TDD Wireless Power Transfer Using Pilot and Energy Signal Overlap

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless power transfer techniques in FD D-MIMO systems are complex and inefficient, particularly for low-powered user equipment, due to self-interference and the need for sophisticated hardware and signal processing to enable simultaneous wireless information and power transfer.

Innovation Solution

A method and frame structure for wireless power transfer in TDD mode, where UEs transmit uplink pilot signals and perform energy harvesting simultaneously, while APs transmit energy signals and receive pilot signals, reducing the need for complex hardware and enabling low-complexity SWIPT in FD D-MIMO systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) is implemented in FD D-MIMO systems, then power transfer capability is improved, but hardware complexity and self-interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless power transfer capabilityVSAvoidhardware complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful self-interference signal into a beneficial energy source for power harvesting. The UE's own transmitted signal, which would normally interfere with reception, is harvested as energy through the energy harvesting circuit, transforming a harmful factor into a useful resource for simultaneous wireless information and power transfer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the information reception function and energy harvesting function into a single time slot. The UE simultaneously receives downlink information signals and harvests energy from the same received signal through separate processing paths, enabling simultaneous wireless information and power transfer without requiring separate time or frequency resources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If sophisticated signal processing is used to enable SWIPT, then power transfer reliability is improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower transfer reliabilityVSAvoidsignal processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the received signal into separate information and energy components through signal processing. The received signal is split into paths for information decoding and energy harvesting, with separate processing for each function, allowing independent optimization of both reliability and efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary power splitting mechanism that divides the received signal power between information processing and energy harvesting circuits. This intermediary approach allows flexible control of power allocation to optimize both information reception reliability and energy harvesting efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If separate time slots are used for information and power transfer, then processing simplicity is improved, but spectral efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing simplicityVSAvoidspectral efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuous useful action by performing both information reception and energy harvesting simultaneously during the same time slot. The UE continuously receives downlink signals for both information and power without interruption or time division, maximizing spectral efficiency while maintaining processing feasibility through parallel processing paths

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 optimizes resource allocation for uplink pilot signals and data transmission, improves spectral efficiency, and reduces hardware complexity by allowing UEs to use self-interference for energy harvesting, thus enhancing performance in FD D-MIMO systems.

Implementation Method 1

user equipment (UE) to simultaneously transmit uplink pilot signals and perform wireless energy harvesting on signals received from other UEs

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic energy harvesting: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS20260067056A1Wireless power transfer to user equipment

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

There is provided techniques for wireless power transfer from APs to UEs. The APs provide network access in a D-MIMO network to the UEs. The D-MIMO network is operated in TDD mode. A method is performed by a centralized node in the D-MIMO network. The method comprises sending UE-configuration destined to the UEs. The UE-configuration instructs the UEs to, during a time interval of a frame, simultaneously transmit uplink pilot signals and perform wireless energy harvesting on energy signals. The method comprises sending AP-configuration to the APs. The AP-configuration instructs the APs to, during the time interval of the frame, simultaneously transmit the energy signals towards the UEs and receive the uplink pilot signals from the UEs.