Selective Receive Antenna Diversity for Mobile Wireless Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile wireless devices in UMTS networks face challenges in maintaining effective signal reception and battery efficiency, particularly in areas with weak signal coverage, where single antenna usage can lead to failed page decoding and increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing selective receive antenna diversity by measuring signal strength through multiple antennas and varying the switch rate between primary and secondary antennas based on calculated moving averages, enabling or disabling receive signal chains to optimize power usage and improve decoding performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple antennas and receive signal chains are used simultaneously to improve signal coverage in weak signal areas, then signal reception reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic receive antenna diversity by selectively enabling and disabling receive signal chains based on signal strength measurements. The system transitions from a static configuration to a dynamic one where the number of active receive chains varies according to operating conditions, allowing the device to adapt between power saving mode (fewer chains active) and high reliability mode (more chains active) as needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of receive signal chain activation status based on measured signal strength. When signal strength exceeds a threshold, additional receive chains are activated to improve reliability. When signal strength is below the threshold, receive chains are deactivated to reduce power consumption. This parameter change approach directly resolves the contradiction by making the system state dependent rather than fixed
2Reliability
If receive antenna diversity is enabled to improve signal coverage, then decoding performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback-based control where the system continuously measures signal strength through available antennas and uses this feedback to determine which receive signal chains should be active. The measured signal strength serves as feedback that triggers appropriate actions: activating additional chains when signal is weak and deactivating them when signal is strong, thereby managing complexity through intelligent control rather than fixed configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-management of receive antenna diversity by autonomously measuring signal strength and making decisions about which receive chains to activate without external intervention. The device monitors its own operating conditions and automatically adjusts its configuration, reducing the need for complex external control mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
Method, apparatus and computer program product measuring signals received through multiple antennas in a mobile wireless device is described. Signals received through at least one of a primary antenna and a secondary antenna, during each cycle in a series of discontinuous reception cycles, is measured. The mobile wireless device switches between the primary and secondary antennas based on comparing the moving averages of the measured received signals to pre-determined thresholds. When unable to decode successfully a signal received on the primary antenna, the mobile wireless device switches to decode signals received on the secondary antenna.