RU2575049C1 - Antenna system, base station system and communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: radio engineering, communication.

SUBSTANCE: in an antenna system, the first antenna element array includes multiple antenna elements, and the same applies to the second antenna element array. The antenna elements are configured to receive and transmit signals in two different polarisation directions; the first combiner-splitter is configured to combine signals. The signals are received by the multiple antenna elements in the first antenna element array; the active module is configured to receive the signals combined by the first combiner-splitter in the two different polarisation directions, and perform frequency conversion on the signals combined by the first combiner-splitter to obtain baseband signals; the second combiner-splitter is configured to combine the signals. The signals are received by the multiple antenna elements in the second antenna element array; each second antenna apparatus corresponds to a pair of receiving channels, and the pair of receiving channels is configured to receive the signals combined by the second combiner-splitter in the two different polarisation directions; and the active module is further configured to perform frequency conversion on the signals received by the pair of receiving channels to obtain the baseband signals.

EFFECT: high network capacity.

15 cl, 5 dwg

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to the field of communication technologies and, in particular, to an antenna system, a base station system and a communication system.

BACKGROUND

In a distributed base station system, a remote radio unit (RRU) can be connected to a passive antenna. Currently, the development trend of the distributed base station system is to integrate the RRU unit with the antenna. Thus, the RRU unit and the antenna form a single unit. Active Antenna System (AAS) architecture is an integrated antenna architecture.

The antenna system in the prior art is shown in FIG. 1. The antenna system includes two arrays of antenna elements. In both arrays of antenna elements, each element serves both for transmitting and receiving signals. One array 1 of antenna elements is connected to the active component, namely, transceiver 2 to form the architecture of the active antenna and implement 2 transmitters and 2 receivers (2T2R); and another array of 3 elements is connected to the RRU unit and is a passive antenna. The prior art supports improving the reception performance of two channels, namely improving the reception performance of 2R, but improving network performance is low.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses an antenna system, a base station system and a communication system to increase network performance enhancement.

In one aspect, an antenna system provided in an embodiment of the present invention includes:

a first antenna device, at least one second antenna device and at least one pair of reception channels;

The first antenna device includes: a first array of antenna elements, a first combining-separation unit and an active module; the second antenna device includes: a second array of antenna elements and a second combining-separation unit;

Each of the first array of antenna elements and the second array of antenna elements includes a plurality of antenna elements, the antenna elements being configured to receive and transmit signals in two different polarization directions;

The first combining-separation unit is configured to combine signals in two different polarization directions, the signals being received by a plurality of antenna elements in a first array of antenna elements;

The active module is configured to receive signals combined by the first combining-separation unit in two different polarization directions, and to perform frequency conversion on the signals combined by the first combining-separation unit to receive baseband signals;

The second combining-separation unit is configured to combine signals in two different polarization directions, the signals being received by a plurality of antenna elements in a second array of antenna elements;

Each of at least one second antenna device corresponds to at least one pair of reception channels, and at least one pair of reception channels is configured to receive signals combined by a second combining-separation unit in two different polarization directions; and

The active module is further configured to perform frequency conversion on signals received by at least one pair of receive channels to receive baseband signals.

In another aspect, a base station system provided in an embodiment of the present invention includes an antenna system;

The antenna system includes: a first antenna device, at least one second antenna device and at least one pair of receive channels;

The first antenna device includes: a first array of antenna elements, a first combining-separation unit and an active module; the second antenna device includes: a second array of antenna elements and a second combining-separation unit;

Each of the first array of antenna elements and the second array of antenna elements includes a plurality of antenna elements, the antenna elements being configured to receive and transmit signals in two different polarization directions;

The first combining-separation unit is configured to combine signals in two different polarization directions, the signals being received by a plurality of antenna elements in a first array of antenna elements;

The active module is configured to receive signals combined by the first combining-separation unit in two different polarization directions, and to perform frequency conversion on the signals combined by the first combining-separation unit to receive baseband signals;

The second combining-separation unit is configured to combine signals in two different polarization directions, the signals being received by a plurality of antenna elements in a second array of antenna elements;

Each second antenna device corresponds to at least one pair of reception channels, and at least one pair of reception channels is configured to receive signals combined by a second combining-separation unit in two different polarization directions; and

The active module is further configured to perform frequency conversion on signals received by at least one pair of receive channels to receive baseband signals.

In another aspect, a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present invention includes a base station system, the base station system including an antenna system;

The antenna system includes: a first antenna device, at least one second antenna device and at least one pair of receive channels;

The first antenna device includes: a first array of antenna elements, a first combining-separation unit and an active module; the second antenna device includes: a second array of antenna elements and a second combining-separation unit;

Each of the first array of antenna elements and the second array of antenna elements includes a plurality of antenna elements, the antenna elements being configured to receive and transmit signals in two different polarization directions;

The first combining-separation unit is configured to combine signals in two different polarization directions, the signals being received by a plurality of antenna elements in a first array of antenna elements;

The active module is configured to receive signals combined by the first combining-separation unit in two different polarization directions, and to perform frequency conversion on the signals combined by the first combining-separation unit to receive baseband signals;

The second combining-separation unit is configured to combine signals in two different polarization directions, the signals being received by a plurality of antenna elements in a second array of antenna elements;

Each second antenna device corresponds to at least one pair of reception channels, and at least one pair of reception channels is configured to receive signals combined by a second combining-separation unit in two different polarization directions; and

The active module is further configured to perform frequency conversion on signals received by at least one pair of receive channels to receive baseband signals.

Through the antenna system, the base station system provided here and the communication system in the antenna system composed of an array of active antenna elements and an array of passive antenna elements, the combining-separation unit combines the signals received by the array of passive antenna elements in different polarization directions, and at least one pair receive channels are used to receive signals, and then frequency signals are converted over the signals received by the receive channels to obtain baseband signals. In the antenna system, signals are received in different directions of polarization in an array of passive antenna elements, and frequency conversion is performed on the signals. Thus, an antenna system composed of an array of active antenna elements and an array of passive antenna elements can achieve an increase in reception performance with 4 channels or more, namely, achieve an increase in reception performance of 4R or more, thereby increasing the increase in system reception performance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to more clearly illustrate technical solutions in accordance with embodiments of the present invention or in the prior art, the accompanying drawings required to describe embodiments or prior art are briefly presented below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings in the following descriptions are only some embodiments of the present invention, and those skilled in the art can further obtain other drawings in accordance with the accompanying drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of an antenna system in the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an antenna system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a first antenna device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an antenna system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an antenna system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention are clearly and fully described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some illustrative embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

The technical solutions of the present invention are applicable to various communication systems, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Code Division Broadband Multiple Access (WCDMA), General Packet Radio Communication System (GPRS), microwave broadband access system (WiMAX) and long-term development project (LTE) system.

A base station system may include antennas and a base station. The base station may be a base transceiver station (BTS) in a GSM or CDMA system, a NodeB node in a WCDMA system, or an enhanced NodeB node (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE system. The type of base station is not limited here.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an antenna system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the antenna system includes: a first antenna device, at least one second antenna device and at least one pair of reception channels 3;

The first antenna device includes: a first array of 11 antenna elements, a first combining-separation unit 12, and an active module 13; the second antenna device includes: a second array of 21 antenna elements and a second combining-separation unit 22;

The first array 11 of antenna elements includes several antenna elements and is the same as the second array 21 of antenna elements, the antenna elements being configured to receive and transmit signals in two different polarization directions;

The first combining-separation unit 12 is configured to combine signals in two different directions of polarization of the signals, the signals being received by several antenna elements in a first array of 11 antenna elements;

The active module 13 is configured to receive signals combined by the first combining-separation unit 12 in two different polarization directions, and to perform frequency conversion on the signals combined by the combining-separation unit 12 to receive baseband signals;

The second combining-separation unit 22 is configured to combine signals in two different polarization directions, the signals being received by several antenna elements in the second array of antenna elements 21;

Each second antenna device corresponds to at least one pair of reception channels 3, and at least one pair of reception channels 3 is configured to receive signals combined by the second combining-separation unit 22 in two different polarization directions;

The active module 13 is further configured to perform frequency conversion on the signals received by at least one pair of reception channels 3 to receive baseband signals.

The first array 11 of antenna elements includes several antenna elements and is the same as the second array of 21 antenna elements (each antenna element in the array of antenna elements is an antenna resonator); the number of antenna elements included in the first array of 11 antenna elements may be the same or different from the number of antenna elements included in the second array 21 of antenna elements. Each antenna element receives and transmits signals in two different directions of polarization; all antenna elements included in the first antenna element 11 have the same two polarization directions, and all antenna elements included in the second array of antenna elements 21 have the same two polarization directions. For example, each antenna element in the first antenna element 11 can receive and transmit signals at an angle a + 45 ° and an angle a -45 ° relative to the horizontal plane; also, each antenna element in the second antenna element 21 can receive and transmit signals at an angle a + 45 ° and an angle a -45 ° relative to the horizontal plane. In addition, it should be noted that each antenna element used here is configured to receive and transmit signals. Thus, both the first array 11 of the antenna elements and the second array 21 of the antenna elements can use a structure with a transmission function and a reception function that share the element.

The first array of antenna elements 11, the first combining-separation unit 12 and the active module 13 constitute the first antenna device, which is the structure of the active antenna. For example, the first antenna device may be an AAS active antenna structure or other existing active antenna structure. The structure of the active antennas can achieve improved reception performance with 2 channels, namely, improved 2R reception performance, as described in detail below:

As a practical implementation method, an embodiment of the present invention provides the practical structure of a first antenna device. As shown in FIG. 3, in the first antenna device:

The first array 11 of antenna elements includes: b antenna elements.

The first combining-separation unit 12 is configured to combine 2b signals received by b antenna elements in a first array 11 of antenna elements into 2a signals; b signals from 2b signals and a signals from 2a signals correspond to one of two different polarization directions b of the antenna elements; the other b signals and the other a signals correspond to one of the two other polarization directions b of the antenna elements, where b and a are integers greater than 1, and a is less than or equal to b;

The active module 13 may include: a pair of transmit reception channels 131 and a signal processor 132.

Each of a pair of receive-transmit channels 131 corresponds to two signals in two different polarization directions from 2a signals, and each pair of receive-transmit channels 131 is configured to receive two signals in two different polarization directions in 2a signals; and

The signal processor 132 is configured to perform frequency conversion on the signals received by a pair of transmission reception channels 131 and the signals received by at least one pair of reception channels.

In particular, the first combining-separation network 12 may be composed of existing from two combining-separation networks from a to b or composed of one combining-separation network from 2a to 2b. The signal received by each antenna element in the first array of 11 antenna elements in one direction of polarization can be entered into the first block 12 Association-separation as a single signal. Thus, in the first array 11 of antenna elements, a total of 2b signals are input into the first combining-separation unit 12. In 2b signals, the b signals correspond to one of two different polarization directions b of the antenna elements, and the other b signals correspond to one of two different polarization directions b of the antenna elements. After receiving 2b signals, the first combining-separation unit 12 can combine b signals in one direction of polarization from 2b signals into a signals and produce a signals, and combine the other b signals in another direction of polarization from 2b signals into other a signals and give other a signals . Thus, in 2a signals obtained as a result of combining by the first combining-separation unit 12, a signals correspond to one of two different polarization directions b of antenna elements, and the other a signals correspond to one of two different polarization directions b of antenna elements, where a and b - integers greater than 1, a less than b, and the ratio of a to b is not a fixed value and can be determined taking into account a compromise between performance indices (such as coverage performance and gain) of the antennas s and the cost of implementation.

Thus, a pair of receive-transmit channels 131 can be set. Each transmit / receive channel 131 is configured to receive one signal in 2a signals. Thus, transmission channels 131 need to be set in pairs. Each pair of transmission reception channels 131 corresponds to two signals in two different polarization directions of 2a signals, and each pair of transmission reception channels 131 is configured to receive two signals in two different polarization directions of 2a signals. Thus, a pair of transmission reception channels 131 can be set. Each of the pairs of transmit-receive channels 131 includes a transmit-receive channel in the polarization direction M, expressed as TRX_M, and a transmit-receive channel in the polarization direction D, expressed as TRX_D, where the polarization direction M and the polarization direction D are two different directions polarization of the signals received by each antenna element in the first array of 11 antenna elements. Thus, the pairs of transmission reception channels 131 may be: TRX_M1 and TRX_D1, TRX_M2 and TRX_D2, ..., TRX_Ma and TRX_Da.

Each of a pair of transmit-receive channels 131 receives two signals obtained by combining with the first combining-separation unit 12, and then enters them into the signal processor 132 to perform frequency conversion on the signals to obtain baseband signals. It should be noted that the transmit-receive channel 131 mentioned here may be an existing transmit-receive channel, and the existing transmit-receive channel 131 may perform analog-to-digital conversion and down-conversion on the received signal to obtain an intermediate frequency signal. Thus, in this embodiment, the signal inputted by the transmit / receive channel 131 to the signal processor 132 may be an intermediate frequency signal. Signal processor 132 may further convert the frequency of the received intermediate frequency signal to obtain a baseband signal. After processing by the signal processor 132, finally, two baseband signals are obtained in the polarization direction M and the polarization direction D.

In conclusion, a pair of receive-transmit channels 131 in the active module 13 in the first antenna device can receive signals in two polarization directions b of the antenna elements; and the signal processor 132 may process the signals issued by a pair of transmit / receive channels 131 to obtain two baseband signals in two directions of polarization. Thus, the increase in reception performance achieved by the first array 11 of antenna elements, the first combining-separation unit 12 and a pair of transmit-receive channels 131 and the signal processor 132 in the active module 13, can be regarded as an increase in the reception performance of 2 channels (each channel corresponds to one direction of polarization b of antenna elements). Thus, the first array 11 of antenna elements, the first unit 12 combining separation and a pair of channels 131 of the reception-transmission and signal processor 132 in the active module 13 can achieve improved reception performance 2R (reception). Improving reception performance may be embodied in performance indices, such as terminal transmit power, system coverage, system bandwidth, and / or system signal to noise ratio.

In the antenna system provided in this embodiment, the second array of antenna elements 21 and the second combining-separation unit 22 in the second antenna device constitute the structure of the passive antenna. The second combining-separation unit 22 installed in the second antenna device combines the signals received by several antenna elements in the second array of antenna elements 21. In this embodiment, at least one pair of reception channels 3 is installed in every second antenna device in the antenna system. Each pair of reception channels 3 is configured to receive signals in two different polarization directions, the signals being combined by the second combining-separation unit 22, and then inputting the received signals to the active module 13 in the first antenna device to perform frequency conversion on the signals to receive the main signals stripes. In at least one pair of reception channels 3, signals can be received in two directions of polarization of several antenna elements in the second array of antenna elements 21, and the active module 13 can process the signals issued by at least one pair of reception channels 3 to obtain two main signals bands in two directions of polarization. Thus, the increase in reception performance achieved by the second array 21 of antenna elements, the second combining-separation unit 22, at least one pair of reception channels 3 and the active module 13 can be regarded as an increase in the reception performance of 2 channels (each channel corresponds to one direction of polarization several antenna elements in the second array of 21 antenna elements). Thus, the second array of antenna elements 21, the second combining-separation unit 22, at least one pair of reception channels 3 and the active module 13 can achieve 2R reception enhancement (reception). Thus, in the antenna system provided in this embodiment, the first array 11 of antenna elements, the first combining-separation unit 12, and the active module 13 in the first antenna device can achieve 2-channel reception performance enhancement. The second array 21 of antenna elements 21, the second combining-separation unit 22 and at least one pair of reception channels 3 in the second antenna device and the active module 13 in the first antenna device can achieve improved reception performance with 2 channels. Thus, the antenna system provided in this embodiment can achieve improved reception performance with 4 channels or more, namely, improved reception performance of 4R or more.

It should be noted that the signals received by the antenna system usually have multiple paths, and there is mutual interference between the multiple paths. It is assumed that the signals received by the antenna system have 4 paths. If only the first antenna device can implement reception with 2 channels (each channel corresponds to one polarization direction b of the antenna elements), then each channel of the first antenna device corresponds to signals on 2 paths, and there is interference between the signals of these two paths, which degrades the system performance indices, such as signal to noise ratio.

In the antenna system provided in this embodiment, based on the case in which the first antenna device can realize reception with 2 channels, the second array of antenna elements 21 and the second combining-separation unit 22 in the second antenna device, at least one pair of channels 3 the reception and the active module 13 in the first antenna device can implement reception with 2 channels (each channel corresponds to one direction of polarization of several antenna elements in the second array of antenna elements 21). It is assumed that the signals received by the antenna system have 4 paths. Each channel implemented by the first antenna device, the second antenna device, at least one pair of reception channels 3, and each channel implemented by the active module 13 in the first antenna device should correspond to only 1 path signals, which improves system performance indices, such as the ratio signal to noise. Obviously, with a large number of channels implemented by the antenna system, a greater increase in system reception performance is achieved.

The above description illustrates the increase in reception performance with 4 or more channels, achieved here compared to the existing increase in reception performance with 2 channels, if we take as an example the signal-to-noise ratio of the system. In fact, compared to receiving with 2 channels, receiving with 4 channels or more can achieve lower terminal transmit power, better system coverage and greater system capacity, which is not described in detail here.

As a practical implementation method, the second combining-separation unit 22 may be an existing combining-separation network applied to passive antennas. An association-separation network is commonly referred to as a passive association-separation network. A passive combining-separation network can combine the signals received by several antenna elements in the second array of 21 antenna elements into two signals, each of which corresponds to one direction of polarization of several antenna elements in the second array of 21 antenna elements. For example, if each antenna element in the second array of antenna elements 21 receives signals in two directions of polarization, and these two directions of polarization are an angle a + 45 ° and a -45 ° relative to the horizontal plane, then the second combining-separation unit 22 can combine the signals received by antenna elements with a direction of polarization of + 45 ° relative to the horizontal plane, among all antenna elements in the second array of 21 antenna elements into one signal and combine the signals received by antenna antennas ments with the direction of polarization of -45 ° relative to the horizontal plane, among all the antenna elements in the second array of antenna elements 21 in the other signal.

In such an implementation scenario, every second antenna device may correspond to one pair of receive channels 3. One reception channel 3 in a pair of reception channels 3 is configured to receive 1 path of signals received as a result of combining by the second combining-separation unit 22, and one signal may be, for example, one signal obtained as a result of combining the signals received by the antenna elements in the direction of polarization + 45 ° relative to the horizontal plane, among all antenna elements in the second array of 21 antenna elements. Another reception channel 3 is configured to receive another one signal obtained as a result of combining by the second combining-separation unit 22, and one signal may be, for example, one signal obtained as a result of combining the signals received by antenna elements in the direction of polarization of -45 ° relative to the horizontal plane, among all antenna elements in the second array of 21 antenna elements.

A pair of receiving channels 3 may introduce the received signals into the active module 13 in the first antenna device to perform frequency conversion on the signals to obtain two baseband signals. Thus, the second array of antenna elements 21 and the second combining-separation unit 22 in each second antenna device, at least one pair of reception channels 3 and the active module 13 in the first antenna device can achieve improved reception performance with 2 channels, namely, increased productivity receiving 2R.

It should be noted that the reception channel 3 mentioned here may be an existing reception channel and the existing reception channel 3 may perform analog-to-digital conversion and down-conversion on the received signal to obtain an intermediate frequency signal. Thus, in this embodiment, the signal inputted by the reception channel 3 to the active module 13 may be an intermediate frequency signal. The signal processing part in the active module 13, for example, the signal processor 132 shown in FIG. 3, may perform additional frequency conversion on an intermediate frequency signal inputted by the reception channel 3 to obtain a baseband signal.

Obviously, in this scenario, a passive combining-separation network (namely, an existing combining-separation network applicable to passive antennas) can be installed in a second antenna device, and one pair of receive channels 3 is installed in every second antenna device, and thus a second array of 21 antenna elements in every second antenna device, a passive combining-separation network, a pair of receiving channels 3 and an active module 13 in the first antenna device can achieve improved reception performance with 2 channels and. In the antenna system provided in this embodiment, one or more second antenna devices may be installed. Thus, at least one second antenna device and the first antenna device can achieve improved reception performance with 4 channels or more, namely, improved reception performance of 4R or more.

As another practical implementation method, the second combining-separation unit 22 may use combining-separation components similar to those from the first combining-separation unit 12 in the first antenna device. For example, the second combining-separation network 22 may be composed of existing combining-separation networks from 2m to n or composed of one combining-separation network from 2m to 2n. It is assumed that the second array of antenna elements 21 includes n antenna elements, and the signal received by each antenna element can be input into the second combining-separation unit 22 as a single signal. Thus, in the second array 21 of antenna elements, a total of 2n signals are input to the second combining-separation unit 22. In 2n signals, n signals correspond to one of two different polarization directions of n antenna elements, and the other n signals correspond to one of two different polarization directions of n antenna elements. After receiving 2n signals, the second combining-separation unit 22 combines n signals in one polarization direction in 2n signals in m signals and provides m signals, and combines the other n signals in another polarization direction into other m signals and generates other m signals. Thus, in 2m signals obtained as a result of combining by the second combining-separation unit 22, m signals correspond to one of two different polarization directions of n antenna elements, and the other m signals correspond to one of two different polarization directions of n antenna elements, where m and n - integers greater than 1, m less than n, and the ratio of m to n is not a fixed value and can be determined taking into account a compromise between the performance indices (such as coverage performance and gain) of the antennas s and the cost of implementation.

It should be noted that the number of antenna elements included in the first array 11 of antenna elements is usually the same as the number of antenna elements included in the second array 21 of antenna elements, namely n is usually equal to b, but m may be the same or different from a.

In this scenario, each receive channel 3 is configured to receive one signal in 2m signals. Thus, the reception channels 3 must be installed in pairs. Each pair of reception channels 3 corresponds to two signals in two different polarization directions in 2m signals, and each pair of reception channels 3 is configured to receive two signals in two different polarization directions in 2m signals. Thus, in each second antenna device can be installed m pairs of channels 3 of the reception. Each of the m pairs of reception channels 3 includes a reception channel in the polarization direction M, expressed as RX_M, and a reception channel in the polarization direction D, expressed as RX_D. m pairs of receive channels can be: RX_M1 and RX_D1, RX_M2 and RX_D2, ..., RX_Mm and RX_Dm.

Each of the m pairs of reception channels 3 receives two signals obtained as a result of combining by the second combining-separation unit 22, and then enters them into the active module 13 in the first antenna device to perform frequency conversion on the signals to obtain baseband signals. The reception channel 3 may be an existing reception channel, and the existing reception channel 3 may perform analog-to-digital conversion and down-conversion on the received signal to obtain an intermediate frequency signal. Thus, in this embodiment, the signal inputted by the reception channel 3 to the active module 13 may be an intermediate frequency signal. The signal processing part in the active module 13, for example, the signal processor 132 shown in FIG. 3 may perform additional frequency conversion on the intermediate frequency signals inputted by the reception channel 3 to obtain two baseband signals in the polarization direction M and in the polarization direction D.

The optionally active module 13 is further configured to perform beamforming on the signals combined by the first combining-separation unit 12 and the signals received by at least one pair of reception channels 3. The active module 13 may use various existing methods to perform beamforming on signals combined by the first combining-separation unit 12 and signals received by at least one pair of reception channels 3, for example, performing beamforming in the analog domain or performing beamforming focus in the digital field.

Obviously, in this scenario, the second combining unit 22 (composed of two combining-separation networks from m to n or composed of one combining-separation network from 2m to 2n) and m pairs of reception channels 3 can be installed in the second antenna device, and Thus, the second array of 21 antenna elements in each second antenna device, the combining-separation network from m to n, m pairs of reception channels 3 and the active module 13 in the first antenna device can achieve improved reception performance with 2 channels. In the antenna system provided in this embodiment, one or more second antenna devices may be installed. Thus, at least one second antenna device and the first antenna device can achieve improved reception performance with 4 channels or more, namely, improved reception performance of 4R or more.

Through the antenna system provided in this embodiment, in the antenna system composed of an array of active antenna elements and an array of passive antenna elements, the combining-separation unit combines the signals received by the array of passive antenna elements in different polarization directions and at least one channel pair The reception is used to receive signals, and then frequency conversion is performed on the signals received by the reception channels to obtain baseband signals. In the antenna system, signals are received in different directions of polarization in an array of passive antenna elements, and frequency conversion is performed on the signals. Thus, an antenna system composed of an array of active antenna elements and an array of passive antenna elements can achieve an increase in reception performance with 4 channels or more, namely, achieve an increase in reception performance of 4R or more, thereby increasing the increase in system reception performance.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an antenna system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the existing combining-separation network applied to the passive antennas is installed in the second antenna device, namely, the passive combining-separation network and one pair of reception channels are installed in every second antenna device, and thus, the second array of 21 antenna elements in each the second antenna device, a passive combining-separation network, a pair of reception channels 3 and an active module 13 in the first antenna device can achieve improved reception performance with 2 channels, as described in detail below.

In this scenario, the second combining-separation unit 22 is, in particular, configured to: combine the signals received by several antenna elements in the second array of antenna elements 21 into two signals, each of which corresponds to one direction of polarization of several antenna elements in the second antenna array 21 elements.

In accordance with this, every second antenna device corresponds to one pair of reception channels 3 and is configured to receive two signals obtained as a result of combining by the second combining-separation unit 22.

The second combining-separation unit 22 may be an existing passive combining-separation network. A passive combining-separation network can combine the signals received by several antenna elements in the second array of 21 antenna elements into two signals, each of which corresponds to one direction of polarization of several antenna elements in the second array of 21 antenna elements. It is assumed that in the second array of antenna elements 21, each antenna element receives signals in the direction of polarization M and in the direction of polarization D. The second combining-separation unit 22 can combine the signals received in the direction of polarization M with all antenna elements in the second array of 21 antenna elements, one signal and combine the signals received in the direction of polarization D by all antenna elements in the second array of antenna elements 21 into another signal. In such an implementation scenario, the second antenna device may correspond to one pair of receive channels 3. One reception channel 3 in a pair of reception channels 3 is configured to receive one signal obtained by combining with the second combining-separation unit 22, and one signal may be, for example, one signal obtained by combining the signals received in the polarization direction M corresponding antenna elements in the second array of 21 antenna elements. Another receiving channel 3 is configured to receive another one signal obtained as a result of combining by the second combining-separation unit 22, and 1 signal path may be, for example, one signal obtained as a result of combining the signals received in the direction of polarization D by the corresponding antenna elements in the second array of 21 antenna elements.

One pair of receive channels 3 may be existing receive channels and may perform analog-to-digital conversion and down-conversion on the received signal to obtain an intermediate frequency signal. Thus, the signal inputted by the reception channel 3 to the active module 13 may be an intermediate frequency signal. The signal processing part in the active module 13, for example, the signal processor 132 shown in FIG. 3, can convert the frequency of the intermediate frequency signal inputted by the reception channel 3 to obtain two baseband signals. Thus, a second array of 21 antenna elements in every second antenna device, a passive combining-separation network, one pair of receiving channels 3 and an active module 13 in the first antenna device can achieve improved reception performance with 2 channels.

Based on the case in which a passive combining-separation network installed in every second antenna device and one corresponding pair of receiving channels 3 installed in every second antenna device realize 2R reception in two directions of polarization of the second array of antenna elements 21, the second antenna device can be connected as a passive antenna to modules such as an RRU unit.

Optionally, in this scenario, signals that are capable of being received by several antenna elements in the first array of 11 antenna elements can be set as signals of the first frequency range, and signals that are capable of being received by several antenna elements in the second array of antenna elements 21 can be set as signals of the second frequency range, the second frequency range including the first frequency range and has a wider coverage than the first frequency range.

The signal band received by the second array of antenna elements 21 includes a signal band received by the first array 11 of antenna elements. Thus, the signals of the first frequency range can be obtained by filtering two signals obtained as a result of combining by the second combining-separation unit 22, and outputting them into one pair of reception channels 3 for realizing 2R reception in two polarization directions of the second array of antenna elements 21. In the two signals received and issued as a result of combining by the second combining-separation unit 22, signals different from the signals of the first frequency range are provided to modules, such as the RRU unit, so that the second antenna device can serve as a passive antenna.

Accordingly, as a practical implementation method, as shown in FIG. 4, at least one first filter 23 can be installed in the second antenna device. At least one filter 23 can be installed between the second combining-separation unit and one pair of transmit-receive channels 3 and is configured to filter two signals received in as a result of combining by the second combining-separation unit 22, to obtain signals of the first frequency range, and to output signals of the first frequency range to one pair of reception channels 3 corresponding to the second antenna device.

Optionally, one first filter 23 may be installed, and two input ports and two output ports may be installed on each first filter 23. Each input port receives one signal obtained as a result of combining by the second combining-separation unit 22, and each output port is configured to input one signal obtained by filtering into the receiving channel 3.

Optionally, two first filters 23 can be installed, and an input port and an output port can be installed on each first filter 23 and configured to receive one signal obtained by combining with the second combining-separation unit 22 and input one signal obtained by filtering channel 3 reception.

In addition, at least one first filter 23 may provide all or part of the signals, except for signals of the first frequency range, from two signals obtained as a result of combining by the second combining-separation unit 22, the RRU unit, the RRU module, or the unallocated base station, so that the second antenna device can serve as a passive antenna.

As another practical implementation method, at least one second filter can be installed between the second array of antenna elements 21 and the second combining-separation unit 22 and is configured to filter the signals received by the n antenna elements to receive signals of the first frequency range and provide signals the first frequency band to the second block 22 Association-separation. The second filter may be an existing resonant filter.

Optionally, the number of second filters may be the same as the number of antenna elements. Thus, n second filters are installed, on each second filter two input ports and two output ports can be installed, and the second filters are configured to receive signals received in two directions of polarization by one antenna element in the second array of 21 antenna elements, filter received signals to receive signals of the first frequency range and to provide signals of the first frequency range to the second combining-separation unit 22 so that the signals of the first frequency range are combined by the second unit 22 about edineniya-separation.

Optionally, 2n second filters can be installed, and an input port and an output port can be installed on every second filter. Each second filter is configured to receive signals received in one direction of polarization by one antenna element in the second array of antenna elements 21, filter the received signals to receive signals of the first frequency range and provide signals of the first frequency range to the second combining-separation unit 22 so that the signals the first frequency range were combined by the second block 22 Association-separation.

Optionally, one second filter may be installed, and 2n input ports and 2n output ports may be installed on the second filter. The second filter is configured to receive signals received in two directions of polarization by n antenna elements, filter the received signals to receive signals of the first frequency range and provide signals of the first frequency range to the second combining-separation unit 22 so that the signals of the first frequency range are combined by the second unit 22 unification-separation.

Only a few optional methods for setting up a second filter are described above. It is understood that the number of second filters and the port settings of the second filters can be expressed by many other methods, but the methods described above should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

In addition, at least one second filter can provide all or part of the signals, except for the signals of the first frequency range, from the received signals so that the second antenna device can serve as a passive antenna. In this scenario, a third combining-separation unit may be installed in the second antenna device. The third combining-separation unit may be an existing passive combining-separation network, and the third combining-separation unit may combine all or part of the signals, except the signals of the first frequency range, from the signals issued by at least one second filter, into two signals, each of which can correspond to one direction of polarization of n antenna elements; the third combining-separation unit may provide two signals obtained as a result of combining to the RRU unit, the RRU module, or the unallocated base station so that the second antenna device can serve as a passive antenna.

Optionally, the antenna system may also include: a remote radio unit (not illustrated in the figure). The remote radio unit is configured to receive all or part of the signals, except for signals of the first frequency range, from two signals issued by the first filter 23 or the third combining-separation unit, to perform frequency conversion on the received two signals, to receive two signals of the main band, and send signals a baseband to a baseband unit via a digital interface.

Through the antenna system provided in this embodiment, a passive combining-separation network is installed in every second antenna device, and one pair of reception channels is installed on every second antenna device to implement 2R reception in two directions of polarization of the second array of antenna elements and achieve improved reception performance 4R or more. In addition, in this embodiment, signals that are capable of being received by several antenna elements in a first array of antenna elements can be set as signals of a first frequency range, and signals that are capable of being received by several antenna elements in a second array of antenna elements can be set as signals of a second frequency range, wherein the second frequency range includes a first frequency range and has a wider coverage than the first frequency range. At least one first filter is installed between the second combining-separation unit and one pair of receiving channels; the first filter is configured to filter two signals obtained as a result of combining by the second combining-separation unit to obtain signals of the first frequency range, and to output signals of the first frequency range to one pair of reception channels for realizing 2R reception on the signals of the first frequency range in two directions of polarization of the second array of antenna elements. In the two signals received and issued as a result of combining with the second combining-separation unit, all or part of the signals, except for signals of the first frequency range, can be issued to the RRU unit or the unallocated base station so that the second antenna device can serve as a passive antenna. Alternatively, at least one second filter may be installed between the second array of antenna elements and the second combining-separation unit, the second filter is configured to provide all or part of the signals, except signals of the first frequency range, from signals issued by several antenna elements, and then the signals are combined by the third combining-separation unit into two signals and issued to the RRU unit or the unallocated base station so that the second antenna device can serve as a passive antenna d.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an antenna system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, a scenario of this embodiment: in the second antenna device, a combining-separation network from m to n is installed, and each second antenna device has m pairs of receive channels for realizing 2R reception in two polarization directions of the second array of antenna elements, and thus a second array of 21 antenna elements in every second antenna device, a combining-separation network from m to n, m pairs of reception channels 3 and an active module 13 in the first antenna device can achieve improved reception performance with 2 channels.

In this scenario, the second combining-separation unit 22 is configured to combine 2n signals received by n antenna elements in the second array of antenna elements 21 into 2m signals; n signals from 2n signals and m signals from 2m signals correspond to one of two different polarization directions of n antenna elements; the other n signals and the other m signals correspond to one of two different polarization directions of n antenna elements, where n and m are integers greater than 1, and m is less than or equal to n.

Accordingly, in each second antenna device, m pairs of reception channels 3 can be installed, each pair of reception channels 3 correspond to two signals in two different polarization directions of 2m signals, and each pair of reception channels 3 is configured to receive two signals in two different directions of polarization from 2m signals.

The second combining-separation unit 22 may use combining-separation components similar to those from the first combining-separation unit 12 in the first antenna device. The second combining-separation network 22 may be composed of 2 existing m-n combining-separation networks or composed of an existing 2m to 2n combining-separation network. It is assumed that the second array of antenna elements 21 includes n antenna elements, and the signal received by each antenna element in one direction of polarization can be input into the second combining-separation unit 22 as one signal. Thus, in the second array 21 of antenna elements, a total of 2n signals are input to the second combining-separation unit 22. In 2n signals, n signals correspond to one of two different polarization directions of n antenna elements, and the other n signals correspond to one of two different polarization directions of n antenna elements. After receiving 2n signals, the second combining-separation unit 22 combines n signals in one polarization direction into m signals and outputs m signals and combines other n signals in another polarization direction into other m signals and gives other m signals, where m and n are integers greater than 1, m is less than n, and the ratio of m to n is not a fixed value and can be determined taking into account the trade-off between the antenna performance indices and implementation costs.

Each reception channel 3 is configured to receive one signal in 2m signals. Thus, the reception channels 3 must be installed in pairs. Each pair of reception channels 3 corresponds to two signals in two different polarization directions of 2m signals, and each pair of reception channels 3 is configured to receive two signals in two different polarization directions of 2m signals. Thus, in each second antenna device, m pairs of reception channels 3 can be set. Each of the m pairs of reception channels 3 includes a reception channel in the polarization direction M, expressed as RX_M, and a reception channel in the polarization direction D, expressed as RX_D. m pairs of receive channels are: RX_M1 and RX_D1, RX_M2 and RX_D2, ..., RX_Mm and RX_Dm.

Each of the m pairs of reception channels 3 represents the existing reception channels and can perform analog-to-digital conversion and down-conversion on the received signal to obtain an intermediate frequency signal. Thus, the signal inputted by the reception channel 3 to the active module 13 may be an intermediate frequency signal. The signal processing part in the active module 13, for example, the signal processor 132 shown in FIG. 3, may perform additional frequency conversion on the intermediate frequency signals inputted by the reception channel 3 to obtain two baseband signals.

In this scenario, in every second antenna device, 2 combining-separation networks from m to n or a combining-separation network from 2m to 2n are installed, and in each second antenna device m pairs of reception channels 3 are installed to realize 2R reception in two directions of polarization of the second array 21 antenna elements. The second array of 21 antenna elements in the second antenna device, the combining-separation network from m to n, m pairs of reception channels 3 and the active module 13 in the first antenna device can achieve improved reception performance with 2 channels.

As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the second antenna device may serve as a passive antenna, for example, by connecting to an RRU unit or an unallocated base station.

Optionally, in this scenario, signals that are capable of being received by several antenna elements in the first array of antenna elements 11 can be set as signals of the first frequency range, and signals that are capable of being received by several antenna elements in the second array of antenna elements 21 can be set as signals of a second frequency range, wherein the second frequency range includes a first frequency range and has a wider coverage than the first frequency range. The signal band received by the second array of antenna elements 21 includes a signal band received by the first array 11 of antenna elements. Thus, the signals of the first frequency range from the signals issued by each antenna element in the second array of antenna elements 21 can be obtained by filtering, and the signals of the first frequency range are input to the second combining-separation unit 22, and thus, all 2n signals, input to the second combining-separation unit 22 are located in the first frequency range, and all 2m signals obtained as a result of combining the second combining-separation unit 22 are also located in the first frequency range, thereby realizing yn 2R reception in two directions of polarization of the second array 21 of antenna elements. In addition, all or part of the signals, except the signals of the first frequency range, from the signals issued by each antenna element in the second array of antenna elements 21, can be issued to the RRU unit, RRU module, or unallocated base station so that the second antenna device can serve as a passive antenna.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, as a practical implementation method, at least one second filter 24 can be installed in the second antenna device and configured to filter the signals received by the n antenna elements to receive signals of the first frequency range and to provide signals of the first frequency range to the second combining unit 22 separation. The second filter 24 may be an existing resonant filter.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 5, the number of second filters 24 may be equal to the number of antenna elements in the second array of antenna elements 21. Thus, n second filters are installed, on each second filter two input ports and two output ports can be installed, and the second filters are configured to receive signals received in two directions of polarization by one antenna element in the second array of 21 antenna elements, filter received signals to receive signals of the first frequency range and to provide signals of the first frequency range to the second combining-separation unit 22 so that the signals of the first frequency range are combined by the second unit 22 about edineniya-separation.

Optionally, 2n second filters 24 can be installed, and an input port and an output port can be installed on every second filter 24. Each second filter 24 is configured to receive signals received in one direction of polarization by one antenna element in the second antenna element 21, filter the received signals to receive signals of the first frequency range and provide signals of the first frequency range to the second combining-separation unit 22 so that the signals the first frequency range were combined by the second block 22 Association-separation.

Optionally, one second filter 24 may be installed, and 2n input ports and 2n output ports may be installed on the second filter 24. The second filter is configured to receive signals received in two directions of polarization by n antenna elements, filter the received signals to receive signals of the first frequency range and provide signals of the first frequency range to the second combining-separation unit 22 so that the signals of the first frequency range are combined by the second unit 22 unification-separation.

Only a few optional methods for setting up a second filter are described above. It is clear that the number of second filters and the port settings of the second filters can be expressed by many other methods, which are not described in detail here.

In addition, at least one second filter 24 is further configured to: provide all or part of the signals, except the signals of the first frequency range, from the received signals.

Optionally, a third combiner-separation unit 25 may be installed in the second antenna device. The third combining-separation unit 25 is configured to combine all or part of the signals, except the signals of the first frequency range, from the signals issued by at least one second filter 24, into two signals, which are then issued to the RRU unit, the RRU module, or the unallocated base station. Each of the two signals corresponds to one polarization direction n of the antenna elements so that the second antenna device can serve as a passive antenna.

As another practical implementation method, at least one second filter 24 can be installed in the second antenna device and configured to filter 2m signals obtained by combining with the second combining-separation unit 22 to obtain signals of the first frequency range, and output signals of the first frequency range m pairs of channels 3 reception.

Optionally, the number of second filters 24 may be equal to m, and on each second filter 24 two input ports and two output ports can be installed. The second filter is configured to receive two signals in different polarization directions from 2m signals obtained as a result of combining by the second combining-separation unit 22, filter the received signals to receive signals of the first frequency range and provide signals of the first frequency range to one pair of reception channels 3 in m pairs 3 channels of reception.

Optionally, 2m of second filters 24 can be installed, and one input port and one output port can be installed on every second filter 24. The second filter is configured to receive one signal in 2m signals obtained as a result of combining by the second combining-separation unit 22, filter the received signals to receive signals of the first frequency range and provide signals of the first frequency range to one reception channel 3 in m pairs of reception channels 3.

Optionally, one second filter 24 may be installed, and 2m input ports and 2m output ports may be installed on the second filter 24. The second filter is configured to receive 2m signals obtained as a result of combining by the second combining-separation unit 22, filter the received signals to obtain signals of the first frequency range and to provide signals of the first frequency range m to the pairs of reception channels 3.

Only a few optional methods for setting up a second filter are described above. It is clear that the number of second filters and the port settings of the second filters can be expressed by many other methods, which are not described in detail here.

In addition, in this scenario, at least one second filter 24 is further configured to: provide all or part of the signals, except for signals of the first frequency range, from 2m signals obtained as a result of combining by the second combining-separation unit 22.

Optionally, a third combiner-separation unit 25 may be installed in the second antenna device. The third combining-separation unit 25 is configured to combine all or part of the signals, except the signals of the first frequency range, from 2m signals issued by at least one second filter 24, into two signals, which are then issued to the RRU unit, the RRU module, or the unallocated base station so that the second antenna device can serve as a passive antenna.

Optionally, the antenna system may further include: a remote radio unit (not illustrated in the figure). The remote radio unit is configured to receive all or part of the signals, except the signals of the first frequency range, from two signals issued by the third combining-separation unit 25, to perform frequency conversion on the received two signals to receive two signals of the main band and to send signals of the main band to the main band block frequencies through the digital interface.

Through the antenna system provided in this embodiment, in each second antenna device, 2 combinational-separation networks from m to n or a combinational-separation network from 2m to 2n can be installed, and m pairs of receive channels are installed in each second antenna device for implementation receiving in two directions the polarization of the second array of antenna elements and achieving improved reception performance of 4R or more. In addition, in this embodiment, signals that are capable of being received by several antenna elements in a first array of antenna elements can be set as signals of a first frequency range, and signals that are capable of being received by several antenna elements in a second array of antenna elements can be set as signals of a second frequency range, wherein the second frequency range includes a first frequency range and has a wider coverage than the first frequency range. At least one second filter is installed between the second array of antenna elements and the second combining-separation unit, or at least one second filter is installed between the second combining-separation unit and a receiving channel for filtering the signals received by each antenna element in the second array of antenna elements, or signals issued by the second combining-separation unit to obtain signals of the first frequency range in order to realize 2R reception on the signals of the first frequency range in two directions of polarization and a second array of antenna elements. In addition, the signals on the bands, in addition to the signals of the first frequency range, from the signals received by at least one second filter, can be issued and combined by the third combining-separation unit to obtain two signals, which are then issued to the RRU unit, the RRU module, or the unallocated base stations so that the second antenna device can serve as a passive antenna.

The embodiments shown in FIG. 2-5, deal with a scenario in which an antenna system includes one second antenna device. In the case where the antenna system includes several second antenna devices, for the structure and function of each second antenna device, reference should be made to the description in the aforementioned embodiments.

In addition, in an embodiment of the present invention, a base station system is provided. The base station system includes an antenna system. The antenna system includes: a first antenna device, at least one second antenna device and at least one pair of receive channels.

The first antenna device includes: a first array of antenna elements, a first combining-separation unit and an active module; the second antenna device includes: a second array of antenna elements and a second combining-separation unit.

The first array of antenna elements includes several antenna elements, and the same applies to the second array of antenna elements, the antenna elements being configured to receive and transmit signals in two different polarization directions.

The first combining-separation unit is configured to combine signals in two different polarization directions, the signals being received by several antenna elements in the first array of antenna elements.

The active module is configured to receive signals combined by the first combining-separation unit and perform frequency conversion on signals combined by the first combining-separation unit in two different polarization directions to receive baseband signals.

The second combining-separation unit is configured to combine signals in two different polarization directions, the signals being received by several antenna elements in a second array of antenna elements.

Each second antenna device corresponds to at least one pair of reception channels, and at least one pair of reception channels is configured to receive signals combined by a second combining-separation unit in two different polarization directions.

The active module is further configured to perform frequency conversion on signals received by at least one pair of receive channels to receive baseband signals.

As a practical implementation method, the second combining-separation unit is configured to combine 2n signals received by n antenna elements in the second array of antenna elements into two signals, n signals of 2n signals corresponding to one of two different polarization directions, other n signals corresponding to one from two different directions of polarization, and each of the two signals corresponds to one direction of polarization, where n is an integer greater than 1.

Each second antenna device can correspond to one pair of reception channels and is configured to receive two signals obtained as a result of combining with a second combining-separation unit.

Optionally, signals received by several antenna elements in a first array of antenna elements can be located in a first frequency range, and signals received by several antenna elements in a second array of antenna elements can be located in a second frequency range, the second frequency range including the first frequency range and has a wider coverage than the first frequency range.

Optionally, at least one first filter may be installed in the second antenna device and configured to filter two signals obtained by combining with the second combining-separation unit to obtain signals of the first frequency band and to output signals of the first frequency band to one pair of receive channels corresponding to second antenna device.

At least one first filter is further configured to provide all or part of the signals, except for the signals of the first frequency range, from two signals obtained as a result of combining by the second combining-separation unit.

Optionally, a base station system provided in this embodiment may further include:

remote radio unit, configured to receive all or part of two signals issued by at least one first filter in the antenna system, perform frequency conversion on the received two signals to receive two signals of the main band and send the signals of the main band to the block of the main frequency band via a digital interface .

Optionally, a base station system provided in this embodiment may further include:

an unallocated base station, configured to receive all or part of two signals issued by at least one first filter in the antenna system, perform frequency conversion on the received two signals to receive two baseband signals and send baseband signals to the baseband unit via digital interface.

As a practical implementation method, the second combining-separation unit is further configured to combine 2n signals received by n antenna elements in the second array of antenna elements into 2m signals, n signals from 2n signals corresponding to one of two different polarization directions, other n signals correspond one of two different directions of polarization, m signals from 2m signals correspond to one of two different directions of polarization, the other m signals correspond to one of two different directions polarizations, where n and m are integers greater than 1, and m is less than or equal to n;

Each second antenna device corresponds to m pairs of reception channels 3, each pair of reception channels can correspond to two signals in two different polarization directions of 2m signals, and each pair of reception channels is configured to receive two signals in two different polarization directions of 2m signals.

Optionally, signals received by several antenna elements in a first array of antenna elements can be located in a first frequency range, and signals received by several antenna elements in a second array of antenna elements can be located in a second frequency range, the second frequency range including the first frequency range and has a wider coverage than the first frequency range.

At least one second filter may be installed in the second antenna device and configured to filter the signals received by the n antenna elements to obtain a signal of the first frequency range and to provide signals of the first frequency range to the second combining-separation unit. Alternatively, at least one second filter may be installed in the second antenna device and configured to filter 2m of the signals obtained by combining with the second combining-separation unit to obtain signals of the first frequency range and provide signals of the first frequency range to m channel pairs reception.

Optionally, at least one second filter is further configured to provide all or part of the signals, except the signals of the first frequency range, from the received signals.

Optionally, a third combining-separation unit may be installed in the second antenna device and configured to combine all or part of the signals, except the signals of the first frequency range, from the signals issued by at least one second filter into two signals, each of which corresponds to one direction polarization.

In this scenario, the remote radio unit installed in the base station system is additionally configured to receive all or part of two signals issued by the third combining-separation unit in the antenna system, and two signals obtained by combining all or part of the signals except the signals of the first frequency range.

In this embodiment, the unallocated base station installed in the base station system is further configured to receive all or part of the two signals issued by the third combining-separation unit, perform frequency conversion on the received two signals to receive two baseband signals, and send baseband signals bands to the block of the main frequency band through a digital interface.

For the detailed structure and functions of the antenna system included in the base station system provided in this embodiment, see the embodiment of the antenna system described above; for a detailed connection method between the antenna system and the RRU unit, see the corresponding description in the embodiment of the antenna system.

Through the base station system provided in this embodiment, in an antenna system composed of an array of active antenna elements and an array of passive antenna elements, the combining-separation unit combines the signals received by the array of passive antenna elements and at least one pair of reception channels is used for receiving signals combined by the combining unit in different directions of polarization in an array of passive antenna elements, and then the signals are converted over the signals received by the receiving channels Frequency to receive baseband signals. In the antenna system, signals are received in different directions of polarization in an array of passive antenna elements, and frequency conversion is performed on the signals. Thus, an antenna system composed of an array of active antenna elements and an array of passive antenna elements in a base station system can achieve an increase in reception performance with 4 channels or more, namely, an increase in reception performance of 4R or more, thereby increasing the increase in system reception performance . In addition, an array of passive antenna elements can serve as a passive antenna to meet the requirements in various application scenarios.

In addition, an embodiment of the present invention provides a communication system, and the system includes any base station system described above.

It is understood that the above-described reception method with 4 channels or the method of obtaining with more than 4 channels can be properly changed to implement transmission with 4 channels or transmission with more than 4 channels. For example, in the implementation of the reception method, the signal separation function of the first filter or the second filter, the signal separation function of the second combining-separation unit, or the signal combination function of the third combining-separation unit are used. Thus, the corresponding change may include: changing the corresponding receive channel to the transmit and receive channel using the signal combination function of the first filter or the second filter, the signal combination function of the second combining-separation unit and / or the signal splitting function of the third combining-separation unit . Other changes may apply. Since the transmission process is usually the inverse process with respect to the reception process, the structure and implementation method can mutually refer to each other between the transmission process and the reception process, and are not repeated here.

Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps of a method defined in any embodiment of the present invention may be implemented by a program giving instructions to the appropriate hardware. The program may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium. When the program is executed, the program executes the steps of the method defined above in any embodiment. The storage medium may be any medium capable of storing program codes, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or a CD-ROM. The components and / or devices mentioned herein may be physically self-contained or integrated together. For example, the second combining-separation unit and the first filter may physically be the same combining-separation network, or the second filter and the second combining-separation unit may be the same combining-separation network.

In conclusion, it should be noted that embodiments of the present invention are intended to describe the technical solution of the present invention, and not limitation of the present invention. Although the present invention is described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can make modifications to the technical solution described in the above-mentioned embodiments or make replacements of some technical features without departing from the essence and scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims (15)

1. An antenna system comprising a first antenna device, at least one second antenna device and at least one pair of receive channels, in which:
the first antenna device comprises a first array of antenna elements, a first combining-separation unit and an active module; the second antenna device comprises a second array of antenna elements and a second combining-separation unit;
each first array of antenna elements and the second array of antenna elements contains a plurality of antenna elements, the antenna elements being configured to receive and transmit signals in two different polarization directions;
the first combining-separation unit is configured to combine signals in two different polarization directions, the signals being received by a plurality of antenna elements in a first array of antenna elements;
the active module is configured to receive signals combined by the first combining-separation unit in two different polarization directions, and to perform frequency conversion on the signals combined by the first combining-separation unit to receive baseband signals;
the second combining-separation unit is configured to combine signals in two different polarization directions, the signals being received by a plurality of antenna elements in a second array of antenna elements;
each of at least one second antenna device corresponds to at least one pair of reception channels, and at least one pair of reception channels is configured to receive signals combined by a second combining-separation unit in two different polarization directions; and
the active module is further configured to perform frequency conversion on signals received by at least one pair of reception channels to receive baseband signals. 2. The antenna system according to claim 1, in which
the second combining-separation unit, in particular, is configured to combine 2n signals received by n antenna elements in the second array of antenna elements into two signals, wherein n signals from 2n signals correspond to one of two different directions of polarization, the other n signals correspond to the other of two different directions of polarization, and each of the two signals corresponds to one of two different directions of polarization, where n is an integer greater than 1; and
each at least one second antenna device corresponds to one pair of reception channels and is configured to receive two signals obtained as a result of combining with a second combining-separation unit. 3. The antenna system according to claim 2, in which
the signals received by the plurality of antenna elements in the first array of antenna elements are located in the first frequency range, and the signals received by the plurality of antenna elements in the second array of antenna elements are located in the second frequency range, the second frequency range containing the first frequency range and has a wider coverage than the first frequency range;
the second antenna device further comprises at least one first filter, which is configured to filter two signals obtained by combining with the second combining-separation unit to obtain signals of the first frequency range and to provide signals of the first frequency range to a pair of reception channels corresponding to the second antenna device . 4. The antenna system of claim 3, wherein the at least one first filter is further configured to provide all or part of the signals, except for signals of the first frequency range, from two signals obtained as a result of combining by the second combining-separation unit. 5. The antenna system according to claim 1, in which
the second combining-separation unit, in particular, is configured to combine 2n signals received by n antenna elements in the second array of antenna elements into 2m signals, wherein n signals in 2n signals correspond to one of two different polarization directions, the other n signals correspond to the other of two different directions of polarization, m signals in 2m signals correspond to one of two different directions of polarization, the other m signals correspond to the other of two different directions of polarization, where n and m are integers Lamy greater than 1 and m is less than or equal to n; and
each at least one second antenna device corresponds to m pairs of reception channels, each pair of reception channels corresponds to two signals in two different polarization directions in 2m signals, and each pair of reception channels is configured to receive two signals in two different polarization directions in 2m signals. 6. The antenna system according to claim 2 or 5, in which
the signals received by the plurality of antenna elements in the first array of antenna elements are located in the first frequency range, and the signals received by the plurality of antenna elements in the second array of antenna elements are located in the second frequency range, the second frequency range containing the first frequency range and has a wider coverage than the first frequency range; and
the second antenna device further comprises at least one second filter configured to filter 2n signals received by n antenna elements to receive signals of the first frequency range and to provide signals of the first frequency range to the second combining-separation unit. 7. The antenna system according to claim 5, in which
the signals received by n antenna elements in the first array of antenna elements are located in the first frequency range, and the signals received by n antenna elements in the second array of antenna elements are located in the second frequency range, the second frequency range containing the first frequency range and has a wider coverage than the first frequency range; and
the second antenna device further comprises at least one second filter, configured to filter the signals of the first frequency range from 2m signals obtained as a result of combining by the second combining-separation unit, and to provide signals of the first frequency range to m pairs of reception channels. 8. The antenna system of claim 6, wherein the at least one second filter is further configured to provide all or part of the signals, except the signals of the first frequency range, from the received signals. 9. The antenna system according to claim 8, in which the second antenna device further comprises a third combining-separation unit, configured to combine all or part of the signals, except the signals of the first frequency range, from the signals issued by at least one second filter into two signal, and each of the two signals corresponds to one of two different directions of polarization. 10. The antenna system according to claim 1, in which
the first combining-separation unit is configured to combine 2b signals received by b antenna elements in the first array of antenna elements into 2a signals, wherein b signals in 2b signals correspond to one of two different polarization directions, the other b signals correspond to the other of two different polarization directions , a signals in 2a signals correspond to one of two different directions of polarization, the other a signals correspond to the other of two different directions of polarization, where b and a are integers greater than 1, and a is less than il equal to b;
the active module includes a pair of transmit-receive channels and a signal processor;
each of a pair of transmit-receive channels corresponds to two signals in two different polarization directions from 2a signals, and each pair of transmit-receive channels is configured to receive two signals in two different polarization directions in 2a signals; and
the signal processor is configured to perform frequency conversion on the signals received by the pairs of reception and transmission channels and the signals received by at least one pair of reception channels to obtain baseband signals, respectively. 11. The antenna system according to claim 1, in which
the active module is further configured to perform beamforming on signals combined by the first combining-separation unit and signals received by at least one pair of receive channels. 12. A base station system comprising an antenna system as defined in claim 1. 13. The base station system of claim 12, further comprising
remote radio unit, configured to receive all or part of two signals issued by at least one first filter in the antenna system, to perform frequency conversion on the received two signals to receive two signals of the main band and send signals of the main band to the block of the main frequency band via digital interface;
or configured to receive all or part of two signals issued by the third combining-separation unit, perform frequency conversion on the received two signals to receive two baseband signals, and send baseband signals to the baseband unit via a digital interface. 14. The base station system of claim 13, further comprising
an unallocated base station, configured to receive all or part of two signals issued by at least one first filter in the antenna system, to perform frequency conversion on the received two signals to receive two baseband signals and send baseband signals to the baseband unit through digital interface;
or configured to receive all or part of two signals issued by the third combining-separation unit, perform frequency conversion on the received two signals to receive two baseband signals, and send baseband signals to the baseband unit via a digital interface. 15. A communication system comprising a base station system as defined in claim 12.

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