Interleaved antenna array configuration in a radio node

A method for configuring an antenna array in a radio node, comprising:

• disposing a plurality of isolated antenna elements and a plurality of non-isolated antenna elements in a first number of rows and a second number of columns of the antenna array such that the plurality of isolated antenna elements and the plurality of non-isolated antenna elements are interleaved in each of the first number of rows and each of the second number of columns;
• coupling a plurality of antenna isolators to the plurality of isolated antenna elements in the antenna array, respectively;
• and
• coupling each of a plurality of non-isolated amplifier circuits to a respective one of the plurality of non-isolated antenna elements in the antenna array.

A method for operating a radio node, the radio node comprising an antenna array that comprises a plurality of isolated antenna elements and a plurality of non-isolated antenna elements that are interleaved in each row and each column, the method comprising:

• performing a first type of digital pre-distortion (DPD) to pre-distort a first digital signal;
• converting the pre-distorted first digital signal into a first radio frequency (RF) signal;
• amplifying the first RF signal to generate a first amplified RF signal;
• providing the first amplified RF signal to a respective one of the plurality of isolated antenna elements;
• performing a second type of DPD to pre-distort a second digital signal;
• converting the pre-distorted second digital signal into a second RF signal;
• amplifying the second RF signal to generate a second amplified RF signal;
• and
• providing the second amplified RF signal to a respective one of the plurality of non-isolated antenna elements.

A radio node, comprising:

• an antenna array comprising a plurality of isolated sub-arrays and a plurality of non-isolated sub-arrays, wherein the plurality of isolated sub-arrays and the plurality of non-isolated antenna sub-arrays are interleaved;
• a plurality of antenna isolators each coupled to a respective one of the plurality of isolated sub-arrays;
• a plurality of isolated amplifier circuits each coupled to a respective antenna isolator among the plurality of antenna isolators;
• and
• a plurality of non-isolated amplifier circuits each coupled to a respective one of the plurality of non-isolated sub-arrays in the antenna array.