U.S. patent number 9,270,312 [Application Number 14/164,731] was granted by the patent office on 2016-02-23 for method and apparatus for controlling gain in communicaton system supporting beam forming scheme.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. The grantee listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Jae-Weon Cho, Won-Suk Choi, Jeong-Ho Park, Hyun-Kyu Yu.
United States Patent |
9,270,312 |
Park , et al. |
February 23, 2016 |
Method and apparatus for controlling gain in communicaton system
supporting beam forming scheme
Abstract
A signal reception apparatus in a communication system
supporting a beam forming scheme is provided. The signal reception
apparatus includes a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) configured to
generate a second signal by amplifying a first signal according to
a first gain value, a Variable Gain Amplifier (VGA) configured to
generate a third signal by amplifying the second signal according
to a second gain value, and an Automatic Gain Controller (AGC)
configured to control the first gain value and the second gain
value by considering a plurality of beam types supported in a
signal transmission apparatus.
Inventors: |
Park; Jeong-Ho (Seoul,
KR), Choi; Won-Suk (Seongnam-si, KR), Yu;
Hyun-Kyu (Suwon-si, KR), Cho; Jae-Weon
(Seongnam-si, KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do |
N/A |
KR |
|
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Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
(Suwon-si, KR)
|
Family
ID: |
51222934 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/164,731 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2014 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20140211891 A1 |
Jul 31, 2014 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jan 25, 2013 [KR] |
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10-2013-0008609 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B
1/16 (20130101); H03G 3/3068 (20130101); H04B
7/0617 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04L
27/08 (20060101); H03G 3/30 (20060101); H04B
1/16 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;375/345 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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10-2005-0071251 |
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Jul 2005 |
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KR |
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10-2006-0029813 |
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Apr 2006 |
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KR |
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10-2008-0050192 |
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Jun 2008 |
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KR |
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10-2013-0004994 |
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Jan 2013 |
|
KR |
|
Primary Examiner: Liu; Shuwang
Assistant Examiner: Huang; David S
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Jefferson IP Law, LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A signal reception apparatus in a communication system
supporting a beam forming scheme, the signal reception apparatus
comprising: a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) configured to generate a
second signal by amplifying a first signal according to a first
gain value; a Variable Gain Amplifier (VGA) configured to generate
a third signal by amplifying the second signal according to a
second gain value; and an Automatic Gain Controller (AGC)
configured to control the first gain value and the second gain
value by considering a plurality of beam types supported in a
signal transmission apparatus, wherein each of the plurality of
beam types is determined by considering at least one of a beam
width, a beam direction, and a combination of the beam width and
the beam direction.
2. The signal reception apparatus of claim 1, wherein the AGC
comprises: a beam searcher configured to detect a beam type applied
to the third signal, from among the plurality of beam types; a
power calculator bank configured to calculate Root Mean Square
(RMS) power of the third signal corresponding to the detected beam
type; and a code mapper configured to: determine the first gain
value and the second gain value corresponding to the RMS power
calculated in the power calculator bank, and generate code values
related to each of the determined first gain value and the
determined second gain value.
3. The signal reception apparatus of claim 2, wherein the power
calculator bank includes a number of RMS power calculators equal to
a number of the beam types, and wherein each of the RMS power
calculators calculates an RMS power of the third signal
corresponding to a related beam type.
4. The signal reception apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of the
RMS power calculators comprises: a square calculator configured to
calculate an instantaneous power value of the third signal; and an
average calculator configured to calculate average power of
instantaneous power values calculated in the square calculator
during a time interval.
5. The signal reception apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of the
RMS power calculators further comprises a memory configured to
store the instantaneous power values calculated in the square
calculator during the time interval.
6. The signal reception apparatus of claim 3, wherein the AGC
further comprises a switch configured to switch the third signal to
an RMS power calculator configured to calculate an RMS power of the
beam type detected in the beam searcher from among the plurality of
the RMS power calculators.
7. The signal reception apparatus of claim 2, wherein the third
signal is a reference signal.
8. The signal reception apparatus of claim 1, wherein the AGC
further comprises a control processor configured to detect at least
one of information on the plurality of beam types, information on a
beam gain of each of the plurality of beam types, information on a
time interval in which each of the plurality of beam types is used,
and information on a channel in which each of the plurality of beam
types is used.
9. The signal reception apparatus of claim 8 wherein the control
processor is further configured to detect at least one of the
information on the plurality of beam types, the information on the
beam gain of each of the plurality of beam types, the information
on the time interval in which each of the plurality of beam types
is used, and the information on the channel in which each of the
plurality of beam types is used through at least one of a broadcast
channel and a message.
10. A signal reception apparatus in a communication system
supporting a beam forming scheme, the signal reception apparatus
comprising: a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) configured to generate a
second signal by amplifying a first signal according to a first
gain value; a mixer configured to generate a third signal by mixing
the second signal with a frequency signal; a Variable Gain
Amplifier (VGA) configured to generate a fourth signal by
amplifying the third signal according to a second gain value; an
analog/digital converter configured to generate a fifth signal by
digital converting the fourth signal; a MOdulator/DEModulator
(MODEM) configured to generate a sixth signal by de-modulating the
fifth signal using a de-modulation scheme corresponding to a
modulation scheme used in a signal transmission apparatus; and an
Automatic Gain Controller (AGC) configured to control the first
gain value and the second gain value by considering a plurality of
beam types supported in the signal transmission apparatus, wherein
each of the plurality of beam types is determined by considering at
least one of a beam width, a beam direction, and a combination of
the beam width and the beam direction.
11. The signal reception apparatus of claim 10, wherein the AGC
comprises: a beam searcher configured to detect a beam type applied
to the sixth signal from among the plurality of beam types; a power
calculator bank configured to calculate Root Mean Square (RMS)
power of the sixth signal corresponding to the detected beam type;
and a code mapper configured to: determine the first gain value and
the second gain value corresponding to the RMS power calculated in
the power calculator bank, and generate code values related to each
of the determined first gain value and the determined second gain
value.
12. The signal reception apparatus of claim 11, wherein the power
calculator bank includes a number of RMS power calculators equal to
a number of the beam types, and wherein each of the RMS power
calculators calculates an RMS power of the sixth signal
corresponding to a related beam type.
13. The signal reception apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of the
RMS power calculators comprises: a square calculator configured to
calculate an instantaneous power value of the sixth signal; and an
average calculator configured to calculate average power of
instantaneous power values calculated in the square calculator
during a time interval.
14. The signal reception apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of the
RMS power calculators further comprises a memory configured to
store the instantaneous power values calculated in the square
calculator during the time interval.
15. The signal reception apparatus of claim 12, wherein the AGC
further comprises a switch configured to switch the sixth signal to
an RMS power calculator configured to calculate an RMS power of the
beam type detected in the beam searcher from among the plurality of
the RMS power calculators.
16. The signal reception apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sixth
signal is a reference signal.
17. The signal reception apparatus of claim 10, wherein the AGC
further comprises a control processor configured to detect at least
one of information on the plurality of beam types, information on a
beam gain of each of the plurality of beam types, information on a
time interval in which each of the plurality of beam types is used,
and information on a channel in which each of the plurality of beam
types is used.
18. The signal reception apparatus of claim 17, wherein the control
processor is further configured to detect at least one the
information on the plurality of beam types, the information on the
beam gain of each of the plurality of beam types, the information
on the time interval in which each of the plurality of beam types
is used, and the information on the channel in which each of the
plurality of beam types is used through at least one of a broadcast
channel and a message.
19. An operation method of a signal reception apparatus in a
communication system supporting a beam forming scheme, the
operation method comprising: determining a first gain value and a
second gain value by considering a plurality of beam types
supported in a signal transmission apparatus; generating a second
signal by amplifying a first signal according to the first gain
value; and generating a third signal by amplifying the second
signal according to the second gain value, wherein each of the
plurality of beam types is determined by considering at least one
of a beam width, a beam direction, and a combination of the beam
width and the beam direction.
20. The operation method of claim 19, wherein the determining of
the first gain value and the second gain value by considering the
plurality of beam types supported in the signal transmission
apparatus comprises: detecting a beam type applied to the third
signal from among the plurality of beam types; calculating Root
Mean Square (RMS) power of the third signal corresponding to the
detected beam type; determining the first gain value and the second
gain value corresponding to the calculated RMS power; and
generating code values related to each of the determined first gain
value and the determined second gain value.
21. The operation method of claim 20, wherein the calculating of
the RMS power of the third signal corresponding to the detected
beam type comprises calculating the RMS power of the third signal
corresponding to each of the beam types.
22. The operation method of claim 21, wherein the calculating of
the RMS power of the third signal corresponding to each of the beam
types comprises: calculating an instantaneous power value of the
third signal; and calculating an average power of instantaneous
power values during a time interval.
23. The operation method of claim 22, wherein the calculating of
the RMS power of the third signal corresponding to each of the beam
types comprises storing the instantaneous power values calculated
during the time interval.
24. The operation method of claim 20, wherein the third signal is a
reference signal.
25. The operation method of claim 19, further comprising: detecting
at least one of information on the plurality of beam types,
information on a beam gain of each of the plurality of beam types,
information on a time interval in which each of the plurality of
beam types is used, and information on a channel in which each of
the plurality of beam types is used.
26. The operation method of claim 25, wherein the detecting of at
least one of the information on the plurality of beam types, the
information on the beam gain of each of the plurality of beam
types, the information on the time interval in which each of the
plurality of beam types is used, and the information on the channel
in which each of the plurality of beam types is used comprises
detecting at least one of the information on the plurality of beam
types, the information on the beam gain of each of the plurality of
beam types, the information on the time interval in which each of
the plurality of beam types is used, and the information on the
channel in which each of the plurality of beam types is used
through at least one of a broadcast channel and a message.
27. An operation method of a signal reception apparatus in a
communication system supporting a beam forming scheme, the
operation method comprising: determining a first gain value and a
second gain value by considering a plurality of beam types
supported in a signal transmission apparatus; generating a second
signal by amplifying a first signal according to the first gain
value; generating a third signal by mixing the second signal with a
frequency signal; generating a fourth signal by amplifying the
third signal according to a second gain value; generating a fifth
signal by digital converting the fourth signal; and generating a
sixth signal by de-modulating the fifth signal using a
de-modulation scheme corresponding to a modulation scheme used in
the signal transmission apparatus, wherein each of the plurality of
beam types is determined by considering at least one of a beam
width, a beam direction, and a combination of the beam width and
the beam direction.
28. The operation method of claim 27, wherein the determining of
the first gain value and the second gain value by considering the
plurality of beam types supported in the signal transmission
apparatus comprises: detecting a beam type applied to the sixth
signal from among the plurality of beam types; calculating Root
Mean Square (RMS) power of the sixth signal corresponding to the
detected beam type; determining the first gain value and the second
gain value corresponding to the calculated RMS power; and
generating code values related to each of the determined first gain
value and the determined second gain value.
29. The operation method of claim 28, wherein the calculating of
the RMS power of the sixth signal corresponding to the detected
beam type comprises calculating the RMS power of the sixth signal
corresponding to each of the beam types.
30. The operation method of claim 29, wherein the calculating of
the RMS power of the sixth signal corresponding to the detected
beam type comprises: calculating an instantaneous power value of
the sixth signal; and calculating average power of instantaneous
power values during a time interval.
31. The operation method of claim 29, wherein the calculating of
the RMS power of the sixth signal corresponding to the detected
beam type further comprises storing the instantaneous power values
calculated during the time interval.
32. The operation method of claim 28, wherein the sixth signal is a
reference signal.
33. The operation method of claim 27, further comprising: detecting
at least one of information on the plurality of beam types,
information on a beam gain of each of the plurality of beam types,
information on a time interval in which each of the plurality of
beam types is used, and information on a channel in which each of
the plurality of beam types is used.
34. The operation method of claim 33, wherein the detecting of at
least one of the information on the plurality of beam types, the
information on the beam gain of each of the plurality of beam
types, the information on the time interval in which each of the
plurality of beam types is used, and the information on the channel
in which each of the plurality of beam types is used comprises
detecting at least one of the information on the plurality of beam
types, the information on the beam gain of each of the plurality of
beam types, the information on the time interval in which each of
the plurality of beam types is used, and the information on the
channel in which each of the plurality of beam types is used
through at least one of a broadcast channel and a message.
35. A signal reception apparatus in a communication system
supporting a beam forming scheme, the signal reception apparatus
comprising: a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) configured to generate a
second signal by amplifying a first signal according to a first
gain value or a second gain value different from the first gain
value, wherein the first gain value correlates to a first beam type
signal and the second gain value correlates to a second beam type
signal different from the first beam type signal; a Variable Gain
Amplifier (VGA) configured to generate a third signal by amplifying
the second signal according to a third gain value or a fourth gain
value different from the third gain value, wherein the third gain
value correlates to the first beam type signal and the fourth gain
value correlates to the second beam type signal; and an Automatic
Gain Controller (AGC) configured to control the first gain value,
the second gain value, the third gain value, and the forth gain
value by determining whether the first signal is the first beam
type signal or the second beam type signal, wherein each of the
plurality of beam types is determined by considering at least one
of a beam width, a beam direction, and a combination of the beam
width and the beam direction.
36. The signal reception apparatus of claim 35, wherein the AGC
comprises: a beam searcher configured to measure an instantaneous
power of the third signal; a power calculator bank configured to
calculate Root Mean Square (RMS) power of the third signal based on
the instantaneous power measured at the beam searcher; and a code
mapper configured to: determine the first gain value, the second
gain value, the third gain value, and the fourth gain value based
on the RMS power calculated in the power calculator bank, and
generate code values related to each of the determined first gain
value, the determined second gain value, the determined third gain
value, and the determined forth gain value.
37. The signal reception apparatus of claim 36, wherein the power
calculator bank includes at least one RMS power calculator and the
at least one RMS power calculator includes: a square calculator
configured to square a signal strength of the third signal, and an
average calculator configured to calculate average power of squared
signal strength values calculated in the square calculator over a
predetermined time interval.
38. The signal reception apparatus of claim 37, wherein the power
calculator bank includes a first RMS power calculator associated
with the first beam type signal and a second RMS power calculator
associated with the second beam type signal.
39. The signal reception apparatus of claim 38, wherein the AGC
further comprises a control processor configured to determine
whether the third signal is associated with the first beam type
signal or the second beam type signal based on the instantaneous
power measured at the beam searcher.
40. The signal reception apparatus of claim 39, wherein the AGC
further comprises a switch configured to switch between the first
RMS power calculator and the second RMS power calculator based on
whether the third signal is determined to be associated with the
first beam type signal or the second beam type signal.
41. The signal reception apparatus of claim 39, wherein the control
processor is further configured to detect at least one of
information on the first beam type signal, information on the
second beam type signal, information on a beam gain of the first
beam type signal, information on a beam gain of the second beam
type signal, information on a time interval in which the first beam
type signal is used, information on a time interval in which the
second beam type signal is used, information on a channel in which
the first beam type signal is used, and information on a channel in
which the second beam type signal is used.
42. The signal reception apparatus of claim 41, wherein the control
processor is further configured to detect at least one of the
information on the first beam type signal, the information on the
second beam type signal, the information on the beam gain of the
first beam type signal, the information on the beam gain of the
second beam type signal, the information on the time interval in
which the first beam type signal is used, the information on the
time interval in which the second beam type signal is used, the
information on the channel in which the first beam type signal is
used, and the information on the channel in which the second beam
type signal is used through at least one of a broadcast channel and
a message.
43. The signal reception apparatus of claim 35, wherein the third
signal is a reference signal.
44. The signal reception apparatus of claim 35, wherein the first
beam type signal includes at least one of a first beam width, a
first beam direction, and a combination of the first beam width and
the first beam direction and the second beam type signal includes
at least one of a second beam width, a second beam direction, and a
combination of the second beam width and the second beam direction.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(a) of
a Korean patent application filed on Jan. 25, 2013 in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office and assigned Serial number
10-2013-0008609, the entire disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for
controlling a gain in a communication system supporting a beam
forming scheme.
BACKGROUND
To satisfy an increasing need for wireless data traffic,
communication systems have been developed to support higher data
rates. A communication system may improve spectral efficiency and
increase channel capacity to address the increasing need, for
example, by various communication schemes such as an Orthogonal
Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) scheme, a Multiple Input
Multiple Output (MIMO) scheme, and the like.
However, it is difficult to satisfy a need for increasing data
traffic in a communication system using the noted schemes for
improving the spectral efficiency and increasing the channel
capacity. Specially, an increase in use of a smart phone, a tablet,
and the like and an increase of applications which use data traffic
accelerate a need for increased data traffic.
In a communication system, there is a need for a Radio Frequency
(RF) technology which may cover a relatively wide dynamic range and
a RF element control scheme using an Automatic Gain Controller
(AGC).
A structure of a related art communication system will be described
with reference to FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a structure of a communication
system according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 1, the communication system includes a signal
transmission apparatus and at least one signal reception apparatus.
In FIG. 1, it will be assumed that a base station 100 is the signal
transmission apparatus, a terminal 150 is the signal reception
apparatus, and the communication system includes one base station
and one terminal.
A relationship between the base station 100 and the terminal 150
may be expressed using various values, including P.sub.TX, L,
G1.sub.TX, and the like. The value P.sub.TX denotes transmit power
of the base station 100, and may be referred to as the transmit
power P.sub.TX, the value L denotes path loss, and may be referred
to as the path loss L, and the value G1.sub.TX denotes an antenna
gain of the base station 100, and may be referred to as the antenna
gain G1.sub.TX. The path loss L may be determined according to a
distance D between the base station 100 and the terminal 150.
If a minimum path loss L.sub.MIN is considered, as path loss which
occurs in a case that the distance D is a minimum distance
D.sub.MIN, a maximum receive power P.sub.RX.sub.--.sub.MAX 101 of
the terminal 100 is calculated as expressed in Equation (1).
If a maximum path loss L.sub.Max is considered, as path loss which
occurs in a case that the distance D is a maximum distance
D.sub.Max, minimum receive power P.sub.RX.sub.--.sub.MIN 103 of the
terminal 100 is calculated as expressed in Equation (2).
P.sub.RX.sub.--.sub.MAX=P.sub.TX+G1.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MAX-L.sub.MIN
Equation (1)
P.sub.RX.sub.--.sub.MIN=P.sub.TX+G1.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MIN-L.sub.MAX
Equation (2)
In Equation (1), G1.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MAX 105 denotes a maximum
antenna gain used in the base station 100. In Equation (2),
G1.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MIN 110 denotes a minimum antenna gain used in
the base station 100.
A dynamic range DR1 of an RF end included in the signal reception
apparatus, such as the terminal 150, may be determined using a
difference between the maximum receive power
P.sub.RX.sub.--.sub.MAX 103 and the minimum receive power
P.sub.RX.sub.--.sub.MIN 101. The dynamic range DR1 of the RF end
included in the terminal 150 is calculated as Equation (3). DR1
[dB]=P.sub.RX.sub.--.sub.MAX-P.sub.RX.sub.--.sub.MIN Equation
(3)
A gain value which is used in a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), included
in a reception circuit in the terminal 150, and a gain value which
is used in a Variable Gain Amplifier (VGA), included in the
reception circuit in the terminal 150, should be determined by
considering the dynamic range DR1 calculated in Equation (3).
The gain value of the LNA and the gain value of the VGA are
determined through a control operation of the AGC, and control
operations of the AGC are based on average power measured for a
signal outputted from a MOdulator/DEModulator (MODEM).
A structure of a related-art communication system has been
described with reference to FIG. 1, and an inner structure of a
terminal in a conventional communication system will be described
with reference to FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an inner structure of a terminal
in a communication system according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 2, a terminal includes an LNA 201, a mixer 203, a
VGA 205, an Analog to Digital converter (A/D) 207, a MODEM 209, and
an AGC 211.
The LNA 201 and the VGA 205 may operate under a control of the AGC
211, and the AGC 211 controls an operation of each of the LNA 201
and the VGA 205 by controlling a gain of each of the LNA 201 and
the VGA 205. The LNA 201 amplifies a power of a signal received
through an antenna by multiplying the signal received through the
antenna by a preset gain value, and outputs the amplified signal to
the mixer 203. The mixer 203 down converts the signal output from
the LNA 201 by mixing the signal outputted from the LNA 201 with a
preset frequency signal, and outputs the down converted signal to
the VGA 205. The VGA 205 amplifies the down converted signal output
from the mixer 203 by multiplying the down converted signal output
from the mixer 203 by a preset gain value, and the amplified signal
to the A/D 207. The A/D 207 generates an In phase & Quadrature
phase (I/Q) signal by converting the signal outputted from the VGA
205, i.e., an analog signal to a digital signal, and outputs the
I/Q signal to the MODEM 209. The MODEM 209 de-modulates the signal
output from the A/D 207 using a preset de-modulation scheme, and
outputs the de-modulated signal.
The signal output from the MODEM 209 is input to the AGC 211, and
the AGC 211 determines a gain value of each of the LNA 201 and the
VGA 205 included in the terminal using an average power of the
signal output from the MODEM 209. An operation in which the AGC 211
determines the gain value used in each of the LNA 201 and the VGA
205 will be described below.
After detecting a receive power of a signal received during a
previous preset time interval T.sub.WINDOW, the AGC 211 maps a
total range for a signal output from the VGA 205 to a total
available dynamic range of the A/D 207 by controlling a gain value
of each of the LNA 201 and the VGA 205. That is, the AGC 211
minimizes a quantization noise and a performance decrease due to
saturation by generating a control signal which controls the gain
value of each of the LNA 201 and the VGA 205, and by transmitting
the control signal to each of the LNA 201 and the VGA 205. However,
if the structure of the related-art terminal, as described in FIG.
2, is used in a communication system using at least two beam
widths, signal distortion and a quantization error may occur.
So, there is a need for controlling a gain without signal
distortion and a quantization error in a communication system using
at least two beam widths.
The above information is presented as background information only
to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No
determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to
whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with
regard to the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
Aspects of the present disclosure are to address at least the
above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at
least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the
present disclosure is to provide a method and apparatus for
controlling a gain in a communication system supporting a beam
forming scheme.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a method and
apparatus for controlling a gain in a case that at least two beam
types are used in a communication system supporting a beam forming
scheme.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a method and
apparatus for automatically controlling a gain corresponding to a
beam type in a case that at least two beam types are used in a
communication system supporting a beam forming scheme.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a method and
apparatus for automatically controlling a gain by considering
signal strength for an optimal beam type in a case that at least
two beam types are used in a communication system supporting a beam
forming scheme.
In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a signal
reception apparatus in a communication system supporting a beam
forming scheme is provided The signal reception apparatus includes
a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) configured to generate a second signal
by amplifying a first signal according to a first gain value, a
Variable Gain Amplifier (VGA) configured to generate a third signal
by amplifying the second signal according to a second gain value,
and an Automatic Gain Controller (AGC) configured to control the
first gain value and the second gain value by considering a
plurality of beam types supported in a signal transmission
apparatus.
In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a
signal reception apparatus in a communication system supporting a
beam forming scheme is provided. The signal reception apparatus
includes an LNA configured to generate a second signal by
amplifying a first signal according to a first gain value, a mixer
configured to generate a third signal by mixing the second signal
with a frequency signal, a VGA configured to generate a fourth
signal by amplifying the third signal according to a second gain
value, an analog/digital converter configured to generate a fifth
signal by digital converting the fourth signal, a
MOdulator/DEModulator (MODEM) configured to generate a sixth signal
by de-modulating the fifth signal using a de-modulation scheme
corresponding to a modulation scheme used in a signal transmission
apparatus, and an AGC configured to control the first gain value
and the second gain value by considering a plurality of beam types
supported in the signal transmission apparatus.
In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, an
operation method of a signal reception apparatus in a communication
system supporting a beam forming scheme is provided. The operation
method includes determining a first gain value and a second gain
value by considering a plurality of beam types supported in a
signal transmission apparatus, generating a second signal by
amplifying a first signal according to the first gain value, and
generating a third signal by amplifying the second signal according
to the second gain value.
In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, an
operation method of a signal reception apparatus in a communication
system supporting a beam forming scheme is provided. The operation
method includes determining a first gain value and a second gain
value by considering a plurality of beam types supported in a
signal transmission apparatus, generating a second signal by
amplifying a first signal according to the first gain value,
generating a third signal by mixing the second signal with a
frequency signal, generating a fourth signal by amplifying the
third signal according to a second gain value, generating a fifth
signal by digital converting the fourth signal, and generating a
sixth signal by de-modulating the fifth signal using a
de-modulation scheme corresponding to a modulation scheme used in
the signal transmission apparatus.
Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure
will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following
detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed
drawings, discloses various embodiments of the present
disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain
embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent from
the following description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a structure of a communication
system according to the related art;
FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an inner structure of a terminal
in a communication system according to the related art;
FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a structure of a communication
system supporting two beam types according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a dynamic range of an Automatic
Gain Controller (AGC) in a case that a terminal receives a signal
to which a relatively narrow beam width is applied after receiving
a signal to which a relatively wide beam width is applied in a
communication system supporting a beam forming scheme according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a dynamic range of an AGC in a
case that a terminal receives a signal to which a relatively wide
beam width is applied after receiving a signal to which a
relatively narrow beam width is applied in a communication system
supporting a beam forming scheme according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
FIG. 6 schematically illustrates an example of an inner structure
of a terminal in a communication system supporting a beam forming
scheme according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIGS. 7A and 7B schematically illustrate another example of an
inner structure of a terminal in a communication system supporting
a beam forming scheme according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
FIGS. 8A and 8B schematically illustrate still another example of
an inner structure of a terminal in a communication system
supporting a beam forming scheme according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
FIG. 9 schematically illustrates an operation process of an AGC
included in a terminal in a communication system supporting a beam
forming scheme according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure; and
FIG. 10 schematically illustrates an operation process of a
terminal in a communication system supporting a beam forming scheme
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood
to refer to like parts, components, and structures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following description with reference to the accompanying
drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of
various embodiments of the present disclosure as defined by the
claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details
to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as
merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art
will recognize that various changes and modifications of the
various embodiments described herein can be made without departing
from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. In addition,
descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be
omitted for clarity and conciseness.
The terms and words used in the following description and claims
are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely
used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding
of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to
those skilled in the art that the following description of various
embodiments of the present disclosure is provided for illustration
purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the present
disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their
equivalents.
It is to be understood that the singular forms "a," "an," and "the"
include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a component surface"
includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.
Although ordinal numbers such as "first," "second," and so forth
will be used to describe various components, those components are
not limited herein. The terms are used only for distinguishing one
component from another component. For example, a first component
may be referred to as a second component and likewise, a second
component may also be referred to as a first component, without
departing from the teaching of the inventive concept. The term
"and/or" used herein includes any and all combinations of one or
more of the associated listed items.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
various embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As
used herein, the singular forms are intended to include the plural
forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It
will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "has,"
when used in this specification, specify the presence of a stated
feature, number, step, operation, component, element, or
combination thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition
of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations,
components, elements, or combinations thereof.
The terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms,
have the same meanings as terms that are generally understood by
those skilled in the art, as long as the terms are not differently
defined. It should be understood that terms defined in a
generally-used dictionary have meanings coinciding with those of
terms in the related technology.
An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method and
apparatus for controlling a gain in a communication system
supporting a beam forming scheme.
An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method and
apparatus for controlling a gain in a case that at least two beam
types are used in a communication system supporting a beam forming
scheme.
An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method and
apparatus for automatically controlling a gain corresponding to a
beam type in a case that at least two beam types are used in a
communication system supporting a beam forming scheme.
An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method and
apparatus for automatically controlling a gain by considering
signal strength for an optimal beam type in a case that at least
two beam types are used in a communication system supporting a beam
forming scheme.
A method and apparatus for automatically controlling a gain
provides in various embodiments of the present disclosure may be
applied to various communication systems such as a Long Term
Evolution (LTE) mobile communication system, a LTE-Advanced (LTE-A)
mobile communication system, a High Speed Downlink Packet Access
(HSDPA) mobile communication system, a High Speed Uplink Packet
Access (HSUPA) mobile communication system, a High Rate Packet Data
(HRPD) mobile communication system proposed in a 3.sup.rd
Generation Project Partnership 2 (3GPP2), a Wideband Code Division
Multiple Access (WCDMA) mobile communication system proposed in the
3GPP2, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) mobile communication
system proposed in the 3GPP2, an Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE) mobile communication system, an
Evolved Packet System (EPS), a Mobile Internet Protocol (Mobile IP)
system, and/or the like.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, it will be assumed that
the beam type is determined based on at least one of a beam width,
a beam direction, and a combination of the beam width and the beam
direction. That is, the beam type may be determined by considering
the beam width, or the beam direction, or both the beam width and
the beam direction.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, it will be assumed that
a signal transmission apparatus is a base station, and a signal
reception apparatus is a terminal. However, the present disclosure
is not limited thereto, and the signal transmission apparatus may
be any apparatus of a communication system that may transmit a
signal, and the signal reception apparatus may be any apparatus of
a communication system that may receive a signal.
A structure of a communication system supporting two beam types
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be
described with reference to FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a structure of a communication
system supporting two beam types according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 3, it will be noted that a beam type is
determined by considering a beam width, and a communication system
uses two beam widths. However, the present disclosure is not
limited thereto, and the communication system may use any suitable
number of beam widths. As illustrated in FIG. 3, for example, the
communication system supports two beam widths including a first
beam width 301 and a second beam width 303. The first beam width
301 is applied to channels, such as a synchronization channel, a
broadcast channel, and any other similar and/or suitable channels,
which all signal reception apparatuses, e.g., terminals, which are
located in service coverage of a signal transmission apparatus,
e.g., a base station, should receive. The second beam width 303 may
be applied to a channel, e.g., a data channel or any other similar
channel, which supports a relatively high data rate, and which is
more narrow than the first beam width 301. A maximum antenna gain
for the first beam width 301 is less than a maximum antenna gain
for the second beam width 303. It will be assumed that an antenna
gain includes a beam forming gain. A maximum antenna gain for each
beam width is acquired in a direction where a signal reception
apparatus detects a maximum receive signal strength from among a
plurality of directions in which the base station operates, and
antenna gains acquired in the plurality of directions may be
different from one another.
Meanwhile, if each beam width is used, a minimum antenna gain may
be acquired in a specific direction from among the plurality of
directions, and a detailed description will be followed.
A maximum antenna gain of the first beam width 301 is acquired if
the first beam width 301 is configured to be
G1.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MAX, and a minimum antenna gain of the first
beam width 301 is acquired if the first beam width 301 is
configured to be G1.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MIN. A maximum antenna gain
of the second beam width 303 is acquired if the second beam width
303 is configured to be G2.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MAX, and a minimum
antenna gain of the second beam width 303 is acquired if the second
beam width 303 is configured to be G2.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MIN.
In this case, for detecting a receive power of a terminal, both a
maximum antenna gain per beam width, G1.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MAX and
G2.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MAX, used in a base station, and a minimum
antenna gain per beam width, G1.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MIN,
G2.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MIN, used in the base station, are
considered.
If the second beam width 303 is used, a maximum antenna gain
G2.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MAX may be expressed as Equation (4).
G2.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MAX=G1.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MAX+BF.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MA-
X Equation (4)
In Equation (4), BF.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MAX denotes a difference
between a maximum antenna gain which may be acquired if the first
beam width 301 is used and a maximum antenna gain which may be
acquired if the second beam width 303 is used.
So, in the case where the base station operates two beam widths,
i.e., the first beam width 301 and the second beam width 303, the
terminal may acquire the maximum receive power in a case where both
the terminal acquires the maximum antenna gain
G2.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MAX and path loss, according to a distance
between the base station and the terminal, is minimized.
Equation (5) expresses the maximum receive power, i.e., the maximum
receive power which is acquired in a case where both the terminal
acquires the maximum antenna gain G2.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MAX, and the
path loss, according to the distance between the base station and
the terminal, is minimized if the second beam width 303 is used.
P.sub.RX.sub.--.sub.MAX=P.sub.TX+G2.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MAX-L.sub.MIN
Equation (5)
In Equation (5), P.sub.TX denotes a transmit power used in the base
station, L.sub.MIN denotes a minimum path loss according to the
distance between the base station and the terminal, and
P.sub.RX.sub.--.sub.MAX denotes a maximum receive power detected in
the terminal.
The minimum receive power of the terminal denotes a receive power
which is measured if both the minimum antenna gain
G1.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MIN is acquired when the first beam width 301
is used, and the path loss for the distance between the base
station and the terminal is maximized.
Equation (6) expresses the minimum receive power which is measured
if both the minimum antenna gain G1.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MIN is
acquired when the first beam width 301 is used, and the path loss
for the distance between the signal transmission apparatus and the
signal reception apparatus is maximized.
P.sub.RX.sub.--.sub.MIN=P.sub.TX+G1.sub.TX.sub.--.sub.MIN-L.sub.MAX
Equation (6)
In Equation (6), P.sub.TX denotes a transmit power used in the base
station, L.sub.MAX denotes a maximum path loss according to the
distance between the base station and the terminal, and
P.sub.RX.sub.--.sub.MIN denotes a minimum receive power detected in
the terminal.
A dynamic range DR2, of the terminal, is a value between the
maximum receive power and the minimum receive power, and may be
expressed as Equation (7). DR2
[dB]=P.sub.RX.sub.--.sub.MAX-P.sub.RX.sub.--.sub.MIN=DR1+BF.sub.TX.sub.---
.sub.MAX Equation (7)
If a terminal operates a plurality of beam widths, the terminal
receives a signal having a signal strength that is different
according to a beam width, so a dynamic range in a case where the
terminal operating the plurality of beam widths increases compared
to a case where the base station operates a single beam width.
Received signal strength may change according to a beam width even
though path loss does not change. For example, in FIG. 3, there are
two cases, a first case 305, in which the terminal receives a
signal to which the second beam width 303, which is a relatively
narrow beam width, is applied after receiving a signal to which the
first beam width 301, which is a relatively wide beam width, is
applied, and a second case 307, in which the terminal receives the
signal to which the first beam width 301, which is the relatively
wide beam width, is applied after receiving the signal to which the
second beam width 303, which is the relatively narrow beam width,
is applied.
A dynamic range of an Automatic Gain Controller (AGC), in a case
where a terminal receives a signal to which a relatively narrow
beam width is applied after receiving a signal to which a
relatively wide beam width is applied, will be described with
reference to FIG. 4. A dynamic range of the AGC, in a case where
the terminal receives the signal to which the relatively wide beam
width is applied after receiving the signal to which the relatively
narrow beam width is applied, will be described with reference to
FIG. 5.
Firstly, a dynamic range of an AGC in a case where a terminal
receives a signal to which a relatively narrow beam width is
applied after receiving a signal to which a relatively wide beam
width is applied in a communication system supporting a beam
forming scheme according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
will be described with reference to FIG. 4.
FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a dynamic range of an AGC in a
case where a terminal receives a signal to which a relatively
narrow beam width is applied after receiving a signal to which a
relatively wide beam width is applied in a communication system
supporting a beam forming scheme according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 4, a relatively wide beam width is referred to as
a `first beam width`, and a relatively narrow beam width is
referred to as a `second beam width`, wherein the first beam width
is wider relative to the second beam width.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, an AGC determines a gain value of a Low
Noise Amplifier (LNA) and a gain value of a Variable Gain Amplifier
(VGA) according to an average receive power of a received signal to
which the second beam width is applied, and appropriately maps a
range of a signal, which is controlled according to both the
determined gain value of the LNA and the determined gain value of
the VGA, to a dynamic range of the AGC. If a signal to which the
first beam width is applied starts to be received, a receive power
of a signal 403, to which the first beam width is applied and which
is detected in a front end of a terminal, becomes lower than a
receive power level of a receive signal 401, which is detected in
the front end of the terminal in a case where a signal, to which
the second beam width is applied, is received.
That is, if the second beam width is used, an antenna gain of a
base station decreases and receive power of a terminal decreases.
On the other hand, if the gain values calculated for the second
beam width are applied when the signal to which the first beam
width is applied is received, a signal input to an AGC has a
receive power level having a range narrower than a dynamic range of
the AGC, so a quantization error may occur.
The dynamic range of an AGC in the case where the terminal receives
the signal to which the relatively narrow beam width is applied
after receiving the signal to which the relatively wide beam width
is applied in the communication system supporting the beam forming
scheme according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has
been described with reference to FIG. 4, as noted above. The
dynamic range of the AGC in the case where the terminal receives
the signal to which the relatively wide beam width is applied after
receiving the signal to which a relatively narrow beam width is
applied in the communication system supporting the beam forming
scheme according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be
described with reference to FIG. 5, as noted above.
FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a dynamic range of an AGC in a
case that a terminal receives a signal to which a relatively wide
beam width is applied after receiving a signal to which a
relatively narrow beam width is applied in a communication system
supporting a beam forming scheme according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
Prior to a description of FIG. 5, a relatively wide beam width is
referred to as a `first beam width`, and a relatively narrow beam
width is referred to as a `second beam width`, wherein the first
beam width is wide relative to the second beam width.
Referring to FIG. 5, an AGC determines a gain value of an LNA and a
gain value of a VGA according to an average receive power of a
received signal to which the first beam width is applied, and the
AGC appropriately maps a range of a signal, which is controlled
according to both the determined gain value of the LNA and the
determined gain value of the VGA, to a dynamic range of the
AGC.
If a signal to which the second beam width is applied starts to be
received, a receive power of a signal 503, to which the second beam
width is applied and which is detected in a front end of a
terminal, becomes greater than a receive power of a receive signal
501, which is detected in the front of the terminal, in a case
where the signal to which the second beam width is applied is
received.
That is, if the second beam width is applied, an antenna gain of a
base station increases and receive power of a terminal increases.
On the other hand, if the gain values calculated for the first beam
width are applied when the signal to which the second beam width is
received, a signal inputted to an AGC has a receive power level
with a range wider than a dynamic range of the AGC, so a clipping
error may occur.
A dynamic range of an AGC, in a case where a terminal receives a
signal to which a relatively wide beam width is applied, after
receiving a signal to which a relatively narrow beam width is
applied, in a communication system supporting a beam forming scheme
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been
described with reference to FIG. 5, and an example of an inner
structure of a terminal in a communication system supporting a beam
forming scheme according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
will be described with reference to FIG. 6.
FIG. 6 schematically illustrates an example of an inner structure
of a terminal in a communication system supporting a beam forming
scheme according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 6, a terminal includes an LNA 601, a mixer 603, a
VGA 605, an Analog to Digital converter (A/D) 607, a
MOdulator/DEModulator (MODEM) 709, and an AGC 619.
A signal received through an antenna is inputted to the LNA 601,
the LNA 601 amplifies the signal received through the antenna
according to a preset gain value, and outputs the amplified signal
to the mixer 603. The mixer 603 down converts the signal output
from the LNA 601 by mixing the amplified signal output from the LNA
601 with a preset frequency signal, and the mixer 603 outputs the
down converted signal to the VGA 605. The VGA 605 amplifies the
signal output from the mixer 603 according to another preset gain
value, and outputs the amplified signal to the A/D 607. The A/D 607
generates an In phase & Quadrature phase (I/Q) signal by
converting the signal output from the VGA 605, i.e., an analog
signal, into a digital signal, and the A/D 607 outputs the I/Q
signal to the MODEM 609. The MODEM 609 de-modulates the signal
output from the A/D 607 using a preset de-modulation scheme, and
outputs the de-modulated signal. The de-modulation scheme is
determined according to a modulation scheme used in the base
station. The AGC 619 performs an operation of controlling both the
gain value of the LNA 601 and the gain value of the VGA 605. The
AGC 619 may control both the gain value of the LNA 601 and the gain
value of the VGA 605 according to a beam type used in the base
station, may output a control signal for controlling the gain value
of the LNA 601 to the LNA 601, and may output a control signal for
controlling the gain value of the VGA 605 to the VGA 605.
An operation of storing information on a beam type used in the
terminal and an operation of controlling both the gain value of the
LNA 601 and the gain value of the VGA 605 in the AGC 619 will be
described below.
The AGC 619 includes a beam searcher 611, a power calculator bank
613, a code mapper 615, and a control processor 617.
The power calculator bank 613 includes a plurality of Root Mean
Square (RMS) power calculators, e.g., N RMS power calculators for
storing instantaneous power measured per beam type. That is, the
power calculator bank 613 includes an RMS power calculator #1 621-1
to a RMS power calculator #N 621-N. The number, N, of the RMS power
calculators included in the power calculator bank 613 may be
determined according to the number of beam types which the base
station may operate, use, and/or apply. That is, the number, N, of
the RMS power calculators is equal to the number of the beam types
which the base station may operate.
The beam searcher 611 measures instantaneous power of a reference
signal output from the MODEM 609 according to a beam type that is
applied to a currently received signal. The beam type may become
different according to a beam width and a beam direction. In other
words, respective beam types may be different from each other
according to respective beam widths and beam directions. The beam
searcher 611 outputs the measured instantaneous power of the
reference signal and related beam information to the control
processor 617. The control processor 617 detects information on a
plurality of beam types operated in the base station, information
on a beam gain per beam type, information on a time interval used
per beam type, information on a channel used per beam type, and
information on the like, from a broadcast channel which the base
station broadcasts. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
control processor 617 detects the information on the plurality of
beam types operated in the base station, the information on the
beam gain per beam type, the information on the time interval used
per beam type, the information on the channel used per beam type,
and the information on like from the broadcast channel. However, it
will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the
control processor 617 may detect the information on the plurality
of beam types operated in the base station, the information on the
beam gain per beam type, the information on the time interval used
per beam type, the information on the channel used per beam type,
and the information on like from a channel different from the
broadcast channel, from a message, and/or from any suitable source
of such information.
The control processor 617 determines an RMS power calculator, in
which a power value output from the beam searcher 611 will be
stored, from among the RMS power calculator #1 621-1 to the RMS
power calculator #N 621-N, according to the measured result output
from the beam searcher 611. The control processor 617 selects a RMS
power calculator, which will be used for determining the gain value
of the LNA 601 and the gain value of the VGA 605, from among the
RMS power calculator #1 621-1 to the RMS power calculator #N 621-N,
based on the beam information.
The power calculator bank 613 includes N RMS power calculators,
i.e., the RMS power calculator #1 621-1 to the RMS power calculator
#N 621-N. Each of the RMS power calculator #1 621-1 to the RMS
power calculator #N 621-N stores instantaneous power by calculating
an average power per related beam type. The beam type may be
classified based on at least one of a beam width and a beam
direction. The number, N, of the RMS power calculators included in
the power calculator bank 613 may be determined according to the
number of beam types which the base station may operate. The
number, N, of the RMS power calculators is equal to the number of
the beam types that the base station may operate.
Meanwhile, each of the RMS power calculator #1 621-1 to the RMS
power calculator #N 621-N includes a square calculator, a memory,
and an average calculator. That is, the RMS power calculator #1
621-1 includes a square calculator #1 623-1, a memory #1 625-1, and
an average calculator #1 627-1. In this way, the RMS power
calculator #N 621-N, as the last RMS power calculator, includes a
square calculator #N 623-N, a memory #N 625-N, and an average
calculator #N 627-N.
Firstly, the RMS power calculator #1 621-1 will be described
below.
The square calculator #1 623-1 calculates an instantaneous power
value by squaring a signal strength of the signal output from the
MODEM 609, and outputs the instantaneous power value to the memory
#1 625-1. The memory #1 625-1 stores the instantaneous power value
output from the square calculator #1 623-1. The average calculator
#1 627-1 calculates an average power of the instantaneous power
values stored during a preset time interval, e.g.,
T.sub.WINDOW.
The RMS power calculator #N 621-N, as the last RMS power
calculator, will be described below.
The square calculator #N 623-N calculates an instantaneous power
value by squaring a signal strength of the signal output from the
MODEM 609, and outputs the instantaneous power value to the memory
#N 625-N. The memory #N 625-N stores the instantaneous power value
output from the square calculator #N 623-N. The average calculator
#N 627-N calculates an average power of the instantaneous power
values stored during the preset time interval T.sub.WINDOW.
The code mapper 615 determines both the gain value of the LNA 601
and the gain value of the VGA 605 based on the average power
calculated, in the average calculator #1 627-1 to the average
calculator #N 627-N, according to a timing point determined by the
control processor 617. The code mapper 615 generates a code value
related to each of the gain value of the LNA 601 and the gain value
of the VGA 605, and outputs the generated code value to the LNA 601
and the VGA 605.
Although the LNA 601, the mixer 603, the VGA 605, the A/D 607, the
MODEM 609, and the AGC 619, are illustrated in the terminal in FIG.
6 as separate units, it is to be understood that such a
configuration is merely for convenience of description. In other
words, two or more of the LNA 601, the mixer 603, the VGA 605, the
A/D 607, the MODEM 609, and the AGC 619 may be incorporated into a
single unit. Further, locations of LNA 601, the mixer 603, the VGA
605, the A/D 607, the MODEM 609, and the AGC 619 may be changed,
and specific units among these units may be omitted. Although N RMS
power calculators, i.e., the RMS power calculator #1 621-1 to the
RMS power calculator #N 621-N, are illustrated in the power
calculator bank 613, in FIG. 6, as separate units, it is to be
understood that such a configuration is merely for convenience of
description. In other words, two or more of the RMS power
calculator #1 621-1 to the RMS power calculator #N 621-N may be
incorporated into a single unit. Although a square calculator, a
memory, and an average calculator are illustrated in each of the
RMS power calculator #1 621-1 to the RMS power calculator #N 621-N,
in FIG. 6, as separate units, it is to be understood that such a
configuration is merely for convenience of description. In other
words, two or more of the square calculator, the memory, and the
average calculator may be incorporated into a single unit.
An example of an inner structure of a terminal in a communication
system supporting a beam forming scheme according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure has been described with reference to FIG.
6, and another example of an inner structure of a terminal in a
communication system supporting a beam forming scheme according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with
reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B.
FIGS. 7A and 7B schematically illustrate another example of an
inner structure of a terminal in a communication system supporting
a beam forming scheme according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
Referring to FIGS. 7A to 7B, a terminal includes an LNA 701, a
mixer 703, a VGA 705, an A/D 707, a MODEM 709, and an AGC 719.
The internal structure of the terminal illustrated in FIGS. 7A to
7B corresponds an internal structure of a terminal in a case where
a base station supports six beam types, and the six beam types are
generated by considering two beam widths, i.e., a first beam width
and a second beam width, and four beam directions, i.e., a first
beam direction, a second beam direction, a third beam direction,
and a fourth beam direction. That is, the base station supports a
first beam type which is generated by considering the first beam
width and the first beam direction, a second beam type which is
generated by considering the first beam width and the second beam
direction, a third beam type which is generated by considering the
second beam width and the first beam direction, a fourth beam type
which is generated by considering the second beam width and the
second beam direction, a fifth beam type which is generated by
considering the second beam width and the third beam direction, and
a sixth beam type which is generated by considering the second beam
width and the fourth beam direction. However, the present
disclosure is not limited thereto, and an the internal structure of
the terminal of the present disclosure may correspond to a base
station that supports any suitable and/or similar number of beam
types.
A signal received through an antenna is input to the LNA 701, the
LNA 701 amplifies the signal received through the antenna according
to a preset gain value, and outputs the amplified signal to the
mixer 703. The mixer 703 down converts the signal output from the
LNA 701 by mixing the amplified signal output from the LNA 701 with
a preset frequency signal, and outputs the down converted signal to
the VGA 705. The VGA 705 amplifies the signal output from the mixer
703 according to another preset gain value, and outputs the
amplified signal to the A/D 707. The A/D 707 generates an I/Q
signal by converting the signal output from the VGA 705, i.e., an
analog signal, into a digital signal, and the A/D/707 outputs the
I/Q signal to the MODEM 709. The MODEM 709 de-modulates the signal
output from the A/D 707 using a preset de-modulation scheme, and
outputs the de-modulated signal. The de-modulation scheme is
determined according to a modulation scheme used in the base
station.
The AGC 719 performs an operation of controlling both the gain
value of the LNA 701 and the gain value of the VGA 705. The AGC 719
may control both the gain value of the LNA 701 and the gain value
of the VGA 705 according to a beam type used in the base station,
outputs a control signal for controlling the gain value of the LNA
701 to the LNA 701, and outputs a control signal for controlling
the gain value of the VGA 705 to the VGA 705.
An operation of storing information on a beam type used in the
terminal and an operation of controlling both the gain value of the
LNA 701 and the gain value of the VGA 705 in the AGC 719 will be
described below.
The AGC 719 includes a beam searcher 711, a power calculator bank
713, a control processor 717, and a code mapper 715.
The power calculator bank 713 includes a plurality of RMS power
calculators, e.g., six RMS power calculators, for storing
instantaneous power measured per beam type. That is, the power
calculator bank 713 includes an RMS power calculator #1 721-1 to an
RMS power calculator #6 721-6. The number of the RMS power
calculators included in the power calculator bank 713 may be
determined according to the number of beam types which the base
station may operate. That is, the number of the RMS power
calculators is equal to the number of the beam types that the base
station may operate, e.g., `6`.
The beam searcher 711 measures an instantaneous power of a
reference signal output from the MODEM 709 according to a beam type
that is applied to a currently received signal. The beam type may
become different according to a beam width and a beam direction. In
other words, respective beam types may be different from each other
according to respective beam widths and beam directions. The beam
searcher 711 outputs the measured instantaneous power for the
reference signal and related beam information to the control
processor 717. The control processor 717 detects information on a
plurality of beam types operated in the base station, information
on a beam gain per beam type, information on a time interval used
per beam type, information on a channel used per beam type, and
information on the like, from a broadcast channel which the base
station broadcasts.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the control processor
717 detects the information on the plurality of beam types operated
in the base station, the information on the beam gain per beam
type, the information on the time interval used per beam type, the
information on the channel used per beam type, and the like from
the broadcast channel. However, it will be understood by those of
ordinary skill in the art that the control processor 717 may detect
the information on the plurality of beam types operated in the base
station, the information on the beam gain per beam type, the
information on the time interval used per beam type, the
information on the channel used per beam type, and the like from a
channel different from the broadcast channel, from a message,
and/or from any suitable and/or similar source. The control
processor 717 determines an RMS power calculator, in which a power
value output from the beam searcher 711 will be stored, from among
the RMS power calculator #1 721-1 to the RMS power calculator #N
721-N, according to the measured result output from the beam
searcher 711. The control processor 717 selects an RMS power
calculator, which will be used for determining the gain value of
the LNA 701 and the gain value of the VGA 705, from among the RMS
power calculator #1 721-1 to the RMS power calculator #N 721-N,
based on the beam information.
The power calculator bank 713 includes six RMS power calculators,
i.e., the RMS power calculator #1 721-1 to the RMS power calculator
#6 721-6. Each of the RMS power calculator #1 721-1 to the RMS
power calculator #6 721-6 stores an instantaneous power by
calculating an average power per related beam type. The beam type
may be classified based on at least one of a beam width and a beam
direction. The number of the RMS power calculators included in the
power calculator bank 713 may be determined according to the number
of beam types which the base station may operate. The number of the
RMS power calculators, 6, is equal to the number of the beam types
that the base station may operate.
Meanwhile, each of the RMS power calculator #1 721-1 to the RMS
power calculator #6 721-6 includes a square calculator, a memory,
and an average calculator. That is, the RMS power calculator #1
721-1 includes a square calculator #1 723-1, a memory #1 725-1, and
an average calculator #1 727-1, the RMS power calculator #2 721-2
includes a square calculator #2 723-2, a memory #2 725-2, and an
average calculator #2 727-2, the RMS power calculator #3 721-3
includes a square calculator #3 723-3, a memory #3 725-3, and an
average calculator #3 727-3, the RMS power calculator #4 721-4
includes a square calculator #4 723-4, a memory #4 725-4, and an
average calculator #4 727-4, the RMS power calculator #5 721-5
includes a square calculator #5 723-5, a memory #5 725-5, and an
average calculator #5 727-5, and the RMS power calculator #6 721-6
includes a square calculator #6 723-6, a memory #6 725-6, and an
average calculator #6 727-6.
Firstly, the RMS power calculator #1 721-1 will be described
below.
The square calculator #1 723-1 calculates an instantaneous power
value by squaring a signal strength of the signal output from the
MODEM 709, and outputs the instantaneous power value to the memory
#1 725-1. The memory #1 725-1 stores the instantaneous power value
output from the square calculator #1 723-1. The average calculator
#1 727-1 calculates an average power of the instantaneous power
values stored during a preset time interval, e.g.,
T.sub.WINDOW.
The RMS power calculator #6 721-6, as the last RMS power
calculator, will be described below.
The square calculator #6 723-6 calculates an instantaneous power
value by squaring a signal strength of the signal output from the
MODEM 709, and outputs the instantaneous power value to the memory
#6 725-6. The memory #6 725-6 stores the instantaneous power value
output from the square calculator #6 723-6. The average calculator
#6 727-6 calculates an average power of the instantaneous power
values stored during the preset time interval, e.g.,
T.sub.WINDOW.
The code mapper 715 determines the gain value of the LNA 701 and
the gain value of the VGA 705 based on the average power
calculated, in the average calculator #1 727-1 to the average
calculator #6 727-6, corresponding to a timing point determined by
the control processor 717. The code mapper 715 generates a code
value related to each of the gain value of the LNA 701 and the gain
value of the VGA 705, and outputs the generated code value to the
LNA 701 and the VGA 705.
In FIGS. 7A to 7B, it will be noted that the terminal is
illustrated such that the power calculator bank 713 includes an RMS
power calculator for each of beam types supported in the base
station.
Although the LNA 701, the mixer 703, the VGA 705, the A/D 707, the
MODEM 709, and the AGC 719 are illustrated in the terminal in FIGS.
7A to 7B as separate units, it is to be understood that such a
configuration is merely for convenience of description. In other
words, two or more of the LNA 701, the mixer 703, the VGA 705, the
A/D 707, the MODEM 709, and the AGC 719 may be incorporated into a
single unit. Further, locations of LNA 701, the mixer 703, the VGA
705, the A/D 707, the MODEM 709, and the AGC 719 may be changed,
and specific units among these units may be omitted. Although six
RMS power calculators, i.e., the RMS power calculator #1 721-1 to
the RMS power calculator #6 721-6, are illustrated in the power
calculator bank 713 in FIGS. 7A to 7B as separate units, it is to
be understood that such a configuration is merely for convenience
of description. In other words, two or more of the RMS power
calculator #1 721-1 to the RMS power calculator #6 721-6 may be
incorporated into a single unit. Although a square calculator, a
memory, and an average calculator are illustrated in each of the
RMS power calculator #1 to the RMS power calculator #6 in FIGS. 7A
to 7B as separate units, it is to be understood that such a
configuration is merely for convenience of description. In other
words, two or more of the square calculator, the memory, and the
average calculator may be incorporated into a single unit.
Another example of an inner structure of a terminal in a
communication system supporting a beam forming scheme according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described with
reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B, and still another example of an inner
structure of a terminal in a communication system supporting a beam
forming scheme according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B.
FIGS. 8A and 8B schematically illustrate still another example of
an inner structure of a terminal in a communication system
supporting a beam forming scheme according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, a terminal includes an LNA 801, a
mixer 803, a VGA 805, an A/D 807, a MODEM 809, and an AGC 819.
The internal structure of the terminal illustrated in FIGS. 8A and
8B corresponds an internal structure of a terminal in a case where
a base station supports six beam types, and the six beam types are
generated by considering two beam widths, i.e., a first beam width
and a second beam width, and four beam directions, i.e., a first
beam direction, a second beam direction, a third beam direction,
and a fourth beam direction. That is, the base station supports a
first beam type which is generated by considering the first beam
width and the first beam direction, a second beam type which is
generated by considering the first beam width and the second beam
direction, a third beam type which is generated by considering the
second beam width and the first beam direction, a fourth beam type
which is generated by considering the second beam width and the
second beam direction, a fifth beam type which is generated by
considering the second beam width and the third beam direction, and
a sixth beam type which is generated by considering the second beam
width and the fourth beam direction.
In the internal structure of the terminal of FIGS. 8A and 8B, the
terminal includes a power calculator bank which manages beam
directions where an RMS power greater than or equal to a preset
threshold RMS power is detected, and beam directions where an RMS
power less than the preset threshold RMS power is detected by
applying a preset criterion per beam width even though the base
station supports six beam types. That is, a terminal in FIGS. 7A
and 7B is also a terminal which is applied if a base station
supports six beam types, however, it will be understood that the
terminal includes a power calculator bank which manages each of the
six beam types supported in the base station, so the terminal in
FIGS. 7A and 7B is different to the terminal in FIGS. 8A and 8B
with respect to a power calculator bank.
A signal received through an antenna is input to the LNA 801, the
LNA 801 amplifies the signal received through the antenna according
to a preset gain value, and outputs the amplified signal to the
mixer 803. The mixer 803 down converts the signal output from the
LNA 801 by mixing the amplified signal output from the LNA 801 with
a preset frequency signal, and outputs the down converted signal to
the VGA 805. The VGA 805 amplifies the signal output from the mixer
803 according to a preset gain value, and outputs the amplified
signal to the A/D 807. The A/D 807 generates an I/Q signal by
converting the signal output from the VGA 805, i.e., an analog
signal to a digital signal, and outputs the I/Q signal to the MODEM
809. The MODEM 809 de-modulates the signal output from the A/D 807
using a preset de-modulation scheme, and outputs the de-modulated
signal. The de-modulation scheme is determined according to a
modulation scheme used in the base station.
The AGC 819 performs an operation of controlling both the gain
value of the LNA 801 and the gain value of the VGA 805. The AGC 819
may control both the gain value of the LNA 801 and the gain value
of the VGA 805 according to a beam type used in the base station,
may output a control signal for controlling the gain value of the
LNA 801 to the LNA 801, and may output a control signal for
controlling the gain value of the VGA 805 to the VGA 805.
An operation of storing information on a beam type used in the
terminal and an operation of controlling the gain value of the LNA
801 and the gain value of the VGA 805 in the AGC 819 will be
described below.
The AGC 819 includes a beam searcher 811, a power calculator bank
813, a control processor 817, and a code mapper 815.
The power calculator bank 813 includes a plurality of RMS power
calculators, e.g., four RMS power calculators, for storing the
measured instantaneous power based on a preset threshold RMS power
per beam width from among beam types. That is, the power calculator
bank 813 includes an RMS power calculator #1 821-1 to an RMS power
calculator #4 821-4. The number of RMS power calculators included
in the power calculator bank 813 may be determined based on the
threshold RMS power per beam width from among beam types which the
base station may operate, so the number of RMS power calculators is
determined to 4 in the power calculator band 813.
The beam searcher 811 measures an instantaneous power of a
reference signal output from the MODEM 809 according to a beam type
that is applied to a currently received signal. The beam type may
be different according to a beam width and a beam direction. In
other words, respective beam types may be different from each other
according to respective beam widths and beam directions. The beam
searcher 811 outputs the measured instantaneous power for the
reference signal and related beam information to the control
processor 817. The control processor 817 detects information on a
plurality of beam types operated in the base station, information
on a beam gain per beam type, information on a time interval used
per beam type, information on a channel used per beam type, and
information on the like, from a broadcast channel which the base
station broadcasts.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the control processor
817 detects the information on the plurality of beam types operated
in the base station, the information on the beam gain per beam
type, the information on the time interval used per beam type, the
information on the channel used per beam type, and the information
on the like, from the broadcast channel. However, it will be
understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the control
processor 817 may detect the information on the plurality of beam
types operated in the signal transmission apparatus, the
information on the beam gain per beam type, the information on the
time interval used per beam type, the information on the channel
used per beam type, and the like from a channel different from the
broadcast channel, from a message, and/or from any suitable
source.
The control processor 817 determines an RMS power calculator, in
which a power value output from the beam searcher 811 will be
stored, from among the RMS power calculator #1 821-1 to the RMS
power calculator #4 721-4, according to the measured result output
from the beam searcher 811. The control processor 817 selects an
RMS power calculator, which will be used for determining both the
gain value of the LNA 801 and the gain value of the VGA 805, from
among the RMS power calculator #1 821-1 to the RMS power calculator
#4 821-4, based on the beam information.
The power calculator bank 813 includes four RMS power calculators,
i.e., the RMS power calculator #1 821-1 to the RMS power calculator
#4 821-4. Each of the RMS power calculator #1 821-1 to the RMS
power calculator #4 821-4 calculates an average power per beam type
and stores an instantaneous power. As described above, the power
calculator bank 813 may be configured based on the beam width. The
number of RMS power calculators included in the power calculator
bank 813 may be determined according to the number of beam types
which the base station may operate. That is, the number of RMS
power calculators included in the power calculator bank 813 is `4`
based on the threshold RMS power based on the beam width from among
the beam types which the base station may operate.
Meanwhile, each of the RMS power calculator #1 821-1 to the RMS
power calculator #4 821-4 includes a square calculator, a memory,
and an average calculator. That is, the RMS power calculator #1
821-1 includes a square calculator #1 823-1, a memory #1 825-1, and
an average calculator #1 827-1, the RMS power calculator #2 821-2
includes a square calculator #2 823-2, a memory #2 825-2, and an
average calculator #2 827-2, the RMS power calculator #3 821-3
includes a square calculator #3 823-3, a memory #3 825-3, and an
average calculator #3 827-3, and the RMS power calculator #4 821-4
includes a square calculator #4 823-4, a memory #4 825-4, and an
average calculator #4 827-4.
Firstly, the RMS power calculator #1 821-1 will be described
below.
The square calculator #1 823-1 calculates an instantaneous power
value by squaring a signal strength of the signal output from the
MODEM 809, and outputs the instantaneous power value to the memory
#1 825-1. The memory #1 825-1 stores the instantaneous power value
output from the square calculator #1 823-1. The average calculator
#1 827-1 calculates an average power of the instantaneous power
values stored during a preset time interval, e.g.,
T.sub.WINDOW.
The RMS power calculator #4 821-4, as the last RMS power
calculator, will be described below.
The square calculator #4 823-4 calculates an instantaneous power
value by squaring a signal strength of the signal output from the
MODEM 809, and outputs the instantaneous power value to the memory
#4 825-4. The memory #4 825-4 stores the instantaneous power value
output from the square calculator #4 823-4. The average calculator
#4 827-4 calculates an average power of the instantaneous power
values stored during the preset time interval, e.g.,
T.sub.WINDOW.
The code mapper 815 determines both the gain value of the LNA 801
and the gain value of the VGA 805 based on the average power,
calculated in the average calculator #1 827-1 to the average
calculator #4 827-4, corresponding to a timing point determined by
the control processor 817. The code mapper 815 generates a code
value related to each of the gain value of the LNA 801 and the gain
value of the VGA 805, and outputs the generated code value to the
LNA 801 and the VGA 805.
As illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, it will be noted that the
terminal is implemented in order that the power calculator bank 813
includes an RMS power calculator based on a beam width and a
threshold RMS power, wherein the RMS power calculator is not based
on each of the beam types supported in the base station.
Although the LNA 801, the mixer 803, the VGA 805, the A/D 807, the
MODEM 809, and the AGC 819 are illustrated in the terminal in FIGS.
8A and 8B as separate units, it is to be understood that such a
configuration is merely for convenience of description. In other
words, two or more of the LNA 801, the mixer 803, the VGA 805, the
A/D 807, the MODEM 809, and the AGC 819 may be incorporated into a
single unit. Further, locations of the LNA 801, the mixer 803, the
VGA 805, the A/D 807, the MODEM 809, and the AGC 819 may be
changed, and specific units from among these units may be omitted.
Although four RMS power calculators, i.e., the RMS power calculator
#1 821-1 to the RMS power calculator #4 821-4, are illustrated in
the power calculator bank 813 in FIGS. 8A to 8B as separate units,
it is to be understood that such a configuration is merely for
convenience of description. In other words, two or more of the RMS
power calculator #1 821-1 to the RMS power calculator #4 821-4 may
be incorporated into a single unit. Although a square calculator, a
memory, and an average calculator are illustrated in each of the
RMS power calculator #1 821-1 to the RMS power calculator #4 821-4
in FIGS. 8A to 8B as separate units, it is to be understood that
such a configuration is merely for convenience of description. In
other words, two or more of the square calculator, the memory, and
the average calculator may be incorporated into a single unit.
Still another example of an inner structure of a terminal in a
communication system supporting a beam forming scheme according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described with
reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B, and an operation process of an AGC
included in a terminal in a communication system supporting a beam
forming scheme according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
will be described with reference to FIG. 9.
FIG. 9 schematically illustrates an operation process of an AGC
included in a terminal in a communication system supporting a beam
forming scheme according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 9, a base station periodically transmits a first
beam width signal 909, to which a first beam width is applied, and
a second beam width signal 911, to which a second beam width is
applied, to a terminal. For convenience, a signal to which the
first beam width is applied is called as `a first beam width
signal`, and a signal to which the second beam width is applied is
called as `a second beam width signal`.
The base station may previously notify the terminal of information
on a length and a timing point of an interval in which a signal to
which each beam width is applied is transmitted. The base station
may previously notify the terminal of the information on the length
and the timing point of the interval in which the signal to which
each beam width is applied is transmitted through a broadcast
channel or a preset message.
In FIG. 9, illustrates a case in which the base station supports
two beam widths, however, it will be understood by those of
ordinary skill in the art that an operation process of an AGC in
FIG. 9 may be applicable to a case in which the base station
supports a beam direction and a combination of a beam width and the
beam direction, rather than just the beam width. That is, the
operation process of the AGC in FIG. 9 may be applicable for all
beam types supported in the base station.
The terminal includes a beam searcher 901, a power calculator bank
903, a control processor 905, and a code mapper 907, and the power
calculator bank 903 includes an RMS power calculator #1 902 and an
RMS power calculator #2 904.
In a time interval in which the first beam width signal 909 is
received, the beam searcher 901 calculates an instantaneous power
according to the first beam width signal 909, and outputs the
calculated instantaneous power and information of the first beam
width signal 909 to the control processor 905. The control
processor 905 controls the RMS power calculator #1 902, which is
included in the power calculator bank 903, to continuously
accumulate an instantaneous power of a first beam width during the
preset time interval T.sub.WINDOW and to calculate an average power
value if needed. The control processor 905 controls the code mapper
905 to determine a gain value of an LNA (not illustrated in FIG. 9)
included in the terminal and a gain value of a VGA (not illustrated
in FIG. 9) included in the terminal based on the average power
value for the first beam width, as calculated by the RMS power
calculator #1 902 in a current time interval and following time
intervals where a first beam width signal is received.
Upon reaching a time interval where the second beam width signal
911 is received, the beam searcher 901 calculates an instantaneous
power of the second beam width signal 911, and outputs the
calculated instantaneous power and information on the second beam
width signal 911 to the control processor 905.
The control processor 905 controls the RMS power calculator #2 904,
which is included in the power calculator bank 903, to continuously
accumulate an instantaneous power of the second beam width during
the preset time interval T.sub.WINDOW and to calculate an average
power value if needed. The control processor 905 controls the code
mapper 905 to determine both a gain value of the LNA and a gain
value of the VGA based on the average power value of the second
beam width, as calculated by the RMS power calculator #2 904 in a
current time interval and following time intervals where the second
beam width signal is received.
As described above, each of related RMS power calculators for the
first beam width signal 909 and the second beam width signal 911,
i.e., the RMS power calculator #1 902 and the RMS power calculator
#2 904, respectively and continuously accumulate an instantaneous
power of a related beam width signal, and calculate an average
power value.
For example, if the first beam width signal 909 is received, the
terminal continuously accumulates an instantaneous power using the
RMS power calculator #1 902, and updates an average power value by
storing the instantaneous power, which may be used to calculate the
updated average power value. The terminal determines a gain value
according to a beam type using the updated average power value, and
controls the LNA and the VGA based on the determined gain
value.
For example, if the second beam width signal 911 is received, the
terminal continuously accumulates an instantaneous power using the
RMS power calculator #2 904, and updates an average power value by
storing the instantaneous power. The terminal determines a gain
value according to a beam type using the updated average power
value, and controls the LNA and the VGA based on the determined
gain value.
That is, the power calculator bank 903 calculates power values for
all beam types, according to at least one of a beam width and/or a
beam direction, supported in the base station, separately stores
each of the power values so that the AGC may flexibly determine a
gain value according to a beam type which is applied to a signal to
be received.
Although the beam searcher 901, the power calculator bank 903, the
control processor 905, and the code mapper 907 are illustrated in
the AGC in FIG. 9 as separate units, it is to be understood that
such a configuration is merely for convenience of description. In
other words, two or more of the beam searcher 901, the power
calculator bank 903, the control processor 905, and the code mapper
907 may be incorporated into a single unit. Further, locations of
the beam searcher 901, the power calculator bank 903, the control
processor 905, and the code mapper 907 may be changed, and specific
units from among these units may be omitted. Although two RMS power
calculators, i.e., the RMS power calculator #1 902 to the RMS power
calculator #2 904, are illustrated in the power calculator bank
#903 in FIG. 9 as separate units, it is to be understood that such
a configuration is merely for convenience of description. In other
words, the RMS power calculator #1 902 and the RMS power calculator
#2 904 may be incorporated into a single unit.
An operation process of an AGC included in a terminal in a
communication system supporting a beam forming scheme according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described with
reference to FIG. 9, and an operation process of a terminal in a
communication system supporting a beam forming scheme according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with
reference to FIG. 10.
FIG. 10 schematically illustrates an operation process of a
terminal in a communication system supporting a beam forming scheme
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 10, a terminal receives a broadcast channel
signal broadcasted from a base station in operation 1001. The
broadcast channel signal includes information on at least one of a
plurality of beam types, such as information on beam widths and/or
beam directions, which are operated by the base station, a beam
gain per beam type, a time interval which is used per beam type,
and a channel which is used per beam type. Although not illustrated
in FIG. 10, the terminal receives the information on at least one
of the plurality of beam types which are operated by the base
station, the beam gain per beam type, the time interval which is
used per beam type, and the channel which is used per beam type
from the broadcast channel signal. However, it will be understood
by those of ordinary skill in the art that the terminal may receive
the information on at least one of the plurality of beam types
which are operated by the base station, the beam gain per beam
type, the time interval which is used per beam type, and the
channel which is used per beam type from other channel signal not
the broadcast channel signal or a preset message.
The terminal acquires the information on the beam types which are
operated by the base station through the information included in
the received broadcast channel signal, and determines a number N of
beam types which the terminal will store in operation 1003. As
illustrated in FIG. 10, the terminal determines to store power
values for two beam types which the base station operates, i.e., a
first beam width and a second beam width, and, as illustrated in
FIG. 10, a beam type, according to a beam width, is considered.
However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the
art that a beam type according to a beam direction and/or a
combination of the beam width and the beam direction as well as
just the beam width may be considered.
The terminal receives a first beam width signal, to which a first
beam width is applied, in operation 1005. The terminal measures an
instantaneous power of the received first beam width signal using
an RMS power calculator #1 corresponding to the first beam width
signal, and stores the measured instantaneous power in operation
1007. The terminal determines a gain value of an LNA and a gain
value of a VGA using average power calculated according to the
instantaneous power measured for the received first beam width
signal in operation 1009. The terminal receives a signal to which a
second beam width is applied in operation 1011. The terminal stores
an instantaneous power measured for the received second beam width
signal in an RMS power calculator #2 corresponding to the second
beam width in operation 1013. The terminal determines a gain value
of the LNA and a gain value of the VGA using an average power
calculated according to the instantaneous power measured for the
received second beam width signal in operation 1015.
The terminal again receives the first beam width signal in
operation 1017. The terminal continuously accumulates an
instantaneous power in the RMS power calculator #1 corresponding to
the first beam width and updates an average power value in
operation 1019. The terminal determines a gain value of the LNA and
a gain value of the VGA in operation 1021, according to a beam type
using the updated average power value, and the terminal controls
the LNA and the VGA based on the determined gain value.
Although not illustrated in FIG. 10, upon again receiving the
second beam width signal, the terminal controls the LNA and the VGA
using an average power value accumulated in the RMS power
calculator #1 corresponding to the second beam width like a case
where the terminal receives the first beam width signal.
In FIG. 10, a base station uses a first beam width and a second
beam width by limiting beam types to be different from each other
according to only a beam width. However, it will be understood by
those of ordinary skill in the art that beam types may be different
from each other according to, and that the base station may
generate a beam type based on, a beam direction, a combination of
the beam width and the beam direction, and the like as well as the
beam width. In this case, RMS power calculators may be used based
on the number of beam types used in the base station.
Although FIG. 10 illustrates an operation process of a terminal in
a communication system supporting a beam forming scheme according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure, various changes could
be made to FIG. 10. For example, although illustrated as a series
of operations, according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure, various operations in FIG. 10 could overlap, occur in
parallel, occur in a different order, and/or occur multiple
times.
It can be appreciated that a method and apparatus for controlling a
gain in a communication system supporting a beam forming scheme
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be
implemented by hardware, software and/or a combination thereof. The
software may be stored in a non-volatile storage, for example, an
erasable or re-writable Read Only Memory (ROM), a memory, for
example, a Random Access Memory (RAM, a memory chip, a memory
device, or a memory Integrated Circuit (IC), or an optically or
magnetically recordable non-transitory machine-readable, e.g.,
computer-readable, storage medium, e.g., a Compact Disk (CD), a
Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), a magnetic disk, or a magnetic
tape.
A method and apparatus for controlling a gain in a communication
system supporting a beam forming scheme according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure may be implemented by a computer or a
mobile terminal that includes a controller and a memory, and the
memory may be an example of a non-transitory machine-readable,
e.g., computer-readable, storage medium suitable to store a program
or programs including instructions for implementing various
embodiments of the present disclosure.
The present disclosure may include a program including code for
implementing the apparatus and method as defined by the appended
claims, and a non-transitory machine-readable, e.g.,
computer-readable, storage medium storing the program. The program
may be electronically transferred via any media, such as
communication signals, which are transmitted through wired and/or
wireless connections, and the present disclosure may include their
equivalents.
As is apparent from the foregoing description, an embodiment of the
present disclosure enables control of a gain in a communication
system supporting a beam forming scheme.
An embodiment of the present disclosure enables control of a gain
in a case where at least two beam types are used in a communication
system supporting a beam forming scheme.
An embodiment of the present disclosure enables automatic control
of a gain corresponding to a beam type in a case where at least two
beam types are used in a communication system supporting a beam
forming scheme.
An embodiment of the present disclosure enables automatic control
of a gain by considering signal strength for an optimal beam type
in a case where at least two beam types are used in a communication
system supporting a beam forming scheme.
While the present disclosure has been shown and described with
reference to various embodiments thereof, it will be understood by
those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details
may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of
the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their
equivalents.
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