Antenna device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to antenna devices. Various aspects and embodiments of the present invention may provide a device comprising: a multi-element reflector, each element comprising a concave reflective surface, the curvature of each element and the focal length of each element being common, the concave reflective surface of each element being configured to direct a radio frequency beam to the concave reflective surfaces of other elements in different directions; and a directional antenna feed, configurable to direct the beam to each element of the multi-element reflector and positionable to be simultaneously spaced apart from all elements of the multi-element reflector by the common focal length. Various aspects and embodiments may provide one or more mechanisms, by which, for example, a commercially viable millimeter wave base station may be implemented. Specifically, embodiments may provide an antenna arrangement that supports a field of view, which helps to establish and maintain an effective communication link between a base station and a user with a desired level of reliability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Various example embodiments are directed to antenna arrangements including multi-element reflectors. Background Art

[0002] Wireless communication systems are known. Typically, users of such networks require access to high quality services at any time and place, and therefore generate a large amount of traffic. Wireless communication networks are being adapted to provide sufficient capacity and satisfactory data rates. One possible adaptation includes increasing the available frequency bandwidth, for example by using areas of the electromagnetic spectrum that may not normally be used for cellular radio communications. For example, such areas include the "super high frequency" SHF area (3-10 GHz), 5G new radio bands, and millimeter wave (mm wave) frequencies.

[0003] FSPL (free space path loss) increases with increasing distance between the transmit and receive antennas and / or FSPL increases with increasing frequency of operation (or decreasing wavelength). Therefore, using high frequencies generally results in high path loss and at the same time darker shadows due to weaker diffraction reflections. Path loss can be compensated by providing a high gain signal and / or providing directional beam energy.

[0004] Providing practical deployments suitable for frequencies subject to significant path loss and supporting increased user demand faces various challenges. It is desirable to address some of these challenges. Summary of the invention

[0005] The scope of protection sought by various embodiments of the present invention is defined by the independent claims. Examples and features described in this specification that do not belong to the scope of the independent claims, if any, are to be construed as useful examples for understanding various embodiments of the present invention.

[0006] According to various but not necessarily all embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising: a multi-element reflector, each element comprising a concave reflective surface, the curvature of each element and the focal length of each element being substantially common, the concave reflective surface of each element being configured to direct a radio frequency beam to the concave reflective surfaces of other elements in different directions; and

[0007] A directional antenna feed is configurable to direct a beam toward each element of the multi-element reflector and is positionable to be concurrently spaced from all elements of the multi-element reflector by a substantially common focal length.

[0008] The apparatus may be such that the reflector element is configured, dimensioned or formed to reflect radio frequency beams for supporting a communications network.

[0009] The apparatus may enable a directional antenna feed to include a plurality of antenna elements configured to form an antenna feed.

[0010] The apparatus may be such that the directional antenna feed comprises a one-dimensional array of antenna elements.

[0011] The apparatus may be such that the directional antenna comprises a two-dimensional feed array of antenna elements.

[0012] The apparatus may be such that the directional antenna comprises a multi-dimensional feed array of antenna elements.

[0013] The arrangement may be such that each of the multi-element reflector elements comprises a parabolic reflector.

[0014] The arrangement may be such that the parabolic reflectors each have the same focal length and the directional antenna feed is located away from the focal length of each parabolic reflector.

[0015] The apparatus may enable a multi-element reflector to be sized to redirect a radio frequency beam having a frequency above 3 GHz received from a directional antenna feed.

[0016] The apparatus may enable a multi-element reflector sized to redirect a radio frequency beam received from a directional antenna feed having a frequency between 30 and 300 GHz.

[0017] The apparatus may enable a multi-element reflector sized to redirect a radio frequency beam having a frequency between 3 and 300 GHz received from a directional antenna feed.

[0018] The arrangement may be such that the elements are positioned in close proximity to each other.

[0019] The arrangement may be such that the concave reflective surfaces of adjacent elements are positioned to produce an overlapping area.

[0020] Means may be provided whereby the elements of the multi-element reflector may be configured to be independently movable.

[0021] The apparatus may enable the elements of the multi-element reflector to be arranged such that adjacent elements do not contact each other in an overlapping region.

[0022] The arrangement may be such that one of the concave reflective surfaces of an adjacent element of at least one reflective element in the overlap region comprises one or more openings through which the concave reflective surface of the other element is accessible.

[0023] The arrangement may be such that the overlapping region is elongate and the opening extends along the overlapping region.

[0024] The arrangement may be such that the overlapping region is elongated and the openings are concentrated in a central region of the overlapping region.

[0025] The arrangement may be such that the overlapping region is elongated and the openings are evenly distributed within the overlapping region.

[0026] The arrangement may be such that the opening comprises one or more of: a slot, an aperture or a recess.

[0027] The arrangement may be such that the opening comprises one or more open-ended slots, apertures or recesses.

[0028] The arrangement may be such that the opening comprises one or more apertures formed in the reflector element.

[0029] The device may be such that the opening is substantially uniform.

[0030] The arrangement may be such that the reflector elements are configured to steer the beam in different vertical directions.

[0031] The arrangement may be such that the reflector elements are configured to steer the beam in different horizontal directions.

[0032] Arrangements may be made such that the distance between the multi-element reflector and the directional feed is adjustable.

[0033] The apparatus may be such that the apparatus further comprises a motor configured to rotate the multi-element reflector and the directional feed relative to the surrounding environment.

[0034] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method may be provided, the method comprising: providing a multi-element reflector, each element comprising a concave reflecting surface, the curvature of each element and the focal length of each element being substantially common; configuring each element so that the concave reflecting surface of each element is in a different direction, directing the radio frequency beam to the concave reflecting surfaces of other elements; providing a directional antenna feed, the directional antenna feed being configurable to direct the beam toward each element of the multi-element reflector; and positioning the directional antenna feed so that it is concurrently spaced from all elements of the multi-element reflector by a substantially common focal length.

[0035] According to another embodiment of the present invention, an electronic device may be provided. The electronic device includes the above-mentioned device.

[0036] The electronic device may include at least one of: a communication network base station, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a router, an access node, a wireless electronic communication device, or any similar device.

[0037] Further particular and preferred aspects are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

[0038] Where an apparatus feature is described as being operable to provide a function, it will be understood that this includes apparatus features that provide that function or that are adapted or configured to provide that function. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0040] Figure 1 schematically illustrates an antenna that is substantially planar in the vertical direction, and the resulting polarization and gain curves;

[0041] Figure 2 illustrates example gain curves for operating an antenna in narrow and wide modes;

[0042] Figure 3 The antenna and feed arrangement are schematically illustrated;

[0043] Figure 4 A possible antenna arrangement is schematically illustrated;

[0044] Figure 5 A possible antenna arrangement and the resulting polarization and gain curves are schematically illustrated;

[0045] Figure 6 A possible antenna configuration is schematically illustrated;

[0046] Figure 7 A possible antenna configuration and the resulting polarization and gain curves are schematically illustrated;

[0047] Figure 8 schematically illustrates components of an antenna reflector according to one arrangement; and

[0048] Fig. 9 Some features of an antenna reflector according to one possible arrangement are schematically illustrated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] Before discussing example embodiments in more detail, an overview will first be provided. As described above, the growing demand for wireless communication networks has led to adaptations and developments, including consideration of traditionally unused portions of the radio spectrum to support communications. One particular area of ​​development involves the use of frequencies other than those typically used to support cellular communications. The use of frequencies above 3 GHz may result in their use being subject to significant path loss. FSPL (free space path loss) increases with increasing operating frequency (or decreasing wavelength). The use of extremely high frequency (EHF) frequencies (30-300 GHz) as well as certain areas of the ultra-high frequency (UHF) and super-high frequency (SHF) bands may result in specific issues related to path loss.

[0050] For example, one of the issues with millimeter wave communication technology is the high path loss that occurs at such high frequencies. One mechanism to overcome the high path loss is high power transmission. In situations where high power transmission may be difficult or inappropriate, it is possible to ensure that the transmission is made by an antenna with a narrow beam so that the energy within the beam is highly directional and the radiation pattern has a greater peak antenna gain relative to the omnidirectional antenna radiation pattern.

[0051] One possible application of millimeter wave communication networks is to provide an alternative to traditional wired or optical broadband connections. That is, millimeter wave 5G deployments can be used to provide one or more cells at a customer premises that support very high and / or very reliable data transmission between one or more base stations and users within the coverage area provided or supported by such base stations. It should be understood that when providing a coverage area or coverage cell, it may be necessary for a base station to provide a cell with, for example, 180°-360° coverage in the horizontal plane and at least 90° coverage protection in the vertical plane, thereby providing a strong communication link with the base station for users with network-connectable devices located within the field of view or coverage area.

[0052] It should be understood that it may be difficult to use narrow beams or directional beams to support communications with users within a potential coverage area using microwave millimeter wave technology. The use of narrow beams enables the establishment and maintenance of communication links with users within a small area, but needs to be associated with millimeter wave methods to offset the high path loss and shadowing effects in electromagnetic wave propagation. It should be understood that very focused or directional beams are used to concentrate energy and ensure that reliable and powerful communication links can be established between communication entities. Such focused beams can be obtained by carefully placing, for example, reflectors and feeds. Specifically, the feed can be placed at a focal length away from the reflector so that the resulting beam is very narrow. If the feed is slightly misplaced, a slightly wider unfocused beam that may have an advantage may be generated until the energy in the wider beam is insufficient to offset the high path loss and shadowing effects associated with millimeter wave propagation.

[0053] Active antenna arrays can be provided which allow, for example, dynamic or semi-static beamforming and therefore directional communication between a base station and one or more users, but such technology is expensive and too complex to support general distribution in a home or business environment.

[0054] The described arrangements seek to provide one or more mechanisms by which commercially viable high frequency (e.g., millimeter wave) static electronic devices can be provided. Specifically, the described arrangements can provide antenna arrangements that support communication using frequencies where free space path loss is significant and, for example, where narrow beams are used to overcome such path loss. The described antenna arrangements can provide a field of view that facilitates establishing and maintaining an effective communication link between, for example, a millimeter wave static electronic device and a user with a desired level of reliability.

[0055] The antenna reflector may be arranged so that it produces a narrow directional beam emanating from the antenna arrangement. One possible such reflector arrangement includes a parabolic reflector. The use of a parabolic reflector may ensure that any beam emanating from the antenna arrangement is narrow due to the focusing caused by the parabolic reflector, and therefore the energy within the beam is concentrated. It will be appreciated that any suitably shaped reflector may be used to focus or concentrate the waves emanating from the feed, and a parabolic reflector is one example of a shape that may focus the waves.

[0056] Figure 1 A possible antenna reflector is schematically illustrated along with the polarization and gain curves emanating from such a reflector when used with a millimeter wave feed. Figure 1 In the example shown, the reflector 10 is shaped so that it is parabolic in the XZ plane and substantially planar in the Y direction. If the reflector 10 is properly placed at the antenna feed ( Figure 1 If the reflector is located near the feed (not shown in the figure), the reflector provides vertical scanning with a virtually non-existent vertical field of view. That is, the spread of the millimeter waves from the feed in the Y direction is not significant when diffused by the reflector. Therefore, a user located, for example, 10° above the reflector may not receive radiation from the reflector, and in the case of wireless communications, the user will not see the millimeter wave coverage cell supported by a base station having such a reflector as part of the antenna arrangement.

[0057] The parabolic nature of the reflector 10 in the XZ plane allows the millimeter wave beam emitted from the antenna to be focused and significantly narrowed in the XZ direction compared to the wave emitted from the feed. As a result, a user is positioned or may need to be relatively accurately positioned relative to the narrowed focused beam (the major axis of the reflector (usually 0 degrees in the XZ plane)) to see the communication coverage area supported by a base station having such an antenna.

[0058] Figure 2 The result of one possible arrangement is shown, which allows the use of focusing reflectors, e.g. Figure 1 The parabolic reflector shown is used to provide a wider beam.

[0059] One way to achieve a wider beam is to adjust the antenna feed ( Figure 1 ) and the distance between the reflector 10. By moving the antenna feed closer to the reflector or the reflector closer to the antenna feed, the beam emitted from the antenna can be spread to cover approximately 22°, rather than operating in a narrow mode, where it may only cover 7°.

[0060] That is, by moving the antenna feed and reflector so that their separation is substantially less than the focal length (set by the curvature of the reflector) separation, the beam emanating from the antenna can be defocused.

[0061] It should be understood that if Figure 2 If the antenna is operated in the "wide mode" shown by curve 300 in FIG. , the spacing between the antenna feed and the reflector is less than the focal length. Figure 2 If operating in the "narrow mode" shown by curve 400 in FIG. 4 , the antenna feed and reflector are spaced approximately the focal length apart.

[0062] When operating in wide mode, the gain provided to users within the coverage area may not be as advantageous as with a narrow mode beam. Therefore, it may be advantageous to adjust the positioning of the antenna arrangement, for example by physically rotating or positioning the antenna arrangement in a more appropriate manner, and / or it may be advantageous to adjust the relative spacing of the feed and reflector, for example, returning them to a spacing of approximately the focal length and thus back to narrow mode once a link between a user and a base station has been established using the lower gain antenna arrangement achieved in wide beam mode.

[0063] It should be understood that the method 300 of generating a wider beam (with lower gain) by placing the antenna feed closer to the reflector or the reflector closer to the antenna feed can also be used in a multiple reflector implementation. In other words, although the arrangement in which the antenna feed is precisely placed at the focal length of one or more curved reflectors results in the generation of a narrow beam (such as a 400-mm-thick reflector) with good gain, Figure 2 400 in FIG. 3 ), but if the beam provides sufficient gain to overcome or offset the high path loss and shadowing effects associated with, for example, millimeter wave propagation, it may be advantageous to allow one or more reflectors to be closer to the antenna feed than the focal length, thereby generating a slightly wider beam (such as the beam shown by curve 300).

[0064] It should be understood that Figure 2In the example schematically shown in FIG, the simulated HPBW (half power beam width) 310 is 22° in wide mode 300, while the HPBW 410 is 7° in narrow mode 400, with the result that the beam required to cover the initial access field of view can be reduced by a factor of three if the feed and reflector are movable relative to each other and the wide beam option 300 can be used. In the simulation, the reflector structure in the millimeter wave antenna device can be moved closer to the antenna feed module, for example 10 mm, to support the change between the narrow beam mode 400 and the wide beam mode 300.

[0065] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the antenna feed 20 and the antenna reflector 30. The reflector 30 is formed by three different parabolic surfaces 31, 32, and 33. Figure 3 In the example shown, the antenna feed 20 comprises a simple directional feed, in this case in the form of an array of antenna elements having a single row of four elements (4x1 array feed) which allows the signal to be directed primarily towards reflectors 31, 32 or 33 or a combination thereof, or to direct the energy within the signal.

[0066] The properties of each parabola are such that the beam is fixed based on the direction relative to the feed and the size or curvature of each parabola. Since vertical scanning is required, an array feed with scanning capability is provided, and different reflector parabolas are overlapped with each other to provide different reflection angles relative to the scanning feed.

[0067] It will be appreciated that if the antenna feed energy is directed primarily toward reflector 31, it will be reflected in the direction marked 41, if the feed is directed primarily toward reflector 32, it will be reflected primarily in the direction marked 42, and if the energy is directed primarily toward reflector 33, it will be reflected in the direction marked 43. Figure 3 Each parabolic reflector in the example shown may have a common focal length but a different radiation reflection direction. By providing a reflector 30 formed from multiple components, the field of view supported by the antenna arrangement may be increased. Figure 3 In the example arrangement of , the vertical field of view is increased, but similar arrangements can be implemented in the horizontal or other directions. Figure 3 The entire field of view shown supported by directional feeds and reflectors 31, 32 and 33 is indicated by arrow B.

[0068] Figure 3 and the subsequent figures all relate to possible arrangements of reflectors 30. In a given arrangement as a whole, the reflector 30 is formed of a plurality of reflectors 31, 32, 33, 34. Those reflectors 31, 32, 33, 34 forming the reflector 30 may be considered as "sub-reflectors".

[0069] The reflector 30 may be considered as a multi-element reflector, and each sub-reflector 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 may be considered as an element of the multi-element reflector 30 .

[0070] Figure 4 In more detail, schematically illustrated are Figure 3 The arrangement is shown in cross section. Figure 4 The antenna feed 20 in includes four antenna feed array elements 21A, 21B, 21C and 21D which are configured to be actively and dynamically controlled by circuitry (not shown). The antenna feed array is configured to be operable to provide a directional radiation beam to a reflector, again generally illustrated by reference numeral 30. Reflector 30 itself may be formed from a plurality of reflectors, in this case 31, 32, 33 and 34. Each of these reflectors may itself be a parabola or any other suitably shaped component for focusing and redirecting a beam received from the antenna feed. Figure 4 In the example shown, four different parabolas configured to change the radiation direction are provided. Each parabola in the illustrated arrangement has an equal focal length and an equal parabolic curve. In the illustrated arrangement, in the case of a substantially plane wave emanating from the feed 20, the operable main direction parabolic reflector 31 is primarily shielded by parabolic reflectors 32 and 34, and the parabolic reflector 32 is further shielded by the parabolic reflector 33. In operation, the antenna feed 20 can be configured to direct the millimeter wave beam toward each of the parabolic reflectors 31 to 34 to achieve an increased vertical field of view supported by the antenna device, for example in a base station deployment.

[0071] Figure 5 The diagram shows that the feed and reflector arrangement (such as Figure 4 The energy, gain, and polarization curves of the beam emitted by the RF power amplifier are shown in Figure 1. It can be seen that the gain obtained from such an arrangement has a significant vertical spread, thereby increasing the possible field of view, and although the structure causes the polarization quality to suffer, the benefits of the effective beamwidth outweigh the polarization losses.

[0072] Figure 6 The antenna arrangement is schematically illustrated. Figure 6 In the arrangement of , the antenna feed 20 takes the form of a feed array having four elements 21A to 21D. The reflector 30 is formed by four parabolic reflectors 31, 32, 33 and 34. Figure 6 In the example shown, one or more edges between adjacent parabolic reflectors include openings. The openings in the overlapped portions between adjacent parabolic reflectors 31 to 34 take the form of a series of slots or recesses provided along the edge of one of a pair of adjacent parabolic reflectors. The slots or recesses in this case are typically located at Figure 6 The area 50 is indicated.

[0073] The openings are provided to increase the effective active area of ​​each parabolic reflector visible to a directional feed emanating from the antenna feed 20. In other words, to improve the visibility of the parabolic reflector 31 to a beam emanating from the feed 20 toward the reflector, the shielding parabolic reflectors (32 and 34) include openings in the form of a plurality of slots, open-ended slots, recesses, and / or closed apertures. Including such openings or apertures increases, for example, the visibility or effective visible area of ​​a particular parabolic reflector to a beam directed toward the particular parabolic reflector by the feed 20. By extending the parabolic reflector 32 above the parabolic reflector 31 and including openings in the overlapped portion, the effective active area of ​​the parabolic reflector 32 can be maintained for situations where the antenna feed 20 is configured to direct a beam toward the parabolic reflector 32. Allowing overlap between adjacent parabolic reflectors allows the antenna reflector 30 to be compact, and including openings in the overlap regions between adjacent reflectors allows a tradeoff to be made between the overall size of the reflector 30 and efficient operation of each reflector 31 - 34 .

[0074] The form, location and arrangement of the openings provided in the overlapping region of the reflectors can vary. As described above, the openings can take the form of open-ended slots or recesses provided along the edge of one of a pair of adjacent parabolic reflectors. The openings can take the form of closed apertures. The apertures can take various forms, including, for example, circular apertures, elliptical apertures, slot apertures, cross-shaped apertures, apertures or slots of simple geometric shapes, or combinations thereof. The positions of the openings provided in the overlapping region of the reflectors can also vary. For example, if the overlap between adjacent reflectors includes a substantially elongated overlapping area, the openings can be provided along the central region of the elongated overlapping area so that the area to which the beam from the antenna feed is most likely to be directed is provided with an increased "visible" area of ​​the reflector to which the beam is directed. The openings can be concentrated in the central region of the elongated overlapping area, but extend beyond the central region. The size of the openings can be increased, thereby allowing more of the surface of the reflector located below the adjacent reflector to be visible, the farther they are determined to be from the central region. This means that the visible area of ​​the reflector to which the beam is directed can increase toward the edge of the adjacent reflector, thereby allowing smoother gain changes on vertical tilt. In Figure 6 In the example shown, the openings shown take the form of recesses along the edge of the parabolic reflector. Figure 6 The notches shown in FIG. 3 increase in width toward the outer edge of reflector 30. It can be seen that due to the notches included in the edges of parabolic reflectors 32 and 34, the area of ​​the surface of reflector 31 that can be reached by a beam emitted from feed 20 toward reflector 31 increases.

[0075] Figure 7 The diagram shows the Figure 6The energy distribution, gain and polarization ratio curves associated with the beam emitted by an antenna of similar form are shown.

[0076] Figure 8 One possible reflector arrangement is illustrated in more detail. In this case, the reflector 30 is formed by four reflector sheets 31, 32, 33 and 34. In a configuration including, for example, Figure 8 In the reflector antenna device shown, the antenna feed array ( Figure 8 The axial reflector 31 (not shown) is configured to transmit a beam at the boresight (0 degrees) towards the parabolic reflector 31. The parabolic reflector 31 is configured to reflect the beam in a first (main) direction within a range of vertical elevation angles.

[0077] The antenna feed array may be adjusted to transmit a beam having energy primarily in a direction of, for example, +22.5°, towards the parabolic reflector 32. The reflector is configured so that it reflects the beam in a second direction.

[0078] The antenna feed array can be adjusted to emit a beam having energy primarily in a direction of, for example, +45.0°, towards a parabolic reflector 33. The reflector 33 is configured such that it reflects the beam in a third direction.

[0079] The antenna feed array may be adjusted to emit a beam having energy primarily in a direction of, for example, -22.5°, towards the parabolic reflector 34. The parabolic reflector 34 is configured such that it reflects the beam in a fourth direction.

[0080] An initial scan may be performed, for example, using an active feed to direct a beam in each of the four directions described above to find a user device. Further commissioning and establishment of a base station with an antenna arrangement using a reflector arrangement may enable appropriate directions to support one or more users to be identified and maintained. That is, one of the directions used in the initialization phase may be identified as an appropriate direction to support the user and is selected for ongoing base station operation. Typically, when different directions are checked, it is in the initial cell connection phase. Thereafter, in special cases, a scan may be performed where the signal received at the user may, for example, be determined to have reached a low threshold.

[0081] Fig. 9 Schematically illustrated are the components of a reflector 30. The reflector 30 is formed of four reflectors 31, 32, 33, 34. These reflectors 31, 32, 33, 34 together form a multi-element reflector 30.

[0082] Fig. 9The arrangement includes: a reflector 31, a first shadow reflector 32, and a second shadow reflector 33. The reflector 31 is in the form of a parabolic reflector, which is shielded by the parabolic reflector 32. The parabolic reflector 32 is shielded by the parabolic reflector 33. In order to increase the area of ​​the parabolic reflector 31 visible to the beam emitted from the antenna feed, slots, recesses 50, or holes 60 can be added to the reflector 32. Those openings increase the area of ​​the parabolic reflector 31 visible to the beam emitted from the antenna feed array and directed toward the parabolic reflector 31, and when the antenna feed array is configured to send a beam primarily toward the reflector 32, similar slots or holes can be added to the reflector 33 to increase the visible area of ​​the reflector 32.

[0083] Although described with respect to vertical scanning based on a vertical arrangement of a vertical active array feed and reflector, it will be appreciated that the teachings may also be applied to horizontal or offset scanning directions and may provide appropriately sized antenna feed arrays and, for example, multi-element reflectors.

[0084] exist Figures 4 to 9 In the example shown, the reflectors are shown as paraboloidal in the vertical or Y direction, but it should be understood that each of these reflectors is also curved in the XY plane to support a narrow beam in the horizontal direction. Figures 4 to 9 Horizontal tuning in the examples shown in can be achieved with motors because the array feed shown in these examples is 1x4 and provides multiple reflectors only in the vertical direction. This is provided by moving the entire reflector array closer to the feed, for example Figure 2 The wider beam shown schematically in FIG, combined with the use of motors to physically rotate the antenna assembly, can provide a wider field of view in the horizontal direction.

[0085] Although described with respect to arrangements using parabolic reflectors, it will be appreciated that substantially parabolic reflectors or reflectors having a suitable concave reflecting surface may be used. The arrangements may be particularly suitable for reflectors where the curvature and focal length of each reflector are substantially common or shared.

[0086] Although the described arrangement is written in terms of beam transmission from antenna feed 20 toward multi-element reflector 30, it will be appreciated that due to antenna reciprocity, examples may also be considered where the beam may arrive at antenna feed 20 via multi-element reflector 30 or be received at antenna feed 20.

[0087] Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the steps of various above-described methods can be performed by a programmed computer. In this article, some embodiments are also intended to cover program storage devices, such as digital data storage media, which are machine or computer readable and encode machine-executable or computer-executable programs of instructions, wherein the instructions perform some or all of the steps of the above-described methods. The program storage device can be, for example, a digital memory, a magnetic storage medium such as a disk and a tape, a hard disk drive, or an optically readable digital data storage medium. Embodiments are also intended to cover computers programmed to perform the steps of the above-described methods.

[0088] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

[0089] Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than those explicitly described.

[0090] Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not.

[0091] Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not.

[0092] While efforts have been made in the foregoing description to draw attention to those features of the present invention regarded as particularly important, it is to be understood that the Applicant claims protection for any patentable feature or combination of features mentioned above and / or shown in the accompanying drawings whether or not specifically emphasized.

Claims

1. A device comprising: a multi-element reflector comprising a plurality of elements, each element comprising a concave reflective surface, a curvature of each element and a focal length of each element being common, the concave reflective surface of each element being configured to direct a radio frequency beam in a different direction to the concave reflective surfaces of other elements, wherein the plurality of elements are positioned such that an edge of a respective one of the plurality of elements overlaps an edge of an adjacent element, thereby forming an elongated overlap region extending along the edge of the respective element and the edge of the adjacent element; as well as A directional antenna feed is configurable to direct a beam toward each element of the multi-element reflector and is positionable to be spaced concurrently with all elements of the multi-element reflector common to the focal distance.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the directional antenna feed comprises a plurality of antenna elements configured to form an antenna feed.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the directional antenna feed comprises a one-dimensional array of antenna elements.

4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the elements comprises a parabolic reflector.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the parabolic reflectors all have the same focal length and the directional antenna feed is located at the same focal length from each of the elements.

6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the multi-element reflector is dimensioned to redirect a radio frequency beam received from the directional antenna feed having a frequency above 3 GHz.

7. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of elements are positioned in close proximity to each other.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the multi-element reflector and the directional antenna feed is adjustable so that the directional antenna feed can be positioned (i) in a narrow beam mode to be spaced apart from multiple elements at the same focal length simultaneously, and (ii) in a wide beam mode to be spaced apart from one or more of the multiple elements by less than the same focal length.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein one of the concave reflective surfaces of at least one reflective element in the overlap region comprises one or more openings through which the concave reflective surface of the other element can be accessed.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the one or more openings extend along the overlap region.

11. The device according to any one of claims 9 to 10, wherein the one or more openings are concentrated in a central area of ​​the overlapping area.

12. The device of any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the one or more openings comprise one or more of: a slot, an aperture or a recess.

13. A method comprising: providing a multi-element reflector comprising a plurality of elements, each element comprising a concave reflective surface, a curvature of each element and a focal length of each element being common; configuring each element so that the concave reflective surface of each element directs the radio frequency beam in different directions to the concave reflective surfaces of other elements, wherein the plurality of elements are positioned so that an edge of a respective one of the plurality of elements overlaps an edge of an adjacent element, thereby forming an elongated overlap region extending along the edge of the respective element and the edge of the adjacent element; providing a directional antenna feed configurable to direct a beam toward each element of the multi-element reflector; as well as The directional antenna feed is positioned so that it is spaced concurrently with all elements of the multi-element reflector being common to the focal length.

14. An electronic device comprising the apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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