WO2016090548A1

WO2016090548A1 - Method for determining calibration weight coefficient and base station

Info

Publication number: WO2016090548A1
Application number: PCT/CN2014/093360
Authority: WO
Inventors: 杨陈庆
Original assignee: 华为技术有限公司
Priority date: 2014-12-09
Filing date: 2014-12-09
Publication date: 2016-06-16
Also published as: CN107078780A; CN107078780B

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of communications. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for determining a calibration weight coefficient and a base station, which can solve the problem in the prior art that when a large-scale and small-pitch antenna array in a base station is calibrated, the implementation of a coupling disk is complex in a wired coupling manner and a receiving channel in a wireless air-interface coupling manner may fail to work normally due to deep saturation. The specific solution comprises: a base station acquires a first response characteristic of any channel in an antenna array in a normal communication mode, a second response characteristic of the channel in a calibration mode, and a ratio of the first response characteristic to the second response characteristic; acquires, in the calibration mode, a third response characteristic corresponding to the channel when the channel sends a calibration signal to a reference channel, and a fourth response characteristic corresponding to the channel when the reference channel sends a calibration signal to the channel; and acquires a calibration weight coefficient according to the ratio of the channel, the third response characteristic and the fourth response characteristic. The embodiments of the present invention are applied in calibration of an antenna array.

Description

Method for determining calibration weight coefficient and base station

Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a method and a base station for determining a calibration weight coefficient.

Background technique

In modern wireless communication systems, Multi-Input & Multi-Output (MIMO) antenna array technology generally adopts a 4-antenna or 8-antenna configuration (ie, a small-scale large-pitch antenna array), in order to further effectively expand communication capacity, and more To achieve space coverage well, the future antenna array technology has an array of small-scale large-distance (antenna spacing greater than 3 wavelengths) to a large-scale small-pitch (antenna spacing 0.5 wavelength) array. In the antenna array wireless communication system, the reciprocity of the received transmission spatial channel can be utilized, and the uplink channel characteristics can be obtained through testing, and the downlink channel characteristics need to be obtained by estimating the uplink channel characteristics, wherein the downlink channel characteristics are estimated by the uplink channel characteristics. For channel characteristics, it is first necessary to perform channel calibration on the transmit and receive channels of the antenna array using array calibration techniques.

Two channel calibration schemes are proposed in the prior art, one of which is based on calibration between two antennas of the same antenna array, that is, in a wired coupling manner and using a coupling disc as a calibration signal transmission channel, connecting the to-be-calibrated channel and the calibration channel Perform channel calibration. The signal from the transmitting channel of the antenna to be calibrated can be received by the receiving channel of the calibration channel to calibrate the transmitting channel of the antenna to be calibrated. Similarly, the signal from the transmitting channel of the calibration channel can also be received by the receiving channel of the antenna to be calibrated. Calibrate the receiving channel of the school antenna. In this method, the inconsistency of the phase amplitude of each channel of the coupling disc may directly affect the calibration accuracy, and the design, implementation and interconnection of the coupling disc are interconnected under the condition that the number of channels of the large-scale small-pitch antenna array is greatly increased. The complexity increases geometrically, and the physical size of the coupling disk is generally large, especially when it is required to meet the high power emission conditions. Therefore, the wired coupling method is not applicable to the calibration of large-scale small-pitch arrays.

Another prior art method is to obtain a calibration weight coefficient for channel calibration by using a direct calibration method of wireless coupling between antennas of different base stations. Although it can be applied to the calibration of large-scale small-pitch antenna arrays between base stations, when calibration is performed between two antennas based on a large-scale small-pitch antenna array in the same base station, it is affected by the small distance of the transceiver channel, and the space of the air-to-air transmission coefficient The transmission loss is low (minimum 10dB or so). When the transmitting channel transmits a high-power signal, the power of the signal received by the receiving channel easily exceeds the rated power of the receiving channel, so that the receiving channel enters a deep saturated state and cannot be calibrated. The wireless coupling method is not applicable to large-scale small-pitch antenna arrays in the same base station to obtain calibration weight coefficients for channel calibration.

Summary of the invention

The invention provides a method for determining a calibration weight coefficient and a base station, which can solve the problem of large complexity of the coupling mode of the wired coupling mode and the wireless air interface coupling mode when the prior art calibrates a large-scale small-pitch antenna array in the same base station. The receiving channel creates a problem of deep saturation that does not work properly.

In order to achieve the above object, embodiments of the present invention adopt the following technical solutions:

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for determining a calibration weight coefficient, including:

Obtaining a first response characteristic of any channel of the antenna array in a normal communication mode and a second response characteristic in a calibration mode, where the calibration mode is a mode in which any one of the channels is not saturated during the calibration process;

Obtaining a ratio of the first response characteristic and the second response characteristic of any one of the channels;

Acquiring a third response characteristic corresponding to any one of the channels when the calibration signal is sent to the reference channel when the calibration mode is acquired, and when the reference channel sends a calibration signal to the any channel a fourth response characteristic corresponding to a channel, wherein the reference channel is one of the antenna arrays;

According to the ratio of the any channel, the ratio of the reference channel, the third ring And obtaining, by the characteristic and the fourth response characteristic, a calibration weight coefficient of the any channel relative to the reference channel, the calibration weight coefficient being used for channel compensation of the any channel.

In conjunction with the first aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the normal communication mode and the calibration mode are both calibrated by using a receive channel of any one of the channels, wherein the normal communication mode is Switching the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the receiving channel to a branch including the low noise amplifier LNA to amplify a signal passing through the LNA; the calibration mode is to switch the mode of the receiving channel A single pole double throw switch in the circuit is switched to a branch including an attenuator to attenuate a signal passing through the attenuator; the mode switching circuit includes the single pole double throw switch, the LNA, and the attenuator.

In conjunction with the first aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the normal communication mode and the calibration mode are both calibrated by using a transmit channel of any one of the channels, wherein the normal communication mode is Switching the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the transmitting channel to a branch not including the attenuator to pass the signal without attenuation; the calibration mode is a single-pole double in the mode switching circuit of the transmitting channel The throw switch is switched to a branch including an attenuator to attenuate a signal passing through the attenuator; the mode switching circuit includes the single pole double throw switch and the attenuator.

With reference to the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect or the second possible implementation manner, in a third possible implementation manner of the first aspect, obtaining the first response of any channel of the antenna array in the normal communication mode The second response characteristic in the characteristic and calibration mode, the calibration mode is in the calibration process, and the mode in which any of the channels is not saturated includes:

Obtaining, when the vector network analyzer VNA sends a signal to the any channel, the first response characteristic of the receiving channel of the any channel obtained by the VNA test in the normal communication mode and the calibration mode Second response characteristic; or

Obtaining, when the vector network analyzer VNA sends a signal to the any channel, the first response characteristic of the transmission channel of the any channel obtained by the VNA test in the normal communication mode and the calibration mode The second response characteristic.

In conjunction with the third possible implementation of the first aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the working mode of the any channel is set to the calibration mode, and any one of the channels is obtained. a third response characteristic corresponding to the any channel when the calibration signal is transmitted to the reference channel, and a fourth response characteristic corresponding to the any channel when the reference channel transmits the calibration signal to the any channel, The reference channel is one of the antenna arrays including:

Switching a single-pole double-throw switch in a mode switching circuit of a receiving channel of any of the channels to a branch including the attenuator, or the base station is in a mode switching circuit of a transmitting channel of any of the channels The single pole double throw switch is switched to a branch including the attenuator;

Controlling, by the any channel, a first calibration signal to the reference channel to obtain a third response characteristic corresponding to the any channel obtained by the reference channel;

And controlling the reference channel to send a second calibration signal to the any channel to obtain a fourth response characteristic corresponding to the any channel.

With reference to any one of the first aspect to the fourth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in the fifth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, if the receiving channel of any one of the channels is used for calibration, The calibration weight coefficient is expressed as:

k _nr =(m _nr /m _rn )·(r _r /r _n );

Where k _nr represents a calibration weight coefficient of any of the other channels n, m _nr represents a third response characteristic of any of the channels n, and m _rn represents a fourth response characteristic of the any of the channels n, r _r represents the ratio of the reference channel, and r _n represents the ratio of any of the channels n.

With reference to the first aspect to any one of the fourth possible implementation manners of the first aspect, in a sixth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, if the base station uses the transmit channel of any one of the channels For calibration, the calibration weight coefficient is expressed as:

k _nr =(m _nr /m _rn )·(r _n /r _r );

In a second aspect, a base station is provided, the base station includes an antenna array, the antenna array includes N channels, each channel includes an antenna, a duplexer, a transmitting circuit, a mode switching circuit, a receiving circuit, and a digital-to-analog converter DAC , an analog to digital converter ADC, a calibration signal generating unit, a memory, and a computing unit, wherein:

The mode switching circuit is configured to switch an operating mode of any channel of the antenna array, so that the base station acquires a first response characteristic of the any channel in a normal communication mode and a second response characteristic in a calibration mode The calibration mode is a mode in which any of the channels is not saturated during the calibration process;

The calculating unit is configured to obtain a ratio of the first response characteristic to the second response characteristic of any one of the channels;

The memory is configured to save a ratio corresponding to any one of the channels;

The calibration signal generating unit is configured to generate a calibration signal during the calibration process;

The mode switching circuit is further configured to set an operation mode of the any channel to the calibration mode, where the receiving circuit is configured to: when any one of the channels sends a calibration signal to the reference channel, a third response characteristic corresponding to the channel, and a fourth response characteristic corresponding to the any channel when the reference channel sends the calibration signal to the any channel, where the reference channel is one of the channels in the antenna array ;

The calculating unit is further configured to acquire, according to the ratio of the any channel, the ratio of the reference channel, the third response characteristic, and the fourth response characteristic, the path of the any channel relative to the reference channel A calibration weight coefficient is used to perform channel compensation for any of the channels.

With reference to the second aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the normal communication mode and the calibration mode are both calibrated by using a receiving channel of any one of the channels, wherein the normal communication mode is Mode switching circuit of the receiving channel The single pole double throw switch is switched to a branch including the low noise amplifier LNA to amplify a signal passing through the LNA; the calibration mode is to switch the single pole double throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the receiving channel to A branch including an attenuator to attenuate a signal passing through the attenuator; the mode switching circuit including the single pole double throw switch, the LNA, and the attenuator.

In conjunction with the second aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the normal communication mode and the calibration mode are both calibrated by using a transmit channel of any one of the channels, wherein the normal communication mode is Switching the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the transmitting channel to a branch not including the attenuator to pass the signal without attenuation; the calibration mode is a single-pole double in the mode switching circuit of the transmitting channel The throw switch is switched to a branch including an attenuator to attenuate a signal passing through the attenuator; the mode switching circuit includes the single pole double throw switch and the attenuator.

With reference to the first possible implementation manner or the second possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the receiving circuit is configured to: When the vector network analyzer VNA sends a signal to the any channel, the base station acquires a first response characteristic and the calibration of the receiving channel of the any channel obtained by the VNA test in the normal communication mode. Second response characteristic in mode; or

When the vector network analyzer VNA sends a signal to the any channel, the base station acquires a first response characteristic of the transmit channel of the any channel obtained by the VNA test in the normal communication mode, and the The second response characteristic in calibration mode.

In conjunction with the third possible implementation of the second aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the mode switching circuit is configured to switch the single-pole double-throw switch of the receiving channel of any one of the channels To a branch including the attenuator, or the base station switches a single-pole double-throw switch of the transmission channel of any of the channels to a branch including the attenuator;

The calibration signal generating unit is configured to trigger the any channel to send a first calibration signal to the reference channel to obtain the reference channel and the channel Corresponding third response characteristic;

The calibration signal generating unit is further configured to trigger the reference channel to send a second calibration signal to the any channel to obtain a fourth response characteristic corresponding to the any channel.

With reference to any one of the second aspect to the fourth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, if the base station uses the receiving channel of any one of the channels For calibration, the calibration weight coefficient is expressed as:

k _nr =(m _nr /m _rn )·(r _r /r _n );

Where k _nr represents the calibration weight coefficient of any of the channels n, m _nr represents the third response characteristic of any of the channels n, m _rn represents the fourth response characteristic of any of the channels n, and r _r represents The ratio of the reference channels, r _{n ,} represents the ratio of any of the channels n.

With reference to any one of the second aspect to the fourth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in a sixth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, if the base station uses the receiving channel of any one of the channels For calibration, the calibration weight coefficient is expressed as:

k _nr =(m _nr /m _rn )·(r _n /r _r );

A method and a base station for determining a calibration weight coefficient provided by an embodiment of the present invention, by switching a working mode of any channel from a normal communication mode to a calibration mode, and then mutually calibrating a wireless air interface between a reference channel and any channel The signal obtains a third response characteristic and a fourth response characteristic corresponding to each channel, and combines the ratio of the first response characteristic of the normal communication mode of any channel to the second response characteristic of the calibration mode, and calculates any channel relative to the reference. The channel's calibration weight factor, which completes the calibration of the antenna array. Among them, the calibration mode of any channel can make the calibration signal not reach the saturation of the receiving channel after reaching the receiving channel, so that the receiving channel can work normally to complete the calibration process, thus solving the existing wireless air port coupling mode during the calibration process. Same The problem that the antenna spacing of the large-scale small-pitch antenna array in the base station is small and the transmission loss of the air interface is low causes the receiving channel to be deeply saturated and cannot work normally. In addition, the embodiment of the present invention calibrates the wireless air interface between the channels in the same base station, and does not use the coupling disk, thereby avoiding the problem of large complexity of the wired coupling mode coupling disk under the condition of large-scale small-pitch antenna array.

DRAWINGS

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only It is a certain embodiment of the present invention, and other drawings can be obtained from those skilled in the art without any creative work.

1 is a circuit structural diagram of each channel of an antenna array in the prior art;

2 is a flowchart of a method for determining a calibration weight coefficient according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method for determining a calibration weight coefficient according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

4 is a circuit structural diagram of a receiving channel of an antenna array according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a first mode switching circuit for switching to a normal communication mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a test diagram of a first response characteristic of a receiving channel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a first mode switching circuit of a switch to calibration mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a test diagram of a second response characteristic of a receiving channel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of determining a calibration weight coefficient according to another embodiment of the present invention. flow chart;

FIG. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a transmission channel of an antenna array according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a second mode switching circuit for switching to a normal communication mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

12 is a test diagram of a first response characteristic of a transmitting channel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a second mode switching circuit for switching to a calibration mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a test diagram of a second response characteristic of a transmitting channel according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

15a is a structural diagram of a base station of a receiving channel including a mode switching circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

15b is a structural diagram of a base station of a transmitting channel including a mode switching circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a structural block diagram of a mode switching circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a structural block diagram of a first mode switching circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a structural block diagram of a second mode switching circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a structural diagram of another base station according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed ways

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention are clearly and completely described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. It is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, but not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts are within the scope of the present invention.

The various technologies described in the embodiments of the present invention can be applied to various wireless communication systems. System, for example, Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access Wireless (WCDMA) system, Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-) SCDMA) system, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) system, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) system, general packet radio service (General Packet Radio Service, GPRS) system, and other such communication systems.

The base station described in the embodiment of the present invention may be an evolved base station (NodeB or eNB or e-NodeB, evolutional Node B) in LTE, or may be a base station (NodeB) in WCDMA, or may be a base station in GSM or CDMA. (Base Transceiver Station, BTS) and the like, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited.

In a wireless communication system, each base station may include n antenna arrays, and each antenna array may include n channels (each channel includes one antenna, that is, corresponding to the configured number of antennas n), and each channel includes a transmission channel. And a receiving channel for performing transmission and reception of wireless signals during communication. Each channel may specifically include an antenna, a duplexer, a transmitting circuit, a receiving circuit, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and a calibration signal. Generate units, memory, computing units, and more. The circuit structure diagram of each channel in the antenna array can be seen in Figure 1, where:

The antenna is mainly used for radiating a wireless signal into the air or receiving the wireless signal from the air into the circuit, that is, an antenna feeder device;

A duplexer is used to distinguish between a transmitting signal and a receiving signal. When the channel is in a transmitting state, the transmitting signal passes through the duplexer and then flows to the antenna and radiates into the air. When the channel is in the receiving state, the wireless signal is received from the antenna and then enters the receiving circuit via the duplexer;

a transmitting circuit for filtering, amplifying, and amplifying the RF/IF signal generated by the DAC Operation such as frequency conversion, transform the signal to a suitable frequency and amplify to a suitable power level;

a receiving circuit for amplifying, filtering and frequency converting a signal received from the antenna, converting to a suitable intermediate frequency and amplifying to a suitable power level;

a DAC for converting a digital signal into an analog signal;

An ADC for converting an analog signal into a digital signal;

a calibration signal generating unit for generating a calibration signal required for the calibration process;

a memory for storing response characteristics obtained by each channel during the calibration process;

A calculation unit is configured to calculate and generate a calibration weight coefficient of each channel according to a response characteristic obtained by each channel during the calibration process.

In an LTE system, the antenna array is generally configured with 4 antennas or 8 antennas (channels), and the spacing between the antennas is generally greater than 3 wavelengths. Here, the antenna array described in the embodiment of the present invention is effective. A large-scale small-pitch antenna array that expands communication capacity and can better achieve spatial coverage, and the number of antennas (channels) configured can reach several hundred or more. For example, the spacing between antennas can be 0.5 wavelength, that is, 50mm.

The embodiment of the invention mainly sets a mode switching circuit including an attenuation branch in a receiving channel or a transmitting channel of any channel, so that any channel can be switched from the normal communication mode to the calibration mode, so as to pass through the air interface in the calibration mode. In the wireless coupling mode, when the large-scale small-pitch antenna array in the same base station is calibrated, the calibration signal can be attenuated, so that the receiving channel of any channel can be made unsaturated to complete the calibration process. Since the calibration process in the embodiment of the present invention is performed in the calibration mode, the response characteristics are obtained according to the characteristics of the receiving channel in the calibration mode or the characteristics of the transmitting channel in the calibration mode, and the calibration weight coefficient is calculated, and the array calibration is obtained. The calibration weight coefficient in the normal communication mode. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the receiving channel characteristic in the calibration mode or the transmission channel characteristic in the calibration mode needs to be converted into the receiving channel characteristic or the normal communication in the normal communication mode through a certain ratio relationship. The characteristics of the transmit channel in the mode, thereby calculating the calibration weight coefficient in the normal communication mode.

Based on the above principle, the embodiment of the present invention provides a method for determining a calibration weight coefficient. As shown in FIG. 2, the main steps may include:

201. The base station acquires a first response characteristic of any channel of the antenna array in a normal communication mode and a second response characteristic in a calibration mode, where the calibration mode is a mode in which any channel is not saturated during the calibration process.

The antenna array may be a large-scale small-pitch antenna array in the base station, that is, the number of antennas (channels) is large, and the spacing between the antennas is small, so that the communication capacity can be better improved, space coverage is realized, and the base station is also applicable to the base station. Small and medium-sized large-pitch antenna arrays.

The number of channels corresponds to the number of antennas, and the channel includes a transmitting channel and a receiving channel for performing signal transmission and reception of each antenna in the antenna array. In the embodiment of the present invention, each channel specifically includes not only an antenna, a duplexer, a transmitting circuit, a receiving circuit, a DAC, an ADC, a calibration signal generating unit, a memory, and a computing unit, but also a mode switching circuit, and the mode switching circuit Used to switch the working mode of the channel.

The normal communication mode in the embodiment of the present invention is a normal working mode used when any channel of the antenna array of the base station communicates with other base stations or mobile terminals, and the calibration mode in the embodiment of the present invention is any antenna array of the base station. The calibration mode used when the channel is calibrated. Because the antenna spacing of the large-scale small-pitch antenna array in the base station is small, the loss of the calibration signal during the air-to-air transmission is low, so that the existing wireless air-to-mouth coupling mode in the calibration process is likely to cause the receiving channel to be deeply saturated, and thus the embodiment of the present invention By setting the calibration mode, any receiving channel in the calibration process can be made to work without being saturated.

Optionally, both the normal communication mode and the calibration mode are calibrated by using a receiving channel of any channel, wherein the normal communication mode is to switch the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the receiving channel to include a low noise amplifier (Low Noise Amplifier) , LNA) branch, so that the signal passing through the LNA is amplified; the calibration mode is to switch the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the receiving channel to the branch including the attenuator to attenuate the signal passing through the attenuator The mode switching circuit includes a single pole double throw switch, an LNA and an attenuator;

Or, both the normal communication mode and the calibration mode are calibrated by using a transmission channel of any channel, wherein the normal communication mode is to switch the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the transmission channel to the branch that does not include the attenuator, so that The signal is not attenuated; the calibration mode is to switch the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the transmitting channel to the branch including the attenuator to attenuate the signal passing through the attenuator; the mode switching circuit includes a single-pole double-throw switch and attenuation Device.

The mode switching circuit of the receiving channel may be referred to as a first mode switching circuit, and the first mode switching circuit may include a single-pole double-throw switch, a low-noise amplifier LNA and an attenuator, and the single-pole double-throw switch may further include a first single-pole double The throw switch and the second single pole double throw switch. The normal communication mode is to switch the first single pole double throw switch and the second single pole double throw switch in the first mode switching circuit of any receiving channel to a branch including the low noise amplifier LNA, so that the signal passing through the LNA is amplified, which Because the antenna of the base station is far away from other antennas of other base stations or mobile terminals in normal working mode, other antennas have low power when receiving signals, and need to be amplified by LNA low noise; the calibration mode is the first of any receiving channel. The first single-pole double-throw switch and the second single-pole double-throw switch in a mode switching circuit are switched to a branch including the attenuator to attenuate the signal passing through the attenuator due to the large-scale small-pitch antenna array in the base station The spacing between the antennas is small, and the receiving channel receives a high-power signal, which is easy to saturate, and the attenuator of the receiving channel can prevent the receiving channel from saturating when receiving a high-power signal. Of course, the first mode switching circuit can also be implemented in other circuit manners, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present invention.

The mode switching circuit of the transmitting channel may be referred to as a second mode switching circuit, the second mode switching circuit may include a single pole double throw switch and an attenuator, and the single pole double throw switch may further include a first single pole double throw switch and a second single pole double switch Throw the switch. The normal communication mode is to switch the first single-pole double-throw switch and the second single-pole double-throw switch in the second mode switching circuit of any of the transmitting channels to the branch that does not include the attenuator, so that the signal is not attenuated, which is due to normal The antenna of the base station is far away from the antennas of other base stations or mobile terminals, and the transmission loss of the air interface is large. The antenna of the base station needs to transmit a high-power signal to be normally received by other base stations or mobile terminals, so the transmitting channel does not need to transmit signals. Work The rate is attenuated; the calibration mode is to switch the first single pole double throw switch and the second single pole double throw switch in the second mode switching circuit of any of the transmitting channels to the branch including the attenuator to attenuate the signal passing through the attenuator This is because the antenna spacing of the large-scale small-pitch antenna array in the base station is small, the receiving channel is easy to be saturated when receiving a high-power signal, and the signal after the attenuator passing through the transmitting channel is transmitted again, thereby avoiding saturation of the receiving channel. . Of course, the second mode switching circuit can also be implemented in other circuit manners, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present invention.

Optionally, the first response characteristic of the base station acquiring the first response characteristic of the antenna array in the normal communication mode and the second response characteristic in the calibration mode may be implemented in a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA). When transmitting a signal in one channel, obtain the first response characteristic of the receiving channel of any channel obtained by the VNA test in the normal communication mode and the second response characteristic in the calibration mode; or the base station in the vector network analyzer VNA to any channel When the signal is sent, the first response characteristic of the transmission channel of any channel obtained by the VNA test in the normal communication mode and the second response characteristic in the calibration mode are obtained.

Exemplarily, the connection between the vector network analyzer VNA and the base station can be established, so that when the base station receives the signal sent by the VNA to any channel, the receiving channel of any channel obtained by the vector network analyzer VNA test is normal. The first response characteristic in the communication mode and the second response characteristic in the calibration mode. Wherein, the control command may be sent to any of the measured receiving channels through an external control such as a computer or other test control platform, indicating that the measured receiving channel determines the working mode as the normal communication mode, or indicates that the measured receiving channel determines the working mode as Calibration mode.

Similar to the above implementation manner, the vector network analyzer VNA can be connected to any channel of the base station, so that when the VNA sends a signal to any channel, the base station obtains the transmission channel of any channel obtained by the VNA test in the normal communication mode. The first response characteristic of the time and the second response characteristic of the calibration mode. Wherein, an external control such as a computer or other test control platform may be used to send a control command to each of the tested transmit channels, indicating that the measured transmit channel determines the working mode as the normal communication mode, or indicates that the measured transmission is performed. The shooting channel determines the operating mode as the calibration mode.

The response characteristic refers to the relationship between the excitation signal (input signal) of any channel and the corresponding response signal (output signal), including the amplitude-frequency response characteristic, that is, the amplitude of the output signal of any channel of each channel and its input signal. The ratio of the amplitude and the phase-frequency response characteristic, that is, the phase of the output signal is different from the phase value of its input signal. The VNA is a RF response characteristic test device. It has a built-in signal generator that can send signals to any channel of the system under test, such as channel, to measure the response characteristics of any channel of each channel, including amplitude-frequency response characteristics and phase. Frequency response characteristics.

In addition, the first response characteristic in the normal communication mode of any channel and the second response characteristic in the calibration mode may be obtained by other means than the VNA, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present invention.

202. The base station acquires a ratio of a first response characteristic and a second response characteristic of any channel.

203. The third response characteristic corresponding to any channel when the calibration signal is sent by the base station to the reference channel when the base station acquires the calibration mode, and the fourth response characteristic corresponding to any channel when the reference channel sends the calibration signal to any channel, The reference channel is one of the channels in the antenna array.

The reference channel in this step can be used to separately calibrate the signal with any channel during the calibration process.

Specifically, the base station can switch the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the receiving channel of any channel to the branch including the attenuator, or the base station can switch the single-pole double in the mode switching circuit of the transmitting channel of any channel. The throw switch is switched to a branch including the attenuator, and then any channel is controlled to send a first calibration signal to the reference channel to obtain a third response characteristic corresponding to any channel obtained by the reference channel, and then control the reference channel to any channel. Sending a second calibration signal to obtain a fourth response characteristic corresponding to any channel.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present invention, the first mode switching circuit of any receiving channel or the second mode switching circuit of any transmitting channel is taken as an example, how to use any channel Set and switch to calibration mode for explanation. Of course, the first mode switching circuit can be set in any channel receiving channel at the same time, and the second mode switching circuit is set in any channel transmitting channel, thereby realizing the calibration mode of any channel, which can be set as needed.

204. The base station acquires, according to the ratio of any channel, the ratio of the reference channel, the third response characteristic, and the fourth response characteristic, a calibration weight coefficient of any channel of the other channel relative to the reference channel, and the calibration weight coefficient is used for any The channel performs channel compensation.

The calibration weight coefficient defined in the embodiment of the present invention represents a ratio of a ratio of a transmission characteristic to a reception characteristic of any channel and a ratio of a transmission characteristic of a reference channel to a reception characteristic in a normal communication mode.

Optionally, if the base station uses the receiving channel of any channel for calibration, the calibration weight coefficient can be expressed as:

k _nr =(m _nr /m _rn )·(r _r /r _n );

Where k _nr represents the calibration weight coefficient of any channel n, m _nr represents the third response characteristic of any channel n, m _rn represents the fourth response characteristic of any channel n, r _r represents the ratio of the reference channel, r _n represents the ratio of any channel n.

Optionally, if the base station uses the transmit channel of any channel for calibration, the calibration weight coefficient can be expressed as:

k _nr =(m _nr /m _rn )·(r _n /r _r );

A method for determining a calibration weight coefficient is provided by the embodiment of the present invention, by switching the working mode of any channel from the normal communication mode to the calibration mode, and then mutually transmitting the calibration signal through the reference air channel and the wireless air interface between any channel. Obtaining a third response characteristic and a fourth response characteristic corresponding to each channel, and calculating the ratio of the first response characteristic of the normal communication mode of any channel and the second response characteristic of the calibration mode The alignment of the antenna array is completed with respect to the calibration weight coefficient of the reference channel. Among them, the calibration mode of any channel can make the calibration signal not reach the saturation of the receiving channel after reaching the receiving channel, so that the receiving channel can work normally to complete the calibration process, thus solving the existing wireless air port coupling mode during the calibration process. The problem that the antenna spacing of the large-scale small-pitch antenna array in the same base station is small and the air interface transmission loss is low causes the receiving channel to be deeply saturated and cannot work normally. In addition, the embodiment of the present invention calibrates the wireless air interface between the channels in the same base station, and does not use the coupling disk, thereby avoiding the problem of large complexity of the wired coupling mode coupling disk under the condition of large-scale small-pitch antenna array.

Exemplarily, the base station eNB and the large-scale small-pitch antenna array in the LTE wireless communication system will be described in detail below as an example.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the method for determining the calibration weight coefficient of the antenna array is described in detail by taking the first mode switching circuit in the receiving channel of any channel as an example. The main steps can be seen in FIG. 3 .

301. The eNB acquires a first response characteristic of a receiving channel of any channel of the antenna array in a normal communication mode.

The antenna array may be a large-scale small-pitch antenna array. For example, the number of antennas may be several hundred or more, and the spacing between the antennas is small, and may be 0.5 wavelength, that is, 50 mm.

The number of channels corresponds to the number of antennas, and each channel may include an antenna, a duplexer, a transmitting circuit, a mode switching circuit, a receiving circuit, a DAC, an ADC, a calibration signal generating unit, a memory, and a computing unit. The mode switching circuit in the embodiment of the present invention can be used to switch between the normal communication mode and the calibration mode of any channel, and the receiving circuit in the embodiment of the present invention is further configured to receive any channel. The first response characteristic and the second response characteristic of the receiving channel of the normal communication mode and the calibration mode, the calculating unit is further configured to calculate a ratio of the first response characteristic and the second response characteristic of the receiving channel of any channel, and the memory is further used for A ratio of a first response characteristic and a second response characteristic of a receiving channel of any channel is stored.

The normal communication mode can be a normal working mode when any channel of the antenna array communicates normally with other devices such as other base stations or mobile terminals, and the transmission signals of other devices are generally high power signals. Illustratively, the mode switching circuit can be set at the front end of any receiving channel, see FIG. 4, to switch the operating mode of any channel to the normal communication mode. Since the circuit structure of any channel transmission channel is consistent with the prior art in the embodiment of the present invention, reference may be made to FIG. 1 , and details are not described herein again.

Alternatively, the normal communication mode may be calibrated using a receive channel of any channel, wherein the normal communication mode is to switch the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the receive channel to a branch including the low noise amplifier LNA, so that The signal passing through the LNA is amplified; the mode switching circuit includes a single pole double throw switch, an LNA, and an attenuator.

The mode switching circuit of any receiving channel may be a first mode switching circuit, the first mode switching circuit may include a single pole double throw switch, an LNA and an attenuator, and the single pole double throw switch may further comprise a first single pole double throw switch. And the second single pole double throw switch, see Figure 5. Of course, the first mode switching circuit can also be implemented in other circuit manners, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present invention.

The response characteristic refers to the relationship between the input excitation signal of any channel and the corresponding output response signal, including the amplitude-frequency response characteristic, that is, the ratio of the amplitude of the output signal of any channel to the amplitude of the input signal, and the phase-frequency response characteristic, that is, the output. The phase of the signal is different from the phase value of its input signal. The VNA can send a signal to the receiving channel in the normal communication mode of any channel, thereby obtaining the response characteristic of any receiving channel in the normal communication mode, that is, the first response characteristic, as shown in FIG. 6. The external control may be a computer or other test control platform for transmitting a control command to each measured receiving channel, indicating that the measured receiving channel determines the working mode as the normal communication mode.

Optionally, the eNB obtains the first response characteristic of any channel of the antenna array in the normal communication mode, and obtains any one of the VNA tests by sending a signal to any channel in a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA). The first response characteristic of the channel's receive channel in normal communication mode.

Specifically, when any channel receives a signal sent by another device, due to the far Due to the distance, the transmitted high-power signal is attenuated to a low-power signal. When the VNA is connected to any channel under test, the VNA can simulate a small power signal sent by other devices over a long distance and send a small power to the channel under test. Signal, and the normal communication mode may be to switch the first single pole double throw switch and the second single pole double throw switch to the branch including the low noise amplifier LNA in the first mode switching circuit of any receiving channel, so that the LNA passes The low power signal is amplified so that the VNA can measure the first response characteristic of the channel under test in normal operating mode. Since the normal communication mode is the working mode when any channel performs normal communication with other devices such as other base stations or mobile terminals, the transmission distance of the wireless signal is long in the communication process, and the transmission loss of the air interface is large, so it is necessary to pass the LNA in the receiving channel. The wireless receive signal is amplified. Of course, the first mode switching circuit can also be implemented in other circuit manners, so that the working mode of any channel is switched to the normal communication mode, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present invention.

302. The eNB acquires a second response characteristic of the receiving channel of any channel of the antenna array in the calibration mode.

The calibration mode in this step refers to the high-power signal receiving mode used when calibrating the antenna array, which can be understood as the working mode in which the channel between the antenna arrays sends signals to the other channel of the antenna array, due to the relationship between the two channels. The distance is small, and the channel transmits a high-power signal, that is, the signal is a high-power signal before the receiving channel receives the signal, so it can also be called a high-power signal receiving mode.

Alternatively, the calibration mode can be calibrated using a receive channel of any channel, wherein the calibration mode switches the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the receive channel to a branch including the attenuator to pass through the attenuator The signal is attenuated; the mode switching circuit includes a single-pole double-throw switch, an LNA, and an attenuator.

Wherein, the calibration mode may be to switch the first single pole double throw switch and the second single pole double throw switch in the first mode switching circuit to the branch including the attenuator so that the signal passing through the attenuator is attenuated, see FIG.

Optionally, when the eNB acquires the second response characteristic of any channel of the antenna array in the calibration mode, when the eNB sends a signal to the any channel in the vector network analyzer VNA, Obtain the second response characteristic of the receive channel of any channel obtained by the VNA test in the calibration mode.

Specifically, since the antenna spacing of the large-scale small-pitch antenna array in the eNB is small, the loss of the calibration signal by the air interface transmission is low, and the existing wireless air interface coupling method easily causes the receiving channel to be deeply saturated. Therefore, referring to FIG. 8, the VNA can be simulated. The other channel sends a large power signal to the channel under test, so that the first mode switching circuit can be set at the front end of any receiving channel, and when the calibration is performed in the calibration mode, the calibration signal through the branch including the attenuator is performed. The attenuation makes the calibration signal after the attenuation at the front end of the receiving channel no longer a high-power signal, so that the receiving channel is not saturated and can maintain a normal working state. The external control may be a computer or other test control platform for transmitting a control command to each measured receiving channel, indicating that the measured receiving channel determines the working mode as the calibration mode.

303. The eNB acquires a ratio of a first response characteristic of the receiving channel of any channel to a second response characteristic, and saves a ratio corresponding to any channel.

Wherein, if there are N channels in the antenna array, each receiving channel corresponds to a ratio of a first response characteristic to a second response characteristic, and there are N ratios, and the ratio of any channel is saved in each channel. In memory.

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the transmission channels in the normal communication mode and the calibration mode are not changed, and the response characteristics of the transmission channels in the two modes are the same, that is, the first response characteristic of the transmission channel in the normal communication mode. The ratio of the second response characteristic of the transmit channel in the calibration mode is one.

304. The eNB sets the working mode of any channel to a calibration mode by using a mode switching circuit of a receiving channel of any channel of the antenna array.

Specifically, the eNB may switch the first single-pole double-throw switch and the second single-pole double-throw switch of the first mode switching circuit of any receiving channel to the branch including the attenuator, thereby setting the working mode of any channel of the antenna array For calibration mode.

305. The eNB acquires any channel to send a calibration signal to the reference channel and any channel. Corresponding third response characteristic, the reference channel is one of the channels in the antenna array.

The reference channel is used to calibrate the signal with any channel during the calibration process. For example, the reference channel can be designated as the rth channel.

Specifically, in the calibration mode, any channel n may send a first calibration signal to the reference channel r, and the third channel response characteristic m _nr corresponding to the channel n obtained by the reference channel r may be expressed as:

m _nr =Tx _n ·H(nr)·Rx' _r

Among them, Tx _n is the transmission channel characteristic of channel n, H(nr) is the air interface transmission characteristic, and Rx' _r is the receiving channel characteristic of the reference channel r in the calibration mode.

Since the spacing between any channels of the large-scale small-pitch antenna array in the eNB is small, the loss of the calibration signal by the air interface transmission is low, and the existing wireless air interface coupling method easily causes the receiving channel to be deeply saturated, and therefore, passes through any receiving channel. When the first mode switching circuit is set to switch the working mode to the calibration mode, the reference channel sends the first calibration signal to the other channels, and is attenuated by the branch including the attenuator in the receiving channel, so that the attenuation is performed at the front end of the receiving channel. The calibration signal is no longer a high power signal, so that the receive channel is not saturated and can maintain normal operation, ie the calibration mode can make any channel in the calibration process unsaturated.

306. The reference channel of the eNB sends a second calibration signal to any channel to obtain a fourth response characteristic corresponding to any channel.

Similarly, similar to the working principle of 305, in the calibration mode, the reference channel r can send a second calibration signal to any channel n, and the fourth response characteristic m _rn obtained by channel n corresponding to the channel n can be expressed as:

m _rn =Tx _r ·H(rn)·Rx' _n

Among them, Tx _r is the transmission channel characteristic of the reference channel r, H(rn) is the air interface transmission characteristic, and Rx' _n is the receiving channel characteristic of the channel n in the calibration mode. The second calibration signal may be the same as or different from the first calibration signal.

307. The eNB compares the ratio of any channel, the ratio of the reference channel, and the third response. The fourth and fourth response characteristics acquire the calibration weight coefficients of any channel relative to the reference channel, and the calibration weight coefficients are used to compensate for channel compensation for either channel.

The calibration weight coefficient defined in the embodiment of the present invention represents a ratio of a ratio of a transmission characteristic to a reception characteristic of any channel and a ratio of a transmission characteristic of the reference channel to a reception characteristic, and thus can be actually based on the calibration weight coefficient. Channel compensation is performed for any channel during communication, which in turn enables the MIMO system to estimate the downlink channel characteristics based on the characteristics of the uplink channel.

The calibration weight coefficient k _{nr of} channel n can be expressed as: k _nr =(Tx _n /Rx _n )÷(Tx _r /Rx _r ), Tx _n represents the emission characteristic of channel n in normal communication mode, and Rx _n represents normal communication. The reception characteristic of the mode channel n, Tx _r represents the transmission characteristic of the reference channel r in the normal communication mode, and Rx _r represents the reception characteristic of the reference channel r in the normal communication mode. The derivation process can be as follows: due to the ratio r _r = Rx _r / Rx' _r of the first response characteristic of the receiving channel of the reference channel r and the second response characteristic, then Rx' _r = Rx _r / r _r ;

The ratio of the first response characteristic of the receiving channel of channel n to the second response characteristic r _n = Rx _n / Rx' _n , then Rx' _n = Rx _n / r _n ;

Bring Rx' _r into m _nr =Tx _n ·H(nr)·Rx'_r;

Bring Rx' _n into m _rn =Tx _r ·H(rn)·Rx'_n;

Get the ratio of m _nr to m _rn :

m _nr /m _rn =[(Tx _n /Rx _n )÷(Tx _r /Rx _r )]·[H(nr)·H(rn)]/(r _r /r _n );

According to the reciprocity of the air interface transmission characteristics, H(nr)=H(rn) can be obtained;

Then the above formula m _nr /m _rn =[(Tx _n /Rx _n )÷(Tx _r /Rx _r )]/(r _r /r _n );

The shift term (Tx _n /Rx _n )÷(Tx _r /Rx _r )=(m _nr /m _rn )·(r _r /r _n );

That is, the calibration weight coefficient k _nr = (Tx _n / Rx _n ) ÷ (Tx _r / Rx _r ) = (m _nr / m _rn ) · (r _r / r _n ).

If the eNB uses the receiving channel of any channel for calibration, the third response characteristic m _nr of any channel n, the fourth response characteristic m _{rn of} any channel n, the reference channel ratio r _r , any channel n The ratio r _{n is} taken into the calculation formula k _nr = (m _nr /m _rn )·(r _r /r _n ), thereby calculating the calibration weight coefficient k _nr .

A method for determining a calibration weight coefficient provided by an embodiment of the present invention, by switching a first mode switching circuit of any receiving channel to a branch including an attenuator, to operate the operating mode of any channel from a normal communication mode Switching to the calibration mode, and then mutually transmitting the calibration signal through the reference air channel and the wireless air interface between any channel, obtaining the third response characteristic and the fourth response characteristic corresponding to each channel, and combining the first communication mode of any channel The ratio of the response characteristic to the second response characteristic of the calibration mode is calculated, and the calibration weight coefficient of any channel relative to the reference channel is calculated to complete the calibration of the antenna array. Wherein, by setting a first mode switching circuit at the front end of any receiving channel, when calibrating in the calibration mode, the calibration signal passing through the attenuator branch is attenuated, thereby attenuating the calibration signal at the front end of the receiving channel It is no longer a high-power signal, so that the receiving channel is not saturated and can work normally to complete the calibration process. Therefore, the existing wireless air interface coupling mode can be solved because the antenna spacing of the large-scale small-pitch antenna array in the same base station is small, and the air interface transmission loss is low, so that the receiving channel is deeply saturated and cannot work normally.

In addition, the embodiment of the present invention calibrates the wireless air interface between the channels in the same base station, and does not use the coupling disk, thereby avoiding the problem of large complexity of the wired coupling mode coupling disk under the condition of large-scale small-pitch antenna array.

Similar to the previous embodiment, the embodiment of the present invention will take a second mode switching circuit in the transmission channel of any channel as an example to describe the method for determining the calibration coefficient of the antenna array. The main steps can be seen in FIG. 9 . .

901. The eNB acquires a first response characteristic of a transmit channel of any channel of the antenna array in a normal communication mode.

The number of channels corresponds to the number of antennas. Each channel can include an antenna, a duplexer, a transmitting circuit, a mode switching circuit, a receiving circuit, a DAC, an ADC, and a calibration signal generation. Units, memory, computing units, etc. The mode switching circuit in the embodiment of the present invention can be used to switch between the normal communication mode and the calibration mode of any channel, and the receiving circuit in the embodiment of the present invention is further configured to receive any channel. The first response characteristic and the second response characteristic of the normal communication mode and the calibration mode of the transmission channel, the calculation unit is further configured to calculate a ratio of the first response characteristic and the second response characteristic of the transmission channel of any channel, and the memory is further used for A ratio of a first response characteristic to a second response characteristic of a transmission channel of any channel is stored.

The normal communication mode may be a normal working mode when any channel of the antenna array communicates normally with other devices such as other base stations or mobile terminals, and the transmission signals of other devices are generally high power signals. Illustratively, the mode switching circuit can be set in any of the transmission channels, see FIG. 10, to switch the operating mode of any channel to the normal communication mode. In the embodiment of the present invention, the circuit structure of the receiving channel of any channel of the antenna array is consistent with the prior art. Therefore, reference may be made to FIG. 1 , and details are not described herein again.

Alternatively, the normal communication mode can be calibrated using a transmission channel of any channel, wherein the normal communication mode is to switch the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the transmission channel to a branch that does not include the attenuator, so that the signal No attenuation passed.

The mode switching circuit of any of the transmitting channels may be a second mode switching circuit, the second mode switching circuit may include a single pole double throw switch and an attenuator, and the single pole double throw switch may further include a first single pole double throw switch and a first Two single pole double throw switches, see Figure 11. Of course, the second mode switching circuit can also be implemented in other circuit manners, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present invention.

The response characteristic refers to the relationship between the input excitation signal of any channel and the corresponding output response signal, including the amplitude-frequency response characteristic, that is, the ratio of the amplitude of the output signal of any channel to the amplitude of the input signal, and the phase-frequency response characteristic, that is, the output. The phase of the signal is different from the phase value of its input signal. The VNA can send a signal to the transmit channel of any channel in the normal communication mode, thereby obtaining the response characteristic of any of the transmit channels in the normal communication mode, that is, the first response characteristic, see FIG. The external control may be a computer or other test control platform for transmitting control commands to each of the tested transmit channels, indicating The measured transmit channel determines the operating mode as the normal communication mode.

Optionally, the first response characteristic of the eNB acquiring any channel of the antenna array in the normal communication mode may be obtained by the eNB acquiring the channel of any channel obtained by the VNA test when the vector network analyzer VNA sends a signal to any channel. The first response characteristic in normal communication mode.

Specifically, when any channel sends a signal to other devices, because of the long distance, the air interface transmission loss is large, so it is necessary to transmit a high power signal, so that when the VNA is connected to any of the measured channels, the VNA can simulate a large The power transmission signal sends a signal to the channel under test, and the normal communication mode may switch the first single pole double throw switch and the second single pole double throw switch in the second mode switching circuit of any of the transmission channels to a branch that does not include the attenuator So that the transmitted high-power signal is not attenuated, so that the VNA can measure the first response characteristic of the channel under test in the normal operating mode. This is because the normal communication mode, that is, the working mode when any channel performs normal communication with other devices such as other base stations or mobile terminals, the transmission distance of the wireless signal is far in the communication process, and the transmission loss of the air interface is large, so that it is not required in the transmission channel. Attenuate the wireless transmit signal. Of course, the second mode switching circuit can also be implemented in other circuit manners, so that the working mode of any channel is switched to the normal communication mode, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present invention.

902. The eNB acquires a second response characteristic of a transmit channel of any channel of the antenna array in a calibration mode.

The calibration mode in this step refers to the low power signal transmission mode used when calibrating the antenna array, which can be understood as the operation mode in which the channel between the antenna arrays sends signals to the other channel of the antenna array, due to the relationship between the two channels. The spacing is small, the air interface transmission loss is small, and the transmitting channel transmits a high-power signal, which easily causes the receiving channel to be saturated. Therefore, the low-power signal transmitting mode in the embodiment of the present invention can cause the transmitting channel to emit a low-power signal, that is, Before the receiving channel of the other channel receives the signal, the signal is a low power signal, so it can also be called a low power signal transmitting mode.

The calibration mode is to switch the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the transmitting channel to the branch including the attenuator to attenuate the signal passing through the attenuator; mode switching The circuit includes a single pole double throw switch and an attenuator.

Wherein, the calibration mode may be to switch the first single pole double throw switch and the second single pole double throw switch in the second mode switching circuit to the branch including the attenuator, so that the signal passing through the attenuator is attenuated, see FIG.

Optionally, the second response characteristic of the eNB acquiring any channel of the antenna array in the calibration mode may include: when the vector network analyzer VNA sends a signal to any channel, the eNB obtains a transmission channel of any channel obtained by the VNA test. The second response characteristic in calibration mode.

Specifically, since the antenna spacing of the large-scale small-pitch antenna array in the eNB is small, the loss of the calibration signal by the air interface transmission is low, and the existing wireless air interface coupling method easily causes the receiving channel to be deeply saturated. Therefore, referring to FIG. 14, the VNA can be simulated. The other channel sends a large power signal to the channel under test, so that the calibration signal including the attenuator branch can be performed by switching to the calibration mode for calibration by the second mode switching circuit set in any of the transmission channels. The attenuation is such that the power of the calibration signal is attenuated before the antenna is radiated, so that the receiving channel receives no more high-power signals, and thus does not cause the receiving channel to be saturated and can maintain a normal working state. The external control may be a computer or other test control platform for transmitting a control command to each measured transmit channel, indicating that the measured transmit channel determines the working mode as the calibration mode.

903. The eNB acquires a ratio of a first response characteristic of the transmit channel of any channel to a second response characteristic, and saves a ratio corresponding to any channel.

Wherein, if there are N channels in the antenna array, each of the transmission channels corresponds to a ratio of the first response characteristic to the second response characteristic, and there are N ratios, and the ratio of any channel is saved in each channel. In memory.

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the receiving channels in the normal communication mode and the calibration mode are not changed, and thus the response characteristics of the receiving channels are the same in the two modes, that is, the first response characteristics of the receiving channels in the normal communication mode. The ratio of the second response characteristic of the receiving channel to the calibration mode is one.

904. The eNB sets a working mode of any channel to a calibration mode by using a mode switching circuit of a transmitting channel of any channel of the antenna array.

Specifically, the eNB may switch the first single-pole double-throw switch and the second single-pole double-throw switch of the second mode switching circuit of any of the transmitting channels to the branch including the attenuator, thereby setting the working mode of any channel of the antenna array For calibration mode.

905. The eNB acquires a third response characteristic corresponding to any channel when any channel sends a calibration signal to the reference channel, where the reference channel is one of the antenna arrays.

Specifically, in the calibration mode, any channel n may send a first calibration signal to the reference channel r, and the third response characteristic m _nr obtained by the reference channel r corresponding to the channel n may be expressed as:

m _nr =Tx' _n ·H(nr)·Rx _r

Where Tx' _n is the transmission channel characteristic of channel n in the calibration mode, H(nr) is the air interface transmission characteristic, and Rx _r is the reception channel characteristic of the reference channel r.

Since the spacing between any channels of the large-scale small-pitch antenna array in the eNB is small, the loss of the calibration signal by the air interface transmission is low, and the existing wireless air interface coupling method easily causes the receiving channel to be deeply saturated. Therefore, the eNB passes any transmission channel. The second mode switching circuit set in the mode switches the working mode to the calibration mode, and when the reference channel sends the second calibration signal to the other channel, the attenuation is performed by the branch including the attenuator in the transmitting channel, so that the power of the calibration signal is radiated at the antenna. Attenuation before going out, so that the receiving channel is no longer a high-power signal, so it does not cause the receiving channel to saturate and can maintain normal working state, that is, the calibration mode can make any channel in the calibration process unsaturated.

906. The reference channel of the eNB sends a second calibration signal to any channel to obtain a fourth response characteristic corresponding to any channel.

Similarly, similar to the working principle in 905, in the calibration mode, the reference channel r can send a second calibration signal to any channel, and the fourth response characteristic m _rn obtained by channel n corresponding to the channel n can be expressed as:

m _rn =Tx' _r ·H(rn)·Rx _n

Where Tx' _r is the transmission channel characteristic of the reference channel r in the calibration mode, H(rn) is the air interface transmission characteristic, and Rx _n is the reception channel characteristic of the channel n. The second calibration signal may be the same as or different from the first calibration signal.

907. The eNB obtains a calibration weight coefficient of any channel relative to the reference channel according to a ratio of any channel, a ratio of the reference channel, a third response characteristic, and a fourth response characteristic, and the calibration weight coefficient is used to channel any channel. make up.

The calibration weight coefficient defined in the embodiment of the present invention represents a ratio of a ratio of a transmission characteristic to a reception characteristic of any channel to a ratio of a transmission characteristic of the reference channel to a reception characteristic. Therefore, according to the calibration weight coefficient, channel compensation can be performed on any channel in the actual communication process, thereby enabling the MIMO system to estimate the downlink channel characteristics according to the uplink channel characteristics.

The calibration weight coefficient k _{nr of} channel n can be expressed as: k _nr =(Tx _n /Rx _n )÷(Tx _r /Rx _r ), Tx _n represents the emission characteristic of channel n in normal communication mode, and Rx _n represents normal communication. The reception characteristic of the mode channel n, Tx _r represents the transmission characteristic of the reference channel r in the normal communication mode, and Rx _r represents the reception characteristic of the reference channel r in the normal communication mode. The derivation process can be as follows: Tx' _r = Tx _r / r _r due to the ratio r _r = Tx _r / Tx' _r of the first response characteristic of the transmission channel of the reference channel r and the second response characteristic;

The ratio of the first response characteristic of the transmission channel of channel n to the second response characteristic r _n =Tx _n /Tx' _n , then Tx' _n =Tx _n /r _n ;

Bring Tx' _n into m _nr =Tx' _n ·H(nr)·Rx _r ;

Bring Tx' _r into m _rn =Tx' _r ·H(rn)·Rx _n ;

Get the ratio of m _nr to m _rn :

m _nr /m _rn =[(Tx _n /Rx _n )÷(Rx _r /Rx _r )]·[H(nr)/H(rn)]/(r _n /r _r );

Then the above formula m _nr /m _rn =[(Tx _n /Rx _n )÷(Tx _r /Rx _r )]/(r _n /r _r );

The shift term (Tx _n /Rx _n )÷(Tx _r /Rx _r )=(m _nr /m _rn )·(r _n /r _r );

That is, the calibration weight coefficient k _nr = (Tx _n / Rx _n ) ÷ (Tx _r / Rx _r ) = (m _nr / m _rn ) · (r _n / r _r ).

If the eNB performs calibration using the transmit channel of any channel, the third response characteristic m _nr of any channel n, the fourth response characteristic m _{rn of} any channel n, the reference channel ratio r _r , any channel n The ratio r _{n is} taken into the calculation formula k _nr =(m _nr /m _rn )·(r _n /r _r ), thereby calculating the calibration weight coefficient k _nr .

Moreover, by way of example, the downlink channel characteristics can be estimated by the uplink channel characteristics using the calibration result after the calibration is completed. For example, in the uplink process of communication between the mobile phone and the base station, if the mobile phone sends a signal to channel 1 of the antenna array of the base station, channel 1 obtains a response signal Z1, the mobile phone transmits a signal to channel 2 of the antenna array of the base station, and channel 2 obtains a response signal Z2; Channel 1 of the base station antenna array sends a signal to the mobile phone, the mobile phone obtains the response signal D1, the channel 2 of the base station antenna array sends a signal to the mobile phone, and the mobile phone obtains the response signal D2, and the downlink channel characteristic has a relationship with the uplink channel characteristic: D1/D2=t ₁₂ · (Z1/Z2), where t ₁₂ is the ratio of the ratio of the emission characteristics to the reception characteristics between channel 1 and channel 2 in the antenna array, and t ₁₂ =k _1r /k _2r , k _1r and k _2r are respectively The calibration weight coefficients for channel 1 and channel 2 relative to reference channel r. Therefore, the downlink channel characteristics can be estimated by the uplink channel characteristics by using the calibration weight coefficient in the actual communication process.

Exemplarily, after the calibration is completed, the calibration weight coefficient may be configured according to different algorithms, thereby performing channel compensation on any channel in the actual communication process, or configuring the terminal device such as a mobile phone according to the estimated downlink channel characteristics. Therefore, various communication requirements in the communication process are satisfied, for example, the maximum combined power of the mobile phone is realized.

A method for determining a calibration weight coefficient is provided by the embodiment of the present invention, by switching a second mode switching circuit of any transmitting channel to a branch including an attenuator to operate the working mode of any channel from a normal communication mode. Switch to the calibration mode, and then exchange calibration signals through the reference channel and the wireless air interface between any channel to obtain each channel. Calculating the calibration weight coefficient of any channel relative to the reference channel from the corresponding third response characteristic and the fourth response characteristic, in combination with the ratio of the first response characteristic of the normal communication mode of any channel to the second response characteristic of the calibration mode, Thereby the calibration of the antenna array is completed. Wherein, by setting a second mode switching circuit in any of the transmitting channels, when calibrating in the calibration mode, the calibration signal including the attenuator branch is attenuated, so that the power of the calibration signal is attenuated before the antenna radiates out Therefore, the receiving channel receives no more high-power signals, and thus does not cause the receiving channel to saturate and can work normally to complete the calibration process. Therefore, the existing wireless air interface coupling mode can be solved because the antenna spacing of the large-scale small-pitch antenna array in the same base station is small, and the air interface transmission loss is low, so that the receiving channel is deeply saturated and cannot work normally.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, the wireless air interface between the channels in the same base station is calibrated, and the coupling disk is not used, so that the problem of large complexity of the wired coupling type coupling disk can be avoided under the condition of large-scale small-pitch antenna array.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present invention, the first mode switching circuit is set in the receiving channel of any channel, or the second mode switching circuit is set in the transmitting channel of any channel, for example, on the same base station. For the calibration of the small-pitch antenna array, it is also possible to set the first mode switching circuit in the receiving channel of any channel at the same time, and set the second mode switching circuit in the transmitting channel of any channel, thereby implementing the calibration mode, in the same base station. Large-scale small-pitch antenna arrays are calibrated.

The embodiment of the present invention provides a base station 1500, which may include an antenna array 1600. The antenna array 1600 includes N channels 1700. Each channel 1700 includes an antenna 1701, a duplexer 1702, a transmitting circuit 1703, a mode switching circuit 1704, and a receiving circuit 1705. A digital to analog converter DAC 1706, an analog to digital converter ADC 1707, a calibration signal generating unit 1708, a memory 1709, and a computing unit 1710. The base station structure diagram of the receiving channel including the mode switching circuit can be seen in FIG. 15a, and the base station structure diagram of the transmitting channel including the mode switching circuit can be seen in FIG. 15b. Compared with the prior art, the embodiment of the present invention provides a mode switching circuit 1704 in any channel of the antenna array, which is mainly used for switching between the normal communication mode and the calibration mode of any channel, and in the embodiment of the present invention, receiving Electricity The circuit 1705 is further configured to receive the first response characteristic and the second response characteristic of the receiving channel or the transmitting channel of the normal communication mode and the calibration mode of any channel, and the calculating unit 1710 in the embodiment of the present invention is further configured to calculate any channel. The ratio of the first response characteristic of the receiving channel or the transmitting channel to the second response characteristic, the memory 1709 is further configured to store a ratio of the first response characteristic and the second response characteristic of the receiving channel or the transmitting channel of any channel, wherein:

The mode switching circuit 1704 is configured to switch an operating mode of any channel of the antenna array, so that the base station acquires a first response characteristic of any channel in a normal communication mode and a second response characteristic in a calibration mode, and the calibration mode is in a calibration process. Any channel that is not saturated.

The mode switching circuit 1704 may be the first mode switching circuit 170410 in the receiving channel or the second mode switching circuit 170420 in the transmitting channel, see FIG. 16. The antenna array may be a large-scale small-pitch antenna array in the base station 1700, and the number of antennas may be several hundred or more, and the spacing between the antennas is small, and may be 0.5 wavelength, that is, 50 mm.

The response characteristic refers to the relationship between the excitation signal (input signal) of any channel and the corresponding response signal (output signal), including the amplitude-frequency response characteristic, that is, the ratio of the amplitude of the output signal of any channel to the amplitude of its input signal, and the phase The frequency response characteristic, that is, the phase of the output signal is different from the phase value of its input signal.

The normal communication mode in the embodiment of the present invention is a normal working mode used when any channel of the base station communicates with other devices such as other base stations or mobile terminals, and the calibration mode in the embodiment of the present invention is to calibrate any channel of the base station. The calibration mode used.

Alternatively, both the normal communication mode and the calibration mode are calibrated using a receive channel of any channel, wherein the normal communication mode is to switch the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit 1704 of the receive channel to a branch including the low noise amplifier LNA. a path so that the signal passing through the LNA is amplified; the calibration mode is to switch the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit 1704 of the receiving channel to the branch including the attenuator to attenuate the signal passing through the attenuator; mode switching circuit The 1704 includes a single pole double throw switch, an LNA, and an attenuator; Or both the normal communication mode and the calibration mode are calibrated using a transmission channel of any channel, wherein the normal communication mode is to switch the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit 1704 of the transmission channel to a branch that does not include the attenuator, so that The signal is attenuated; the calibration mode is to switch the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the transmitting channel to the branch including the attenuator to attenuate the signal passing through the attenuator; the mode switching circuit 1704 includes a single-pole double-throw switch and Attenuator.

The normal communication mode may specifically switch the first single-pole double-throw switch 170411 and the second single-pole double-throw switch 170412 in the first mode switching circuit 170410 of any receiving channel to a branch including the low noise amplifier LNA 170413, so that The signal passing through the LNA 170413 is amplified; the calibration mode may specifically switch the first single-pole double-throw switch 170411 and the second single-pole double-throw switch 170412 in the first mode switching circuit 170410 of any receiving channel to a branch including the attenuator 170413. The signal passing through the attenuator 170413 is attenuated; the first mode switching circuit 170410 includes a first single pole double throw switch 170411, a second single pole double throw switch 170412, an LNA 170413, and an attenuator 170414, as shown in FIG. Of course, the first mode switching circuit can also be implemented in other circuit manners, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present invention.

Alternatively, the normal communication mode may specifically switch the first single-pole double-throw switch 170421 and the second single-pole double-throw switch 170422 in the second mode switching circuit 170420 of any of the transmitting channels to a branch that does not include the attenuator 170423, so that the signal No attenuation is passed; the calibration mode may specifically switch the first single-pole double-throw switch 170421 and the second single-pole double-throw switch 170422 in the second mode switching circuit 170420 of any of the transmitting channels to a branch including the attenuator 170423, so as to pass The signal of the attenuator 170423 is attenuated; the second mode switching circuit 170420 includes a first single pole double throw switch 170421, a second single pole double throw switch 170422, and an attenuator 170423, as shown in FIG. Of course, the second mode switching circuit can also be implemented in other circuit manners, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present invention.

Optionally, the receiving circuit 1705 can be configured to: when the vector network analyzer VNA sends a signal to any channel, the base station acquires a receiving channel of any channel obtained by the VNA test. The first response characteristic in the normal communication mode and the second response characteristic in the calibration mode respectively; or when the base station sends a signal to the any channel in the vector network analyzer VNA, the transmission channels of any channel obtained by the VNA test are respectively The first response characteristic in the normal communication mode and the second response characteristic in the calibration mode.

Among them, VNA is a kind of RF response characteristic test equipment. It has its own built-in signal generator, which can send test signals to the measured channel to measure the response characteristics of the receiving channel or transmitting channel of any channel, including amplitude-frequency response characteristics and phase. Frequency response characteristics.

The calculating unit 1710 is configured to obtain a ratio of the first response characteristic and the second response characteristic of any channel.

The memory 1709 is configured to save a ratio corresponding to any channel.

The mode switching circuit 1704 is further configured to switch the single-pole double-throw switch of the receiving channel of any channel to the branch including the attenuator, or the base station switches the single-pole double-throw switch of the transmitting channel of any channel to the attenuator including the attenuator. Branch road

The calibration signal generating unit 1708 is configured to trigger any channel to send a first calibration signal to the reference channel to obtain a third response characteristic corresponding to any channel obtained by the reference channel;

The calibration signal generating unit 1708 is further configured to trigger the reference channel to send a second calibration signal to any channel to obtain a fourth response characteristic corresponding to any channel.

The reference channel is used to separately calibrate the signal with any channel during the calibration process.

The calculating unit 1710 is further configured to obtain, according to the ratio of each channel of each channel, the ratio of the reference channel, the third response characteristic, and the fourth response characteristic, a calibration weight coefficient of any channel relative to the reference channel, and the calibration weight coefficient is used. Channel compensation for any channel.

The calibration weight coefficient defined in the embodiment of the present invention represents the ratio of the ratio of the transmission characteristics of the channel to the reception characteristics and the ratio of the transmission characteristics of the reference channel to the reception characteristics.

k _nr =(m _nr /m _rn )·(r _r /r _n );

k _nr =(m _nr /m _rn )·(r _n /r _r );

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present invention, the first mode switching circuit 170410 of any receiving channel or the second mode switching circuit 170420 of any one of the transmitting channels is taken as an example, and how to set and switch to the calibration mode for any channel is explained. of. It is of course also possible to set the first mode switching circuit 170410 in any channel receiving channel while setting the second mode switching circuit 170420 in any channel transmitting channel, thereby implementing the calibration mode of any channel.

A base station 1700 according to an embodiment of the present invention switches the working mode of any channel from the normal communication mode to the calibration mode, and then sends a calibration signal to the wireless air interface between the reference channel and any channel to obtain a separate channel from the other channels. Corresponding third response characteristic and fourth response characteristic, combining the ratio of the first response characteristic of the normal communication mode of any channel to the second response characteristic of the calibration mode, calculating a calibration weight coefficient of any channel relative to the reference channel, thereby Complete calibration of the antenna array. Among them, the calibration mode of any channel can make the calibration signal not reach the saturation of the receiving channel after reaching the receiving channel, so that the receiving channel can work normally to complete the calibration process, thus solving the existing wireless air port coupling mode during the calibration process. Large-scale small room in the same base station The problem that the distance between the antennas of the antenna array is small and the transmission loss of the air interface is low causes the receiving channel to be deeply saturated and cannot work normally. In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, the wireless air interface between the channels in the same base station is calibrated, and the coupling disk is not used, so that the complexity of the coupled mode of the wired coupling mode under the condition of large-scale small-pitch antenna array can be avoided.

The embodiment of the present invention provides a base station 1900. As shown in FIG. 19, the base station 1900 includes: a bus 1905, and a processor 1901, a transmitter 1902, a receiver 1903, and a memory 1904 connected to the bus 1905. The receiver is configured. 1903 is configured to receive a first response characteristic of any channel of the antenna array in a normal communication mode and a second response characteristic in a calibration mode, wherein the calibration mode is a mode in which any channel is not saturated during the calibration process; the processor 1901 Executing the instruction is used to obtain a ratio of the first response characteristic and the second response characteristic of any channel; the processor 1901 executes the instruction and is used to obtain a calibration mode, and any channel corresponding to any channel when transmitting a calibration signal to the reference channel a third response characteristic, and a fourth response characteristic corresponding to any channel when the reference channel sends the calibration signal to any channel, the reference channel being one of the antenna arrays; the processor 1901 executing the instruction is further used according to The ratio of any channel, the ratio of the reference channel, the third response characteristic, and the fourth response characteristic acquire any channel relative to the reference channel Quasi weight coefficients, a calibration coefficient used to weight a channel to any channel compensation; the memory 1904 for storing instructions and data, and stores any channel in response to a first and a second characteristic ratio response characteristic.

Optionally, both the normal communication mode and the calibration mode can be calibrated by using a receiving channel of any channel, wherein the normal communication mode is to switch the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the receiving channel to the branch including the low noise amplifier LNA. a path so that the signal passing through the LNA is amplified; the calibration mode is to switch the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the receiving channel to the branch including the attenuator to attenuate the signal passing through the attenuator; the mode switching circuit includes Single-pole double-throw switch, LNA and attenuator; or normal communication mode and calibration mode can be calibrated using the transmit channel of any channel, where the normal communication mode is to switch the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the transmit channel to The branch of the attenuator is not included to pass the signal without attenuation; the calibration mode is to switch the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the transmitting channel to the branch including the attenuator. To attenuate the signal passing through the attenuator; the mode switching circuit includes a single pole double throw switch and an attenuator.

In the embodiment of the present invention, optionally, the receiver 1903 executes the instruction for receiving a first response characteristic of the antenna array in a normal communication mode and a second response characteristic in a calibration mode, where the calibration mode is During the calibration process, any channel that is not saturated includes:

When the vector network analyzer VNA sends a signal to any channel, the base station can obtain the first response characteristic of the receiving channel of any channel obtained by the VNA test in the normal communication mode and the second response characteristic when the calibration mode is respectively; or the base station When the vector network analyzer VNA sends a signal to any channel, the first response characteristic of the transmission channel of any channel obtained by the VNA test in the normal communication mode and the second response characteristic in the calibration mode can be obtained.

In the embodiment of the present invention, optionally, the processor 1901 executes the instruction to set the working mode of any channel to the calibration mode, and acquires a channel corresponding to any channel when any channel sends a calibration signal to the reference channel. The third response characteristic, and the fourth response characteristic corresponding to any channel when the reference channel sends the calibration signal to any channel, the reference channel being one of the channels in the antenna array includes:

The base station switches the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the receiving channel of any channel to the branch including the attenuator, or the base station switches the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the transmitting channel of any channel to include Branch of the attenuator;

The base station controls any channel to send a first calibration signal to the reference channel to obtain a third response characteristic corresponding to any channel obtained by the reference channel;

The reference channel of the base station sends a second calibration signal to any channel to obtain a fourth response characteristic corresponding to any channel.

In the embodiment of the present invention, optionally, the processor 1901 executes the instruction, and if the calibration channel of any channel is used for calibration, the calibration weight coefficient may be expressed as:

k _nr =(m _nr /m _rn )·(r _r /r _n );

k _nr =(m _nr /m _rn )·(r _n /r _r );

A base station 1900 according to an embodiment of the present invention obtains a channel by mutually switching a working mode of any channel from a normal communication mode to a calibration mode, and then mutually transmitting a calibration signal through a reference air channel and a wireless air interface between any channel. Corresponding third response characteristics and fourth response characteristics, combined with the ratio of the first response characteristic of the normal communication mode of any channel to the second response characteristic of the calibration mode, calculating a calibration weight coefficient of any channel relative to the reference channel, Thereby the calibration of the antenna array is completed. Among them, the calibration mode of any channel can make the calibration signal not reach the saturation of the receiving channel after reaching the receiving channel, so that the receiving channel can work normally to complete the calibration process, thus solving the existing wireless air port coupling mode during the calibration process. The problem that the antenna spacing of the large-scale small-pitch antenna array in the same base station is small and the air interface transmission loss is low causes the receiving channel to be deeply saturated and cannot work normally. In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, the wireless air interface between the channels in the same base station is calibrated, and the coupling disk is not used, so that the large-scale small-pitch antenna array can avoid the large complexity of the coupled mode of the wired coupling mode.

In the several embodiments provided by the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed base station and method may be implemented in other manners. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of the unit is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be another division manner, for example, multiple units or components may be combined or Can be integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point, the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed The connection may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interface, device or unit, and may be in electrical, mechanical or other form.

In addition, in the devices and systems in various embodiments of the present invention, each functional unit may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may be physically included separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit. The above units may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of hardware plus software functional units.

All or part of the steps of implementing the foregoing method embodiments may be performed by hardware related to the program instructions. The foregoing program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, and when executed, the program includes the steps of the foregoing method embodiments; The foregoing storage medium includes: a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, and the like, which can store program codes. medium.

The above is only a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present invention. It should be covered by the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

A method for determining a calibration weight coefficient, comprising:

Obtaining a first response characteristic of any channel of the antenna array in a normal communication mode and a second response characteristic in a calibration mode, where the calibration mode is a mode in which any one of the channels is not saturated during the calibration process;

Obtaining a ratio of the first response characteristic and the second response characteristic of any one of the channels;

Acquiring a third response characteristic corresponding to any one of the channels when the calibration signal is sent to the reference channel when the calibration mode is acquired, and when the reference channel sends a calibration signal to the any channel a fourth response characteristic corresponding to a channel, wherein the reference channel is one of the antenna arrays;

Obtaining a calibration weight coefficient of the any channel relative to the reference channel according to a ratio of the any channel, a ratio of the reference channel, the third response characteristic, and the fourth response characteristic, the calibration The weight coefficient is used to perform channel compensation for any of the channels.
The method of claim 1 wherein said normal communication mode and said calibration mode are both calibrated using a receive channel of said one of said channels, wherein said normal communication mode is for said receive channel The single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit is switched to a branch including the low noise amplifier LNA to amplify a signal passing through the LNA; the calibration mode is a single-pole double throw in a mode switching circuit of the receiving channel The switch is switched to a branch including an attenuator to attenuate a signal passing through the attenuator; the mode switching circuit includes the single pole double throw switch, the LNA, and the attenuator.
The method of claim 1, wherein the normal communication mode and the calibration mode are both calibrated using a transmit channel of any of the channels, wherein the normal communication mode is to transmit the transmit channel The single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit is switched to a branch that does not include the attenuator to pass the signal without attenuation; the calibration mode is to switch the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the transmitting channel to include attenuation a branch of the device to attenuate the signal passing through the attenuator; the mode switching The circuit includes the single pole double throw switch and the attenuator.
The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the obtaining the first response characteristic of any channel of the antenna array in the normal communication mode and the second response characteristic in the calibration mode, the calibration mode is a calibration process The mode in which any of the channels is not saturated includes:

Obtaining, when the vector network analyzer VNA sends a signal to the any channel, the first response characteristic of the receiving channel of the any channel obtained by the VNA test in the normal communication mode and the calibration mode Second response characteristic; or

Obtaining, when the vector network analyzer VNA sends a signal to the any channel, the first response characteristic of the transmission channel of the any channel obtained by the VNA test in the normal communication mode and the calibration mode The second response characteristic.
The method according to claim 4, wherein the operating mode of the any channel is set to the calibration mode, and any one of the channels is sent to the reference channel when the calibration signal is sent a third response characteristic corresponding to the channel, and a fourth response characteristic corresponding to the any channel when the reference channel sends the calibration signal to the any channel, where the reference channel is one of the channels in the antenna array include:

Switching the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the receiving channel of any of the channels to a branch including the attenuator, or a single-pole double-throwing in a mode switching circuit of the transmitting channel of any of the channels Switching the switch to a branch comprising the attenuator;

Controlling, by the any channel, a first calibration signal to the reference channel to obtain a third response characteristic corresponding to the any channel obtained by the reference channel;

And controlling the reference channel to send a second calibration signal to the any channel to obtain a fourth response characteristic corresponding to the any channel.
The method according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein if the base station performs calibration using the receive channel of any of the channels, the calibration weight coefficient is expressed as:

k nr =(m nr /m rn )·(r r /r n );

Where k nr represents the calibration weight coefficient of any of the channels n, m nr represents the third response characteristic of any of the channels n, m rn represents the fourth response characteristic of any of the channels n, and r r represents The ratio of the reference channels, r n , represents the ratio of any of the channels n.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein if the base station performs calibration using the transmission channel of any of the channels, the calibration weight coefficient is expressed as:

k nr =(m nr /m rn )·(r n /r r );

Where k nr represents the calibration weight coefficient of any of the channels n, m nr represents the third response characteristic of any of the channels n, m rn represents the fourth response characteristic of any of the channels n, and r r represents The ratio of the reference channels, r n , represents the ratio of any of the channels n.
A base station, comprising: an antenna array, the antenna array comprising N channels, each channel comprising an antenna, a duplexer, a transmitting circuit, a mode switching circuit, a receiving circuit, a digital-to-analog converter DAC, An analog to digital converter ADC, a calibration signal generating unit, a memory, and a computing unit, wherein:

The mode switching circuit is configured to switch an operating mode of any channel of the antenna array, so that the base station acquires a first response characteristic of the any channel in a normal communication mode and a second response characteristic in a calibration mode The calibration mode is a mode in which any of the channels is not saturated during the calibration process;

The calculating unit is configured to obtain a ratio of the first response characteristic to the second response characteristic of any one of the channels;

The memory is configured to save a ratio corresponding to any one of the channels;

The calibration signal generating unit is configured to generate a calibration signal during the calibration process;

The mode switching circuit is further configured to set an operation mode of the any channel to the calibration mode, where the receiving circuit is configured to: when any one of the channels sends a calibration signal to the reference channel, a third response characteristic corresponding to the channel, and a fourth response characteristic corresponding to the any channel when the reference channel sends the calibration signal to the any channel, where the reference channel is one of the channels in the antenna array ;

The calculating unit is further configured to acquire, according to the ratio of the any channel, the ratio of the reference channel, the third response characteristic, and the fourth response characteristic, the path of the any channel relative to the reference channel A calibration weight coefficient is used to perform channel compensation for any of the channels.
The base station according to claim 8, wherein the normal communication mode and the calibration mode are both calibrated using a receive channel of any one of the channels, wherein the normal communication mode is to receive the receive channel The single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit is switched to a branch including the low noise amplifier LNA to amplify a signal passing through the LNA; the calibration mode is a single-pole double throw in a mode switching circuit of the receiving channel The switch is switched to a branch including an attenuator to attenuate a signal passing through the attenuator; the mode switching circuit includes the single pole double throw switch, the LNA, and the attenuator.
The base station according to claim 8, wherein the normal communication mode and the calibration mode are both calibrated using a transmission channel of any of the channels, wherein the normal communication mode is to transmit the channel The single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit is switched to a branch that does not include the attenuator to pass the signal without attenuation; the calibration mode is to switch the single-pole double-throw switch in the mode switching circuit of the transmitting channel to include attenuation a branch of the device to attenuate a signal passing through the attenuator; the mode switching circuit comprising the single pole double throw switch and the attenuator.
The base station according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the receiving circuit is configured to: when the vector network analyzer VNA sends a signal to the any channel, the base station acquires the a first response characteristic of the receiving channel of any channel in the normal communication mode and a second response characteristic in the calibration mode; or

When the vector network analyzer VNA sends a signal to the any channel, the base station acquires a first response characteristic of the transmit channel of the any channel obtained by the VNA test in the normal communication mode, and the The second response characteristic in calibration mode.
The base station according to claim 11, wherein the mode switching circuit is configured to switch a single-pole double-throw switch of the receiving channel of the any channel to a branch including the attenuator, or The base station switches the single-pole double-throw switch of the transmission channel of any of the channels to a branch including the attenuator;

The calibration signal generating unit is configured to trigger the any channel to send a first calibration signal to the reference channel, to obtain the reference channel and obtain the corresponding channel Third response characteristic;

The calibration signal generating unit is further configured to trigger the reference channel to send a second calibration signal to the any channel to obtain a fourth response characteristic corresponding to the any channel.
The base station according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein if the base station performs calibration using the receiving channel of any of the channels, the calibration weight coefficient is expressed as:

k nr =(m nr /m rn )·(r r /r n );

Where k nr represents the calibration weight coefficient of any channel n, m nr represents the third response characteristic of any of the channels n, m rn represents the fourth response characteristic of any of the channels n, and r r represents the Referring to the ratio of the channels, r n represents the ratio of any of the channels n.
The base station according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein if the base station performs calibration using the transmission channel of any of the channels, the calibration weight coefficient is expressed as:

k nr =(m nr /m rn )·(r n /r r );

Where k nr represents the calibration weight coefficient of any of the channels n, m nr represents the third response characteristic of any of the channels n, m rn represents the fourth response characteristic of any of the channels n, and r r represents The ratio of the reference channels, r n , represents the ratio of any of the channels n.