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Transforming And Combining Signals From Antenna Array

Abstract: A method of reducing a number of signals that are output for processing by an antenna array and the antenna array are disclosed. The method comprises: receiving signals at a plurality of antenna elements from at least one user equipment; transforming the signals to at least one different domain to generate sparse signals; combining at least some of the signals to form a reduced number of signals; and outputting the reduced number of sparse signals to signal processing circuitry.

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Notices, Deadlines & Correspondence

Patent Information

Application #
Filing Date
16 August 2017
Publication Number
34/2017
Publication Type
INA
Invention Field
COMMUNICATION
Status
Email
Parent Application

Applicants

ALCATEL LUCENT
148/152 Route de la Reine, F-92100, Boulogne-Billancourt,

Inventors

1. VENKATESWARAN Vijay
5 Falcons View, Dublin, 15, Ireland
2. RULIKOWSKI Pawel
Alcatel-Lucent Ireland Ltd, Blanchardstown Business Tech Park, Snugboroough Road, Dublin, 15
3. TULINO Antonia
Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc., 791 Holmdel, Keyport Road, Holmdel, New Jersey, New Jersey 07733-1661

Specification

TRANSFORMING AND COMBINING SIGNALS FROM ANTENNA ARRAY FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to antenna and in particular, to antenna array such as multiple input multiple output antenna. BACKGROUND Antenna array such as multiple input multiple output MIMO antenna are known and have been employed within wireless communications systems to improve data throughput in communications between a network node such as a base station and user equipment. It will be appreciated that a signal transmitted between user equipment and a network node over a radio channel typically experiences many propagation paths due, for example, to reflection before arriving at a network node receiver. The signals carried on these paths each arrive at a different time, power and phase at the receiver. Similarly multiple antenna elements within a MIMO will receive a signal from the same source at slightly different times, power and phases. Antenna elements within an antenna array are physically separated and the decoding of the signals arriving at such a network node have conventionally been decoded assuming the received signals are not too closely correlated. As these antenna array increase in size the signal processing and number of transceivers required to process the signals received at each antenna element also becomes larger. Furthermore, there is an increase in the number of transceivers required as antenna element number increase and this increases the likelihood of failure in one or more degrading performance of the antenna. Additionally, in order to reduce interference between signals at the different antenna elements expensive insulation and casing of the elements has conventionally been used to reduce coupling which increases the correlation between signals received. It would be desirable to provide an antenna array with at least one of improved performance and reduced costs. SUMMARY A first aspect of the present invention provides a method performed on signals received at a plurality of elements of an antenna array comprising: transforming said signals to at least one different domain to generate sparse signals; combining at least some of said signals to form a reduced number of signals; and outputting said reduced number of sparse signals. The inventors of the present invention recognised that the signals received on each antenna element of an antenna array are not independent of each other, but may often be quite closely correlated. This has conventionally been viewed as a problem, however, they recognised that such data if transformed to another domain may be sparse and as such compressive sensing techniques might be used to process the signal data. The ability to use compressive sensing techniques allows a reduced amount of data to be used to find solutions to undetermined systems. This recognition allowed them to combine and transform the signals received from the antenna elements to generate a reduced number of sparse signals that can then be output to processing circuitry, their sparse nature making them suitable for compressive sensing techniques allowing channel state information to be derived and from this the original signals to be determined from a reduced number of input signals. In this regard a sparse signal is one which can be represented by a concise summary, in that many of the terms or coefficients of the signal may be zeros. By outputting fewer signals for processing, the size and power requirements of the processing unit processing the signals may be reduced. Furthermore, the number of components prior to the processing unit may also be reduced and the reliability thereby increased. The capacity of the network will also be increased as less data is pushed into the fibre. With regard to the transforming of domain, this may include transformations from the time domain to the frequency domain and/or the angular domain. The transforming may be done using circuitry for combining the signals received at the antenna elements, the circuitry being designed to take into account domain transformations that may occur at the antenna elements themselves. Alternatively the combining and transforming may be done downstream of transceivers, on digital signals derived from the received radio frequency signals. In such a case the transforming and combining steps may be configurable such that as changes occur in the system the combinations and transformations can be changed to address these changes. It should be noted that although sparsity techniques have been used to reduce the hardware and RF chain complexity in existing wireless systems. This has been in the design of narrow-band receivers capable of detecting an ultra-wide band signal sparse in frequency signal for example. Similar approaches have also be exploited for code dimension i.e. CDMA/rake receiver architectures. In the field of MIMOs traditional approaches such as least squares (LS) in MIMO and massive MIMO assume a rich scattering environment and put tough restrictions on high resolution signals with reduced number of transceivers -channel estimation and data detection performance as well as hardware cost and complexity are compromised. In some embodiments said method comprises a further step of converting said signals using a plurality of transceivers. Signals received at the antenna array may be converted using transceivers. Where the step of converting the signals occurs after the steps of transforming and combining the signals then there are a reduced number of signals sent to the transceivers than would be the case in a conventional antenna array and therefore the number of transceivers required is reduced. Existing compressive sensing techniques have not been used in the spatial domain to reduce the number of transceivers in this field. Embodiments have addressed this by using compressive sensing to effectively reconstruct the transmitted signal utilizing a (spatially) sparse scattering environment. In some embodiments, said step of combining said at least some of said signals and said step of transforming said signals are performed together as a single step. Although the steps of combining and transforming the signals may be performed as separate steps in either order, in many cases they are performed as a single step, the combining and the transforming being performed together. In some embodiments, said step of combining and transforming said signals is performed prior to converting said signals at said plurality of transceivers. In some cases, the combining and transforming the signals may be performed when they are still analogue RF signals and it may be performed using analogue circuitry with the selection of path length and the type of combining providing the transforming as well as the combining. Where the step(s) of combining and transforming is performed prior to converting the signals, then a reduced number of transceivers are required and thus, such an arrangement has advantages in reduced hardware requirements. In other embodiments, said step of converting said signals comprises converting said signals to digital signals and said combining and transforming step is performed following this step. In this case the number of transceivers required will be larger. In the case that the combining and transforming step is performed on digital data. In either case, it may comprise multiplying said signals by a transformation matrix, said transformation matrix having one dimension equal to said number of antennas and a smaller dimension equal to said reduced number of sparse signals. An advantage of the combining and transforming step being performed on digital signals and in particular using a transformation matrix, is that this allows reconfiguration, such that where it is determined that the channel state has changed, perhaps due to the arrival of new user equipment or the movement of user equipment or a transceiver failing, then the transformation matrix may be altered such that a different combination of signals may be selected to improve the channel state. As the transformation and combination of signals is performed digitally using configurable circuitry such as a transformation matrix, then adapting the system to these changes is straightforward. In some embodiments, said combining step comprises combining signals from said plurality of antenna elements in a random or semi-random manner such that signals from all or substantially all of said antenna elements each contribute a similar amount to said reduced number of sparse signals. In order to provide reduced signals that can be used for a high quality channel state estimation, it is advantageous if signals from each antenna element are given a similar importance or weighting. However, in some circumstances it may be that a transceiver loses its functionality and as such one or two antenna elements may not be able to be considered. In such a case, the combination of the signals from the other antenna elements can take account of this and the signals can be combined to generate a reduced set of signals that can still provide a high quality signal estimation. With regard to contributing a similar amount, this can be determined in conjunction with channel state measurements, such that a combination that provides high quality channel states is selected. In some embodiments, the method further comprises processing said reduced number of sparse signals and in conjunction with estimated channel state information to derive signals transmitted by said at least one user equipment. Signals transmitted by the user equipment can be derived from these sparse signals using channel state information that the processor may itself derive as is described later. In some embodiments, the method comprises performing said steps of said method of said first aspect of the present invention, for at least one predetermined pilot signal received at said plurality of antenna elements from at least one user equipment; and analysing said reduced number of sparse signals output to said processor and said predetermined pilot signals using a reconstruction algorithm based on compressive sensing techniques to generate said channel state information. Owing to the sparse nature of the signals output to the processor, reconstruction algorithms based on compressive sensing techniques may be used to generate channel state information where the signal received at the antenna elements are known. Once such channel state information has been derived this can be used as a template, such that further sparse signals that are output from the antenna array can be analysed using this channel state information to derive the user equipment signals that generated them. In some embodiments, the method further comprises periodically generating updated channel state information by periodically performing said steps described in the previous embodiment. The channel state information can be periodically updated using predetermined pilot signals and in this way, as circumstances change, the channel state information will reflect this and an accurate estimation of signals transmitted by the user equipment can be determined. In some embodiments, said reconstruction algorithm estimates a combined effect of a wireless channel transmitting said signal and a coupling effect between antenna elements on said signal such that said coupling effects are compensated for by said channel state information. The channel state information that is determined from the pilot signals may include the combined effect of the wireless channel that is transmitting the signal and the coupling effect that occurs between antenna elements. In this way, the coupling effects are reflected in the channel state information and thus, there is no requirement to reduce coupling between antenna elements as has conventionally been the case. This results in a hardware saving as any insulation and casing previously used to isolate individual elements will no longer be required. In fact, in some cases the coupling between the antenna elements may improve the channel state estimations as it increases the correlation between the signals and therefore increases the sparsity of the transformed signals, which can lead to an improved reconstruction algorithm. Thus, there are dual advantages of both improving the reconstruction algorithm, and also of decreasing the cost of the antenna array. In some embodiments, said reconstruction algorithm further estimates an effect of imperfections in elements from said plurality of antenna elements up to and including said transceivers, such that said imperfections are compensated for by said channel state information. The reconstruction algorithm may also estimate an effect of imperfections in elements in the radio frequency path of the antenna and again this allows cheaper components with imperfections to be used without decreasing the accuracy of the signal estimation of signals received by the antenna array. In some embodiments, the method further comprises in response to detecting a change in said channel state information amending at least one of said transforming and combining step. Where a change in the channel state information is detected in the periodic updating of this channel state information and in particular where there is a deterioration in this channel state, then it may be advantageous to amend the combining and transforming steps such that a different combination and transformation of the signals from the antenna element is performed. The effect of such changes can be determined from detecting output signals while predetermined pilot signals provide the input signals and changes can be made until an improved channel state is obtained. In this way, where user equipment move or where a transceiver may no longer function correctly, then the system may be updated to take account of this and the quality of the signal estimation may be improved or at least not unduly reduced by these effects. A second aspect of the present invention provides a computer program which when executed by a computer is operable to control said computer to perform a method according to a first aspect of the present invention. A third aspect of the present invention provides an antenna array comprising: a plurality of antenna elements configured to receive signals from at least one user equipment; a plurality of transceivers; transforming logic operable to transform said signals to at least one different domain to generate sparse signals; combining logic operable to combine at least some of said signals to form a reduced number of signals; and output circuitry operable to output said reduced number of sparse signals. In some embodiments, said antenna array further comprises signal processing circuitry, said signal processing circuitry being operable to process said reduced number of sparse signals using channel state information, to derive signals transmitted by said at least one user equipment. Owing to the reduced number of sparse signals that are transmitted to the signal processing circuitry which signal processing circuitry of a reduced size and with reduced power requirements can be used. In some embodiments, said signal processing circuitry is operable, in response to predetermined pilot signals being received at said plurality of antenna elements, to analyse said reduced number of sparse signals output to said processor and said predetermined pilot signals using a reconstruction algorithm based on compressive sensing techniques to generate said channel state information. In some embodiments, said transforming and combining logic is provided as a single unit, while in other embodiments, they are formed as different units of logic. In this regard the logic may be software or hardware circuitry. In some embodiments said transforming and combining logic is located between said antenna elements and said transceivers such that said plurality of transceivers such that a number of transceivers comprises said reduced number corresponding to said reduced number of signals. In some embodiments, the antenna elements are located with a spacing of more than 0.75 of a wavelength of a central operating frequency of said antenna. Owing to the sparse nature of the signals, compressive sensing techniques can be used and as such a reduced frequency of sensing can be used. This may be reflected by using antenna elements being spaced further apart than is conventionally provided. In this regard conventional antenna elements may have a spacing of a half a wavelength or less in order to meet Nyquist requirements. Further particular and preferred aspects are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims. Where an apparatus feature is described as being operable to provide a function, it will be appreciated that this includes an apparatus feature which provides that function or which is adapted or configured to provide that function. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described further, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a MIMO and associated processing circuitry according to an embodiment; Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment to that of Figure 1; Figure 3A shows a RF transformation matrix operating on a massive MIMO array and connected to a reduced number of transceivers; Figure 3B shows a transformation matrix operating on digital signals output from a massive MIMO array via transceivers; Figure 4 schematically shows the modelling of an antenna array setup in joint angle-delay space that is able to exploit sparsity; Figure 5 shows a flow diagram illustrating steps in a method of generating channel state information for a MIMO according to an embodiment; Figure 6 shows a flow diagram illustrating steps in a method of deriving input signals from reduced sparse output signals at a MIMO according to an embodiment; and Figure 7 shows a flow diagram illustrating steps in a method of periodically updating channel state information for a MIMO according to an embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Before discussing the embodiments in any more detail, first an overview will be provided. Embodiments seek to reduce the signals to be processed and in some cases the number of transceivers i.e. hardware chains required and consequently the overall hardware complexity and power consumption in an antenna array such as a MIMO system, particularly a massive MIMO system without compromising the performance of such a massive MIMO system. In order to do this the use of sparsity techniques to characterize massive MIMO wireless channels and enable sub-Nyquist spatial sampling and perform channel estimation with reduced transceivers that would typically require significantly more antennas and transceivers is considered. The focus is both on hardware design to reduce overall complexity as well as signal processing algorithms that decode and reconstruct a high resolution estimate of a signal. In this regard the inventors recognised that there will be considerable correlation between signals received at multiple antenna elements in arrays such as MIMO and that such data when transformed to another domain such as from the time to the frequency domain would provide a sparse data set. Sparse data sets can be solved using compressive sensing techniques even where there are more unknowns than there are equations. Thus, techniques that combine and transform signals from different antenna elements are used, and these generate a reduced number of signals which are sparse and can therefore be analysed using compressive sensing techniques. In this way a reduced amount of signal data is provided to a signal processor which owing to the sparse nature of the data may still, using compressive sensing processing techniques that exploit the sparse nature of the data, be used to derive the original signals. In this regard in order to be able to derive the original signals channel state information for the channels that the signals travel along needs to be derived. This is done using known pilot signals as input signals and analysing these in conjunction with the combined and transformed signals from the antenna. Compressive sensing techniques using a reconstruction algorithm are used to derive channel state information which in preferred cases reflects not only the signal path from the user equipment to the antenna but also coupling between antenna elements and imperfections in the radio frequency signal path within the antenna. This channel state information can then be used to derive original signals from the reduced sparse signals output by the antenna. In some embodiments the channel state information and in some cases the combining and transforming logic is periodically updated to reflect changes in environment and in the antenna itself. Figure l schematically shows a multiple input antenna array 10 according to an embodiment. The radio frequency signals received at the multiple antenna elements 20 are combined and transformed in combining and transforming logic 30 and a reduced number of sparse signals are output. The combining and transforming logic combines the different received signals in different ways, but preferably, a signal received at each antenna element will contribute to at least one of the reduced number of signals that are transmitted to transceivers 40. This logic may simply comprise circuitry with different path lengths and different combining elements or it may be formed to mirror a transforming matrix as is shown in Figure 3B. Combining the received analogue signals at this point reduces the number of transceivers required saving on both power and hardware costs. In this regard in a conventional system a transceiver would be required for each antenna element whereas due to the combining and transforming logic combining the received input signals such that the number of output signals is lower than the number of input signals received from each antenna element, fewer transceivers are required. Furthermore, this results in fewer signals being sent to the processing unit 50, resulting in fewer signal paths and a reduced processing capacity requirement. Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the multiple input antenna where the transforming and combining logic 30 is arranged after the transceivers 40. Thus, in this case there is a transceiver for each antenna element and these convert the received RF analogue signals to digital signals that are then processed by the transforming and combining logic 30. This logic may be circuitry or it may be a software algorithm for transforming and combining the signals prior to sending a reduced number of signals to the CPU. In this regard the algorithm may take the form of a transforming matrix T which both transforms and combines the signals as is detailed below. The transforming matrix may be a single matrix T or it may be two matrices one performing the transformation to anther domain and a further one performing the combining step. Figure 3A schematically shows a single transforming matrix operating on digital signals output from a plurality of transceivers. The matrix transforms and combines the signals thereby reducing the number of digital signals from N to P. Figure 3B schematically shows this matrix as the transforming and combining logic in an arrangement similar to that of Figure 1 where the matrix operates on the RF signals and a reduced number of transceivers are required. Figure 4 schematically shows a modelling antenna array in joint angle-delay space that exploits sparsity and schematically shows the channels H for each user k as is explained in more detail below. In one embodiment there is proposed a P x N RF transformation matrix T operating on iVMIMO antenna elements and converting them to P RF signal paths, which are subsequently downconverted to digital base-band, sampled and post-processed to obtain a P x 1 vector of received signals y as shown in Fig. 3. Typically N » P, N^AP. The transformation matrix T can be seen as a random RF matrix or feeder network transforming AT signals to P signals. The physical RF impairments such as coupling between antennas as well as amplitude, frequency and phase offsets between different RF components are also accounted and compensated with the reduced P signals. Subsequently, we propose to use the P dimensional signals with compressive sensing tools exploiting the sparse nature of the wireless channel in joint angle-delay domain to obtain a high resolution estimate of the received signal. This high resolution estimate of the wireless signal can be used to either obtain a high resolution channel state information (CSI) or to improve reception of weak signals at massive MIMO array with reduced transceivers. This setup will also help to reduce the overall energy consumption of RF and digital chains. Consider a massive MIMO setup, made of say v'A* x yW antennas radiating and receiving signals from arbitrary user equipment or small cells through a frequency selective and multipath environment. For simplicity, the UEs transmit using one antenna element. Let Kbe the number of UEs and L be the order of their wireless channels due to the delay spreads of various multipaths. For simplicity and consistency of notation, we stack rows or columns of the massive MIMO antenna setup and denote them as an N x 1 vector. The array geometry can be arbitrary (viz. linear, planar, non¬uniform, etc) and contained in the overall antenna array response. For notational simplicity, we assume the transmit antennas are omnidirectional omitted in subsequent discussions. The wireless channel order L = [Wxmax] + l, where W is the bandwidth and Tmax corresponds to maximum time delay spread. The overall degree of freedom due to the introduction of the massive MIMO setup is D = NL. Methods - compressive sensing CS based high resolution channel estimation: It would be desirable to essentially estimate the combined effect of the wireless channel H, coupling matrix M and the imperfections matrix R when used in combination with 10 the reduced dimension transformation T. Note that we do not have to individually estimate each and every term, and a combined estimation of these terms is sufficient to subsequently apply detection algorithms and estimate signals from desired user. To this end, we assume that the massive MIMO array has knowledge of pilot signals from a given user and applies them to estimate the wireless channel. Consider a pilot signal s(k) [t= JlT] transmitted from user k and observed within the observation interval t e [o,T). The discrete samples s(k)[i], , , ,, s(k)[M] correspond to the pilot sequence. The massive MIMO array observe such sequences from all K users as The pilot signals are assumed to be drawn from a random ensemble of i.i.d vectors and 25 are uncorrelated with each other. For the observation interval M > LK, S is a fat matrix with full row rank. Thus, there is a valid pseudo-inverse of S, and postmultiplying the above expression using S+ and neglecting the noise terms for the moment: expression leads to Typically in a CS based setup, the sparse signals are projected over a random basis, and the signals are reconstructed from this random projection. In the above expression, O 5 can be seen as the random projection matrix usually seen in either basis pursuit or lasso reconstruction or Dantzig selector based CS techniques: Alternatively, they can be used in combination with greedy algorithms such as 10 orthogonal matching pursuit or similar algorithms mentioned in [8]. For simplicity, the above optimization is represented as i9cs = CS(0,y, threshold =

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Application Documents

# Name Date
1 201747028942-FER.pdf 2019-12-26
1 201747028942-TRANSLATIOIN OF PRIOIRTY DOCUMENTS ETC. [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
2 201747028942-FORM 3 [13-06-2018(online)].pdf 2018-06-13
2 201747028942-STATEMENT OF UNDERTAKING (FORM 3) [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
3 201747028942-REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION (FORM-18) [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
3 201747028942-FORM 3 [15-05-2018(online)].pdf 2018-05-15
4 201747028942-PRIORITY DOCUMENTS [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
4 201747028942-FORM 3 [24-03-2018(online)].pdf 2018-03-24
5 201747028942-POWER OF AUTHORITY [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
5 201747028942-FORM 3 [11-01-2018(online)].pdf 2018-01-11
6 201747028942-FORM 18 [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
6 201747028942-Amendment Of Application Before Grant - Form 13 [05-09-2017(online)].pdf 2017-09-05
7 201747028942-FORM 1 [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
7 201747028942-AMMENDED DOCUMENTS [05-09-2017(online)].pdf 2017-09-05
8 201747028942-MARKED COPIES OF AMENDEMENTS [05-09-2017(online)].pdf 2017-09-05
8 201747028942-DRAWINGS [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
9 201747028942-DECLARATION OF INVENTORSHIP (FORM 5) [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
9 201747028942-RELEVANT DOCUMENTS [05-09-2017(online)].pdf 2017-09-05
10 201747028942-COMPLETE SPECIFICATION [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
10 201747028942.pdf 2017-08-19
11 201747028942-CLAIMS UNDER RULE 1 (PROVISIO) OF RULE 20 [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
12 201747028942-COMPLETE SPECIFICATION [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
12 201747028942.pdf 2017-08-19
13 201747028942-DECLARATION OF INVENTORSHIP (FORM 5) [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
13 201747028942-RELEVANT DOCUMENTS [05-09-2017(online)].pdf 2017-09-05
14 201747028942-DRAWINGS [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
14 201747028942-MARKED COPIES OF AMENDEMENTS [05-09-2017(online)].pdf 2017-09-05
15 201747028942-AMMENDED DOCUMENTS [05-09-2017(online)].pdf 2017-09-05
15 201747028942-FORM 1 [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
16 201747028942-Amendment Of Application Before Grant - Form 13 [05-09-2017(online)].pdf 2017-09-05
16 201747028942-FORM 18 [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
17 201747028942-FORM 3 [11-01-2018(online)].pdf 2018-01-11
17 201747028942-POWER OF AUTHORITY [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
18 201747028942-FORM 3 [24-03-2018(online)].pdf 2018-03-24
18 201747028942-PRIORITY DOCUMENTS [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
19 201747028942-REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION (FORM-18) [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
19 201747028942-FORM 3 [15-05-2018(online)].pdf 2018-05-15
20 201747028942-STATEMENT OF UNDERTAKING (FORM 3) [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
20 201747028942-FORM 3 [13-06-2018(online)].pdf 2018-06-13
21 201747028942-TRANSLATIOIN OF PRIOIRTY DOCUMENTS ETC. [16-08-2017(online)].pdf 2017-08-16
21 201747028942-FER.pdf 2019-12-26

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