Methods and apparatus for dynamic adjustment of amplifier gain

An aspect of the present disclosure includes methods, systems, and computer-readable media for triggering the single signal during the first buffer period to concurrently adjust a first plurality of gain states of a first plurality of low-noise amplifiers associated with a first expected reception of the first symbol on the first component carrier and a second plurality of gain states of a second plurality of low-noise amplifiers associated with a second expected reception of the second symbol on the second component carrier, and receiving the first symbol via the first component carrier and the second symbol via the second component carrier after the first buffer period.

BACKGROUND

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communication networks, and more particularly, to apparatus and methods for carrier aggregation (CA).

These multiple access technologies have been adopted in various telecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different wireless devices to communicate on a municipal, national, regional, and even global level. For example, a fifth generation (5G) wireless communications technology (which can be referred to as new radio (NR)) is envisaged to expand and support diverse usage scenarios and applications with respect to current mobile network generations. In an aspect, 5G communications technology can include: enhanced mobile broadband addressing human-centric use cases for access to multimedia content, services and data; ultra-reliable-low latency communications (URLLC) with certain specifications for latency and reliability; and massive machine type communications, which can allow a very large number of connected devices and transmission of a relatively low volume of non-delay-sensitive information. As the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, however, further improvements in NR communications technology and beyond may be desired.

Devices in a communication network, such as a base station (BS) or a user equipment (UE), may implement CA to increase data throughput. When implementing CA using multiple antennas, however, the varying input power for each component carrier and antenna may require LNA (Low Noise Amplifier) gain adjustment to maximize the signal-to-interference plus noise ratio (SINR) during transmission. To avoid interruptions to data reception/transmission, the gains of the low-noise amplifiers and/or power amplifiers may be adjusted between symbols. Given the number of antennas in typical devices and the limited bandwidth of the radio frequency front end (RFFE) bus, the modem may delay changing the gain of one or more LNAs when there are multiple LNAs which need to be updated. This delay may lead to degradation of data received and/or transmitted. Therefore, improvements in gain adjustment may be desirable.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present disclosure include methods, systems, and computer-readable media for determining a first time at which a first symbol is to be received after a first buffer period on a first component carrier, determining a second time at which a second symbol is to be received after a second buffer period on a second component carrier, associating a single signal with a first reception operation of the first component carrier and a second reception operation of the second component carrier in response to the first buffer period substantially overlapping the second buffer period, triggering the single signal during the first buffer period to concurrently adjust a first plurality of gain states of a first plurality of low-noise amplifiers associated with a first expected reception of the first symbol on the first component carrier and a second plurality of gain states of a second plurality of low-noise amplifiers associated with a second expected reception of the second symbol on the second component carrier, and receiving the first symbol via the first component carrier and the second symbol via the second component carrier after the first buffer period.

Aspects of the present disclosure include methods, systems, and computer-readable media for determine a first time at which a first symbol is to be transmitted after a first buffer period on a first component carrier, determine a second time at which a second symbol is to be transmitted after a second buffer period on a second component carrier, associating a single signal with a first reception operation of the first component carrier and a second reception operation of the second component carrier in response to the first buffer period substantially overlapping the second buffer period, triggering the signal during the first buffer period to concurrently adjust a first plurality of gain states of a first plurality of power amplifiers associated with a first expected reception of the first symbol on the first component carrier and a second plurality of gain states of a second plurality of power amplifiers associated with a second expected reception of the second symbol on the second component carrier, and transmitting the first symbol via the first component carrier and the second symbol via the second component carrier after the first buffer period.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects are now described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more aspects. It may be evident, however, that such aspect(s) may be practiced without these specific details. Additionally, the term “component” as used herein may be one of the parts that make up a system, may be hardware, firmware, and/or software stored on a computer-readable medium, and may be divided into other components.

Various devices may utilize CA to increase the bandwidth, and thereby increase the bitrate. Carrier aggregation can be used for both frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD). Each carrier may be a component carrier (CC). In certain implementations, a component carrier may have a bandwidth of 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15 or 20 megahertz. Two or more component carriers may be aggregated. For example, five aggregated component carriers each having a bandwidth of 20 megahertz may have an aggregated bandwidth of 100 megahertz. The number of component carriers in uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) may be the same or different. In certain examples, individual component carriers may have different bandwidths.

During DL at a device, each component carrier may be associated with one or more amplifiers, such as low-noise amplifiers (LNAs). A channel with component carriers may rely on the LNAs to properly receive the data. In some implementations, the LNAs' gain states may require adjusting to optimize the SINR. To avoid adjusting the LNAs' gain states during the receptions of symbols (thus minimizing reception noise), the device may adjust the gain states of the LNAs during buffer periods between the symbols, such as during the cyclic prefixes. Further, the device may dynamically adjust multiple LNAs across various component carriers when the cyclic prefixes of the component carriers overlap.

Similarly, during UL at the device, each component carrier may be associated with one or more amplifiers, such as power amplifiers (PAs). A channel with component carriers may rely on the PAs to properly transmit the data. In some implementations, the PAs' gain states may require adjusting to optimize the SINR. To avoid adjusting the PAs' gain states during the receptions of symbols (thus minimizing transmission noise), the device may adjust the gain states of the PAs during buffer periods between the symbols, such as during the cyclic prefixes. Further, the device may dynamically adjust multiple PAs across various component carriers when the cyclic prefixes of the component carriers overlap.

Reconfigurable triggers, such as RFFE common triggers (CTrig), may handle LNA updates for one or more multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) paths that may be aligned to the same timing of component carrier. For example, an LNA update for a component carrier may allow all 4 diversity/MIMO paths to be updated within the cyclical prefix. The reconfigurable triggers may also be used to dynamically assign reconfigurable triggers to LNAs of different DL carriers as the timing between carriers changes. For example, if the cyclic prefixes of two component carriers overlap, the device may transmit a reconfigurable trigger signal onto the RFFE bus to adjust the gain states of the LNAs of the two component carriers. The dynamic allocation of reconfigurable triggers happens when the LNAs update is necessary. The existing reconfigurable triggers assignments may be reevaluated so that all carriers which share the same timing share the same reconfigurable triggers. This same reassignment happens for PAs that are used for UL CA. As the carriers timing aligns the device may assign the PAs to the same reconfigurable trigger. In some implementations, dynamically assigning a reconfigurable trigger to CCs may cause the gain states of the amplifiers to quickly set to optimal states as RF conditions change, which improves the SINRs of the amplifiers. Further, the dynamic reconfigurable trigger assignment may reduce the cost and complexity of additional RFFE buses for programming multiple carrier amplifiers.

Referring toFIG. 1, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure, a wireless communication network100includes at least one UE110including a modem140with a communication component150configured to communicate with the other UEs110and/or Base station (BS)105, such as sending/receiving messages to the other UEs110and/or BS105. The modem140may further include an association component152configured to assign a trigger to a component carrier. The modem140may include a trigger component154configured to adjust the gains of amplifiers associated with component carriers.

The wireless network may include at least one BS105including a modem160with a communication component170configured to communicate with the UEs110and/or other BSs105, such as sending/receiving messages to the UEs110and/or other BSs105. The modem160may further include an association component172configured to assign a trigger to a component carrier. The modem160may include a trigger component174configured to adjust the gains of amplifiers associated with component carriers.

The modem160of a base station105may be configured to communicate with other base stations105and UEs110via a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, or other wireless and wired networks. The modem140of a UE110may be configured to communicate with the base stations105via a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, or other wireless and wired networks. The modems140,160may receive and transmit data packets.

The wireless communication network100may include one or more base stations105, one or more UEs110, and a core network115. The core network115may provide user authentication, access authorization, tracking, internet protocol (IP) connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. The base stations105may interface with the core network115through backhaul links120(e.g., S1, etc.). The base stations105may perform radio configuration and scheduling for communication with the UEs110, or may operate under the control of a base station controller (not shown). In various examples, the base stations105may communicate, either directly or indirectly (e.g., through core network115), with one another over backhaul links125(e.g., X2, etc.), which may be wired or wireless communication links.

The base stations105may wirelessly communicate with the UEs110via one or more base station antennas. Each of the base stations105may provide communication coverage for a respective geographic coverage area130. In some examples, the base stations105may be referred to as a base transceiver station, a radio base station, an access point, an access node, a radio transceiver, a NodeB, eNodeB (eNB), gNB, Home NodeB, a Home eNodeB, a relay, or some other suitable terminology. The geographic coverage area130for a base station105may be divided into sectors or cells making up only a portion of the coverage area (not shown). The wireless communication network100may include base stations105of different types (e.g., macro base stations or small cell base stations, described below). Additionally, the plurality of base stations105may operate according to different ones of a plurality of communication technologies (e.g., 5G (New Radio or “NR”), fourth generation (4G)/LTE, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.), and thus there may be overlapping geographic coverage areas130for different communication technologies.

In some examples, the wireless communication network100may be or include one or any combination of communication technologies, including a NR or 5G technology, a LTE or LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) or MuLTEfire technology, a Wi-Fi technology, a Bluetooth technology, or any other long or short range wireless communication technology. In LTE/LTE-A/MuLTEfire networks, the term evolved node B (eNB) may be generally used to describe the base stations105, while the term UE may be generally used to describe the UEs110. The wireless communication network100may be a heterogeneous technology network in which different types of eNBs provide coverage for various geographical regions. For example, each eNB or base station105may provide communication coverage for a macro cell, a small cell, or other types of cell. The term “cell” is a 3GPP term that can be used to describe a base station, a carrier or component carrier associated with a base station, or a coverage area (e.g., sector, etc.) of a carrier or base station, depending on context.

A macro cell may generally cover a relatively large geographic area (e.g., several kilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access by UEs110with service subscriptions with the network provider.

A small cell may include a relative lower transmit-powered base station, as compared with a macro cell, that may operate in the same or different frequency bands (e.g., licensed, unlicensed, etc.) as macro cells. Small cells may include pico cells, femto cells, and micro cells according to various examples. A pico cell, for example, may cover a small geographic area and may allow unrestricted access by UEs110with service subscriptions with the network provider. A femto cell may also cover a small geographic area (e.g., a home) and may provide restricted access and/or unrestricted access by UEs110having an association with the femto cell (e.g., in the restricted access case, UEs110in a closed subscriber group (CSG) of the base station105, which may include UEs110for users in the home, and the like). An eNB for a macro cell may be referred to as a macro eNB. An eNB for a small cell may be referred to as a small cell eNB, a pico eNB, a femto eNB, or a home eNB. An eNB may support one or multiple (e.g., two, three, four, and the like) cells (e.g., component carriers).

The communication networks that may accommodate some of the various disclosed examples may be packet-based networks that operate according to a layered protocol stack and data in the user plane may be based on the IP. A user plane protocol stack (e.g., packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), radio link control (RLC), MAC, etc.), may perform packet segmentation and reassembly to communicate over logical channels. For example, a MAC layer may perform priority handling and multiplexing of logical channels into transport channels. The MAC layer may also use hybrid automatic repeat/request (HARQ) to provide retransmission at the MAC layer to improve link efficiency. In the control plane, the RRC protocol layer may provide establishment, configuration, and maintenance of an RRC connection between a UE110and the base stations105. The RRC protocol layer may also be used for core network115support of radio bearers for the user plane data. At the physical (PHY) layer, the transport channels may be mapped to physical channels.

The UEs110may be dispersed throughout the wireless communication network100, and each UE110may be stationary or mobile. A UE110may also include or be referred to by those skilled in the art as a mobile station, a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communications device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, or some other suitable terminology. A UE110may be a cellular phone, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a smart watch, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, an entertainment device, a vehicular component, a customer premises equipment (CPE), or any device capable of communicating in wireless communication network100. Additionally, a UE110may be Internet of Things (IoT) and/or machine-to-machine (M2M) type of device, e.g., a low power, low data rate (relative to a wireless phone, for example) type of device, that may in some aspects communicate infrequently with wireless communication network100or other UEs. A UE110may be able to communicate with various types of base stations105and network equipment including macro eNBs, small cell eNBs, macro gNBs, small cell gNBs, relay base stations, and the like.

UE110may be configured to establish one or more wireless communication links135with one or more base stations105. The wireless communication links135shown in wireless communication network100may carry UL transmissions from a UE110to a base station105, or DL transmissions, from a base station105to a UE110. The downlink transmissions may also be called forward link transmissions while the uplink transmissions may also be called reverse link transmissions. Each wireless communication link135may include one or more carriers, where each carrier may be a signal made up of multiple sub-carriers (e.g., waveform signals of different frequencies) modulated according to the various radio technologies described above. Each modulated signal may be sent on a different sub-carrier and may carry control information (e.g., reference signals, control channels, etc.), overhead information, user data, etc. In an aspect, the wireless communication links135may transmit bidirectional communications using FDD (e.g., using paired spectrum resources) or time division duplex TDD operation (e.g., using unpaired spectrum resources). Frame structures may be defined for FDD (e.g., frame structure type 1) and TDD (e.g., frame structure type 2). Moreover, in some aspects, the wireless communication links135may represent one or more broadcast channels.

In some aspects of the wireless communication network100, base stations105or UEs110may include multiple antennas for employing antenna diversity schemes to improve communication quality and reliability between base stations105and UEs110. Additionally or alternatively, base stations105or UEs110may employ MIMO techniques that may take advantage of multi-path environments to transmit multiple spatial layers carrying the same or different coded data.

Wireless communication network100may support operation on multiple cells or carriers, such as carrier aggregation or multi-carrier operation. The terms “carrier,” “component carrier,” “cell,” and “channel” may be used interchangeably herein. A UE110may be configured with multiple downlink CCs and one or more uplink CCs for carrier aggregation. Carrier aggregation may be used with both FDD and TDD component carriers. The base stations105and UEs110may use spectrum up to Y MHz (e.g., Y=5, 10, 15, or 20 MHz) bandwidth per carrier allocated in a carrier aggregation of up to a total of Yx MHz (x=number of component carriers) used for transmission in each direction. The carriers may or may not be adjacent to each other. Allocation of carriers may be asymmetric with respect to DL and UL (e.g., more or less carriers may be allocated for DL than for UL). The component carriers may include a primary component carrier and one or more secondary component carriers. A primary component carrier may be referred to as a primary cell (PCell) and a secondary component carrier may be referred to as a secondary cell (SCell).

The wireless communications network100may further include base stations105operating according to Wi-Fi technology, e.g., Wi-Fi access points, in communication with UEs110operating according to Wi-Fi technology, e.g., Wi-Fi stations (STAs) via communication links in an unlicensed frequency spectrum (e.g., 5 GHz). When communicating in an unlicensed frequency spectrum, the STAs and AP may perform a clear channel assessment (CCA) or listen before talk (LBT) procedure prior to communicating in order to determine whether the channel is available.

Additionally, one or more of base stations105and/or UEs110may operate according to a NR or 5G technology referred to as millimeter wave (mmW or mmwave) technology. For example, mmW technology includes transmissions in mmW frequencies and/or near mmW frequencies. Extremely high frequency (EHF) is part of the radio frequency (RF) in the electromagnetic spectrum. EHF has a range of 30 GHz to 300 GHz and a wavelength between 1 millimeter and 10 millimeters. Radio waves in this band may be referred to as a millimeter wave. Near mmW may extend down to a frequency of 3 GHz with a wavelength of 100 millimeters. For example, the super high frequency (SHF) band extends between 3 GHz and 30 GHz, and may also be referred to as centimeter wave. Communications using the mmW and/or near mmW radio frequency band has extremely high path loss and a short range. As such, base stations105and/or UEs110operating according to the mmW technology may utilize beamforming in their transmissions to compensate for the extremely high path loss and short range.

Referring toFIG. 2, one example of an implementation of the UE110may include a variety of components, some of which have already been described above, but including components such as one or more processors212and memory216and transceiver202in communication via one or more buses244, which may operate in conjunction with the modem140, the communication component150, the association component152, and the trigger component154to enable one or more of the functions described herein related to communicating with the BS105. Further, the one or more processors212, modem140, memory216, transceiver202, RF front end288and one or more antennas265, may be configured to support voice and/or data calls (simultaneously or non-simultaneously) in one or more radio access technologies.

In an aspect, the one or more processors212can include the modem140that uses one or more modem processors. The various functions related to the communication component150, the association component152, and the trigger component154may be included in the modem140and/or processors212and, in an aspect, can be executed by a single processor, while in other aspects, different ones of the functions may be executed by a combination of two or more different processors. For example, in an aspect, the one or more processors212may include any one or any combination of a modem processor, or a baseband processor, or a digital signal processor, or a transmit processor, or a receiver processor, or a transceiver processor associated with transceiver202. Additionally, the modem140may configure the UE110along with the association component152and the processors212. In other aspects, some of the features of the one or more processors212and/or the modem140associated with the communication component150may be performed by transceiver202.

Also, memory216may be configured to store data used herein and/or local versions of applications275or the communication component150and/or one or more subcomponents of the communication component150being executed by at least one processor212. Memory216can include any type of computer-readable medium usable by a computer or at least one processor212, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), tapes, magnetic discs, optical discs, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and any combination thereof. In an aspect, for example, memory216may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores one or more computer-executable codes defining the communication component150and/or one or more of its subcomponents, and/or data associated therewith, when UE110is operating at least one processor212to execute the communication component150, the association component152, and the trigger component154and/or one or more of their subcomponents.

Transceiver202may include at least one receiver206and at least one transmitter208. Receiver206may include hardware, firmware, and/or software code executable by a processor for receiving data, the code comprising instructions and being stored in a memory (e.g., computer-readable medium). Receiver206may be, for example, a radio frequency (RF) receiver. In an aspect, receiver206may receive signals transmitted by at least one base station105. Transmitter208may include hardware, firmware, and/or software code executable by a processor for transmitting data, the code comprising instructions and being stored in a memory (e.g., computer-readable medium). A suitable example of transmitter208may including, but is not limited to, an RF transmitter.

Moreover, in an aspect, UE110may include RF front end288, which may operate in communication with one or more antennas265and transceiver202for receiving and transmitting radio transmissions, for example, wireless communications transmitted by at least one base station105or wireless transmissions transmitted by UE110. RF front end288may be coupled with one or more antennas265and can include one or more low-noise amplifiers (LNAs)290, one or more switches292, one or more power amplifiers (PAs)298, and one or more filters296for transmitting and receiving RF signals.

In an aspect, LNA290can amplify a received signal at a desired output level. In an aspect, each LNA290may have a specified minimum and maximum gain values. In an aspect, RF front end288may use one or more switches292to select a particular LNA290and the specified gain value based on a desired gain value for a particular application.

Further, for example, one or more PA(s)298may be used by RF front end288to amplify a signal for an RF output at a desired output power level. In an aspect, each PA298may have specified minimum and maximum gain values. In an aspect, RF front end288may use one or more switches292to select a particular PA298and the specified gain value based on a desired gain value for a particular application.

Also, for example, one or more filters296can be used by RF front end288to filter a received signal to obtain an input RF signal. Similarly, in an aspect, for example, a respective filter296can be used to filter an output from a respective PA298to produce an output signal for transmission. In an aspect, each filter296can be coupled with a specific LNA290and/or PA298. In an aspect, RF front end788can use one or more switches292to select a transmit or receive path using a specified filter296, LNA290, and/or PA298, based on a configuration as specified by transceiver202and/or processor212.

As such, transceiver202may be configured to transmit and receive wireless signals through one or more antennas265via RF front end288. In an aspect, transceiver may be tuned to operate at specified frequencies such that UE110can communicate with, for example, one or more base stations105or one or more cells associated with one or more base stations105. In an aspect, for example, the modem140can configure transceiver202to operate at a specified frequency and power level based on the UE configuration of the UE110and the communication protocol used by the modem140.

In an aspect, the modem140can be a multiband-multimode modem, which can process digital data and communicate with transceiver202such that the digital data is sent and received using transceiver202. In an aspect, the modem140can be multiband and be configured to support multiple frequency bands for a specific communications protocol. In an aspect, the modem140can be multimode and be configured to support multiple operating networks and communications protocols. In an aspect, the modem140can control one or more components of UE110(e.g., RF front end288, transceiver202) to enable transmission and/or reception of signals from the network based on a specified modem configuration. In an aspect, the modem configuration can be based on the mode of the modem and the frequency band in use. In another aspect, the modem configuration can be based on UE configuration information associated with UE110as provided by the network during cell selection and/or cell reselection.

Referring toFIG. 3, one example of an implementation of base station105may include a variety of components, some of which have already been described above, but including components such as one or more processors312and memory316and transceiver302in communication via one or more buses344, which may operate in conjunction with the modem160, the communication component170, the association component172, and the trigger component174to enable one or more of the functions described herein. The transceiver302, receiver306, transmitter308, one or more processors312, memory316, applications375, buses344, RF front end388, LNAs390, switches392, filters396, PAs398, and one or more antennas365may be the same as or similar to the corresponding components of the UE110, as described above, but configured or otherwise programmed for base station operations as opposed to UE operations. For example, the communication component170may perform the communication procedure with the modem160and the processors312.

Referring toFIG. 4, a schematic diagram400shows an example of the RF front end288during a reception operation. As aggregated data signals are received at the one or more antennas265, the LNAs290of the RF front end288may amplify the received aggregated data signals by certain factors. The ratio of the received aggregated data signals and the amplified signals may be the gain of the LNAs290. For example, the LNA290amay amplify the data signals from the first component carrier by a factor of 100 (i.e. gain=100). The LNA290bmay amplify the data signals from the second component carrier by a factor of 50 (i.e. gain=50). The LNA290cmay amplify the data signals from the third component carrier by a factor of 60 (i.e. gain=60). The LNA290dmay amplify the data signals from the fourth component carrier by a factor of 10 (i.e. gain=10). In general, the gain of the LNAs290may range from 2 to 200, 5 to 150, or 10 to 100. For example, the gain of the LNAs290may be 10, 20, 30, 50, 100, 120, 130, 150, and 200.

In some implementations, the device may adjust the gain states of the LNAs290a-dto different values via the bus244. The gain states of the LNAs290a-dmay include the electrical power supplied to the LNAs290a-dand other operational details of the LNAs290a-dto adjust the gains, such as the duty cycle. For example, the device may adjust the gain state of the LNA290aso the gain equals to 45, the gain state of the LNA290bso the gain equals to120, the gain state of the LNA290cso the gain equals to 15, and the gain state of the LNA290dso the gain equals to 80. The device may determine the gain states of the LNAs290a-dto maximize the SINRs of the LNAs290a-d.The gain states of the LNAs290a-dmay require one or more adjustments during the reception operation.

During the reception operation, the device may adjust the gain states of the LNAs290a-dduring buffer periods between symbols, such as during cyclic prefixes. In some implementations, the device may adjust the gain states of two or more LNAs290a-dduring the buffer periods if the buffer periods of the two or more component carriers substantially overlap. The two buffer periods may substantially overlap if more than 90 percent of the buffer periods overlap in time. Alternatively, the two buffer periods may substantially overlap if more than 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, or 99 percent of the buffer periods overlap in time. In an example, the device may send a single signal to adjust the gain states of the LNA290aand the LNA290c.The buffer period of the first component carrier may overlap with the buffer period of the third component carrier by 10-100 percent, 20-90 percent, 30-80 percent, 40-70 percent, or 50-60 percent. After the adjustments, the gain of the LNA290amay equal to 25 and the gain of the LNA290cmay equal to 125. The concurrent adjustments may allow the device to adjust the LNAs290a-dmore quickly. In some examples, the device may trigger a reconfigurable trigger signal after the buffer periods to adjust the gain states of two or more LNAs290.

Referring toFIG. 5, a schematic diagram500shows an example of the RF front end288during a transmission operation. As aggregated data signals are about to be transmitted at the one or more antennas265, the PAs298of the RF front end288may amplify the transmission aggregated data signals by certain factors. The ratio of the transmission aggregated data signals and the amplified signals may be the gain of the PAs298. For example, the PA298amay amplify the data signals from the first component carrier by a factor of 200 (i.e. gain=200). The PA298bmay amplify the data signals from the second component carrier by a factor of 150 (i.e. gain=150). The PA298cmay amplify the data signals from the third component carrier by a factor of 45 (i.e. gain=45). The PA298dmay amplify the data signals from the fourth component carrier by a factor of 80 (i.e. gain=80). In general, the gain of the PAs298a-dmay range from 2 to 200, 5 to 150, or 10 to 100. For example, the gain of the PAs298a-dmay be 10, 20, 30, 50, 100, 120, 130, 150, and 200.

In some implementations, the device may adjust the gain states of the PAs298a-dto different values via the bus244. The gain states of the PAs298a-dmay include the electrical power supplied to the PAs298a-dand other operational details of the PAs298a-dto adjust the gains. For example, the device may adjust the gain state of the PA298aso the gain equals to 25, the gain state of the PA298bso the gain equals to 1520, the gain state of the PA298cso the gain equals to 75, and the gain state of the PA298dso the gain equals to 5. The device may determine the gain states of the PAs298a-dto maximize the SINRs of the PAs298a-d.The gain states of the PAs298a-dmay require one or more adjustments during the transmission operation.

During the transmission operation, the device may adjust the gain states of the PAs298a-dduring buffer periods between symbols, such as during cyclic prefixes. In some implementations, the device may adjust the gain states of two or more PAs298a-dduring the buffer periods if the buffer periods of the two or more component carriers substantially overlap. The two buffer periods may substantially overlap if more than 90 percent of the buffer periods overlap in time. Alternatively, the two buffer periods may substantially overlap if more than 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, or 99 percent of the buffer periods overlap in time. In an example, the device may send a single signal to adjust the gain states of the PA298band the PA298d.The buffer period of the second component carrier may overlap with the buffer period of the fourth component carrier by 10-100 percent, 20-90 percent, 30-80 percent, 40-70 percent, or 50-60 percent. After the adjustments, the gain of the PA298bmay equal to 95 and the gain of the PA298dmay equal to 125. The concurrent adjustments may allow the device to adjust the PAs298a-dmore quickly. In some examples, the device may trigger a reconfigurable trigger signal after the buffer periods to adjust the gain states of two or more PAs298a-d.

Referring toFIG. 6, a timing diagram600shows an example of dynamically assigning triggers to different component carriers. In some implementations, a device, such as the BS105or the UE110described inFIGS. 1-3, may aggregate six component carriers CC0, CC1, CC2, CC3, CC4, and CC5for DL operations. One or more LNAs may be associated with each component carrier CC0, CC1, CC2, CC3, CC4, and CC5. CC0may receive a CC0symbol-1612a,a CC0symbol-2616a,a CC0symbol-3620a,and a CC0symbol-4624a.A CC0buffer period-1610amay be in front of the CC0symbol-1612a.A CC0buffer period-2614amay be between the CC0symbol-1612aand the CC0symbol-2616a.A CC0buffer period-3618amay be between the CC0symbol-2616aand the CC0symbol-3620a.A CC0buffer period-4622amay be between the CC0symbol-3620aand the CC0symbol-4624a.CC1may receive a CC1symbol1612b,a CC1symbol-2616b,a CC1symbol-3620b,and a CC1symbol-4624b.A CC1buffer period-1610bmay be in front of the CC1symbol-1612b.A CC1buffer period-2614bmay be between the CC1symbol-1612band the CC1symbol-2616b.A CC1buffer period-3618bmay be between the CC1symbol-2616band the CC1symbol-3620b.A CC1buffer period-4622bmay be between the CC1symbol-3620band the CC1symbol-4624b.CC2may receive a CC2symbol-1612c,a CC2symbol-2616c,and a CC2symbol-3620c.A CC2buffer period-1610cmay be in front of the CC2symbol-1612c.A CC2buffer period-2614cmay be between the CC2symbol-1612cand the CC2symbol-2616c.A CC2buffer period-3618cmay be between the CC2symbol-2616cand the CC2symbol-3620c.

Still referring toFIG. 6, CC3may receive a CC3symbol-1612d,a CC3symbol-2616d,and a CC3symbol-3620d.A CC3buffer period-1610dmay be in front of the CC3symbol-1612d.A CC3buffer period-2614dmay be between the CC3symbol-1612dand the CC3symbol-2616d.A CC3buffer period-3618dmay be between the CC3symbol-2616dand the CC3symbol-3620d.A CC3buffer period-4622dmay be after the CC3symbol-3620d.CC4may receive a CC4symbol-1612e,a CC4symbol-2616e,a CC4symbol-3620e,and a CC4symbol-4624e.A CC4buffer period-1610emay be in front of the CC4symbol-1612e.A CC4buffer period-2614emay be between the CC4symbol-1612eand the CC4symbol-2616e.A CC4buffer period-3618emay be between the CC4symbol-2616eand the CC4symbol-3620e.A CC4buffer period-4622emay be between the CC4symbol-3620eand the CC4symbol-4624e.CC5may receive a CC5symbol-1612f,a CC5symbol-2616f,a CC5symbol-3620f,and a CC1symbol-4624fA CC5buffer period-1610fmay be in front of the CC5symbol-1612f.A CC5buffer period-2614fmay be between the CC5symbol-1612fand the CC5symbol-2616f.A CC5buffer period-3618fmay be between the CC5symbol-2616fand the CC5symbol-3620fA CC5buffer period-4622fmay be between the CC5symbol-3620fand the CC5symbol-4624f.

Still referring toFIG. 6, the CC1buffer period-1610b,the CC4buffer period-1610e,and the CC5buffer period-1610fmay substantially overlap in time. The CC2buffer period-2614cand the CC3buffer period-2614dmay substantially overlap in time. In some implementations, device may adjust the LNAs associated with the component carriers CC0, CC1, CC2, CC3, CC4, and CC5during the buffer periods610,614,618,622. At a time t1, the device may assign trigger-0to CC1, CC4, and CC5because the CC1buffer period-1610b,the CC4buffer period-1610e,and the CC5buffer period-1610fsubstantially overlap in time. The time t1may occur before a first time interval650. The device may rely on Trigger-0to set the gain states of the LNAs associated with CC1, CC4, and CC5. At a time t2, the device may trigger Trigger-0to concurrently adjust the gain states of the LNAs associated with CC1, CC4, and CC5during the CC1buffer period-1610b(equivalently the CC4buffer period-1610eor the CC5buffer period-1610f). The time t2may fall within the first time interval650. The LNAs associated with CC1, CC4, and CC5may be set to the same or different gain states. Next, at a time t3, the device may assign Trigger-1to CC2and CC3because the CC2buffer period-2614cand the CC3buffer period-2614dsubstantially overlap in time. The time t3may occur before a second time interval652. The device may rely on Trigger-1to concurrently adjust the gain states of the LNAs associated with CC2and CC3. At a time t4, the device may trigger Trigger-1to set the gain states of the LNAs associated with CC2and CC3during the CC2buffer period-2614c(equivalently the CC3buffer period-2614d). The time t4may fall within the second time interval652. Next, at a time t5, the device may assign Trigger-2to CC0. The time t5may occur before a third time interval654. At a time t6, the device may trigger Trigger-2to adjust the gain states of the LNAs associated with CC0during the CC0buffer period-3618a.The time t6may fall within the third time interval654.

Turning now toFIG. 7, a timing diagram700shows another example of dynamically assigning triggers to different component carriers. In some examples, CC0may receive a CC0symbol-5712a.A CC0buffer period-5710amay be between the CC0symbol-4624aand the CC0symbol-5712a.CC2may receive a CC2symbol-4712c.A CC2buffer period-4710cmay be between the CC2symbol-3620cand the CC2symbol-4712c.CC3may receive a CC3symbol-4712d,a CC3symbol-5716d,and a CC3symbol-6720d.A CC3buffer period-5714dmay be between the CC3symbol-4712dand the CC3symbol-5716d.A CC3buffer period-6718dmay be between the CC3symbol-5716dand the CC3symbol-6720d.CC4may receive a CC4symbol-5712e.A CC4buffer period-5710emay be between the CC4symbol-4624eand the CC4symbol-5712e.CC5may receive a CC5symbol-5712f.A CC5buffer period-5710fmay be between the CC5symbol-4624fand the CC5symbol-5712f.In certain implementations, the timing of the component carriers CC0, CC1, CC2, CC3, CC4, and CC5may change after the time t6. Consequently, the device may dynamically assign some of the triggers Trigger-0, Trigger-1, and/or Trigger-2to different component carriers CC0, CC1, CC2, CC3, CC4, and/or CC5. For example, at a time t7, the device may dynamically assign Trigger-2to CC2because the CC0buffer period-4622asubstantially overlaps with the CC2buffer period-3618c.The time t7may occur before a fourth time interval750. At a time t8s, the device may trigger Trigger-0to concurrently readjust the gain states of the LNAs associated with CC1, CC4, and CC5during the CC1buffer period-3618b(equivalently the CC4buffer period-4622eor the CC5buffer period-4622f). The time t8may fall within the fourth time interval750. At a time t9, the device may trigger Trigger-2to concurrently readjust the gain states of the LNAs associated with CC0and CC2during the CC0buffer period-4622a(equivalently the CC2buffer period-3618c). The time t9may fall within a fifth time interval752. At a time t10, the device may trigger Trigger-1to readjust the gain states of the LNAs associated with CC3during the CC3buffer period-5714d.The time t10may fall within a sixth time interval754. In certain implementations, the buffer periods may occur during the cyclic prefixes.

In some implementations, the dynamic assignment may be applicable during UL operations. The device may dynamically set the gain states of PAs.

In certain implementations, the device may detect the timing change of the component carriers. For example, the component carriers CC0, CC1, CC2, CC3, CC4, and CC5may have experienced a timing change as illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 6, the CC1buffer period-1610bis temporally aligned with the CC4buffer period-1610eand the CC5buffer period-1610f,and the CC1buffer period-3618bis scheduled to be aligned with the CC4buffer period-3618eand the CC5buffer period-31618f.Similarly, the CC2buffer period-2614cis temporally aligned with the CC3buffer period2614d,and the CC2buffer period-3618cis scheduled to be aligned with the CC3buffer period-3618d.InFIG. 7, however, a timing change has occurred among the component carriers CC0, CC1, CC2, CC3, CC4, and CC5. Consequently, the CC1buffer period-3618bis now temporally aligned with the CC4buffer period-4622eand the CC5buffer period-4622fThe CC2buffer period-3618cis now temporally aligned with the CC0buffer period-4622a.

Turning now toFIG. 8, the device, such as the UE110or the BS105, may perform an example of a method800of wireless communications including dynamically assigning triggers to component carriers during DL operations.

At block802, the method800may determine a first time at which a first symbol is to be received after a first buffer period on a first component carrier. For example, the communication component150of the device may determine a time at which the CC2symbol-1612cis to be received after the CC2buffer period-1610con CC2.

At block804, the method800may determine a second time at which a second symbol is to be received after a second buffer period on a second component carrier. For example, the communication component150of the device may determine a time at which the CC3symbol-1612dis to be received after the CC3buffer period-1610don CC3, wherein the CC2buffer period-1610cand the CC3buffer period-1610dsubstantially overlap.

At block806, the method800may associate a single signal with a first reception operation of the first component carrier and a second reception operation of the second component carrier in response to the first buffer period substantially overlapping the second buffer period. For example, the association component152may associate a reconfigurable trigger signal with the reception operations of CC2and CC3.

At block808, the method800may trigger the single signal during the first buffer period to concurrently adjust a first plurality of gain states of a first plurality of low-noise amplifiers associated with a first expected reception of the first symbol on the first component carrier and a second plurality of gain states of a second plurality of low-noise amplifiers associated with a second expected reception of the second symbol on the second component carrier. For example, the trigger component154of the device may transmit the reconfigurable trigger signal via the RFFE bus to adjust the gain states of the LNAs290associated with the receptions of the CC2symbol-1612con CC2and the CC3symbol-1612don CC3.

At block810, the method800may receive the first symbol via the first component carrier and the second symbol via the second component carrier after the first buffer period. For example, the communication component150may receive CC2symbol-1612cvia CC2and the CC3symbol-1612dvia CC3after the adjustment of the gain states of the LNAs290during the CC2buffer period-1610c.

Turning now toFIG. 9, the device, such as the UE110or the BS105, may perform an example of a method900of wireless communications including dynamically assigning triggers to component carriers during UL operations.

At block902, the method900may determine a first time at which a first symbol is to be transmitted after a first buffer period on a first component carrier. For example, the communication component150of the device may determine a first time at which a first symbol is to be transmitted after a first buffer period on a first component carrier.

At block904, the method900may determine a second time at which a second symbol is to be transmitted after a second buffer period on a second component carrier. For example, the communication component150of the device may determine a second time at which a second symbol is to be transmitted after a second buffer period on a second component carrier.

At block906, the method900may associate a single signal with a first reception operation of the first component carrier and a second reception operation of the second component carrier in response to the first buffer period substantially overlapping the second buffer period. For example, the association component152may associate a single signal with a first reception operation of the first component carrier and a second reception operation of the second component carrier in response to the first buffer period substantially overlapping the second buffer period.

At block908, the method900may trigger the signal during the first buffer period to concurrently adjust a first plurality of gain states of a first plurality of power amplifiers associated with a first expected reception of the first symbol on the first component carrier and a second plurality of gain states of a second plurality of power amplifiers associated with a second expected reception of the second symbol on the second component carrier. For example, the trigger component154of the device may transmit the reconfigurable trigger signal via the RFFE bus to adjust the gain states of the PAs298associated with the first component carrier and the second component carrier.

At block910, the method900may transmit the first symbol via the first component carrier and the second symbol via the second component carrier after the first buffer period. For example, the communication component150may transmit the first symbol via the first component carrier and the second symbol via the second component carrier after the adjustment of the gain states of the PAs298during the first buffer period.

The above detailed description set forth above in connection with the appended drawings describes examples and does not represent the only examples that may be implemented or that are within the scope of the claims. The term “example,” when used in this description, means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and not “preferred” or “advantageous over other examples.” The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of the described techniques. These techniques, however, may be practiced without these specific details. For example, changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements discussed without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Also, various examples may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, the methods described may be performed in an order different from that described, and various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. Also, features described with respect to some examples may be combined in other examples. In some instances, well-known structures and apparatuses are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the described examples.