Self-interference signal cancellation apparatus and transceiver including the same

Abstract

An apparatus for canceling a self-interference signal and a transceiver including the same are disclosed. The transceiver may include an antenna; a circulator transmitting a portion of a transmit signal to the antenna and transmitting a receive signal received through the antenna to a receiver; and a self-interference signal canceling unit receiving a first signal, which is a portion of the transmit signal, and physically copying a self-interference signal generated by the antenna and the circulator to generate an estimation signal of the self-interference signal.

Claims

1. A transceiver comprising: a first antenna transmitting a portion of a transmit signal; a second antenna positioned to be spaced apart from the first antenna by a first length and receiving a receive signal; a self-interference signal canceling unit receiving a first signal, which is a portion of the transmit signal, and physically copying a self-interference signal generated by the first length to generate an estimation signal of the self-interference signal; a divider receiving the transmit signal and separating the first signal from the transmit signal to transmit the first signal to the self-interference signal canceling unit; and a combiner combining the second signal inputted through the second antenna with the estimation signal of the self-interference signal, wherein the self-interference signal canceling unit includes a transmission line having a predetermined length by considering a second length, which is a physical length between the divider and the first antenna, a third length, which is a physical length between the second antenna and the combiner, and the first length.

2. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein: the self-interference signal canceling unit further includes a signal shifter that adjusts magnitude of the first signal, so as to compensate for a magnitude difference between the self-interference signal and the estimation signal of the self-interference signal.

3. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein: the self-interference signal canceling unit further includes a phase shifter that adjusts a phase of the first signal so that the estimation signal of the self-interference signal is canceled from the second signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a transceiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating a self-interference signal canceling unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a load generator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating a transceiver according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating a self-interference signal canceling unit according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(6) In the following detailed description, only certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, simply by way of illustration. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

(7) Throughout the specification, a transceiver may refer to a terminal, a mobile terminal (MT), a mobile station (MS), an advanced mobile station (AMS), a high reliability mobile station (HR-MS), a subscriber station (SS), a portable subscriber station (PSS), an access terminal (AT), a user equipment (UE), a radar, or the like, and may also include functions of all or some of the MT, the MS, the AMS, the HR-MS, the SS, the PSS, the AT, the UE, the radar, or the like.

(8) In addition, the transceiver may refer to a base station (BS), an advanced base station (ABS), a high reliability base station (HR-BS), a node B, an evolved node B (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a radio access station (RAS), a base transceiver station (BTS), a mobile multi-hop relay (MMR)-BS, a relay station (RS) serving as the base station, a high reliability relay station (HR-RS) serving as the base station, or the like, and may also include all or some of the functions of BS, the ABS, the nodeB, the eNodeB, the AP, the RAS, the BTS, the MMR-BS, the RS, the HR-RS, or the like.

(9) FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a transceiver 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The transceiver 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 may be operated in an in-band full duplex (IFD) mode.

(10) As illustrated in FIG. 1, the transceiver 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a transmit RF unit 110, a divider 120, a circulator 130, an antenna 140, a self-interference signal canceling unit 150, a combiner 160, and a receive RF unit 170. In FIG. 1, transmit and receive baseband (referred to as BB) units to be connected to the transmit and receive RF units 110 and 170 were omitted.

(11) The transmit RF unit 110 receives a baseband signal from the transmit BB unit and converts the baseband signal into a transmit signal for a wireless transmission. In FIG. 1, the transmit signal generated by the transmit RF unit 110 is denoted as x(t).

(12) The divider 120 divides the transmit signal x(t) generated by the transmit RF unit 110 into two signals and transmits the two signals to the circulator 130 and the self-interference signal canceling unit 150, respectively. In FIG. 1, the signals divided by the divider 120 are denoted as a first transmit distribution signal p(t) and a second transmit distribution signal q(t). Such a divider 120 may be implemented as a RF coupler.

(13) The circulator 130 receives the first transmit distribution signal p(t) from the divider 120 and transmits the first transmit distribution signal p(t) to the antenna 140. The circulator 130 transmits a receive signal r(t) received by the antenna 140 to the receive RF unit 170. That is, the circulator 130 serves to transmit the receive signal r(t) to a receiver at the same time of transmitting the first transmit distribution signal p(t) to the antenna 140 while having directivity.

(14) The antenna 140 simultaneously performs a transmit function as well as a receive function. That is, the first transmit distribution signal p(t) is transmitted via the antenna 140 and the receive signal r(t) is received via the antenna 140. In FIG. 1, input impedance of the antenna 140 is denoted as Z.sub.A.

(15) Meanwhile, in FIG. 1, the signals inputted through the antenna 140 and the circulator 130 are denoted as w(t). Here, w(t) includes the receive signal r(t) of the transceiver 100, and a self-interference signal y(t). The self-interference signal is denoted as y(t).

(16) The self-interference signal canceling unit 150 receives the second transmit distribution signal q(t) from the divider 120 and generates an estimation signal {tilde over (y)}(t) of self-interference signal. The self-interference signal canceling unit 150 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention physically copies causes generating the self-interference signal to generate the estimation signal of the self-interference signal, which will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2.

(17) In FIG. 1, L.sub.TX denotes a physical length of a transmission line up to the circulator 130 from the divider 120, and L.sub.RX denotes a physical length of a transmission line up to the combiner 160 from the circulator 130. The roles thereof will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2.

(18) The combiner 160 combines the signal w(t) inputted through the antenna 140 and the circulator 130 with the estimation signal {tilde over (y)}(t) of the self-interference signal to output an estimation signal {tilde over (r)}(t) of the receive signal r(t). That is, the combiner 160 subtracts {tilde over (y)}(t) from w(t) to output {tilde over (r)}(t). Such a combiner 160 may be implemented as a RF coupler.

(19) The receive RF unit 170 receives the estimation signal {tilde over (r)}(t) of the receive signal r(t) from the combiner 160, converts the estimation signal {tilde over (r)}(t) into the baseband signal, and transmits the converted baseband signal to the receive BB unit. That is, the receive RF unit 170 receives a receive signal from which the self-interference signal is canceled.

(20) The self-interference signal y(t) received with being mixed with the receive signal r(t) may be expressed as in Equation 1.
y(t)=[y.sub.IN(t+y.sub.OUT(t)]
y.sub.IN(t)=h.sub.IN(,t)*x(t)[Equation 1]

(21) In Equation 1, y.sub.IN(t) means a self-interference signal generated by characteristics of the circulator 130 and the antenna 140. Since isolation characteristics of the circulator 130 are not ideal, a portion of the first transmit distribution signal p(t) may be leaked into the receive RF unit 170. In addition, due to reflection coefficient characteristics of the antenna 140 which are not ideal, a portion of the first transmit distribution signal p(t) is reflected from the antenna 140 and leaked into the receive RF unit 170. The above-mentioned signals are all sell-interference signals, which are denoted as y.sub.IN(t). As in Equation 1, y.sub.IN(t) may be denoted by convolution of a channel impulse response h.sub.IN(,t) and x(t). In addition, y.sub.OUT(t) means a signal that the first transmit distribution signal p(t) is outputted through the antenna 140 and is then again received through the antenna 140 after an electric wave scattering (a reflection by peripheral objects, or the like). Such y.sub.OUT(t) is a signal to be canceled in a digital stage after a receive analog to digital conversion (ADC). Therefore, the self-interference signal considered by the self-interference signal canceling unit 150 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is y.sub.IN(t). Hereinafter, in the present specification, y.sub.IN(t) will be expressed as y(t) for convenience of explanation.

(22) The self-interference signal y(t) is generated by characteristics of the circulator 130 and the antenna 140. Accordingly, the self-interference signal canceling unit 150 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention physically and directly copies the self-interference signal generated by the circulator 130 and the antenna 140 to generate an estimation signal {tilde over (y)}(t) of the self-interference signal. This will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2.

(23) FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating the self-interference signal canceling unit 150 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(24) As illustrated in FIG. 2, the self-interference signal canceling unit 150 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a circulator 151, a load generator 152, a signal shifter 153, a phase shifter 154, and a transmission line 155. The arrangement order of the signal shifter 153, the phase shifter 154, and the transmission line 155 may be changed.

(25) The circulator 151 has the same characteristics as the circulator 130. That is, the circulator 151, which is manufactured in the same method as the circulator 130, may be used.

(26) The load generator 152 is connected to the circulator 151, and has the same input impedance as the antenna 140. In FIG. 1, in correspond with the case that the antenna 140 having the input impedance of Z.sub.A is connected to the circulator 130, the load generator 152 that copies Z.sub.A is connected to the circulator 151. That is, the load generator 152 has the input impedance {tilde over (Z)}.sub.A that copies the input impedance Z.sub.A of the antenna 140.

(27) FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating the load generator 152 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(28) As illustrated in FIG. 3, the load generator 152 includes a transmission line 152_1 and a matching network 152_2.

(29) The case that the first transmit distribution signal p(t) is reflected by the antenna 140 occurs by a mismatching of the input impedance Z.sub.A of the antenna 140 and system impedance (e.g., 50 ohm), only in consideration of a steady-state. In order to more accurately copy a reflection phenomenon by the antenna, including a transient-state, the transmission line 152_1 having a predetermined length may be formed in the load generator 152. The transmission line 152_1 may have, for example, 0.25 .sub.g (where, .sub.g refers to an guided wavelength of the transmission line at the corresponding frequency) length. Meanwhile, in the case that a desired level of the self-interference signal cancellation may be achieved without using the transmission line 152_1, the transmission line 152_1 may not be used.

(30) The matching network 152_2 is configured so that the input impedance {tilde over (Z)}A of the load generator 152 copies the input impedance Z.sub.A of the antenna 140 in consideration of up to an operation of the transmission line 152_1. The matching network 152_2 may basically include a resistor R, an inductor L, and a capacitor C. Here, the matching network 152_2 may further include a varactor, and may provide convenience of adjusting input impedance by adjusting characteristics of the varactor.

(31) In the case that the load generator 152 perfectly copies the input impedance A of the antenna 140, and the characteristics of the circulator 130 and the circulator 151 are the same as each other, a relationship between p(t) and y(t) is the same as a relationship between q(t) and z(t).

(32) Meanwhile, FIG. 2 illustrates the case that the divider 120 and the combiner 160 are implemented as a RF coupler. Here, 1, 2, 3, and 4, which are ports of the RF coupler, denote an input port, a through port, a coupled port, and an isolation port, respectively.

(33) In a process of dividing the transmit signal x(t) generated by the transmit RF unit 110 into the first transmit distribution signal p(t) and the second transmit distribution signal q(t), magnitudes of the first transmit distribution signal p(t) and the second transmit distribution signal q(t) may not be the same as each other. In addition, the first transmit distribution signal p(t) and the second transmit distribution signal q(t) do not pass through a completely same signal path. Thus, the signal shifter 153 amplifies or attenuates magnitude of the output signal z(t) of the circulator 151 so that magnitude of {tilde over (y)}(t) becomes equal to magnitude of y(t). The signal shifter 153 may be implemented using an amplifier and a variable attenuator.

(34) The phase shifter 154 adjusts a phase so that the estimation signal {tilde over (y)}(t) of the self-interference signal is canceled from the signal w(t) inputted through the antenna 140 and the circulator 130. In the case that the two couplers 120 and 160 are both 90 couplers, since there is no need to adjust the phase, the phase shifter 154 provides the phase difference of 0 between an input and an output. As another example, in the case that the two couplers 120 and 160 are both 180 couplers, the phase shifter 154 provides the phase difference of 180 between an input and an output.

(35) Meanwhile, the phase difference may exist between an input and an output of the signal shifter 153, and the phase difference of S.sub.21 and S.sub.31 in the two couplers 120 and 160 may not be accurately 90 or 180. Therefore, the phase shifter 154 provides a phase that {tilde over (y)}(t) is canceled from w(t) by reflecting the above-mentioned contents. For example, in the case that the phase difference of S.sub.21 and S.sub.31 in the two couplers 120 and 160 is 170, and the phase difference of the input and the output of the signal shifter 153 is 90, the phase shifter 154 provides the phase difference of 110 between the input and the output.

(36) The transmission lines having physical lengths denoted by L.sub.TX and L.sub.RX in FIG. 1 and the transmission line 155 in FIG. 2 compensate for a difference between a time delay from x(t) to the signal y(t) and a time delay from x(t) to the signal {tilde over (y)}(t). The signal y(t) and {tilde over (y)}(t) are not accurately a time delay version of the x(t), but are expressed as in Equations 2 and 3 for convenience of explanation.
y(t)=R.sub..Math.x(t.sub.)[Equation 2]
{tilde over (y)}(t)=R.sub.b.Math.x(t.sub.b)[Equation 3]

(37) In Equations 2 and 3, a difference between R.sub.a and R.sub.b is compensated by the signal shifter 153 described above. In addition, a difference between .sub.a and .sub.b is compensated by the transmission lines having the physical lengths denoted by L.sub.TX and L.sub.RX and the transmission line 155. The transmit signal x(t) is propagated to a path of the divider 120, the circulator 130, and the antenna 140 to become y(t), and the transmit signal x(t) is propagated to a path of the divider 120 and the self-interference signal canceling unit 150 to become {tilde over (y)}(t) Accordingly, since y(t) and {tilde over (y)}(t) have different propagation paths, a difference in the time delays may occur, where the transmission lines having the physical lengths denoted by L.sub.TX and L.sub.RX and the transmission line 155 serve to compensate for the difference between the time delays.

(38) Meanwhile, since the estimation signal {tilde over (y)}(t) of the self-interference signal is generated by copying the physical phenomenon generating the self-interference signal in FIGS. 1 to 3, there is no need to basically estimate the channel impulse response h.sub.IN(, t) in Equation 1. However, in order to be able to estimate h.sub.IN(, t), the signal shifter 153 is turned-off by the control of a controller (not shown). That is, by turning-off the signal shifter 153, it is possible to estimate the channel impulse response h.sub.IN(, t).

(39) FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating a transceiver 400 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The transceiver 400 of FIG. 4 is similar to the transceiver 100 of FIG. 1 except that it is operated in an in-band full duplex (IFD) mode using two antennas.

(40) As illustrated in FIG. 4, the transceiver 400 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a transmit RF unit 410, a divider 420, a transmit antenna 430, a receive antenna 440, a self-interference signal canceling unit 450, a combiner 460, and a receive RF unit 470. Since operations of the transmit RF unit 410, the divider 420, the combiner 460, and the receive RF unit 470 in FIG. 4 are the same as the corresponding components of FIG. 1, an overlapped description will be omitted.

(41) Since the transmit antenna 430 and the receive antenna 440 separately exist, the circulator is not used in the transceiver 400 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A position of the self-interference signal canceling unit 450 of FIG. 4 is the same as the position of the self-interference signal canceling unit 150 of FIG. 1, and a function thereof is also the same as the function of the self-interference signal canceling unit 150 of FIG. 1 in that the causes generating the self-interference signal are physically copied.

(42) However, since the causes generating the self-interference signal in FIG. 1 and the causes generating the self-interference signal in FIG. 4 are different, configurations and operations of the self-interference signal canceling units 150 and 450 are slightly different.

(43) In FIG. 4, L.sub.TX denotes a physical length of a transmission line up to the transmit antenna 430 from the divider 420, and L.sub.RX denotes a physical length of a transmission line up to the combiner 460 from the receive antenna 440. In addition, L.sub.DIRECT denotes a physical length up to the receive antenna 440 from the transmit antenna 430.

(44) The self-interference signal y(t) received with being mixed with the receive signal r(t) may be expressed as in Equation 4.
y(t)=[y.sub.DIRECT(t)+y.sub.NON-DIRECT(t)]
y.sub.DIRECT(t)=h.sub.DIRECT(,t)*x(t)[Equation 4]

(45) In Equation 4, y.sub.DIRECT(t) means a self-interference signal generated by a direct path between the transmit antenna 430 and the receive antenna 440. y.sub.NON-DIRECT(t) means a self-interference signal generated by paths other than the direct path. As in Equation 4, y.sub.DIRECT(t) may be denoted by convolution of a channel impulse response h.sub.DIRECT(,t) and x(t). In addition, y.sub.NON-DIRECT(t) means a self-interference signal generated by other paths. Such y.sub.NON-DIRECT(t) is a signal to be canceled in a digital stage after a receive analog to digital conversion (ADC). Therefore, the self-interference signal considered by the self-interference signal canceling unit 450 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is y.sub.DIRECT(t). Hereinafter, in the present specification, y.sub.DIRECT(t) will be expressed as y(t) for convenience of explanation.

(46) The self-interference signal y(t) is generated by the direct path between the transmit antenna 430 and the receive antenna 440. Accordingly, the self-interference signal canceling unit 450 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention physically and directly copies the self-interference signal generated by the direct path to generate an estimation signal {tilde over (y)}(t) of the self-interference signal. This will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 5.

(47) FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating the self-interference signal canceling unit 450 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 illustrates the case that the divider 420 and the combiner 460 are implemented as the RF coupler. Here, 1, 2, 3, and 4, which are ports of the RF coupler, denote an input port, a through port, a coupled port, and an isolation port, respectively.

(48) As illustrated in FIG. 5, the self-interference signal canceling unit 450 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a transmission line 451, a signal shifter 452, and a phase shifter 453. The arrangement order of the transmission line 451, the signal shifter 452, and the phase shifter 453 may be changed.

(49) Meanwhile, in the transceiver 400 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, y(t) and {tilde over (y)}(t) are expressed as in Equations 5 and 6, respectively.
y(t)=R.sub.d.Math.x(t.sub.d)[Equation 5]
{tilde over (y)}(t)=R.sub.e.Math.x(t.sub.e)[Equation 6]

(50) In Equations 5 and 6, a difference between R.sub.d and R.sub.e is compensated by the signal shifter 452. In addition, a difference between T.sub.d and T.sub.e is compensated by transmission lines having physical lengths denoted by L.sub.TX and L.sub.RX and the transmission line 451. The transmit signal x(t) is propagated to a path of the divider 420, the transmit antenna 430, the direct path between the transmit antenna 430 and the receive antenna 440, and the receive antenna 440 to become y(t), and the transmit signal x(t) is propagated to a path of the divider 420 and the self-interference signal canceling unit 450 to become {tilde over (y)}(t). Accordingly, since y(t) and {tilde over (y)}(t) have different propagation paths, a difference in the time delays may occur, where the transmission lines having the physical lengths denoted by L.sub.TX and L.sub.RX and the transmission line 453 serve to compensate for the difference between the time delays.

(51) A function of the phase shifter 453 is the same as the phase shifter 154 of FIG. 2. That is, the phase is adjusted so that the estimation signal {tilde over (y)}(t) of the self-interference signal is canceled from the signal w(t) inputted to the receive antenna 440.

(52) Since the estimation signal {tilde over (y)}(t) of the self-interference signal is generated by copying the physical phenomenon generating the self-interference signal in FIGS. 4 to 5, there is no need to basically estimate the channel impulse response h.sub.DIRECT(, t) in Equation 4. However, in order to be able to estimate h.sub.DIRECT(, t), the signal shifter 452 is turned-off by the control of a controller (not shown). That is, by turning-off the signal shifter 452, it is possible to estimate the channel impulse response h.sub.DIRECT(, t).

(53) Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention described above describe the method for canceling the self-interference signal based on one transceiver, the exemplary embodiments may also be applied to the case that a plurality of transceivers are used. Here, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be applied to each of the plurality of transceivers based on one transceiver.

(54) While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.