Synchronization of large antenna count systems

摘要

Techniques are disclosed relating to synchronization of radios in a large antenna count (LAC) system. In some embodiments, a LAC system includes a plurality of slave radios, a clock and trigger distribution system, and a master device. In these embodiments, the plurality of slave radios are configured to establish a fixed relationship between a reference clock and their respective local clocks. In these embodiments, the master device and plurality of slave radios are configured to generate and align respective common periodic time reference (CPTR) signals, at a lower frequency than the local clocks. In these embodiments, the master device is configured to transmit a trigger signal based on its CPTR and the plurality of slave radios are configured to perform an action based on the trigger at a subsequent edge of their CPTRs. This may allow synchronization of sampling for antennas in a massive MIMO base station, for example. In some embodiments the master device a radio and includes a local clock, is configured to establish and maintain a fixed relationship between a reference clock and its local clock, and is configured to perform an action based on the trigger at the subsequent edge of its CPTR.

主权项

1. A large antenna count (LAC) system, comprising:
a master device; a plurality of slave radios communicatively coupled to the master device and to respective antennas in the large antenna count system, wherein each slave radio includes a local clock; a clock and trigger distribution system, coupled to the master device and the plurality of slave radios, wherein the clock and trigger distribution system comprises a hierarchy of clock and trigger distribution modules; wherein the plurality of slave radios are configured to establish and maintain a fixed relationship between a reference clock and their respective local clocks, wherein the reference clock is distributed via the clock and trigger distribution system; wherein the master device and the plurality of slave radios are configured to generate and align respective common periodic time reference signals that have a lower frequency than the respective local clocks; wherein the master device is configured to transmit, based on an edge of its common periodic time reference signal, a trigger signal via the clock and trigger distribution system to the plurality of slave radios; and wherein the plurality of slave radios are configured to perform an action based on the trigger signal at a subsequent edge of their common periodic time reference signals.