Techniques for reference signal patterns

An apparatus for wireless communication at a base station, comprising:

• a processor,
• memory coupled with the processor;
• and
• instructions stored in the memory and operable, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to:
• transmit, to a user equipment (UE), a first indication of a set of reference signal instances within a set of resources;
• transmit, to the UE, a second indication of a resource element format of a reference signal instance of the set of reference signal instances, the resource element format comprising one or more null resource elements and one or more reference signal resource elements;
• transmit, to the UE, a reference signal for estimating carrier frequency offset based at least in part on the first indication of the set of reference signal instances and the second indication of the resource element format of the reference signal instance;
• and
• communicate with the UE based at least in part on transmitting the reference signal.

A method for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

• receiving a first indication of a set of reference signal instances within a set of resources;
• receiving a second indication of a resource element format of a reference signal instance of the set of reference signal instances, the resource element format comprising one or more null resource elements and one or more reference signal resource elements;
• receiving, from a base station, a reference signal for estimating carrier frequency offset based at least in part on the first indication of the set of reference signal instances and the second indication of the resource element format of the reference signal instance;
• and
• communicating with the base station based at least in part on receiving the reference signal.

A method for wireless communication at a base station, the method comprising:

• transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), a first indication of a set of reference signal instances within a set of resources;
• transmitting, to the UE, a second indication of a resource element format of a reference signal instance of the set of reference signal instances, the resource element format comprising one or more null resource elements and one or more reference signal resource elements;
• transmitting, to the UE, a reference signal for estimating carrier frequency offset based at least in part on the first indication of the set of reference signal instances and the second indication of the resource element format of the reference signal instance;
• and
• communicating with the UE based at least in part on transmitting the reference signal.