Processsing of beamforming signals of a passive time-delay structure

• US 10,236,961 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2018
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Coutts, Gordon Michael, Alex, Sam Padinjaremannil
• Primary Examiner(s): Timory, Kabir A
• Application Number:
  US16/010,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20190020391A1
• Time in Patent Office: 276 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/08 formed of solid dielectric material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0031 Parallel-plate fed arrays; Lens-fed arrays multibeam arrays H01Q25/008
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/245 provided with means for varying the polarisation polarising devices H01Q15/24; tracking by comparing linear polarisation compounds G01S3/146; reducing depolarisation effects H04B7/00; polarisation diversity H04B7/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2605 Array of radiating elements provided with a feedback control over the element weights, e.g. adaptive arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2682 Time delay steered arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/40 with phasing matrix
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0667 of delayed versions of same signal using space-time coding H04L1/0618
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0673 using feedback from receiving side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods, and systems for processing beamforming signals of a passive time-delay structure are disclosed. One apparatus includes a node that includes baseband processing circuitry that is operative to receive and processes transmission signals, a passive time-delay structure that is preconfigured to generate a plurality of output signal, an antenna array, wherein the antenna array is operative to receive and transmit the plurality of output signals of the passive time-delay structure, wherein delays of the passive time-delay structure provide for the formation of a beamforming pattern by the transmitted plurality of output signals, and a controller. The controller is operative to determine a characterization of the beamforming pattern. The baseband processing circuitry operates to process the transmission signals based at least in part on the characterization of the beamforming pattern, and the node transmits the processed transmission signals to the one or more transceivers.

Claims

1. A node, comprising:

baseband processing circuitry that operates to receive and processes transmission signals;

a passive time-delay structure that is preconfigured to generate a plurality of output signal, wherein each of a plurality of output signals is a delayed version of a one of the processed transmission signals;

an antenna array, wherein the antenna array operates to receive and transmit the plurality of output signals of the passive time-delay structure, wherein delays of the passive time-delay structure provide for a formation of a beamforming pattern by the transmitted plurality of output signals;

a controller, the controller operative to characterize the beamforming pattern, comprising the controller operative to;

transmit training signals simultaneously between the node and a plurality of transceivers through the beamforming pattern;

characterize the beam forming pattern based on the training signals, receive a characterization of the beamforming pattern from a plurality of transceivers of the training signals, or receive a representation of reception of the training signals by the plurality of transceivers that allows the controller to generate the characterization of the beamforming pattern; and

wherein the baseband processing circuitry operates to process the transmission signals based at least in part on the characterization of the beamforming pattern; and

wherein the node transmits the processed transmission signals to different of the plurality of transceivers at different times.

2. The node of claim 1, wherein the passive time-delay structure comprises a Rotman lens.

3. The node of claim 2, wherein the Rotman lens comprises a dielectric, and wherein the controller further operates to adjust the beamforming pattern by adjusting the dielectric.

4. The node of claim 3, wherein the controller is further operative to characterize the beamforming pattern, comprising the controller operating to:

adjust the beamforming pattern comprising adjusting the dielectric of the Roman lens;

communicate training signals between the node and a plurality of transceivers through the beamforming pattern;

characterize the adjusted beamforming pattern, receive a characterization of the adjusted beamforming pattern from a plurality of transceivers of the training signals or a representation of reception of the training signals by the plurality of transceivers that allows the controller to generate the characterization of the beamforming pattern.

5. The node of claim 4, wherein the controller is further operative to process the transmission signals based at least in part on the characterization of the adjusted beamforming pattern;

and

wherein the node transmits the processed transmission signals to the one or more transceivers.

6. A node, comprising:

baseband processing circuitry that operates to receive and processes transmission signals;

a passive time-delay structure that is preconfigured to generate a plurality of output signal, wherein each of the plurality of output signals is a delayed version of a one of the processed transmission signals;

an antenna array, wherein the antenna array operates to receive and transmit the plurality of output signals of the passive time-delay structure, wherein delays of the passive time-delay structure provide for the formation of a beamforming pattern by the transmitted plurality of output signals;

a controller, the controller operative to characterize the beamforming pattern, comprising the controller operative to;

communicate training signals between the node and a plurality of transceivers through the beamforming pattern;

characterize the beam forming pattern based on the training signals, receive a characterization of the beamforming pattern from a plurality of transceivers of the training signals, or receive a representation of reception of the training signals by the plurality of transceivers that allows the controller to generate the characterization of the beamforming pattern; and

wherein the baseband processing circuitry operates to process the transmission signals based at least in part on the characterization of the beamforming pattern; and

wherein the node transmits the processed transmission signals to the one or more transceivers;

wherein the node further comprises;

a plurality of passive time-delay structures;

a switch, wherein the switch operates to selectably connect the processed transmission signals to a one of the plurality of passive time-delay structures;

wherein

each of the plurality of passive time-delay structures correspond with a one of a plurality of beamforming patterns formed by transmission of the processed signals.

7. The node of claim 6, wherein the controller is further operative to characterize more than one of the plurality of beamforming patterns, receive a characterizations of more than one of the plurality of beamforming patterns from one or more transceivers of the training signals, or receive a representation of reception of the training signals that allows the controller to generate the characterizations of more than one of the plurality of beamforming patterns.

8. The node of claim 7, wherein the controller is further operative to select which of the plurality of passive time-delay structures to receive the processed transmission signals based on which one or more transceivers the node is communicating with, and characterizations of the beamforming patterns.

9. The node of claim 8, wherein the controller is further operative to reselect which of the plurality of passive time-delay structures to receive the processed transmission signals upon determination that one or more of the transceiver is receiving communication signals from the node having a receive quality below a threshold.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving and processing, by baseband processing circuitry, communication signals;

generating, by a passive time-delay structure, a plurality of output signals wherein each of the plurality of output signals is a delayed version of a one of the processed communication signals;

receiving and transmitting, by an antenna array, the plurality of output signals of the passive time-delay structure, wherein delays of the passive time-delay structure provide for a formation of a beamforming pattern by the transmitted plurality of output signals;

characterizing the beamforming pattern, comprising;

transmitting training signals simultaneously between the node and a plurality of transceivers through the beamforming pattern;

characterizing the beam forming pattern based on the training signals, receiving a characterization of the beamforming pattern from a plurality of transceivers of the training signals, or receiving a representation of reception of the training signals by the plurality of transceivers that allowing for characterization of the beamforming pattern;

wherein the baseband processing circuitry processes the transmission signals based at least in part on the characterization of the beamforming pattern; and

transmitting, by the node the processed transmission signals to different of the plurality of the transceivers at different times.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the passive time-delay structure comprises a Rotman lens.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the Rotman lens comprises a dielectric, and further comprising adjusting the beamforming pattern comprising adjusting the dielectric.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising characterizing the beamforming pattern, comprising:

adjusting the beamforming pattern comprising adjusting the dielectric of the Roman lens;

communicating training signals between the node and one or more transceivers through the adjusted beamforming pattern;

characterizing the adjusted beamforming pattern, receiving a characterization of the adjusted beamforming pattern from a plurality of transceivers of the training signals, or receiving a representation of reception of the training signals by the plurality of transceivers that allows the controller to generate the characterization of the beamforming pattern.

14. A method, comprising:

receiving and processing, by baseband processing circuitry, communication signals;

generating, by a passive time-delay structure, a plurality of output signals wherein each of the plurality of output signals is a delayed version of a one of the processed communication signals;

receiving and transmitting, by an antenna array, the plurality of output signals of the passive time-delay structure, wherein delays of the passive time-delay structure provide for the formation of a beamforming pattern by the transmitted plurality of output signals;

characterizing the beamforming pattern, comprising;

communicating training signals between the node and a plurality of transceivers through the beamforming pattern;

characterizing the beam forming pattern based on the training signals, receiving a characterization of the beamforming pattern from a plurality of transceivers of the training signals, or receiving a representation of reception of the training signals by the plurality of transceivers that allowing for characterization of the beamforming pattern;

wherein the baseband processing circuitry processes the transmission signals based at least in part on the characterization of the beamforming pattern; and

transmitting, by the node the processed transmission signals to the one or more transceivers;

selectably connecting the processed transmission signals to a one of a plurality of passive time-delay structures;

wherein

each of the plurality of passive time-delay structures correspond with a one of a plurality of beamforming patterns formed by transmission of the processed signals.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising characterizing more than one of the plurality of beamforming patterns, receiving a characterizations of more than one of the plurality of beamforming patterns from one or more transceivers of the training signals, or receiving a representation of reception of the training signals that allows the controller to generate the characterizations of more than one of the plurality of beamforming patterns.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising selecting which of passive time-delay structures to receive the processed transmission signals based on which one or more transceivers the node is communicating with, and characterizations of the beamforming patterns.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising reselecting which of the passive time-delay structures to receive the processed transmission signals upon determination that one or more of the transceiver is receiving communication signals from the node having a receive quality below a threshold.

18. A method, comprising:

receiving, by an antenna array, a plurality of received signals from one or more of a plurality of transceivers through a beamforming pattern;

generating, by a passive time-delay structure, a plurality of delayed received signals wherein each of the plurality of delayed received signals is a delayed version of the received signals, wherein delays of the passive time-delay structure provide for a formation of the beamforming pattern;

characterizing the beamforming pattern, comprising;

communicating training signals between the node and the plurality of transceivers through the beamforming pattern;

characterizing the beam forming pattern based on the training signals, receiving a characterization of the beamforming pattern from a plurality of transceivers of the training signals, or receiving a representation of reception of the training signals by the plurality of transceivers that allowing for characterization of the beamforming pattern; and

processing, by baseband processing circuitry, the delayed received signals based at least in part on the characterization of the beamforming pattern;

selectably connecting the processed transmission signals to a one of a plurality of passive time-delay structures;

wherein

each of the plurality of passive time-delay structures correspond with a one of a plurality of beamforming patterns formed by reception of the processed signals.