Antenna, base station, and beam processing method

• US 8,462,047 B1
• Filed: 08/22/2012
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ai, Ming, Xiao, Weihong
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Dao
• Application Number:
  US13/592,149
• Time in Patent Office: 293 Days
• Field of Search: 342/368, 342/372, 342/373, 342/378
• US Class Current: 342/372
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/22 Antenna units of the array energised non-uniformly in amplitude or phase, e.g. tapered array or binomial array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/40 with phasing matrix
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0686 Hybrid systems, i.e. switching and simultaneous transmission

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an antenna, a base station, and a beam processing method. The method includes: performing, by a hybrid network, phase adjustment for signals received from a base station transceiver, generating signals having a preset phase, and sending the signals to a power dividing apparatus; performing, by the power dividing apparatus, amplitude adjustment for the signals, and outputting multipath signals having an array amplitude and the preset phase to multiple antenna arrays; and transmitting, by the multiple antenna arrays, the multiple signals having the array phase and the array amplitude, where in the multipath signals, the array phase of each path of signals is the same as the preset phase, or the array phase of at least one path of signals is opposite to the preset phase. The present disclosure reduces the complexity and cost of a beamforming network.

Claims

1. An antenna, comprising a beamforming network and multiple antenna arrays;

wherein;

the beamforming network comprises a hybrid network and a power dividing apparatus;

the hybrid network comprises a base station signal port that communicates with a base station transceiver, and the hybrid network is configured to perform phase adjustment for signals sent by the base station transceiver and received through the base station signal port, generate signals having a preset phase, and send the signals to the power dividing apparatus;

the power dividing apparatus comprises multiple antenna signal ports configured to communicate with the antenna arrays, wherein each antenna signal port is connected to one antenna array; and

is configured to perform amplitude adjustment for the signals received from the hybrid network, and output multipath signals having an array amplitude and the preset phase to the multiple antenna arrays; and

the multiple antenna arrays are configured to transmit the multipath signals received from the power dividing apparatus, wherein the transmitted multipath signals have an array phase and the array amplitude; and

in the received multipath signals, one of the following condition is met;

the preset phase of each path of signals is the same as the array phase of the signals when the signals are transmitted, and the preset phase of at least one path of signals is opposite to the array phase of the signals when the signals are transmitted.

2. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein when the preset phase of at least one path of signals in the received multipath signals is opposite to the array phase, the multiple antenna arrays comprise at least one reverse array, wherein a feeding phase of the reverse array is opposite to feeding phases of other antenna arrays;

and

wherein each reverse array is configured to perform phase reversal for the path of signals having the preset phase opposite to the array phase and received from the power dividing apparatus, so that the preset phase of the signals is changed to the array phase, and then transmit the signals.

3. The antenna according to claim 2, wherein the number of reverse arrays is two, and the power dividing apparatus comprises a first power dividing apparatus and a second power dividing apparatus;

wherein;

the hybrid network comprises a 90-degree hybrid coupler, wherein the 90-degree hybrid coupler comprises a first output port and a second output port, the first output port is connected to the first power dividing apparatus, and the second output port is connected to the second power dividing apparatus; and

each power dividing apparatus comprises a first output port and a second output port, wherein the first output port is connected to the reverse array, and the second output port is connected to another antenna array other than the reverse array.

4. The antenna according to claim 2, wherein the number of reverse arrays is four, and the number of power dividing apparatuses is four;

the hybrid network comprises a first 90-degree hybrid coupler and a second 90-degree hybrid coupler at layer 1, and a third 90-degree hybrid coupler and a fourth 90-degree hybrid coupler at layer 2, the first 90-degree hybrid coupler and the third 90-degree hybrid coupler are opposite to each other, and the second 90-degree hybrid coupler and the fourth 90-degree hybrid coupler are opposite to each other;

an output port of the first 90-degree hybrid coupler is connected to the third 90-degree hybrid coupler through a −

45-degree phase shifter, and another output port is connected to the fourth 90-degree hybrid coupler;

an output port of the second 90-degree hybrid coupler is connected to the fourth 90-degree hybrid coupler through a −

45-degree phase shifter, and another output port is connected to the third 90-degree hybrid coupler;

each output port of the third 90-degree hybrid coupler and the fourth 90-degree hybrid coupler is connected to one power dividing apparatus; and

each power dividing apparatus comprises a first output port and a second output port, wherein the first output port is connected to the reverse array, and the second output port is connected to another antenna array other than the reverse array.

5. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein when the preset phase of at least one path of signals in the received multipath signals is opposite to the array phase, the antenna further comprises at least one 180-degree phase shifter;

each 180-degree phase shifter is located between the power dividing apparatus and the antenna arrays, respectively connected to the power dividing apparatus and the antenna arrays, and configured to perform phase reversal for the path of signals having the preset phase opposite to the array phase and received from the power dividing apparatus, and then transmit the signals to the antenna arrays.

6. The antenna according to claim 5, wherein the number of 180-degree phase shifters is two, and the power dividing apparatus comprises a first power dividing apparatus and a second power dividing apparatus;

the hybrid network comprises a 90-degree hybrid coupler, wherein the 90-degree hybrid coupler comprises a first output port and a second output port, the first output port is connected to the first power dividing apparatus, and the second output port is connected to the second power dividing apparatus; and

each power dividing apparatus comprises a first output port and a second output port, wherein the first output port is connected to the 180-degree phase shifter, and the second output port is connected to the antenna array.

7. The antenna according to claim 5, wherein the number of 180-degree phase shifters is four, and the number of power dividing apparatuses is four;

the hybrid network comprises a first 90-degree hybrid coupler and a second 90-degree hybrid coupler at layer 1, and a third 90-degree hybrid coupler and a fourth 90-degree hybrid coupler at layer 2, wherein the first 90-degree hybrid coupler and the third 90-degree hybrid coupler are opposite to each other, and the second 90-degree hybrid coupler and the fourth 90-degree hybrid coupler are opposite to each other;

an output port of the first 90-degree hybrid coupler is connected to the third 90-degree hybrid coupler through a −

45-degree phase shifters, and another output port is connected to the fourth 90-degree hybrid coupler;

an output port of the second 90-degree hybrid coupler is connected to the fourth 90-degree hybrid coupler through a −

45-degree phase shifter, and another output port is connected to the third 90-degree hybrid coupler;

each output port of the third 90-degree hybrid coupler and the fourth 90-degree hybrid coupler is connected to one power dividing apparatus; and

each power dividing apparatus comprises a first output port and a second output port, wherein the first output port is connected to the 180-degree phase shifter, and the second output port is connected to the antenna array.

8. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein when the preset phase of each path of signals in the received multipath signals is the same as the array phase when the signals are transmitted,

the hybrid network comprises two 90-degree hybrid couplers at layers 1 and two 180-degree electric bridges at layer 2;

each output port of each 90-degree hybrid coupler is connected to one 180-degree hybrid coupler;

one output port of each 180-degree hybrid coupler is connected to the power dividing apparatus, and another output port is connected to the antenna array; and

each output port of the power dividing apparatus is connected to one antenna array.

9. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein:

the multiple antenna arrays are further configured to receive multipath signals and output the multipath signals to the power dividing apparatus, wherein the received multipath signals have the array phase and the array amplitude;

the power dividing apparatus is further configured to perform amplitude adjustment for the multipath signals received from the multiple antenna arrays and output the signals to the hybrid network, wherein the multipath signals received by the power dividing apparatus have the preset phase, and in the multipath signals received by the power dividing apparatus, one of the following condition is met;

the preset phase of each path of signals is the same as the array phase of the signals when the signals are received by the antenna arrays, and the preset phase of at least one path of signals is opposite to the array phase of the signals when the signals are received by the antenna arrays; and

the hybrid network is further configured to perform phase adjustment for the signals received from the power dividing apparatus and output the signals to the base station transceiver.

10. A base station, comprising a base station transceiver, a feeder line, and an antenna, wherein:

the feeder line is respectively connected to the base station transceiver and the antenna, and is configured to transmit signals generated by the base station transceiver to the antenna;

the antenna comprises a beamforming network and multiple antenna arrays;

the beamforming network comprises a hybrid network and a power dividing apparatus;

the hybrid network comprises a base station signal port that communicates with a base station transceiver, and the hybrid network is configured to perform phase adjustment for signals sent by the base station transceiver and received through the base station signal port, generate signals having a preset phase, and send the signals to the power dividing apparatus;

the power dividing apparatus comprises multiple antenna signal ports configured to communicate with the antenna arrays, wherein each antenna signal port is connected to one antenna array; and

is configured to perform amplitude adjustment for the signals received from the hybrid network, and output multipath signals having an array amplitude and the preset phase to the multiple antenna arrays; and

the multiple antenna arrays are configured to transmit the multipath signals received from the power dividing apparatus, wherein the transmitted multipath signals have an array phase and the array amplitude; and

in the received multipath signals, one of the following condition is met;

the preset phase of each path of signals is the same as the array phase of the signals when the signals are transmitted, and the preset phase of at least one path of signals is opposite to the array phase of the signals when the signals are transmitted.

11. A beam processing method, wherein the method is executed by an antenna, the antenna comprises a beamforming network and multiple antenna arrays;

the beamforming network comprises a hybrid network and a power dividing apparatus; and

the beam processing method comprises;

performing, by the hybrid network, phase adjustment for signals received from a base station transceiver, generating signals having a preset phase, and sending the signals to the power dividing apparatus;

performing, by the power dividing apparatus, amplitude adjustment for the signals received from the hybrid network, and outputting multipath signals having an array amplitude and the preset phase to the multiple antenna arrays; and

transmitting, by the multiple antenna arrays, the multipath signals received from the power dividing apparatus, wherein the transmitted multipath signals have an array phase and the array amplitude, and in the received multipath signals, one of the following condition is met;

the preset phase of each path of signals is the same as the array phase of the signals when the signals are transmitted, and the preset phase of at least one path of signals is opposite to the array phase of the signals when the signals are transmitted.

12. The beam processing method according to claim 11, wherein when the preset phase of at least one path of signals in the multipath signals is opposite to the array phase, correspondingly,

after the power dividing apparatus performs amplitude adjustment for the multipath signals received from the hybrid network, and before the multiple antenna arrays transmit the multipath signals, the method further comprises:

performing, by each reverse array of at least one reverse array in the antenna arrays, phase reversal for the path of signals whose preset phase is opposite to the array phase, so that the phase of the signals is changed from the preset phase to the array phase, wherein a feeding phase of the reverse array is opposite to feeding phases of other antenna arrays.

13. The beam processing method according to claim 11, wherein when the preset phase of at least one path of signals in the multipath signals is opposite to the array phase, correspondingly,

after the power dividing apparatus performs amplitude adjustment for the multipath signals received from the hybrid network, and before the multiple antenna arrays transmit the multipath signals, the method further comprises:

performing, by each 180-degree phase shifter of at least one 180-degree phase shifter located between the power dividing apparatus and the antenna arrays and respectively connected to the power dividing apparatus and the antenna array, phase reversal for the path of signals whose preset phase is opposite to the array phase, so that the phase of the signals is changed from the preset phase to the array phase.

14. The beam processing method according to claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, by the multiple antenna arrays, multipath signals and outputting the multipath signals to the power dividing apparatus, wherein the received multipath signals have the array phase and the array amplitude;

performing, by the power dividing apparatus, amplitude adjustment for the multipath signals received from the multiple antenna arrays and outputting the signals to the hybrid network, wherein the multipath signals received by the power dividing apparatus have the preset phase, and in the multipath signals received by the power dividing apparatus, one of the following condition is met;

the preset phase of each path of signals is the same as the array phase of the signals when the signals are received by the antenna arrays, and the preset phase of at least one path of signals is opposite to the array phase of the signals when the signals are received by the antenna arrays; and

performing, by the hybrid network, phase adjustment for the signals received from the power dividing apparatus and outputting the signals to the base station transceiver.

15. The beam processing method according to claim 14, wherein when the preset phase of at least one path of signals in the multipath signals is opposite to the array phase, correspondingly,

after the multiple antenna arrays receive the multipath signals, and before the power dividing apparatus performs amplitude adjustment for the multipath signals received by the multiple antenna arrays, the method further comprises:

performing, by each reverse array of at least one reverse array in the antenna arrays, phase reversal for the path of signals whose preset phase is opposite to the array phase, so that the phase of the signals is changed from the array phase to the preset phase, wherein a feeding phase of the reverse array is opposite to feeding phases of other antenna arrays.

16. The beam processing method according to claim 14, wherein when the preset phase of at least one path of signals in the multipath signals is opposite to the array phase, correspondingly,

after the multiple antenna arrays receive the multipath signals, and before the power dividing apparatus performs amplitude adjustment for the multipath signals received by the multiple antenna arrays, the method further comprises:

performing, by each 180-degree phase shifter of at least one 180-degree phase shifter located between the power dividing apparatus and the antenna arrays and respectively connected to the power dividing apparatus and the antenna array, phase reversal for the path of signals whose preset phase is opposite to the array phase, so that the phase of the signals is changed from the array phase to the preset phase.