US 8,498,362 B2Granted

Channel sounding and estimation strategies for antenna selection in MIMO systems

AssigneeMarvell World Trade Ltd.

InventorsHongyuan Zhang, Rohit U. Nabar, Peter Loc

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Abstract

Techniques and devices for antenna selection in a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) system, in which communication is between a transmitter having a first plurality of radio-frequency (RF) chains coupled to a first plurality of antennas and a receiver having a second plurality of RF chains coupled to a second plurality of antennas, are provided. Techniques include receiving consecutive sounding packets each have a training symbol and that collectively sound a full-size channel for the MIMO system. A sub-channel estimate for each sounding packet can then be determined based on various factors, such as a known power level rule and gain factor. Scaling factors may be applied to each of these sub-channel estimates to produce a scaled sub-channel estimates.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method of antenna selection in a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) system, wherein communication is between a transmitter having a first plurality of radio-frequency (RF) chains coupled to a first plurality of antennas and a receiver having a second plurality of RF chains coupled to a second plurality of antennas, the method comprising:

receiving from the transmitter consecutive sounding packets that each have a training symbol and that collectively sound a full-size channel for the MIMO system, where the consecutive sounding packets are produced by applying a power level rule to the first plurality of RF chains at the transmitter;
determining a sub-channel estimate for each corresponding consecutive sounding packet based on the power level rule and a gain factor for each of the received consecutive sounding packets;
and
applying respective scaling factors to each sub-channel estimate to produce scaled sub-channel estimates, wherein the respective scaling factors are dependent upon the power level rule and the respective gain factors.

1 more element

A multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) receiver apparatus comprising:

an antenna switch for coupling to a plurality of MIMO antennas, wherein the switch is controllable to select from among the plurality of MIMO antennas for receipt of a full-size MIMO channel sent by a MIMO transmitter in the form of consecutive sounding packets each having a training symbol and that collectively sound the full-size MIMO channel for the MIMO system;
a plurality of radio-frequency (RF) chains for processing the consecutive sounding packets received at the receiver;
and
a controller configured to determine a power level rule applied by the MIMO transmitter in transmitting the consecutive sounding packets, to determine a sub-channel estimate for each consecutive sounding packet based on the power level rule and a respective gain factor for each of the received consecutive sounding packets, and to apply respective scaling factors to each of sub-channel estimate to produce scaled sub-channel estimates, wherein the respective scaling factors are dependent upon the power level rule and the respective gain factors.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/363,269Filed 30 Jan 2009 · us provisional application
Priority: 1 Feb 2008
Published: US 2009/0196372 A16 Aug 2009
Granted: 30 Jul 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

H04B 7/0426
MIMO systems: power distribution
H04B 7/0417
MIMO systems: feedback systems
H04B 7/0632
Feedback content: channel quality parameters, e.g. channel quality indicator [CQI]
H04B 7/0691
Hybrid systems, i.e. switching and simultaneous transmission: using subgroups of transmit antennas