Transmission using an antenna array in a cdma communication system

CA 02498521 2000-08-17

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

TRANSMISSION USING AN ANTENNA ARRAY

IN A CDMA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

This application is a divisional of Canadian patent application Serial No. 2,383,178 filed internationally on August 17,2000 and entered nationally on February

26, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to signal transmission and reception in a wireless code division multiple access (CDMA) communication system. More specifically, the invention relates to a system and method of transmission using an antenna array to improve signal reception in a wireless CDMA communication system.

Description of the Prior Art

A prior art CDMA communication system is shown in Figure 1. The communication system has a plurality of base stations 20-32. Each base station 20 communicates using spread spectrum CDMA with userequipment(UEs) 34-38 within its operating area. Communications from the base station 20 to each UE 34-38 are referred to as downlink communications and communications from each UE 34-38 to the base station 20 are referred to as uplink communications.

Shown in Figure 2 is a simplified CDMA transmitter and receiver. A data signal having a given bandwidth is mixed by a mixer 40 with a pseudo random chip

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-2code sequence producing a digital spread spectrum signal for transmission by an antenna 42. Upon reception at an antenna 44, the data is reproduced after correlation at a mixer 46 with the same pseudo random chip code sequence used to transmit the data. By using different pseudo random chip code sequences, many data signals use 5 the same channel bandwidth. In particular, a base station 20 will communicate signals to multiple UEs 34-38 over the same bandwidth.

Fortiming synchronization with a receiver, an unmodulated pilot signal is used. The pilot signal allows respective receivers to synchronize with a given transmitter allowing despreading of a data signal at the receiver. In a typical CDMA system, each base station 20 sends a unique pilot signal received by all UEs 34-38 within communicating range to synchronize forward link transmissions. Conversely, in some CDMA systems, for example in the B-CDMA™air interface, each UE 34-38 transmits a unique assigned pilot signal to synchronize reverse link transmissions.

When a UE 34-36 ora base station 20-32 is receiving a specific signal, all the other signals within the same bandwidth are noise-like in relation to the specific signal.

Increasing the power level of one signal degrades all other signals within the same bandwidth. However, reducing the power level too far results in an undesirable received signal quality. One indicator used to measure the received signal quality is the signal to noise ratio (SNR). At the receiver, the magnitude of the desired received signal is compared to the magnitude of the received noise. The data within a transmitted signal received with a high SNR is readily recovered at the receiver. A low

SNR leads to loss of data.

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-3To maintain a desired signal to noise ratio at the minimum transmission power level, most CDMA systems utilize some form of adaptive power control. By minimizing the transmission power, the noise between signals within the same bandwidth is reduced. Accordingly, the maximum number of signals received at the desired signal to noise ratio within the same bandwidth is increased.

Although adaptive power control reduces interference between signals in the same bandwidth, interference still exists limiting the capacity of the system. One technique for increasing the number of signals using the same radio frequency (RF) spectrum is to use sectorization. In sectorization, a base station uses directional antennas to divide the base station's operating area into a number of sectors. As a result, interference between signals in differing sectors is reduced. However, signals within the same bandwidth within the same sector interfere with one another. Additionally, sectorized base stations commonly assign different frequencies to adjoining sectors decreasing the spectral efficiency for a given frequency bandwidth.

U.S. Patent No. 5,652,764 discloses a transmitter array system. Each antenna of the array transmits a spread data signal. Each data signal is spread with a different orthogonal code. A receiver receives the transmitted spread data signals. The received signals are despread using the orthogonal codes by either match filters or correlators. The despread data signals are either combined or one despread signal is selected as the received data.

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-4EPO 881 781 A2 discloses a transmission diversity scheme. An information signal is transmitted from a plurality of antennas using a different spreading code for each antenna.

U.S. Patent no. 5,812,542 discloses a soft handoff system for a CDMA system. Each of a plurality of base stations transmits a pilot signal and the same data signal. The mobile unit receives the pilot signals and despreads the same data signals using weighting information determined from the pilot signals. The despread same data signals are combined as an output data signal.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a system which further improves the signal quality of received signals without increasing transmitter power levels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides for transmission and reception of a data signal using a plurality of transmitting antennas. Each antenna transmits a different pilot signal having a pseudo random chip code sequence. A receiver filters each transmitted pilot using that pilot's chip code. The filtered pilots are weighted and combined. Each pilot signal's weight is adaptively adjusted in part on a signal quality of the combined signal. A data signal is transmitted such that different spread spectrum versions of the data signal are transmitted from each transmitting antenna. Each version having a different chip code identifier. Upon reception, each version is filtered with its associated chip code. The filtered versions are weighted in accordance with the adjusted weights associated with the pilot signal of the respective antenna.

CA 02498521 2011-11-24

-5According to an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method for use in a code division multiple access user equipment. The method comprises: receiving a first continuous pilot signal from a first transmitting antenna of a base station; receiving a second continuous pilot signal from a second transmitting antenna of the base station, wherein the first continuous pilot signal and the second continuous pilot signal have a different chip sequence; receiving a data signal comprising two antenna specific chip sequences, wherein each of the antenna specific chip sequences are associated with the respective transmission antenna and the first and second pilot signals have a different channel code than the data signal; deriving preferred weights in response to the received first and second continuous pilot signals; and combining a data bit associated with the first antenna with a corresponding data bit associated with the second antenna using the preferred weights.

According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided, a code division multiple access user equipment, the user equipment comprising: a receiving circuit configured to receive a plurality of continuous pilot signals including a first pilot signal and a second pilot signal, each continuous pilot signal having a different chip sequence than others of the plurality of continuous pilot signals; a weight adjustment device configured to derive preferred weights in response to the received first and second pilot signals; the receiving circuit configured to receive a plurality of data signals, at least a portion of each data signal has a different antenna specific chip sequence than others of the plurality of data signals, the receiving circuit configured to filter the received data signals to recover data; and circuitry configured to combine a data bit associated with a first antenna specific chip sequence with a corresponding data bit associated with a second antenna specific chip sequence using the preferred weights.

CA 02498521 2011-11-24

-5 aAccording to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided, a user equipment (UE) comprising: circuitry configured to receive signal(s) transmitted by a plurality of antennas of a base station; wherein the received signal having from each transmitting antenna a sequence of symbols unique to that antenna and the received signal having a weighted sequence of symbols transmitted from all of the plurality of antennas; wherein the circuitry is further configured to derive a preferred weight for a subsequent received signal based on the received signal and transmit an indication of the preferred weight to the base station.

According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided, a base station comprising: a plurality of antennas that transmit signal(s), wherein each signal comprises a sequence of symbols unique to each one of the plurality of antennas and the signal has a weighted sequence of symbols, wherein the antenna is configured to receive a signal indicating a preferred weight for a subsequent transmission signal based on the preferred weight.

According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided, a method for deriving a preferred weight for a received signal from a Node B based on a received signal and transmitting an indication of the preferred weight to the base station comprising: receiving signal(s) transmitted by plurality of antennas of a base station wherein the received signal has from each transmitting antenna a sequence of symbols unique to that antenna and the received signal has a weighted sequence of symbols transmitted from all of the plurality of antennas; deriving a preferred weight for a subsequent received signal based on the received signal; and transmitting an indication of the preferred weight to the base station.

CA 02498521 2000-08-17

-6BR1EF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a prior art wireless spread spectrum CDMA communication system.

Figure 2 is a prior art spread spectrum CDMA transmitter and receiver.

Figure 3 is the transmitter of the invention.

Figure 4 is the transmitter of the invention transmitting multiple data signals.

Figure 5 is the pilot signal receiving circuit of the invention.

Figure 6 is the data signal receiving circuit of the invention.

Figure 7 is an embodiment of the pilot signal receiving circuit.

Figure 8 is a least mean squarred weighting circuit.

Figure 9 is the data signal receiving circuit used with the pilot signal receiving circuit of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is an embodiment of the pilot signal receiving circuit where the output of each RAKE is weighted.

Figure 11 is the data signal receiving circuit used with the pilot signal receiving circuit of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is an embodiment of the pilot signal receiving circuit where the antennas of the transmitting array are closely spaced.

Figure 13 is the data signal receiving circuit used with the pilot signal receiving circuit of Figure 12.

CA 02498521 2007-05-22

-7Figure 14 is an illustration of beam steering in a CDMA communication system.

Figure 15 is a beam steering transmitter.

Figure 16 is a beam steering transmitter transmitting multiple data signals.

Figure 17 is the data receiving circuit used with the transmitter of Figure

14.

Figure 18 is a pilot signal receiving circuit used when uplink and downlink signals use the same frequency.

Figure 19 is a transmitting circuit used with the pilot signal receiving circuit of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a data signal receiving circuit used with the pilot signal receiving circuit of Figure 18.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the drawing figures where like numerals represent like elements throughout. Figure 3 is a transmitter of the invention. The transmitter has an array of antennas 48-52, preferably 3 or 4 antennas. For use in distinguishing each antenna 48-52, a different signal is associated with each antenna 48-52. The preferred signal to associate with each antenna is a pilot signal as shown in Figure 3. Each spread pilot signal is generated by a pilot signal generator 56-60 using a different pseudo random chip code sequence and is combined by combiners 62-66 with the respective spread data

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-8signal. Each spread data signal is generated using data signal generator 54 by mixing at mixers 378-382 the generated data signal with a different pseudo random chip code sequence per antenna 48-52, D_rD_N. The combined signals are modulated to a desired carrier frequency and radiated through the antennas 48-52 of the array.

By using an antenna array, the transmitter utilizes spacial diversity. If spaced far enough apart, the signals radiated by each antenna 48-52 will experience different multipath distortion while traveling to a given receiver. Since each signal sent by an antenna 48-52 will follow multiple paths to a given receiver, each received signal will have many multipath components. These components create a virtual communication channel between each antenna 48-52 ofthe transmitter and the receiver. Effectively, when signals transmitted by one antenna 48-52 over a virtual channel to a given receiver are fading, signals from the other antennas 48-52 are used to maintain a high received SNR. This effect is achieved by the adaptive combining ofthe transmitted signals at the receiver.

Figure 4 shows the transmitter as used in a base station 20 to send multiple data signals. Each spread data signal is generated by mixing at mixers 360-376 a corresponding data signal from generators 74-78 with differing pseudo random chip code sequences D_irD_NM. Accordingly, each data signal is spread using a different pseudo random chip code sequence per antenna 48-52, totaling N x M code sequences. N is the number of antennas and M is the number of data signals. Subsequently, each spread data signal is combined with the spread pilot signal associated with the antenna 48-52. The combined signals are modulated and radiated by the antennas 48-52 ofthe array.

CA 02498521 2007-05-22

-9The pilot signal receiving circuit is shown in Figure 5. Each of the transmitted pilot signals is received by the antenna 80. For each pilot signal, a despreading device, such as a RAKE 82-86 as shown in the Figure 5 or a vector correlator, is used to despread each pilot signal using a replica of the corresponding pilot signal's pseudo random chip code sequence. The despreading device also compensates for multipath in the communication channel. Each of the recovered pilot signals is weighted by a weighting device 88-92. Weight refers to both magnitude and phase of the signal. Although the weighting is shown as being coupled to a RAKE, the weighting device preferably also weights each finger of the RAKE. After weighting, all of the weighted recovered pilot signals are combined in a combiner 94. Using an error signal generator 96, an estimate of the pilot signal provided by the weighted combination is used to create an error signal. Based on the error signal, the weights of each weighting device 88-92 are adjusted using an adaptative algorithm by the weight adjustment device 98 to minimize the error signal using an adaptive algorithm, such as least mean squared (LMS) or recursive least squares (RLS). As a result, the signal quality of the combined signal is maximized.

Figure 6 depicts a data signal receiving circuit using the weights determined by the pilot signal recovery circuit. The transmitted data signal is recovered by the antenna 80. For each antenna 48-52 of the transmitting array, the weights from a corresponding despreading device, shown as a RAKE 82-86, are used to filter the data signal using a replica of the data signal's spreading code used for the corresponding transmitting antenna. Using the determined weights for each antenna's pilot signal, each weighting device 106-110 weights the RAKE's despread signal with the weight associated with the corresponding pilot. For instance, the weighting device

CA 02498521 2000-08-17

-1088 corresponds to the transmitting antenna 48 for pilot signal 1. The weight determined by the pilot RAKE 82 for pilot signal 1 is also applied at the weighting device 106 of Figure 6. Additionally, if the weights of the RAKE's fingers were adjusted for the corresponding pilots signal's RAKE 82-86, the same weights will be applied to the fingers of the data signal's RAKE 100-104. After weighting, the weighted signals are combined by the combiner 112 to recover the original data signal.

By using the same weights for the data signal as used with each antenna's pilot signal, each RAKE 82-86 compensates for the channel distortion experienced by each antenna's signals. As a result, the data signal receiving circuit optimizes the data signals reception overeach virtual channel. By optimally combining each virtual channel's optimized signal, the received data signal's signal quality is increased.

Figure 7 shows an embodiment of the pilot signal recovery circuit. Each of the transmitted pilots are recovered by the receiver's antenna 80. To despread each of the pilots, each RAKE 82-86 utilizes a replica of the corresponding pilot's pseudo random chip code sequence, P_rP_N. Delayed versions of each pilot signal are produced by delay devices 114-124. Each delayed version is mixed by a mixer 126142 with the received signal. The mixed signals pass through sum and dump circuits

424-440 and are weighted using mixers 144-160 by an amount determined by the weight adjustment device 170. The weighted multipath components for each pilotare combined by a combiner 162-164. Each pilot's combined output is combined by a combiner 94. Since a pilot signal has no data, the combined pilot signal should have a value of 1 +j0. The combined pilot signal is compared to the ideal value, 1 +j0, at a

CA 02498521 2000-08-17

-11subtractor 168. Based on the deviation of the combined pilot signal from the ideal, the weight of the weighting devices 144-160 are adjusted using an adaptive algorithm by the weight adjustment device 170.

A LMS algorithm used for generating a weight is shown in Figure 8. The output of the subtractor 168 is multiplied using a mixer 172 with the corresponding despread delayed version of the pilot. The multiplied result is amplified by an amplifier 174 and integrated by an integrator 176. The integrated result is used to weight, W_1M, the RAKE finger.

The data receiving circuit used with the embodiment of Figure 7 is show for a base station receiver in Figure 9. The received signal is sent to a set of RAKEs 100104 respectively associated with each antenna 48-52 of the array. Each RAKE 100104, produces delayed versions of the received signal using delay devices 178-188.

The delayed versions are weighted using mixers 190-206 based on the weights determined forthe corresponding antenna's pilot signal. The weighted data signals 15 for a given RAKE 100-104 are combined by a combiner 208-212. One combiner

208-212 is associated with each of the N transmitting antennas 48-52. Each combined signal is despread M times by mixing at a mixer 214-230 the combined signal with a replica of the spreading codes used for producing the M spread data signals at the transmitter, D_n-D_NM. Each despread data signal passes through a sum and dump circuit232-248. For each data signal, the results of the corresponding sum and dump circuits are combined by a combiner 250-254 to recovereach data signal.

CA 02498521 2000-08-17

-12Another pilot signal receiving circuit is shown in Figure 10. The despreading circuits 82-86 of this receiving circuit are the same as Figure 7. The output of each

RAKE 82-86 is weighted using a mixer256-260 prior to combining the despread pilot signals. After combining, the combined pilot signal is compared to the ideal value and 5 the result of the comparison is used to adjust the weight of each RAKE's output using an adaptive algorithm. To adjust the weights within each RAKE 82-86, the output of each RAKE 82-86 is compared to the ideal value using a subtractor262-266. Based on the result of the comparison, the weight of each weighting device 144-160 is determined by the weight adjustment devices 268-272.

The data signal receiving circuit used with the embodiment of Figure 10 is shown in Figure 11. This circuit is similar to the data signal receiving circuit of Figure with the addition of mixers 274-290 for weighting the output of each sum and dump circuit 232-248. The output of each sum and dump circuit 232-248 is weighted by the same amount as the corresponding pilot's RAKE 82-86 was weighted. Alternatively, the output of each RAKE's combiner208-212 may be weighted prior to mixing by the mixers 214-230 by the amount of the corresponding pilot's RAKE 82-86 in lieu of weighting after mixing.

If the spacing of the antennas 48-52 in the transmitting array is small, each antenna's signals will experience a similar multipath environment. In such cases, the 20 pilot receiving circuit of Figure 12 may be utilized. The weights for a selected one of the pilot signals are determined in the same manner as in Figure 10. However, since each pilot travels through the same virtual channel, to simplify the circuit, the same weights are used for despreading the other pilot signals. Delay devices 292-294

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-13produce delayed versions ofthe received signal. Each delayed version is weighted by a mixer 296-300 by the same weight as the corresponding delayed version ofthe selected pilot signal was weighted. The outputs of the weighting devices are combined by a combiner 302. The combined signal is despread using replicas ofthe pilot signals' pseudo random chip code sequences, P₂-P_n. by the mixers 304-306.

The output of each pilot's mixer 304-306 is passed through a sum and dump circuit

308-310. In the same manner as Figure 10, each despread pilot is weighted and combined.

The data signal recovery circuit used with the embodiment of Figure 12 is shown in Figure 13. Delay devices 178-180 produce delayed versions of the received signal. Each delayed version is weighted using a mixer 190-194 by the same weight as used by the pilot signals in Figure 12. The outputs ofthe mixers are combined by a combiner208. The output ofthe combiner208 is inputted to each data signal despreader of Figure 13.

The invention also provides a technique for adaptive beam steering as illustrated in Figure 14. Each signal sent by the antenna array will constructively and destructively interfere in a pattern based on the weights provided each antenna 48-52 ofthe array. As a result, by selecting the appropriate weights, the beam 312-316 of the antenna array is directed in a desired direction.

Figure 15 shows the beam steering transmitting circuit. The circuit is similar to the circuit of Figure 3 with the addition of weighting devices 318-322. A target receiver will receive the pilot signals transmitted by the array. Using the pilot signal

CA 02498521 2000-08-17

-14receiving circuit of Figure 5, the target receiver determines the weights for adjusting the output of each pilot's RAKE. These weights are also sent to the transmitter, such as by using a signaling channel. These weights are applied to the spread data signal as shown in Figure 15. For each antenna, the spread data signal is given a weight by the weighting devices 318-322 corresponding to the weight used for adjusting the antenna's pilot signal at the target receiver providing spatial gain. As a result, the radiated data signal will be focused towards the target receiver. Figure 16 shows the beam steering transmitter as used in a base station sending multiple data signals to differing target receivers. The weights received by the target receiver are applied to the corresponding data signals by weighting devices 324-340.

Figure 17 depicts the data signal receiving circuit for the beam steering transmitter of Figures 15 and 16. Since the transmitted signal has already been weighted, the data signal receiving circuit does not require the weighting devices 106110 of Figure 6.

The advantage ofthe invention's beam steering are two-fold. The transmitted data signal is focused toward the target receiver improving the signal quality ofthe received signal. Conversely, the signal is focused away from other receivers reducing interference to their signals. Due to both of these factors, the capacity of a system using the invention's beam steering is increased. Additionally, due to the adaptive algorithm used by the pilot signal receiving circuitry, the weights are dynamically adjusted. By adjusting the weights, a data signal's beam will dynamically respond to a moving receiver or transmitter as well as to changes in the multipath environment.

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-15ln a system using the same frequency for downlink and uplink signals, such as time division duplex (TDD), an alternate embodiment is used. Due to reciprocity, downlink signals experience the same multipath environment as uplink signals send over the same frequency. To take advantage of reciprocity, the weights determined by the base station's receiver are applied to the base station's transmitter. In such a system, the base station's receiving circuit of Figure 18 is co-located, such as within a base station, with the transmitting circuit of Figure 19.

In the receiving circuitof Figure 18, each antenna 48-52 receives a respective pilot signal sent by the UE. Each pilot is filtered by a RAKE 406-410 and weighted by a weighting device 412-416. The weighted and filtered pilot signals are combined by a combiner 418. Using the error signal generator 420 and the weight adjustment device 422, the weights associated with the weighting devices 412416 are adjusted using an adaptive algorithm.

The transmitting circuit of Figure 19 has a data signal generator 342 to generate a data signal. The data signal is spread using mixer 384. The spread data signal is weighted by weighting devices 344-348 as were determined by the receiving circuit of Figure 19 for each virtual channel.

The circuit of Figure 20 is used as a data signal receiving circuit at the base station. The transmitted data signal is received by the multiple antennas 48-52. A data RAKE 392-396 is coupled to each antenna 48-52 to filter the data signal. The filtered data signals are weighted by weighting devices 398402 by the weights determined for the corresponding antenna's received pilot and are combined at

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-16combiner 404 to recover the data signal. Since the transmitter circuit of Figure 19 transmits the data signal with the optimum weights, the recovered data signal at the UE will have a higher signal quality than provided by the prior art.