ACTIVE ANTENNA ARRAY WITH MULTIPLE AMPLIFIERS FOR A MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK AND METHOD OF PROVIDING DC VOLTAGE TO AT LEAST ONE PROCESSING ELEMENT

• US 20110159877A1
• Filed: 12/29/2009
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Kathrein-Werke KG. (Kathrein SE)
• Inventors: Weckerle, Martin, Neumann, Dirk, Kenington, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,423,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0671 using different delays between antennas

Abstract

The present disclosure teaches an active antenna array for a mobile communications network. The active antenna array comprises a plurality of antenna elements, a first port, a first DC voltage supply and at least one DC voltage extractor. The plurality of antenna elements relays at least first protocol radio signals. The first port is connected to at least one individual first protocol relay path. The first port relays a general first protocol receive signal to a first protocol link. The first DC voltage supply provides a first DC voltage to at least a portion of the first protocol link. The at least one DC voltage extractor, is located in the at least one individual first protocol relay path. The DC voltage extractor extracts at least one individual DC voltage to supply an at least one amplifier.

Claims

1. An active antenna array (1) for a mobile communication network comprising:

a plurality of antenna elements (Ant-1, Ant-2, . . . , Ant-N) for relaying at least first protocol radio signals

at least one first port (11-1) connected to at least one individual first protocol relay path;

the first port (11-1) relaying a general first protocol receive signal (70Rx) to a first protocol link;

a first DC voltage supply (202 providing a first DC voltage (205) to at least a portion of the first protocol link;

at least one DC voltage extractor (220-1, 220-2, . . . , 220-N) located in the at least one individual first protocol relay path;

the DC voltage extractor (220-1, 220-2, . . . , 220-N) being adapted to extract at least one individual DC voltage (205-1, 205-2, . . . , 205-N) to supply an at least one signal processing element (200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-N) located in the at least one individual first relay path.

2. The active antenna array (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of antenna elements (Ant-1, Ant-2, . . . , Ant-N) are further adapted to relay second protocol radio signals.

3. The active antenna array (1) according to the claim 1, further comprising a DC voltage adder (215) coupling the first DC voltage to the portion of the first protocol link.

4. The active antenna array (1) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one signal processing element (200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-N) is an amplifier.

5. The active antenna array (1) according to claim 2, wherein the signal processing element (200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-N) amplifies at least one of an at least one first protocol receive signal (70Rx-1, 70Rx-2, . . . , 70Rx-N) and an at least one second protocol receive signal (75Rx-1, 75Rx-2, . . . , 75Rx-N).

6. The active antenna array (1) according to claim 4, wherein at least one first coupler (110a-1, 110a-2, . . . , 110a-N) forwards the at least one individual second protocol receive signal (75Rx-1, 75Rx-2, . . . 75Rx-N) to an at least one second protocol receiver (210).

7. The active antenna array (1) according to claim 1, comprising

at least one first splitter (100a-1, 100a-2, . . . , 100a-N) located in the at least one individual first protocol relay path, the at least one first splitter (100a-1, 100a-2, . . . , 100a-N) being adapted to forward at least one of the at least one individual first protocol receive signal (70Rx-1, 70Rx-2, . . . , 70Rx-N) and the at least one individual second protocol receive signal (75Rx-1, 75Rx-2, . . . , 75Rx-N) in a receive direction from the plurality of antenna elements (Ant-1, Ant-2, . . . , Ant-N) to an at least one amplifier (200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-N);

the at least one first splitter (100a-1, 100a-2, . . . , 100a-N) further being adapted to forward at least one individual first protocol transmit signal (70Tx-1, 70Tx-2, . . . , 70Tx-N) in a transmit direction; and

at least one second coupler (110b-1, 110b-2, . . . , 110b-N) adding at least one individual second protocol transmit signal (75Tx-1, 75Tx-2, . . . , 75Tx-N) to the at least one individual first protocol transmit signal (70Tx-1, 70Tx-2, . . . , 70Tx-N).

8. The active antenna array (1) according to claim 6,

wherein the at least one first protocol transmit signal (70Tx-1, 70Tx-2, . . . , 70Tx-N) is generatable from the general first protocol transmit signal (70Tx) at the first port (11-1) by applying at least one of a phase weighting, an amplitude weighting, or a delay to the general first protocol transmit signal (70Tx);

and

wherein the at least one individual second protocol transmit signal (75Tx-1, 75Tx-2, . . . , 75Tx-N) is generatable from the general second protocol transmit signal (75Tx) at a second port (11-2) by applying at least one of a variable phase weighting, a variable amplitude weighting, or a variable delay to the general second protocol transmit signal (75Tx).

9. The active antenna array (1) according to claim 7, comprising at least one second splitter (100b-1, 100b-2, . . . , 100b-N) located in the at least one individual first protocol relay path for forwarding the first protocol transmit signal (70Tx-1, 70Tx-2, . . . , 70Tx-N) in a transmit direction to the first splitter (100a-1, 100a-2, . . . , 100a-N).

10. The active antenna array (1) according to claim 7, wherein the at least one of first splitter (100a-1, 100a-2, . . . , 100a-N) or the at least one second splitter (100b-1, 100b-2, . . . , 100b-N) are selected from the group consisting of a duplexer, a directional coupler, a circulator and a quadrature hybrid.

11. The active antenna array (1) according to claim 1, comprising:

a second DC voltage supply (222) adapted to provide the at least one individual voltage (205-1, 205-2, . . . , 205-N);

control means (250) adapted to monitor at least one of the first DC voltage supply (202, the at least one individual DC voltage (205-1, 205-2, . . . , 205-N) or the second DC voltage supply (222), and further adapted to switch between the first DC voltage supply (202) and the second DC voltage supply (222).

12. The active antenna array (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first port (11-1) is further adapted to relay the general first protocol transmit signal (70Tx) to the individual ones of the first protocol relay paths;

and wherein the second port (11-2) is adapted to provide the general second protocol receive signal (75Rx) and a general second protocol transmit signal (75Tx).

13. The active antenna array (1) according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of antenna elements (Ant-1, Ant-2, . . . , Ant-N) is adapted for at least one of concurrently transmitting the at least one individual first protocol transmit signal (70Tx-1, 70Tx-2, . . . , 70Tx-N) and the at least one individual second protocol transmit signal (75Tx-1, 75Tx-2, . . . , 75Tx-N) or concurrently receiving the at least one individual first protocol receive signal (70Rx-1, 70Rx-2, . . . , 70Rx-N) and the at least one individual second protocol receive signal (75Rx-1, 75Rx-2, . . . , 75Rx-N).

14. The active antenna array (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first protocol pertaining to the first protocol radio signals is selected from the group consisting of a GSM protocol and an UMTS protocol.

15. The active antenna array (1) according to claim 2, wherein the second protocol pertaining to the second protocol radio signal is selected from the group consisting of an UMTS protocol, a third generation long term evolution radio protocol, a Freedom of Mobile Multimedia Access radio protocol, a wideband Code Division Multiple Access radio protocol and a worldwide interoperability for Microwave Access protocol.

16. The active antenna array (1) according to claim 7, wherein the at least one second coupler (110b-1, 110b-2, . . . , 110b-N) forwards at least one of the at least one individual first protocol transmit signal (70Tx-1, 75Tx-2, . . . , 75Tx-N) or the at least one individual second protocol transmit signal (75Tx-1, 75Tx-2, . . . , 75Tx-N) to the first splitter (100a-1, 100a-2, . . . , 100a-N).

17. The active antenna array (1) according to claim 2, adapted to provide at least one of a variable phase weighting, a variable amplitude weighting, or a variable delay to the at least one individual second protocol receive signal (75Rx-1, 75Rx-2, . . . , 75Rx-N) forming the general second protocol receive signal (75Rx) by digital means.

18. The active antenna array (1) according to claim 2, adapted to provide at least one of a phase weighting, an amplitude weighting or a delay to the at least one individual first protocol receive signal (70Rx-1, 70Rx-2, . . . , 70Rx-N) forming the general first protocol receive signal (70Rx) by analogue means.

19. A method (1000) of providing a DC voltage to at least one signal processing element (200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-N) of an active antenna array (1) for a mobile communications network, the method (1000) comprising:

providing (1100) a first DC voltage (205);

adding (1200) the first DC voltage (205) to at least one portion of a first protocol relay path;

extracting (1300) at least one individual DC voltage (205-1, 205-2, . . . , 205-N) from at least one individual first protocol relay path, the at least one individual DC voltage (205-1, 205-2, . . . , 205-N) supplying at least one signal processing element (200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-N) located in the at least one individual first protocol relay path.

20. The method (1000) according to claim 19, further comprising:

concurrently receiving (1400) at least one individual first protocol receive signal (70Rx-1, . . . , 70Rx-N) and at least one individual second protocol receive signal (75Rx-1, . . . , 75Rx-N).

21. The method (1000) according to claim 20, the concurrently receiving (1400) further comprising:

amplifying (1410) the at least one individual first protocol receive signal (70Rx-1, 70Rx-2, . . . , 70Rx-N) and the at least one individual second protocol receive signal (75Rx-1, 75Rx-2, . . . , 75Rx-N);

forwarding (1420) the at least one individual first protocol receive signal (70Rx-1, 70Rx-2, . . . , 70Rx-N) and the at least one individual second protocol receive signal (75Rx-1, 75Rx-2, . . . , 75Rx-N) in a receive direction;

extracting (1430) the at least one individual first protocol receive signal (70Rx-1, 70Rx-2, . . . , 70Rx-N)

extracting (1440) the at least one individual second protocol receive signal (75Rx-1, 75Rx-2, . . . , 75Rx-N).

22. The method (1000) according to claim 21, the concurrently receiving (1400) further comprising:

forming (1450) a general first protocol receive signal (70Rx) from the at least one individual first protocol receive signal (70Rx-1, 70Rx-2, . . . , 70Rx-N) by applying at least one of a phase weighting, an amplitude weighting, or a delay to at least a selected one of the at least one individual first protocol receive signal (70Rx-1, 70Rx-2, . . . , 70Rx-N) by analogue means; and

forming (1460) a general second protocol receive signal (75Rx) from the at least one individual second protocol receive signal (75Rx-1, 75Rx-2, . . . , 75Rx-N) by applying at least one of a variable phase weighting, a variable amplitude weighting or a variable delay to the at least one individual second protocol receive signal (75Rx-1, 75Rx-2, . . . , 75Rx-N) by digital means.

23. The method (1000) according to claim 19, comprising:

concurrently transmitting (1600) at least one individual first protocol transmit signal (70Tx-1, . . . , 70Tx-N) and at least one individual second protocol transmit signal (75Tx-1, . . . , 75Tx-N).

24. The method (1000) according to claim 19, further comprising:

providing (1750) a second DC voltage (205b) adapted to provide the at least one individual DC voltage (205-2, 205-2, . . . , 205-N);

monitoring (1760) at least one of the first DC voltage (205), the second DC voltage (205b) or the at least one individual DC voltage (205-1, 205-2, . . . , 205-N); and

switching (1780) between the first DC voltage (205) and the second DC voltage (205b) in response to the monitoring (1760).

25. The method (1000) according to claim 23, the concurrently transmitting (1600) comprising:

generating (1610) the at least one individual first protocol transmit signal (70Tx-1, 70Tx-2, . . . , 70Tx-N) from a general first protocol transmit signal (70Tx) by applying at least one of a phase weighting, an amplitude weighting, or a delay to the general first protocol transmit signal (70Tx) by analogue means;

generating (1620) at least one individual second protocol transmit signal (75Tx-1, . . . , 75Tx-N) from a general second protocol transmit signal (75Tx) by applying a variable phase weighting, a variable amplitude weighting, or a variable delay to the general second protocol transmit signal (75Tx) by digital means;

forwarding (1630) the at least one individual first protocol transmit signal (70Tx-1, 70Tx-2, . . . , 70Tx-N) in a transmit direction; and

adding (1640) the at least one individual second protocol transmit signal (75Tx-1, 75Tx-2, . . . , 75Tx-N) to the at least one individual first protocol transmit signal (70Tx-1, 70Tx-2, . . . , 70Tx-N).

26. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to manufacture an active antenna array (1) for a mobile communications network, the active antenna array (1) comprising:

a plurality of antenna elements (Ant-1, Ant-2, . . . , Ant-N) for relaying at least first protocol radio signals;

at least one first port (11-1) connected to at least one individual first protocol relay path;

the at least one first port (11-1) relaying a general first protocol receive signal (70Rx) to a first protocol link;

a first DC voltage supply (202) providing a first DC voltage to at least a portion of the first protocol link;

at least one DC voltage extractor (220-1, 220-2, . . . , 220-N) located in the at least one individual first protocol relay path;

the DC voltage extractor (220-1, 220-2, . . . , 220-N) being adapted to extract at least one individual DC voltage (205-1, 205-2, . . . , 205-N) to supply an at least one processing element (200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-N) located in the at least one individual first protocol relay path.

27. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to execute a method of providing a DC voltage to at least one processing element (200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-N) of an active antenna array (1), the control logic comprising:

first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to provide (1100) a first DC voltage (205);

second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to add (1300) the first DC voltage (205) to at least one portion of a first protocol relay path;

third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to extract (1300) at least one individual DC voltage (205-1, 205-2, . . . , 205-N) from at least one individual first protocol relay path for supplying the at least one processing element (200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-N).

28. A chipset for controlling an active antenna array (1) for a mobile communications network, the chipset comprising:

a first port (11-1) connected to at least one individual first protocol relay path;

the first port (11-1) relaying a general first protocol receive signal (70Rx) to a first protocol link;

a first DC voltage supply (202) providing a first DC voltage (205) to at least a portion of the first protocol link;

at least one DC voltage extractor (220-1, 220-2, . . . , 220-N) located in the at least one individual first protocol relay path;

the DC voltage extractor (220-1, 220-2, . . . , 220-N) being adapted to extract at least one individual DC voltage (205-1, 205-2, . . . , 205-N) to supply an at least one signal processing element (200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-N).