Patent ID: 12206441

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As a preliminary matter, it will be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present embodiments are susceptible of broad utility and application. Many methods, embodiments, and adaptations of the present application other than those herein described as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the substance or scope of the various embodiments of the present application.

Accordingly, while the present application has been described herein in detail in relation to various embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of one or more concepts expressed by the various embodiments and is made merely for the purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure. The following disclosure is not intended nor is to be construed to limit the present application or otherwise exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present embodiments described herein being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.

As used in this disclosure, in some embodiments, the terms “component,” “system” and the like are intended to refer to, or comprise, a computer-related entity or an entity related to an operational apparatus with one or more specific functionalities, wherein the entity can be either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. As an example, a component can be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, computer-executable instructions, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration and not limitation, both an application running on a server and the server can be a component.

The term “facilitate” as used herein is in the context of a system, device or component “facilitating” one or more actions or operations, in respect of the nature of complex computing environments in which multiple components and/or multiple devices can be involved in some computing operations. Non-limiting examples of actions that may or may not involve multiple components and/or multiple devices comprise transmitting or receiving data, establishing a connection between devices, determining intermediate results toward obtaining a result, etc. In this regard, a computing device or component can facilitate an operation by playing any part in accomplishing the operation. When operations of a component are described herein, it is thus to be understood that where the operations are described as facilitated by the component, the operations can be optionally completed with the cooperation of one or more other computing devices or components, such as, but not limited to, sensors, antennae, audio and/or visual output devices, other devices, etc.

Further, the various embodiments can be implemented as a method, apparatus or article of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware or any combination thereof to control a computer to implement the disclosed subject matter. The term “article of manufacture” as used herein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable (or machine-readable) device or computer-readable (or machine-readable) storage/communications media. For example, computer readable storage media can comprise, but are not limited to, magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips), optical disks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD)), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., card, stick, key drive). Of course, those skilled in the art will recognize many modifications can be made to this configuration without departing from the scope or spirit of the various embodiments.

One or more embodiments of the present application minimize firmware or software package updates transmitted to servers remote from a central location from which one or more update packages are distributed.

Turning now to the figures,FIG.1illustrates a system diagram of a transmit components of an O-RAN wireless communication network2. User Equipment (“UE”)4receives messages from communication network6, which is shown in the figure as an Internet Protocol network. Network6may also comprise other types of networks, including voice communication networks, W-Fi networks, Bluetooth networks, and the like.

Messages sent from a device coupled with network6may be received and processed by core network8, which may comprise components of a 3G, 4G, LTE, 5G, or later evolution version, wireless communication network. Core network8may include components such as a Mobility Management Entity (“MME”), a serving Gateway (“SGW”), a Packet gateway (“PGW”), a Policy Rules and Charging Rules Function (“PCRF”), and the like. Messages sent from a device coupled to network6via core network8propagate through central Unit10, Distributed Unit12, and radio Unit14before being transmitted wirelessly from antenna16. RU14includes radio resources20, discussed elsewhere herein. For purposes of discussion, CU10, DU12, RU14, radio resources20and antenna16compose transmit components of an O-RAN; an O-RAN network may comprise other transmit or receive components, which may be discussed herein.

Turning now toFIG.2, the figure shows components, functions, features, modules, circuits, hardware, and algorithms the compose radio resources20. Radio resources20comprise one or more filters, which may prevent interaction between transmitters in combining systems, reduce off channel sideband noise, harmonic or spurious outputs from transmitters, or may protect receiver front end and automatic gain control (AGC) circuits from off channel energy.

Radio front end24comprises components, examples of which may include: one or more low noise amplifiers, (“LNAs”), one or more switches, one or more antennas, one or more filters, one or more power amplifiers (“PAs”), one or more couplers, one or more circulators, one or more isolators, and one or more power supplies. Transceivers26may include one or more transmitters, one or more feedback receivers, and one or more receivers. Digital front end28may include one or more filters, one or more Crest Factor Reduction (“CFR”) functions, one or more Digital Pre-Distortion (“DPD”) functions, one or more Digital Upconverter (“DUC”) functions, one or more Digital Downconverter (“DDC”) functions, one or more Fast Fourier Transform (“FFT”) functions or Inversion FFT functions, Cyclic Prefix (“CP”) functionality, Multiplexing (“Muxing”) and Demultiplexing (“Demuxing”), and the like.

Turning now toFIG.3, the figure illustrates a block diagram of radio resources20transmit components of a radio unit14of an O-RAN wireless network2as shown inFIG.1. An input signal31to be transmitted is received by digital front end28from a DU12as shown inFIG.1. Continuing with description ofFIG.3, the input signal is processed by CFR function32to reduce peak amplitude portions of input signal31to produce a clipped input signal33. The clipped input signal is processed by DPD34, which may apply error correction factors, for example transmit signal correction factors that may have been determined by a ΔTΘM function under the control of an error correction component, to result in a digitally predistorted signal that is provided to transmit digital to analog converter36. DAC36provides an analog version of the predistorted clipped input signal to power amplifier(s)38, which provides an amplified version of the analog version of the predistorted clipped input signal at an output of the power amplifier. The analog version of the predistorted clipped input signal may be referred to as a low-level analog transmit signal; the amplified version of the analog version of the predistorted clipped input signal may be referred to as an amplified analog transmit signal. The amplified analog transmit signal is provided from PA38to coupler40, which forwards most of the power of the amplified analog transmit signal to an antenna. Coupler40routes a smaller portion, or feedback portion, of the amplified analog transmit signal to a receiver analog to digital converter42, which may digitize the feedback portion into a digital version thereof and provide the digitized version of the feedback portion of the amplified analog transmit signal to an adaptation and correlation gain/add/subtract function, which may be referred to as adaptation function. The adaptation function may be implemented by error correction component44that may include software, firmware, circuitry, gates, etc. that implement the adaptation function. The error correction component may be a processor, ASIC, FPGA, or circuitry that is configured to implement the adaptation function. The adaptation function of error correction component44may use factors, which may include values, coefficients, expressions, functions, obtained from time, phase, and magnitude difference function46, which may be referred to as ΔTΘM function46, to determine one or more correction signals to be provide to DPD function34, which may apply the correction signals to a signal received from CFR function32. In an embodiment, the adaptation function may be a function performed by error correction component44, which error correction component may comprise hardware, firmware, or software. Reference to either adaptation function44, adaptation block44, or error correction component44, may have the same meaning insofar as in an embodiment the error correction component/adaptation function may control the ΔTΘM function46via control line55while the ΔTΘM function determines correction factors and applies the correction factors to a signal received from CFR function32—the error correction component may then apply a mathematical function such as correlation, addition, subtraction, based on the signal received from the ΔTΘM function and the signal received from coupler40. In an embodiment, error correction component44may instruct the ΔTΘM function46to continually determine/generate correction factors until the error correction component determines, via the performing of the mathematic operation, that the correction factors currently determined/generated by the ΔTΘM function and that are used to cause DPD34to predistort the signal provided to PA38have caused the signal transmitted from coupler40to match, as best as possible based on precision and accuracy of the ΔTΘM function, the signal output by CFR function32. In an embodiment, error correction component44may comprise hardware, software, or firmware to carry out an adaptation function and may also comprise hardware, software, or firmware that comprises a ΔTΘM function, such as, for example, ΔTΘM function46, or additional ΔTΘM functions. Error correction component44may cooperate with ΔTΘM function46via control line55to determine error correction factors, or coefficients, and may instruct the ΔTΘM function via the control line that the correction factor, or factors, be stored to the ΔTΘM function, or a memory related thereto, and may cause the ΔTΘM function to retrieve and use the correction factors in implementing, or carrying out, an adaption function, which may comprise a mathematic function for correcting for distortion caused by PA38. In an embodiment, ΔTΘM function46may determine correction factors and may make them available for retrieval by error correction component44for application to a signal. In an embodiment, ΔTΘM function46may determine, retrieve, or use correction factors as instructed by error correction component. Correction factors may be determined such that signals at certain nodes are time-aligned. In other words, correction factors may be determined such that amplitudes and phases (or delay(s)) of signals that are to be added together are in phase with one another if enhancement of a given signal is desired, or in-phase but inverted if cancellation of one of the signals is desired. Applying an error correction signal to a signal to be corrected may comprise applying, for example adding, an inverted, in-phase version of the signal to be canceled to the signal to be canceled. Applying error correction may comprise inducing a delay in a signal to be canceled and applying an inverted version of the signal to be canceled that is in phase with the delayed signal to be canceled.

In an embodiment, error correction factors may be: determined by error correction component44and stored in ΔTΘM function46(or they may be determined by and stored in ΔTΘM function46in cooperation with the error correction component via control line55), retrieved from the ΔTΘM function, and applied (or a signal adjusted according to the correction factors applied) within the error correction component without actually outputting an error correction signal, or an error corrected signal, for transmission by PA38. Instead, error correction may occur ‘virtually’, or mathematically, inside error correction component44using error correction factors that are determined to provide an inverted version of a signal to be canceled such that another signal may be evaluated within the error correction component using different error correction components and with accuracy and precision provided by a ΔTΘM function. In such a scenario, correction factors that were determined by ΔTΘM function, while being controlled by error correction component44, to correct distortion caused by PA38, may be stored to DPD function34to free up the ΔTΘM function for determining of new correction factors for a different signal than a transmit signal. Canceling another signal, such as an isolation leakage signal, as discussed herein, to result in a residual isolation leakage signal, to reduce the leakage signal's amplitude tends to reduce masking, or ‘overshadowing,’ within error correction component44of a next signal, such as a reflection signal, that may be evaluated by the error correction component and that may have a lower magnitude than the signal already canceled, for example the isolation leakage signal. It will be appreciated that even if one signal is canceled within the error correction component and has a magnitude that is not substantially greater than another signal to be evaluated within the error correction component44, and thus the signal that was already canceled would not have ‘overshadowed’ the next signal to be evaluated in terms of amplitude/magnitude, cancelling one signal within the error correction component before evaluating another signal may provide for better dynamic range in evaluating the next signal. Such evaluation within error correction component44may comprise determining a time of arrival (“ToA”) of one or more signals using different error correction factors corresponding to the different signals to be evaluated. Error correction component44may perform analysis of signals based on error correction factors determined to correspond to the signals, and provide an output result, such as a time of arrival of one or more of the signals. Output values, data, or information that results from the analyzing may be used to determine a location of a reflection signal caused along an antenna path. A leakage signal that leaks through a circulator may be corrected virtually within the error correction component44to reduce the amplitude of the leakage signal to leave a leakage residue signal, or residual leakage signal. Error correction factors that are used to determine a ToA of the leakage signal and to reduce, attenuate, compensate for, or otherwise operate on the leakage signal may be stored in a ΔTΘM function and different error correction factors that are used to determine a ToA or to correct another signal, such as a reflection signal, may be stored in a different ΔTΘM function. Thus, evaluation of both signals and determining ToA corresponding to them, for example, may be performed with the same accuracy and precision that can be obtained when determining transmit signal correction factors that may be used by a DPD function.

Signal correction factors may be values, or coefficients, stored in registers of ΔTΘM function46that when, or if, processed by DPD function34, produce a time-shifted or gain-adjusted version of an unwanted signal, or error, to be canceled. The unwanted, or erroneous, signal to be canceled may result from distortion caused by PA38, which may result from nonlinear operation of the PA. Such nonlinear operation may be determined via a feedback signal provided from coupler40to receiver analog to digital converter42. An adaptation function of error correction component44may analyze the feedback signal in comparison to the input signal received from CFR function32and may instruct ΔTΘM function46via control line55to store the correction coefficients (i.e., correction factors) to the ΔTΘM function when coefficients, or factors, determined by the ΔTΘM function cause a high correlation within the error correction component. The coefficients, or correction factors, which may be transmit correction factors, may include factors that correspond to, or are based on, a feedback signal received from coupler40or a signal received from CFR32. Correction factors, such as transmit correction factors, that correspond to a complex conjugate version of a signal received along feedback path within a radio unit may be applied to linearize a transmit signal provided to coupler40and to an antenna to which it may be coupled. It will be appreciated that when used to correct for nonlinear operation of PA38, correction factors, such as transmit signal correction factors, typically do not cancel all of a signal received from CFR32—only signal energy that corresponds to distortion caused by the PA is cancelled based on the correction factors. The correction signal, or transmit signal correction factor(s), causes DPD34to provide a signal to TxDAC36that is a predistorted version of input signal31such that distortion caused by PA38cancels the predistortion of the input signal. An adaptation function or error correction component44may recall the factors stored in ΔTΘM function46and produce a signal that corresponds to, or may cause DPD34to produce a signal that corresponds to, distortion caused by PA38such that the distortion is cancelled when the correction factors, or a signal that is based on the correction factors, are applied by DPD34such that a transmit signal provided from coupler40to one or more antennas is substantially an amplified version of an input signal31provided from CFR function32. An adaptation function of error correction component44may comprise, or perform, a mathematical function that uses correction factors retrieved from ΔTΘM function46to create/generate a correction signal that DPD34applies to an input signal31from CFR function32. In effect, the combination of the error correction component44and DPD34block, using correction factors determined by ΔTΘM function46, may function as a hardware-accelerated transistor modeler capable of correcting shortcomings (i.e., nonlinear operation) of transistors of PA38. It will be appreciated that upconverters and downconverters may be present in a radio unit between DAC36and PA38, and between coupler40and ADC42, respectively, but are not shown in the figure for clarity. (Depending on the style of DAC or ADC, for example Sigma-Delta, upconverters or downconverters may not be used.)

Turning now toFIG.4, the figure illustrates transmit components of an O-RAN radio unit configured to determine isolation signal correction factors. In addition to components shown in, and described in reference to,FIG.3,FIG.4shows a second ΔTΘM function47, circulator50, and signal path selection component51, which may comprise first switch52. It will be appreciated that more ΔTΘM functions could be implemented and might be shown as blocks in parallel with ΔTΘM functions46and47and with control lines55coupled with the error correction component. First switch52is shown in the figure as a single pole double throw (“SPDT”) switch but could comprise other types of switches. First switch52may provide its output to a feedback receiver and when configured with a first input connected to the output may be part of a feedback path within a radio unit. It will be appreciated that signal path selection component51may include components in addition to, or instead of, a switch that facilitates routing of signals with the signal path selection component.

FIG.4also shows a second switch54as part of signal path selection component51, which second switch is also shown as a SPDT switch. Signal path selection component51may comprise a manual switch, a PIN diode switch, a circulator, or another other type of switch that may be operated either manually or may be operated in response to an electronic instruction or signal, such as a computer instruction or a signal voltage or a signal current received from a device or component, such as error correction component44, which may provide, embody, be controlled by, be in communication with, or otherwise implement an adaptation function. A second switch54may include an output that provides a receive (Rx) path56, which may provide one or more signals received from an antenna coupled to port c of circulator50, or other signals flowing into port c, to receive path circuitry. Accordingly, second switch54can be configured to interrupt the providing of a signal coming from an antenna path into port c of circulator50to receive path56and instead provide a signal flowing into port c to feedback circuitry when second switch54and first switch52are configured in a second configuration It will be appreciated that signal path selection component51is illustrated as comprising first switch52and second switch54, but may comprise components in addition to switches or instead of switches, and that switches are shown for purposes of discussion in showing schematically that the signal path selection component can be configured in a first configuration to provide a signal from coupler40to the adaptation function of error correction component44or that the signal path selection component may be configured in a second configuration to provide a leakage signal from circulator50, or a signal received at port c of the circulator, to the error correction component. Accordingly, signal path selection component51should not be interpreted as necessarily comprising discrete hardware switches, although the signal path selection component could comprise hardware switches, to facilitate routing of signals according to the first configuration or second configuration. It will be appreciated that discussion of signal path selection component51may be provided herein in terms of first switch52and second switch54to correspond to the figures that show the first configuration or second configuration schematically in terms of one or more switches, but that other components that may alter, change, or switch a signal path route are contemplated and that switches are shown and described for purposes of visually showing in the figures that a signal path route is changeable, or selectable, between providing a feedback signal to error correction component44in a first configuration or providing to the error correction component a leakage signal from non-reciprocal signal routing component50in a second configuration. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that signal path selection component51may be capable of more than just two different configurations such that more than just a leakage signal, or another other signal, from non-reciprocal signal routing component50may be provided to error correction component44in addition to providing a feedback signal in the first configuration.

Configurations of signal path selection component51, for example configurations of the first and second switches, may be controlled by error correction component44or by DPD function34. First switch52is shown in a first position, or first configuration, that connects a feedback signal from coupler40to feedback receiver ADC42, which provides essentially the same feedback signal path as shown inFIG.3where there is no switch shown coupled between coupler40and ADC42in the feedback path. InFIG.4, second switch54is shown such that isolation leakage signal63or reflected signal64received back from a waveguide coupling isolator50to an antenna via port c of the isolator, may be provided to a receiver of the radio unit of which it is part. In an embodiment, non-reciprocal signal routing component50may comprise a circulator. In an embodiment, in the arrangement shown inFIG.4where first switch52and second switch54are configured to provide a feedback path between coupler40and ADC42, ΔTΘM function46may store correction factors that have been determined to cancel, time delay, correct signal shape, or correct/cancel other error/distortion, introduced by PA38relative to the signal provided from CFR function32to DPD34. InFIG.4, input signal60illustrates a signal that may be provided from CFR function32to DPD function34. Delayed signal62illustrates a signal as provided from PA38through coupler40to adaptation function44. In an embodiment, correction factors may be stored to ΔTΘM function46when performing an error determination procedure to determine correction factors, or coefficients, that may correspond to the delayed signal62. After the error determination procedure has been performed, adaptation function44may retrieve the correction factors corresponding to delayed signal62from ΔTΘM function46and digitally provide the correction factors, or a correction signal corresponding to the correction factors, to DPD34such that an inverse of error induced by, caused by, or otherwise introduced by, PA38is applied to the input signal (i.e., signal received from CFR function32), and thus error caused by distortion in the PA is effectively canceled by DPD function34before the input signal (which has now been corrected by the predistortion function34) is provided to PA. The correction factors that correct distortion caused by PA38may be referred to a transmit signal correction factors. Accordingly, even though PA38may still introduce a time delay, for example, as illustrated by delay signal62relative to signal60, the predistortion function will have altered the signal provided to the PA. The predistortion function may alter the signal provided to PA38by providing, for example, an predistorted image signal of error introduced by the PA, such that the signal that is provided at an output of the PA to coupler40(this signal may be referred to as transmit signal39), is substantially an amplified version (i.e., higher amplitude) of a clipped input signal33(clipped version of input signal31) provided from CFR function32to DPD function34. CFR function34may split clipped input signal33to feed DPD34and to feed ΔTΘM function46, which may determine correction factors to be applied to correct for nonlinear operation of PA38. In an embodiment, error correction component44may determine correction factors to be applied to correct for nonlinear operation of PA38. The clipped input signal33may continue through ΔTΘM function46and may be combined within adaptation block44with the signal received from PA38via coupler40to produce an error correction signal, or an error correction factor, or factors, that is/are passed to DPD34to perform/facilitate the predistortion. In an embodiment, a signal from CFR32may be split and fed DPD34and may also be fed to ΔTΘM function46, which may adjust the signal according to correction factors in the ΔTΘM function and within error correction component44, and the adjusted signal may be combined with a signal from PA38/coupler40to produce a first error signal that is passed to the DPD to facilitate predistortion. These coefficients, or correction factors, may be paused or frozen and maintained at the DPD function34.

While DPD function34performs predistortion, path selection component51may be set to select a signal from non-reciprocal signal routing component50, and within error correction component44may be combined with a time aligned signal output from ΔTΘM46to cancel a first leakage signal63from the non-reciprocal signal routing component using a mathematical function, for example invert and add. The canceled signal leakage signal may be held within error correction component44without being passed to DPD34.

A residue signal that results from cancellation of cancelation of the leakage signal at error correction component44from signal63may be maintained while a second time aligned signal output from ΔTΘM47may be combined, via invert and add for example, with another signal64to cancel the other signal leaving a residue of the other signal, which may comprise a reflection signal, which in turn may comprise a VSWR signal.

Some components shown inFIG.4may be part of digital front end28.

Coefficients, or error correction factors, that may be determined for producing predistortion may be paused, or frozen, stored to, or maintained at, DPD function34for continued applying of predistortion, regardless of how path selection component51is configured.

When path selection component51is configured in a second configuration to route a signal from port c of circulator50through the feedback path to error correction component44, the signal from the circulator may be combined by an adaptation function of error correction component44with a time-aligned signal from, or with a time-aligned signal based on, error correction factors from ΔTΘM46to cancel within the error correction component44a first signal, such as an isolation leakage signal63, flowing from the circulator toward a receive circuit path. Such cancellation of the first signal may be performed by applying an invert and add mathematical function, for example, by an adaptation function within error correction component44. This canceled leakage signal may be held, or stopped, within error correction component44without the cancelled leakage signal being passed to DPD34, which cancelled, or attenuated, leakage signal may be referred to as a residue, or residual, signal of the leakage signal. The residue signal resulting from cancelation of the leakage signal63within error correction component44may be maintained while a second time-delayed signal output from ΔTΘM47(shown inFIG.6) is combined, for example, by applying a second error correction signal according to an invert and add mathematical formula by an adaptation function within error correction component44to a second signal64, which may be, for example, a reflection signal from an antenna path, to cancel the second signal and leave a second residual signal.

Turning now toFIG.5, the figure illustrates an embodiment where components are configured to determine isolation leakage signal correction factors and to determine correction factors for signals flowing from port c of non-reciprocal signal routing component50. Instead of signal path selection component51being configured to provide a feedback signal received at a first input from coupler40to ADC42, the signal path selection component may be configured in a second configuration to provide isolation signal63, which is output from non-reciprocal signal routing component50at port c to ADC42(or other feedback path component). Ideally, non-reciprocal signal routing component50passes all of a transmit signal received at port a from coupler40to, and out of, port b. However, in the nonideal real world some of the transmit signal ‘leaks’ from port a to port c. This may be referred to as an isolation leakage signal—non-reciprocal signal routing component50ideally isolates, or prevents, a transmit signal provided at port a from reaching port c, which may also ideally pass all of a signal received at port b from an antenna. (It will be appreciated that, similarly, a portion of a signal received at port b, from an antenna, for example, may leak through isolator50and pass out of port a instead of all of the signal passing out of port c.) In the example shown in the figure, the non-reciprocal signal routing component50may be a circulator and may have an isolation leakage of, for example −15 dBc (approximately 3% of the transmit signal may ‘leak’ through to port c), although the isolator ideally should only have signals present at port c that were received at an antenna coupled to port b, or at least signals that are flowing in a direction from an antenna toward the circulator. The example isolation leakage value of −15 dBc is given as an example for purposes of illustration and is not meant to be a limiting example. Thus, in the configuration of signal path selection component51shown inFIG.5, isolation signal63may be presented to ADC42, which may provide a digital version of the isolation leakage signal (as well as any receive signal present at port b of non-reciprocal signal routing component50) to error correction component44. An adaptation function of error correction component44may determine that isolation leakage correction factors determined by first ΔTΘM function46, which may be referred to as merely leakage signal correction factors, cancel the isolation leakage signal and may store, or cause to be stored, the isolation leakage signal correction factors in ΔTΘM function46instead of transmit correction factors discussed in reference toFIG.4. (In such a scenario, the correction factors to be used for predistortion may be stored in DPD function34instead of in ΔTΘM function46if the ΔTΘM function is used to determine and to store correction factors other than transmit correction factors.) Thus, ΔTΘM function46may contain and have stored therein correction factors that can substantially cancel time delay or other distortion induced by PA38when configured according to the embodiment shown inFIG.4, and/or ΔTΘM function46can contain and have stored therein isolation leakage signal correction factors that could cancel isolation leakage signal63when switches52and54, or merely signal path selection component51, is/are configured as shown in the embodiment illustrated inFIG.5. It will be appreciated that the error correction factors that could cancel leakage signal63may be used by the adaptation function within error correction component44to produce a residual isolation leakage signal with lower amplitude than the isolation leakage signal such that better sensitivity, or dynamic range, can be achieved in analyzing another signal by the error correction component than if the isolation leakage signal had not been attenuated by the error correction components using correction factors determined by ΔTΘM function46.

In an embodiment, ΔTΘM function46may be used to contain correction factors that can be used by an adaptation function of error correction component44to cancel distortion caused by PA38and ΔTΘM function46may also be used to contain correction factors that could be used to cancel the isolation leakage signal63.

In an embodiment, the isolation leakage signal correction factors are not provided to DPD34for cancellation of isolation leakage signal63but are used by an adaptation function of error correction component44to determine a Time of Arrival (“ToA”) of the isolation signal, or of an isolation residual signal corresponding to the isolation signal. In other words, cancellation/destruction of the isolation leakage signal through subtraction (or addition of an inverse) of the isolation leakage signal may be facilitated by mathematical means by the adaptation function within error correction component44but is not provided to, or applied to, clipped input signal33for further processing. As discussed, correction factors stored in, or retrieved from, ΔTΘM function46may include correction factors that can cancel distortion caused by PA38and isolation leakage correction factors may be stored in, or retrieved from, ΔTΘM function46to be used to cancel isolation leakage signal63, even though a cancellation signal to cancel the isolation leakage signal is not provided by error correction component44to DPD function34and may be used only by an adaptation function of the error correction component to determine a residual isolation leakage signal. As an example, ΔTΘM function46may determine correction factors that result in a correction signal66that cancels isolation leakage signal63that results from signal60. The result is a leakage residual signal represented by signal68. In an embodiment, the time delay based on the ToA determined from isolation leakage signal correction factors may be used by an adaptation function of error correction function44to delay input signal60from CFR function32to cancel the isolation leakage signal, thus leaving within the error correction component a residual signal corresponding to the isolation leakage signal, which may be referred to as an isolation leakage residual signal, or just leakage residual signal, as represented by signal68. A ToA of the isolation residual signal may be the same as a ToA of the isolation signal itself. In an embodiment, ToA of the isolation leakage signal, or the isolation residual signal, may be used for determining degradation of non-reciprocal signal routing component50over time.

The ToA of the isolation leakage residual signal may also be used to distinguish the residual signal that may be due to the isolation leakage signal from another signal that may be provided from non-reciprocal signal routing component50, such as a reflection signal64that may be returned from an antenna waveguide to the non-reciprocal signal routing component at port b. For example, by determining the ToA of the isolation leakage signal, or the isolation leakage residual signal, a time reference may be established such that the ToA of an isolation leakage signal at error correction component44is to and the ToA at the adaptation function of another signal that that may be received at port b of isolator50may be deemed as ti. Determining ToA of the residual isolation leakage to determine error correction factors that cancel the leakage signal within error correction component44may facilitate determining ToA, of another signal such as reflection signal64, which may have less amplitude than the isolation leakage signal63, due to the isolation leakage signal63masking the other signal, such as a reflection signal, being evaluated.

In an embodiment, the ToA or the isolation residual signal, which may be a first leakage signal, may be determined and then the first leakage signal may be cancelled by an adaptation function within error correction component44. After the first leakage signal is canceled, at least mathematically canceled within error correction component44, other signals, such as a reflection signal, which may be a VSWR signal based on a reflection signal, that may have a lower amplitude than the first leakage signal, may be evaluated because the amplitude of the first leakage signal has been cancelled or attenuated such that a signal having a lower amplitude that may also be present at an output of the signal path selection component51while configured in a second configuration is not masked by the first leakage signal. By reducing a magnitude, at least mathematically with an adaptation function error correction function44, of the first leakage signal to a residual first leakage signal, electronic sensitivity within error correction component is not overpowered by the amplitude of the first leakage signal relative to a possibly lower amplitude of the other signal, such as a reflection signal. Even if the reflection signal is not of significantly less amplitude that the isolation leakage signal, cancelling the isolation leakage signal such that only an isolation leakage residual signal remains provides a benefit. Put another way, the greater the amplitude of the first isolation leakage signal the more another signal that also flows from port c of circulator50is masked—reducing the amplitude of the first isolation leakage signal reduces masking of a reflection signal, for example that may have a lower amplitude than the isolation signal flowing from port c of the circulator.

Determining ToA of the isolation leakage signal facilitates the error correction component44in generating the residue signal by mathematically cancelling the first leakage signal. Reducing the isolation leakage signal amplitude within the error correction component44facilitates the determining of the presence of a second (or third, fourth, etc.) reflected signal (or VSWR), or other signal. Second, third, fourth, or more, other signals may be corrected within error correction component44using second, third, fourth, or more respective ΔTΘM functions. Determining within the error correction component44a second residue corresponding to the reflection signal facilitates determining useful information, such as ToA or distance to fault, that correspond to the reflection signal. Aligning, both phase and magnitude, based on ToA), a time-aligned inverse signal corresponding to a signal to be canceled with the signal to be canceled facilitates determining, and mathematically cancelling, the signal to be cancelled. ToA values of second or subsequent signals that can be determined and used to cancel (i.e., substantially attenuate), at least mathematically, the respective second or subsequent signals, can be used by an operator of a radio system for trouble shooting and debugging of components of the system. It will be appreciated that more ΔTΘM functions could be implemented, and might be shown as blocks in parallel with ΔTΘM functions46and47. The components shown inFIG.5may be part of digital front end28shown inFIG.3.

Turning now toFIG.6, the figure illustrates components configured to determine reflection signal correction factors.FIG.6shows isolation leakage signal70and reflection signal72that correspond to isolation leakage signal63and reflection signal74, respectively. In the embodiment shown in the figure, reflection signal64may be caused by a line fault74in a wave guide75, which may be a coaxial cable, that couples filter76and antenna78. Fault74may be the result of a corroded connecter along waveguide75, a cut in the waveguide, a severe bend, or crimp, in the waveguide that causes severe mechanical distortion of a conductor or dielectric of the waveguide, or other similar mechanical stress. Fault74could also result from a strong electromagnetic signal disrupting propagation of a signal transmitted from port b of circulator50.

Reflection signal64may also result from a change of operating condition at antenna78. For example, ice, or material left behind by birds, may have formed on antenna78and may have caused, or induced, reflection signal64because the material formed on the antenna has changed the permittivity of the material of an RF element of the antenna and thus the dielectric constant of the antenna (e.g., εgis 1.0006 for air but 4.2 for ice).

Moreover, the correction factors stored in ΔTΘM function47may be used to determine the existence of fault74in waveguide75even if there is not ice or other material on an element of antenna78. By determining with ΔTΘM function47a reflection signal delay80(which may correspond to ToA of the reflection signal72) of reflection signal72(which may correspond to reflection signal64) and storing correction factors that correspond to the delay of the reflection signal, an adaptation function within error correction component44may be able to calculate a distance from port c, or from filter76, to fault74to facilitate maintenance personnel finding and repairing the fault condition. A Voltage Standing Wave Signal (“VSWR”) could be the reflection signal64. A benefit of having separate ΔTΘM functions46and47(or more) is that correction factors stored in the different ΔTΘM functions can be used to cancel two (or more) different signals within error correction component44. For example, ΔTΘM function46can be used to generate isolation leakage signal correction factors that can be used to cancel isolation leakage signal63to result in residual isolation leakage signal84by applying isolation leakage correction factors that produce time delay, phase, and magnitude align of signal82by an adaptation function within error correction component44. (Transmit correction factors from ΔTΘM function46may also be used to cancel distortion caused by PA38under normal operation of the radio unit before the isolation leakage correction factors are determined.) Correction factors determined by, and stored in, another ΔTΘM function47can be used to cancel reflection signal64by an adaptation function within error correction component44. An advantage of using a ΔTΘM function to cancel an isolation leakage signal, or any other signal, is that correction factors generated by a ΔTΘM function can induce a time delay within one wavelength of the signal to be cancelled and can also induce a phase shift that can result in further precision in terms of fractions of a wavelength of the signal to be cancelled. Thus, correction factors determined by a ΔTΘM function can be used to cancel a leakage signal, a reflection signal, or another signal with greater precision than if a ΔTΘM function was not used. In other words, using correction factors stored in registers of ΔTΘM function46, for example, to cancel/attenuate isolation leakage signal63within error correction function44may be used to reduce the amplitude of the isolation leakage signal by producing correction factors to produce, within the error correction component, an isolation leakage residual signal84such that the adaptation function within the error correction component can process another signal using separate correction factors stored in, and retrieved from, ΔTΘM function47that may correspond to fault signal/reflection signal72. Reducing the amplitude of an isolation leakage signal to a residual isolation leakage signal as described herein may facilitate processing within the error correction component44of the reflection signal with less masking, resulting in better determining of reflection signal correction factors and thus a better reduction in amplitude of the reflected signal, as shown by a reduced amplitude reflection signal86. Even if reduction of the amplitude of the reflection signal is not a desired goal, a lower amplitude of the residual reflection signal corresponds to having determined a better set of reflection correction factor(s) in ΔTΘM function47and thus may result in a better (i.e., more accurate) determining of a ToA of the reflection signal. The components shown inFIG.6may be part of digital front end28. It will be appreciated that signals, for example signals60,62,66,68,70,72,84,86are represented in the figures on a scale with a time (t) horizontal axis, but that the ‘pulses’ shown as representing the signals are frequency domain spectrums of the respective signals. The signal representations in the figures are not meant show that the signals are necessarily pulse signals, although signal referenced herein could potentially comprise a pulse signal in the time domain. It will be appreciated that more ΔTΘM functions could be implemented and might be shown as blocks in parallel with ΔTΘM functions46and47with corresponding control lines55. Each of a plurality of ΔTΘM functions, which plurality could comprise more than ΔTΘM functions46and47, could be used, respectively, to generate a residual leakage signal, then a residual reflection signal, and then a residue of each of the other signals such that a given signal is attenuated using error correction component44to reduce masking of another, or a next, signal to be evaluated within the error correction component in cooperation with a ΔTΘM function corresponding to the signal to be evaluated.

Turning now toFIG.7, the figure illustrates a flow diagram of a method700to cancel, or substantially attenuate, distortion of a wireless transmit signal where the distortion may be induced by, caused by, introduced by, or generating by, a power amplifier in a radio unit of a wireless communication system, such as a O-RAN system, or a 4G, 5G, or later wireless communication system/network. It will be appreciated that method700may also be implemented in a UE device that transmits wireless communication signals to an O-RAN, 4G, 5G, or later generation communication system. Method700may be performed in whole or in part by a processor of a radio unit that implements, facilitates, operates, or performs an adaptation function, such as described in reference to adaptation function44elsewhere herein. Some, or all, steps of method700may be implemented as functions or modules in logic of an FPGA, logic of discrete digital circuitry, logic formed by discrete analog circuitry, or logic within a processor that has computer code stored thereon to cause the performance of the steps of the method wherein the processor is part of a radio unit, or system corresponding thereto, that is performing the steps and functions of the method or in a processor that is located remotely from, or that is not part of, the radio unit or a system thereof.

Method700begins at step705. At step710a signal path selection component, which may comprise a first switch, is configured in a first configuration to receive feedback from a power amplifier output of a radio unit. The feedback may be provided to the signal path selection component at a first input thereof from a coupler which directs an attenuated portion split from a transmit signal that is provided to the power amplifier to be transmitted thereby. The feedback may be in digital form or in analog form. At step715one or more correction factors are derived, generated, created, modified, revised, or otherwise determined with a first ΔTΘM function, such as ΔTΘM function46shown inFIG.6, to compensate for, or correct for, distortion caused by nonlinear operation of a power amplifier of the radio unit. The correction factors may be coefficients, values, algorithms, links, or other information or data that may be used to generate a correction signal or to generate correction instructions that can produce a correction signal that when applied by a predistortion function to the signal to be transmitted by the power amplifier can be used to cancel, or substantially attenuate, distortion caused by the power amplifier. At step720correction factors are stored in the first ΔTΘM block. The ΔTΘM block may comprise one or more FPGA logic circuits or implementations or may be part of an application specific integrated circuit that is part of the radio unit. At step725correction factors, one or more correction signals based on correction factors, or one or more correction instructions that are based on correction factors, may be provided to a digital predistortion function from the first ΔTΘM function. The digital predistortion function applies the correction factors or provides a correction signal based on the correction factors to a transmit signal to be transmitted that is received from a CFR function. At step730a determination is made whether new correction factors are desired for digital predistortion. For example, after a predetermined period has elapsed since a previous determination of correction factors and application thereof to a signal to be transmitted by the power amplifier was performed new correction factors may be generated to compensate for changes in distortion caused by the power amplifier, for example changes caused by temperature change at the power amplifier, or other factors that may affect distortion caused by the power amplifier and transfer function nonlinearities that may result therefrom. If a determination is made at step730that new correction factors are desired method700returns to steps715and proceeds as discussed above. If at step730a determination is made that new correction factors are not desired or needed for digital predistortion, method700advances to step735and ends. After method700ends at step735, the signal path selection component may remain configured such that feedback from the power amplifier may continue to be available to adaptation function or error correction component44, for example. The error correction component may instruct that the digital predistortion function continue to apply the correction factors, or a signal based thereon, to the transmit signal received from the CFR function but may not continue to update the correction factors such that the correction factors, or correction signal based thereon, are not constantly being updated.

Method700may be performed during test conditions such that a pulse signal is provided from the CFR function as a signal to be transmitted by the power amplifier and the correction factors are derived, generated, or otherwise produced based on the pulse test signal. After correction factors have been determined and implemented by the digital predistortion function, method700may remain dormant, or paused, until the adaptation function may be instructed to perform another test of a transmit signal. In an embodiment a test condition duration, or period, may be interleaved with actual signals that are desired to be transmitted according to a predetermined scheme or plan. In an embodiment, the test condition, or test period, may be manually requested by a technician based on signal strength and quality measurements obtained from a transmit signal being transmitted from an antenna that receives the transmit signal provided from the power amplifier.

Turning now toFIG.8, the figure illustrates a flow diagram of a method800to cancel, or substantially attenuate, distortion of a wireless transmit signal where the distortion may be induced by, caused by, introduced by, or generating by, a power amplifier in a radio unit of a wireless communication system, such as a O-RAN system, or a 4G, 5G, or later wireless communication system/network. Method800may also be used to determine Time or Arrival of an isolation signal and other signals, such as reflection signals, for diagnostic purposes and RF component maintenance purposes. It will be appreciated that method800may also be implemented in a UE device that transmits wireless communication signals to an O-RAN, 4G, 5G, or later generation communication system. Method800may be performed in whole or in part by a processor of a radio unit that implements, facilitates, operates, or performs an adaptation function, such as described in reference to Adaptation function44elsewhere herein. Some, or all, steps of method800may be implemented as functions or modules in logic of a field programmable gate array (“FPGA”), application specific integrated circuit, (“ASIC”), radio frequency system on a chip (“RFSoC”), radio frequency integrated circuit (“RFIC”), logic of discrete digital circuitry, logic formed by discrete analog circuitry, or logic within a processor that has computer code stored thereon to cause the performance of the steps of the method wherein the processor is part of a radio unit, or system corresponding thereto, that is performing the steps and functions of the method or in a processor that is located remotely from, or that is not part of, the radio unit or a system thereof. Components that perform some of, or all of, the steps of method800may be part a digital front end of a radio unit.

Method800begins at step805. At step810a signal path selection component, which may comprise a first switch, may be configured in a first configuration to receive feedback from a power amplifier output of a radio unit. The feedback may be provided to the signal path selection component at a first input thereof from a coupler which directs an attenuated portion split from a transmit signal that is provided to the power amplifier to be transmitted thereby. The feedback may be in digital form or in analog form. At step815with first ΔTΘM function, such as ΔTΘM function46shown inFIG.6, one or more first correction factors may be derived, generated, created, modified, revised, or otherwise determined to compensate for, or correct for, distortion caused by nonlinear operation of the power amplifier. The first correction factors may be coefficients, values, algorithms, links, or other information or data that may be used to generate a correction signal or to generate correction instructions that can produce a correction signal that when applied to the signal to be transmitted by the power amplifier to a predistortion function can cancel or substantially attenuate distortion caused by the power amplifier. At step820first correction factors are stored in the first ΔTΘM block. The first ΔTΘM block may comprise one or more FPGA logic circuits or implementations or may be part of an application specific integrated circuit (which may also comprise circuitry configured to perform an adaptation function or digital predistortion functionality) and that is part of a radio unit. At step825first correction factors, which may be referred to as transmit signal correction factors, one or more transmit correction signals based on the transmit correction factors, or one or more transmit correction instructions that are based on the transmit correction factors, may be provided to a digital predistortion function. The digital predistortion function may apply the transmit correction factors, or provide a transmit correction signal based on the transmit correction factors, to a transmit signal to be transmitted that is received from a CFR function. At step830a determination is made whether new transmit correction factors are desired for digital predistortion. For example, after a predetermined period has elapsed since a previous determination of correction factors and application thereof to a transmit signal to be transmitted by the power amplifier were generated, new transmit correction factors may be generated to compensate for changes in distortion from the power amplifier, for example changes caused by temperature change of the power amplifier, or other factors that may affect distortion caused by the power amplifier and transfer function nonlinearities that may result therefrom. If a determination is made at step830that new transmit correction factors are desired method800returns to steps815and proceeds as discussed above. If at step830a determination is made that new transmit correction factors are not desired or needed method800advances to step835.

At step835the signal path selection component, which may comprise a second switch, may be configured in a second configuration to receive and pass leakage signal from a non-reciprocal signal routing component to an adaptation function of a radio unit. The non-reciprocal signal routing component may be a circulator. The leakage signal may be provided to the signal path selection component, or a second switch thereof, at a second input thereof from the non-reciprocal signal routing component and the signal path selection component may be configured to receive and pass to an error correction component an isolation leakage signal, or other signal, from the non-reciprocal signal routing component instead of passing the feedback signal from a transmit coupler. At step845, with the first ΔTΘM function, one or more leakage signal correction factors may be derived, generated, created, modified, revised, or otherwise determined that could compensate for, or correct for, the leakage signal. This determination may be based on a correlation function within an error correction component, such as error correction component44shown in other figures herein. The transmit correction factors may have been stored to a DPD function for continual applying of the transmit correction factors to counteract nonlinear operation of a PA of the radio unit. The leakage signal correction factors may be referred to as isolation leakage signal correction factors. The isolation signal correction factors may overwrite, or replace, other correction actors, such as transmit correction factors that have been provided to a DPD function. If a signal, or signals, other than a leakage signal is being addressed, such as, for example, a reflection signal, the correction factors determined at step845may be referred to as reflection signal correction factors, or another type of signal correction factor depending on the type of signal from which they are derived and may be referred to as second correction factors. The second correction factors may be coefficients, values, algorithms, links, or other information or data that may be used to generate a second correction signal or to generate second correction instructions that can produce a second correction signal that can cancel or substantially attenuate the reflection signal. It will be appreciated that in an embodiment, the second correction factors may be determined and applied within an adaptation function of an error correction component of the radio unit for purposes of diagnostics and further evaluation.

At step850the second correction factors may be stored in, or to, the first ΔTΘM compensation function block. In an embodiment, the second correction factors may be stored in, or to, a second ΔTΘM compensation function block instead of the first ΔTΘM compensation block. As with the first ΔTΘM compensation function block, the second ΔTΘM compensation function block may comprise one or more FPGA logic circuits or implementations or may be part of an application specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”) (which may also comprise circuitry configured to perform an adaptation function or digital predistortion functionality) and that is part of the radio unit. Thus, an ASIC used in a radio unit may comprise one, two, or more than two, ΔTΘM compensation functions/blocks to store one or more sets of correction factors that can be used to cancel one or more undesirable signals, signal artifacts, or other distortion of a signal to be transmitted, or used to determine correction factors that could be used to cancel one or more undesirable signals, signal artifacts, or other distortion of a signal but that are only used to determine within an adaptation function one or more ToA(s) of one or more corresponding undesirable signals, or other signals, that may be present in a radio unit signal path.

At step851The isolation leakage signal may be cancelled by the adaptation function within an error correction component according to the isolation leakage signal correction factors, leaving a leakage residual signal. A ToA of the leakage residual signal can be determined. A leakage residual signal ToA may correspond to the isolation leakage signal that ‘leaks’ through an isolator, such as a circulator. Further analysis may be performed based on the isolation residual signal ToA or based on isolation signal correction factors, which may be stored in a first ΔTΘM function/block, or which may be stored in a second ΔTΘM compensation function, or other ΔTΘM compensation function. For example, further analysis may comprise determining degradation of the circulator or other component of the radio unit. Further analysis, or other analysis, may include analyzing reflection signals from mechanical or electrical failures as discussed elsewhere herein. In an embodiment, further analysis may include analysis similar to analysis performed by a radar system, or application of a radar pulse or pulse compression through a matched filter, or general spectral analysis of an environment or objects surrounding an antenna.

At step852, a determination is made whether to determine corrections factors for another signal, such as a reflection signal, that is present at a receive port of a non-reciprocal signal routing component, such as a circulator, which receive port may be the same port at which the isolation leakage signal is provided for determination of the isolation correction factors. If a determination is made to not evaluate additional signals, method800advances to step865and ends.

If a determination is made at step852to analyze, and determine correction factors for, an additional signal at step855, a determination is made whether the additional signal is the result of a condition that is likely temporary or the result of a non-temporary condition such as a waveguide fault between a circulator and an antenna. An example of temporary condition may be when outdoor weather has resulted in ice forming on one or more antenna elements and thus causing a temporary change in a dielectric constant, or change in dielectric properties, of an antenna. If a condition causing a reflection signal is determined to be temporary, then method800advances to step860.

At step860, a wait function may be performed, wherein a predetermined period may elapse, after which method800may return to step852. The predetermined period may be a selectable period and may be selected to correspond to an amount of time that may typically be needed for a temporary condition to correct itself. At step852a determination may be made whether further correction factors may be needed. The further correction factors may be referred to in an embodiment as third correction factors. The one or more third correction factors, one or more third correction signals based on the third correction factors, or one or more third correction instructions that are based on the third correction factors, may be determined by an adaptation function in cooperation with a ΔTΘM compensation function, and may be stored in a ΔTΘM function, which may be a second ΔTΘM function such as ΔTΘM function47shown inFIG.6.

Returning to description of step855, if a determination is made that the condition causing the addition signal, which may be a reflection signal, is not caused by a temporary condition, method800advances to step870. At step870third correction factors may be determined for the reflection signal, or other additional signal. The third correction factors may be stored in the second ΔTΘM compensation function block and may be used by, or a signal that has been adjusted by the third correction factors may be used by, an error correction component to cancel, within the error correction component the reflection signal to generate a residual reflection signal. The ToA of the reflection signal may be determined from the residual reflection signal, or from the third correction factors. At step875the third correction factors, or a signal adjusted according thereto, may be used to calculate a location of the cause of the reflection signal. For example, the ToA of the reflection signal, which may be a VSWR signal, may be compared to the ToA of an isolation leakage signal, or an isolation leakage residual signal, and the result of the comparison may be used to determine the location of a line break, or line fault along a waveguide that supplies a transmit signal to an antenna. Method800ends at step865. It will be appreciated that after method800ends at step865, application of third correction factors, or a third correction signal or third correction instructions derived therefrom may continue, or may be terminated, while application of first correction factors, signals, or instructions may continue to correct for power amplifier distortion via operation of a DPD function. In an embodiment, there may also be an operational desire to no longer measure VSWR or to determine distance to fault (through ToA measurements), in which case signal path selection component51may change to a configuration where signals from port c of circulator50are directed to receive path56.

Turning now toFIG.9, the figure illustrates a high-level block diagram of a system900. In block905, system900comprises a signal path selection component, which may comprise a first switch, that comprises a first input coupled to a transmit coupler of radio unit, a second input, and a first output coupled to a third input of an error correction component of the radio unit. The error correction component may comprise an adaptation function or a ΔTΘM function. The term ‘third’ is used to distinguish the first and second inputs of the signal path selection component, from the input of the error correction component but is not meant to refer to another input of the signal path selection component for the embodiment referenced inFIG.9. In block910, system900the signal path selection component comprises a fourth input coupled to a non-reciprocal signal routing component of the radio unit, which non-reciprocal signal routing component may comprise a circulator. Thus, the signal path selection component can provide a configuration that routes either energy from the transmit signal from the coupler to the error correction component (i.e., via the third input) or energy from the non-reciprocal signal routing component to the third input of the error correction component. In block915the signal path selection component is configured to switch between at least outputting a transmit signal from the coupler to the error correction component or outputting an isolation signal from the isolator to the error correction component corresponding to being configured in a first configuration or being configured in a second configuration, respectively.

Turning now toFIG.10, the figure illustrates a high-level block diagram of an embodiment of a system, such as system900, that further comprises in block1005logic circuitry to determine one or more transmit signal correction factors during the first configuration that outputs the transmit signal from the coupler to the error correction component. In the embodiment, at block1010the logic circuitry may apply the one or more transmit signal correction factors to an input signal of the radio unit at, or by, the error correction component. The input signal may be input signal31, or clipped input signal33as described elsewhere herein. In an embodiment, the transmit signal correction factors may be provided to a predistortion block to adjust an input signal according to the transmit signal correction factors such that distortion caused by, or within, a power amplifier, is substantially canceled. In block1015the logic circuitry may determine one or more isolation leakage signal correction factors during the second configuration that outputs, or routes, the isolation leakage signal from the non-reciprocal signal routing component to the error correction component instead of routing the transmit signal from the coupler to the error correction components as in the first configuration. The logic circuitry may have stored therein the transmit signal correction factors or the isolation leakage signal correction factors. At block1020the logic circuitry may apply the one or more isolation leakage signal correction factors, within the error correction component, or by a ΔTΘM function, without actually applying the isolation leakage signal correction factors to the input signal (which may be, for example, input signal31, or clipped input signal33). In other words, when applying the transmit signal correction factors the input signal may be modified or altered to cancel distortion caused by a transmit power amplifier but the isolation leakage signal correction factors may not necessarily be applied to the input signal, thus not altering the input signal to be transmitted according to the isolation signal correction factors. In block1025, the logic circuitry may further comprise ΔTΘM compensation circuitry comprising one or more registers for storing, or for storage, of the one or more transmit signal correction factors or the one or more isolation leakage signal correction factors.

Turning now toFIG.11, the figure illustrates a high-level diagram of a method1100. Method1100in block1105comprises determining, by a radio unit of a communication network, one or more transmit signal correction factors during operation of a first configuration of a signal path selection component that outputs one or more transmit signals from a coupler to an error correction component. At block1110method1100comprises applying the one or more transmit signal correction factors to an input signal of the radio unit by the error correction component. At block1115method1100comprises determining one or more isolation leakage signal correction factors during operation of a second configuration of the signal path selection component that outputs an isolation leakage signal from a non-reciprocal signal routing component to the error correction component. At block1120method1100comprises applying the one or more isolation leakage signal correction factors within the error correction component without applying the isolation leakage signal correction factors, or a signal generated therefrom, to the input signal. In exemplary embodiments, the input signal can be a signal provided to a digital front end, or a clipped input signal received from a CFR function. Thus, the isolation leakage signal correction factors may not be applied to the input signal, thus not altering the input signal to be transmitted according to the isolation signal correction factors.

Turning now toFIG.12, the figure illustrates a high-level block diagram of an embodiment method1200, that may be, for example, an embodiment of method1100. In method1200, at block1205the isolation leakage signal may comprise leakage of the one or more transmit signals through the non-reciprocal signal routing component, and the applying the one or more isolation leakage signal correction factors within the error correction component may create an isolation leakage residual signal. The isolation leakage residual signal may result from substantial, but not total, cancellation, of the isolation leakage signal that leaks through the non-reciprocal signal routing component. The isolation leakage residual signal may be similar to the isolation leakage with an attenuated amplitude but may have the same, or almost the same, phase as the isolation leakage signal would have had if the isolation leakage signal correction factors had not been applied in the error correction component. The time of arrival of the isolation leakage residual signal may be the same, or almost the same, as the time of arrival of the isolation leakage signal itself would have been if the isolation leakage signal correction factors had not been applied in the error correction component. At block1210the isolation leakage residual signal is evaluated within the error correction component to determine a Time of Arrival of the isolation leakage residual signal relative to the time of the generating of the input signal. Block1215shows an embodiment method step of determining a degradation of the non-reciprocal signal routing component based on the Time of Arrival of the isolation leakage residual signal relative to the time of generating of the input signal. Other analysis instead of determining degradation of the isolator may be performed based on the time of arrival of the isolation residual signal. Further analysis, or other analysis, may include analyzing reflection signals from mechanical or electrical failures as mentioned in previous text. In an embodiment, further analysis may include analysis similar to analysis performed by a radar system, or application of a radar pulse or pulse compression through a matched filter, or general spectral analysis of an environment or objects surrounding an antenna.

Turning now toFIG.13, the figure illustrates a high-level block diagram of an embodiment1300. Method1300at block1305changes a signal path selection component of a device, the signal path selection component having a first input coupled to a transmit coupler of a radio unit, a second input coupled to a non-reciprocal signal routing component, and a first output coupled to a third input of an error correction component of the radio unit, between at least providing a transmit signal from the coupler to the error correction component or providing a leakage signal from a non-reciprocal signal routing component of the radio unit to the error correction component corresponding to the signal path selection component being configured according to a first configuration or being configured according to a second configuration, respectively. At block1310method1300determines a transmit signal correction factor based on a first error compensation function, usable during the first configuration that provides the transmit signal from the coupler to the error correction component.

At block1315the transmit signal correction factor is applied to an input signal of the radio unit. At block1320a leakage signal correction factor is determined based on a second error compensation function, usable during the second configuration of the signal path selection component that provides the leakage signal from the non-reciprocal signal routing component to the error correction component. At block1325the leakage signal correction factor is applied to the leakage signal within the error correction component, or within a ΔTΘM function, without applying the leakage signal correction factor to an input signal of the radio unit.

At block1330a time of arrival of a leakage residual signal that remains after the leakage signal correction factor has been applied to the leakage signal within the error correction component is determined. The leakage residual signal time of arrival may be used to determine a time reference for determining characteristics of signals other than the transmit signal or the leakage signal, such as a time of arrival of a reflection signal.

Turning now toFIG.14, the figure illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment method1400. In block1405, method1400comprises determining, by a radio unit of a communication network and comprising a processor, one or more transmit signal correction factors during operation of a first configuration of a signal path selection component that outputs a transmit signal from a coupler to an error correction component; at block1410determining one or more leakage signal correction factors during operation of a second configuration of the signal path selection component that outputs a leakage signal from a non-reciprocal signal routing component to the error correction component; and at block1415applying the one or more leakage signal correction factors to the leakage signal without applying the leakage signal correction factors to an input signal of the radio unit.

Turning now toFIG.15, the figure illustrates a block diagram of a method1500of an exemplary method. In block1505, method1500comprises changing a signal path selection component of a device, the signal path selection component having a first input coupled to a transmit coupler of a radio unit, a second input coupled to a non-reciprocal signal routing component, and a first output coupled to a third input of an error correction component of the radio unit, between at least providing a transmit signal from the coupler to the error correction component or providing a leakage signal from a non-reciprocal signal routing component of the radio unit to the error correction component corresponding to the signal path selection component being configured according to a first configuration or being configured according to a second configuration, respectively.

Turning now toFIG.16, the figure illustrates a block diagram of a method1600of an exemplary method. In block1605, method1600comprises a signal path selection component having a first input coupled to a transmit coupler of radio unit, a second input coupled to a non-reciprocal signal routing component, and a first output coupled to a third input of an error correction component of the radio unit; and at block1610wherein the signal path selection component is configured to change between at least outputting a transmit signal from the coupler to the error correction component or outputting a leakage signal from the non-reciprocal signal routing component to the error correction component corresponding to being configured in a first configuration or being configured in a second configuration, respectively.

Turning now toFIG.17, the figure illustrates a block diagram of a method1700of an exemplary method. In block1705, method1700, which may be an embodiment of method1600described in reference toFIG.16, at block1710may further comprise logic circuitry configured to: determine one or more transmit signal correction factors during the first configuration that outputs the transmit signal from the coupler to the error correction component; at block1715apply the one or more transmit signal correction factors to an input signal of the radio unit; at block1720determine one or more leakage signal correction factors during the second configuration that outputs the leakage signal from the non-reciprocal signal routing component to the error correction component; at block1725apply the one or more leakage signal correction factors to the input signal without applying the leakage signal correction factors to the input signal; and at block1730wherein the logic circuitry further comprises ΔTΘM compensation circuitry comprising one or more registers for storage of the one or more transmit signal correction factors or the one or more leakage signal correction factors.

The above description includes non-limiting examples of the various embodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the disclosed subject matter, and one skilled in the art may recognize that further combinations and permutations of the various embodiments are possible. The disclosed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

With regard to the various functions performed by the above-described components, devices, circuits, systems, etc., the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such components are intended to also include, unless otherwise indicated, any structure(s) which performs the specified function of the described component (e.g., a functional equivalent), even if not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure. In addition, while a particular feature of the disclosed subject matter may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.

Method steps may be embodied in computer software, firmware, or hardware, and may be implemented by computer code stored on computer readable media.

The terms “exemplary” and/or “demonstrative” or variations thereof as may be used herein are intended to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. For the avoidance of doubt, the subject matter disclosed herein is not limited by such examples. In addition, any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” and/or “demonstrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs, nor is it meant to preclude equivalent structures and techniques known to one skilled in the art. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “has,” “contains,” and other similar words are used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive—in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as an open transition word—without precluding any additional or other elements.

The term “or” as used herein is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” For example, the phrase “A or B” is intended to include instances of A, B, and both A and B. Additionally, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless either otherwise specified or clear from the context to be directed to a singular form.

The term “set” as employed herein excludes the empty set, i.e., the set with no elements therein. Thus, a “set” in the subject disclosure includes one or more elements or entities. Likewise, the term “group” as utilized herein refers to a collection of one or more entities.

The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and so forth, as used in the claims, unless otherwise clear by context, is for clarity only and doesn't otherwise indicate or imply any order in time, priority, sequence of operation, or preference. For instance, “a first determination,” “a second determination,” and “a third determination,” does not indicate or imply that the first determination is to be made before the second determination, or vice versa, etc.

The description of illustrated embodiments of the subject disclosure as provided herein, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosed embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. While specific embodiments and examples are described herein for illustrative purposes, various modifications are possible that are considered within the scope of such embodiments and examples, as one skilled in the art can recognize. In this regard, while the subject matter has been described herein in connection with various embodiments and corresponding drawings, where applicable, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments can be used or modifications and additions can be made to the described embodiments for performing the same, similar, alternative, or substitute function of the disclosed subject matter without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the disclosed subject matter should not be limited to any single embodiment described herein, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims below.