Patent Abstract:
The invention provides for transmission and reception of a data signal using a plurality of transmitting antennas. Each antenna transmits a different reference signal having a pseudo random chip code sequence. A receiver filters each transmitted reference signal using that reference signal&#39;s chip code. The filtered reference signals are weighted and combined. Each reference signal&#39;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 reference signal of the respective antenna.

Full Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/602,963, filed Jun. 23, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    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.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    A prior art CDMA communication system is shown in FIG. 1. The communication system has a plurality of base stations  20 - 32 . Each base station  20  communicates using spread spectrum CDMA with user equipment (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.  
           [0006]    Shown in FIG. 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 code 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 the same channel bandwidth. In particular, a base station  20  will communicate signals to multiple UEs  34 - 38  over the same bandwidth.  
           [0007]    For timing 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.  
           [0008]    When a UE  34 - 36  or a 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.  
           [0009]    To 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.  
           [0010]    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&#39;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. 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  
         [0011]    The invention provides for transmission and reception of a data signal using a plurality of transmitting antennas. Each antenna transmits a different reference signal having a pseudo random chip code sequence. A receiver filters each transmitted reference signal using that reference signal&#39;s chip code. The filtered reference signals are weighted and combined. Each reference signal&#39;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 reference signal of the respective antenna. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a prior art wireless spread spectrum CDMA communication system.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a prior art spread spectrum CDMA transmitter and receiver.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is the transmitter of the invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is the transmitter of the invention transmitting multiple data signals.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is the pilot signal receiving circuit of the invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is the data signal receiving circuit of the invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is an embodiment of the pilot signal receiving circuit.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is a least mean squarred weighting circuit.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 is the data signal receiving circuit used with the pilot signal receiving circuit of FIG. 7.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 is an embodiment of the pilot signal receiving circuit where the output of each RAKE is weighted.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 11 is the data signal receiving circuit used with the pilot signal receiving circuit of FIG. 10.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 12 is an embodiment of the pilot signal receiving circuit where the antennas of the transmitting array are closely spaced.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 13 is the data signal receiving circuit used with the pilot signal receiving circuit of FIG. 12.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 14 is an illustration of beam steering in a CDMA communication system.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 15 is a beam steering transmitter.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 16 is a beam steering transmitter transmitting multiple data signals.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 17 is the data receiving circuit used with the transmitter of FIG. 14.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 18 is a pilot signal receiving circuit used when uplink and downlink signals use the same frequency.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 19 is a transmitting circuit used with the pilot signal receiving circuit of FIG. 18.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 20 is a data signal receiving circuit used with the pilot signal receiving circuit of FIG. 18. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0032]    The preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the drawing figures where like numerals represent like elements throughout. FIG. 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  56 - 60 . The preferred signal to associate with each antenna is a pilot signal as shown in FIG. 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 signal. 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 ,  D1 -D N . The combined signals are modulated to a desired carrier frequency and radiated through the antennas  48 - 52  of the array.  
         [0033]    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  of the 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 of the transmitted signals at the receiver.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 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 11 -D NM . Accordingly, each data signal is spread using a different pseudo random chip code sequence per antenna  48 - 52 , totaling N×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  of the array.  
         [0035]    The pilot signal receiving circuit is shown in FIG. 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 FIG. 5 or a vector correlator, is used to despread each pilot signal using a replica of the corresponding pilot signal&#39;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  98 , 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 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.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 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&#39;s spreading code used for the corresponding transmitting antenna. Using the determined weights for each antenna&#39;s pilot signal, each weighting device  106 - 110  weights the RAKE&#39;s despread signal with the weight associated with the corresponding pilot. For instance, the weighting device  88  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 FIG. 6. Additionally, if the weights of the RAKE&#39;s fingers were adjusted for the corresponding pilots signal&#39;s RAKE  82 - 86 , the same weights will be applied to the fingers of the data signal&#39;s RAKE  100 - 104 . After weighting, the weighted signals are combined by the combiner  112  to recover the original data signal.  
         [0037]    By using the same weights for the data signal as used with each antenna&#39;s pilot signal, each RAKE  82 - 86  compensates for the channel distortion experienced by each antenna&#39;s signals. As a result, the data signal receiving circuit optimizes the data signals reception over each virtual channel. By optimally combining each virtual channel&#39;s optimized signal, the received data signal&#39;s signal quality is increased.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the pilot signal recovery circuit. Each of the transmitted pilots are recovered by the receiver&#39;s antenna  80 . To despread each of the pilots, each RAKE  82 - 86  utilizes a replica of the corresponding pilot&#39;s pseudo random chip code sequence, P 1 -P N . Delayed versions of each pilot signal are produced by delay devices  114 - 124 . Each delayed version is mixed by a mixer  126 - 142  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 pilot are combined by a combiner  162 - 164 . Each pilot&#39;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 subtractor  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 .  
         [0039]    A LMS algorithm used for generating a weight is shown in FIG. 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.  
         [0040]    The data receiving circuit used with the embodiment of FIG. 7 is show for a base station receiver in FIG. 9. The received signal is sent to a set of RAKEs  100 - 104  respectively associated with each antenna  48 - 52  of the array. Each RAKE  100 - 104 , 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 for the corresponding antenna&#39;s pilot signal. The weighted data signals 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 11 -D NM . Each despread data signal passes through a sum and dump circuit  232 - 248 . For each data signal, the results of the corresponding sum and dump circuits are combined by a combiner  250 - 254  to recover each data signal.  
         [0041]    Another pilot signal receiving circuit is shown in FIG. 10. The despreading circuits  82 - 86  of this receiving circuit are the same as FIG. 7. The output of each RAKE  82 - 86  is weighted using a mixer  256 - 260  prior to combining the despread pilot signals. After combining, the combined pilot signal is compared to the ideal value and the result of the comparison is used to adjust the weight of each RAKE&#39;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 subtractor  262 - 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 .  
         [0042]    The data signal receiving circuit used with the embodiment of FIG. 10 is shown in FIG. 11. This circuit is similar to the data signal receiving circuit of FIG. 9 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&#39;s RAKE  82 - 86  was weighted. Alternatively, the output of each RAKE&#39;s combiner  208 - 212  may be weighted prior to mixing by the mixers  214 - 230  by the amount of the corresponding pilot&#39;s RAKE  82 - 86  in lieu of weighting after mixing.  
         [0043]    If the spacing of the antennas  48 - 52  in the transmitting array is small, each antenna&#39;s signals will experience a similar multipath environment. In such cases, the pilot receiving circuit of FIG. 12 may be utilized. The weights for a selected one of the pilot signals are determined in the same manner as in FIG. 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  produce delayed versions of the received signal. Each delayed version is weighted by a mixer  296 - 300  by the same weight as the corresponding delayed version of the selected pilot signal was weighted. The outputs of the weighting devices are combined by a combiner  302 . The combined signal is despread using replicas of the pilot signals&#39; pseudo random chip code sequences, P 2 -P n , by the mixers  304 - 306 . The output of each pilot&#39;s mixer  304 - 306  is passed through a sum and dump circuit  308 - 310 . In the same manner as FIG. 10, each despread pilot is weighted and combined.  
         [0044]    The data signal recovery circuit used with the embodiment of FIG. 12 is shown in FIG. 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 FIG. 12. The outputs of the mixers are combined by a combiner  208 . The output of the combiner  208  is inputted to each data signal despreader of FIG. 13.  
         [0045]    The invention also provides a technique for adaptive beam steering as illustrated in FIG. 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  of the array. As a result, by selecting the appropriate weights, the beam  312 - 316  of the antenna array is directed in a desired direction.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 15 shows the beam steering transmitting circuit. The circuit is similar to the circuit of FIG. 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 receiving circuit of FIG. 5, the target receiver determines the weights for adjusting the output of each pilot&#39;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 FIG. 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&#39;s pilot signal at the target receiver providing spatial gain. As a result, the radiated data signal will be focused towards the target receiver. FIG. 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 .  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 17 depicts the data signal receiving circuit for the beam steering transmitter of FIGS. 15 and 16. Since the transmitted signal has already been weighted, the data signal receiving circuit does not require the weighting devices  106 - 110  of FIG. 6.  
         [0048]    The advantage of the invention&#39;s beam steering are two-fold. The transmitted data signal is focused toward the target receiver improving the signal quality of the 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&#39;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&#39;s beam will dynamically respond to a moving receiver or transmitter as well as to changes in the multipath environment.  
         [0049]    In 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&#39;s receiver are applied to the base station&#39;s transmitter. In such a system, the base station&#39;s receiving circuit of FIG. 18 is co-located, such as within a base station, with the transmitting circuit of FIG. 19.  
         [0050]    In the receiving circuit of FIG. 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  412 - 416  are adjusted using an adaptive algorithm.  
         [0051]    The transmitting circuit of FIG. 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 FIG. 19 for each virtual channel.  
         [0052]    The circuit of FIG. 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  398 - 402  by the weights determined for the corresponding antenna&#39;s received pilot and are combined at combiner  404  to recover the data signal. Since the transmitter circuit of FIG. 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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7