Calibration-less Transmit Beamforming Using Shared Gain Block

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transmit beamforming techniques in wireless communication systems require complex antenna calibration and hardware to achieve symmetric phase and magnitude compensation between transmit and receive channels, which is computationally intensive and intricate.

Innovation Solution

A calibration-less approach using a shared gain block in the RF front-end module for both transmit and receive operations, where the same gain block is configured to operate in different modes for amplifying signals, eliminating the need for complex calibration algorithms and hardware by ensuring equal transmit and receive phase offsets across antennas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional antenna calibration techniques are used to achieve symmetric phase and magnitude compensation, then transmit beamforming performance is improved, but device complexity and computational requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmit beamforming performanceVSAvoidcalibration hardware and computation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the transmit and receive signal paths by using the same gain block for both directions. This combination eliminates the need for separate calibration hardware and procedures, reducing device complexity while maintaining beamforming performance through the natural symmetry of the shared path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gain block is designed to serve dual functions: amplifying transmit signals and amplifying receive signals. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate calibration circuits, reducing overall system complexity while ensuring phase and magnitude symmetry through the universal component's consistent characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If complex calibration algorithms and procedures are implemented, then phase and magnitude compensation accuracy is improved, but ease of operation and implementation simplicity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephase and magnitude compensation accuracyVSAvoidcalibration procedure simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves self-calibration by utilizing the inherent symmetry of the shared gain block path. The same component used for transmit automatically provides the reference for receive, and vice versa, eliminating the need for external calibration procedures or complex algorithms while maintaining high compensation accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and eliminates the complex calibration procedures from the system by relying on the natural symmetry provided by the shared gain block. This removal of unnecessary calibration steps simplifies operation while the fundamental symmetry of the shared path preserves the accuracy of phase and magnitude compensation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS8548379B2Calibration-less transmit beamforming

Publication Date: 2013.10.01 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

A calibration-less transmit beamforming apparatus and method are provided. In a wireless communication device that comprises a plurality of antennas, a gain block is provided in the front-end module associated with each antenna and the same gain block is used during transmit and receive operations. As a result, the transmit phase offset and receive phase offset for each antenna are made to be equal, thereby achieving conditions for transmit beamforming without the need for complex antenna calibration algorithms and hardware.