Integrated two dimensional active antenna array communication system

• US 9,584,231 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2015
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Xu, Gang, Monroe, Robert, Tzanidis, Ioannis, Zhang, Jianzhong, Li, Yang, Yuan, Jin, Onggosanusi, Eko
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Tan H
• Application Number:
  US14/817,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20160127003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 455/562, 455/560, 455/101, 455/561, 455/562.1, 455/50.1, 455/13.3, 455/9, 455/63.4, 455/575.7, 455/100, 343/792.5, 343/797, 343/799, 343/790, 375/375, 375/296, 342/377, 342/368, 342/378, 370/330
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• 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 3/267 Phased-array testing or checking devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/36 with variable phase-shifters
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/42 using frequency-mixing H01Q3/2676 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/11 for calibration
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/3912 Simulation models, e.g. distribution of spectral power density or received signal strength indicator [RSSI] for a given geographic region
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming

Abstract

A base station (BS) capable of communication with a number of transmission points includes a processor configured to control a beamforming transmission or reception and an integrated antenna array system. The integrated antenna array system includes a baseband signal processing unit configured to perform baseband functions and disposed between the two sections. The integrated antenna array system also includes a plurality of physical antenna elements disposed in groups. Each of the groups includes an equal number of the plurality of physical antenna elements. The plurality of physical antenna elements are disposed symmetrically around the baseband signal processing unit.

Claims

1. An integrated antenna array system comprising:

a baseband signal processing unit configured to perform baseband functions; and

a plurality of physical antenna elements disposed in groups in two sections, each of the groups comprising an equal number of the plurality of physical antenna elements, wherein the groups are disposed on a plane and on substantially opposite sides of the baseband signal processing unit.

2. The integrated antenna array system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of antenna groups in each of the two sections are placed with a first equal spacing in one dimension and a second equal spacing in another dimension.

3. The integrated antenna array system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one physical antenna element are dual-polarized.

4. The integrated antenna array system as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of physical antenna elements is coupled to and fed by a respective radio frequency (RF) transceiver module.

5. The integrated antenna array system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the baseband signal processing unit is disposed between the two sections.

6. The integrated antenna array system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one analog-to-digital converter and at least one digital-to-analog converter coupled to the baseband signal processing unit.

7. The integrated antenna array system as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of physical antenna elements is coupled to the baseband signal processing unit through a respective trace, and wherein a length of traces between the two sections and the baseband signal processing unit are matched.

8. The integrated antenna array system as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a plurality of data converters, wherein the baseband signal processing unit and the data converters are configured to send downlink signals and receive uplink signals through matched-length traces to and from the RF transceivers.

9. The integrated antenna array system as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of the plurality of physical antenna elements is connected to a phase shifter and wherein a group of phase shifters is coupled to and fed by a respective radio frequency (RF) transceiver module.

10. The integrated antenna array system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a calibration module disposed between the two sections.

11. The integrated antenna array system as set forth in claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of physical antenna elements is coupled to and fed by a respective RF transceiver module and wherein each of the RF transceiver modules comprises a transmitter and a receiver, and wherein the calibration module configured to measure at least one signal at the transmitters of the two sections;

or at measure at least one signal at the receivers of the two sections.

12. The integrated antenna array system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the calibration module configured to measure phase variation at the transmitters of the two sections;

or at measure phase variation at the receivers of the two sections.

13. The integrated antenna array system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a local oscillator disposed between two sections of antenna array and is distributed to the two sections by matched length traces.

14. The integrated antenna array system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a motherboard configured to host the plurality of physical antenna elements and the baseband signal processing unit.

15. The integrated antenna array system as set forth in claim 14, wherein the mother board hosts a plurality of RF transceiver modules that respectively feeds the plurality of physical antenna elements, and wherein each of the plurality of RF transceiver modules is disposed directly under a respective physical antenna element.

16. The integrated antenna array system as set forth in claim 15, wherein RF and digital signals are communicated between the plurality of physical antenna elements, the plurality of RF transceiver modules, the motherboard, and a baseband board supporting the baseband signal processing unit.

17. The integrated antenna array system as set forth in claim 15, wherein the plurality of RF transceiver modules are connected to the mother board through a number of castellated vias.

18. The integrated antenna array system as set forth in claim 17, wherein RF signals are exchanged between the plurality of RF transceiver modules and the plurality of physical antenna elements through the number of the castellated vias.

19. The integrated antenna array system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the baseband signal processing unit is disposed between two of the groups.

20. A base station comprising:

a processor configured to control a beamforming transmission or reception; and

an integrated antenna array system comprising;

a baseband signal processing unit configured to perform baseband functions and disposed between two sections; and

a plurality of physical antenna elements disposed in groups in the two sections, each of the groups comprising an equal number of the plurality of physical antenna elements, wherein the groups are symmetrically around the baseband signal processing unit.

21. The base station as set forth in claim 20, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements comprise a dual-linear diagonally polarized patch antenna.