Transmitter, receiver, transmission method, reception method, non-transitory computer readable storage medium, and integrated circuit

A receiver that supports beamforming function using a plurality of antenna elements, the receiver comprising:

• a dither signal generator which, in operation, generates pseudo random sequence signals as dither signals for analog signals, the pseudo random sequence signals being different from each other, the analog signals each corresponding to respective one of the plurality of antenna elements;
• and
• a plurality of analog-to-digital converters which, in operation, receives the analog signals and the dither signals, adds the dither signals to the analog signals, the dither signals having power level corresponding to lower bits of digital signals, and converts only portions of addition results of the analog signals and the dither signal into the digital signals, the portions corresponding to upper bits of the digital signals, and outputs the digital signals.

A transmission method of supporting beamforming function using a plurality of antenna elements, the transmission method comprising:

• generating pseudo random sequence signals as dither signals for lower bits of digital signals, the pseudo random sequence signals being different from each other, the digital signals each corresponding to respective one of the plurality of antenna elements;
• and
• adding the dither signals generated by the generating of the pseudo random sequence signals to the lower bits of the digital signals, and converting only upper bits of addition results of the digital signals and the dither signals into analog signals.

A reception method of supporting beamforming function using a plurality of antenna elements, the reception method comprising:

• generating pseudo random sequence signals as dither signals for analog signals, the pseudo random sequence signals being different from each other, the analog signals each corresponding to respective one of the plurality of antenna elements;
• and
• receiving the analog signals and the dither signals, adding the dither signals to the analog signals, the dither signals having power level corresponding to lower bits of digital signals, converting only portions of addition results of the analog signals and the dither signals into the digital signals, the portions corresponding to upper bits of the digital signals, and outputting the digital signals.

An integrated circuit that supports beamforming function using a plurality of antenna elements, the integrated circuit comprising:

• a dither signal generator which, in operation, generates pseudo random sequence signals as dither signals for lower bits of digital signals, the pseudo random sequence signals being different from each other, the digital signals each corresponding to respective one of the plurality of antenna elements;
• and
• a plurality of digital-to-analog converters which, in operation, adds the dither signals generated by the dither signal generator to the lower bits of the digital signals, and converts only upper bits of addition results of the digital signals and the dither signals into analog signals.

An integrated circuit that supports beamforming function using a plurality of antenna elements, the integrated circuit comprising:

• a dither signal generator which, in operation, generates pseudo random sequence signals as dither signals for analog signals, the pseudo random sequence signals being different from each other, the analog signals each corresponding to respective one of the plurality of antenna elements;
• and
• a plurality of analog-to-digital converters which, in operation, receives the analog signals and the dither signals, adds the dither signals to the analog signals, the dither signals having power level corresponding to lower bits of digital signals, and converts only portions of addition results of the analog signals and the dither signal into the digital signals, the portions corresponding to upper bits of the digital signals, and outputs the digital signals.