IP Library Granted Patent US 10,256,553
Granted Patent B2
US 10,256,553 · App. 15/355,220 · Granted Apr 9, 2019

Efficient multi-polarization communications

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,256,553
App. No.
15/355,220
Granted
Apr 9, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems for efficient multi-polarization communications are presented. An array based communications system may comprises an antenna array operably connected to a first polarization path and a second polarization path. Each polarization path may comprise an analog frequency conversion circuit, a digital beamforming circuit, and a cross-polarization interference suppression circuit. To save power while communicating with one or more link partners, one or both of the first polarization path and the second polarization path may be selectively enabled or disabled in accordance with temperature, bandwidth, and/or power consumption requirements.

Claims (82)

1. An array based communications system comprising:

a first polarization path comprising a first analog frequency conversion circuit, a first digital beamforming circuit, and a first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit;

a second polarization path comprising a second analog frequency conversion circuit, a second digital beamforming circuit, and a second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit; and

an antenna array operably connected to the first polarization path and the second polarization path, wherein one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is selectively enabled in accordance with a parameter associated with the array based communications system, and wherein the parameter associated with the array based communications system is a bandwidth required for communication with one or more link partners, and wherein the first polarization path and the second polarization path are both enabled when the bandwidth required for communication with one or more link partners is above half a maximum bandwidth supported by the antenna array.

2. The array based communications system of claim 1 , wherein the parameter associated with the array based communications system is a power consumption.

3. The array based communications system of claim 2 , wherein one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is disabled when the power consumption is above a threshold.

4. The array based communications system of claim 2 , wherein one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is disabled when the power consumption is above a threshold and the array based communications system is operating on a battery.

5. The array based communications system of claim 2 , wherein one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is disabled when the power consumption is above a power threshold and a temperature of the array based communications system is above a temperature threshold.

6. The array based communications system of claim 1 , wherein the first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit and the second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit are both used when the first polarization path and the second polarization path are both enabled.

7. The array based communications system of claim 1 , wherein the first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit and the second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit are both disabled when at least one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is disabled.

8. A method for array based communications, the method comprising:

enabling a first polarization path comprising a first analog frequency conversion circuit, a first digital beamforming circuit, and a first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit;

enabling a second polarization path comprising a second analog frequency conversion circuit, a second digital beamforming circuit, and a second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit;

determining whether a low power mode is required for an antenna array, wherein determining whether a low power mode is comprises comparing a maximum bandwidth supported by the antenna array to a bandwidth required for communication with one or more link partners; and

disabling one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path if the low power mode is required.

9. The method for array based communications of claim 8 , wherein the first polarization path and the second polarization path remain enabled when the bandwidth required for communication with one or more link partners is above half the maximum bandwidth supported by the antenna array.

10. The method for array based communications of claim 8 , wherein the low power mode is required when the bandwidth for communication with one or more link partners is below half the maximum bandwidth supported by the antenna array.

11. The method for array based communications of claim 8 , wherein the low power mode is based on a power consumption.

12. The method for array based communications of claim 11 , wherein the low power mode is required when the power consumption is above a threshold.

13. The method for array based communications of claim 11 , wherein the low power mode is required when the power consumption is above a threshold and the antenna array is operating on a battery.

14. The method for array based communications of claim 11 , wherein the low power mode is required when the power consumption is above a power threshold and a temperature of the antenna array is above a temperature threshold.

15. The method for array based communications of claim 8 , wherein the method comprises suppressing cross-polarization interference using the first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit and the second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit when the first polarization path and the second polarization path are both enabled.

16. The method for array based communications of claim 8 , wherein the method comprises disabling both the first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit and the second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit when at least one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is disabled.

17. An array based communications system comprising:

a first polarization path comprising a first analog frequency conversion circuit, a first digital beamforming circuit, and a first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit;

a second polarization path comprising a second analog frequency conversion circuit, a second digital beamforming circuit, and a second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit; and

an antenna array operably connected to the first polarization path and the second polarization path, wherein one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is selectively enabled in accordance with a parameter associated with the array based communications system, and wherein the parameter associated with the array based communications system is a bandwidth required for communication with one or more link partners, and wherein one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is disabled when the bandwidth required for communication with one or more link partners is below half a maximum bandwidth supported by the antenna array.

18. The array based communications system of claim 17 , wherein the parameter associated with the array based communications system is a power consumption.

19. The array based communications system of claim 18 , wherein one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is disabled when the power consumption is above a threshold.

20. The array based communications system of claim 18 , wherein one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is disabled when the power consumption is above a threshold and the array based communications system is operating on a battery.

21. The array based communications system of claim 18 , wherein one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is disabled when the power consumption is above a power threshold and a temperature of the array based communications system is above a temperature threshold.

22. The array based communications system of claim 17 , wherein the first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit and the second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit are both used when the first polarization path and the second polarization path are both enabled.

23. The array based communications system of claim 17 , wherein the first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit and the second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit are both disabled when at least one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is disabled.

24. An array based communications system comprising:

a first polarization path comprising a first analog frequency conversion circuit, a first digital beamforming circuit, and a first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit;

a second polarization path comprising a second analog frequency conversion circuit, a second digital beamforming circuit, and a second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit; and

an antenna array operably connected to the first polarization path and the second polarization path, wherein one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is selectively enabled in accordance with a parameter associated with the array based communications system, and wherein the parameter associated with the array based communications system is a power consumption, and wherein one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is disabled when the power consumption is above a power threshold and a temperature of the array based communications system is above a temperature threshold.

25. The array based communications system of claim 24 , wherein one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is disabled when the power consumption is above a threshold and the array based communications system is operating on a battery.

26. The array based communications system of claim 24 , wherein the first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit and the second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit are both used when the first polarization path and the second polarization path are both enabled.

27. The array based communications system of claim 24 , wherein the first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit and the second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit are both disabled when at least one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is disabled.

28. An array based communications system comprising:

a first polarization path comprising a first analog frequency conversion circuit, a first digital beamforming circuit, and a first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit;

a second polarization path comprising a second analog frequency conversion circuit, a second digital beamforming circuit, and a second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit; and

an antenna array operably connected to the first polarization path and the second polarization path, wherein one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is selectively enabled in accordance with a parameter associated with the array based communications system, and wherein the first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit and the second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit are both used when the first polarization path and the second polarization path are both enabled.

29. The array based communications system of claim 28 , wherein the parameter associated with the array based communications system is a bandwidth required for communication with one or more link partners.

30. The array based communications system of claim 28 , wherein the parameter associated with the array based communications system is a power consumption.

31. The array based communications system of claim 30 , wherein one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is disabled when the power consumption is above a threshold.

32. The array based communications system of claim 30 , wherein one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is disabled when the power consumption is above a threshold and the array based communications system is operating on a battery.

33. An array based communications system comprising:

a first polarization path comprising a first analog frequency conversion circuit, a first digital beamforming circuit, and a first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit;

a second polarization path comprising a second analog frequency conversion circuit, a second digital beamforming circuit, and a second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit; and

an antenna array operably connected to the first polarization path and the second polarization path, wherein one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is selectively enabled in accordance with a parameter associated with the array based communications system, and wherein the first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit and the second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit are both disabled when at least one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is disabled.

34. The array based communications system of claim 33 , wherein the parameter associated with the array based communications system is a bandwidth required for communication with one or more link partners.

35. The array based communications system of claim 33 , wherein the parameter associated with the array based communications system is a power consumption.

36. The array based communications system of claim 35 , wherein one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is disabled when the power consumption is above a threshold.

37. The array based communications system of claim 35 , wherein one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is disabled when the power consumption is above a threshold and the array based communications system is operating on a battery.

38. A method for array based communications, the method comprising:

enabling a first polarization path comprising a first analog frequency conversion circuit, a first digital beamforming circuit, and a first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit;

enabling a second polarization path comprising a second analog frequency conversion circuit, a second digital beamforming circuit, and a second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit;

determining whether a low power mode is required for an antenna array, wherein the low power mode is based on a power consumption, and wherein the low power mode is required when the power consumption is above a power threshold and a temperature of the antenna array is above a temperature threshold; and

disabling one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path if the low power mode is required.

39. The method for array based communications of claim 38 , wherein the low power mode is required when the power consumption is above a threshold and the antenna array is operating on a battery.

40. The method for array based communications of claim 38 , wherein the method comprises suppressing cross-polarization interference using the first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit and the second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit when the first polarization path and the second polarization path are both enabled.

41. The method for array based communications of claim 38 , wherein the method comprises disabling both the first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit and the second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit when at least one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is disabled.

42. A method for array based communications, the method comprising:

enabling a first polarization path comprising a first analog frequency conversion circuit, a first digital beamforming circuit, and a first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit;

enabling a second polarization path comprising a second analog frequency conversion circuit, a second digital beamforming circuit, and a second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit;

determining whether a low power mode is required for an antenna array;

disabling one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path if the low power mode is required; and

suppressing cross-polarization interference using the first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit and the second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit when the first polarization path and the second polarization path are both enabled.

43. The method for array based communications of claim 42 , wherein the low power mode is based on a power consumption.

44. The method for array based communications of claim 43 , wherein the low power mode is required when the power consumption is above a threshold.

45. The method for array based communications of claim 43 , wherein the low power mode is required when the power consumption is above a threshold and the antenna array is operating on a battery.

46. A method for array based communications, the method comprising:

enabling a first polarization path comprising a first analog frequency conversion circuit, a first digital beamforming circuit, and a first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit;

enabling a second polarization path comprising a second analog frequency conversion circuit, a second digital beamforming circuit, and a second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit;

determining whether a low power mode is required for an antenna array;

disabling one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path if the low power mode is required; and

disabling both the first cross-polarization interference suppression circuit and the second cross-polarization interference suppression circuit when at least one of the first polarization path and the second polarization path is disabled.

47. The method for array based communications of claim 46 , wherein the low power mode is based on a power consumption.

48. The method for array based communications of claim 47 , wherein the low power mode is required when the power consumption is above a threshold.

49. The method for array based communications of claim 47 , wherein the low power mode is required when the power consumption is above a threshold and the antenna array is operating on a battery.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 9, 2021
From: MAXLINEAR, INC.; MAXLINEAR COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; EXAR CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 056816/0089 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2021
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: MAXLINEAR, INC.; EXAR CORPORATION; MAXLINEAR COMMUNICATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 056656/0204 →
SUCCESSION OF AGENCY (REEL 042453 / FRAME 0001) Recorded Jul 1, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053115/0842 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 12, 2017
From: MAXLINEAR, INC.; ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, LLC (F/K/A ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.); EXAR CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 042453/0001 →