Radios configured to split power for a combined signal, and related methods of operating radios
Methods of operating radios are provided. A method of operating a radio that is coupled to an antenna having a plurality of columns of dual-polarized radiating elements may include splitting radio frequency power within each of a plurality of combinations of first and second data streams. Related radios are also provided.
1 . A radio, comprising:
a plurality of first-polarization radio frequency (RF) ports that are configured to be coupled to respective first-polarization RF ports of an antenna that are coupled to a plurality of columns, respectively, of dual-polarized radiating elements of the antenna; and
a plurality of second-polarization RF ports that are configured to be coupled to respective second-polarization RF ports of the antenna that are coupled to the columns, respectively,
wherein the first polarization is different from the second polarization,
wherein a first of the first-polarization RF ports of the radio is configured to provide to a first of the columns of dual-polarized radiating elements:
a first RF sub-stream of a first baseband data stream at a first RF power represented by (1-x); and
a first RF sub-stream of a second baseband data stream at a second RF power represented by x, where x is a percentage of total amplification power of a power amplifier coupled to the first of the first-polarization RF ports of the radio, the second RF power being different from the first RF power, and
wherein a second of the first-polarization RF ports of the radio is configured to provide to a second of the columns of dual-polarized radiating elements:
the first RF sub-stream of the first baseband data stream at the second RF power represented by x; and
the first RF sub-stream of the second baseband data stream at the first RF power represented by (1-x).
2 . The radio of claim 1 , wherein the radio is configured to generate the first RF sub-stream of the first baseband data stream and the first RF sub-stream of the second baseband data stream in first and second frequency bands, respectively, that are different from each other.
3 . The radio of claim 1 , wherein the first and second RF powers collectively equal 100% of a total amplification power of a power amplifier coupled to the first of the first-polarization RF ports of the radio.
4 . The radio of claim 1 , wherein a first of the second-polarization RF ports of the radio is configured to provide to the first of the columns:
a second RF sub-stream of the first baseband data stream at the first RF power; and
a second RF sub-stream of the second baseband data stream at the second RF power.
5 . The radio of claim 4 , wherein a second of the second-polarization RF ports of the radio is configured to provide to the second of the columns:
the second RF sub-stream of the first baseband data stream at the second RF power; and
the second RF sub-stream of the second baseband data stream at the first RF power.
6 . The radio of claim 5 , wherein the radio is configured to multiply each RF sub-stream of each of the first and second baseband data streams by a respective complex scalar representing magnitude and phase.
7 . The radio of claim 5 ,
wherein the first and second of the columns are consecutive columns,
wherein the first and second of the first-polarization RF ports of the antenna are coupled to the first and second of the columns, respectively, and
wherein the first and second of the second-polarization RF ports of the antenna are coupled to the first and second of the columns, respectively.
8 . The radio of claim 7 ,
wherein the radio is a first of a plurality of radios that are configured to be coupled to the antenna, and
wherein a second of the radios is configured to provide to a third and a fourth of the columns:
a third RF sub-stream of the first baseband data stream together with a third RF sub-stream of the second baseband data stream; and
a fourth RF sub-stream of the first baseband data stream together with a fourth RF sub-stream of the second baseband data stream.
9 . The radio of claim 1 , wherein an azimuth half power beamwidth of a combined antenna beam corresponding to a portion of the first of the RF sub-streams that is transmitted through the first column and a portion of the first of the RF sub-streams that is transmitted through the second column is narrowed to less than or equal to 65 degrees.
10 . A method of operating a radio that is coupled to an antenna comprising a plurality of columns of dual-polarized radiating elements, the method comprising:
providing to a first of the plurality of columns of dual-polarized radiating elements via a first of a plurality of first-polarization ports of the radio:
a first RF sub-stream of a first baseband data stream at a first radio frequency (RF) power of (1-x); and
a first RF sub-stream of a second baseband data stream at a second RF power of x, where (1-x) and x represent a percentage of total amplification power of a power amplifier coupled to the first of the first-polarization ports of the radio;
providing to a second of the plurality of columns of dual-polarized radiating elements via a second of the plurality of first-polarization ports of the radio:
the first RF sub-stream of the first baseband data stream at the second RF power; and
the first RF sub-stream of the second baseband data stream at the first RF power; and
selecting a value of x to achieve a desired azimuth beamwidth for combined antenna beams generated by signals output through the first and second of the plurality of first-polarization ports of the radio.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising generating the first RF sub-stream of the first baseband data stream and the first RF sub-stream of the second baseband data stream in first and second frequency bands, respectively, that are different from each other.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the radio multiplies each RF sub-stream of each of the first and second baseband data streams by a respective complex scalar representing magnitude and phase.
13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
providing to the first of the plurality of columns via a first of a plurality of second-polarization ports of the radio:
a second RF sub-stream of the first baseband data stream at the first RF power; and
a second RF sub-stream of the second baseband data stream at the second RF power,
wherein the second polarization is different from the first polarization.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
providing to the second of the columns via a second of the second-polarization ports:
the second RF sub-stream of the first baseband data stream at the second RF power; and
the second RF sub-stream of the second baseband data stream at the first RF power.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first and second of the columns comprise consecutive columns.
16 . The method of claim 15 ,
wherein the radio is a first radio, and
wherein the method further comprises splitting, by a second radio, RF power by providing:
a third RF sub-stream of the first baseband data stream together with a third RF sub-stream of the second baseband data stream; and
a fourth RF sub-stream of the first baseband data stream together with a fourth RF sub-stream of the second baseband data stream.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising integrating the first and second radios into a single radio that is coupled to the first through fourth of the columns.