Receiver Parameter Adjustment for Low-Resolution ADC SNR Control

Solution Overview

Problem

The need for low-resolution ADCs/DACs in sub-THz wireless networks requires higher granularity in antenna and time domains, necessitating proper signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to minimize performance loss, especially in systems with thousands of fully digital antennas at the base station, where power consumption and data exchange volumes are significant.

Innovation Solution

Client devices transmit capability indications for low-resolution ADCs and receiver processing, receive network assistance information, and adjust receiver parameters based on power measurements to achieve appropriate SNR levels, using techniques like automatic gain control (AGC) to prevent signal saturation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If low-resolution ADCs/DACs are used to reduce hardware power consumption and complexity, then power consumption and device complexity are reduced, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate due to quantization loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidquantization precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operating parameters of the low-resolution ADC by adjusting the receive signal power level to an optimal range. This is achieved through AGC parameter adjustment and/or gNB transmit power adjustment, ensuring the signal falls within a power range that maximizes the effective use of limited ADC bits while avoiding saturation and minimizing quantization loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the client device measures the receive signal power and reports it to the gNB. Based on this feedback, the gNB adjusts its transmit power or the client device adjusts its AGC parameters to maintain the signal within the optimal power range for low-resolution ADC operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If low-resolution ADCs/DACs are used to reduce device complexity, then hardware complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to performance loss from quantization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware complexityVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operating parameters of the low-resolution ADC by adjusting the receive signal power level to an optimal range. This is achieved through AGC parameter adjustment and/or gNB transmit power adjustment, ensuring the signal falls within a power range that maximizes the effective use of limited ADC bits while avoiding saturation and minimizing quantization loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the client device measures the receive signal power and reports it to the gNB. Based on this feedback, the gNB adjusts its transmit power or the client device adjusts its AGC parameters to maintain the signal within the optimal power range for low-resolution ADC operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If higher granularity in antenna and time domains is used to compensate for low-resolution ADCs, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel estimation precisionVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operating parameters of the low-resolution ADC by adjusting the receive signal power level to an optimal range. This is achieved through AGC parameter adjustment and/or gNB transmit power adjustment, ensuring the signal falls within a power range that maximizes the effective use of limited ADC bits while avoiding saturation and minimizing quantization loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the client device measures the receive signal power and reports it to the gNB. Based on this feedback, the gNB adjusts its transmit power or the client device adjusts its AGC parameters to maintain the signal within the optimal power range for low-resolution ADC operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12610329B2Adjusting a client device receiver parameter, and related devices, methods and computer programs

Publication Date: 2026.04.21 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY

AI summary

Devices, methods and computer programs for adjusting a client device receiver parameter are disclosed. A client device (200) transmits to a network node device (210) a first capability indication indicating at least a low-resolution analog-to-digital converter capability of the client device (200), and a second capability indication indicating whether the client device (200) is capable of receiving signal information associated with low-resolution receiver processing. Based on these, the network node device (210) may determine that adjusting at least one receiver parameter of the client device (200) is needed, generate and transmit network assistance information and signal information to the client device (200) for use in adjusting at least one receiver parameter of the client device (200). The client device (200) may then perform power measurements of the received signal information and adjust receiver parameter(s) of the client device (200) accordingly.