Communication unit and method of antenna array calibration

    公开(公告)号:US10090940B2

    公开(公告)日:2018-10-02

    申请号:US14912065

    申请日:2014-08-15

    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.

    COMMUNICATION UNIT AND METHOD OF ANTENNA ARRAY CALIBRATION
    4.
    发明申请
    COMMUNICATION UNIT AND METHOD OF ANTENNA ARRAY CALIBRATION 审中-公开
    通信单元和天线阵列校准方法

    公开(公告)号:US20160191176A1

    公开(公告)日:2016-06-30

    申请号:US14912065

    申请日:2014-08-15

    CPC classification number: H04B17/11 H01Q3/267 H04B7/0617 H04B17/00

    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 translation: 描述了经由多个耦合器和多个天线元件馈送来校准耦合到多个发射器的天线阵列的方法。 该方法包括:在通信单元处:在通信单元中的反馈路径中选择和耦合至少一个耦合器到校准接收器; 通过至少一个第一波束束重量来缩放至少一个第一信号; 将所述缩放的至少一个第一信号应用于所述多个发射机中的第一发射机,并且经由所选择的至少一个耦合器将所述经缩放的至少一个第一信号路由到所述校准接收机; 通过基本上等于所述至少一个第一波束形式权重的至少一个第二波束形状权重来选择和缩放所述至少一个第一信号来产生参考信号; 将与所述至少一个第一波束形式权重缩放的所述至少一个第一信号与由所述至少一个第二波束形式权重缩放以确定至少一个第一参数结果的所述至少一个第一信号参考信号进行比较; 存储与第一发射机相关联的比较的至少一个第一参数结果; 为后续发射机重复步骤,选择和耦合另一个耦合器,缩放,将至少一个另外的信号施加到多个发射机中的另外的发射机,产生另外的参考信号,比较并存储至少一个其它参数结果,直到多个 的耦合器被选中; 以及从多个参数结果确定至少一个校准校正系数,以应用至少一个第二信号,所述至少一个第二信号输入到耦合到所述天线阵列的所述多个发射机中的至少一个发射机,以基本上均衡多个发射路径的传递函数 至少一个具有施加到其上的波束成形权重的第二信号的天线元件馈送。

    ACTIVE ANTENNA SYSTEM AND METHODS OF DETERMINING INTERMODULATION DISTORTION PERFORMANCE

    公开(公告)号:US20170176507A1

    公开(公告)日:2017-06-22

    申请号:US15129746

    申请日:2015-04-08

    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.

    COMMUNICATION UNIT, INTEGRATED CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A PLURALITY OF SECTORED BEAMS
    6.
    发明申请
    COMMUNICATION UNIT, INTEGRATED CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A PLURALITY OF SECTORED BEAMS 审中-公开
    通信单元,集成电路和产生多个部门的方法

    公开(公告)号:US20160197660A1

    公开(公告)日:2016-07-07

    申请号:US14912057

    申请日:2014-08-15

    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 translation: 通信单元包括用于耦合到天线阵列的多个天线元件的多个天线元件馈送(203,205),其中每个天线元件馈送包括至少一个耦合器; 以及可操作地耦合到所述多个天线元件馈送的多个发射器。 所述多个发射机中的至少一个发射机包括:用于接收第一信号和至少一个第二信号的输入; 波束形成器逻辑被布置成分别对所述发射机的第一信号和所述至少一个第二信号分别应用独立的波束形成权重(RcfBF1,RcfBF2),其中每个独立的波束形成权重分配在每个扇区的基础上; 以及信号组合器,被布置为组合第一信号和第二信号以产生组合信号,例如组合信号支持多个扇区波束。

    Active antenna system and methods of determining intermodulation distortion performance

    公开(公告)号:US10067171B2

    公开(公告)日:2018-09-04

    申请号:US15129746

    申请日:2015-04-08

    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.

    Network element, integrated circuit and method of determining connectivity from antenna elements to transceiver line-ups

    公开(公告)号:US10003413B2

    公开(公告)日:2018-06-19

    申请号:US14897602

    申请日:2014-06-05

    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.

    Active antenna system and methods of testing

    公开(公告)号:US09692530B2

    公开(公告)日:2017-06-27

    申请号:US15032294

    申请日:2014-08-15

    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.

    ACTIVE ANTENNA SYSTEM AND METHODS OF TESTING
    10.
    发明申请
    ACTIVE ANTENNA SYSTEM AND METHODS OF TESTING 有权
    主动天线系统和测试方法

    公开(公告)号:US20160254870A1

    公开(公告)日:2016-09-01

    申请号:US15032294

    申请日:2014-08-15

    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 translation: 描述了一种有源天线测试系统。 有源天线测试系统包括有源天线单元,其包括:多个天线元件; 至少一个处理器; 多个收发器模块,其可操作地耦合到所述至少一个处理器并且被布置成接收至少一个第一基带信号,用于经由所述多个天线元件中的至少一个天线元件进行传输,并且被布置成将至少一个第二基带信号传递到所述多个天线元件中, 从所述多个天线元件中的至少一个天线元件转换; 以及至少一个开关模块,其可操作地将所述多个天线模块耦合到所述多个收发器模块。 有源天线测试系统还包括至少一个通信测试设备,诸如射频,RF,测试模块和至少一个基带处理器。 有源天线单元还包括可操作地耦合到所述至少一个开关模块的至少一个外部可连接的射频测试端口,并被布置为将所述至少一个通信测试设备外部耦合到所述多个收发器模块中的至少一个, 导电测试。

Patent Agency Ranking