Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating an antenna array are described. Input signals and feedback signals are received, where the feedback signal is a combination of the input signals as captured after having traversed transmit paths and prior to being transmitted at a plurality of sub-arrays. A first interference reduced feedback signals is determined. A current estimation of the impairment function is determined. A second interference reduced feedback signals based on the current estimation of the impairment function, the input signals and the feedback signal. Responsive to determining that the power of the second interference reduced feedback signal satisfies a selection criteria, the current estimation of the impairment function is caused to be used for each one of the plurality of transmit paths for calibration of the antenna array and removing distortion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing random access in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In general, the cellular communications network is an Orthogonal Frequency Division Modulation (OFDM) based cellular communications network (e.g., a 3GPP LTE cellular communications network) or similar multi-subcarrier based cellular communications network. Random access is performed using a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) including subcarriers having a subcarrier frequency spacing that is equal to a subcarrier frequency spacing in one or more other channels of the uplink (e.g., a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH)). As a result, the subcarriers in the PRACH are orthogonal to the subcarriers in the other channel(s) of the uplink, which in turn reduces, or substantially eliminates, interference between the PRACH subcarriers and the subcarriers of the other channel(s) of the uplink.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for calibrating an antenna array in a receiver. A training signal for calibrating the antenna array is injected into a data signal received on each receive path to generate combined signals on each receive path. The combined signals are equalized by respective equalizers. The coefficients of the equalizers are determined by comparing a feedback signal for each receive path with the equalized signal to estimate the impairment on each received path. The estimated impairment on each receive path is used to adapt the equalize coefficients for a respective equalizer to compensate for the impairment. After equalization, an estimate of the observed training signal on each receive path is subtracted from the equalized signal for the same receive path to generate estimates of the received data signals for demodulation and decoding.

Abstract: A method and system for time domain calibration to compensate for signal phase impairment in transmit paths in a transmitter configured to drive an antenna array are disclosed. According to one aspect, a base station is configured to compensate for signal impairment in transmit paths feeding an array of antenna elements in which the compensation is performed in the time domain. The base station includes a combiner configured to combine signals output from the transmit paths to form a feedback signal. An impairment estimator is configured to receive the feedback signal and outbound traffic signals and to determine a phase compensation value for each impairment path. A multiplier is provided for each transmit path, the multipliers configured to multiply the outbound traffic signals by respective phase compensation values.

Abstract: An insect trap and a method of using the same. The insect trap includes a housing. The insect trap also includes a glue board receiving space located inside the housing. The insect trap further includes one or more light sources for attracting insects into the housing. The insect trap also includes a camera having a lens. The lens has a front element. The camera is positioned to capture images of a glue board when the glue board is received in the glue board receiving space. There is no line of sight between the or each light source and the front element of the lens. This may prevent light from the or each light source reaching the front element directly. The method can include using an image captured by the camera to determine that a glue board received in the glue board receiving space needs to be replaced.

Abstract: A method and system for time domain calibration to compensate for signal phase impairment in transmit paths in a transmitter configured to drive an antenna array are disclosed. According to one aspect, a base station is configured to compensate for signal impairment in transmit paths feeding an array of antenna elements in which the compensation is performed in the time domain. The base station includes a combiner configured to combine signals output from the transmit paths to form a feedback signal. An impairment estimator is configured to receive the feedback signal and outbound traffic signals and to determine a phase compensation value for each impairment path. A multiplier is provided for each transmit path, the multipliers configured to multiply the outbound traffic signals by respective phase compensation values.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing random access in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In general, the cellular communications network is an Orthogonal Frequency Division Modulation (OFDM) based cellular communications network (e.g., a 3GPP LTE cellular communications network) or similar multi-subcarrier based cellular communications network. Random access is performed using a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) including subcarriers having a subcarrier frequency spacing that is equal to a subcarrier frequency spacing in one or more other channels of the uplink (e.g., a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH)). As a result, the subcarriers in the PRACH are orthogonal to the subcarriers in the other channel(s) of the uplink, which in turn reduces, or substantially eliminates, interference between the PRACH subcarriers and the subcarriers of the other channel(s) of the uplink.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing random access in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In general, the cellular communications network is an Orthogonal Frequency Division Modulation (OFDM) based cellular communications network (e.g., a 3 GPP LTE cellular communications network) or similar multi-subcarrier based cellular communications network. Random access is performed using a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) including subcarriers having a subcarrier frequency spacing that is equal to a subcarrier frequency spacing in one or more other channels of the uplink (e.g., a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH)). As a result, the subcarriers in the PRACH are orthogonal to the subcarriers in the other channel(s) of the uplink, which in turn reduces, or substantially eliminates, interference between the PRACH subcarriers and the subcarriers of the other channel(s) of the uplink.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a network node uses beam frames to broadcast acquisition information on a plurality of beam sets (N). Each beam sets includes a plurality of beams (K). The network node broadcasts the acquisition information one beam set at a time during a corresponding one of a periodic plurality (X) of the beam frames. The periodic plurality (X) of beam frames occur with a first periodicity and are within a periodic plurality (Y) of subframes occurring with a second periodicity.

Abstract: An insect capturing device and a method of using the same. The insect capturing device includes a housing. The insect capturing device also includes an insect disabling portion. The insect capturing device also includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) operable to emit light for attracting insects. The insect capturing device further includes a reflection surface. The LEDs are oriented to direct light onto the reflection surface for reflecting the light out from the housing to attract insects onto the insect disabling portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of a hybrid unit that supports a configurable number of radio units for a base station in a cellular communications network and embodiments of Distributed Digitally Convertible Radio Units (DDCRUs) for use with the hybrid unit are disclosed. In one embodiment, a hybrid unit for a base station in a cellular communications network is provided. The hybrid unit includes an analog hybrid matrix. The analog hybrid matrix includes a number of feeder ports operative to connect to at least one radio unit and up to a number of radio units that are external to and separate from the hybrid unit. In one preferred embodiment, the radio unit(s) is(are) DDCRU(s). The analog hybrid matrix also includes a number of antenna ports operative to connect to at least one and up to a corresponding number of antennas of the base station.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system for a multi-sector base station in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an integrated unit, where the integrated unit includes multiple antennas and a radio unit (RU) coupled to the antennas. By integrating the multiple antennas and the radio RU into a single integrated unit, the system can, in some embodiments, reduce installation and operating costs of the multi-sector base station.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing random access in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In general, the cellular communications network is an Orthogonal Frequency Division Modulation (OFDM) based cellular communications network (e.g., a 3GPP LTE cellular communications network) or similar multi-subcarrier based cellular communications network. Random access is performed using a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) including subcarriers having a subcarrier frequency spacing that is equal to a subcarrier frequency spacing in one or more other channels of the uplink (e.g., a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH)). As a result, the subcarriers in the PRACH are orthogonal to the subcarriers in the other channel(s) of the uplink, which in turn reduces, or substantially eliminates, interference between the PRACH subcarriers and the subcarriers of the other channel(s) of the uplink.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a network node uses beam frames to broadcast acquisition information on a plurality of beam sets (N). Each beam sets includes a plurality of beams (K). The network node broadcasts the acquisition information one beam set at a time during a corresponding one of a periodic plurality (X) of the beam frames. The periodic plurality (X) of beam frames occur with a first periodicity and are within a periodic plurality (Y) of subframes occurring with a second periodicity.

Abstract: A calibration method for a base station removes distortion in traffic signals incurred in transmit paths of the base station. The transmit paths are coupled to an antenna array for transmitting the traffic signals in a wireless network. The method includes conditioning a traffic signal to reduce a correlation with another traffic signal before the traffic signals enter the transmit paths. For each of the traffic signals, an impairment estimation is performed based on the traffic signals captured before entering the transmit paths and the traffic signals captured before entering the antenna array. An approximate inverse of the impairment estimation is applied to each of the traffic signals before the traffic signals enter the transmit paths.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system for a multi-sector base station in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an integrated unit, where the integrated unit includes multiple antennas and a radio unit (RU) coupled to the antennas. By integrating the multiple antennas and the radio RU into a single integrated unit, the system can, in some embodiments, reduce installation and operating costs of the multi-sector base station.

Abstract: An insect capturing device and a method of using the same. The insect capturing device includes a housing. The insect capturing device also includes an insect disabling portion. The insect capturing device also includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) operable to emit light for attracting insects. The insect capturing device further includes a reflection surface. The LEDs are oriented to direct light onto the reflection surface for reflecting the light out from the housing to attract insects onto the in sect disabling portion.

Abstract: Methods and devices for extracting a RACH preamble using as input a number of Fast Fourier Transformed symbols, in order to extract a random access channel (RACH) preamble from a signal received in a base station from a user device, in a radio communication system, are provided. An initial cyclic prefix (symbol CP) is removed prior to performing FFT on symbols. After (1) selecting from the FFT of a symbol frequencies corresponding to the RACH band all other non-RACH frequency bins having been set to zero, (2) shifting the signal to baseband and (3) performing a FFT on the baseband signal, a phase adjustment is performed to compensate for group delays due to symbol CP gaps occurring when generating the baseband signal, the phase adjustment being determined individually for each symbol.

Abstract: Embodiments of a hybrid unit that supports a configurable number of radio units for a base station in a cellular communications network and embodiments of Distributed Digitally Convertible Radio Units (DDCRUs) for use with the hybrid unit are disclosed. In one embodiment, a hybrid unit for a base station in a cellular communications network is provided. The hybrid unit includes an analog hybrid matrix. The analog hybrid matrix includes a number of feeder ports operative to connect to at least one radio unit and up to a number of radio units that are external to and separate from the hybrid unit. In one preferred embodiment, the radio unit(s) is(are) DDCRU(s). The analog hybrid matrix also includes a number of antenna ports operative to connect to at least one and up to a corresponding number of antennas of the base station.

Abstract: Determination of an impairment compensation matrix for compensation of impairments in an antenna array is disclosed. A plurality of different combinations of multi-signal transmissions which form at least one null at a respective location of a plurality of locations is determined. Each combination includes a multi-signal transmission that comprises at least two concurrent signal transmissions from at least two antenna subarrays of N antenna subarrays and the respective location. Based on signal characteristics associated with the plurality of different combinations of multi-signal transmissions and an expected signal reception at the plurality of locations, an impairment matrix that identifies an effect of impairments among the N antenna subarrays is determined. The impairment compensation matrix is determined based on the impairment matrix.