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US 9,960,828 B2Granted
Beam forming using an antenna arrangement
AssigneeTelefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
InventorsSven Petersson, Fredrik Athley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is provided beam forming using an antenna array. The antenna array is configured to transmit across an angular sector. The angular sector is divided into at least two sub-sectors by respective port weights being applied to respective physical antenna ports of the antenna array. A respective set of virtual antenna ports is determined for each sub-sector. A first set of reference signals for acquiring channel state information on the set of virtual antenna ports is alternatingly transmitted in each one of the at least two sub-sectors.
Claims24
A method for beam forming using an antenna array having physical antenna ports and having a total coverage area, said method comprising:
- dividing the total coverage area into a plurality of coverage areas by applying respective port weights to respective physical antenna ports of the antenna array, said plurality of coverage areas comprising a first coverage area that is less than the total coverage area and a second coverage area that is less than the total coverage area, wherein the first coverage area is different than the second coverage area;
- determining, for the first coverage area, a first set of beamformed virtual antenna ports of the antenna array;
- determining, for the second coverage area, a second set of beamformed virtual antenna ports of the antenna array;
- transmitting, during a first transmission interval and using a first set of subcarriers, a first set of reference signals for acquiring channel state information using only the first set of beamformed virtual antenna ports of the antenna array, wherein the first set of beamformed virtual antenna ports covers only the first coverage area such that the first set of reference signals transmitted using only the first set of beamformed virtual antenna ports can be received by a receiving device located in the first coverage area;
- and
- transmitting, during a second transmission interval different than the first transmission time interval or using a second set of subcarriers different than the first set of subcarriers, the first set of reference signals using only the second set of beamformed virtual antenna ports of the antenna array, wherein the second set of beamformed virtual antenna ports covers only the second coverage area such that the first set of reference signals transmitted using only the second set of beamformed virtual antenna ports can be received by a receiving device located in the second coverage area.
3 more elements
An antenna arrangement for beam forming comprising an antenna array comprising a beam former, a radio array, a physical antenna array, and a processing unit configured to:
- divide a total coverage area of which an antenna array is configured to transmit across into a plurality of coverage areas by applying respective port weights to respective physical antenna ports of the antenna array, said plurality of coverage areas comprising a first coverage area that is less than the total coverage area and a second coverage area that is less than the total coverage area, wherein the first coverage area is different than the second coverage area;
- determine, for the first coverage area, a first set of beamformed virtual antenna ports;
- determine, for the second coverage area, a second set of beamformed virtual antenna ports;
- cause the antenna array to transmit, during a first transmission interval and using a first set of subcarriers, a first set of reference signals for acquiring channel state information using only the first set of beamformed virtual antenna ports, wherein the first set of beamformed virtual antenna ports covers only the first coverage area such that the first set of reference signals transmitted using only the first set of beamformed virtual antenna ports can be received by a receiving device located in the first coverage area;
- and
- cause the antenna array to transmit, during a second transmission interval different than the first transmission time interval or using a second set of subcarriers different than the first set of subcarriers, the first set of reference signals for acquiring channel state information using only the second set of beamformed virtual antenna ports, wherein the second set of beamformed virtual antenna ports covers only the second coverage area such that the first set of reference signals transmitted using only the second set of beamformed virtual antenna ports can be received by a receiving device located in the second coverage area.
3 more elements
A network node comprising an antenna arrangement for beam forming, the antenna arrangement comprising an antenna array, and the antenna array comprising a beam former, a radio array a physical antenna array, and a processing unit configured to:
- divide a total coverage area of which an antenna array is configured to transmit across into a plurality of coverage areas by applying respective port weights to respective physical antenna ports of the antenna array, said plurality of coverage areas comprising a first coverage area that is less than the total coverage area and a second coverage area that is less than the total coverage area, wherein the first coverage area is different than the second coverage area;
- determine, for the first coverage area, a first set of beamformed virtual antenna ports;
- determine, for the second coverage area, a second set of beamformed virtual antenna ports;
- cause the antenna array to transmit, during a first transmission interval and using a first set of subcarriers, a first set of reference signals for acquiring channel state information using only the first set of beamformed virtual antenna ports, wherein the first set of beamformed virtual antenna ports covers only the first coverage area such that the first set of reference signals transmitted using only the first set of beamformed virtual antenna ports can be received by a receiving device located in the first coverage area;
- and
- cause the antenna array to transmit, during a second transmission interval different the first transmission time interval or using a second set of subcarriers different than the first set of subcarriers, the first set of reference signals for acquiring channel state information using only the second set of beamformed virtual antenna ports, wherein the second set of beamformed virtual antenna ports covers only the second coverage area such that the first set of reference signals transmitted using only the second set of beamformed virtual antenna ports can be received by a receiving device located in the second coverage area.
3 more elements
A wireless terminal comprising an antenna arrangement for beam forming, the antenna arrangement comprising an antenna array, and the antenna array comprising a beam former, a radio array, a physical antenna array, and a processing unit configured to:
- divide a total coverage area of which an antenna array is configured to transmit across into a plurality of coverage areas by applying respective port weights to respective physical antenna ports of the antenna array said plurality of coverage areas comprising a first coverage area that is less than the total coverage area and a second coverage area that is less than the total coverage area, wherein the first coverage area is different than the second coverage area;
- determine, for the first coverage area, a first set of beamformed virtual antenna ports;
- determine, for the second coverage area, a second set of beamformed virtual antenna ports;
- cause the antenna array to transmit, during a first transmission interval and using a first set of subcarriers, a first set of reference signals for acquiring channel state information using only the first set of beamformed virtual antenna ports, wherein the first set of beamformed virtual antenna ports covers only the first coverage area such that the first set of reference signals transmitted using only the first set of beamformed virtual antenna ports can be received by a receiving device located in the first coverage area;
- and
- cause the antenna array to transmit, during a second transmission interval different than the first transmission time interval or using a second set of subcarriers different than the first set of subcarriers, the first set of reference signals for acquiring channel state information using only the second set of beamformed virtual antenna ports, wherein the second set of beamformed virtual antenna ports covers only the second coverage area such that the first set of reference signals transmitted using only the second set of beamformed virtual antenna ports can be received by a receiving device located in the second coverage area.
3 more elements
A non-transitory computer-readable medium with computer instructions for beam forming using an antenna array having physical antenna ports and having a total coverage area, which, when said computer instructions are run on a processing unit, causes the processing unit to:
- divide the total coverage area into a plurality of coverage areas by applying respective port weights to respective physical antenna ports of the antenna array, said plurality of coverage areas comprising a first coverage area that is less than the total coverage area and a second coverage area that is less than the total coverage area, wherein the first coverage area is different than the second coverage area;
- determine, for the first coverage area, a first set of beamformed virtual antenna ports of the antenna array;
- determine, for the second coverage area, a second set of beamformed virtual antenna ports of the antenna array;
- cause the antenna array to transmit, during a first transmission interval and using a first set of subcarriers, a first set of reference signals for acquiring channel state information using only the first set of beamformed virtual antenna ports, wherein the first set of beamformed virtual antenna ports covers only the first coverage area such that the first set of reference signals transmitted using only the first set of beamformed virtual antenna ports can be received by a receiving device located in the first coverage area;
- and
- cause the antenna array to transmit, during a second transmission interval different than the first transmission time interval or using a second set of subcarriers different than the first set of subcarriers, the first set of reference signals for acquiring channel state information using only the second set of beamformed virtual antenna ports of the antenna array, wherein the second set of beamformed virtual antenna ports covers only the second coverage area such that the first set of reference signals transmitted using only the second set of beamformed virtual antenna ports can be received by a receiving device located in the second coverage area.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.