Single-Carrier SSB Structure for High-Frequency NR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current synchronization signal block (SSB) designs in 3GPP New Radio (NR) are specific to Cyclic Prefix-Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (CP-OFDM and degrade at high frequencies due to phase noise and high Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR), limiting cell coverage and increasing user equipment (UE) power consumption.
Innovation Solution
Proposed new SSB structures for single-carrier waveforms, such as SC-FDE, where the Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS), and Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) are mapped only to time-domain resources, with options for random or known guard intervals, integrating enhancements to PSS and SSS design and modifications to PBCH payload and control resource set multiplexing patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If CP-OFDM is used for downlink synchronization signal block, then the SSB structure can be implemented according to current 3GPP NR specifications, but the performance degrades at high frequencies due to sensitivity to phase noise and high PAPR
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental waveform parameter from multi-carrier CP-OFDM to single-carrier SC-FDE, which fundamentally alters the signal characteristics to achieve lower PAPR and reduced phase noise sensitivity, making it suitable for high frequency operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the CP-OFDM modulation mechanism with SC-FDE modulation mechanism, substituting the frequency-domain equalization approach with time-domain single-carrier transmission, which inherently provides better performance in terms of PAPR and phase noise robustness
2Area of stationary object
If CP-OFDM is used for downlink, then current NR releases can be maintained, but cell coverage is limited and edge of cell performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the waveform parameter from CP-OFDM to SC-FDE, the patent achieves lower peak power requirements and better power amplifier efficiency, which directly extends cell coverage and improves edge-of-cell performance through more efficient power utilization
3Use of energy by moving object
If CP-OFDM is used for downlink, then the existing SSB design can be used, but UE power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the downlink waveform to SC-FDE which provides more robust synchronization signal transmission, enabling UEs to acquire cell information more reliably and efficiently, thereby reducing the time and power required for initial access and connection establishment
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for SSB pattern enhancement. One method includes receiving a single-carrier SSB structure from a radio access network. Here, the single-carrier SSB structure includes: a PSS portion comprising a PSS block mapped to a first set of time-domain symbols, a SSS portion comprising a SSS block mapped to a second set of time-domain symbols, and a PBCH portion comprising a plurality of PBCH blocks mapped to a third set of time-domain symbols. The method includes accessing a cell using a single-carrier waveform based on the received single-carrier SSB structure.