Virtual Antenna Port Mapping for Beam Pattern Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beam forming technologies, particularly in LTE release 10, are limited by the number of antenna ports and CSI-RS ports, resulting in restricted angular resolution and beam forming gain, especially with dual polarized uniform linear array antennas.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining virtual antenna ports by mapping physical antenna ports to define beam patterns, transmitting reference signals for channel state information, and adapting the beam pattern based on angular information to improve spatial resolution and beam forming gain, allowing for denser sampling and higher spectral efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the number of antenna ports and CSI-RS ports is increased to improve beam forming gain, then the beam forming gain improves, but the device complexity and system resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the antenna array into multiple sub-arrays, where each sub-array is independently controlled and forms its own beam. This allows the system to achieve high beam forming gain through coordinated transmission from multiple sub-arrays without requiring a single large-scale antenna array, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of control by enabling independent phase and amplitude adjustment for each sub-array in addition to traditional element-level control. This dimensional expansion allows the system to achieve superior beam forming performance with fewer physical antenna ports by exploiting the additional control degrees of freedom.
2Measurement precision
If the number of antenna ports is increased to improve angular resolution, then the angular resolution improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the antenna array into multiple sub-arrays with independent control, the patent achieves fine angular resolution through the spatial diversity of sub-array positions and orientations. Each sub-array contributes to angular discrimination, effectively increasing measurement precision without proportionally increasing the total number of antenna ports.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds spatial dimensionality by distributing sub-arrays across different positions and orientations in three-dimensional space. This dimensional expansion provides additional angular information from multiple viewing angles, significantly improving angular resolution without requiring a dense planar array of antenna elements.
3Reliability
If beam patterns are made more adaptive to improve beam forming performance, then the beam forming performance improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic beam pattern adaptation where each sub-array can independently adjust its beam characteristics in real-time based on channel conditions. This dynamic control allows the system to optimize beam forming performance for different spatial locations and channel states without requiring complex centralized control of every antenna element.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the beam forming control into independent sub-array units, the patent reduces the complexity of beam pattern adaptation. Each sub-array can be controlled independently with simpler algorithms, and the overall system performance emerges from the coordinated operation of these simpler units, rather than requiring complex control of a monolithic antenna array.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided beam forming using an antenna array configured to transmit across an angular sector. A first set of virtual antenna ports is determined by a mapping of physical antenna ports of the antenna array, the first set of virtual antenna ports defining a beam pattern. A first set of reference signals for acquiring channel state information is transmitted over the first set of virtual antenna ports. Angular information about a wireless transceiver device receiving the transmitted first set of reference signals is acquired. The beam pattern is adapted based on an accuracy of the angular information and/or the angular information itself.