Techniques to correct for phase and amplitude mismatches in a radio device
in order to maintain channel symmetry when communicating with another
device using MIMO radio communication techniques. Correction for the
amplitude and phase mismatches among the plurality of transmitters and
plurality of receivers of a device may be made at baseband using digital
logic (such as in the modem) in the receiver path, the transmitter path
or both paths of that device. In a device, amplitude and phase offsets
are determined among the plurality of radio transmitter and radio
receiver paths by measuring phase and amplitude responses when supplying
a signal to a transmitter in a first antenna path of the device and
coupling the radio signal from a first antenna to a second antenna path
of that device where the signal is downconverted by a receiver associated
with the second antenna path, and similarly coupling a signal from the
second antenna path to the first antenna path. Measurements are obtained
between the first antenna path and each of the other antenna paths when
coupling a signal in both directions between them. Phase and amplitude
offset correction values are computed from the phase and amplitude
measurements during a self-calibration operation or mode of the device,
and are used during a run-time operation or mode when processing the
baseband transmit and/or receive signals to compensate for the phase and
amplitude offsets among the plurality of transceiver paths of a device.
Amplitude offset correction may not be necessary (or optional) for
certain radio implementations or MIMO radio algorithms. The device may
execute the self-calibration mode on device power-up, and then
periodically thereafter. Self-calibration may also be performed at the
factory on a device.