Frequency response calibration of synchronized MIMO measurement receivers with local and remote transmitters
Techniques are disclosed related to calibrating and operating a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) radio system. In some embodiments, a dual mode calibration may be employed to calibrate a remote transmitter (RT). During a first, Sparse Full System Calibration (SFSC) mode, the RT may be physically connected to the MIMO radio system. In some embodiments, first and second equalizers may be derived for each of the RT and a local transmitter (LT), respectively. During a subsequent, Real-time Calibration (RTC) mode, the RT may be located remotely from the MIMO radio system, and the RT may be configured to communicate with the MIMO radio system over the air via an antenna. In the RTC mode, third equalizers may be derived for the LT. The RT may then be calibrated based on an equalizer that is derived from each of the first, second, and third equalizers. As one non-limiting example, the techniques described herein may enable real-time calibration for the RT even while the RT is located remotely from the MIMO radio system. In different embodiments, the calibration may be achieved by deriving either fractionally spaced frequency domain equalizers, or time domain equalizers.
1. A method for calibrating a remote transmitter (RT) to a plurality of receivers in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication system, the method comprising:
operating in a first calibration mode, wherein operating in the first calibration mode comprises:
deriving first equalizers for a local transmitter (LT), wherein the first equalizers align a time and a phase, and correct a non-uniform frequency response, associated with communication between the LT and the plurality of receivers; and
deriving second equalizers for the RT, wherein the second equalizers align a time and a phase, and correct a non-uniform frequency response, associated with communication between the RT and the plurality of receivers; and
operating in a second calibration mode, wherein the RT is located remotely from the MIMO system while operating in the second calibration mode, wherein operating in the second calibration mode comprises:
deriving third equalizers for the LT, wherein the third equalizers align a time and a phase, and correct a non-uniform frequency response, associated with communication between the LT and the plurality of receivers; and
deriving fourth equalizers that are based on each of the first, second, and third equalizers, wherein the fourth equalizers are usable to calibrate communications received by the MIMO system from the remotely located RT.
2. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:
subsequent to operating in the first and second calibration modes:
using a switch at each of the plurality of receivers to switch to an operation mode;
wherein, while in the operation mode, each receiver of the plurality of receivers is configured to receive signals from the RT and calibrate the signals received from the RT in real time using the fourth equalizers.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the method is configured to be performed in real time by:
automatically repeating the second calibration mode at preset intervals;
alternating between the second calibration mode and the operation mode according to the preset intervals;
wherein the RT is designed to have pre-scheduled gaps in data transmission such that the pre-scheduled gaps coincide with the repeating of the calibration mode.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein operating in operation mode comprises using third equalizers from a most recent second calibration mode.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the derived equalizers are fractionally-spaced frequency-domain equalizers.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein a first, second, third and fourth equalizer is derived for each of a plurality of frequencies.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the fourth equalizer for each frequency is equal to the second equalizer for that frequency, multiplied by the third equalizer for that frequency, divided by the first equalizer for that frequency.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the fourth equalizer for each frequency is equal to the second equalizer for that frequency, multiplied by a phase of the third equalizer for that frequency, divided by a phase of the first equalizer for that frequency.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein calibrating communications received by the MIMO system from the remotely located RT comprises aligning a time and a phase, and correcting a non-uniform frequency response between the remotely located RT and the plurality of receivers.
10. A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radio device comprising a plurality of receivers coupled to one or more processing elements, wherein the plurality of receivers and the one or more processing elements are configured to:
operate in a first calibration mode, wherein, in operating in the first calibration mode, the plurality of receivers and the one or more processing elements are configured to:
derive first equalizers for a local transmitter (LT), wherein the first equalizers align a time and a phase, and correct a non-uniform frequency response, associated with communication between the LT and the plurality of receivers; and
derive second equalizers for a remote transmitter (RT), wherein the second equalizers align a time and a phase, and correct a non-uniform frequency response, associated with communication between the RT and the plurality of receivers; and
operate in a second calibration mode, wherein the RT is located remotely from the MIMO system while operating in the second calibration mode, wherein, in operating in the second calibration mode, the plurality of receivers and the one or more processing elements are configured to:
derive third equalizers for the LT, wherein the third equalizers align a time and a phase, and correct a non-uniform frequency response, associated with communication between the LT and the plurality of receivers; and
derive fourth equalizers that are based on each of the first, second, and third equalizers, wherein the fourth equalizers are usable to calibrate communications received by the MIMO system from the remotely located RT.
11. The MIMO radio device of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of receivers and the one or more processing elements are further configured to:
subsequent to operating in the first and second calibration modes:
use a switch at each of the plurality of receivers to switch to an operation mode;
wherein, while in the operation mode, each receiver of the plurality of receivers is configured to receive signals from the RT and calibrate the signals received from the RT in real time using the fourth equalizers.
12. The MIMO radio device of claim 11 , wherein operation mode further comprises, by each of the receivers, using a shared start trigger to initiate reception of the respective signal from the respective antenna.
13. The MIMO radio device of claim 11 , wherein the MIMO radio device is configured to perform in real time by:
automatically repeating the second calibration mode at preset intervals;
alternating between the second calibration mode and the operation mode according to the preset intervals;
wherein the RT is designed to have pre-scheduled gaps in data transmission such that the pre-scheduled gaps coincide with the repeating of the calibration mode.
14. The MIMO radio device of claim 10 , the method further comprising, by each of the receivers:
using a shared start trigger to initiate reception of the calibration sequence.
15. The MIMO radio device of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of receivers share a single local oscillator, wherein sharing the single local oscillator enables the MIMO communication system to remain calibrated for an extended duration of time.
16. A non-transitory computer-readable memory medium comprising program instructions executable by a processor to calibrate a plurality of receivers in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, wherein the program instructions are executable to:
operate in a first calibration mode, wherein, in operating in the first calibration mode, the plurality of receivers and the one or more processing elements are configured to:
derive first equalizers for a local transmitter (LT), wherein the first equalizers align a time and a phase, and correct a non-uniform frequency response, associated with communication between the LT and the plurality of receivers; and
derive second equalizers for a remote transmitter (RT), wherein the second equalizers align a time and a phase, and correct a non-uniform frequency response, associated with communication between the RT and the plurality of receivers; and
operate in a second calibration mode, wherein the RT is located remotely from the MIMO communication system while operating in the second calibration mode, wherein, in operating in the second calibration mode, the plurality of receivers and the one or more processing elements are configured to:
derive third equalizers for the LT, wherein the third equalizers align a time and a phase, and correct a non-uniform frequency response, associated with communication between the LT and the plurality of receivers; and
derive fourth equalizers that are based on each of the first, second, and third equalizers, wherein the fourth equalizers are usable to calibrate communications received by the MIMO communication system from the remotely located RT.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable memory medium of claim 16 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to:
subsequent to operating in the first and second calibration modes:
use a switch at each of the plurality of receivers to switch to an operation mode;
wherein, while in the operation mode, each receiver of the plurality of receivers is configured to receive signals from the RT and calibrate the signals received from the RT in real time using the fourth equalizers.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable memory medium of claim 17 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to perform calibration in real time by:
automatically repeating the second calibration mode at preset intervals;
alternating between the second calibration mode and the operation mode according to the preset intervals;
wherein the RT is designed to have pre-scheduled gaps in data transmission such that the pre-scheduled gaps coincide with the repeating of the calibration mode.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable memory medium of claim 16 , wherein the derived equalizers are time domain equalizers.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable memory medium of claim 16 , wherein the first, second and third equalizers are derived using a Constant Amplitude Zero Autocorrelation (CAZAC) sequence.