US20230138221A1

US20230138221A1 - Antenna arrangements for a radio transceiver device

Info

Publication number: US20230138221A1
Application number: US17/902,237
Authority: US
Inventors: Sven Petersson; Andreas Nilsson
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Current assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Priority date: 2017-06-27
Filing date: 2022-09-02
Publication date: 2023-05-04
Also published as: EP3469654B1; US10763592B2; US11437737B2; US20180375221A1; CN110998968A; CN110998968B; WO2019001693A1; US20210119347A1; EP3469654A1

Abstract

There is provided an antenna arrangement for a radio transceiver device. The antenna arrangement comprises at least two antenna arrays, wherein at least one of the at least two antenna arrays has antenna elements of two polarizations. The antenna elements of one polarization at each of the at least two antenna arrays define a respective set of antenna elements. The antenna arrangement comprises at least two baseband chains. The antenna arrangement comprises a switching network configured to selectively operatively connect each of the at least two baseband chains with its own set of antenna elements such that no two baseband chains are operatively connected to one and the same set of antenna elements. Each of the at least one antenna array that has antenna elements of two polarizations is operatively connected to the switching network via a respective hybrid connector configured to provide a signal from one of the baseband chains to antenna elements of both polarizations.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/006,288, filed Aug. 28, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/543,539, filed Jul. 13, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,763,592, which is a 35 U.S.C. § 371 National Phase Entry Application from PCT/EP2017/065925, filed Jun. 27, 2017, designating the United States, the disclosures of each of the referenced applications are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments presented herein relate to a method, a radio transceiver device, a computer program, and a computer program product for operating an antenna arrangement for transmission of a signal. Embodiments presented herein further relate to a method, a radio transceiver device, a computer program, and a computer program product for operating an antenna arrangement for reception of a signal.

BACKGROUND

In communications networks, there may be a challenge to obtain good performance and capacity for a given communications protocol, its parameters and the physical environment in which the communications network is deployed.
For example, for future generations of mobile communications systems frequency bands at many different carrier frequencies could be needed. For example, low such frequency bands could be needed to achieve sufficient network coverage for terminal devices and higher frequency bands (e.g. at millimeter wavelengths (mmW), i.e. near and above 30 GHz) could be needed to reach required network capacity. In general terms, at high frequencies the propagation properties of the radio channel are more challenging and beamforming both at the network node at the network side and at the terminal devices at the user side might be required to reach a sufficient link budget.
The terminal devices and/or the transmission and reception point (TRP) of the network node could implement beamforming by means of analog beamforming, digital beamforming, or hybrid beamforming. Each implementation has its advantages and disadvantages. A digital beamforming implementation is the most flexible implementation of the three but also the costliest due to the large number of required radio chains and baseband chains. An analog beamforming implementation is the least flexible but cheaper to manufacture due to a reduced number of radio chains and baseband chains compared to the digital beamforming implementation. A hybrid beamforming implementation is a compromise between the analog and the digital beamforming implementations. As the skilled person understands, depending on cost and performance requirements of different terminal devices, different implementations will be needed.
For terminal devices the incoming signals might arrive from all different directions. Hence it is beneficial to have an antenna implementation at the terminal devices which has the possibility to generate omni-directional-like coverage in addition to the high gain narrow beams. One way to increase the omni-directional coverage at the terminal devices is to install multiple antenna arrays, and point the antenna arrays in mutually different directions. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a terminal device 100 comprising an antenna arrangement having two antenna arrays 120 a, 120 b, each comprising antenna elements 140 a, 140 b and phase shifters 130 a, 130 b. Each antenna array 120 a, 120 b is operatively connected to its own baseband (BB) chain 110 a, 110 b. As the skilled person understands, the terminal device 100 could be provided with further antenna arrays, each having its own baseband chain, and each pointing in its own direction in order to further increase the omni-directional coverage. However, in order to limit the heat generated by the antenna arrangement the number of baseband chains should be kept small, for example by limiting the number of baseband chains to just two baseband chains.
With only two baseband chains, it could be challenging to design an antenna arrangement with high flexibility with respect to coverage and capacity (i.e. an antenna arrangement capable of generating both narrow beams and wide beams pointing different directions).

SUMMARY

An object of embodiments herein is to provide antenna arrangements that mitigate the deficiencies noted above and thus enable high flexibility with respect to coverage and capacity.
According to a first aspect there is presented an antenna arrangement for a radio transceiver device. The antenna arrangement comprises at least two antenna arrays, wherein at least one of the at least two antenna arrays has antenna elements of two polarizations. The antenna elements of one polarization at each of the at least two antenna arrays define a respective set of antenna elements. The antenna arrangement comprises at least two baseband chains. The antenna arrangement comprises a switching network configured to selectively operatively connect each of the at least two baseband chains with its own set of antenna elements such that no two baseband chains are operatively connected to one and the same set of antenna elements. Each of the at least one antenna array that has antenna elements of two polarizations is operatively connected to the switching network via a respective hybrid connector configured to provide a signal from one of the baseband chains to antenna elements of both polarizations.
Advantageously this antenna arrangement enables high flexibility with respect to coverage and capacity when transmitting and receiving signals.
Advantageously this antenna arrangement can be used in a terminal device for steering radiation pattern and baseband resources in different spatial directions, which will increase the coverage and/or capacity for the terminal device.
According to a second aspect there is presented a method for operating an antenna arrangement according to the first aspects for transmission of a signal. The method is performed by a radio transceiver device. The method comprises determining a setting according to which at least one of the baseband chains is operatively connected to the at least two antenna arrays baseband chains via the switching network when transmitting the signal. The method comprises obtaining the signal at the switching network from the at least one of the baseband chains. The method comprises providing the signal to at least one of the at least two antenna arrays in accordance with the setting, thereby transmitting the signal.
According to a third aspect there is presented a radio transceiver device for operating an antenna arrangement according to the first aspects for transmission of a signal. The radio transceiver device comprises processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the radio transceiver device to determine a setting according to which at least one of the baseband chains is operatively connected to the at least two antenna arrays via the switching network when transmitting the signal. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the radio transceiver device to obtain the signal at the switching network from the at least one of the baseband chains. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the radio transceiver device to provide the signal to at least one of the at least two antenna arrays in accordance with the setting, thereby transmitting the signal.
According to a fourth aspect there is presented a radio transceiver device for operating an antenna arrangement according to the first aspects for transmission of a signal. The radio transceiver device comprises processing circuitry and a storage medium. The storage medium stores instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the radio transceiver device to perform operations, or steps. The operations, or steps, cause the radio transceiver device to determine a setting according to which at least one of the baseband chains is operatively connected to the at least two antenna arrays via the switching network when transmitting the signal. The operations, or steps, cause the radio transceiver device to obtain the signal at the switching network from the at least one of the baseband chains. The operations, or steps, cause the radio transceiver device to provide the signal to at least one of the at least two antenna arrays in accordance with the setting, thereby transmitting the signal.
According to a fifth aspect there is presented a radio transceiver device for operating an antenna arrangement according to the first aspects for transmission of a signal. The radio transceiver device comprises a determine module configured to determine a setting according to which at least one of the baseband chains is operatively connected to the at least two antenna arrays via the switching network when transmitting the signal. The radio transceiver device comprises an obtain module configured to obtain the signal at the switching network from the at least one of the baseband chains. The radio transceiver device comprises a provide module configured to provide the signal to at least one of the at least two antenna arrays in accordance with the setting, thereby transmitting the signal.
According to a sixth aspect there is presented a computer program for operating an antenna arrangement according to the first aspect for transmission of a signal. The computer program comprises computer program code which, when run on a radio transceiver device, causes the radio transceiver device to perform a method according to the first aspect.
According to a seventh aspect there is presented a method for operating an antenna arrangement according to the first aspects for reception of a signal. The method is performed by a radio transceiver device. The method comprises determining a setting according to which the at least two antenna arrays are to be operatively connected to at least one of the baseband chains via the switching network when receiving the signal. The method comprises obtaining the signal at the switching network from at least one of the at least two antenna arrays. The method comprises providing the signal to the at least one of the baseband chains in accordance with the setting, thereby receiving the signal.
According to an eighth aspect there is presented a radio transceiver device for operating an antenna arrangement according to the first aspects for reception of a signal. The radio transceiver device comprises processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the radio transceiver device to determine a setting according to which the at least two antenna arrays are to be operatively connected to at least one of the baseband chains via the switching network when receiving the signal. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the radio transceiver device to obtain the signal at the switching network from at least one of the at least two antenna arrays. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the radio transceiver device to provide the signal to the at least one of the baseband chains in accordance with the setting, thereby receiving the signal.
According to a ninth aspect there is presented a radio transceiver device for operating an antenna arrangement according to the first aspects for reception of a signal. The radio transceiver device comprises processing circuitry and a storage medium. The storage medium stores instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the radio transceiver device to perform operations, or steps. The operations, or steps, cause the radio transceiver device to determine a setting according to which the at least two antenna arrays are to be operatively connected to at least one of the baseband chains via the switching network when receiving the signal. The operations, or steps, cause the radio transceiver device to obtain the signal at the switching network from at least one of the at least two antenna arrays. The operations, or steps, cause the radio transceiver device to provide the signal to the at least one of the baseband chains in accordance with the setting, thereby receiving the signal.
According to a tenth aspect there is presented a radio transceiver device for operating an antenna arrangement according to the first aspects for reception of a signal. The radio transceiver device comprises a determine module configured to determine a setting according to which the at least two antenna arrays are to be operatively connected to at least one of the baseband chains via the switching network when receiving the signal. The radio transceiver device comprises an obtain module configured to obtain the signal at the switching network from at least one of the at least two antenna arrays. The radio transceiver device comprises a provide module configured to provide the signal to the at least one of the baseband chains in accordance with the setting, thereby receiving the signal.
According to an eleventh aspect there is presented a computer program for operating an antenna arrangement according to the first aspect for transmission of a signal, the computer program comprising computer program code which, when run on a radio transceiver device, causes the radio transceiver device to perform a method according to the seventh aspect.
According to a twelfth aspect there is presented a computer program product comprising a computer program according to at least one of the sixth aspect and the eleventh aspect, and a computer readable storage medium on which the computer program is stored. The computer readable storage medium could be a non-transitory computer readable storage medium.
Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached dependent claims as well as from the drawings.
Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to “a/an/the element, apparatus, component, means, module, step, etc.” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, module, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The inventive concept is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a radio transceiver device and its antenna arrangement according to state of the art;

FIGS. 2 and 3 schematically illustrate antenna arrangements according to embodiments;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates switching networks according to embodiments;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts of methods according to embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing functional units of a radio transceiver device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing functional modules of a radio transceiver device according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 9 shows one example of a computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The inventive concept will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the inventive concept are shown. This inventive concept may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description. Any step or feature illustrated by dashed lines should be regarded as optional.
FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of an antenna arrangement 300 a for a radio transceiver device 200 according to an embodiment. The antenna arrangement 300 a comprises two baseband chains 360 a, 360 b and two antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b with antenna elements 320 of two polarizations. The antenna elements 320 of one polarization at each of the antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b define its own set of antenna elements. Each of the antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b comprises antenna elements of two polarizations, and thus comprises two sets of antenna elements each. With two sets of antenna elements for each antenna array 310 a, 310 b there is thus four sets of antenna elements in total in the antenna arrangement 300 a.
In the antenna arrangement 300 a of FIG. 2 the two antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b have the same pointing direction, as symbolized by arrows 370 a, 370 b. But as will be further disclosed below, in other examples at least two antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b have mutually different pointing directions.
The antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b are operatively connected to baseband chains 360 a, 360 b via a switching network 350, where B1, B2 mark interfaces of the switching network 350 at the baseband side, and where A1, A2 mark interfaces of the switching network 350 at the array side.
Each of the antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b could, for each polarization, comprise an analog distribution network 380 to which the switching network 350 is operatively connected. The analog distribution network 380 thus connects the individual antenna elements 320 to the switching network 350.
At the array side the switching network 350 is operatively connected to the antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b via hybrid (H) connectors 340 a, 340 b. Each output of the hybrid connector 340 a, 340 b at the array side provides a signal from one of the baseband chains 360 a, 360 b to antenna elements 320 of both polarizations. Each output of a respective hybrid connector 340 a, 340 b at the array side is thus connected to a respective analog distribution network 380 serving antenna elements 320 of one polarization of one antenna array 310 a, 310 b.
The switching network 350 comprises as many switches 355 a, 355 b as there are baseband chains 360 a, 360 b such that each baseband chain 360 a, 360 b can be operatively connected to a respective one of the at least two antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b. The switching network 350 thus provides baseband-to-array connections. Generally, only one of the baseband chains 360 a, 360 b needs to be operatively connected to one of the antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b in order for a signal to be transmitted or received by the antenna arrangement 300 a. By means of the switching network 350 it is possible to configure baseband-to-array connections in different ways depending on how the switches 355 a, 355 b are set.
According to a first example, the switches 355 a, 355 b are set so as to connect B1 with A1 and B2 with A2. Both baseband chains 360 a, 360 b are thus connected to antenna array 310 a. This setting can be useful, for example, if the radio transceiver device 200 is communicating with a TRP that is located in the same direction as this antenna array 310 a is pointing in.
According to a second example, the switches 355 a, 355 b are set so as to connect B1 with A3 and B2 with A4. This setting is similar to the first example with the difference that both baseband chains 360 a, 360 b are connected to antenna array 310 b.
According to a second example, the switches 355 a, 355 b are set so as to connect B1 with A1 and B2 with A4. Each baseband chain 360 a, 360 b is thus connected to all antenna elements of its own antenna array 310 a, 310 b through a respective one of the hybrid connectors 340 a, 340 b. By using the hybrid connectors 340 a, 340 b, the signal of each baseband chain 360 a, 360 b will be provided to all antenna elements (of both polarizations) of a respective antenna array 310 a, 310 b, which enables so-called dual-polarized beamforming within each panel antenna array 310 a, 310 b. By using dual-polarized beamforming, almost arbitrarily beam widths could be attained for each respective antenna array 310 a, 310 b, which will improve the transmission and reception performance of the radio transceiver device 200. Details of dual-polarized beamforming are provided in documents WO2011/050866 A1 and WO2016141961 A1.
As will be further disclosed below, the antenna arrangement 300 a could further comprise power amplifiers and/or low noise amplifiers 390 and phase shifters 330.
The antenna arrangement 300 a of FIG. 2 is for simplicity illustrated to only comprise two antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b with two antenna elements 320 each and comprising two baseband chains 360 a, 360 b. Any number of antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, antenna elements 320, and baseband chains 360 a, 360 b can be used, and the antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b could be either one-dimensional or two-dimensional antenna arrays.
FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of an antenna arrangement 300 b for a radio transceiver device 200 according to another embodiment. The antenna arrangement 300 b is similar to the antenna arrangement 300 a and thus comprises two baseband chains 360 a, 360 b, a switching network 350 with switches 355 a, 355 b, and hybrid connectors 340 a, 340 b. The antenna arrangement 300 b comprises three antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, 310 c, all of which having mutually different pointing directions 370 a, 310 b, 370 c. Further, whilst antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b have antenna elements 320 of two polarizations, antenna array 310 c has antenna elements 320 of one polarization.
In view of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 there is thus provided an antenna arrangement 300 a, 300 b for a radio transceiver device 200. The antenna arrangement 300 a, 300 b comprises at least two antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, 310 c. At least one of the at least two antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, 310 c has antenna elements 320 of two polarizations. The antenna elements 320 of one polarization at each of the at least two antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, 310 c define a respective set of antenna elements 320.
The antenna arrangement 300 a, 300 b further comprises at least two baseband chains 360 a, 360 b. In some aspects the antenna arrangement 300 a, 300 b comprises precisely two baseband chains 360 a, 360 b. Examples of switching networks 350 enabling the antenna arrangements to have more than two baseband chains 360 a, 360 b will be disclosed below.
The antenna arrangement 300 a, 300 b thus further comprises a switching network 350. The switching network 350 is configured to selectively operatively connect each of the at least two baseband chains 360 a, 360 b with its own set of antenna elements 320 such that no two baseband chains 360 a, 360 b are operatively connected to one and the same set of antenna elements 320. In other words, the baseband chains 360 a, 360 b are operatively connected to the antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b such that the baseband chains 360 a, 360 b do not share the same set of antenna elements 320 (where a set of antenna elements 320 is defined as above).
Each of the at least one antenna array 310 a, 310 b, 310 c having antenna elements 320 of two polarizations is operatively connected to the switching network 350 via a respective hybrid connector 340 a, 340 b. The hybrid connectors 340 a, 340 b are configured to provide a signal from one of the baseband chains 360 a, 360 b to antenna elements 320 of both polarizations.
Further aspects and embodiments relating to the antenna arrangement 300 a, 300 b will now be disclosed with parallel reference to the antenna arrangements 300 a, 300 b of FIGS. 2 and 3 .
In case the baseband chains 360 a, 360 b are operatively connected to different sets of antenna elements 320 at one and the same antenna array, a signal transmitted from one of the baseband chains could be subjected to the inverse operations of the hybrid connector before being transmitted through the hybrid connector such as to cancel the effect of the hybrid connector and such that the signal from each baseband chain 360 a, 360 b reaches a separate set of antenna elements 320 at the antenna array. Another alternative could be to selectively bypass the hybrid connectors 340 a, 340 b when the baseband chains 360 a, 360 b are operatively connected to different sets of antenna elements 320 at one and the same antenna array.
Aspects relating to configurations of the antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, 310 c will now be disclosed.
There could be different number of antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, 310 c. In some aspects there are only two antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, 310 c. In some embodiments the antenna arrangement 300 a, 300 b comprises precisely two antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, where both antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b have antenna elements 320 of two polarizations. The antenna arrangement 300 a of FIG. 2 is an example of such an embodiment. In some embodiments the antenna arrangement 300 a, 300 b comprises a single antenna array 310 a, 310 b having antenna elements 320 of two polarizations and a single antenna array 310 c having antenna elements 320 of one polarization.
The antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, 310 c might be one-dimensional or two-dimensional. In the examples of FIGS. 2 and 3 , antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b are one-dimensional whilst antenna array 310 c is two-dimensional. That is, according to an embodiment the antenna arrangement 300 a, 300 b comprises only one-dimensional antenna arrays or two-dimensional antenna arrays. In this respect the antenna arrangement 300 a of FIG. 2 is an example of an embodiment where the antenna arrangement 300 a comprises only one- dimensional antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b. According to another embodiment the antenna arrangement 300 a, 300 b comprises a mix of at least one one-dimensional antenna array 310 c and at least one two- dimensional antenna array 310 a, 310 b. In this respect the antenna arrangement 300 a of FIG. 3 is an example of such an embodiment.
As disclosed above, each of the at least two antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, 310 c has a pointing direction 370 a, 370 b, 370 c. The antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, 310 c might point in the same direction or point in at least two directions. That is, according to an embodiment the at least two antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, 310 c collectively has at least two mutually different pointing directions. In this respect the antenna arrangement 300 b of FIG. 3 is an example of an embodiment where the antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, 310 c point in three mutually different directions, according to the arrows 370 a, 310 b, 370 c.
As disclosed above, in some aspects each of the at least two antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, 310 c for each polarization comprises an analog distribution network 380 to which the switching network 350 is operatively connected.
As disclosed above, in some aspects the antenna arrangement 300 a, 300 b comprises phase shifters 330. There could be different placements of the phase shifters 330 in the antenna arrangements 300 a, 300 b.
In some aspects the phase shifters 330 are placed close to the antenna elements 320. Thus, according to an embodiment each antenna element 320 has its own phase shifter 330. In this respect the phase shifters 330 could be part of the analog distribution network 380.
In other aspects the phase shifters 330 are placed close to the baseband. Thus, according to an embodiment the phase shifters 330 are operatively connected between the switching network 350 and the least two baseband chains 360 a, 360 b such that there is one phase shifter 330 per baseband chain 360 a, 360 b.
As disclosed above, in some aspects the antenna arrangement 300 a, 300 b comprises power amplifiers and/or low noise amplifiers 390. There could be different placements of the power amplifiers and/or low noise amplifiers 390 in the antenna arrangements 300 a, 300 b.
In some aspects the power amplifiers and/or low noise amplifiers 390 are placed close to the antenna elements 320. Thus, according to an embodiment each antenna element 320 has its own power amplifier and/or low noise amplifier 390. In this respect the power amplifiers and/or low noise amplifiers 390 could be part of the analog distribution network 380.
In other aspects the power amplifiers and/or low noise amplifiers 390 are placed close to the baseband. Thus, according to an embodiment the power amplifiers and low noise amplifiers 390 are operatively connected between the switching network 350 and the least two baseband chains 360 a, 360 b such that there is one power amplifier and/or low noise amplifier per baseband chain 360 a, 360 b.
Possible placements of the phase shifters 330, and power amplifiers and/or low noise amplifiers 390 have been indicated by arrows in FIG. 2 . For simplicity, and to avoid cluttering in the drawings, the antenna arrangement 300 b has in FIG. 3 been illustrated without any phase shifters, power amplifiers, and low noise amplifiers.
FIG. 4 schematically illustrates different embodiments of the switching network 350. As disclosed above, the switching network 350 comprises as many switches as there are baseband chains. However, for simplicity, the switching networks 350 have in FIG. 4 been illustrated without switches.
The embodiment of FIG. 4(a) comprises three interfaces A1, A2, A3 at the array side and two interfaces B1, B2 at the baseband side. Two of the interfaces A1, A2 are connected to a hybrid connector 340 a. The embodiment of FIG. 4(a) is thus configured for an antenna arrangement having two baseband chains, one antenna arrays with antenna elements of two polarizations, and one antenna array with antenna elements of one polarization.
The embodiment of FIG. 4(b) comprises four interfaces A1, A2, A3, A4 at the array side and two interfaces B1, B2 at the baseband side. Two pairs of the interfaces (where A1, A2 forms one pair and A3, A4 forms another pair) are each connected to a respective hybrid connector 340 a, 340 b. The embodiment of FIG. 4(b) is thus configured for an antenna arrangement having two baseband chains, and two antenna arrays with antenna elements of two polarizations.
The embodiment of FIG. 4(c) comprises five interfaces A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 at the array side and three interfaces B1, B2, B3 at the baseband side. Two pairs of the interfaces (where A1, A2 forms one pair and A3, A4 forms another pair) are each connected to a respective hybrid connector 340 a, 340 b. The embodiment of FIG. 4(c) is thus configured for an antenna arrangement having three baseband chains, two antenna arrays with antenna elements of two polarizations, and one antenna array with antenna elements of one polarization.
There could be different examples of radio transceiver devices 200 in which the herein disclosed antenna arrangements 300 a, 300 b could be provided. According to an embodiment the radio transceiver device 200 is a terminal device. Hence, in some aspects there is disclosed a radio transceiver device 200 comprising an antenna arrangement 300 a, 300 b as herein disclosed.
The terminal device could, for example, be a portable wireless device, mobile station, mobile phone, handset, wireless local loop phone, user equipment (UE), smartphone, laptop computer, tablet computer, wireless modem, network equipped vehicle, network equipped sensor, or an Internet of Things (IoT) device.
Reference is now made to FIG. 5 illustrating a method for operating any of the above disclosed antenna arrangements 300 a, 300 b for transmission of a signal as performed by the radio transceiver device 200 according to an embodiment.
The antenna arrangement 300 a, 300 b is configured according to how the signal is to be transmitted from the at least two antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, 310 c. Thus, the radio transceiver device 200 is configured to perform step S102:
S102: The radio transceiver device 200 determines a setting according to which at least one of the baseband chains 360 a, 360 b is operatively connected to a respective one of the at least two antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, 310 c via the switching network 350 when transmitting the signal. In this respect, the conditions as defined above for how to operatively connect the antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, 310 c and the baseband chains 360 a, 360 b still apply. Particularly, no two baseband chains 360 a, 360 b are operatively connected to one and the same set of antenna elements. In one extreme case only a single baseband chain is operatively connected to a single one of the set of antennas. In the other extreme case each baseband chain is operatively connected to a respective one of the antenna arrays. The setting could define how the switches 355 a, 355 b of the switching network 350 are set.
Once the switching network 350 has been properly set, the signal to be transmitted can be passed from the baseband side to the array side for transmission. Thus, the radio transceiver device 200 is configured to perform steps S104, S106:
S104: The radio transceiver device 200 obtains the signal at the switching network 350 from the at least one of the baseband chains 360 a, 360 b.
S106: The radio transceiver device 200 provides the signal to at least one of the at least two antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, 310 c in accordance with the setting. The signal is thereby transmitted.
Reference is now made to FIG. 6 illustrating a method for operating any of the above disclosed antenna arrangements 300 a, 300 b for reception of a signal as performed by the radio transceiver device 200 according to an embodiment.
The antenna arrangement 300 a, 300 b is configured according to how the signal is to be received by the baseband chains 360 a, 360 b. Thus, the radio transceiver device 200 is configured to perform step S202:
S202: The radio transceiver device 200 determines a setting according to which the at least two antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, 310 c are to be operatively connected to at least one of the baseband chains 360 a, 360 b via the switching network 350 when receiving the signal. In this respect, the conditions as defined above for how to operatively connect the antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, 310 c and the baseband chains 360 a, 360 b still apply. Particularly, no two baseband chains 360 a, 360 b are operatively connected to one and the same set of antenna elements. In one extreme case only a single baseband chain is operatively connected to a single one of the set of antennas. In the other extreme case each baseband chain is operatively connected to a respective one of the antenna arrays. The setting could define how the switches 355 a, 355 b of the switching network 350 are set.
Once the switching network 350 has been properly set, the signal to be received can be passed from the array side to the baseband side for reception. Thus, the radio transceiver device 200 is configured to perform steps S204, S206:
S204: The radio transceiver device 200 obtains the signal at the switching network 350 from at least one of the at least two antenna arrays 310 a, 310 b, 310 c.
S206: The radio transceiver device 200 provides the signal to the at least one of the baseband chains 360 a, 360 b in accordance with the setting. The signal is thereby received.
FIG. 7 schematically illustrates, in terms of a number of functional units, the components of a radio transceiver device 200 according to an embodiment. Processing circuitry 210 is provided using any combination of one or more of a suitable central processing unit (CPU), multiprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), etc., capable of executing software instructions stored in a computer program product 910 (as in FIG. 9 ), e.g. in the form of a storage medium 230. The processing circuitry 210 may further be provided as at least one application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or field programmable gate array (FPGA).
Particularly, the processing circuitry 210 is configured to cause the radio transceiver device 200 to perform a set of operations, or steps, S102-S106, S202-S206, as disclosed above. For example, the storage medium 230 may store the set of operations, and the processing circuitry 210 may be configured to retrieve the set of operations from the storage medium 230 to cause the radio transceiver device 200 to perform the set of operations. The set of operations may be provided as a set of executable instructions.
Thus the processing circuitry 210 is thereby arranged to execute methods as herein disclosed. The storage medium 230 may also comprise persistent storage, which, for example, can be any single one or more combination of magnetic memory, optical memory, solid state memory or even remotely mounted memory. The radio transceiver device 200 may further comprise a communications interface 220. The communications interface 220 could comprise an antenna arrangement 300 a, 300 b as herein disclosed.
The processing circuitry 210 controls the general operation of the radio transceiver device 200 e.g. by sending data and control signals to the communications interface 220 and the storage medium 230, by receiving data and reports from the communications interface 220, and by retrieving data and instructions from the storage medium 230. Other components, as well as the related functionality, of the radio transceiver device 200 are omitted in order not to obscure the concepts presented herein.
FIG. 8 schematically illustrates, in terms of a number of functional modules, the components of a radio transceiver device 200 according to an embodiment. In some aspects the radio transceiver device 200 of FIG. 8 comprises a first determine module 210 a configured to perform step S102, a first obtain module 210 b configured to perform step S104, and a first provide module 210 c configured to perform step S106. In some aspects the radio transceiver device 200 of FIG. 8 comprises a second determine module 210 d configured to perform step S202, a second obtain module 210 e configured to perform step S204, and a second provide module 210 f configured to perform step S206.
In general terms, each functional module 210 a-210 f may in one embodiment be implemented only in hardware and in another embodiment with the help of software, i.e., the latter embodiment having computer program instructions stored on the storage medium 230 which when run on the processing circuitry makes the radio transceiver device 200 perform the corresponding steps mentioned above in conjunction with FIG. 8 . It should also be mentioned that even though the modules correspond to parts of a computer program, they do not need to be separate modules therein, but the way in which they are implemented in software is dependent on the programming language used. Preferably, one or more or all functional modules 210 a-210 f may be implemented by the processing circuitry 210, possibly in cooperation with the communications interface 220 and/or the storage medium 230. The processing circuitry 210 may thus be configured to form the storage medium 230 fetch instructions as provided by a functional module 210 a-210 f and to execute these instructions, thereby performing any steps as disclosed herein.
FIG. 9 shows one example of a computer program product 910 a, 910 b comprising computer readable storage medium 930. On this computer readable storage medium 930, a computer program 920 a, 920 b can be stored, which computer program 920 a, 920 b can cause the processing circuitry 210 and thereto operatively coupled entities and devices, such as the communications interface 220 and the storage medium 230, to execute methods according to embodiments described herein. The computer program 920 a, 920 b and/or computer program product 910 a, 910 b may thus provide means for performing any steps as herein disclosed.
In the example of FIG. 9 , the computer program product 910 a, 910 b is illustrated as an optical disc, such as a CD (compact disc) or a DVD (digital versatile disc) or a Blu-Ray disc. The computer program product 910 a, 910 b could also be embodied as a memory, such as a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) and more particularly as a non-volatile storage medium of a device in an external memory such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or a Flash memory, such as a compact Flash memory. Thus, while the computer program 920 a, 920 b is here schematically shown as a track on the depicted optical disk, the computer program 920 a, 920 b can be stored in any way which is suitable for the computer program product 910 a, 910 b.
The inventive concept has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the inventive concept, as defined by the appended patent claims.

Claims

1. A terminal device comprising:

at least a first and a second baseband chain;

a switching network comprising switches where each of the at least first and second baseband chains is connected to one respective switch;

at least a first and a second antenna array, wherein

at least the first and the second antenna array each comprises a first antenna set, the first antenna set comprising antenna elements of a first polarization; and

at least the first antenna array comprises a second antenna set, the second antenna set comprising antenna elements of a second polarization;

a respective hybrid connector, for each antenna array comprising the first and the second antenna set, the respective hybrid connector being arranged to provide a signal from a baseband chain to the first and the second antenna set;

wherein the switching network:

is connected to at least the first antenna array via the respective hybrid connector; and

is arranged to selectively operatively connect each of the at least first and second baseband chain by the respective switches to a set of antenna elements where no two baseband chains are operatively connected to the one and the same set of antenna elements.

2. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device comprises only the first and the second antenna array, each comprising the first and the second antenna set.

3. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device comprises only the first and the second antenna array, the first antenna array comprising the first and the second antenna set, the second antenna array comprising only the first antenna set.

4. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device comprises only the first and the second baseband chain.

5. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device comprises only one-dimensional antenna arrays or two-dimensional antenna arrays, or wherein the terminal device comprises a mix of at least one one-dimensional antenna array and at least one two-dimensional antenna array.

6. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least first and second antenna array has a pointing direction, and wherein the at least first and second antenna array collectively has at least a first and a second mutually different pointing directions.

7. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least first and second antenna array for each first and second polarization comprises an analog distribution network to which the switching network is operatively connected.

8. The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

power amplifiers and low noise amplifiers.

9. The terminal device according to claim 8, wherein each first and second antenna element has at least one of a respective power amplifier and a respective low noise amplifier.

10. The terminal device according to claim 7, wherein the power amplifiers and low noise amplifiers are operatively connected between the switching network and the at least first and second baseband chain such that there is at least one of: one power amplifier and one low noise amplifier per each first and second baseband chain.

11. The terminal device according to claim 2, further comprising:

phase shifters.

12. The terminal device according to claim 11, wherein each antenna element has a respective phase shifter.

13. The terminal device according to claim 11, wherein the phase shifters are operatively connected between the switching network and the at least first and second baseband chain such that there is one phase shifter per each at least first and second baseband chain.

14. An antenna arrangement for a radio transceiver device, the antenna arrangement comprising:

at least two antenna arrays comprising a first antenna array, wherein the first antenna array has a first set of antenna elements of a first polarization and a second set of antenna elements of a second polarization;

at least two baseband chains; and

a switching network configured such that no two baseband chains are operatively connected to the same set of antenna elements, wherein

the first antenna array is operatively connected to at least one of said at least two baseband chains via a first hybrid connector.

15. The antenna arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the hybrid connector is configured to provide a signal from one of said at least two baseband chains to any of the first set of antenna elements and the second set of antenna elements.

16. The terminal device according to claim 1, for transmission of a transmission signal, the terminal device further comprising:

processing circuitry; and

a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the terminal device to:

determine a setting according to which at least one of the at least first and second baseband chain is operatively connected to the at least first and second antenna arrays via the switching network when transmitting the transmission signal;

obtain the transmission signal at the switching network from the at least one of the at least first and second baseband chain; and

provide the transmission signal to the at least one of the at least first and second antenna array in accordance with the setting, thereby transmitting the transmission signal.

17. The terminal device according to claim 1, for reception of a reception signal, the terminal device further comprising:

processing circuitry; and

determine a setting according to which the at least first and second antenna array are to be operatively connected to at least one of the at least first and second baseband chain via the switching network when receiving the reception signal;

obtain the reception signal at the switching network from at least one of the at least first and second antenna array; and

provide the reception signal to the at least one of the at least first and second baseband chain in accordance with the setting, thereby receiving the reception signal.

18. A computer program product for operating a terminal device according to claim 1, for transmission of a transmission signal, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer code which, when run on processing circuitry of the terminal device, causes the terminal device to:

obtain the transmission signal at the switching network from the at least one of the at least first and second baseband chains; and

provide the transmission signal to at least one of the at least first and second antenna array in accordance with the setting, thereby transmitting the transmission signal.

19. A computer program product for operating a terminal device according to claim 1, for reception of a reception signal, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer code which, when run on processing circuitry of the terminal device, causes the terminal device to:

20. The antenna arrangement according to claim 14, wherein

said at least two antenna arrays further comprise a second antenna array,

the second antenna array comprises a third set of antenna elements of the first polarization and a fourth set of antenna elements of the second polarization,

said at least two baseband chains comprise a first baseband chain and a second baseband chain,

the antenna arrangement further comprises a second hybrid connector,

the first antenna array is operatively connected to the first baseband chain via the switching network and the first hybrid connector, and

the second antenna array is operatively connected to the second baseband chain via the switching network and the second hybrid connector.