JP2004343801A - Array antenna radio communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an array antenna radio communication device for performing calibration processing while continuing communication. <P>SOLUTION: The array antenna radio communication device comprises a plurality of antennas 1102, 1103 for receiving radio signals including communication signals, a signal generation means 1110 for generating a calibration signal, a channel determining means 1110 for monitoring the situation of assigning a channel to a communication signal contained in a received signal, and for assigning the calibration signal to an unused channel, a plurality of addition means 1111, 1112 each for adding the calibration signal to the received signal for each antenna, a plurality of radio receiving circuits 1104, 1105 for individually processing the plurality of signals added by the plurality of addition means, an extraction means 1107 for extracting the calibration signal from the signal processed by the radio receiving circuit, and calibration means 1106, 1107 and 1108 each for performing calibration on the basis of the calibration signal which is extracted during communication using the communication signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication device, and more particularly, to a mobile wireless communication device having an array antenna.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in a wireless communication device, a method of mounting an array antenna has been used in order to freely set the directivity at the time of reception. This array antenna is composed of a plurality of antennas, and by adjusting the amplitude and phase of a signal received from each antenna, the directivity at the time of reception can be freely set. Things. Adjustment of the amplitude and phase of the signal received from the antenna is performed by multiplying the received signal by a complex coefficient in a signal processing unit that performs a predetermined process on the received signal. Hereinafter, a wireless communication device including a conventional array antenna will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system using a conventional array antenna wireless communication device. FIG. 1 shows a case where a base station 1301 equipped with a wireless communication device having a conventional array antenna communicates with a mobile station 1308.

  In base station 1301, a radio signal from mobile station 1308 is received via receiving antenna 1302 and receiving antenna 1303. Signals received via receiving antenna 1302 and receiving antenna 1303 are down-converted to a base frequency band or an intermediate frequency band by receiving radio circuit 1304 and receiving radio circuit 1305, respectively, and sent to received signal processing means 1306.

  In the reception signal processing unit 1306, the signals sent from the reception radio circuits 1304 and 1305 are subjected to demodulation processing to obtain reception signals. At the time of the demodulation processing, the signals transmitted from the reception radio circuits 1304 and 1305 have characteristics (hereinafter, referred to as “reception directivity”) that strongly receive only electromagnetic waves arriving from a desired direction. Processing is also performed. This is performed by appropriately obtaining a complex coefficient by which the signal is multiplied. As a result, it becomes possible to remove the interference wave and receive only the desired wave, and the SIR (Signal to Interference Ratio) of the received signal is kept high.

  However, the characteristics of the wireless reception circuits 1304 and 1305 are different from each other due to variations in the characteristics of analog elements such as amplifiers used therein. For this reason, the signals received via the receiving antennas 1302 and 1303 are affected by different unknown amplitude fluctuations and phase rotations by the receiving radio circuits 1304 and 1305, respectively. Therefore, the received signal actually obtained by multiplying the complex coefficient by the received signal processing means 1306 includes an error due to the above-described influence, and has a reception directivity different from that expected at first.

  In order to prevent the above phenomenon, it is necessary to adjust the characteristics of the reception radio circuit 1304 and the reception radio circuit 1305 to be the same. However, the characteristics of analog elements such as an amplifier are adjusted accurately and time-invariably. It is extremely difficult to do.

  Therefore, instead of adjusting the characteristics of the reception radio circuit 1304 and the reception radio circuit 1305, the characteristics of each of the reception radio circuit 1304 and the reception radio circuit 1305 are measured in advance, and the reception signal An adjustment step (hereinafter referred to as “calibration”) of determining a complex coefficient to be multiplied in consideration of the fact that the amplitude and phase of a received signal changes by an error in the characteristics of the circuit is employed.

  Normally, calibration is performed before starting communication in order to measure the characteristics of each receiving radio circuit. Hereinafter, the calibration method will be described again with reference to FIG.

  A calibration (CAL) wireless signal transmission unit 1309 that generates a calibration wireless signal is installed at a position known to the base station 1301. In the base station 1301, the calibration radio signal transmitted by the calibration radio signal transmission unit 1309 is received via the reception antenna 1302 and the reception antenna 1303.

  The signals received via the reception antennas 1302 and 1303 are transmitted to the reception signal processing unit 1306 through the reception radio circuits 1304 and 1305 whose settings have been switched so that the calibration radio signal can be received. Can be

  The reception signal processing unit 1306 observes the output signals of the reception radio circuits 1304 and 1305, and corrects the deviation based on the expected values of the amplitude and phase of the output signal of each reception radio circuit during communication. The characteristic error to be stored is stored in the correction table. The correction table is stored in the recording unit 1307 provided inside or outside the reception signal processing unit 1306. The above is the calibration method.

  After the calibration is completed, the reception signal processing unit 1306 switches settings so as to demodulate the reception signal from the mobile station 1308, so that normal communication is performed. At the time of normal communication, the received signal processing means 1306 performs processing so as to cancel the characteristic error of each receiving radio circuit with reference to the contents of the correction table.

  However, the wireless communication device provided with the above-mentioned conventional array antenna has the following problems. That is, the base station equipped with the above-described conventional wireless communication device having the array antenna cannot perform communication with the mobile station and the calibration process substantially simultaneously. Therefore, priority is given to either the communication with the mobile station or the calibration process.

  However, when the calibration process is performed with priority, the reception directivity at the base station can be improved, but communication with the mobile station must be interrupted each time the calibration process is performed. The inconvenience that smooth communication cannot be realized occurs.

  Conversely, when priority is given to communication with the mobile station, communication with the mobile station can be performed smoothly, but the calibration process is limited, so that the reception directivity of the received signal at the base station is reduced. The disadvantage of lowering occurs.

  As described above, in a wireless communication device having a conventional array antenna, either smooth communication with a mobile station or accuracy of reception directivity has to be sacrificed. As a result, such a device is not practical. There is a problem that the feasibility is reduced as a simple device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an array antenna wireless communication device that performs a calibration process while continuing communication with a mobile station.

  An array antenna radio communication apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of antennas for receiving a radio signal including a communication signal, a signal generation unit for generating a calibration signal, and a channel for the communication signal included in a reception signal. A channel determining unit that monitors an allocation status and allocates the calibration signal to an unused channel; a plurality of adding units that add the calibration signal to a reception signal of each antenna; and a plurality of the adding units. A plurality of reception radio circuits that individually process the plurality of added signals, an extraction unit that extracts the calibration signal from the signal that has been subjected to the signal processing by the reception radio circuit, and the communication signal. During the communication used, calibration is performed based on the extracted calibration signal. A configuration that includes cormorants and calibration means.

  The array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention, in the above invention, adopts a configuration in which the calibration means performs intermittent calibration.

  An array antenna radio communication apparatus according to the present invention, in the above invention, adopts a configuration in which the received signal is multiplexed by a code division multiple access system.

  An array antenna radio communication apparatus according to the present invention, in the above invention, adopts a configuration in which the received signal is multiplexed by a time division multiple access system.

  A base station apparatus according to the present invention employs a configuration including the array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention.

  A wireless communication terminal device according to the present invention employs a configuration for performing wireless communication with the base station device according to the present invention.

  According to the present invention, by detecting the position of a certain mobile station among a plurality of mobile stations that perform communication, a communication signal from this mobile station can be used as a communication signal for calibration. It is not necessary to separately provide a means for generating the communication signal for the communication. Thus, according to the present invention, the scale and cost of the entire communication system can be reduced.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, a frequency conversion unit for performing frequency conversion on a reception signal in which a communication signal and a calibration signal are multiplexed in the same frequency band, and extracting each signal from the frequency-converted reception signal Extracting means, a communication means for performing a calibration process based on the extracted calibration signal during communication using the communication signal, and an extracted communication signal based on the calibration result. And a demodulating means for demodulating.

  According to this configuration, since the communication signal and the calibration signal are multiplexed and transmitted in the same frequency band, each signal can be individually extracted. Thereby, each signal can be demodulated substantially simultaneously, so that communication with each mobile station and the calibration process can be performed substantially simultaneously. Therefore, it is possible to provide an array antenna wireless communication device that performs a calibration process while continuing communication with each mobile station.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, an extracting unit for extracting each signal from a received signal in which at least two communication signals are multiplexed in the same frequency band, and a position of a communication partner that performs communication using the communication signal is determined. Position detection means for detecting, and calibration capable of performing calibration processing based on the detected position of one communication partner and the extracted communication signal used by the communication partner during communication using the communication signal And a demodulating means for demodulating the extracted communication signal used by the other communication partner based on the calibration result.

  According to this configuration, since the position of one communication partner is known, calibration can be performed using the position of the communication partner and a communication signal used by the communication partner. Accordingly, a communication signal used by another communication partner can be demodulated based on the calibration result. Further, since the communication signal used by each communication partner is transmitted using the same frequency band, the calibration processing and the demodulation can be performed substantially simultaneously. Therefore, since it is not necessary to separately provide a device for generating the calibration signal, the scale and cost of the entire communication system can be reduced.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a signal generating unit for generating a calibration signal, an adding unit for adding a received signal including a communication signal and the calibration signal, and a frequency for the added signal. Frequency conversion means for performing conversion, extraction means for extracting each signal from the frequency-converted signal, and calibration capable of performing a calibration process based on the extracted calibration signal during communication using the communication signal. And a demodulator for demodulating the extracted communication signal based on the calibration result.

  According to this configuration, instead of using the calibration signal included in the received signal as the calibration signal required for the calibration process, the calibration signal generated by the signal generation unit in the apparatus body is used. ing. This eliminates the need to separately provide a device for generating a calibration signal, thereby reducing the scale and cost of the entire communication system.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, adopts a configuration in which the calibration means performs the calibration substantially simultaneously with the demodulation of the demodulation means or intermittently.

  According to this configuration, the calibration unit performs the calibration in parallel, simultaneously or intermittently with the demodulation by the demodulation unit, so that the required reception directivity is not hindered in communication with the communication partner. The calibration process is appropriately performed according to the accuracy of the calibration.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the fifth aspect of the present invention includes a channel determining unit that determines a channel to be allocated to the calibration signal based on a channel allocation status to the communication signal. The extracting means employs a configuration for extracting a calibration signal based on the determined channel.

  According to this configuration, after the appropriate channel is assigned to the calibration signal based on the assignment status of the channel used for the communication signal of each communication partner by the channel determination unit, the assigned channel is used. The transmitted calibration data is received. Further, a calibration signal is reliably extracted from the received signal by the extracting means based on the channel. Thereby, the communication channel used for communication with the communication partner and communication with the calibration signal can be used efficiently according to the use situation.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, there is provided a signal generating means for generating a calibration signal for a communication partner, wherein the calibration signal multiplexed on the received signal is the communication signal during the communication. A configuration that is transmitted from the other party is adopted.

  According to this configuration, the signal generation unit generates the calibration signal used by the other communication partner, and performs the calibration process using the calibration signal transmitted from the other communication partner. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a device for generating a calibration signal. Thereby, the scale and cost of the entire communication system can be reduced.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, employs a configuration in which a received signal is multiplexed by a code division multiple access system.

  According to this configuration, the communication signal and the calibration signal used by the communication partner are multiplexed in the same frequency band by the code division multiple access method, so that each signal is reliably extracted and demodulated.

  An eighth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, employs a configuration in which a received signal is multiplexed by a time division multiple access method.

  According to this configuration, the communication signal and the calibration signal used by the communication partner are multiplexed in the same frequency band by the time division multiple access method, so that each signal is reliably extracted and demodulated.

  A base station apparatus according to a ninth aspect of the present invention employs a configuration including the array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects.

  According to this configuration, since the array antenna wireless communication device that performs the calibration process while continuing the communication with the mobile station is mounted, it is possible to provide a base station device that performs good communication.

  A wireless communication terminal apparatus according to a tenth aspect of the present invention employs a configuration for performing wireless communication with the base station apparatus according to the ninth aspect.

  According to this configuration, since communication is performed with the base station equipped with the array antenna wireless communication device that performs the calibration process while continuing communication with the mobile station, it is possible to provide a wireless communication terminal device that performs good communication. Can be.

  An eleventh aspect of the present invention provides a frequency conversion step of performing frequency conversion on a reception signal in which a communication signal and a calibration signal are multiplexed in the same frequency band, and extracting each signal from the frequency-converted reception signal. Extracting step, during communication using the communication signal, a calibration step capable of performing a calibration process based on the extracted calibration signal, and extracting the extracted communication signal based on the calibration result. And a demodulating step of demodulating.

  According to this method, since the communication signal and the calibration signal are multiplexed and transmitted in the same frequency band, each signal can be individually extracted. Thereby, each signal can be demodulated substantially simultaneously, so that communication with each mobile station and the calibration process can be performed substantially simultaneously. Therefore, it is possible to provide an array antenna wireless communication device that performs a calibration process while continuing communication with each mobile station.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system using an array antenna wireless communication device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a case where base station 101 equipped with array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to the present embodiment communicates with mobile station 109.

  The mobile station 109 transmits a radio signal to the base station 101. The calibration (CAL) CDMA radio signal transmitting means 110 generates a radio signal for calibration to the base station 101.

  In the base station 101, the receiving antenna 102 and the receiving antenna 103 receive the radio signal from the mobile station 109 and the radio signal for calibration from the CDMA radio signal transmitting unit for calibration 110, respectively. Send to wireless circuit 105.

  The reception radio circuit 104 and the reception radio circuit 105 down-convert the radio signal from the mobile station 109 sent from the reception antenna 102 and the reception antenna 103 to a base frequency band or an intermediate frequency band, respectively, and then perform a reception CDMA signal processing unit. A (for communication) 106. Further, the reception radio circuit 104 and the reception radio circuit 105 down-convert the calibration radio signal from the calibration CDMA radio signal transmission unit 110 as described above, and then receive the CDMA signal processing unit B (for CAL). Send to 107. Note that whether or not the calibration radio signal is input from the calibration CDMA radio signal transmission unit 110 is determined by switching of a switching unit (not shown) provided in each of the reception radio circuit 104 and the reception radio circuit 105. Selected by action.

  The reception CDMA signal processing means B (for CAL) 107 observes the calibration radio signal transmitted through the reception radio circuit 104 and the reception radio circuit 105, and sends the characteristic error of each reception radio circuit to the recording unit 108.

  The recording unit 108 stores the characteristic error sent from the received CDMA signal processing unit B (for CAL) 107 in a correction table. Since the characteristic error is measured independently for each receiving radio circuit, the correction tables are created independently for the number of receiving radio circuits. Note that the recording unit 108 can also be provided in the reception CDMA signal processing means B (for CAL) 107.

  The reception CDMA signal processing means A (for communication) 106 performs CDMA demodulation processing on signals transmitted from the reception radio circuit 104 and the reception radio circuit 105. At the time of the CDMA demodulation processing, the reception CDMA signal processing means A (for communication) 106 refers to the correction table stored in the recording unit 108 and performs processing for making the signal have reception directivity.

  Although FIG. 1 shows an example of demodulating a radio signal from only mobile station 109, only one system of the received signal processing unit is shown. Needless to say, a plurality of systems of reception signal processing means for demodulating a radio signal from the mobile station are provided.

  Note that, in the present embodiment, a case where an array antenna reception function using two antennas is provided is described as an example, so that the reception antenna, the reception radio circuit, and the switching unit provided in the reception radio circuit are provided with: , Respectively, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be changed as appropriate.

  Next, the operation of the communication system using the array antenna wireless communication device having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an allocation state of spreading codes in a communication system using the array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, a communication signal used for communication between the base station 101 and each mobile station, and a calibration signal used for communication between the base station 101 and the CDMA radio signal transmitting unit 110 for calibration are: It is multiplexed by CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access).

  In order to perform CDMA multiplexing, different spreading codes (channels) are assigned to each mobile station during a call and the transmitting means 110 for CDMA radio signal for calibration. FIG. 2 shows, as an example, a spreading code allocation situation when four types of spreading codes # 1 to # 4 are prepared.

  The three types of spreading codes # 1 to # 3 are respectively allocated to three mobile stations. As a result, the three mobile stations to which the spreading codes have been assigned can communicate almost simultaneously. In this state, when the call of a certain mobile station is completed, it is clear from the figure that the spread code assigned to this mobile station is transferred to another mobile station. For example, the spreading code # 3 assigned to the mobile station 3 is assigned to the mobile station 5 after the communication of the mobile station 3 ends.

  Further, one spreading code (for example, spreading code # 4 in FIG. 2) is fixedly assigned for the CDMA communication signal for calibration regardless of the communication state of another mobile station. Thus, the calibration CDMA wireless signal transmitting unit 110 can constantly transmit the calibration CDMA wireless signal.

  First, in FIG. 1, a CDMA radio signal from the mobile station 109 is received by the base station 101 via the receiving antenna 102 and the receiving antenna 103. The CDMA wireless signals received via the receiving antenna 102 and the receiving antenna 103 are down-converted to the base frequency band or the intermediate frequency band by the receiving wireless circuit 104 and the receiving wireless circuit 105, respectively, and the received CDMA signal processing means A ( (For communication) 106.

  In the reception CDMA signal processing means A (for communication) 106, the signals transmitted from the reception radio circuit 104 and the reception radio circuit 105 are subjected to CDMA demodulation processing to become reception signals. At the time of the CDMA demodulation processing, the signal transmitted from each receiving radio circuit is a signal capable of strongly receiving only the electromagnetic wave arriving from the desired direction by adjusting the complex coefficient by which the signal is multiplied. .

  In parallel with the above processing, the calibration processing described below is performed constantly or intermittently.

  A calibration radio signal is generated by a calibration radio CDMA signal transmission unit 110 installed at a position known to the base station 101. In the base station 101, the calibration radio signal is transmitted via the reception antenna 102 and the reception antenna 103 by the switching unit provided therein so that the reception radio signal whose setting has been switched so that the calibration radio signal can be received. It is sent to each of the circuit 104 and the receiving radio circuit 105.

  In the reception radio circuit 104 and the reception radio circuit 105, the calibration radio signal is down-converted as described above, and then output to the reception CDMA signal processing means B (for CAL) 107.

  The reception CDMA signal processing means B (for CAL) 107 observes the output signals of the reception radio circuit 104 and the reception radio circuit 105, thereby obtaining the expected values such as the amplitude and phase of the output signal of each reception radio circuit. Is measured, and the measured deviation is stored in a correction table as a characteristic error to be corrected at the time of communication. Since the measurement of the deviation, that is, the characteristic error, is performed independently for each of the reception radio circuits, the correction tables are provided independently by the number of the reception radio circuits. The correction table is stored in the recording unit 108 provided inside or outside the reception CDMA signal processing unit 107 for calibration.

  From the recording unit 108, the contents of the correction table are sent to the reception CDMA signal processing means A (for communication) 106.

  Thereafter, the reception CDMA signal processing means A (for communication) 106 refers to the contents of the correction table sent from the recording unit 108 and cancels the characteristic error of each reception radio circuit so as to cancel the characteristic error of each reception radio circuit. Demodulation processing is performed on the CDMA radio signal, that is, the signal transmitted from the reception radio circuit 104 and the reception radio circuit 105.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a different spreading code is assigned to each of the CDMA wireless signal of each mobile station and the CDMA wireless signal for calibration, so that the base station can control the CDMA of the mobile station. The radio signal and the CDMA radio signal for calibration can be individually extracted, and each signal can be demodulated substantially simultaneously or intermittently. Thereby, the base station can perform the calibration process constantly or frequently while continuing the communication with each mobile station, so that the base station can perform the smooth communication with the mobile station almost at the same time as receiving. The accuracy of the signal receiving directivity can be improved.

(Embodiment 2)
Embodiment 1 described above is an embodiment in which CDMA communication is performed between the base station and each mobile station, and between the base station and the transmitting unit for calibration CDMA wireless signal. Embodiment 2 is an embodiment in which Embodiment 1 uses a TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) system instead of the CDMA system. Hereinafter, the array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, focusing on differences from the first embodiment.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system using an array antenna wireless communication device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an allocation state of spreading codes in a communication system using an array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, a communication signal used for communication between base station 301 and each mobile station, and a calibration signal used for communication between base station 301 and calibration TDMA radio signal transmitting means 310 are TDMA signals. Multiplexed according to the method.

  In order to perform TDMA multiplexing, the numbers of time slots (channels) for which transmission is permitted are different for each mobile station in communication and the transmitting means 310 for TDMA radio signal for calibration. FIG. 4 shows, as an example, a time slot allocation situation when four time slots from # 1 to # 4 are prepared.

  Three time slots # 2 to # 4 are allocated to three mobile stations, respectively. As a result, the three mobile stations to which the time slots are assigned can perform communication. In this state, when the call of a certain mobile station ends, it is clear from the figure that the time slot assigned to this mobile station is transferred to another mobile station. For example, the time slot # 3 assigned to the mobile station 2 is assigned to the mobile station 4 after the communication of the mobile station 2 ends. In the figure, when a call of a certain mobile station ends, the time slot assignment is transferred to another mobile station.

  Further, one time slot (for example, time slot # 1 in FIG. 4) is fixedly allocated to the TDMA communication signal for calibration regardless of the communication state of another mobile station. Accordingly, the calibration TDMA wireless signal transmission unit 310 can constantly transmit the calibration TDMA wireless signal.

  The operation of each component in the base station 301 is the same as that of the first embodiment except that processing according to a received TDMA signal is performed.

  That is, the receiving radio circuit 304 and the receiving radio circuit 305 use the TDMA radio signal from the mobile station 309 or the calibration signal from the CAL TDMA radio signal transmitting unit 310 received via the receiving antenna 302 and the receiving antenna 303, respectively. The TDMA radio signal is down-converted as in the first embodiment.

  Also, in the reception TDMA signal processing means B (for CAL) 307, the calibration TDMA radio signal down-converted by the reception radio circuit 304 and the reception radio circuit 305 is observed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The aforementioned characteristic error is obtained. The obtained characteristic error is stored in the correction table as in the first embodiment.

  In the receiving TDMA signal processing means A (for communication) 306, the TDMA radio signal from the mobile station 309 down-converted by the receiving radio circuit 304 and the receiving radio circuit 305 is subjected to TDMA demodulation processing. At this time, similarly to Embodiment 1, the TDMA radio signal from the mobile station 309 constantly or intermittently refers to the contents of the correction table sent from the recording unit 108 to determine the characteristic error of each reception radio circuit. TDMA demodulation processing that cancels out is performed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, different time slots are assigned to the TDMA radio signal of each mobile station and the TDMA radio signal for calibration, respectively. The TDMA radio signal and the calibration TDMA radio signal can be individually extracted. Further, since the time width of the time slot is very short, the calibration result is surely reflected in communication with each mobile station. Thus, the calibration process can be performed in parallel without hindering communication with each mobile station.

  This allows the base station to perform the calibration process while continuing the communication with each mobile station, so that the base station can perform smooth communication with the mobile station and at the same time receive directivity of the received signal. Accuracy can be improved.

(Embodiment 3)
Embodiment 3 is an embodiment in Embodiment 1 in which the calibration is performed intermittently while the spreading code (channel) is used effectively. In the first embodiment, since the base station performs calibration at all times, one spreading code is fixedly assigned to the CDMA communication signal for calibration. In the third embodiment, since the base station performs the calibration intermittently, one spreading code is allocated to the CDMA communication signal for calibration only when necessary. Hereinafter, the array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5, focusing on differences from the first embodiment.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system using an array antenna wireless communication device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the same components as those in the first embodiment (FIG. 1) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

  In base station 501 equipped with the array antenna radio communication apparatus according to the present embodiment, CAL channel determining means 503 receives a spread code ( The assignment status of the channel is monitored, and an unused spreading code is determined as a spreading code to be assigned to the CDMA communication signal for calibration. Further, the CAL channel determining means 503 sends information on the determined spreading code to the received CDMA signal processing means B (CAL) 502 and control means (not shown).

  The control unit (not shown) notifies the CAL CDMA wireless signal transmitting unit 504 of information on the determined spreading code for the CDMA communication signal for calibration via the transmitting unit (not shown) of another system.

  The CDMA CDMA radio signal transmitting unit 504 receives information on the spreading code for the calibration CDMA communication signal from the base station 501. The CAL channel determining means 505 provided in the CAL CDMA radio signal transmitting means 504 determines a spreading code for CDMA communication for calibration based on the information on the spreading code.

  The CAL CDMA radio signal transmitting unit 504 generates a calibration CDMA communication signal using the spreading code determined by the CAL channel determining unit 505.

  In the base station 501 equipped with the array antenna communication device having the above configuration, the reception CDMA signal processing means B (for CAL) 502 uses the information on the spreading code sent from the CAL channel determination means 503 to receive radio signals. Based on the CDMA communication signal for calibration down-converted by the circuit 104 and the reception radio circuit 105, the deviation of each reception radio circuit can be measured.

  Next, the allocation status of spreading codes in a communication system using the array antenna communication device having the above configuration will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an allocation state of spreading codes in a communication system using the array antenna communication device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  Upon receiving a calibration request from a control unit (not shown), the CAL channel determining unit 503 monitors the spreading code allocation status for each mobile station and, as shown in FIG. 6, performs the spreading from # 1 to # 4. Unused codes are assigned to the CDMA communication signal for calibration. After the calibration is completed, the spread code assigned to the communication signal for calibration has been transferred to another mobile station that has requested communication.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when performing intermittent calibration in CDMA communication, an unused spreading code (channel) is allocated to the CDMA communication signal for calibration. After the calibration is completed, the spread code is allocated for communication with another mobile station. Accordingly, the base station can perform calibration intermittently without hindering communication with each mobile station, and can use spreading codes efficiently.

(Embodiment 4)
Embodiment 4 is an embodiment in which time slots (channels) are effectively used while performing intermittent calibration in Embodiment 2. In the second embodiment, since the base station always performs calibration, one time slot is fixedly assigned to the TDMA communication signal for calibration. In the fourth embodiment, since the base station performs the calibration intermittently, one time slot is allocated to the TDMA communication signal for calibration only when necessary.

  Embodiment 4 can also be said to be an embodiment in which TDMA is used instead of CDMA in Embodiment 3. Hereinafter, the array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7, focusing on differences from the third embodiment.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system using an array antenna wireless communication device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In FIG. 7, the same components as those in the third embodiment (FIG. 5) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

  In base station 701 equipped with the array antenna radio communication apparatus according to the present embodiment, CAL channel determination means 703 receives a time slot ( The assignment status of the channel is monitored, and an unused time slot is determined as a time slot to be assigned to the TDMA communication signal for calibration. Further, the CAL channel determination means 703 sends information on the determined time slot to the reception TDMA signal processing means B (CAL) 702 and control means (not shown).

  The control unit (not shown) notifies the CAL TDMA wireless signal transmission unit 704 of information on the determined time slot for the calibration TDMA communication signal via a transmission unit (not shown) of another system.

  The CAL TDMA radio signal transmission unit 704 receives information on the time slot for the calibration TDMA communication signal from the base station 701. The CAL channel determining means 705 provided in the CAL TDMA radio signal transmitting means 704 determines a calibration TDMA communication time slot based on the information on the time slot.

  The CAL TDMA radio signal transmitting unit 704 generates a calibration TDMA communication signal using the time slot determined by the CAL channel determining unit 705.

  In the base station 701 equipped with the array antenna communication device having the above configuration, the reception TDMA signal processing means B (for CAL) 702 uses the information on the time slot transmitted from the CAL channel determination means 703 to receive radio signals. Based on the TDMA communication signal for calibration down-converted by the circuit 304 and the reception radio circuit 305, the deviation of each reception radio circuit can be measured.

  Next, the time slot allocation status in the communication system using the array antenna communication device having the above configuration will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a time slot allocation state in a communication system using an array antenna communication device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

  Upon receiving a calibration request from a control unit (not shown), the CAL channel determination unit 703 monitors the time slot allocation status for each mobile station, and as shown in FIG. An unused slot is allocated to the TDMA communication signal for calibration. After the completion of the calibration, the time slot assigned to the communication signal for calibration has been transferred to another mobile station that has requested communication.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when performing intermittent calibration in TDMA communication, an unused time slot is allocated to the TDMA communication signal for calibration, and the calibration is performed. After the end of the session, this time slot is allocated for communication of another mobile station. Thereby, the base station can perform calibration intermittently without hindering communication with each mobile station, and can efficiently use time slots.

(Embodiment 5)
Embodiment 5 is an embodiment in which the calibration signal transmitting means is provided in the base station in Embodiments 1 to 4. Hereinafter, the array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 9, focusing on differences from the first to fourth embodiments.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system using an array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. In the figure, a state is shown in which a base station (A) 901 having an array antenna communication device according to the present embodiment and a mobile station 909 perform communication. In the figure, detailed description of the same configuration as the first to fourth embodiments will be omitted.

  The base station (B) 910 has the same configuration as the base station (A) 901, and is installed at a known location for the base station (A) 901. Also, the base station (Otsu) 910 generates a communication signal for calibration.

  In the base station (A) 901, the reception signal processing means B (for CAL) 907 converts the calibration communication signal from the base station (B) 910 down-converted by each of the reception radio circuit 904 and the reception radio circuit 905. The deviation of each receiving radio circuit is measured based on the measurement result, and the measurement result is stored in the correction table of the recording unit 908.

  The reception signal processing means A (for communication) 906 performs demodulation processing on the communication signal from the mobile station 909 down-converted by each of the reception radio circuits 904 and 905. At the time of the demodulation processing, the reception signal processing means A (for communication) 906 refers to the correction table of the recording unit 908, and performs the demodulation processing to always or intermittently cancel the characteristic error of each reception radio circuit.

  The CAL wireless signal transmission unit 912 generates a communication signal for calibration for calibration of another base station (for example, the base station (Company) 910). Each of the above-described components can be used in any of the CDMA and TDMA communication.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the calibration signal transmitting unit that generates the communication signal for calibration is provided in another base station, when the calibration signal transmitting unit is installed alone, In comparison, the scale and cost of the entire communication system can be reduced.

(Embodiment 6)
Embodiment 6 is an embodiment in which the calibration is performed without using the calibration signal transmitting means in Embodiments 1 to 5. Hereinafter, the array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to the sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10, focusing on differences from the first to fifth embodiments.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system using an array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a state where base station 1001 including array antenna communication apparatus according to the present embodiment and a mobile station communicate with each other. In this embodiment, in order to simplify the description, a case will be described in which mobile station (A) 1009 and mobile station (B) 1010 communicate with base station 1001 as mobile stations. In the figure, detailed description of the same configuration as in the first to fifth embodiments will be omitted.

  The mobile station (B) 1010 measures its own position by using a GPS (Global Positioning System) or the like, and transmits a signal including information on the measured position to the base station 1001.

  In the base station 1001, the mobile station B position information detecting means 1011 receives the signal including the information on the position transmitted from the mobile station (B) 1010 and detects the position of the mobile station (B) 1010. . Further, the mobile station B position information detecting means 1011 sends information on the detected position of the mobile station (B) 1010 to the reception signal processing means B (for CAL) 1007.

  By the way, in order to perform calibration, a signal for calibration and a position of a means for generating the signal for calibration are essential requirements. Here, since the position of the mobile station (B) 1010 is known as described above, the communication signal from the mobile station (B) 1010 can be a communication signal for calibration. Therefore, calibration can be performed by using a communication signal from the mobile station (B) 1010.

  The reception signal processing means B (for CAL) 1007 uses the communication signal from the mobile station (B) 1009 down-converted by each of the reception radio circuit 1004 and the reception radio circuit 1005 as a communication signal for calibration, and The deviation of the receiving radio circuit is measured, and the measurement result is stored in the correction table of the recording unit 1008.

  The received signal processing means A (for communication) 1006 performs demodulation processing on the communication signal from the mobile station (A) 1009 that has been down-converted by each of the receiving radio circuit 1004 and the receiving radio circuit 1005. At the time of the demodulation processing, the reception signal processing means A (for communication) 1006 performs the demodulation processing such that the characteristic error of each reception radio circuit is canceled constantly or intermittently with reference to the correction table of the recording unit 1008.

  Further, the communication signal from the mobile station B is not used exclusively for the communication signal for calibration, and it goes without saying that demodulation processing is performed as usual. Each of the above-described components can be used in any of the CDMA and TDMA communication.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, by detecting the position of one mobile station among a plurality of mobile stations that perform communication, a communication signal from this mobile station is used as a communication signal for calibration. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a means for generating a communication signal for calibration. Thereby, the scale and cost of the entire communication system can be reduced.

  In this embodiment, in order for base station 1001 to acquire information on the position of mobile station (B) 1010, information on the position measured by mobile station (B) 1010 using GPS or the like is used as the base station information. 1001 and the mobile station B position information detecting means 1011 in the base station 1001 detects the position of the mobile station (B) 1010 from the above information. The present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a case where the mobile station B position information detecting means 1011 is provided with a database indicating the known location of the mobile station B in advance.

(Embodiment 7)
Embodiment 7 is different from Embodiment 5 in that calibration is performed using a calibration signal generation unit provided in the own station, instead of using the calibration communication signal generation unit provided in another base station. This is a mode in the case of performing an operation. Hereinafter, the array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to the seventh embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 11 while focusing on differences from the fifth embodiment.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system using an array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention. In the figure, detailed description of the same components as those in the fifth embodiment is omitted.

  In the base station 1101, the CAL signal generation unit 1110 generates a calibration signal and sends it to the addition unit 1111 and the addition unit 1112. This calibration signal is a signal that has been subjected to the same processing (frequency conversion, modulation, and the like) as the communication signal from the mobile station 1109 received via the reception antenna 1102 and the reception antenna 1103.

  The adding unit 1111 and the adding unit 1112 add the communication signal from the mobile station 1109 received via the receiving antenna 1102 and the receiving antenna 1103, and the calibration signal from the CAL signal generating unit 1110, respectively.

  Further, since the position of the CAL signal generation means 1110 is known, the reception signal processing means B (CAL) 1107 determines the deviation between the reception radio circuit 1104 and the reception radio circuit 1105 as in the fifth embodiment. Can be measured.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since a calibration signal is obtained in the base station, it is not necessary to provide a means for generating a calibration signal and a communication signal for calibration outside the base station. Thereby, the scale and cost of the entire communication system can be further reduced.

(Embodiment 8)
Embodiment 8 is different from Embodiments 1 to 7 in that the reception signal processing means for measuring the deviation of each reception radio circuit and the reception signal processing means for performing demodulation processing are one reception signal. This is an embodiment in which the signals are combined in a signal processing unit. Hereinafter, the array antenna communication apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 12 in which TDMA communication is performed, for the sake of simplicity.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system using the array antenna communication device according to Embodiment 8 of the present invention. Note that, in the figure, detailed description of the same configuration as in the first to seventh embodiments is omitted. Further, in this embodiment, a case will be described where the calibration TDMA communication signal transmitting means shown in Embodiment 2 (FIG. 3) is installed outside the base station, but the present invention is not limited to this. However, the present invention can be applied to any of the cases described in Embodiments 1 to 7.

  A reception TDMA signal processing means (for both communication and CAL) 1206 is provided with a switching unit (not shown) provided therein to perform TDMA demodulation on a communication signal from mobile station 1208 received via reception antenna 1202 and reception antenna 1203. One of the processing and the measurement of the deviation of the receiving circuit 1204 and the receiving circuit 1205 based on the calibration TDMA wireless signal from the CAL wireless TDMA signal transmitting means 1209 similarly received is selected and executed. This is performed in accordance with the contents of time slot allocation, as described in the second embodiment.

  The receiving TDMA signal processing means (for both communication and CAL) 1206 stores the measured deviation in the correction table of the recording unit 1207 when measuring the deviation of each receiving circuit, and corrects the deviation of the recording unit 1207 during the TDMA demodulation processing. With reference to the table, TDMA demodulation processing is performed such that the characteristic error of each receiving radio circuit is canceled constantly or intermittently.

  According to the present embodiment, the reception signal processing unit for measuring the deviation of each reception radio circuit and the reception signal processing unit for performing demodulation processing are combined into one reception signal processing unit. The circuit size in the base station can be reduced.

  Although a case has been described with the present embodiment where TDMA communication is performed, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a case where CDMA communication is performed.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system using an array antenna wireless communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a spreading code assignment state in a communication system using the array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system using an array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an allocation state of spreading codes in a communication system using an array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system using an array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a spreading code allocation state in a communication system using the array antenna communication device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system using an array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a time slot allocation state in a communication system using the array antenna communication device according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system using an array antenna wireless communication device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system using an array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention. FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system using an array antenna wireless communication apparatus according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention. FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system using an array antenna communication apparatus according to Embodiment 8 of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system using a conventional array antenna wireless communication device.

Explanation of reference numerals

101 Base stations 102, 103 Receiving antennas 104, 105 Receiving radio circuit 106 Receiving CDMA signal processing means A (for communication)
107 Receive CDMA signal processing means B (for CAL)
108 Recording unit 109 Mobile station 110 CDMA CDMA radio signal transmission means

Claims (6)

A plurality of antennas for receiving wireless signals including communication signals,
Signal generation means for generating a calibration signal;
Channel determination means for monitoring the assignment status of the channel for the communication signal included in the received signal, and assigning the calibration signal to an unused channel,
A plurality of adding means for adding the calibration signal to the reception signal for each antenna,
A plurality of receiving wireless circuits for individually processing a plurality of signals added by the plurality of adding means,
Extraction means for extracting the calibration signal from the signal subjected to signal processing by the receiving wireless circuit,
An array antenna wireless communication apparatus, comprising: a calibration unit that performs calibration based on an extracted calibration signal during communication using the communication signal.   2. The array antenna wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the calibration unit performs calibration intermittently.   2. The array antenna radio communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the received signal is multiplexed by a code division multiple access system.   2. The array antenna radio communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the received signal is multiplexed by a time division multiple access system.   A base station device comprising the array antenna wireless communication device according to claim 1.   A wireless communication terminal device that performs wireless communication with the base station device according to claim 5.

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