Millimeter-Wave Relay Control for Leakage Signal Cancellation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing millimeter wave (mmW) communication systems face challenges with non-line-of-sight (NLOS) connectivity due to signal attenuation and obstruction, requiring precise and expensive hardware components for relays to enhance coverage and throughput.

Innovation Solution

A control circuit is employed to process downlink signals by canceling leakage uplink signals using differential amplifiers and generate a timing signal for synchronizing relay module switching, utilizing TDD synchronization to improve signal transmission efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If relay circuits are used to enhance NLOS connectivity in mmW systems, then coverage and throughput are improved, but signal interference from leakage uplink signals degrades communication reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidleakage uplink signal interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the harmful leakage uplink signals from the downlink signal using a differential amplifier circuit. The control circuit identifies and subtracts the leakage component from the received downlink signal, effectively separating the harmful interference from the useful signal to improve communication reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a control circuit as an intermediary between the relay circuit and the communication system. This control circuit processes the downlink signal by canceling leakage uplink signals, acting as a mediator that cleans the signal before further processing or transmission, thereby improving reliability without requiring changes to the fundamental relay architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If precise hardware components are used in relay circuits, then signal transmission quality is improved, but system cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal transmission qualityVSAvoidhardware component precision requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the need for precise mechanical/hardware components with an electronic signal processing solution. Instead of relying on high-precision hardware to prevent leakage interference, the system uses a control circuit with differential amplifiers to electronically cancel the interference, substituting complex hardware requirements with a more manageable electronic processing approach

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the approach from hardware parameter optimization to signal parameter processing. By transforming the downlink signal through envelope detection, leakage cancellation, and timing extraction, the system improves transmission quality through parameter manipulation rather than requiring precise hardware components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If envelope detection and leakage cancellation processing is applied to downlink signals, then timing synchronization accuracy is improved, but signal processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetiming synchronization accuracyVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the signal processing into distinct functional stages: envelope detection, leakage uplink signal cancellation, and timing synchronization extraction. By dividing the processing into separate manageable steps rather than a monolithic complex operation, the system achieves high timing accuracy while keeping each processing stage relatively simple and implementable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances signal synchronization and reduces interference, thereby improving communication reliability and reducing the need for expensive hardware components in mmW systems.

Implementation Method 1

processing the downlink signal by cancelling leakage uplink signals (e.g. by subtraction, for example using a differential amplifier) within the received downlink signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDifferential amplification:

Implementation Method 2

receiving an amplified uplink signal (e.g. an amplified RF uplink signal) from a relay circuit, wherein the uplink signal is amplified by the relay circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSignal amplification:

Data Source

PatentEP3863191B1Communication system
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • EP3863191B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3863191B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3863191B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An apparatus, method and computer program is described comprising: receiving an amplified uplink signal from a relay circuit, wherein the uplink signal is amplified by the relay circuit; receiving a downlink signal; processing the downlink signal by cancelling leakage uplink signals within the received downlink signal to generate a processed downlink signal; and generating a timing signal output based, at least in part, on the processed downlink signal.