JP2003218757A - Wireless receiver and effective pass selecting method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless receiver and an effective pass selecting method for allowing the selection of an effective path and a finger allotment by a small-sized circuit, while a decrease in demodulation characteristics can be suppressed. <P>SOLUTION: In the wireless receiver, a plurality of antenna branches are set for the number L of sectors (L is a natural number), and a wireless signal is received by each antenna branch and subjected to a demodulation process. For each sector, a delay profile of the received signal of at least one antenna branch is calculated. The delay profile is considered as a delay profile provided in the same sector and belonging to an antenna branch excluded from the calculation of the delay profile, and the prescribed number of peak sample points is specified on the basis of each delay profile. Each received signal corresponding to each peak sample point is subjected to the demodulation process on the basis of the phase of each peak sample point, and a demodulation signal can be obtained by synthesizing the demodulated result of each peak sample point. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radio receiving apparatus in which a radio cell is composed of one or a plurality of sectors and a plurality of antenna branches are arranged in each sector, and an effective path selection method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 shows, for example, JP-A-11-88247.
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a conventional radio base station device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. In the conventional wireless base station device, the transmitting device (see FIG.
The wireless signal transmitted from (not described in FIG. 2) is received by the two antenna branches (branch # 1 and branch # 2), and is individually input from the input terminals 50 and 51.
The received signal is modulated by a spread spectrum method, and known pilot symbols are inserted at a predetermined time interval for estimating the transmission path condition between the transmission station and the wireless base station device.

The received signals of the antenna branches input from the input terminals 50 and 51 are input to the corresponding delay profile calculating means 52 and 53, and the delay profiles are calculated separately. The delay profile calculation means 52 and 53 store the above-mentioned pilot symbol replicas (hereinafter referred to as transmission replicas). The delay profile calculators 52 and 53 calculate the correlation power value between the pilot symbol actually included in the corresponding received signal and the transmission replica at predetermined time intervals. The correlation power value is output as a delay profile for each received signal after being subjected to integration processing for a predetermined time to remove the influence of the instantaneous fluctuation of the propagation path condition.

Next, the path controller 54 determines from the delay profiles of both received signals (branch # 1 and branch # 2)
M signal timings (hereinafter, referred to as peak output phases) having a peak correlation power value are detected (M is the total number of finger portions described later). Here, the time intervals of the M peak output phases are the resolutions of the correlation power values of the delay profile calculation means 52, 53 and the path control unit 54 (for example,
It is necessary to be separated by more than 0.75 diffusion chip time), and the peak of the correlation power value which is closer in time than the resolution is not detected as an independent peak output phase.

Further, the path control unit 54 estimates the average noise power level by averaging the correlation powers in the vicinity of the M peak output phases (for example, the timing one symbol time away from the peak output phase).

The path control unit 54 compares the M peak output phases with the antenna branch and despread symbol timings respectively assigned to the finger units, which will be described later, and multipath effective for each finger unit. It is determined whether or not the propagation path is captured, and whether or not the setting of each finger unit is updated is determined.

The phase difference between the despread symbol timing already assigned to the finger portion and any of the M peak output phases is a predetermined threshold value (eg ± 0.
If it is less than 75 diffusion chip time), the finger unit catches an effective multipath propagation path, determines that it is in the synchronization state, and does not update the setting of the finger.

On the other hand, if none of the phase differences between the already-assigned despread symbol timings and the M peak output phases is less than the threshold value, the finger section makes an effective multipath propagation path. It is not grasped and it is judged that the finger is in the asynchronous state, and the number of continuous asynchronous state detections for the finger portion is counted.

The path control unit 54 has not yet been assigned to any finger portion of the M peak output phases,
A peak output phase whose phase difference from the despread symbol timing of the antenna branch assigned to each finger unit is, for example, ± 1 chip or more is specified as an “effective peak output phase candidate”. Further, if the effective peak output phase candidate is detected a plurality of times consecutively within the predetermined time range (for example, ± 0.75 spreading chip time) from the same symbol timing among the effective peak output phase candidates, , Which is specified as the “effective peak output phase”.

When the effective peak output phase is specified when a finger portion in which the number of continuous asynchronous state detections exceeds a predetermined number (for example, 2 times) occurs, the path control portion 54 causes the effective peak output phase to be determined. The antenna branch corresponding to the output phase is assigned to the finger section, and the effective peak output phase is set as the despread symbol timing of the finger section.

On the other hand, if the effective peak output phase has not been specified when a finger portion in which the number of continuous asynchronous state detections exceeds the predetermined number occurs, the path control portion 54
Instructs the rake combining means 65, which will be described later, to exclude the output of the finger unit from the target of rake combining.

The antenna branch and the despread symbol timing are not changed with respect to the finger section in which the number of continuous asynchronous state detections is less than the predetermined number.

The received signals input from the input terminals 50 and 51 are also input to the eight finger units 60-1 to 60-8 included in the radio base station apparatus. Note that, in FIG. 8, only two finger portions 60-1 and 60-8 are shown for simplicity, but in reality, eight finger portions are provided. Further, since the finger units 60-1 to 60-8 have the same configuration and perform the same signal processing, the operation of the finger unit 60-1 will be described below, and the finger units 60-2 to 60-60 will be described. The description of the operation of -8 is omitted.

The switch 61 receives the reception signal of each antenna branch, selects the reception signal of the branch designated by the path control unit 54 as described above, and outputs it. Correlator 6
2 despreads the received signal output from the switch 61 according to the despread symbol timing designated by the path control unit 54.

The weighting coefficient estimation unit 63 inputs the output signal of the correlator 62 and averages it over a predetermined time, and, for example, "characteristics of interpolation type synchronous detection rake in DS / CDMA" (Higashi et al., Electronic. Report of IEICE Technical Committee, RCS94
-98, pp. 57-62, October 1994), performs a channel estimation process on the received signal using the pilot symbol, and weights a despreading-processed received signal based on the channel estimation result. To decide. The weighting circuit 64 includes a correlator 62.
The despread-processed received signal output from is multiplied by the conjugate complex number of the weighting factor.

The despread-processed received signals output from the finger units 60-1 to 60-8 are rake combining means 65.
By the in-phase addition processing, a demodulated signal is generated. At this time, as described above, the output signal of the finger unit that has been instructed to be excluded from the path control unit 54 is excluded from the target of the demodulated signal generation processing by the rake combining unit 65.

As described above, in the conventional radio base station device,
By selectively controlling each finger unit according to the reception characteristic of each antenna branch, the space diversity effect and the path diversity effect can be obtained with a small circuit scale. Also, by calculating the delay profile after integration processing for each antenna branch and switching the assignment of each finger unit based on this, it is possible to suppress the effects of instantaneous fluctuations due to fading and noise even under multipath propagation conditions. it can. Furthermore, by excluding the output of the finger unit whose reception level is lower than a predetermined level or whose reception level can be regarded as equivalent to the interference level from the target of rake combining, deterioration of characteristics due to rake combining can be reduced.

[0018]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional radio base station apparatus, a plurality of delay profile calculation means 5 which are independent and independent for each antenna branch are provided.
There is a problem that the circuit of the wireless base station device becomes large in scale when the number of antenna branches increases because the delay profile is calculated separately for each of the antennas 2 and 53. The problem of increasing the circuit size of the delay profile calculating means becomes particularly remarkable when the radio base station device is configured to expand a plurality of sectors and arrange a plurality of antenna branches in each sector.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and enables selection of an effective path and finger assignment with a circuit scale smaller than that of the conventional radio base station apparatus, and at the same time, the demodulation characteristic An object of the present invention is to obtain a wireless reception device capable of suppressing deterioration and an effective path selection method thereof.

[0020]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in a radio receiving apparatus according to the present invention, a plurality of antenna branches are arranged in each of L sectors (L is a natural number). In a radio receiving device that receives a radio signal at an antenna branch and performs demodulation processing, a path search reception signal selecting means for selecting a reception signal of at least one antenna branch per sector as a path search reception signal, and each path. A delay profile calculating means for calculating each delay profile of the search received signal, and a predetermined number of peak output phases corresponding to the peak value of the correlation power are detected based on the delay profile, and the delay profiles are set to the same sector. And the delay profile of the antenna branch placed in the A control means for identifying a predetermined number of extended peak output phases corresponding to the peak output phase and selecting a predetermined number of phases to be demodulated from the peak output phase and the extended peak output phase as a peak sample point. And the received signal corresponding to each peak sample point,
Demodulation means for respectively performing demodulation processing based on the phase of each peak sample point and synthesizing the demodulation processing results to obtain a demodulation signal.

In the radio receiving apparatus according to the next invention,
In a radio receiving device in which a plurality of antenna branches are arranged in each of L sectors (L is a natural number of 2 or more), and a radio signal is received and demodulated by each antenna branch,
For each sector, at least one antenna branch received signal is selected as a path search received signal, and is selected from among the antenna branches excluded from the path search received signal selection signal according to a path search received signal selection signal described later. Path search received signal selection means for selecting a predetermined number of redundant path search received signals; delay profile calculation means for calculating each delay profile of each path search received signal and redundant path search received signal;
Based on the delay profile, a predetermined number of peak output phases corresponding to the peak value of the correlation power are selected as peak sample points, and the redundant path search is performed based on the magnitude of the peak value of the correlation power at each peak sample point. Control means and each peak for deciding an additional search sector to be selected as a reception signal for use in output, and outputting a reception signal selection signal for path search for instructing to select the reception signal for redundant path search from the additional search sector. The received signal corresponding to the sample point is demodulated based on the phase of each peak sample point, and the demodulation results are combined to obtain a demodulated signal.

In a radio receiving apparatus according to the next invention,
The control means detects a predetermined number of peak output phases corresponding to the peak value of the correlation power based on the delay profile,
The delay profile is regarded as a delay profile of an antenna branch placed in the same sector and excluded from the target of delay profile calculation, a predetermined number of extended peak output phases corresponding to the peak output phase are specified, and the peak output is determined. A predetermined number of phases to be demodulated are selected from the phase and the extended peak output phase as peak sample points, and the redundant path search received signal is based on the magnitude of the peak value of the correlation power at each peak sample point. Of the additional search sector to be selected, and outputs a path search received signal selection signal for instructing to select the redundant path search received signal from the additional search sector.

In the radio receiving apparatus according to the next invention,
The control means is configured to determine an additional search sector based on the number of peak sample points for each delay profile and output a path search reception signal selection signal.

In the radio receiver according to the next invention,
When the peak values of the correlation powers of the peak output phase and the extended peak output phase are the same, the control means is configured to preferentially select the peak output phase as the peak sampling point.

In the radio receiver according to the next invention,
The delay profile calculating means is configured to sequentially calculate the delay profiles regarding a plurality of path search reception signals in a time division manner.

In the method for selecting an effective path for a radio receiving apparatus according to the next invention, a plurality of antenna branches are arranged in each of L sectors (L is a natural number), and each antenna branch receives a radio signal. In a method of selecting an effective path for a wireless receiving apparatus that performs demodulation processing by path selection, a reception signal selection step for selecting a reception signal of at least one antenna branch per sector as a reception signal for path search, and a reception signal for each path search A delay profile calculating step of calculating each delay profile of the signal, and a predetermined number of peak output phases corresponding to the peak value of the correlation power are detected based on the delay profile, and the delay profiles are arranged in the same sector. And it is considered as the delay profile of the antenna branch excluded from the selection of the received signal for path search. Then, a predetermined number of extended peak output phases corresponding to the peak output phase are specified, and a predetermined number of phases to be demodulated from the peak output phase and the extended peak output phase are selected as peak sample points, A peak sample point assigning step for assigning each to a plurality of finger portions.

In the method for selecting an effective path for a radio receiving apparatus according to the next invention, a plurality of antenna branches are arranged in each of L sectors (L is a natural number of 2 or more), and radio signals are transmitted at each antenna branch. In an effective path selection method for a wireless reception device that receives and demodulates a received signal, a received signal of at least one antenna branch per sector is selected as a received signal for path search, and according to a received signal selection signal for path search described later. A path search received signal selection step of selecting a predetermined number of redundant path search received signals from the antenna branches excluded from the path search received signal selection, and each path search received signal and redundant path search received signal Delay profile calculation step for calculating each of the delay profiles and the correlation based on the delay profile The peak output phase corresponding to the peak value of the force is selected as a predetermined number of peak sample points, and the peak sample point allocation process and the peak value of the correlation power at each peak sample point are allocated to each of the plurality of fingers of the demodulator Based on the above, the additional search sector to be selected from the redundant path search received signal is determined, and the path search received signal selection signal for instructing to select the redundant path search received signal from the additional search sector is output. And a path search reception signal control step.

In the method for selecting an effective path for a radio receiving apparatus according to the next invention, the peak sample point allocation step detects a predetermined number of peak output phases corresponding to the peak value of the correlation power based on the delay profile. At the same time, the delay profile is regarded as a delay profile of an antenna branch placed in the same sector and excluded from the target of delay profile calculation, and a predetermined number of extended peak output phases corresponding to the peak output phase are specified, and A predetermined number of phases to be demodulated are selected as peak sample points from the peak output phase and the extended peak output phase.

In the method for selecting an effective path for a radio receiving apparatus according to the next invention, the path search reception signal control step comprises:
An additional search sector is determined based on the number of peak sample points for each delay profile, and a path search reception signal selection signal is output.

[0030]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a radio receiver according to the first embodiment. S _{11 to} S _LN are received signals received by all L × N antenna branches (not shown in FIG. 1) arranged in N sectors in L sectors, and 1 is each received signal S ₁₁ to A path search circuit for detecting an effective path based on S _LN , 2 is a path search reception signal selecting means for selecting P path search reception signals to be delay profile calculation targets from the reception signals S _{11 to} S _LN. , 3-1 to 3-P are a plurality of delay profile calculating means for calculating the delay profiles of the received signals for path search, and 5 is a delay profile calculating means based on P delay profiles output from the delay profile calculating means.
Control means for specifying an effective path to be demodulated, 1
Reference _numeral 0 is a demodulation circuit that performs demodulation processing of the reception signals S _{11 to} S _LN based on the control signal output from the control means 5.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the demodulation circuit 10.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 is a finger reception signal selection means for selecting a reception signal to be demodulated from the reception signals S _{11 to} S _LN based on a control signal output from the path search circuit 1, 12-1. Numerals 12 to M denote finger units for despreading and demodulating corresponding reception signals of the reception signals selected by the finger reception signal selecting means 11 and outputting finger demodulation signals, and 62 is selected. A correlator for despreading the received signal, 63 is a weighting coefficient estimation unit for performing channel estimation processing based on the despreaded received signal, and determining a weighting coefficient to be multiplied to the received signal,
A weighting circuit 64 is a weighting circuit that multiplies the despread-processed received signal by the weighting coefficient, and 13 is a rake combining means that adds the M finger demodulated signals in phase to obtain a demodulated signal.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement example of a plurality of antenna branches in the radio receiver according to the first embodiment. In the radio receiver according to the first embodiment, four sectors (sector number L = 4) form one circular cell. Each sector has two antenna branches (the number of antenna branches per sector N = 2),
Radio signals transmitted from a transmission device (not shown in FIG. 3) are received by a total of eight antenna branches. In the following, A _LN is used as a code representing an antenna branch, the first subscript represents a sector, and the second subscript represents an antenna branch number in the sector.

In the following, the number of sectors L = 4, the number of antenna branches per sector N = 2, the number of finger parts M
= 8, the number of delay profile calculation means P
Is the same as the number of sectors L (P = L = 4).

The operation of the radio receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment configured as above will be described. The reception signals S _{11 to} S ₄₂ of the carrier frequency received by the antenna branches A _{11 to} A ₄₂ are frequency-converted into desired baseband bands by frequency conversion means (not shown in FIG. 1) and then pass. It is input to the search circuit 1.

The path search received signal selection means 2 selects a total of four (= L) received signals, one for each predetermined sector, from the received signals S _{11 to} S _LN , and the path search received signal is selected. Output as # 1 to # 4. Hereinafter, the received signal _S 11, _{respectively, S 21, S 31, S} 41 ( antenna branch _{A 11, A 21, A 3} 1, A 41) is selected from each sector as path search for received signals # 1 to # 4 The case will be described.

Each delay profile calculation means 3-1 to 3-
A transmission replica is stored in P. The delay profile calculating means 3-1 to 3-P respectively correspond to the corresponding path search reception signals # 1 to # 4 (S ₁₁ , S ₂₁ , S ₃₁ ,
The correlation power value between the pilot symbol actually included in S ₄₁ ) and the transmission replica is calculated at predetermined time intervals. The correlation power value is output as a delay profile for each received signal after being subjected to integration processing for a predetermined time to remove the influence of the instantaneous fluctuation of the propagation path condition. For example, the delay profile calculation means 3-1 determines the delay profile of the corresponding path search reception signal # 1 (S ₁₁ ), and the delay profile calculation means 3-2 indicates the delay profile of the corresponding path search reception signal # 2 (S ₂₁ ). the delay profile calculating means 3-3 delay profile path search for received signal # 3 _{(S 31),} the delay profile calculating means 3-4 path search for received signal # 4
The delay profile of (S ₄₁ ) is calculated separately.

The control means 5 detects the peak output phase based on the four (= P) delay profiles output from the respective delay profile calculation means 3-1 to 3-4. Figure 4
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of peak output phase detection processing in the control means 5 of the first embodiment. Each received signal S
_When the delay profiles of ₁₁ , S ₂₁ , S ₃₁ , and S ₄₁ are input, the control unit 5 selects four (= M / 2) peak output phases in order of increasing correlation power value from all P delay profiles. Detect a, b, c, d. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the peak output phases a, b, c, d are detected from the delay profiles of the reception signals S ₁₁ , S ₂₁ , S ₃₁ . On the other hand, the received signal S ₄₁ having a small peak value of the correlation power
The peak output phase is not detected from each delay profile of.

Next, the control means 5 receives the received signals S _{1 2} , S ₂₂ , excluded from the delay profile calculation targets.
Regarding S ₃₂ and S ₄₂ , the delay profile already calculated in the antenna branch of the same sector is regarded as the delay profile related to the received signal, and the maximum four delay profiles (= M / 2) are selected from these delay profiles. The peak output phase is "extended peak output phase" a ', b', c ',
Specify as d '.

For example, regarding the reception signal S ₁₂ excluded from the delay profile calculation target, the delay profile already calculated for the reception signal S ₁₁ belonging to the same sector 1 is regarded as the delay profile of the reception signal S ₁₂ . In addition, the peak value of the correlation power corresponding to the peak output phase c detected in the delay profile is set to the received signal S
Identified as the extended peak output phase c ′ for ₁₂ delay profiles. Similarly, for the received signal S ₂₂ , the extended peak output phase a ′ is specified from the delay profile already calculated for the received signal S ₂₁ belonging to the same sector 2, and the received signal S _{32 is} received for the reception belonging to the same sector 3. The extended peak output phases b ′ and d ′ are specified from the already calculated delay profile for the signal S ₃₁ . The control means 5 allocates the M / 2 peak output phases a to d and the M / 2 expanded peak output phases a'to d'specified as described above to the respective finger portions to be described later, respectively. I to VIII.

The control means 5 controls the peak sample points I to VI.
The information for identifying the antenna branch corresponding to II is output to the finger reception signal selection means 11 of the demodulation circuit 10 as a "finger reception signal selection signal". According to the finger reception signal selection signal, the finger reception signal selection means 11 selects one of the eight (= L × N) reception signals S _{11 to} S _{42 from} the antenna branch corresponding to each peak sample point I to VIII. The reception signal is selected and output as the "finger reception signal" to the corresponding finger units 12-1 to 12-M. For example, for the peak sampling point I (peak output phase a), the corresponding reception signal S ₂₁ is output to the corresponding finger unit 12-1 as a finger reception signal.

The control means 5 controls the peak sample points I to VI.
The peak output phase of II is specified as a "finger reception phase signal" and is output to the corresponding finger part.

Further, the control means 5 stores a threshold value of the peak value of the correlation power in advance in order to detect an effective path. The control means 5 controls the peak sample points I to VIII.
The peak value of the correlation power and the threshold value are compared, and when there is a peak sample point where the peak value of the correlation power is smaller than the threshold value, for the finger part associated with the peak sample point. , Outputs a "finger control signal" instructing to stop the despreading process.

In each of the finger units 12-1 to 12-M, the correlator 62 despreads the corresponding finger reception signal with the finger reception phase signal as the despread symbol timing. According to FIG. 2 below, the finger part 1
The despreading processing of 2-1 to 12-M will be described. Note that, in FIG. 2, the internal detailed configuration of only the finger portion 12-1 is shown for simplicity, but the other finger portions 12-1 to 12-M are shown.
Have the same configuration and perform the same signal processing.

The weighting coefficient estimation unit 63 inputs the output signal of the correlator 62 and averages it over a predetermined time, and is disclosed in, for example, the above-mentioned document "Characteristics of interpolation type synchronous detection rake in DS / CDMA". According to the method described above, channel estimation processing is performed on the received signal using the pilot symbol, and a weighting coefficient to be multiplied to the despread-processed received signal is determined based on the channel estimation result. The weighting circuit 64 multiplies the despreading-processed received signal output from the correlator 62 by the conjugate complex number of the weighting coefficient, and outputs a finger demodulated signal regarding the peak sample point.

However, in the finger unit to which the finger control signal for instructing the stop of the despreading process is input from the control means 5, the correlator 62, the weighting coefficient estimating unit 63 and the weighting circuit 64 are provided for the received signal. No signal processing is performed, the finger unit stops operating, and does not output the finger demodulated signal for the peak sample point.

The rake combining means 13 has a finger section 12-.
Finger demodulated signals output from 1 to 12-M are subjected to in-phase addition processing to obtain demodulated signals.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the delay profile is calculated only for the antenna branch of each sector selected in advance from among the antenna branches arranged by N in each of the L sectors. In addition to specifying the peak output phase, the extended branch output phase is specified using the delay profile already calculated in the same sector for the antenna branches excluded from the delay profile calculation target, and the peak output phase and expansion With the configuration in which the peak output phase is assigned to each finger as a peak sample point, the number of delay profile calculation means is suppressed and the circuit scale of the path search circuit 1 is reduced even when the number of antenna branches increases. can do.

In the first embodiment, the path search circuit 1 has P delay profile calculation means 3-1 to 3-1.
-P, the P path search reception signals output from the path search reception signal selecting means 2 are input, and the delay profiles are calculated in parallel separately, but this is limited to such a configuration. Instead, for example, the path search circuit 1 is configured to include one delay profile calculation means, and the delay profile calculation means generates P delay profiles in time division based on P path search received signals. The configuration may be such that it is calculated sequentially. With such a configuration, the circuit scale of the path search circuit 1 can be further reduced. Further, the number of delay profile calculating means is not limited to one, and the path search circuit 1 may be configured to include a plurality of delay profile calculating means, and each delay profile calculating means may generate a plurality of delay profiles by time division. It may be configured to calculate.

Further, the path search received signal selecting means 2
Is the received signal S of each antenna branch ₁₁~ S₄₂Nou
Then, the reception signal S for each predetermined sector₁₁,
S₂₁, S₃₁, S₄₁To select the received signal for path search.
It was output as No. # 1 to # 4, but this is such a configuration
However, it is not limited to
Even if the configuration is such that the reception signal for H
Good. Furthermore, measure the received signal strength of each received signal,
Reception with the highest reception strength among multiple reception signals in one sector
Signal as the received signal for path search related to the sector
The configuration may be selected.

Further, the delay profile calculation means 3-1 to 3-1
3-P calculates a correlation power value between each reception signal for path search and a transmission replica at every predetermined time interval, and further performs an integration process of the correlation power value over a predetermined time to delay profile. However, the time interval for calculating the delay profile and the integration time of the correlation power value may be arbitrarily set from the outside according to the reception characteristics of each reception signal.

Further, each finger portion 12-1 to 12-M
Has stopped its operation based on the finger control signal output from the path search circuit 1, but the invention is not limited to such a configuration, and the finger control signals relating to the respective peak sample points I to VIII are sent to the rake combining means 13. The finger units 12-1 to 12- are input based on the respective finger control signals.
Even with the configuration in which the finger demodulated signal from M is selectively excluded from the target of Rake combining, the same effect as in the above-described first embodiment can be obtained.

In the first embodiment, a circular cell is expanded in L sectors and N antenna branches are arranged in each sector, but cells expanded by a plurality of sectors are arranged. The shape is not limited to a circle, but may be a cell shape having directivity in any direction, and the number of antenna branches in each sector may be different for each sector. Further, the number of sectors L, the number of antenna branches N for each sector, the number P of delay profile calculating means, and the number M of finger portions are not limited to the above specific examples.

Embodiment 2. In the first embodiment, the path search circuit calculates the delay profile for the received signal for path search for each sector and specifies the peak sample point. However, in the second embodiment, the path search circuit detects each peak for each sector. In addition to the received signal for path search, the received signal of another antenna branch of the sector having a large correlation power value is selected as the redundant path search received signal, the delay profile is calculated, and the peak sample point is specified. In the second embodiment,
The configuration of the path search circuit, the received signal selection process for the path search, and the delay profile calculation process are different from those of the first embodiment, and the other configurations and operations are the same. Therefore, the configuration of the path search circuit will be described below. And only the operation will be described, the same reference numerals will be given to other configurations, and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the radio receiver according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the path search circuit 1 includes P (= L + 1) delay profile calculation means, which is one more than the number of sectors L. Further, the control means 5 outputs the "path search reception signal selection signal" which is the control information for instructing the selection of the path search reception signal to the path search reception signal selection means 2 to select the path search reception signal. The means 2 outputs P (= L + 1) path search reception signals according to the path search reception signal selection signal.

The operation of the path search circuit 1 of the second embodiment will be described. First, the path search received signal selection means 2 selects a total of four (= L) received signals, one for each predetermined sector, from the received signals S _{11 to} S _LN , and the path search received signal # 1. ~ Output as # 4.

Further, the received signal selecting means 2 for path search
Selects any one of the received signals not selected as the path search received signals # 1 to # 4 as the redundant path search received signal # 5.

FIG. 6 shows a path search receiver according to the second embodiment.
It is an explanatory view showing an outline of selection of a signal. In the example of FIG.
Is the number of sectors L = 4, the number of antenna branches N in each sector
= 2 (number of delay profile calculation means P = 5, fingers
The number of copies is M = 8).
Received as reception signals # 1 to # 4 from each sector
Signal S₁₁, S₂₁, S₃₁, S₄₁(Antenna blanc
Chi A₁₁, A₂₁, A ₃₁, A₄₁) Is selected
(Indicated by a black circle in FIG. 6). Also, in the initial state,
Is not selected as received signal # 1 to # 4 for path search
Of the received signals S received by sector 2₂₂But joke
Selected as received signal # 5 for long path search (Fig.
6 is indicated by a shaded square).

Delay profile calculation means 3-1 to 3-5
Input the corresponding received signal for path search,
Calculate the delay profile.

The control means 5 controls each delay profile calculator.
Five (= P) delay outputs output from stages 3-1 to 3-5
The peak output phase is detected based on the profile. Figure 7
Is the peak output level in the control means 5 of the second embodiment.
It is an explanatory view showing an outline of phase detection processing. For path search
Received signals # 1 to # 4 (S₁₁, S₂₁, S ₃₁,
S₄₁) And the redundant path search received signal # 5 (S₂₂)
If the delay profile of
Correlation power value is large based on the number (= P) of delay profiles.
8 (= M) peak output phases a to h are detected in this order.
It In the example shown in FIG. 7, the received signal S₁₁, S₂₁, S
₂₂, S₃₁Peak output phase from each delay profile of
a to h are detected. On the other hand, the peak value of the correlation power is
Small received signal S₄₁From each delay profile of
Output phase is not detected.

Next, the control means 5 sets the delay profile calculated for the path search received signal (S ₁₁ ) of sector 1 as the delay profile for the received signal S ₁₂ of the same sector excluded from the delay profile calculation target. I reckon. Further, regarding the received signal S ₁₂ , the peak output phase c detected in the received signal for path search (S ₁₁ ),
Extended peak output phases c ′ and f ′ corresponding to f are specified. The control means 5 also specifies the extended peak output phases d ′ and h ′ for the reception signal S ₃₂ excluded from the delay profile calculation target in the sector 3 in the same manner as described above.

The extended peak output phase is not specified for the sector 2 for which the delay profile calculation is performed for all antenna branches and the sector 4 for which the peak output phase is not detected.

The control means 5 controls the peak output phases a to h.
Of the extended peak output phases c ′, d ′, f ′, and h ′, eight (= M) are extracted in descending order of the peak value of the correlation power, and these are specified as peak sample points I to VIII. In the example of FIG. 7, of the peak output phases a to h and the extended peak output phases c ′, d ′, f ′, h ′, a, b, c, c ′, d, which have a large peak value of the correlation power. d ',
Specify e and f as peak sample points I to VIII, respectively. At this time, the peak output phase f and the extended peak output phase f ′ have the same correlation power value, but the path search received signal (S ₁₁ ) for which the delay profile is actually measured
The peak output phase f with respect to
The peak sample points are specified with higher priority.

The control means 5 controls the peak sampling points I to VIII.
With respect to the above, the finger reception signal selection signal, the finger reception phase signal, and the finger control signal are output to the demodulation circuit 10, and peak sample points I to VIII are assigned to the finger units 12-1 to 12-8.

Next, the control means 5 identifies the sector of the received signal corresponding to the one having the maximum correlation power value among the peak sampling points I to VIII as the "additional search sector".
As a result, when there is an antenna branch excluded from the target of delay profile calculation in the additional search sector, the designation of the reception signal of the antenna branch is switched as the reception signal # 5 for redundant path search.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 6, sector 1
The antenna branch A ₁₁ is subject to delay profile calculation, but the antenna branch A ₁₂ is excluded from delay profile calculation. Further, the reception signal S ₂₂ of the antenna branch A ₂₂ of another sector 2 is selected as the reception signal # 5 for redundant path search.
In this case, when a peak sample point at which the peak value of the correlation power is maximum is detected from the delay profile of the antenna branch A ₁₁ , the control means 5 sets the antenna branch A ₂₂ of the sector 2 as the target of delay profile calculation. In addition, the antenna branch A ₁₂ of sector 1 is newly set as the target of delay profile calculation, and the received signal S ₁₂ is selected as the redundant path search received signal # 5.

On the other hand, if all the antenna branches of the additional search sector are already selected as the target of delay profile calculation and there is no antenna branch excluded from the target of delay profile calculation in the additional search sector, redundancy occurs. The designated switching of the path search reception signal # 5 is not performed.

The control means 5 outputs the information regarding the switching of the delay profile calculation target to the path search reception signal selection means 2 as a "path search reception signal selection signal". The path search reception signal selection means 2 is
Received signals for path search # 1 to # 4 and received signal for redundant path search # 5 according to the received signal selection signal for path search
Are output to the corresponding delay profile calculation means 3-1 to 3-5. Path search circuit 1
Is a received signal for path search every predetermined period (for example, every 50 milliseconds, or every predetermined number of frames when the received signal has a predetermined frame format) during the reception of the radio signal. The selection switching process of the selection signal is performed.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the received signal for path search having more than the number of sectors L is selected, and at least one antenna branch for delay profile calculation is arranged in each of the L sectors. At the same time, the configuration is such that the antenna profile having the peak sample point with the maximum peak value of the correlation power and other antenna branches belonging to the same sector as the delay profile calculation target are compared to the total number of antenna branches. Even if the number of delay profile calculation means is suppressed by
The target of delay profile calculation can be selected according to the reception characteristics of each antenna branch, the effective path selection and finger part allocation processing can be performed with high accuracy, and demodulation performance can be improved.

In the second embodiment, the control means 5 specifies the sector of the received signal corresponding to the one having the maximum correlation power value among the peak sample points I to VIII as the additional search sector. The method of specifying the search sector is not limited to this, and for example, the sector of the received signal having the maximum number of specified peak sample points may be specified as the additional search sector.

Further, the path search circuit 1 includes P (= L + 1) delay profile calculation means, which is one more than the number of sectors L, and the path search reception signal selection means 2 selects the path search reception signal. According to the signal, P number of path search received signals, which is one more than the number of sectors L, is output (the number of redundant path search received signals is one), but the number of redundant path search received signals is limited to one. Even if the number of reception signals for redundant path search is two or more, if the total number P of delay profile calculation means is less than the total number (L × N) of antenna branches, the path search circuit 1 The effect of reducing the circuit scale can be obtained. In this case, the control means 5 selects a plurality of additional search sectors and sequentially selects a plurality of redundant path search reception signals in order of increasing correlation power value or increasing number of peak sample points.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, all M
After specifying the individual peak output phase and the extended peak output phase, compare the peak value of each correlation power with a predetermined threshold,
Based on the result, the finger control signal is generated and the despreading process is stopped. However, this is not limited to such a configuration, and in the peak output phase detection process by the control means 5, each peak output phase is detected. The peak value of each correlation power and the threshold value may be compared, the finger control signal may be generated based on the result, and the extended peak output phase may be specified.

[0072]

As described above, according to the present invention, the delay profile is calculated only for the received signal of at least one antenna branch per sector, and the delay profile is allocated to the same sector and the delay profile is calculated. Considering the delay profile of the antenna branch excluded from the target, specifying a predetermined number of peak sample points based on each delay profile, and demodulating each received signal, the circuit scale of the delay profile calculation means Can be reduced.

According to the next invention, at least one antenna branch per sector is selected as a received signal for path search, and it is placed in a sector having a large correlation power value and excluded from the selected received signal for path search. Select a predetermined number of redundant path search reception signals from the antenna branch, calculate a delay profile for each path search reception signal and the redundant path search reception signal, specify a predetermined number of peak sample points, and determine each reception Even if the circuit size of the delay profile calculating means is reduced by adopting the configuration of demodulating the signal, the effective path selection and finger part allocation can be performed accurately with consideration of the reception characteristics of each antenna branch. And the effect of suppressing deterioration of demodulation performance can be achieved.

Further, according to the next invention, the reception characteristic of each antenna branch is determined by the configuration in which a predetermined number of reception signals for redundant path search are selected based on the number of peak sample points of each delay profile. After taking into consideration, it is possible to select an effective path and assign finger parts with high accuracy, and it is possible to suppress deterioration of demodulation performance.

Further, according to the next invention, when the peak values of the correlation powers of the peak output phase and the extended peak output phase are the same, the peak output phase for which the delay profile is actually calculated is given priority and the peak sampling is performed. By adopting the configuration of selecting as points, the accuracy of effective path selection can be further enhanced, and deterioration of demodulation performance can be suppressed.
It has the effect.

Further, according to the next invention, the delay profile calculating means is configured to sequentially calculate the delay profiles for a plurality of path search received signals in a time division manner, thereby further reducing the circuit scale of the delay profile calculating means. There is an effect that can be done.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a wireless reception device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a demodulation circuit according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement example of antenna branches according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of selection of peak sample points according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a wireless reception device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement example of antenna branches according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of selection of peak sample points according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a conventional radio base station apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

A _{11 to} A ₄₂ antenna branch S _{11 to} S _LN antenna branch reception signal 1 path search circuit 2 path search reception signal selection means 3-1 to 3-P, 52, 53 delay profile calculation means 5 control means 10 demodulation circuit 11 Finger reception signal selection means 12-1 to 12-M, 60-1 to 60-8 Finger section 13, 65 Rake combining means 50, 51 Input terminal 54 Path control section 61 Switch 62 Correlator 63 Weighting coefficient estimation section 64 Weighting circuit 66 demodulation output terminal

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 5K022 EE01 EE32                 5K059 CC03 DD31 EE02                 5K067 AA02 AA23 AA42 CC10 CC24                       KK03

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A radio receiving apparatus in which a plurality of antenna branches are arranged in each of L sectors (L is a natural number), and a radio signal is received and demodulated by each antenna branch, and at least one antenna branch is provided for each sector. Selecting the received signal of the antenna branch as the received signal for path search, the received signal selection means for path search, the delay profile calculation means for calculating the delay profile of each received signal for path search, based on the delay profile, While detecting a predetermined number of peak output phases corresponding to the peak value of the correlation power, the delay profile is regarded as the delay profile of the antenna branch arranged in the same sector and excluded from the selection of the received signal for path search, Specified a predetermined number of extended peak output phase corresponding to the peak output phase, the Based on the phase of each peak sample point, the control means and the received signal corresponding to each peak sample point are selected from the peak output phase and the extended peak output phase as a predetermined number of phases to be demodulated as peak sample points. And a demodulation means for performing demodulation processing on each of them and synthesizing the results of each demodulation processing to obtain a demodulated signal. 2. L sectors (L is a natural number of 2 or more)
In a radio receiving device in which a plurality of antenna branches are arranged respectively, and a radio signal is received and demodulated by each antenna branch, the reception signal of at least one antenna branch is selected as a path search reception signal per sector. Along with the path search received signal selection signal described later, a path search received signal selection means for selecting a predetermined number of redundant path search received signals from the antenna branches excluded from the selection of the path search received signal. A delay profile calculating means for calculating a delay profile of each of the path search received signal and the redundant path search received signal, and a predetermined number of peak output phases corresponding to the peak value of the correlation power based on the delay profile. Select as sample points and correlate each peak sample point A path search instructing to determine an additional search sector to be a target for selection of the redundant path search received signal based on the magnitude of the peak value of force, and to select the redundant path search received signal from the additional search sector. The control means for outputting the reception signal selection signal for demodulation and the reception signal corresponding to each peak sample point are respectively demodulated based on the phase of each peak sample point, and each demodulation processing result is combined to obtain a demodulated signal And a demodulation means. 3. The control means detects a predetermined number of peak output phases corresponding to the peak value of the correlation power based on the delay profile, and determines the delay profile from the targets of delay profile calculation which are arranged in the same sector. Considering the delay profile of the excluded antenna branch, a predetermined number of extended peak output phases corresponding to the peak output phase is specified, and a predetermined number of phases to be demodulated from the peak output phase and the extended peak output phase are set. While selecting as a peak sample point, based on the magnitude of the peak value of the correlation power at each peak sample point, an additional search sector to be selected for the redundant path search received signal is determined, and the additional search sector is selected from the additional search sector. A structure for outputting a path search received signal selection signal instructing to select a redundant path search received signal The wireless receiving device according to claim 2, wherein the wireless receiving device is configured. 4. The control means is configured to determine an additional search sector based on the number of peak sample points for each delay profile and output a path search reception signal selection signal. The radio receiver according to claim 2 or claim 3. 5. The control means is configured to preferentially select the peak output phase as a peak sample point when the peak values of the correlation powers of the peak output phase and the extended peak output phase are the same. The wireless receiving device according to any one of claims 1, 3, and 4, which is characterized. 6. The radio according to claim 1, wherein the delay profile calculation means is configured to sequentially calculate delay profiles regarding a plurality of path search reception signals in a time division manner. Receiver. 7. An effective path selection method for a radio receiving apparatus, wherein a plurality of antenna branches are arranged in each of L sectors (L is a natural number), and a radio signal is received and demodulated by each antenna branch. In this case, the received signal of at least one antenna branch is selected as the received signal for path search, the step of selecting the received signal for path search, the step of calculating the delay profile of each received signal for path search, the step of calculating delay profile, Based on the delay profile, a predetermined number of peak output phases corresponding to the peak value of the correlation power are detected, and the delay profiles of the antenna branches arranged in the same sector and excluded from the selection of the received signal for path search are delayed. The extended peak output phase corresponding to the peak output phase is regarded as a profile. A predetermined number is specified, a predetermined number of phases to be demodulated from the peak output phase and the extended peak output phase are selected as peak sample points, and peak sample point allocating steps are respectively allocated to a plurality of finger portions of the demodulation circuit. A method for selecting an effective path for a wireless reception device, comprising: 8. L sectors (L is a natural number of 2 or more)
In an effective path selection method of a wireless reception device, in which a plurality of antenna branches are arranged respectively, and each antenna branch receives and demodulates a radio signal, a received signal of at least one antenna branch is used for path search per sector. Received signal for path search, which is selected as a received signal, and according to a received signal selection signal for path search described later, selects a predetermined number of redundant path search received signals from antenna branches excluded from selection of the received path search signal. A delay step of calculating a delay profile of each of the path search received signal and the redundant path search received signal, and a predetermined peak output phase corresponding to the peak value of the correlation power based on the delay profile. As many peak sample points as possible, The additional search sector to be selected from the received signal for redundant path search is determined based on the peak sample point allocating step to be allocated to each gap section and the peak value of the correlation power at each peak sample point, and the additional search sector is determined. And a path search received signal control step of outputting a path search received signal selection signal for instructing to select the redundant path search received signal from a sector. . 9. The peak sample point allocation step detects a predetermined number of peak output phases corresponding to the peak value of the correlation power based on the delay profile, and arranges the delay profile in the same sector and delay profile. Considering the delay profile of the antenna branch excluded from the calculation target, a predetermined number of extended peak output phases corresponding to the peak output phase are specified, and a predetermined target for demodulation processing from the peak output phase and the extended peak output phase 9. The method for selecting an effective path for a wireless reception device according to claim 8, wherein a number of phases are selected as peak sample points. 10. The path search reception signal control step determines the additional search sector based on the number of peak sample points for each delay profile and outputs the path search reception signal selection signal. A method of selecting an effective path for a wireless reception device according to claim 8 or 9.