Partially-Connected Hybrid Beamforming

Partially-Connected Hybrid Beamforming is a technique used in wireless communication systems to improve the efficiency of the beamforming process. In a traditional beamforming system, all antenna elements are connected to the radio frequency (RF) chain, which can lead to high power consumption and complexity.

In a partially-connected hybrid beamforming system, only a subset of the antenna elements are connected to the RF chain, while the remaining elements are connected to digital processing modules. This allows the beamforming process to be split between analog and digital domains, reducing the overall power consumption and complexity of the system.

The term "hybrid" refers to the combination of analog and digital processing. The analog processing is used to generate the beamforming weights, while the digital processing is used to refine the beam direction and adjust for interference.

Overall, partially-connected hybrid beamforming is a promising technique for improving the efficiency of beamforming in wireless communication systems, particularly in scenarios where power consumption and complexity are critical factors.