Aspects of the disclosure relate to minimizing the number of antenna array modules on a wireless communication device utilized in forming beam pair links (BPLs) based on beam measurements obtained on each of a plurality of receive beams for each of a plurality of transmit beams. For at least one BPL, the wireless communication device selects a different receive beam that results in at least one fewer active antenna array module. In some examples, the different receive beam selected for a BPL has a beam measurement value within a predefined variance from a beam measurement value of an original receive beam for the BPL. In addition, the wireless communication device can confirm that the beam measurement values of both the original and different receive beams satisfy a minimum beam measurement value before switching the BPL to the different receive beam. Other aspects, features, and embodiments are also claimed and described.

This disclosure relates to techniques for opportunistically depowering receiver chains of a wireless device. Based on control information, a device may determine whether the current number of active receiver chains can be reduced while maintaining a target achievable code rate for a period of data reception associated with the control information. Additionally, the device may generate and use a lookup table to determine whether to depower receiver chains, and which receiver chains to depower.

An access node transmits, in a downlink signal having a series of subframes, a beam-formed reference signal in subframes, where the beam-formed reference signals are transmitted in fewer than all of the subframes of the downlink signal. A first subset includes beam-formed reference signals corresponding to a first frequency or first localized range of frequencies, and a second subset includes beam-formed reference signals corresponding to a second frequency or second localized range of frequencies. The second frequency or second localized range of frequencies is spaced apart from and differing from the first frequency or first localized range of frequencies. A user equipment, UE, receives, in the downlink signal, the beam-formed reference signal in each of a plurality of subframes. The UE performs mobility management measurements using at least the first subset of the received beam-formed reference signals and performs RLM using the second subset of the received beam-formed reference signals.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for signaling of UE intra/inter-panel beam switch latency using communications systems operating according to new radio (NR) technologies. For example, the method generally includes determining at least a first latency associated with a beam switch across at least first and second antenna array modules, wherein the first latency is greater than or equal to a second latency associated with a beam switch within the first or second antenna module, and signaling a second device an indication of when to assume the first latency for a beam switch at the first device.

Systems and methods for providing improved cell-edge antenna performance are disclosed. The system can use various signal quality indicators (SQIs) for each user equipment (UE) on a particular wireless base station (WBS) or network. When one or more of these metrics reaches a first predetermined value for a particular UE, the WBS or the UE can decide to activate a diversity receive (Rx) antenna on the UE to improve reception. If one or more of these metrics continues to degrade to a second predetermined value, however, the WBS or the UE can deactivate the diversity Rx antenna and activate a primary Rx antenna. Deactivating the diversity antenna when signal quality/strength is poor can improve reception by reducing interference between the diversity Rx antennas. Disabling the diversity Rx antenna when signal quality/strength is poor can also decrease the number of retransmission requests from each UE, reducing traffic on the WBS.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for signaling of UE intra/inter-panel beam switch latency using communications systems operating according to new radio (NR) technologies. For example, the method generally includes determining at least a first latency associated with a beam switch across at least first and second antenna array modules, wherein the first latency is greater than or equal to a second latency associated with a beam switch within the first or second antenna module, and signaling a second device an indication of when to assume the first latency for a beam switch at the first device.

Switching between and/or combining various multi-transceiver wireless communication techniques based on a determined characteristic of a network or a wireless link is described herein. As an example, a characteristic such as signal to noise ratio (SNR), multi-path scattering, available bandwidth, or the like, can be determined. The characteristic can then be compared with suitable thresholds for various multi-transceiver communication techniques, such as MIMO, multi-channel concatenation, channel diversity, and so on. Based on a comparison of the characteristic and the thresholds, a suitable multi-transceiver technique can be selected and implemented for the wireless link. Accordingly, a network can provide increased data rates and/or channel quality from a multi-transceiver technique that is most suited to prevailing conditions of the wireless network/link.

An electronic device includes a plurality of antenna modules, a first communication circuit communicating in a first communication scheme via at least one antenna module The electronic device also includes a second communication circuit communicating in a second communication scheme. The electronic device further includes a temperature sensor, a processor and a memory storing instructions. The instructions are configured to, when executed, enable the at least one processor to detect a temperature associated with the antenna module or the first communication circuit while communicating via the first communication circuit, identify a first control step among a plurality of control steps based on an operation type of the electronic device and the at least one temperature detected, and limit at least some operations on at least one of the at least one antenna module or the first communication circuit, corresponding to the identified first control step.

An access node transmits, in a downlink signal having a series of subframes, a beam-formed reference signal in subframes, where the beam-formed reference signals are transmitted in fewer than all of the subframes of the downlink signal. A first subset includes beam-formed reference signals corresponding to a first frequency or first localized range of frequencies, and a second subset includes beam-formed reference signals corresponding to a second frequency or second localized range of frequencies. The second frequency or second localized range of frequencies is spaced apart from and differing from the first frequency or first localized range of frequencies. A user equipment, UE, receives, in the downlink signal, the beam-formed reference signal in each of a plurality of subframes. The UE performs mobility management measurements using at least the first subset of the received beam-formed reference signals and performs RLM using the second subset of the received beam-formed reference signals.

A method for operating a user equipment with multi-beam communication capability includes performing measurements in accordance with received reference signals, and determining that at least one antenna panel is unused, wherein the determining is in accordance with the measurements, and based thereon, reporting an availability of the at least one antenna panel.