TDD Power Amplifier Thermal Stabilization Using Advance Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G networks using TDD communication, the nonlinearity of power amplifiers due to thermal equilibrium issues leads to distortion and increased error vector magnitude (EVM), affecting communication quality and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that adjust the thermal equilibrium point of power amplifiers by transmitting an advance signal during a specific period between the end of the uplink and start of the downlink periods, using timing advance (TA) configurations and temperature variation monitoring to ensure the power amplifier reaches a stable thermal state before transmitting downlink signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the power amplifier operates in TDD mode without thermal equilibrium adjustment, then communication speed and data rate are improved, but nonlinearity increases and error vector magnitude worsens due to thermal instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by transmitting an advance signal before the actual downlink signal to pre-heat the power amplifier and establish thermal equilibrium. This preliminary thermal preparation ensures that when the main signal transmission begins, the power amplifier is already in a stable thermal state, thereby reducing nonlinearity and error vector magnitude while maintaining high communication speed
2Reliability
If the power amplifier is heated to reach thermal equilibrium before downlink transmission, then nonlinearity is reduced and communication quality improves, but transmission time increases due to the heating period
Solution Approach 1:
The advance signal transmission during the guard period performs the necessary thermal preparation in advance, so that when the downlink signal transmission starts, the power amplifier is already at thermal equilibrium. This eliminates the need for additional heating time during actual data transmission, thus improving communication quality without increasing transmission time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the periodic guard period in TDD configuration to transmit the advance signal. By embedding the thermal preparation within the existing periodic structure of TDD frames, the system achieves thermal equilibrium without adding extra transmission time, as the heating occurs during the regular guard period intervals
3Reliability
If an advance signal is transmitted to stabilize thermal equilibrium, then nonlinearity of the power amplifier is reduced, but energy consumption increases due to additional signal transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The advance signal transmission performs thermal preparation during the guard period, establishing thermal equilibrium before actual data transmission. By completing the energy-intensive heating phase during the unused guard period rather than during data transmission, the system reduces nonlinearity without significantly increasing overall energy consumption, as the guard period energy is already allocated for other purposes
Solution Approach 2:
The advance signal transmission continues the useful thermal preparation action throughout the guard period, ensuring that the power amplifier reaches optimal thermal state before data transmission. This continuous thermal preparation during the entire guard period maximizes the efficiency of energy usage, converting what would be idle time into productive thermal stabilization
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 reduces nonlinearity and EVM, enhancing communication quality and efficiency by stabilizing the power amplifier's thermal state, thereby improving signal transmission in 5G wireless communication systems.
Implementation Method 1
the nonlinearity of power amplifiers due to thermal equilibrium issues
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed by a base station in a wireless communication system includes receiving, from a terminal configured with timing advance (TA), an uplink signal in an uplink period, according to a time division duplex (TDD) configuration, transmitting, through a transmission path of the base station to the terminal, an advance signal for a predetermined duration between an end point of receiving the uplink signal and a start point of a downlink period of the TDD configuration, the transmission path of the base station having a power amplifier as a transmission end, and transmitting, to the terminal, a downlink signal in the downlink period.