Shared RF Transmit Paths for Beamforming and MIMO Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional communication devices lack flexibility in configuring signal receiving and sending manners to meet the requirements of different scenarios, such as large lateral or forward space coverage areas.
Innovation Solution
The communication device incorporates multiple transmit and receive paths with phase shifters and power amplifiers, enabling configurations for beamforming (BF) and multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) signals, allowing flexible switching between modes to adapt to various scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate dedicated paths are used for beamforming and MIMO modes, then mode-specific performance is optimized, but device complexity and layout area increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal transmit path structure where the same phase shifters and power amplifiers can operate in both beamforming and MIMO modes. The splitter combines signals from multiple transmit paths and feeds them to a single set of phase shifters and power amplifiers, enabling one infrastructure to serve multiple functions. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated paths for each mode, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple transmit paths into a unified structure where signals from different antennas are combined through a splitter and processed by shared phase shifters and power amplifiers. This combining approach allows the system to achieve both beamforming and MIMO capabilities using a consolidated hardware architecture, reducing the overall layout area and component count while preserving the functional benefits of both modes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate dedicated paths are used for beamforming and MIMO modes, then mode-specific performance is optimized, but layout area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal transmit path structure where the same phase shifters and power amplifiers can operate in both beamforming and MIMO modes. The splitter combines signals from multiple transmit paths and feeds them to a single set of phase shifters and power amplifiers, enabling one infrastructure to serve multiple functions. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated paths for each mode, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple transmit paths into a unified structure where signals from different antennas are combined through a splitter and processed by shared phase shifters and power amplifiers. This combining approach allows the system to achieve both beamforming and MIMO capabilities using a consolidated hardware architecture, reducing the overall layout area and component count while preserving the functional benefits of both modes.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of this application provide a communication device. The communication device includes a first splitter, a first transmit path, and a second transmit path, where the first transmit path includes a first phase shifter and a first power amplifier, and the second transmit path includes a second phase shifter and a second power amplifier; an output end of the first transmit path is coupled to a first transmit antenna, and an output end of the second transmit path is coupled to a second transmit antenna; an input end of the first transmit path and an input end of the second transmit path are separately coupled to the splitter; the first transmit path and the second transmit path are configured to transmit a beamforming signal; and the first transmit path and the second transmit path are further configured to transmit a multiple-input-multiple-output MIMO signal.