Multi-transceiver architecture for advanced Tx antenna monitoring and calibration in MIMO and smart antenna communication systems

A multi-transceiver system architecture arrangement for use in a wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) spatial multiplexing system, comprising

• a first transceiver module and one or more independently controllable second, third and optional further transceiver modules, each of the transceiver modules having a respective transceive antenna and comprising at least one respective transmit signal processing chain with each of these signal processing chains being connected to a common baseband processing unit, the baseband processing unit generating a same baseband signal and feeding it to each transmit signal processing chain,
• a built-in feedback mechanism configured to:
• measure amplitude, timing and phase offsets by a signal measurement and adjustment block integrated into a digital predistortion system in the transmit signal processing chain of the second transceiver module, the offsets being measured between an a radio-frequency (RF) signal generated in the first transceiver module, the signal being coupled via an antenna loop from the transceive antenna of the first transceiver module to the transceive antenna of the second transceiver module, and forwarded to the signal measurement and adjustment block, and the corresponding transmit baseband signal of the RF signal, the transmit baseband signal being generated by the common baseband processing unit and provided to the signal measurement and adjustment block of the second transceiver module, or
• measure further amplitude, timing and phase offsets by the signal measurement and adjustment block between at least one further RF signal generated in the third transceiver module or any one of the optional further transceiver modules, the signal being coupled via a reverse antenna loop from the transceive antenna of the third transceiver module or any one from the optional further transceiver modules to the transceive antenna of the second transceiver module and forwarded to the signal measurement and adjustment block, and the transmit baseband signal,
• compare the measurements with each other, and
• interpret final amplitude, timing and phase differences between each pair of these measurements as the amplitude, timing and phase difference between the first RF signal and the at least one further RF signal at the transceive antenna of the second transceiver module,
• wherein the integrated signal measurement and adjustment block of the digital predistortion system in the transmit signal processing chain of the second transceiver module is configured to operated at a higher sampling rate and dynamic range than available for the common baseband processing unit.

A method for measuring amplitude, timing and phase offsets in a multi-transceiver system for use in a wireless multiple-input multiple-output spatial multiplexing system, the multi-transceiver system comprising at least two individually operated transceiver modules, each transceiver module comprising at least one respective transceive antenna and at least one respective transmit signal processing chain with each of these signal processing chains being connected to a common baseband processing unit, the baseband processing unit generating a same baseband signal to both transmit signal processing chains, the method comprising:

• performing at least one of:
• measuring amplitude, timing and phase offsets are measured by a signal measurement and adjustment block integrated into a digital predistortion system in the transmit signal processing chain of the second transceiver module between the RF signal generated in the first transceiver module, the signal being coupled via an antenna loop from the transceive antenna of the first transceiver module to the transceive antenna of the second transceiver module, and forwarded to the signal measurement and adjustment block, and the Tx baseband signal generated by the common baseband processing unit and fed to the signal measurement and adjustment block located in the transmit signal processing chain of the second transceiver module, or
• measuring amplitude, timing and phase offsets are measured by the signal measurement and adjustment block integrated into the digital predistortion system in the transmit signal processing chain of the first transceiver module between an RF signal generated in the second transceiver module, which signal is first coupled via a reverse antenna loop from transceive antenna of the second transceiver module to the transceive antenna of the first transceiver module and forwarded to the signal measurement and adjustment block of the first transceiver module, and the transmit baseband signal generated by the common baseband processing unit and fed to the signal measurement and adjustment block located in the transmit signal processing chain of the of the first transceiver module;
• and
• operating the respective integrated signal measurement and adjustment blocks of the digital predistortion systems in the transmit signal processing chains of the first and second transceiver modules at a higher sampling rate and dynamic range than available for the common baseband processing unit.

A method for measuring timing offsets in a multi-transceiver system for use in a wireless multiple-input multiple-output spatial multiplexing or a smart antenna system, the multi-transceiver system comprising a first transceiver module and one or more independently controllable second, third and optional further transceiver modules, each of the transceiver modules comprising a respective transceive antenna and at least one respective transmit signal processing chain, each of the signal processing chains being connected to a common baseband processing unit, the baseband processing unit generating the same baseband signal to each transmit signal processing chain, the method comprising:

• measuring amplitude, timing and phase offsets by a signal measurement and adjustment block integrated into a digital predistortion system in the transmit signal processing chain of the second transceiver module, the offsets being measured between an a radio-frequency (RF) signal generated in the first transceiver module, the signal being coupled via an antenna loop from the transceive antenna of the first transceiver module to the transceive antenna of the second transceiver module, and forwarded to the signal measurement and adjustment block, and the corresponding transmit baseband signal of the RF signal, the transmit baseband signal being generated by the common baseband processing unit and provided to the signal measurement and adjustment block of the second transceiver module;
• measuring further amplitude, timing and phase offsets by the signal measurement and adjustment block between at least one further RF signal generated in the third transceiver module or any one of the optional further transceiver modules, the signal being coupled via a reverse antenna loop from the transceive antenna of the third transceiver module or any one from the optional further transceiver modules to the transceive antenna of the second transceiver module and forwarded to the signal measurement and adjustment block, and the transmit baseband signal;
• comparing the measurements with each other;
• and
• interpreting final amplitude, timing and phase differences between each pair of these measurements as the amplitude, timing and phase difference between the first RF signal and the at least one further RF signal at the transceive antenna of the second transceiver module,
• wherein the integrated signal measurement and adjustment block of the digital predistortion system in the transmit signal processing chain of the second transceiver module is configured to operated at a higher sampling rate and dynamic range than available for the common baseband processing unit.