Method and apparatus for real time multiplexing with transmitter and antenna array elements
First Claim
1. A method for beamforming using a plurality of antennas, the method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of digital input signals representing beamforming data to be transmitted on the plurality of antennas, the digital input signals comprising data samples;
interpolating the data samples to determine for each of the digital input signals, sample values at particular corresponding offset times;
multiplexing the digital input signals by selecting, one at a time, each of the digital input signals to output a multiplexed digital signal;
converting the multiplexed digital signal into a first multiplexed analog signal;
upconverting the first multiplexed analog signal to a second multiplexed analog signal at an output frequency;
demultiplexing the second multiplexed analog signal to provide a plurality of analog output signals; and
coupling, one at a time, each of the plurality of analog output signals to a corresponding one of the plurality of antennas for transmission;
wherein the interpolating is configured such that the offset times are determined to account for the multiplexing of the digital input signals, the demultiplexing of the second multiplexed analog signal, and the coupling of the plurality of analog output signals to the plurality of antennas.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of signal processing, or corresponding apparatus, includes providing digital input signals representing beamforming data to be transmitted on respective antennas. One of the digital input signals is selected at a time among a plurality of times, to cycle through the digital input signals repeatedly and provide a multiplexed digital signal, which is converted to a multiplexed analog signal. The multiplexed analog signal is filtered to pass a predetermined frequency band and demultiplexed to provide analog output signals. One of the analog output signals is selected and provided to a corresponding antenna for transmission. Sharing a transmitter and DAC among multiple antennas results in reduced cost and power. Such cost and power reductions in turn enable larger antenna arrays than are available with prior art techniques, thereby promoting increased throughput and coverage.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for beamforming using a plurality of antennas, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of digital input signals representing beamforming data to be transmitted on the plurality of antennas, the digital input signals comprising data samples; interpolating the data samples to determine for each of the digital input signals, sample values at particular corresponding offset times; multiplexing the digital input signals by selecting, one at a time, each of the digital input signals to output a multiplexed digital signal; converting the multiplexed digital signal into a first multiplexed analog signal; upconverting the first multiplexed analog signal to a second multiplexed analog signal at an output frequency; demultiplexing the second multiplexed analog signal to provide a plurality of analog output signals; and coupling, one at a time, each of the plurality of analog output signals to a corresponding one of the plurality of antennas for transmission; wherein the interpolating is configured such that the offset times are determined to account for the multiplexing of the digital input signals, the demultiplexing of the second multiplexed analog signal, and the coupling of the plurality of analog output signals to the plurality of antennas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A communication apparatus comprising:
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a digital processing module comprising; an interpolator that interpolates data samples in a plurality of digital input signals to determine for each of the digital input signals, sample values at particular corresponding offset times, wherein the plurality of digital input signals corresponds to data to be transmitted; and a multiplexer that; selects, one at a time, each of the plurality of digital input signals one at a time; and outputs a multiplexed digital signal based on the selected digital input signals; a transmitter comprising; a digital to analog converter (DAC) configured to convert the multiplexed digital signal to a first multiplexed analog signal, a local oscillator, a mixer configured to upconvert the first multiplexed analog signal to a second multiplexed analog signal at an output frequency, and a bandpass filter configured to filter the second multiplexed analog signal by passing a predetermined frequency band; and a demultiplexer configured to demultiplex the second multiplexed analog signal to provide a plurality of analog output signals to a plurality of antennas by coupling, one at a time, each of the plurality of selected analog output signal to a corresponding one of the plurality of antennas for transmission; wherein the interpolator is configured to determine the offset times to account for the multiplexing of the digital input signals, the demultiplexing of the second multiplexed analog signal, and the coupling of the plurality of analog output signals to the plurality of antennas. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A communication apparatus comprising:
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a digital processing module comprising; an interpolator that interpolates data samples in a plurality of digital input signals representing beamforming data to be transmitted on a plurality of antenna elements, to determine for each of the digital input signals, sample values at particular corresponding offset times; and a multiplexer that; selects, one at a time, each of the plurality of digital input signals; and outputs a multiplexed digital signal based on the selected digital input signals; a transmitter comprising; a digital to analog converter (DAC) configured to convert the multiplexed digital signal to a first multiplexed analog signal, and a mixer configured to upconvert the first multiplexed analog signal to a second multiplexed analog signal at an output frequency; a demultiplexer configured to demultiplex the second multiplexed analog signal to provide a plurality of analog output signals; a plurality of filters, each filter receiving one of the analog output signals and outputting a filtered analog output signal; wherein; each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements is coupled, one at a time, to a corresponding one of the plurality of filters, each antenna element transmitting the filtered analog output signal output by the corresponding filter; and the interpolator is configured to determine the offset times to account for the multiplexing of the digital input signals, the demultiplexing of the second multiplexed analog signal, and the coupling of the plurality of analog output signals to the plurality of antennas. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A communication apparatus comprising:
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a digital processing module comprising; a plurality of multiplexers, wherein each multiplexer; selects, one at a time, a digital input signal from among a unique plurality of digital input signals received by each multiplexer; and outputs a multiplexed digital signal based on the one-at-a-time selection among the digital input signals; and an interpolator that; provide based on digital streams corresponding to data to be transmitted, to each multiplexer the plurality of digital input signals received by the multiplexer; and interpolates data samples in the digital streams, to determine for each digital input signal, sample values at particular corresponding offset times; and a plurality of transmitters, each transmitter comprising; a digital to analog converter (DAC) associated with a corresponding one of the multiplexed digital signals, the DAC converting the corresponding multiplexed digital signal to a multiplexed analog signal, and a bandpass filter associated with a corresponding multiplexed digital signal, the bandpass filter filtering the corresponding multiplexed analog signal; a plurality of demultiplexers, each demultiplexer configured to demultiplex a corresponding multiplexed analog signal to provide a group of analog output signals among a plurality of groups of analog output signals; and a plurality of antennas grouped into multiple antenna array, each antenna array comprising multiple antenna elements, the antenna elements configured to transmit, one at a time, respective ones of a corresponding group of analog output signals by coupling, one at a time, each of the plurality of selected analog output signals signal to a corresponding one of the plurality of antenna elements for transmission. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification