RF Chain Retuning Gaps for TDM Sensing and Wireless Links

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communications and sensing operations, such as radar, often interfere with each other due to sub-optimal tuning of radio frequency chains caused by unbalanced operation points of power amplifiers, leading to inefficiencies and interference.

Innovation Solution

Configuring retuning gaps and ensuring amplitude and phase continuity for sensing and wireless communications by optimizing the UE's radio frequency chain transitions based on power amplifier operation points, using time-division multiplexing in shared radio frequency spectrum bands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If wireless communications and sensing operations share the same radio frequency spectrum band, then spectrum utilization efficiency is improved, but interference between communications and sensing occurs due to unbalanced power amplifier operation points

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectrum utilization efficiencyVSAvoidinterference between communications and sensing

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the shared radio frequency spectrum band into distinct communication slots and sensing slots through time-division multiplexing. This segmentation allows separate optimization of power amplifier operation points for each function, eliminating interference while maintaining high spectrum utilization. The retuning gap further segments the transition period between different operation modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a retuning gap before sensing operations to allow the power amplifier to pre-adjust its operation point from communication mode to sensing mode. This preliminary action ensures the amplifier is properly tuned before sensing begins, preventing interference and maintaining signal quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the UE retunes the radio frequency chain between sensing signals and communication signals, then optimal performance for each function is achieved, but retuning time increases overall operation latency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance optimization for sensing and communicationVSAvoidretuning time and operation latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the retuning gap duration dynamic rather than fixed. The base station configures different retuning gap lengths based on the specific communication and sensing parameters, allowing the system to adaptively balance between performance optimization and latency reduction for different operational scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of retuning gap duration based on power amplifier operation points and signal characteristics. By adjusting this parameter dynamically, the system achieves optimal performance while minimizing the time penalty associated with retuning the radio frequency chain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If multiple adjacent sensing signals are transmitted with phase and amplitude continuity, then sensing performance is improved, but flexibility in scheduling communication signals is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing performanceVSAvoidscheduling flexibility for communication signals

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the sensing signal sequence into groups with continuity requirements and groups without such requirements. By identifying which sensing signals need phase and amplitude continuity for optimal performance and which do not, the system can insert communication signals in appropriate gaps without degrading critical sensing functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies phase and amplitude continuity only to the extent necessary for sensing performance rather than to all sensing signals. This partial application maintains sensing reliability where needed while leaving other opportunities open for flexible communication signal scheduling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12526777B2Configuring a retuning gap and amplitude and phase continuity for sensing and wireless communications

Publication Date: 2026.01.13 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Methods, systems (100), and devices for wireless communications are described. In some systems (100), a base station (105) and a user equipment (UE) (115) may communicate over a shared radio frequency spectrum and may employ time-division multiplexing (TDM) techniques to multiplex sensing signals (315) with wireless communications in the shared radio frequency spectrum. In some examples, the base station (105) may configure the UE (115) with a first retuning gap during which the UE (115) may retune a radio frequency chain of the UE (115) when transitioning from a sensing signal (315) pulse to wireless communications and with a second retuning gap during which the UE may retune the radio frequency chain when transitioning from wireless communications to a sensing signal (315). In some other examples, the base station (105) may configure the UE (115) with a phase and amplitude continuity status of multiple adjacent sensing signal (315) pulses that may indicate whether the multiple adjacent sensing signal (315) pulses have phase and amplitude continuity.