Phase tracking reference signals (PTRSs) with zero power (ZP) tones

A method for wireless communications by a first wireless node, comprising:

• receiving, from a second wireless node, information regarding a block of phase tracking reference signal (PTRS) tones that are contiguous in frequency;
• designating one or more of the PTRS tones as zero power (ZP) tones and one or more of the PTRS tones as non-ZP (NZP) tones based, at least in part, on the information;
• preparing a PTRS for transmission on the NZP tones;
• detecting that the PTRS collides with a resource block (RB) of a direct current (DC) tone;
• and
• taking one or more actions based on the detection, wherein the one or more actions comprise at least one of:
• dividing the PTRS tones into at least two sub-blocks of tones, each of the at least two sub-blocks having a contiguous set of tones;
• shifting the PTRS tones by a frequency offset;
• skipping transmission of the PTRS;
• or
• skipping at least a subset of tones from the PTRS and adjusting a power boosting based on the skipped subset of tones.

A method for wireless communications by a first wireless node, comprising:

• transmitting, to a second wireless node, information regarding a block of phase tracking reference signal (PTRS) tones that are contiguous in frequency for use in designating one or more of the PTRS tones as zero power (ZP) tones and one or more of the PTRS tones as non-ZP (NZP) tones, wherein:
• the information comprises information regarding an inter-carrier interference (ICI) filter;
• at least a first PTRS tone of the PTRS tones is designated on a first edge of the block of PTRS tones as a ZP tone based on the information regarding the ICI filter;
• at least a second PTRS tone of the PTRS tones is designated on a second edge of the block of PTRS tones as a ZP tone based on the information regarding the ICI filter;
• and
• the PTRS tones in the block not designated as the ZP tones is designated as the NZP tones;
• receiving a PTRS transmitted on the NZP tones of the one or more PTRS tones;
• and
• estimating filter coefficients for the ICI filter based on the PTRS received on the NZP tones.

An apparatus for wireless communication by a first wireless node, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• one or more processors coupled to the memory, the memory and the one or more processors being configured to:
• receive, from a second wireless node, information regarding a block of phase tracking reference signal (PTRS) tones that are contiguous in frequency, wherein the information comprises information regarding an inter-carrier interference (ICI) filter;
• designate one or more of the PTRS tones as zero power (ZP) tones and one or more of the PTRS tones as non-ZP (NZP) tones based, at least in part, on the information, wherein, to designate the one or more of the PTRS tones, the one or more processors are configured to:
• designate at least a first PTRS tone of the PTRS tones on a first edge of the block of PTRS tones as a ZP tone based on the information regarding the ICI filter;
• designate at least a second PTRS tone of the PTRS tones on a second edge of the block of PTRS tones as a ZP tone based on the information regarding the ICI filter;
• and
• designate the PTRS tones in the block not designated as the ZP tones as the NZP tones;
• and
• transmit a PTRS on the NZP tones.

An apparatus for wireless communication by a first wireless node, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• one or more processors coupled to the memory, the memory and the one or more processors being configured to:
• transmit, to a second wireless node, information regarding a block of phase tracking reference signal (PTRS) tones that are contiguous in frequency for use in designating one or more of the PTRS tones as zero power (ZP) tones and one or more of the PTRS tones as non-ZP (NZP) tones, wherein:
• the information comprises information regarding an inter-carrier interference (ICI) filter;
• at least a first PTRS tone of the PTRS tones is designated on a first edge of the block of PTRS tones as a ZP tone based on the information regarding the ICI filter;
• at least a second PTRS tone of the PTRS tones is designated on a second edge of the block of PTRS tones as a ZP tone based on the information regarding the ICI filter;
• and
• the PTRS tones in the block not designated as the ZP tones is designated as the NZP tones;
• receive a PTRS transmitted on the NZP tones of the one or more PTRS tones;
• and
• estimate filter coefficients for an inter-carrier interference (ICI) filter based on the PTRS received on the NZP tones.

An apparatus for wireless communication by a first wireless node, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• one or more processors coupled to the memory, the memory and the one or more processors being configured to:
• receive, from a second wireless node, information regarding a block of phase tracking reference signal (PTRS) tones that are contiguous in frequency;
• designate one or more of the PTRS tones as zero power (ZP) tones and one or more of the PTRS tones as non-ZP (NZP) tones based, at least in part, on the information;
• prepare a PTRS for transmission on the NZP tones;
• detect that the PTRS collides with a resource block (RB) of a direct current (DC) tone;
• and
• take one or more actions based on detecting that the PTRS collides with the RB of the DC tone, wherein the one or more actions comprise at least one of:
• dividing the PTRS tones into at least two sub-blocks of tones, each of the at least two sub-blocks having a contiguous set of tones;
• shifting the PTRS tones by a frequency offset;
• skipping transmission of the PTRS;
• or
• skipping at least a subset of tones from the PTRS and adjusting a power boosting based on the skipped subset of tones.