U.S. patent application number 17/175723 was filed with the patent office on 2021-06-03 for systems and methods for cancellation of passive intermodulation (pim) for a wireless network receiver.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ubiqam Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Ubiqam Ltd.. Invention is credited to Oren AMIDAN, Baruch CYZS, Daniel MANOR, Amir MEIR.
Application Number | 20210167807 17/175723 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005404405 |
Filed Date | 2021-06-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210167807 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CYZS; Baruch ; et
al. |
June 3, 2021 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CANCELLATION OF PASSIVE INTERMODULATION
(PIM) FOR A WIRELESS NETWORK RECEIVER
Abstract
There is provided a passive intermodulation (PIM) mitigation
module for mitigating PIM within a receiver of a wireless network,
the PIM mitigation module comprising: at least one processor
executing a code for: receiving transmit signals transmitted by at
least one transmission source, receiving received signals received
by at least one reception source, computing a plurality of
synthetic PIM signals from the transmit signals, wherein each of
the plurality of synthetic PIM signals is a respective combination
of a plurality of frequency components of the transmit signals,
computing a plurality of mitigation weights for mitigating the
plurality of synthetic PIM signals, and performing a PIM mitigation
process on the received signal with the plurality of mitigation
weights to generate clean signals to provide to the receiver.
Inventors: |
CYZS; Baruch;
(Kiryat-Motzkin, IL) ; AMIDAN; Oren; (Tzur-Yigal,
IL) ; MEIR; Amir; (Tel-Aviv, IL) ; MANOR;
Daniel; (Tel-Aviv, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ubiqam Ltd. |
Petach-Tikva |
|
IL |
|
|
Assignee: |
Ubiqam Ltd.
Petach-Tikva
IL
|
Family ID: |
1000005404405 |
Appl. No.: |
17/175723 |
Filed: |
February 15, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16511049 |
Jul 15, 2019 |
10924141 |
|
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17175723 |
|
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62698169 |
Jul 15, 2018 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 1/123 20130101;
H04B 1/525 20130101; H04B 1/1027 20130101; H04B 7/0413 20130101;
H04B 1/10 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04B 1/12 20060101
H04B001/12 |
Claims
1. A passive intermodulation (PIM) module for automatically
detecting and providing an indication of PIM interference, the PIM
module comprising: at least one processor executing a code for:
receiving transmit signals transmitted by at least one transmission
source; receiving received signals received by at least one
reception source; computing a plurality of synthetic PIM signals
from the transmit signals, wherein each of the plurality of
synthetic PIM signals is a respective combination of a plurality of
frequency components of the transmit signals; computing a plurality
of mitigation weights for mitigating the plurality of synthetic PIM
signals; and providing a PIM interference indication from the
plurality of mitigation weights.
2. The PIM module of claim 1, further comprising a physical user
interface for presenting the PIM interference indication and/or for
interacting with the PIM module, selected from a group consisting
of: a touchscreen, a display, a gesture activation device, and a
keyboard.
3. The PIM module of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor
further executes a code for providing a remote view of spectral
data and extracted Spectral Intelligence (SI) recorded by the PIM
module.
4. The PIM module of claim 1, wherein the PIM module communicates
with a cloud-based platform that provides a remote view and/or is
used for remote management of the PIM module.
5. The PIM module of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor of
the PIM module further executes code for recording and providing
Spectral Intelligence (SI) and external interference insight.
6. The PIM module of claim 1, wherein a respective PIM interference
indication is computed separately from a respective plurality of
mitigation weights for each diode generating interference
signals.
7. The PIM module of claim 1, wherein a respective plurality of
mitigation weights are calculated separately for each respective
non-linear PIM reflection of a plurality of non-linear PIM
reflections.
8. The PIM module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of synthetic
PIM signals are computed by combinations of frequency bands
selected from a plurality of the at least one transmission source
denoting a predicted reflection of the transmit signals off at
least one non-linear PIM reflection element that is received by the
at least one reception source.
9. The PIM module of claim 1, wherein providing the PIM
interference indication comprises computing and providing an
indication of at least one member of the group consisting of: order
of PIM interference, frequency of the PIM generating transmitter,
and a certain emitting antenna generating PIM in a certain receiver
interfered antenna.
10. The PIM module of claim 1, wherein the received signals include
PIM created from at least one member of a group consisting of (i)
components of hardware of the at least one reception source, (ii) a
nonlinear reflecting object in a transmission path of the transmit
signals that is reflected to a plurality of reception sources and
included in the received signals, (iii) from a plurality of
carriers transmitted from a single antenna, and (iv) PIM products
created from the transmit signals from a plurality of transmission
sources.
11. The PIM module of claim 1, wherein the received signals are
divided into a plurality of frequency bins each predicted to
include no more than a PIM product generated from a single PIM
reflection element, at least one synthetic PIM signal is computed
for each group of frequency bins of the transmitted signals
corresponding to the respective frequency bin of the received
signals, at least one mitigation weight is computed for each
received frequency bin, and a PIM mitigation process is computed
for each received frequency bin of a plurality of reception sources
from frequency bins groups of the transmitted signals with a
plurality of transmission sources.
12. The PIM module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of synthetic
PIM signals are computed by converting the transmit signals from a
time domain to a frequency domain.
13. The PIM module of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor
further executes a code for shifting each of the plurality of
synthetic PIM signals to an expected center frequency position,
wherein the frequency shift is set according to the synthetic PIM
signals that have expected center frequency equal to a certain
receiving frequency bin center, the amount of frequency shift is
set such that the center of bins of the synthetic PIM signal is
equal to the center of the receiving bin.
14. The PIM module of claim 1, wherein PIM products in the received
signals are created from a plurality of PIM reflection elements,
and the at least one processor further executes a code for
performing a PIM mitigation process on the received signals when a
frequency bandwidth of the received signals is lower enough
compared to an inverse of maximum difference in delay difference
between a closest and a furthest of the plurality of PIM reflection
elements.
15. The PIM module of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor
further executes a code for, prior to performing a PIM mitigation
process, aligning time and frequency of the synthetic PIM signals
and relative to the received signals, and performing the PIM
mitigation process on the received signals with the plurality of
mitigation weights to generate clean signals to provide to the
receiver.
16. The PIM module of claim 1, wherein the at least one reception
source and the at least one transmission source operate
simultaneously using same and/or co-located antennas, and a PIM
product frequency is equal to the frequency of the received
signals.
17. The PIM module of claim 1, wherein frequency bins of the
plurality of synthetic PIM signals computed from frequency bins of
the transmitted signals overlap completely with the frequency bins
of the received signals.
18. A computer implemented method for automatically detecting and
providing an indication of PIM interference, comprising: receiving
transmit signals transmitted by at least one transmission source;
receiving received signals received by at least one reception
source; computing a plurality of synthetic PIM signals from the
transmit signals, wherein each of the plurality of synthetic PIM
signals is a respective combination of a plurality of frequency
components of the transmit signals; computing a plurality of
mitigation weights for mitigating the plurality of synthetic PIM
signals; and providing PIM interference indication from the
plurality of mitigation weights.
19. The computer implemented method of claim 18, wherein the
plurality of synthetic PIM signals are computed by combinations of
frequency bands selected from a plurality of the at least one
transmission source denoting a predicted reflection of the transmit
signals off at least one non-linear PIM reflection element that is
received by the at least one reception source.
20. A computer program product for automatically detecting and
providing an indication of PIM interference, which, when executed
by a processor, cause the processor to perform: receiving transmit
signals transmitted by at least one transmission source; receiving
received signals received by at least one reception source;
computing a plurality of synthetic PIM signals from the transmit
signals, wherein each of the plurality of synthetic PIM signals is
a respective combination of a plurality of frequency components of
the transmit signals; computing a plurality of mitigation weights
for mitigating the plurality of synthetic PIM signals; and
providing PIM interference indication from the plurality of
mitigation weights.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 16/511,049 filed on Jul. 15, 2019, which
claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC .sctn. 119(e) from U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 62/698,169 filed on Jul. 15,
2018. The contents of the above applications are all incorporated
by reference as if fully set forth herein in their entirety.
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates
to wireless data communication systems and, more specifically, but
not exclusively, to systems and methods for mitigation of passive
intermodulation (PIM).
[0003] PIM is a form of interference in communication systems, in
particular, wireless communication systems.
[0004] Passive intermodulation may occur when single or several
radiofrequency (RF) emitted signals are reflected from metallic
objects that have some non-linear characteristics resulting in
nonlinear product of the emitted signal or signals. The emitted
signal or signals are present in a passive non-linear device or
element. The emitted signals may mix or multiply with each other to
generate other product signal or signals in different frequencies
that may interfere with a collocated receiver that is tuned to
these product signals frequencies.
[0005] The nature of PIM is that it occurs in elements that would
otherwise be expected to operate in a linear fashion. Typically,
any mixing or multiplication of signals in diode components in
circuits is not termed PIM as the mixing is generally desired and
the diodes are expected to be in place. On the contrary PIM is
normally a result of the spurious generation of
non-linearities--typically it may occur in connectors, switches,
isolators and the like. Another PIM generating source is oxidation
of metallic materials in vicinity of transmitting antennas
typically found in roof-top, cellular tower, and poles
installations. Furthermore, the PIM can be part of the reflection
of the wireless channel due to some rusty metal reflectors in the
transmit-receive path.
[0006] The PIM products caused by the non-linearity follow the same
principles of those of wanted modulation products in a mixer. It is
found that the various harmonics of the emitted signal frequencies
mix together to form products that can remain within the required
operational band or in another operating band of collocated
receiver.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to a first aspect, a passive intermodulation (PIM)
mitigation module for mitigating PIM within a receiver of a
wireless network, comprises: at least one processor executing a
code for: receiving transmit signals transmitted by at least one
transmission source, receiving received signals received by at
least one reception source, computing a plurality of synthetic PIM
signals from the transmit signals, wherein each of the plurality of
synthetic PIM signals is a respective combination of a plurality of
frequency components of the transmit signals, computing a plurality
of mitigation weights for mitigating the plurality of synthetic PIM
signals, and performing a PIM mitigation process on the received
signal with the plurality of mitigation weights to generate clean
signals to provide to the receiver.
[0008] According to a second aspect, a method of mitigating PIM
within a receiver of a wireless network, comprises: receiving
transmit signals transmitted by at least one transmission source,
receiving received signals received by at least one reception
source, computing a plurality of synthetic PIM signals from the
transmit signals, wherein each of the plurality of synthetic PIM
signals is a respective combination of a plurality of frequency
components of the transmit signals, computing a plurality of
mitigation weights for mitigating the plurality of synthetic PIM
signals, and performing a PIM mitigation process on the received
signal with the plurality of mitigation weights to generate clean
signals to provide to the receiver.
[0009] According to a third aspect, a computer program product for
mitigating PIM within a receiver of a wireless network, comprises:
a non-transitory memory having stored thereon a code for execution
by at least one hardware processor adapted to execute the code for:
receiving transmit signals transmitted by at least one transmission
source, receiving received signals received by at least one
reception source, computing a plurality of synthetic PIM signals
from the transmit signals, wherein each of the plurality of
synthetic PIM signals is a respective combination of a plurality of
frequency components of the transmit signals, computing a plurality
of mitigation weights for mitigating the plurality of synthetic PIM
signals, and performing a PIM mitigation process on the received
signal with the plurality of mitigation weights to generate clean
signals to provide to the receiver.
[0010] In a further implementation of the first, second, and third
aspects, the plurality of frequency components of the transmit
signals used to generate the respective combination are predicted
to produce a respective PIM signal in a corresponding frequency
component of the received signals.
[0011] In a further implementation of the first, second, and third
aspects, the plurality of synthetic PIM signals are computed by
combinations of frequency bands selected from a plurality of the at
least one transmission source denoting a predicted reflection of
the transmit signals off at least one non-linear PIM reflection
element that is received by the at least one reception source.
[0012] In a further implementation of the first, second, and third
aspects, the received signals are divided into a plurality of
frequency bins each predicted to include no more than a PIM product
generated from a single PIM reflection element, at least one
synthetic PIM signal is computed for each group of frequency bins
of the transmitted signals corresponding to the respective
frequency bin of the received signals, at least one mitigation
weight is computed for each received frequency bin, and the PIM
mitigation process is computed for each received frequency bin of
the plurality of reception sources from frequency bins groups of
the transmitted signals with plurality of the transmission sources,
wherein each synthetic PIM that corresponds to single transmission
frequency bin group of a certain length denoted N corresponding to
up to N transmission sources out of the plurality of transmission
sources produces a single weight for mitigating the respective
received PIM in one receiving source out of the plurality of
receiving sources.
[0013] In a further implementation of the first, second, and third
aspects, the plurality of synthetic PIM signals are computed by
converting the transmit signals from a time domain to a frequency
domain, and wherein for each respective receiving frequency domain
bin of the received signals of width of the desired signal
bandwidth divided by a number of receiving bins that corresponds to
one of the reception sources denoted NoRxBin, wherein PimOrder
denotes an order of PIM for mitigation by the PIM mitigation
process, the synthetic PIM signals are computed as combinations of
transmission frequency domain bins of the transmitted signals with
bandwidth of the desired signal divided by a multiple of the number
of Rx bins and PIM order denoted by the equation PimOrder * NoRxBin
that corresponds to up to PimOrder transmission reception sources
that are predicted to produce PIM in the corresponding frequency
domain bins of the received signals.
[0014] In a further implementation of the first, second, and third
aspects, further comprising shifting each of the plurality of
synthetic PIM signals to an expected center frequency position,
wherein the frequency shift is set according to the synthetic PIM
signals that have expected center frequency equal to a certain
receiving frequency bin center, the amount of frequency shift is
set such that the center of bins of the synthetic PIM signal is
equal to the center of the receiving bin.
[0015] In a further implementation of the first, second, and third
aspects, the received signals include PIM products created from the
transmit signals from the plurality of transmission sources.
[0016] In a further implementation of the first, second, and third
aspects, PIM products in the received signals are created from a
plurality of PIM reflection elements, and the PIM mitigation
process is performed on the received signal when a frequency
bandwidth of the received signals is lower enough compared to an
inverse of maximum difference in delay difference between a closest
and a furthest of the plurality of PIM reflection elements.
[0017] In a further implementation of the first, second, and third
aspects, further comprising, prior to the performing the PIM
mitigation process, aligning time and frequency of the synthetic
PIM signals and relative to the received signals.
[0018] In a further implementation of the first, second, and third
aspects, the at least one reception source and the at least one
transmission source operate simultaneously using same and/or
co-located antennas, and a PIM product frequency is substantially
equal to the frequency of the received signals.
[0019] In a further implementation of the first, second, and third
aspects, the received signal include PIM created from components of
hardware of the at least one reception source.
[0020] In a further implementation of the first, second, and third
aspects, the received signals include PIM created from a nonlinear
reflecting object in a transmission path of the transmit signals
that is reflected to the plurality of reception sources and
included in the received signals.
[0021] In a further implementation of the first, second, and third
aspects, further comprising computing and providing an indication
of at least one member of the group consisting of: order of PIM
interference, frequency of the PIM generating transmitter, and a
certain emitting antenna generating PIM n a certain receiver
interfered antenna.
[0022] In a further implementation of the first, second, and third
aspects, the PIM in the received signals is created from a
plurality of carriers transmitted from a single antenna.
[0023] In a further implementation of the first, second, and third
aspects, a third order PIM is included in the received signals when
two transmit carriers and two multiple-input and multiple-output
(MIMO) antennas are implemented.
[0024] In a further implementation of the first, second, and third
aspects, frequency bins of the plurality of synthetic PIM signals
computed from frequency bins of the transmitted signals overlap
completely with the frequency bins of the received signals.
[0025] In a further implementation of the first, second, and third
aspects, a plurality of frequency bins of the plurality of
synthetic PIM signals overlap a same frequency bin of the received
signals.
[0026] In a further implementation of the first, second, and third
aspects, at least two mitigation weights are computed for the same
frequency bin of the received signals corresponding to the
overlapping plurality of synthetic PIM signals.
[0027] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and/or scientific
terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by
one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains.
Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those
described herein can be used in the practice or testing of
embodiments of the invention, exemplary methods and/or materials
are described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification,
including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials,
methods, and examples are illustrative only and are not intended to
be necessarily limiting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by
way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is
stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for
purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments of the
invention. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings
makes apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the
invention may be practiced.
[0029] In the drawings:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a graph of an exemplary frequency spectrum of PIM
non linearities, in accordance with some embodiments of the present
invention;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a schematic depicting an exemplary scenario that
creates PIM, in accordance with some embodiments of the present
invention;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method for mitigating PIM in
received signals using synthetic PIM signals computed from
transmitted signals, in accordance with some embodiments of the
present invention;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a wireless device for
mitigating PIM interference signals using synthetic PIM signals
computed from transmitted signals, in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a schematic depicting Tx1, Tx2, and SIP bins as a
result of adjacent Tx1 and Tx2 bins and corresponding Rx bins, in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 6 is a schematic depicting an SIP that is created from
two DL bands, two bins from one DL bin and the third one from the
other DL band, in accordance with some embodiments of the preset
invention;
[0036] FIG. 7 is a schematic depicting a process for cancellation
of the two overlapping intermod (PIM) bins and SIPS that are
produced to cancel them, in accordance with some embodiments of the
present invention;
[0037] FIG. 8 is a schematic of an exemplary process for performing
PIM cancellation of RF signals, in accordance with some embodiments
of the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 9 is a schematic of an exemplary process for performing
PIM cancellation of digital baseband signals, in accordance with
some embodiments of the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 10 is a schematic of an exemplary process for digital
PIM cancellation, in accordance with some embodiments of the
present invention;
[0040] FIG. 11 is a graph depicting the UL bin and 5 SIPs that
overlap it, in accordance with some embodiments of the present
invention;
[0041] FIG. 12 is a schematic depicting the PIM cancellation
process for 4 UL bin and 12 DL bins, in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 13 is a schematic of an exemplary implementation of the
PIM mitigation device, in accordance with some embodiments of the
present invention;
[0043] FIG. 14 is a graph depicting the spectral picture of the 3rd
order PIM of ban 17+14 of the example case, in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 15 is a graph depicting the spectrum of the PIM in UL
band 17 for the example PIM case and the expected PIM in band 14
UL, in accordance with some embodiments of the present
invention;
[0045] FIG. 16 includes graphs depicting the number of SIPs for
several numbers of DL bins, in accordance with some embodiments of
the present invention; and
[0046] FIG. 17 is a graph depicting the number of SIPs for each UL
bin for the 7 UL bin case, in accordance with some embodiments of
the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0047] The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates
to wireless data communication systems and, more specifically, but
not exclusively, to systems and methods for mitigation of passive
intermodulation (PIM).
[0048] As used herein, term mitigating (e.g., PIM mitigation) may
be interchanged with the term cancellation (e.g., PIM
cancellation).
[0049] As used herein, the term PIM may refer to PIM
interference.
[0050] As used herein, the term mitigation and cancellation may
sometimes be interchanged. For example, the term PIM cancellation
and PIM mitigation may sometimes be interchanged.
[0051] As used herein, the term module may sometimes be
interchanged with the term component.
[0052] As used herein, the phrase PIM mitigation may refer to
removal and/or reduction of PIM signals (sometimes referred to as
PIM interference) from received signals. Desired signals may be
isolated. Mitigation and/or removal may not be complete. Noise
and/or the undesired signals may remain at a reduced level that
allows for identification and/or detection of the desired signal.
The PIM mitigation may reduce the level of interference, for
example, below a predefined receiver noise threshold level. A
corrupted signal (composed from desired signals with interference
from PIM signals) may undergo PIM mitigation to generate a clean
signal (composed from desired signals).
[0053] As used herein, the term PIM mitigation may refer to one or
more (e.g., all) of the following: the process of computing
synthetic PIM signals from the transmit signals, and the process of
cleaning the received signals with the mitigation weights computed
for mitigating the synthetic PIM signals. The PIM mitigation
process may sometimes refer to additional features that may be
performed by other components, for example, obtaining the transmit
signals, obtaining the received signals, and computing the
mitigation weights, as described herein.
[0054] As used herein, the term PIM mitigation may refer to one or
more (e.g., all) of the following: the PIM mitigation module
described herein, the method for performing PIM mitigation as
described herein, code stored in a memory that when executed by one
or more hardware processors causes the hardware processor(s) to
perform the PIM mitigation process as described herein, an
apparatus designed to perform PIM mitigation as described herein,
and/or a system designed to perform PIM mitigation as described
herein. The cited terms for referring to PIM mitigation may
sometimes be substituted for one another, and/or one term may serve
as an example of one implementation while referring to other
possible implementations.
[0055] As used herein, the term antenna sometimes means the port of
the antenna.
[0056] An aspect of some embodiments of the present invention
relates to a module and/or component and/or system, and/or
apparatus, and/or method, and/or code instructions (i.e., stored in
a memory for execution by hardware processor(s)) for mitigation of
PIM interference within received signals received by reception
source(s) of a wireless network. The PIM interference is removed or
reduced to obtain the desired signals of the received signals. The
PIM may be mitigated within a receiver of a wireless network that
may have co-located and/or nearby transmitters and receivers, for
example, a base station of a cellular network. Transmit signals
transmitted by transmission sources(s) (e.g., antenna(s) of a
wireless network) are received. Received signals received by
reception source(s) (e.g., antenna(s) of a wireless network) are
received. The received signals may include desired signals mixed
with PIM interference signals resulting from reflection of the
transmit signals off one or more non-linear PIM reflection elements
(e.g., passive metallic objects) into the reception source.
Synthetic PIM signals are computed from the transmit signals. The
synthetic PIM signals represent different predictions of candidate
PIM interferences that may be caused (and/or may be present) in the
received signals from the transmitted signals reflecting off one or
more non-linear PIM reflection elements into the reception
source(s). The synthetic PIM signals may be generated to cover all
(or the most significant) cases of possible PIM interference that
may actually be present in the received signals due to the transmit
signals reflecting off one or more non-linear PIM reflection
elements and being receiving by the reception sources. Mitigation
weights are computed for mitigating the synthetic PIM signals. A
PIM mitigation process is performed on the received signals using
the mitigation weights to generate clean signals. The clean signals
may be provided to the receiver of the wireless network.
[0057] It is noted that the desired signals within the received
signals may originate from an external transmitter that is
different than the transmitter transmitting the signals that are
reflected of the non-linear PIM reflection elements resulting in
the PIM interference which is mixed with the desired signals in the
received signals. The transmitter transmitting the signals that
result in PIM may be co-located (e.g., same tower, same base
station) as the receiver. The transmitter transmitting the desired
signals may be located remotely, in a different geographically
distant tower and/or base station than the receiver.
[0058] Each synthetic PIM signal is computed according to a
respective combination of frequency components of the transmit
signals. When multiple transmission sources are implemented, at
least some synthetic PIM signals are a combination of one or more
frequency bins from two or more of the transmission sources, for
example, two frequency bands from one antenna and a single
frequency band from another antenna. The frequency components of
the transmit signals used to generate the respective combination
may be selected according to a prediction of producing a respective
PIM signal in a corresponding frequency component of the received
signals.
[0059] When computations are performed in the frequency domain,
each frequency bin of the received signals may correspond to two or
more frequency bins of two or more synthetic PIM signals. Each
frequency bin of the received signals may be overlapped by three or
more synthetic PIM signals. The PIM mitigation process may be
performed for each respective frequency bin of the received signals
using the mitigation weights computed for all of the synthetic PIM
signal bins that overlap the respective received signal frequency
bin.
[0060] Optionally, the cancellation processes is fragmented into
partial frequency sub-bands in which it is assumed that the PIM
signal from a single diode is flat in phase and/or amplitude
throughout the respective sub-band. In such case the partial
sub-band PIM interference component (out of the entire PIM
interfering signal) may be cancelled sufficiently by applying a
single complex weight. The partial sub-band component of the single
diode generated PIM signal may be referred to herein as a PIM
signal bin. In case of multiple diodes that produce PIM
interference signals, the aggregated PIM signal bin from multiple
diodes is summed may be cancelled with some flat amplitude and/or
phase weight when the bin frequency bandwidth is lower enough
compared to the inverse of maximum difference in delay difference
between the closest and the furthest diodes PIM signal
reception.
[0061] Conceptually, the PIM cancellation process processes the
transmit (Tx) signals that are candidates to produce PIM.
[0062] At least some implementations of the systems, apparatus,
methods, and/or code instructions described herein improve the
technology of interference removal in wireless communication
systems. At least some implementations of the systems, apparatus,
methods, and/or code instructions described herein may be
implemented in a generic manner for many different types of
wireless systems, without requiring identification of the
particular PIM interference of the respective wireless system. The
synthetic PIM signals are selected to cover all (or the most
significant) PIM interference scenarios, and remove the PIM
interference, without the technical challenge of detecting the PIM
interference. The PIM interference may be removed without knowing
what the PIM interference actually is. Detecting and removing PIM
interference may be difficult using standard approaches, in
particular when multiple antennas are used for transmission and
reception (e.g., for multiple carriers) and PIM may result from a
combination of multiple transmissions from multiple transmitters
arriving at the receiver, which may generated PIM of high order, as
described herein. Detecting PIM and removing PIM in such multi
antenna networks using standard approaches may be technically
difficult. In some implementations, the PIM interference may be
automatically detected, and an indication of the PIM interference
may be provided.
[0063] At least some implementations of the systems, apparatus,
methods, and/or code instructions described herein address the
technical problem of radio interference caused by PIM in wireless
communication systems. At least some implementations of the
systems, apparatus, methods, and/or code instructions described
herein improve the technology of wireless communication by reducing
and/or eliminating radio interference caused by PIM in wireless
communication systems.
[0064] PIM caused by the non-linearity characteristics of radio
frequency (RF) passive devices, such as non-linear rusty metal
surface or non-linear magnetic hysteresis of ferromagnetic
materials, may cause radio interference, which may significantly
impact the quality of wireless transmission in wireless
communication systems. In frequency division duplexing (FDD)
systems, where the transmit and receive are performed simultaneous
using the same and/or collocated antennas, PIM from the transmit
system may cause PIM interference to the receive data signals when
the PIM product frequency is equal to the receiving frequency. PIM
may be due to components in the receiving HW itself like antennas,
connectors, cables, and the like. PIM may be due to nonlinear
reflecting object in the transmission path that is reflected to the
receiver in the FDD receiving frequency through a nonlinear
manner.
[0065] As used herein, nonlinear objects that produce PIM
reflection are sometimes referred to as parasite diodes or
diodes.
[0066] PIM presents a growing hazard to cellular networks. Cellular
networks continue to evolve to further increase capacity demand.
The path to 5G includes sites densification, more spectrum and
massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO). All these
factors increase the hazards of PIM deteriorating the wireless
network's performance. As more sites are deployed on roof-tops in
urban areas the danger of external PIM is increasing due to the
proximity of the site antennas to metallic material. Increase in
spectrum implies greater likelihood of lower (2nd and 3rd) order
strong intermodulations and harmonics of transmit signals to fall
within the receive spectrum and impact severely receivers'
noise-floor. Massive MIMO transmissions further increase the
likelihood of destructive PIM as result of large number of
transmitting elements.
[0067] The technical problem caused by PIM may be aggravated with
the culminating technologies of wireless cellular networks such as
cloud RAN (C-RAN) and virtual RAN (V-RAN). In C-RAN and V-RAN the
baseband processing of multiple wireless cell-sites is collocated
in single location that is referred as "hotel". At each cell-site
several remote radio units (RRU) are deployed in several frequency
bands. Each RRU can have multiple transmitters to implement
transmit (Tx) multi input multi output (MIMO) schemes. The
plurality of transmitters in very close location or in the same
location creates potential to produce significant PIM interference
signal that may hamper some collocated receivers that also are
tuned to a plurality of frequencies that are different of the Tx
frequencies.
[0068] The transmitted signal hits parasite diodes that produce PIM
signal component due to their non-linearity behavior that may be
reflected to the interfered receiver antenna. Since PIM producing
usually requires relatively high power of the original signal it
may be assumed that the parasite diodes are hit usually by a
transmit signal in a line of site manner. The returned PIM signal
can be combination of direct line of site (LOS) and reflection of
this signal from another object (as multipath).
[0069] In at least some implementations, the PIM module described
herein performs PIM removal, cleaning the uplink receive spectrum
by utilizing frequency components of the PIM generating downlink
transmit signals. In at least some implementations, the PIM module
utilizes the (e.g., long term evolution (LTE)) downlink transmit
signals on the (e.g., Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI))
interface to train the algorithms and perform optimal cancellation
regardless of the number of PIM generating elements (e.g., diodes)
at the site. Utilizing the downlink signal components provides
superior mitigation of the LTE generated PIM in contrast to, for
example, standard approaches that are based on "uplink only"
processing tailored to remove non-LTE interferers. The PIM module
achieves optimal cancellation levels restoring original pre-PIM
noise-floor for best site performance.
[0070] In at least some implementations, the PIM module centralized
processing architecture is based on having all transmit and receive
signals related to the PIM interference processed at a central
location. Multiple radios may be connected simultaneously and have
their Downlink and Uplink signals processes. In at least some
implementations, the architectural advantage results in the highest
level of PIM removal at the most challenging massive MIMO
scenarios
[0071] In at least some implementations, the PIM module enables the
operator to maintain optimum Downlink transmission power, thus
eliminating the need for undesired transmit power reduction to
lower uplink path PIM interference.
[0072] In at least some implementations, the PIM module results in
significant improvement of key performance indicators (KPI), such
as coverage, throughput, retainability and accessibility.
[0073] In at least some implementations, the PIM module may be
extended to provide Spectral Intelligence and external interference
insight.
[0074] In at least some implementations, the PIM module provides a
complete suite of tools for the automation of radio access network
(RAN) performance optimization processes and significant operating
expense (OPEX) savings.
[0075] In at least some implementations, the PIM module enable
tremendous saving by eliminating the Sisyphean and recurring
process of manually hunting and remediating dozens of PIM
generating elements at each cell-site.
[0076] In at least some implementations, the PIM mitigation device
is seamlessly installed between up to 8 remote radio unit (RRU) and
baseband unit (BBU) pairs.
[0077] In at least some implementations, the PIM module is a
transparent add-on for any vendors' CPRI solution. Built-in Optical
Line Protection (OLP) may ensure continuous operation under any
failure, loss of power and SW remote upgrade. A cloud-based
platform, may be used for management of the PIM module deployment.
Remote view of spectral data and extracted Spectral Intelligence
(SI) recorded by the deployed platforms may be provided.
[0078] Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not
necessarily limited in its application to the details of
construction and the arrangement of the components and/or methods
set forth in the following description and/or illustrated in the
drawings and/or the Examples. The invention is capable of other
embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various
ways.
[0079] The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a
computer program product. The computer program product may include
a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer
readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to
carry out aspects of the present invention.
[0080] The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible
device that can retain and store instructions for use by an
instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium
may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage
device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an
electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or
any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of
more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium
includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk,
a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable
programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static
random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only
memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a
floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or
raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon,
and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable
storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being
transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely
propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves
propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g.,
light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical
signals transmitted through a wire.
[0081] Computer readable program instructions described herein can
be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a
computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or
external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a
local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network.
The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical
transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls,
switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter
card or network interface in each computing/processing device
receives computer readable program instructions from the network
and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage
in a computer readable storage medium within the respective
computing/processing device.
[0082] Computer readable program instructions for carrying out
operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions,
instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine
instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware
instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object
code written in any combination of one or more programming
languages, including an object oriented programming language such
as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural
programming languages, such as the "C" programming language or
similar programming languages. The computer readable program
instructions may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on
the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on
the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on
the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote
computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type
of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area
network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external
computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet
Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry
including, for example, programmable logic circuitry,
field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays
(PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by
utilizing state information of the computer readable program
instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to
perform aspects of the present invention.
[0083] Aspects of the present invention are described herein with
reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of
methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products
according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood
that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block
diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations
and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable
program instructions.
[0084] These computer readable program instructions may be provided
to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose
computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to
produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via
the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing
apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts
specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in
a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a
programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to
function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable
storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an
article of manufacture including instructions which implement
aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block
diagram block or blocks.
[0085] The computer readable program instructions may also be
loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing
apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps
to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or
other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that
the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable
apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified
in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
[0086] The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate
the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible
implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products
according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this
regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent
a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one
or more executable instructions for implementing the specified
logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the
functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in
the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in
fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may
sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the
functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of
the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations
of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can
be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that
perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations
of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
[0087] When one or more signals are combined and fed into an input
of a nonlinear passive component (e.g., parasite diode), the
nonlinearity may cause the signals to mix or multiply with each
other creating new signal components that are related to the input
ones. These new signals components are called harmonic frequencies
and Intermodulation (IM) products. A two-tone measurement is often
used for PIM testing. Two continuous wave (CW) signals at
frequencies f1 and f2 with same power levels are applied into a
device under test input port and the IM product is obtained from an
output port.
[0088] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a graph of an
exemplary frequency spectrum of PIM non linearities, for example,
the IM product outputted by an output port of a device in response
to an input of two continuous wave signals at frequencies f1 and f2
with same power levels are inputted, in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0089] IM products may be referred to by their order, which is the
number of times a product within the output is multiplied. The
order number is associated with the maximum power value of the
polynomial term that represents the non-linearity of the diodes in
the reflection path. The PIM component may be a result of out-band
spill-over signal of single Tx carrier (e.g., download (DL) part of
FDD carrier), such PIM type may be referred to herein as
self-created PIM. The other type of PIM is a result of mixing of
two or more Tx carriers that produce the IM component, such PIM
type may be referred to herein as combined-created PIM. The third
order IM product (IM3) is usually the most critical one when the IM
products is of combined-created. It may fall within the (receiver)
Rx band of upload (UL) carrier (whether it is FDD coupled to one of
the pertinent download (DL) carrier or not) if the band is broad
enough and the tone spacing is narrow enough. IM5 and IM7 products
can be harmful mostly in case of self-created PIM.
[0090] Even order IM products, which include for example, IM2, IM4,
and IM6, and the like, usually interfere in case the Rx carrier is
relatively away of the Tx carrier that produces the PIM. Harmonics
are integer multiples of the original input signals. The input
signal may be termed the fundamental frequency or the first
harmonic frequency. The second harmonic signal has twice the
frequency of the fundamental one and the third harmonics has three
times and so on. In theory, a signal may have an infinite number of
harmonics but typically the 2nd and the 3rd orders are of concern
because higher harmonics typically fall outside the frequency range
used by any device or system.
[0091] Odd order IMs, which include for example, IM3, IM5, IM7, and
the like, are dominating IM products because they are the ones
closest to the usable frequency band of an application. The IM
product order tells how many times the product within the output is
multiplied. Their power level can be expressed in terms of absolute
power (dBm) or in relation to carrier power (dBc).
[0092] The formulas that describes the frequencies of IM products
are as follows:
(M+N) low=M*f1.+-.N*f2
(M+N) high=M*f2.+-.N*f1
Where=integer>2
N=M-1
(M+N) , fIM(M+N)high=odd order IM frequencies
f1, f2=frequency of the tone input signals
[0093] This means that the M value for IM3 equation is 2 and N
value is 1. The same principle applies to IM5 where M=3 and N=2.
Two formulas are needed because in a two-tone scenario IM product
are generated on a frequency that is below the first tone (fIM low)
and on a frequency above the second tone (fIM high).
[0094] As the level of tones rise, so does the level of IM
products. It is found that the level of IM products rises faster
than that of the tone in the diode output. The higher the order,
the faster they rise. It can be described that a 1 decibel (dB)
rise in the tone level raises the level of IM3 products by 3 dB and
the level of IM5 products by 5dB. The odd order IM Product may be
modeled using a low-order polynomial, derived by means of Taylor
series.
[0095] Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a schematic
depicting an exemplary scenario that creates PIM, in accordance
with some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 2 depicts the
case of 3rd order PIM with 2 Tx carriers (Tx1 and Tx2) and 2 MIMO
antennas, the case of PIM that is produced by 2 carriers--the first
2 carriers out of the three are collocates the same FD location so
only two are visible. In case of 3rd order PIM, each PIM receive
bin is the product of 3 transmit bins.
[0096] The scenario depicted in FIG. 2 is based on two signals that
are transmitted in 2 MIMO antennas and `hit` two parasitic diodes
(D1 and D2) that are located near the antennas. Two pairs of bins
in both signals are followed (each in one of them) that produce an
intermod (i.e., PIM interference) bin in common frequency value in
the receive frequency. The two transmit pairs produces common bin
intermod in one frequency domain location in the receive band of
third carrier. The scenario illustrates how several PIM bins may be
collocated in the frequency domain.
[0097] XC1A1 XC2A1 denote 2 bins of two Tx carrier in antenna 1
that produce 3rd intermod bin in Rx band in A location.
[0098] XC3A1 XC4A1 denote another 2 bins of two Tx carrier in
antenna 1 that produce 3rd intermod bin in Rx band in A
location.
[0099] XC1A2 XC2A2 denote 2 bins of two Tx carrier in antenna 2
that produce 3rd intermod bin in Rx band in A location.
[0100] XC3A2 XC4A2 denote other 2 bins of Tx carrier in antenna 2
that produce 3rd intermod bin in H1DLmn-Channel from DL base
station antenna number m to parasite diode number n in frequency
bin 1.
[0101] .alpha.Dm denotes a third order factor of diode number
m.
[0102] As can be seen in FIG. 2, each diode produces in each bin
locations 12 collocated bins. The following labels denote the terms
of all intermod bins that produced by diode 1:
[0103] .alpha.D1(H1DL11)2H3DL11 (XC1A1)2XC3A--intermod as a result
of carrier 1 and carrier 3 both in the antenna 1.
[0104] .alpha.D1(H1DL21)2H3DL21 (XC1A2)2XC3A2--intermod as a result
of carrier 1 in antenna 1 and carrier 3 in antenna 2.
[0105] .alpha.D1(H2DL11)2H4DL11 (XC2A1)2XC4A1--intermod as a result
of carrier 1 and carrier 4 both in antenna 1.
[0106] .alpha.D1(H2DL21)2H4DL21 (XC2A2)2XC4A2 2XC4A1--intermod as a
result of carrier 2 and carrier 4 both in antenna 1.
[0107] .alpha.D1(H1DL11)2H3DL21 (XC1A1)2XC3A2--intermod as a result
of carrier 1 in antenna land carrier 3 in antenna 2.
[0108] .alpha.D1(H1DL21)2H3DL11 (XC1A2)2XC3A1--intermod as a result
of carrier 1 in antenna 2 and carrier 3 in antenna 1.
[0109] .alpha.D1(H2DL11)2H4DL21 (XC2A1)2XC4A2--intermod as a result
of carrier 2 in antenna 1 and carrier 4 in antenna 2
[0110] .alpha.D1(H2DL21)2H4DL11 (XC2A2)2XC4A1--intermod as a result
of carrier 2 in antenna 2 and carrier 4 in antenna 1.
[0111] .alpha.D1H1DL11H1DL21H3DL11 XC1A1XC1A2 XC3A1--intermod as a
result of carrier 1 in antenna 1 and 2 and carrier 3 in antenna
1.
[0112] .alpha.D1H1DL11H1DL21H3DL21 XC1A1XC1A2 XC3A2--intermod as a
result of carrier 1 in antenna 1 and 2 and carrier 3 in antenna
2.
[0113] .alpha.D1H2DL11H2DL21H4DL11 XC2A1XC2A2 XC4A1--intermod as a
result of carrier 2 in antenna 1 and 2 and carrier 4 in antenna
1.
[0114] .alpha.D1H2DL11H2DL21H4DL11 XC2A1XC2A2 XC4A2--intermod as a
result of carrier 2 in antenna 1 and 2 and carrier 4 in antenna
2.
[0115] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is a flowchart of a
method for mitigating PIM in received signals using synthetic PIM
signals computed from transmitted signals, in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention. Reference is also made to
FIG. 4, which is a block diagram of a wireless device 402
(sometimes referred to herein as receiver) that receives and
transmits wireless signals, coupled to a PIM mitigation device
(e.g., module and/or component) 404 for mitigating PIM interference
signals in the received signals using synthetic PIM signals
computed from transmitted signals, in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0116] PIM mitigation device 404 may be located within the wireless
device 402. Alternatively or additionally, PIM mitigation device
404 is located remotely from wireless device 202.
[0117] Optionally, PIM mitigation device 404 has a receiver
interface for electrically coupling (e.g., by plugging of a cable)
to one or more reception sources (e.g., antenna(s)) 406A, and a
transmitter interface for electrically coupling (e.g., by plugging
of a cable) to one or more transmission sources (e.g., antenna(s))
40BA. Optionally, device 404 has another interface for electrically
coupling (e.g., by plugging in a cable) to wireless device 402 of a
wireless communication network, which may connect to a network 410.
Optionally, device 404 is an add-on device arranged as a
self-contained structure for coupling to both the wireless network
and the antennas.
[0118] It is noted that reception source(s) 406A and transmission
source(s) 406B may be implemented as a single transceiver
source(s), for example, one or more antennas.
[0119] Optionally, multiple reception sources 406A and multiple
transmission sources 406B are fed into a single PIM mitigation
device 404.
[0120] It is noted that FIG. 4 is a simplified high level
conceptual diagram. Additional implementation designs and/or
details are described herein, for example, with reference to other
figures.
[0121] Installation of PIM mitigation device 404 may improve
performance of wireless device 402 by adding additional PIM
mitigation functionality in addition to any existing interference
mitigation functions, for example, an existing antenna receiver
diversity functionality.
[0122] PIM mitigation device 404 may be operated transparently,
without coordination with the protected receivers 406A and PIM
generating transmitters 406B. Alternatively, PIM mitigation device
404 may be may be operated in coordination with the protected
receiver 406A or PIM generating transmitters 406B or with both
406A-B. Such coordination may include for example transmission by
the PIM generating transmitter 406B of a known pattern training
signal in time and or in frequency, muting or any other
coordinating mechanism which may assist with the PIM mitigation
process.
[0123] PIM mitigation device 404 may be implemented as integral
part of wireless device 402 and/or a separate add-on functional
module. In one implementation, the received and/or transmit signals
are obtained as RF signals. In another implementation, the received
and/or transmit signals are accessed in a digital baseband form.
PIM mitigation device 404 may be designed as a centralized
architecture where relevant PIM contributing transmit signals and
relevant PIM interfered receive signals are accessible by the PIM
mitigation device 404.
[0124] Optionally, wireless device(s) 402 is implemented as a
cellular base station, access point receivers, or other components
within a data communication network, for example, a wireless and/or
cellular data communication network. Wireless devices 402 may be
part of any suitable wireless network, for example, wideband code
division multiple access (WCDMA), LTE, WiFi, point-to-point
communication, satellite communication, WiMax, cloud RAN (C-RAN)
and virtual RAN (V-RAN), 5G, or other technologies.
[0125] Optionally, reception source(s) 406A and transmission
source(s) 406B of wireless device 402 are co-located, such that
signals transmitted by transmission source(s) 406B may create a PIM
product within a receive signal frequency range of reception
source(s) 406A. In C-RAN and V-RAN the baseband processing of
multiple wireless cell-sites is co-located in a single location
that is referred as "hotel". At each cell-site several remote radio
units (RRU) are deployed in several frequency bands. Each RRU can
have multiple transmitters to implement Tx MIMO schemes. The
plurality of transmitters in very close location or in the same
location creates potential to produce significant PIM interference
signal that may hamper some collocated receivers that also are
tuned to plurality of frequencies that are different of the Tx
frequencies.
[0126] Wireless device(s) 402 may include transmission source(s)
406B (e.g., antennas) to transmit wireless signals 418A (also
referred to herein as download (DL)) to one or more client
terminals 212). Wireless devices 402 may include reception sources
406A (e.g., antennas) to receive wireless signals 418B (also
referred to herein as upload (UL) transmitted from one or more
clients 412, for example, mobile phones, Smartphones, laptops,
tablets, mobile devices, other receiving devices, and/or other
transceivers. The received signals may be processed by a wireless
processor 408, which is optionally connected to a data
communication network 410. The processed received signals may be
forwarded over network 410.
[0127] Wireless devices 402 may operate within licensed frequency
bands, and/or may operate within unlicensed spectrums.
[0128] It is noted that only a reception source 406A and a single
transmission source 406B are shown as an example for clarity and
simplicity. It is understood that more than two source (e.g.,
antennas) may be used for transmission and/or reception, for
example, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or greater, for example, in MIMO
architectures.
[0129] PIM interference in received signals outputted by reception
source(s) 406A may be caused by a non-linear PIM reflection
element(s) 450 having non-linear characteristics, as described
herein, (also referred to herein as a parasite diode, or diode)
that reflects transmitted signals 416A outputted by transmission
source(s) 406B into 416B reception source(s) 406B. PIM reflection
element(s) 450 may include, for example, components of the hardware
of reception source(s) 406B, a non-linear reflecting object in the
path of the transmit signals, and/or other examples as described
herein.
[0130] PIM mitigation device 404 is in electrical communication
with wireless device 402, via an interface, for example, cables,
wireless connectors, cards that plug into slots, local busses
and/or integrated therein.
[0131] Different installations may be performed, for example,
depending on the implementation of wireless device 402 (e.g.,
base-station, access point). PIM mitigation device 404 may be a
standalone device (e.g., connected by cables), embedded into
wireless device 402 (e.g., card inserted into slot of wireless
processor 408), and/or software (e.g., loaded onto a memory of
wireless device 402 for execution by processor 408).
[0132] The Tx and Rx processing may be done through RF reception
and analog to digital sampling or in case of split-mounted base
station that use fiber optic between the mounts, through digital
optical baseband sampling from the optical link between the
baseband unit of the base station (BBU) to the remote RF unit of
the base station (RRU). There are several optical link standards
available for split-mount base stations such as Common Public Radio
Interface (CPRI) or Open Base Station Architecture Initiative
(OBSAI) or any other suitable communication protocol.
[0133] The structure of PIM mitigation device 404 may be based on
the desired installation configuration. For example, the standalone
device may contain one or more hardware processors 420, and a
non-transitory memory 422 storing code 422A for execution by
hardware processor(s) 420. The standalone device may be encased in
a housing. The embedded configuration may not have the housing,
with the processor 420 and memory 422 on a card. The software
version may comprise of a computer program product having
instructions for execution by a processor of the network, for
example, the wireless processor 408. Alternatively or additionally,
PIM mitigation device 404 is implemented (entirely or in part)
based on firmware of programmable hardware devices, for example,
field-programmable gate array (FPGA), application-specific
integrated circuit (ASIC), or other hardware.
[0134] Optionally, PIM mitigation device 204 is connected along the
received signal path from reception source(s) 406A to processor 408
and/or along the transmit signal path from processor 408 to
transmission source(s) 406B (e.g., baseband receiver), between
antennas 406A-B and processor 408 (e.g., baseband receiver). For
example, PIM mitigation device 404 is connected in front of a RF
receiving section of a base station, or in front of digital
receiver baseband ports. In another example, interference
mitigation device 404 is embedded into a baseband component.
[0135] Optionally, one or more filtering and/or amplification
elements (e.g., hardware and/or software) are positioned in
electrical communication between antennas 406A-B and PIM mitigation
device 404. Alternatively or additionally, one or more filtering
and/or amplification elements are positioned in electrical
communication between PIM mitigation device 404 and processor 408.
Examples of filters include duplexers. Examples of amplifiers
include tower mounted amplifiers.
[0136] Hardware processor(s) 420 of PIM mitigation module 404 may
be implemented, for example, as a central processing unit(s) (CPU),
a graphics processing unit(s) (GPU), field programmable gate
array(s) (FPGA), digital signal processor(s) (DSP), and application
specific integrated circuit(s) (ASIC). Processor(s) 420 may include
a single processor, or multiple processors (homogenous or
heterogeneous) arranged for parallel processing, as clusters and/or
as one or more multi core processing devices.
[0137] Memory 422 stores code instructions executable by hardware
processor(s) 420, for example, a random access memory (RAM),
read-only memory (ROM), and/or a storage device, for example,
non-volatile memory, magnetic media, semiconductor memory devices,
hard drive, removable storage, and optical media (e.g., DVD,
CD-ROM). Memory 422 stores code 422A that implements one or more
features and/or acts of the method described with reference to FIG.
3 when executed by hardware processor(s) 420. Alternatively or
additionally, one or more instructions may be implemented in
hardware, in processor(s) 420 and/or other hardware components, in
addition to, and/or alternatively to code 422A.
[0138] One or more features described with reference to other
figures described herein may be implemented in hardware and/or code
422A for execution by processor 420.
[0139] PIM mitigation device 404 may include data storage device(s)
452 for storing data, for example, synthetic PIM signal repository
452A that stores the computed synthetic PIM signals, as described
herein. Data storage device(s) 452 may be implemented as, for
example, a memory, a local hard-drive, virtual storage, a removable
storage unit, an optical disk, a storage device, and/or as a remote
server and/or computing cloud (e.g., accessed using a network
connection).
[0140] Wireless device 402 may communicate with network 410, for
example, the internet, a broadcast network, a local area network, a
virtual network, a wireless network, a cellular network, a local
bus, a point to point link (e.g., wired), and/or combinations of
the aforementioned.
[0141] PIM mitigation device 404 may include and/or be in
communication with one or more physical user interfaces 450 that
include a mechanism for user interaction, for example, to enter
data (e.g., define reception and transmission sources) and/or view
data (e.g., of detected and/or removed PIM interference). Exemplary
physical user interfaces 450 include, for example, one or more of,
a touchscreen, a display, gesture activation devices, a keyboard, a
mouse, and voice activated software using speakers and
microphone.
[0142] Reference is now made back to FIG. 3. At 302, transmit
signals transmitted by transmission source(s) are received.
[0143] The received signals include PIM products created from the
transmit signals from the transmission sources (e.g.,
antennas).
[0144] The obtained transmit signals may be radiofrequency (RF)
signals and/or digital baseband signals.
[0145] At 304, received signals received by reception source(s) are
received. The received signals include PIM interference (also
referred to as PIM products, or intermods) generated from transmit
signals and/or include desired signals. The PIM interference may be
created from the transmitted signals reflecting off one or more PIM
reflection elements (i.e., parasitic diodes) and being sensed by
the reception sources, for example, as described herein.
[0146] For example in a single input single output (SISO)
implementation, the PIM in the received signals is created from
multiple carriers transmitted from a single antenna.
[0147] The obtained received signals may be radiofrequency (RF)
signals and/or digital baseband signals.
[0148] PIM included in the received signals may be of higher orders
as described herein, for example, a third order PIM is included in
the received signals when two transmit carriers and two
multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) antennas are
implemented.
[0149] The transmit signals and received signals may be extracted
as digital baseband signals. The digital baseband signals may be
extracted, for example, by RF acquisition with complex envelope ADC
(IQ) sampling and decimation and/or by extracting the IQ data from
a baseband interface source.
[0150] Optionally, the PIM cancellation process described herein is
performed in the frequency domain (FD) of the baseband signals. The
signals may be produced, for example, by running a Window Overlap
& Add (WOLA) filter. The WOLA filter may be done, for example,
using the following acts: [0151] Buffering serial time domain (TD)
input data samples in sequence of 50% (e.g., about 50%) overlap of
two adjacent buffers. [0152] Multiply each buffer with a window
function. [0153] Performing Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) on the
buffer to convert TD samples to FD samples. [0154] Multiplying each
of the FD samples in the FD buffer (FFT output) with cancellation
coefficients. There may be multiple coefficients for each bin.
[0155] Performing inverse-FFT (IFFT) on the FD buffer to convert FD
samples back to TD samples. [0156] Adding every two consecutive TD
buffers and streaming the buffer serially.
[0157] The following mathematical equation denotes the FD
expression of TX carrier denoted as number i:
T i = n = 0 n = Ni - 1 t ( n ) exp ( j 2 .pi. f n ) ##EQU00001##
[0158] T.sub.i--Tx carrier No. i signal [0159] t(n)--complex
variable that related to bin n [0160] n--number of FD bin index
[0161] f--real frequency of the bin (around center freq f.sub.c)
[0162] N--no of FD bins (FFT order) [0163] i--carrier index
[0164] The following denotes the FD expression of the PIM bins that
fall in the receiver inband bandwidth:
PIM RX = f n .di-elect cons. RxBW pim_bin ( n ) exp ( j 2 .pi. f n
) ##EQU00002## [0165] PIM.sub.Rx--bins of resulted PIM from all
carriers that falls within the inbandor the Rx carrier [0166]
pim_bin(n)--complex variable that related to bin n of resultedPIM
of all Tx carriers that falls in n bin [0167] n--FD bin index or
resulted bin [0168] f.sub.n--real frequency of the bin of the
PIM
[0169] The PIM may be produced from multiple carriers transmitted
from the single antenna (e.g., case of SISO).
PIM = p = 2 P a p ( i = 1 I T i ) p ##EQU00003## [0170]
a.sub.p--non linear polynomium term of power p [0171] P--maximum
non-linear order [0172] I--no of Tx carrier in all antennas. [0173]
i--carrier index
[0174] For the MIMO case (case of multiple transmitting
antennas):
PIM = p = 2 P a p Ant = 1 NoAntennas i = q I ( T Ant , i IM ) p
##EQU00004##
[0175] PIMRX denotes the ensemble of bins that are produced from
the bins of all the Tx carriers that falls within the inband in the
receiver of the interfered Rx carrier, as follows: PIMRX=RxFilter
(ReceivedPIM).
[0176] At 306, synthetic PIM signals are computed from the transmit
signals. Each of the synthetic PIM signals is a respective
combination of frequency components of the transmit signals. The
synthetic PIM signals are computed by combinations of frequency
bands selected from the transmission source(s), for example, one or
more frequency bands of a first antenna, and one or more frequency
bands of a second antenna.
[0177] Optionally, the synthetic PIM signals are computed by
converting the transmit signals from a time domain to a frequency
domain.
[0178] Optionally, for each respective receiving frequency domain
bin of the received signals of width of the desired signal
bandwidth divided by a number of receiving bins that corresponds to
one of the receiving antennas denoted NoRxBin, and where
[0179] PimOrder denotes an order of PIM for mitigation by the PIM
mitigation process, the synthetic PIM signals are computed as
combinations of transmission frequency domain bins of the
transmitted signals with bandwidth of the desired signal divided by
a multiple of the number of Rx bins and PIM order denoted by the
equation PimOrder*NoRxBin that corresponds to up to PimOrder
transmission sources (e.g., antennas) that are predicted to produce
PIM in the corresponding frequency domain bins of the received
signal.
[0180] The term Synthetic Injected PIM (SIP) used herein may be
interchanged with the term synthetic PIM signals. The term intermod
may sometimes refer to the predicted PIM interference for which the
synthetic PIM signals are created for mitigation thereof, as such,
the term intermod and SIP and/or synthetic PIM signals may
sometimes be interchanged.
[0181] The intermods may be produced by converting the transmit
signals time samples to frequency domain components and producing
synthetically for each specific bin in the receive (Rx) inband all
the intermod combination of all transmit outputs frequency domain
bins (components) that are expected to produce intermod in that
specific receive bins. As seen in the example above described with
reference to FIG. 2, for each Rx intermods bin there are 12
synthetic intermods that comprise it.
[0182] Optionally, the process of Frequency Domain PIM cancellation
is based on processing separately each sub-band component of the
single diode generated PIM signal (sometimes referred to herein as
PIM signal bin) in the received frequency domain signal utilizing
the known pertinent bins of the transmit signals that produce PIM
products in a certain Rx bin.
[0183] The frequency components of the transmit signals used to
generate the respective combination for computing the respective
synthetic PIM signal may be selected according to a prediction of
producing a respective PIM signal in a corresponding frequency
component of the received signals. For example, when the reception
source(s) and the transmission source(s) operate simultaneously
using same and/or co-located antennas (e.g., as implemented in FDD
systems), the PIM product frequency is substantially equal to the
frequency of the received signals.
[0184] Optionally, the synthetic PIM signals are computed by
converting the transmit signals from a time domain to a frequency
domain.
[0185] Optionally, the received signals (in the frequency domain)
are divided into frequency bins. Each bin is selected according to
a prediction of including no more than a PIM product generated from
a single PIM reflection element. One or more synthetic PIM signals
are computed for each group of frequency bins of the transmitted
signals corresponding to the respective frequency bin of the
received signals. One or more mitigation weights (e.g., as
described with reference to 308) are computed for each received
frequency bin. The PIM mitigation process (e.g., as described with
reference to 312) is computed for each received frequency bin of
the reception source (e.g., received antenna) from frequency bins
groups of the transmitted signals with plurality of the
transmission sources (e.g., antennas). Each synthetic PIM that
corresponds to single transmission frequency bin group of a certain
length (e.g., denoted N) corresponding to up to N transmission
sources (e.g., antenna) out of plurality of all transmission
sources (e.g., antennas) produce a single weight for mitigating the
respective received PIM in one received source (e.g., antenna) out
of the plurality of all receiving sources (e.g., antennas).
[0186] For each respective frequency domain bin of the received
signals, the synthetic PIM signals are computed as combinations of
frequency domain bins of the transmitted signals that are predicted
to produce PIM in the corresponding frequency domain bins of the
received signals.
[0187] When computations are performed in the frequency domain,
each frequency bin of the received signals may correspond to two or
more frequency bins of two or more synthetic PIM signals. Each
frequency bin of the received signals may be overlapped by three or
more synthetic PIM signals. The PIM mitigation process may be
performed for each respective frequency bin of the received signals
using the mitigation weights computed for all of the synthetic PIM
signal bins that overlap the respective received signal frequency
bin.
[0188] Frequency bins of the synthetic PIM signals computed from
frequency bins of the transmitted signals overlap completely with
the frequency bins of the received signals. Two or more frequency
bins of the synthetic PIM signals may overlap the same frequency
bin of the received signals. Two or more mitigation weights may be
computed (as described with reference to 308) for the same
frequency bin of the received signals corresponding to the
overlapping synthetic PIM signals, for example, one or more
mitigation weights are computed for each overlapping bin of the
synthetic PIM signals for the same received signal bin, which are
used to clean the respective same received signal bin (as described
with reference to 312).
[0189] Optionally, the synthetic PIM signals (e.g., one or more, or
each) are shifted to an expected center frequency position. The
frequency shift is set according to the synthetic PIM signals that
have expected center frequency equal to a certain receiving
frequency bin center. The amount of frequency shift is set such
that the center of bins of the synthetic PIM signal is equal to the
center of the receiving bin.
[0190] Optionally, the PIM cancellation is performed in the
frequency domain. When the frequency of the SIP bin is derived from
2fTx1(bin number)-f Tx2(bin number), the bin width of Tx1 may be
half of the bin width of Tx2. The resulted SIP bin may be inflated
to be double of the bin of Tx2 (2*Fs/N, where Fs denotes the
sampling frequency). In summary, when FFT size of Tx2 is N the FFT
size of Tx1 is 2N and the FFT size of Rx is N/2.
[0191] The frequency distance of two adjacent SIPs (the SIP
resolution) is the bin width of Tx2 (Fs/N) while the bandwidth of
each SIP is two bin widths of Tx2 (2Fs/N). Because the resolution
of the SIP bins is half of the SP bin width, each Rx bin has two
overlapping SIPs, and also each SIP overlaps two Rx bins. In order
to cancel intermods in Tx bins two SIP types (that originated from
adjacent couples) may be used that cancel the two overlapping
intermods in a cascade manner. The frequency plan of the Rx may be
designed to overlap one SIP type in 100% (or about 100%) and the
adjacent SIP type in 50% (or about 50%).
[0192] Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which is a schematic
depicting Tx1, Tx2, and SIP bins as a result of adjacent Tx1 and
Tx2 bins and corresponding Rx bins, in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention. Each Rx bin has 5 overlapping
SIPs. FIG. 5 depicts that SIP resolution is a third (e.g., about a
third) of the Rx bin and the bandwidth is full Rx bin. FIG. 5
depicts the overlap method of SIPS vs Rx bins.
[0193] Optionally, when the frequency of the SIP bin is derived
from 3 bins multiplication if Tx TxBin1*TxBin2*conj(RxBin3) the SIP
bin bandwidth may be inflated to be triplet of the bin of Tx1 and
Tx2 and Tx3 assuming the bandwidth of the all three DL bins is
equal and is set by the DL filter bank.
[0194] It is noted that the 3 bins that produce the SIP may be from
a single common antenna and one common DL band, or from a single
common antenna and from two bands, or from different antennas and
different bands.
[0195] In the case of different antennas and different bands, when
the Rx filter bank carries N bins, the frequency distance of two
adjacent SIPs (the SIP resolution) may be a bin width of Fs/N/3 (in
case of third order PIM or Fs/N/M in M order PIM) while the
bandwidth of each SIP may be Fs/N. When the resolution of the SIP
bins is third (in 3rd order PIM) of the SP bin width, each Rx bin
may have five overlapping SIPs, and each SIP may overlap two
adjacent Rx bins. In case of 3rd order PIM, in order to cancel
intermods in certain Rx bins cancelation weights of all SIPs that
overlap the certain Rx bin may be computed. There may be 5
overlapping groups of the SIP, each with common overlap. Each SIP
that is not overlapping 100% with an Rx bin may be used for PIM
cancelation for an adjacent Rx bin. The two overlapping intermods
may be cancelled in a cascade manner. The frequency plan of the Rx
may be designed to overlap one SIP type in 33% (about 33%) and the
adjacent SIP type in 66% (e.g., about 33%).
[0196] Reference is now made to FIG. 6, which is a schematic
depicting an SIP that is created from two DL bands, two bins from
one DL bin and the third one from the other DL band, in accordance
with some embodiments of the preset invention. The filters may be
in the DL filter bank.
[0197] Referring now back to FIG. 3, at 308, mitigation weights for
mitigating the synthetic PIM signals are computed.
[0198] It is noted that in the case of multiple diodes, the
interference PIM signal from each diode is not correlated to any
other PIM signal from other diodes. Each diode interference signal
may be cancelled with a different set of weights that may be
calculated separately. Each diode signal consumes dedicated degree
of freedom such that multiple diodes impose requirement for
multiple degrees of freedom cancellation system. For example, to
try to cancel multiple diodes with adaptive antenna array may
require a number antennas that is higher than the number of the
parasite diodes in the path.
[0199] The weight of each Rx bin may be calculated, for example,
using the Direct Inversion (DI) process which is an example of a
minimum mean square error (MMSE) algorithm. The DI process
calculates weights according to N past two vectors of SIP bin and
Rx bin values. One vector is the original Rx bin n-xr(n,t). The
second vector is the related SIP intermod SIP(n,t).
[0200] A certain SIP(n,t) is a result of bin k of Tx carrier 1 bin
of Tx carrier 2 (or carrier1) and bin m of Tx carrier 3 (or carrier
1 or 2). For example IMkl(n,t)=xt1(k,t)2 xt2(l,t) where n denotes
the bin serial number in FD Rx bin vector and t denotes the serial
filter bank bin output TD sample of the vector that holds the last
and past Rx bin values from pertinent filter bank bin output. 0
denotes the most past (i.e., oldest) sample and N-1 is the most
recent (i.e., newest) sample. Wkl(n) denotes the weight value of
the will multiply the pertinent SIP. It is noted there may be many
SIPs that each receive its own respective cancelation
weight(s).
[0201] The weight vectors (e.g., all weights) may be calculated in
a running window fashion, for example, for every new sample in both
vectors (Rx and SIP) the most recent value is added on the account
of the oldest sample. Optionally, the weights may be computed every
captured N samples. Alternatively or additionally, averaging may be
computed with IIR for the nominator and denominator.
[0202] The weight of bin n may be calculated as follows:
W k ( n , t = N ) = t = 0 t = N - 1 r x ( n , t ) SIP k ( n , t ) '
t = 0 t = N - 1 SIP k ( n , t ) SIP k ( n , t ) ' ##EQU00005##
[0203] At 310, the synthetic PIM signals are aligned to one another
in time and/or frequency. The synthetic PIM signals are aligned in
time and/or frequency to the received signals.
[0204] The alignment may be performed prior to the PIM mitigation
process.
[0205] Optionally, the timing and/or frequency of the SIP DL
signals (e.g., all SIP signals) are aligned among themselves and/or
to the Rx signals. The alignment operation may be performed before
and/or during the PIM cancellation process.
[0206] Optionally, prior to the cancellation processes the sampled
DL signals (e.g., all) from the bands (e.g., all) and the Tx MIMO
branches (e.g., all) that are during transmission are timing
aligned. The alignment may be commenced after measuring mutual
delays (e.g., all) and using the measured delays to compensate each
signal with its own delay compared to a predefined common signal
reference. The compensation may be implemented by measuring each
signal to one selected signal that may be designated as a reference
signal to the others. The timing alignment may be critical, for
example, in case of DL and Rx sampling in the optical domain in
split mount base stations implementation between their baseband and
the RF unit that may exhibit different timing parameters between
the optical and the RF domain.
[0207] The timing alignment may be done, for example, by looking to
the dependence of the amplitude of correlation between the ensemble
of SIPs amplitude (e.g., of common DL signal ingredients) with the
uplink signal and the delay between the DL signal ingredients of
these SIPs. The common ingredients may vary between bands and MIMO
branches until all relevant delays are measured.
[0208] Optionally, after performing the timing alignment of the DL
signal ingredients that produce the PIM, the uplink signal is
aligned with the coming SIPs. The alignment of the uplink signal
may be performed, for example, using one or both of the following
processes: [0209] By looking at the correlation signal between the
ensemble of SIPs and the uplink signal, and time centering the peak
of the correlation by inducing the right Rx delay (negative or
positive). [0210] By looking at the aggregate PIM rejection
performance and with fine delay changes around the coarse delay
that exhibit maximum rejection.
[0211] Optionally, for the PIM cancellation implementation
described herein, the assumption is that all the frequencies plan
of the DL and UL signal are set to an accurate level that is
satisfied by the cellular technology standard. However in most
cases when the computation load of the PIM cancellation system is
bounded, any residual frequency error that although may be below
the requirement of the standard, may cause an extra requirement for
rapid cancellation coefficient update. Calculation of the
cancellation coefficient may be performed in order to track the
phase change of the residual frequency.
[0212] Optionally, the process to compensate the residual frequency
error may be similar to the carrier recovery process in modems. In
an example implementation, the phase tracking is extracted from
averaging of the cancellation coefficient, and is measured and
applied back as in common phase-locked loop (PLL) to NCO (numerical
control oscillator) of either of the one that demodulates the Rx to
baseband and/or the NCO that demodulates one of the DL band signals
to baseband.
[0213] At 312, a PIM mitigation process is performed on the
received signals with the mitigation weights to generate clean
signals.
[0214] When PIM products in the received signals are created from
multiple PIM reflection elements, the PIM mitigation process is
performed on the received signal when a frequency bandwidth of the
received signals is lower enough compared to an inverse of maximum
difference in delay difference between a closest and a furthest of
the PIM reflection elements.
[0215] The PIM mitigation process may be done, for example, by MMSE
for each received signal bins against the non-linear formula of the
order of the related bins of the transmit signals.
[0216] Reference is now made to FIG. 7, which is a schematic
depicting a process for cancellation of the two overlapping
intermod (PIM) bins and SIPS that are produced to cancel them, in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The
process of FIG. 7 may be implemented by and/or combined with the
method described with reference to FIG. 3, and/or by components of
system 400 described with reference to FIG. 4, and/or with other
methods and/or processes described herein. Each cancelation branch
incorporates a match filter that matches the shape of the SIP as
expected in the Rx (e.g., received by Rx antenna). As shown, there
may be 5 SIP bins for each Rx bin. The memory matrix holds the 5
groups of SIP bin couples for each Rx bin. The memory matrix issues
5 groups of bin for each Rx one 100% (e.g., about 100%) overlapping
with Rx bin and other 33% (e.g., about 33%) and 66% (e.g., about
66%) intermod group. The shift is done with NCO and since the bin
is narrow than the Nyquist requirement there may be decimation in
order to reduce the complexity calculation.
[0217] The SIP may be calculated from multiple of 3 DL bins, for
example, obtained from common DL band and/or from separate DL
bands, and/or from common DL antenna branch and/or separate DL
bins.
[0218] Referring now back to FIG. 3, at 314, the clean signals are
provided. The clean signals maybe provide to the wireless device
(e.g., receiver of the wireless network), for example, for
forwarding to the network.
[0219] At 316, one or more parameters of the PIM interference are
computed using the synthetic PIM signals and provided, for example,
presented on a display to a user, stored in a memory, and/or
forwarded to another computing device (e.g., administrative
server). Exemplary parameters of the PIM interference that may be
computed using the synthetic PIM signals include: the order of PIM
interference, frequency of the PIM generating transmitter, and a
certain emitting antenna generating PIM in a certain receiver
interfered antenna.
[0220] At 318, one or more features described with reference to
302-316 may be iterated, for example, for continuous PIM mitigation
for continuously received signals.
[0221] Optionally, the performance of the PIM mitigation device is
evaluated, for example, to determine whether PIM is successfully
removed from the received signals. The level of PIM interference
remaining in the cleaned signals may be monitored.
[0222] One or more components of the wireless device and/or one or
more parameters of the PIM mitigation device may be adapted,
optionally according to the monitoring, for example, when the PIM
interference is not sufficiently removed (e.g., according to a
requirement), for example, additional receiving and/or transmitting
antennas may be added to increase antenna diversity for example to
enable removal of PIM interference from a higher number of PIM
reflection elements than the current number of receiving antennas.
In another example, parameters defining the process for computation
of the synthetic PIM signals may be adapted to improve matching of
the synthetic PIM signals to the real PIM interference to improve
cleaning of the received signals.
[0223] Reference is now made to FIG. 8, which is a schematic of an
exemplary process for performing PIM cancellation of RF signals, in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The
process of FIG. 8 may be implemented by and/or combined with the
method described with reference to FIG. 3, and/or by components of
system 400 described with reference to FIG. 4, and/or with other
methods and/or processes described herein. For cancellation for RF
signals, the PIM cancellation process may be performed in front of
the RF circuitry of the receiver. The Tx and Rx signals may be
sampled from the RF outputs and converted to digital to compute the
synthetic PIM signals that are used for the PIM cancelation
process. The weighted SIP signal is added to the digitized RF-Rx
signal to get PIM free digital Rx signal Interface that is
converted back to RF and sent to the RF-Rx input of the
receiver.
[0224] Reference is now made to FIG. 9, which is a schematic of an
exemplary process for performing PIM cancellation of digital
baseband signals, in accordance with some embodiments of the
present invention. The process of FIG. 9 may be implemented by
and/or combined with the method described with reference to FIG. 3,
and/or by components of system 400 described with reference to FIG.
4, and/or with other methods and/or processes described herein. A
network architecture for which digital baseband cancellation is
performed is comprised of one or more baseband units (BBU) that
process the Tx and Rx signals digitally. The Tx and Rx digital
baseband signals input and output are respectively sent and
received to one or more remote radio units (RRU) digitally through
fiber optic cables or other digital media. There are several
standards for such baseband communication such as CPRI or
OBSAI.
[0225] Reference is now made to FIG. 10, which is a schematic of an
exemplary process for digital PIM cancellation, in accordance with
some embodiments of the present invention. The process of FIG. 10
may be implemented by and/or combined with the method described
with reference to FIG. 3, and/or by components of system 400
described with reference to FIG. 4, and/or with other methods
and/or processes described herein. The process for digital PIM
cancellation method depicted in FIG. 10 may be implemented for one
or more PIM cancellation architectures described herein, for
example, the process for PIM cancellation of RF signals depicted
with reference to FIG. 8 and/or the process for PIM cancellation of
baseband signals described with reference to FIG. 9.
[0226] The four Tx signals from the two transmitters multiplied by
two MIMO antennas are sampled and filtered in the frequency domain
by narrow band filter bank that may be implemented in one or more
processes, for example, including FFT as a part of Window Over Lap
and add (WOLA) filter bank. All four filter bank bin groups are
buffered. In addition, digital baseband signal that enters from
single Rx antenna of third LTE carrier (carrier 3) is also sampled
and is converted to FD with additional filter bank (e.g., may be
WOLA filter bank as in the DL implementation). The bins (optionally
all bins) of the Tx intermods that are resulted from the Tx bins of
both Tx carriers may overlap completely with the Rx carrier bins.
In order to implement this case, the center frequency of the
sampled Rx baseband signal may be set with some shift offset
compared to the center frequency of the RF Rx carrier. This offset
may be implemented when the intermod bins FD location depends on
both Tx carrier center frequency and FFT size of the filter bank
bin and the FD location of the Rx bins depends on Rx carrier center
frequency and the filter bank size. In case there are several Rx
antennas (Rx MIMO), a separate cancelation circuit may be
implemented for each Rx input in order to cancel the PIM separately
for each Rx antenna. As depicted in FIG. 10, there may be several
Tx intermods that overlap the same Rx bin. In order to cancel these
overlapping intermods, several weights may be calculated and to set
for each Rx bin that have several overlapping Tx intermod bins and
as a result corresponding SIPs. The weight that corresponds to bin
m in Tx1 carrier and bin n in Tx2 carrier is referred to as SIPmn
and as Wmn. It is noted that the WOLA filter bank is shown as an
example, however other suitable filter bank implementation may be
used.
[0227] Reference is now made to FIG. 11, which is a graph depicting
the UL bin and 5 SIPs that overlap it, in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0228] Optionally, based on the frequency process described herein
(e.g., as described with reference to FIG. 5), in order to cancel
the first 100% (or about 100%) overlapping intermod the first SIP
type is used directly after Rx FFT and the two other adjacent SIP
type are used after shifting the Rx FFT bin by a third bin through
returning to TD by executing IFFT multiply by half bin frequency
shift NCO and back to FD with additional FFT.
[0229] Reference is now made to FIG. 12, which is a schematic
depicting the PIM cancellation process (e.g., implemented by the
PIM mitigation component) for 4 UL bin and 12 DL bins, in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The
process of FIG. 12 may be implemented by and/or combined with the
method described with reference to FIG. 3, and/or by components of
system 400 described with reference to FIG. 4, and/or with other
methods and/or processes described herein. The SIPs are generated
out of two DL carriers Tx1 and Tx2 (e.g., for common or different
antenna). Each SIP is shifted by NCO according its expected center
frequency position and is assigned to the UL bins (neighboring two
that are targeted to cancel). Then each SIP is assigned its own
cancellation weight(s) (e.g., calculated by separate component).
After weighting the SIPs they are added to the certain Rx bin.
[0230] Reference is now made to FIG. 13, which is a schematic of an
exemplary implementation of the PIM mitigation device, in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The
exemplary implementation may include one or more of the following
features: [0231] PIM protection of up to eight LTE radios (RRUs)
[0232] Up to 25dB of tangible PIM cancelation [0233] Restoring
pre-PIM noise-floor [0234] Centralized processing architecture
[0235] Utilizing downlink transmission components [0236] Macro, DAS
and C-RAN applications [0237] Simple and quick installation [0238]
2U rackmount front-access enclosure [0239] Seamlessly installed
between RRU and BBU [0240] Zero e-NodeB configuration requirements
[0241] Embedded Optical Line Protection [0242] Local and remote
control and monitoring options via [0243] UBi-EMS and UBiView:
[0244] Configuration and monitoring [0245] View of collected
signals and spectrum
[0246] Significant improvement of voice and data KPIs and regain of
optimal downlink transmit power
[0247] The following table provides exemplary technical
specifications for the PIM mitigation device:
TABLE-US-00001 ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS CPRI Rate 3, 5 and 7
(optional) Channel Configuration 5/10/15/20 MHz LTE Channels. Up to
4 Channels per Radio Gain 0 dB PIM Cancellation Up to 25 dB or PIM
SNR Total Delay <24 .mu.sec OLP (Optical Line Protection)
Optical Bypass Mode Loss 3 dB typical Switching time <10 ms
Interface & Protocol Interface 32 X LC/PC CPRI Single Mode
Fiber Optic Connectors RJ45 Ethernet (100 Base-T) Cellular Modem
Max. number of Radios Up to 8 (RRU/BBU Pairs) Remote Control
Capability HTTP Or SNMPv2c Power Input power supply voltage DC: -48
V/Max. 10 A (36 to 60 VDC) AC: 90 VAC to 264 VAC/Typ 6 A@115 VAC,
Typ 3 A@230 VAC Power Consumption idle state < 200 W, Max <
300 W MECHANICAL SPECIFICATIONS Dimensions L .times. W .times. H
mm(in) 370 mm .times. 430 mm .times. 88 mm (14.5'' .times. 17.0''
.times. 3.5'') Weight <10 Kg (22 lbs) ENVIRONMENTAL
SPECIFICATIONS Temperature 0 to +50.degree. C. Ingress IP 20,
indoor unit
[0248] Various embodiments, implementations, and aspects of the
systems, apparatus, method and/or code instructions as delineated
hereinabove and as claimed in the claims section below find
experimental support in the following examples.
EXAMPLES
[0249] Reference is now made to the following examples, which
together with the above descriptions illustrate some embodiments
and/or implementations of the systems, apparatus, method and/or
code instructions described herein in a non-limiting fashion.
[0250] A known PIM case is described. The example PIM case includes
two 3GPP bands band 17 DL (734-744MHz) with band 14 DL (758-768MHz)
to band 17 UL (704-714MHz). The example PIM case scenario produces
3rd order PIM (and other non-even order).
[0251] Reference is now made to FIG. 14, which is a graph depicting
the spectral picture of the 3.sup.rd order PIM of ban 17+14 of the
example case, in accordance with some embodiments of the present
invention.
[0252] Reference is now made to FIG. 15, which is a graph depicting
the spectrum of the PIM in UL band 17 for the example PIM case and
the expected PIM in band 14 UL, in accordance with some embodiments
of the present invention.
[0253] Each SIPs in the example PIM case is created from two DL
bins of band 17 and one bin of band 14. The number of SIPs is
directly derived from the number of DL bins. In the described
implementation the DL bins bandwidth is one third of the UL
bin.
[0254] Reference is now made to FIG. 16, which includes graphs
depicting the number of SIPs for several numbers of DL bins, in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 16
is for the case of SISO number of SIPs for 4-32 UL bins.
[0255] For the DL MIMO case, the number of SIPs are multiplied by
the following: (NumberSISO_SIPs)(NoOfDLAntennas)3.
[0256] For the case of Rx MIMO, the same sIPS are injected for each
Rx antenna bin with different weight assigned to each DL MIMO
SIP.
[0257] The 21/7 bin case is now described. It is noted that 21 and
4 bins are the number of bin divisions throughout the spectrum from
0 (DC) to Fs (the sampling frequency). Practically, when band
17-DL, band 14-DL, and band 17-UL are bounded to 10 Mega Hertz
(MHz), 15 DL filters and 5 UL filters are sufficient in DL and UL
filter banks respectively.
[0258] Reference is now made to FIG. 17, which is a graph depicting
the number of SIPs for each UL bin for the 7 UL bin case, in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. SIP
number for band 17+14 PIM on band 17 7UL+21DL bins filter bank. The
SISO number of SIPs is 1354. With MIMO 2X2 there are 1354*8=10832
SIPs. The SIPs exhibit 2*10832 =21664 weighted injections.
[0259] In order to achieve SIP bins alignment of bin 17+14 DL to Rx
bin alignment of UL 17 (e.g., as described with reference to FIG.
5) a shift of the center frequency of the filter bank of DL 14 is
performed i.e., the same filter bank that creates the DL 13 bins
for the SIPs. For example, In case of 21 bins DL and 7 bins UL the
frequency shift is 148.5714 kilo Hertz (KHz).
[0260] The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present
invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are
not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments
disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to
those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope
and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used
herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the
embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement
over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of
ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed
herein.
[0261] It is expected that during the life of a patent maturing
from this application many relevant receiving and transmission
sources will be developed and the scope of the term receiving and
transmission sources is intended to include all such new
technologies a priori.
[0262] As used herein the term "about" refers to .+-.10%.
[0263] The terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes",
"including", "having" and their conjugates mean "including but not
limited to". This term encompasses the terms "consisting of" and
"consisting essentially of".
[0264] The phrase "consisting essentially of" means that the
composition or method may include additional ingredients and/or
steps, but only if the additional ingredients and/or steps do not
materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed
composition or method.
[0265] As used herein, the singular form "a", "an" and "the"
include plural references unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise. For example, the term "a compound" or "at least one
compound" may include a plurality of compounds, including mixtures
thereof.
[0266] The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an
example, instance or illustration". Any embodiment described as
"exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or
advantageous over other embodiments and/or to exclude the
incorporation of features from other embodiments.
[0267] The word "optionally" is used herein to mean "is provided in
some embodiments and not provided in other embodiments". Any
particular embodiment of the invention may include a plurality of
"optional" features unless such features conflict.
[0268] Throughout this application, various embodiments of this
invention may be presented in a range format. It should be
understood that the description in range format is merely for
convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an
inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly,
the description of a range should be considered to have
specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as
individual numerical values within that range. For example,
description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to
have specifically disclosed ubranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to
4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well
as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.
[0269] Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant
to include any cited numeral (fractional or integral) within the
indicated range. The phrases "ranging/ranges between" a first
indicate number and a second indicate number and "ranging/ranges
from" a first indicate number "to" a second indicate number are
used herein interchangeably and are meant to include the first and
second indicated numbers and all the fractional and integral
numerals therebetween.
[0270] It is appreciated that certain features of the invention,
which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate
embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single
embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which
are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment,
may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination
or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the invention.
Certain features described in the context of various embodiments
are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments,
unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.
[0271] Although the invention has been described in conjunction
with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many
alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace
all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall
within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
[0272] It is the intent of the applicant(s) that all publications,
patents and patent applications referred to in this specification
are to be incorporated in their entirety by reference into the
specification, as if each individual publication, patent or patent
application was specifically and individually noted when referenced
that it is to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition,
citation or identification of any reference in this application
shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is
available as prior art to the present invention. To the extent that
section headings are used, they should not be construed as
necessarily limiting. In addition, any priority document(s) of this
application is/are hereby incorporated herein by reference in
its/their entirety.
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