RRH Power Amplifier Path Segmentation for Wideband MIMO Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional RRHs face challenges with high bandwidth leading to inefficiencies, large size, and high operational costs due to the need for RF power amplifiers to handle excessive bandwidth, which results in suboptimal performance and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The system dynamically adjusts the bandwidth and number of MIMO paths by tuning each power amplifier path for different center frequencies, adjusting supply voltages based on the number of deployed frequency bands, and utilizing feedback mechanisms for real-time and long-term network statistics to optimize power consumption and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high bandwidth is used in RF systems to increase channel capacity, then network capacity is improved, but efficiency deteriorates and operating costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The communication channel is divided into multiple narrower sub-channels, each handled by a separate RF power amplifier. This segmentation allows each amplifier to operate efficiently within its allocated bandwidth while collectively providing high aggregate channel capacity. The patent applies this by splitting the wideband signal into multiple frequency bands and assigning each to a dedicated amplifier path.
2Productivity
If high bandwidth is allocated to single RF power amplifier to maintain high channel capacity, then network capacity is improved, but amplifier efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the wide bandwidth into multiple narrower sub-channels, each assigned to a separate power amplifier. This allows each amplifier to operate within its optimal efficiency range while the aggregate capacity remains high. The patent implements this by dividing the frequency spectrum into multiple bands and allocating each band to a dedicated amplifier path.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the allocation of bandwidth to different amplifier paths based on deployment conditions. When few frequency bands are deployed, amplifier supply voltages are raised to maintain high output power. When many bands are deployed, bias voltages are adjusted to keep total output power constant, optimizing efficiency across different operational scenarios.
3Productivity
If RF power amplifiers are designed to handle excessive bandwidth, then channel capacity is improved, but device size and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single large amplifier designed to handle excessive bandwidth, the system segments the bandwidth handling task across multiple smaller amplifiers. Each amplifier is sized appropriately for its allocated sub-channel, resulting in a more compact overall RRH design while maintaining high aggregate channel capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
Described are concepts, systems and techniques for dividing a communication channel such that no single radio frequency (RF) power amplifier (PA) in a remote radio head (RRH) operates over an excessively wide frequency bandwidth. This allows efficient operation of the RF PA wherein each PA transmit path is tuned for operation at a respective one of a plurality of different center frequencies (f0, f0+Δf, . . . f0+(n−1) Δf where n is an integer corresponding to the number of RF PA transmit paths.