Abstract:
A communication unit comprises a plurality of antenna element feeds (203, 205) for coupling to a plurality of antenna elements of an antenna array, where each antenna element feed comprises at least one coupler; and a plurality of transmitters operably coupled to the plurality of antenna element feeds. At least one transmitter of the plurality of transmitters comprises: an input for receiving a first signal and at least one second signal; beamformer logic arranged to apply independent beamform weights (RefBF1, RefBF2) on the first signal and the at least one second signal of the transmitter respectively, wherein each of the independent beamform weights is allocated on a per sector basis; and a signal combiner arranged to combine the first signal and the second signal to produce a combined signal, such as that the combined signal supports a plurality of sectored beams.
Abstract:
A method for calibrating an antenna array coupled to a plurality of transmitters via a plurality of couplers and a plurality of antenna element feeds is described. The method comprises, at a communication unit: selecting and coupling at least one coupler to a calibration receiver in a feedback path in the communication unit; scaling at least one first signal by at least one first beamform weight; applying the scaled at least one first signal to a first transmitter of the plurality of transmitters and routing the scaled at least one first signal via the selected at least one coupler to the calibration receiver; generating a reference signal by selecting and scaling the at least one first signal by at least one second beamform weight substantially equal to the at least one first beamform weight; comparing the at least one first signal scaled with the at least one first beamform weight with the at least one first signal reference signal scaled by the at least one second beamform weight to determine at least one first parameter result; storing the at least one first parameter result of the comparison associated with the first transmitter; repeating for subsequent transmitters the steps of selecting and coupling a further coupler, scaling, applying at least one further signal to a further transmitter of the plurality of transmitters, generating a further reference signal, comparing and storing at least one further parameter result until the plurality of couplers have been selected; and determining at least one calibration correction coefficient from a plurality of parameter results for applying to at least one second signal input to at least one transmitter of the plurality of transmitters coupled to the antenna array to substantially equalize a transfer function of a plurality of transmit paths to antenna element feeds for the at least one second signal having beamform weights applied thereto.
Abstract:
A communication unit comprises a plurality of antenna element feeds (203, 205) for coupling to a plurality of antenna elements of an antenna array, where each antenna element feed comprises at least one coupler; and a plurality of transmitters operably coupled to the plurality of antenna element feeds. At least one transmitter of the plurality of transmitters comprises: an input for receiving a first signal and at least one second signal; beamformer logic arranged to apply independent beamform weights (RefBF1, RefBF2) on the first signal and the at least one second signal of the transmitter respectively, wherein each of the independent beamform weights is allocated on a per sector basis; and a signal combiner arranged to combine the first signal and the second signal to produce a combined signal, such as that the combined signal supports a plurality of sectored beams.
Abstract:
A method for calibrating an antenna array coupled to a plurality of transmitters via a plurality of couplers and a plurality of antenna element feeds is described. The method comprises, at a communication unit: selecting and coupling at least one coupler to a calibration receiver in a feedback path in the communication unit; scaling at least one first signal by at least one first beamform weight; applying the scaled at least one first signal to a first transmitter of the plurality of transmitters and routing the scaled at least one first signal via the selected at least one coupler to the calibration receiver; generating a reference signal by selecting and scaling the at least one first signal by at least one second beamform weight substantially equal to the at least one first beamform weight; comparing the at least one first signal scaled with the at least one first beamform weight with the at least one first signal reference signal scaled by the at least one second beamform weight to determine at least one first parameter result; storing the at least one first parameter result of the comparison associated with the first transmitter; repeating for subsequent transmitters the steps of selecting and coupling a further coupler, scaling, applying at least one further signal to a further transmitter of the plurality of transmitters, generating a further reference signal, comparing and storing at least one further parameter result until the plurality of couplers have been selected; and determining at least one calibration correction coefficient from a plurality of parameter results for applying to at least one second signal input to at least one transmitter of the plurality of transmitters coupled to the antenna array to substantially equalise a transfer function of a plurality of transmit paths to antenna element feeds for the at least one second signal having beamform weights applied thereto.
Abstract:
An active antenna test system comprising an active antenna unit comprising: a test signal generator arranged to generate at least a first test signal and at least one second test signal; a plurality of transmitter modules operably coupled to the test signal generator wherein the plurality of transmitter modules are arranged to simultaneously process the first test signal and at least one second test signal to produce at least one radio frequency test signal therefrom; and at least one receiver module arranged to process one or more signals falling in at least one spectral band determined to be susceptible to intermodulation distortion products caused by the at least one radio frequency test signal being generated from the first test signal and at least one second test signal; and an intermodulation determination module operably coupled to the at least one receiver module and arranged to determine a first received intermodulation performance. A first transmitter module of the plurality of transmitter modules is operably uncoupled from the test signal generator and at least a first test signal and at least one second test signal re-applied to the remaining transmitter modules, such that the intermodulation determination module determines a second received intermodulation performance in order to determine an intermodulation distortion contribution of the first transmitter module therefrom.
Abstract:
A communication unit comprises a plurality of antenna element feeds (203, 205) for coupling to a plurality of antenna elements of an antenna array, where each antenna element feed comprises at least one coupler; and a plurality of transmitters operably coupled to the plurality of antenna element feeds. At least one transmitter of the plurality of transmitters comprises: an input for receiving a first signal and at least one second signal; beamformer logic arranged to apply independent beamform weights (RcfBF1, RcfBF2) on the first signal and the at least one second signal of the transmitter respectively, wherein each of the independent beamform weights is allocated on a per sector basis; and a signal combiner arranged to combine the first signal and the second signal to produce a combined signal, such as that the combined signal supports a plurality of sectored beams.
Abstract:
An active antenna test system comprising an active antenna unit comprising: a test signal generator arranged to generate at least a first test signal and at least one second test signal; a plurality of transmitter modules operably coupled to the test signal generator wherein the plurality of transmitter modules are arranged to simultaneously process the first test signal and at least one second test signal to produce at least one radio frequency test signal therefrom; and at least one receiver module arranged to process one or more signals falling in at least one spectral band determined to be susceptible to intermodulation distortion products caused by the at least one radio frequency test signal being generated from the first test signal and at least one second test signal; and an intermodulation determination module operably coupled to the at least one receiver module and arranged to determine a first received intermodulation performance. A first transmitter module of the plurality of transmitter modules is operably uncoupled from the test signal generator and at least a first test signal and at least one second test signal re-applied to the remaining transmitter modules, such that the intermodulation determination module determines a second received intermodulation performance in order to determine an intermodulation distortion contribution of the first transmitter module therefrom.
Abstract:
A method for assigning, in a database, a relationship between at least one logical channel and at least one antenna element feed that is coupleable to at least one antenna element of an antenna arrangement, is described. The method comprises either: applying a first signal to at least one first logical channel; and detecting whether there is a presence of a radio frequency signal converted from the first signal on at least one first antenna element feed; or applying a second signal to at least one first antenna element feed coupleable to at least one first antenna element of the antenna arrangement; and detecting whether there is a presence of a logical signal converted from the second signal on at least one first logical channel. The method further comprises assigning in the database in response thereto a relationship between the at least one first logical channel and the at least one first antenna element feed. This advantageously allows assigning of logical channels via a plurality of transceivers to a plurality of antenna elements. Furthermore, a logical channel to beamform coefficient assignment may be determined for the antenna array.
Abstract:
An active antenna test system is described. The active antenna test system comprises an active antenna unit comprising: a plurality of antenna elements; at least one processor; a plurality of transceiver modules operably coupled to the at least one processor and arranged to receive at least one first baseband signal for transmission via at least one of the plurality of antenna elements and arranged to pass at least one second baseband signal thereto received and down-converted from at least one of the plurality of antenna elements; and at least one switching module operably coupling the plurality of antenna modules to the plurality of transceiver modules. The active antenna test system also comprises at least one communication test equipment, such as a radio frequency, RF, test module and at least one baseband processor. The active antenna unit further comprises at least one externally connectable radio frequency, RF, test port operably coupled to the at least one switching module and arranged to externally couple the at least one communication test equipment to at least one of the plurality of transceiver modules for conductive testing.
Abstract:
An active antenna test system is described. The active antenna test system comprises an active antenna unit comprising: a plurality of antenna elements; at least one processor; a plurality of transceiver modules operably coupled to the at least one processor and arranged to receive at least one first baseband signal for transmission via at least one of the plurality of antenna elements and arranged to pass at least one second baseband signal thereto received and down-converted from at least one of the plurality of antenna elements; and at least one switching module operably coupling the plurality of antenna modules to the plurality of transceiver modules. The active antenna test system also comprises at least one communication test equipment, such as a radio frequency, RF, test module and at least one baseband processor. The active antenna unit further comprises at least one externally connectable radio frequency, RF, test port operably coupled to the at least one switching module and arranged to externally couple the at least one communication test equipment to at least one of the plurality of transceiver modules for conductive testing.