Subarray Beamforming for Coarse Scan in 5G mmWave Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
The 5G mmWave frequency range requires multiple antennas and beam-forming techniques for communication with base stations, leading to high energy loss and increased memory usage due to large codebooks storing numerous codewords for beam settings, which complicates the process of locating and connecting with base stations.
Innovation Solution
Divide the antenna array into subarrays to generate a coarse beam with increased beam width and reduced peak gain loss, allowing for reduced beam-switching and a smaller codebook by combining beams in phase, thereby decreasing detection time and memory usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple antennas and beam-forming techniques are used for mmWave communication, then throughput is increased, but energy loss in propagation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna array is divided into multiple subarrays, where each subarray forms a beam that combines in phase to create a coarse beam. This segmentation allows the system to maintain directional beam-forming gain for high throughput while reducing energy loss by focusing energy more effectively through the coordinated operation of subarrays.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a codebook stores multiple directional coarse beams and narrow beams for locating and connecting with base stations, then beam-forming flexibility is improved, but memory space consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The codebook is segmented into two distinct parts: a first codebook storing beam settings for coarse beams and a second codebook storing beam settings for narrow beams. This segmentation reduces memory consumption by organizing beam settings more efficiently and eliminating redundant entries, while maintaining the flexibility to perform both coarse location and fine connection operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and separates the coarse beam beam settings from the narrow beam beam settings into different codebooks. This extraction removes redundant information and reduces the overall memory footprint while preserving the essential beam-forming flexibility needed for both location and connection operations.
3Area of stationary object
If beam width is increased to improve coverage area, then base station location capability is improved, but peak gain is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna array is divided into subarrays that independently form beams. These subarray beams are then combined in phase to create a coarse beam with increased beam width for better coverage. The segmentation allows each subarray to maintain its beam-forming capability while the combined output achieves both wide coverage and adequate peak gain through constructive interference.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple subarray beams are merged by combining them in phase to create a single coarse beam. This merging process preserves the peak gain characteristics of the individual subarrays while achieving the desired increased beam width for improved coverage area, thus resolving the trade-off between coverage and gain.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach results in a broader beam width with minimal peak gain loss, reducing the need for beam-switching and decreasing the number of codewords required, leading to faster detection times and a more streamlined radio frequency integrated circuit.
Implementation Method 1
The respective beams may be combined in phase to generate a coarse beam that is used to locate the base station
Data Source
AI summary
A communication device has multiple antennas in an antenna array, and applies the same input power to each antenna. A controller of the communication device instructs phase shifters to form a first subarray with a first pair of the antennas and a second subarray with a second pair of the antennas. The controller causes the first subarray to generate a first beam and causes the second subarray to generate a second beam, wherein the first beam combines in phase with the second beam to generate a coarse beam. The coarse beam may have increased beam width while exhibiting decreased peak gain loss.