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US6339399B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Antenna array calibration

Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
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Filing: 2000-06-26
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Granted: 2002-01-15
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Expires: 2020-06-26
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Abstract

Abstract A method and a system for calibrating the reception and transmission of an antenna array for use in a cellular communication system is disclosed. The calibration of the reception of the antenna array is performed by injecting a single calibration signal into each of a number of receiving antenna sections, in parallel. The signals are collected after having passed receiving components that might have distorted the phase and amplitude. Correction factors are generated and applied to received signals. The calibration of the transmission of the antenna array is preformed in a similar way. A single calibration signal is generated and injected into each of a number of transmitting antenna sections, one at a time. The signals are collected, one at a time, after having passed transmitting components that might have distorted the phase and amplitude. Correction factors are generated and applied to signals that are to be transmitted.

Inventors

  • 👤 Sören Andersson
  • 👤 Ulf Forssén
  • 👤 Fredrik Bengt Ovesjö
  • 👤 Sven Oscar Petersson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 21:11
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/26; H01Q3/267

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim 138 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array that transmits communication traffic signals during beamforming in a mobile radio communication system, said antenna array comprising a number of transmitting antenna sections each comprising transmitting components that might distort the phase and the amplitude of signals that are to be transmitted, said method comprising the steps of: a) generating a single calibration signal; b) injecting said calibration signal into each transmitting antenna section, one at a time; c) collecting a resulting calibration signal from each transmitting antenna section after having passed the transmitting components in each transmitting antenna section, one at a time; d) generating correction factors for each transmitting antenna section; and e) adjusting said transmitting antenna sections with said correction factors, wherein said steps are performed during a limited amount of time on a traffic channel in use.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 138 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array that transmits communication traffic signals during beamforming in a mobile radio communication system, said antenna array comprising a number of transmitting antenna sections each comprising transmitting components that might distort the phase and the amplitude of signals that are to be transmitted, said method comprising the steps of: a) generating a single calibration signal; b) injecting said calibration signal into each transmitting antenna section, one at a time; c) collecting a resulting calibration signal from each transmitting antenna section after having passed the transmitting components in each transmitting antenna section, one at a time; d) generating correction factors for each transmitting antenna section; and e) adjusting said transmitting antenna sections with said correction factors, wherein said steps are performed during a limited amount of time on a traffic channel in use.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 66 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 1 , where in said generation of correction factors comprises: a) selecting one of the transmitting antenna sections as a reference section; b) determining a correction factor for the reference section; and c) generating correction factors for the rest of the transmitting antenna sections, one at a time, relative the correction factor of the reference section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 76 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 1 , wherein said calibration signal has a positive phase slope during a first time interval and a negative phase slope during a second consecutive time interval, and wherein the calibration signal is sampled in the first and the second time interval, and wherein samples from the first time interval are compared with samples from the second time interval, in order to estimate a time error.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 1 , wherein said calibration signal is a pure sinusoid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 45 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 1 , wherein said generation of correction factors for each transmitting antenna section comprises the steps of: a) modeling the received signals as complex data samples; and b) generating said correction factors as complex factors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 43 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 1 , wherein said correction factors compensate for signal errors introduced by the transmitting components in each transmitting antenna section, and for signal errors introduced by means used for calibrating the antenna array.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 1 , wherein said correction factors are limiting the signal power of transmitted signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 1 , wherein said correction factors adjust the phase of the signals that are to be transmitted by the antenna sections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 1 , wherein said correction factors adjust the amplitude of signals that are to be transmitted by the antenna sections.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 1 , wherein said correction factors adjust the phase and amplitude of signals that are to be transmitted by the antenna sections.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 28 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 1 , wherein the correction factors are applied to signals that are to be transmitted, after active beamforming.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 1 , wherein the calibration signal is a lower-power spread spectrum signal that is injected into the normal traffic flow.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 50 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 1 , wherein the radio communication system is a CDMA-system with a predetermined number of codes that are allowed for use during normal traffic, wherein a code that is not intended to be used for traffic is used for calibration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 18 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 1 , wherein said method is continuously repeated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 1 , wherein said method is repeated at certain time intervals.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 137 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array that transmits communication traffic signals during beamforming in a mobile radio communication system, said antenna array comprising a plurality of transmitting antenna sections each comprising transmitting components that might distort the phase and the amplitude of signals that are to be transmitted, said method comprising the steps of: a) generating a set of orthogonal calibration signals; b) injecting said calibration signal into the respective transmitting antenna sections, in parallel; c) collecting a respective resulting calibration signal from each transmitting antenna section after having passed the transmitting components in the respective transmitting antenna sections; d) generating correction factors for each transmitting antenna section; and e) adjusting said transmitting antenna sections with said correction factors, wherein said steps are performed during a limited amount of time on a traffic channel in use.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 137 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array that transmits communication traffic signals during beamforming in a mobile radio communication system, said antenna array comprising a plurality of transmitting antenna sections each comprising transmitting components that might distort the phase and the amplitude of signals that are to be transmitted, said method comprising the steps of: a) generating a set of orthogonal calibration signals; b) injecting said calibration signal into the respective transmitting antenna sections, in parallel; c) collecting a respective resulting calibration signal from each transmitting antenna section after having passed the transmitting components in the respective transmitting antenna sections; d) generating correction factors for each transmitting antenna section; and e) adjusting said transmitting antenna sections with said correction factors, wherein said steps are performed during a limited amount of time on a traffic channel in use.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 16 , wherein the calibration signals are of different frequencies.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 16 , wherein the calibration signals are different orthogonal codes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 16 , wherein said calibration signal is a pure sinusoid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 45 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 16 , wherein said generation of correction factors for each transmitting antenna section comprises the steps of: a) modeling the received signals as complex data samples; and b) generating said correction factors as complex factors.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 46 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 16 , wherein said correction factors compensate for signal errors introduced by the transmitting components in each transmitting antenna section, and for signal errors introduced by means used for calibrating the transmission of the antenna array.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 16 , wherein said correction factors are limiting the signal power of transmitted signals.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 16 , wherein said correction factors adjust the phase of the signals that are to be transmitted by the antenna sections.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 16 , wherein said correction factors adjust the amplitude of signals that are to be transmitted by the antenna sections.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 16 , wherein said correction factors adjust the phase and amplitude of signals that are to be transmitted by the antenna sections.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 28 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 16 , wherein the correction factors are applied to signals that are to be transmitted, after active beamforming.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 16 , wherein the calibration signal is a low-power spread spectrum signal that is injected into the normal traffic flow.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 50 words
A method for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 16 , wherein the radio communication system is a CDMA-system with a predetermined number of codes that are allowed for use during normal traffic, wherein a code that is not intended to be used for traffic is used for calibration.
Claim 31
Independent Claim 142 words
A system for calibrating an antenna array that transmits communication traffic signals during beamforming in a mobile radio communication system, said antenna array comprising a number of transmitting antenna sections each comprising transmitting components that might distort the phase and the amplitude of signals that are to be transmitted, said system comprising: means for generating a single calibration signal; means for injecting said calibration signal into each transmitting antenna section, one at a time; means for collecting a resulting calibration signal from each transmitting antenna section after having passed the transmitting components in each transmitting antenna section, one at a time; means for generating correction factors for each transmitting antenna section; and means for adjusting said transmitting antenna sections with said correction factors, wherein said method for calibrating is performed during a limited amount of time on a traffic channel in use.
Claim 32
Independent Claim 142 words
A system for calibrating an antenna array that transmits communication traffic signals during beamforming in a mobile radio communication system, said antenna array comprising a number of transmitting antenna sections each comprising transmitting components that might distort the phase and the amplitude of signals that are to be transmitted, said system comprising: means for generating a single calibration signal; means for injecting said calibration signal into each transmitting antenna section, one at a time; means for collecting a resulting calibration signal from each transmitting antenna section after having passed the transmitting components in each transmitting antenna section, one at a time; means for generating correction factors for each transmitting antenna section; and means for adjusting said transmitting antenna sections with said correction factors, wherein said method for calibrating is performed during a limited amount of time on a traffic channel in use.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 30 words
A system for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 29 , wherein said correction factors adjust the phase of signals that are to be transmitted by the antenna sections.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 30 words
A system for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 29 , wherein said correction factors adjust the amplitude of signals that are to be transmitted by the antenna sections.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 32 words
A system for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 29 , wherein said correction factors adjust the phase and amplitude of signals that are to be transmitted by the antenna sections.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 28 words
A system for calibrating an antenna array according to claim 29 , wherein the correction factors are applied to signals that are to be transmitted, after active beamforming.
Claim 37
Independent Claim 141 words
A system for calibrating an antenna array that transmits communication traffic signals during beamforming in a mobile radio communication system, said antenna array comprising a plurality of transmitting antenna sections each comprising transmitting components that might distort the phase and the amplitude of signals that are to be transmitted, said system comprising: means for generating a set of orthogonal calibration signals; means for injecting said calibration signal into the respective transmitting antenna sections, in parallel; means for collecting a respective resulting calibration signal from each transmitting antenna section after having passed the transmitting components in the respective transmitting antenna sections; means for generating correction factors for each transmitting antenna section; and means for adjusting said transmitting antenna sections with said correction factors, wherein said system for calibrating is performed during a limited amount of time on a traffic channel in use.
Claim 38
Independent Claim 141 words
A system for calibrating an antenna array that transmits communication traffic signals during beamforming in a mobile radio communication system, said antenna array comprising a plurality of transmitting antenna sections each comprising transmitting components that might distort the phase and the amplitude of signals that are to be transmitted, said system comprising: means for generating a set of orthogonal calibration signals; means for injecting said calibration signal into the respective transmitting antenna sections, in parallel; means for collecting a respective resulting calibration signal from each transmitting antenna section after having passed the transmitting components in the respective transmitting antenna sections; means for generating correction factors for each transmitting antenna section; and means for adjusting said transmitting antenna sections with said correction factors, wherein said system for calibrating is performed during a limited amount of time on a traffic channel in use.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 33 words
A system for calibrating the transmission of an antenna array according to claim 34 , wherein said correction factors adjust the phase of signals that are to be transmitted by the antenna sections.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 33 words
A system for calibrating the transmission of an antenna array according to claim 34 , wherein said correction factors adjust the amplitude of signals that are to be transmitted by the antenna sections.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 35 words
A system for calibrating the transmission of an antenna array according to claim 34 , wherein said correction factors adjust the phase and amplitude of signals that are to be transmitted by the antenna sections.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 31 words
A system for calibrating the transmission of an antenna array according to claim 34 , wherein the correction factors are applied to signals that are to be transmitted, after active beamforming.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4532518A Cited
US4673939A Cited
US5412414A Cited

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