplifiers for power saving), allowing the radio base station to optimize between power consumption and coverage requirements based on current network conditions and traffic demands.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the antenna system by introducing different delay values for antenna branches in different configurations. By adjusting the delay parameter specifically in the second configuration (where fewer power amplifiers are used), the system compensates for the reduced number of amplifiers and maintains adequate directional coverage while achieving power consumption reduction.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a single power amplifier is connected to multiple antennas, then power consumption is reduced, but the combined radiation pattern develops deep nulls with very low radiated power in certain directions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces delay elements as intermediary components between the power amplifier and the antennas in the second configuration. These delay elements act as mediators that adjust the phase relationships of signals transmitted through different antenna branches, thereby compensating for the deep nulls that would otherwise occur when a single power amplifier drives multiple antennas without proper phase coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the delay parameter of antenna branches specifically in the second configuration to counteract the harmful null-depths. By changing this temporal parameter, the system transforms the radiation pattern from one with deep nulls to one with more uniform directional coverage, enabling the use of fewer power amplifiers without sacrificing coverage quality.
3Use of energy by moving object
If cells are inactivated to save power, then power consumption and interference are reduced, but radio coverage is lost in the inactivated cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic configuration system that allows the radio base station to switch between different operational modes. Instead of permanently inactivating cells, the system can dynamically activate or deactivate specific power amplifiers and antennas based on current traffic demands, ensuring that coverage is maintained in areas where it is needed while saving power in areas with lower demand.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional antenna system where the same physical antennas can serve different purposes in different configurations. In the first configuration, all antennas work together for full coverage; in the second configuration, a subset of antennas is activated with adjusted delay parameters to provide reduced but still adequate coverage, allowing the system to adapt its coverage area dynamically rather than having fixed active or inactive cells.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an arrangement for a wireless communication system that includes a set of power amplifiers and a set of antennas based on which at least two different configurations are provided, including a first configuration of power amplifiers and antennas and a second configuration of power amplifier(s) and antennas. The arrangement also includes switching circuitry configured to switch between the configurations. The second configuration employs a smaller number of power amplifiers than the first configuration, and the second configuration has fewer power amplifiers than antennas where at least one power amplifier is connected to at least two antennas via respective antenna branches that are configured with different delays, as represented by delay elements. A difference in delay between a pair of these antenna branches is based on a measure representative of the inverse bandwidth of a signal to be transmitted through the antennas.