5g-based signal coverage enhancement method and antenna assembly

Abstract

The application provides a 5G-based signal coverage enhancement method and an antenna assembly. The 5G-based signal coverage enhancement method comprises: installing a reflecting plate at the front end of an antenna; and performing emission again after converging and shaping wireless signals emitted by the antenna by using the reflecting plate. According to the 5G-based signal coverage enhancement method and the antenna assembly provided by the application, the reflecting plate is installed at the front end of the antenna, and the wireless signals emitted by the antenna are converged and shaped by using the reflecting plate and then emitted again, so that the coverage range of the antenna can be controlled, and due to the change of the coverage range, the coverage signal power spectral density in the coverage area is increased, and the coverage quality is enhanced. In addition, after the reflecting plate is added, the coverage field strength and the coverage range of high-frequency indoor coverage are greatly increased in actual application, the cell coverage range is increased, and the interference coordination between cells is more easily coordinated.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of wireless technology, in particular to a 5G-based signal coverage enhancement method and an antenna assembly. BACKGROUND

[0002] In order to meet the requirement of high speed, the working frequency of 5G mobile communication system is getting higher and higher to obtain sufficient frequency resources. The 5G NR frequency starts to enter the frequency band above 3GHz or even millimeter wave band, and the 5G+ frequency also starts to consider the terahertz band.

[0003] The spatial propagation ability, reflection ability, diffraction ability and penetration ability of high frequency decrease with the increase of frequency. In the millimeter wave band, even when all the target coverage areas can have a Line Of Sight (LOS) link with a certain signal source, the communication reliability can be ensured.

[0004] In order to ensure the continuity of indoor coverage, the high-frequency indoor coverage scheme usually adopts the way of increasing power, increasing antenna gain and increasing signal source (RRU / AAU, relay, repeater, etc.) to reduce the coverage blind area.

[0005] However, the existing scheme currently adopted still has many defects: (1) for the way of increasing power / increasing antenna gain, the cost of high-power signal source and high-gain antenna is relatively high, and the use of the way of increasing power / increasing antenna gain to improve coverage will inevitably increase the network construction cost. Due to the weak reflection and diffraction ability of high frequency, the way of increasing power / increasing antenna gain is not obvious for improving the coverage of shadow area. In the coverage area of signal source / antenna, due to the high EIRP (Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power), electromagnetic radiation may exceed the standard, causing electromagnetic pollution; (2) for the way of increasing signal source, the cost is high, the network structure is complex, the network capacity is wasted, and the network maintenance work is increased; (3) for the way of increasing passive reflector, the size of passive reflector may be too large to be constructed, and the coverage improvement effect of passive reflector is limited. SUMMARY

[0006] The present application provides a 5G-based signal coverage enhancement method and an antenna assembly to solve the defects of relatively high network construction cost and complexity and not obvious coverage improvement in the prior art.

[0007] The present application provides a 5G-based signal coverage enhancement method, comprising:

[0008] A reflecting plate is installed at the front end of the antenna;

[0009] The wireless signal emitted by the antenna is collected and shaped by the reflecting plate and then emitted again.

[0010] According to the signal coverage enhancement method provided by the present application, before the step of installing the reflecting plate at the front end of the antenna, the method further comprises:

[0011] The shape of the reflecting plate is selected, wherein the shape of the reflecting plate is selected as a parabolic shape, and the planar shape of the four peripheral edges of the reflecting plate in planar projection is selected as a rectangle.

[0012] According to the signal coverage enhancement method provided by the present application, before the step of installing the reflecting plate at the front end of the antenna, the method further comprises:

[0013] The size of the reflecting plate is selected, wherein the x-axis bottom surface radius of the reflecting plate is obtained by the following formula:

[0014]

[0015] wherein x is the x-axis bottom surface radius of the reflecting plate, a is the horizontal half-power angle of the antenna, L is the distance of the reflecting plate from the antenna in the focal length direction, and p is obtained by the following formula:

[0016]

[0017] wherein D is the maximum size of the antenna, and λ is the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave.

[0018] According to the signal coverage enhancement method provided by the present application, the step of selecting the size of the reflecting plate further comprises:

[0019] The y-axis bottom surface radius of the reflecting plate is obtained by the following formula:

[0020]

[0021] wherein y is the y-axis bottom surface radius of the reflecting plate, and β is the vertical half-power angle of the antenna.

[0022] According to the signal coverage enhancement method provided by the present application, the step of selecting the size of the reflecting plate further comprises:

[0023] The surface area of the reflecting plate is obtained by the following formula:

[0024]

[0025] wherein S is the surface area of the reflecting plate.

[0026] According to the signal coverage enhancement method provided by the present application, the method further comprises:

[0027] Adjust at least one of a distance of the reflector plate to the antenna and a placement position of the reflector plate to control a coverage range of the antenna.

[0028] The step of adjusting at least one of the distance of the reflector plate to the antenna and the placement position of the reflector plate in the signal coverage enhancement method further comprises:

[0029] The distance of the reflector plate to the antenna in the focal length direction of the antenna is adjusted by using a telescopic support rod to adjust divergence and convergence states of a reflected beam of the reflector plate.

[0030] The step of adjusting at least one of the distance of the reflector plate to the antenna and the placement position of the reflector plate in the signal coverage enhancement method further comprises:

[0031] The placement position of the reflector plate is adjusted by using a slide rail with a parabolic trajectory.

[0032] The application also provides an antenna assembly based on the signal coverage enhancement method, comprising: an antenna installed on a holding pole; and a reflector plate located at a front end of the antenna and used for re-emitting wireless signals emitted by the antenna after beam shaping.

[0033] The antenna assembly provided by the application further comprises: a telescopic support rod connected to the reflector plate and used for driving the reflector plate to move relative to the antenna; and a slide rail, on which the reflector plate is slidably installed, so that the reflector plate can rotate along a parabolic trajectory relative to the antenna.

[0034] The signal coverage enhancement method and the antenna assembly based on 5G provided by the application can control the coverage range of the antenna by installing a reflector plate at a front end of the antenna and re-emitting wireless signals emitted by the antenna after beam shaping by the reflector plate, so that the coverage signal power spectral density in the coverage area is increased due to the change of the coverage range, thereby enhancing the coverage quality. In addition, after the reflector plate is added, the coverage field strength and the coverage range of high-frequency indoor coverage are greatly increased in actual application, the cell coverage range is increased, and the interference coordination between cells is more easily achieved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0035] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the present application or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or prior art description. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings according to these drawings without creative labor.

[0036] Figure 1 is a flowchart of the 5G-based signal coverage enhancement method provided by the present application;

[0037] Figure 2 is a structural diagram of the antenna assembly provided by the present application;

[0038] Figure 3 is Figure 2 is a structural diagram of the reflector in the antenna assembly shown in FIG. 1;

[0039] Figure 4 is a diagram of the angle between the antenna and the horizontal plane of the reflector;

[0040] Figure 5 is a diagram of the angle between the antenna and the vertical plane of the reflector;

[0041] Figure 6 is an X-Z axis cut of the reflector;

[0042] Figure 7 is a diagram of the change in coverage range when adjusting the distance between the reflector and the antenna;

[0043] Figure 8 is a structural diagram of the telescopic support rod in the antenna assembly;

[0044] Figure 9A and Figure 9B is a diagram of the change in coverage range when adjusting the placement position of the reflector;

[0045] Figure 10 is a structural diagram of the sliding rail in the antenna assembly;

[0046] Reference signs:

[0047] 100: signal coverage enhancement method; S102-S104: each step;

[0048] 200: antenna; 300: reflector;

[0049] 400: telescopic support rod; 500: sliding rail;

[0050] 600: antenna assembly; 700: guyed mast. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the present application with reference to the drawings in the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. Based upon the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those ordinarily skilled in the art without creative effort should fall into the scope of the present application.

[0052] The following will describe the embodiments of the present application with reference to the drawings in the present application. Figures 1 to 10 The embodiments of the present application provide a 5G-based signal coverage enhancement method and an antenna assembly. It should be understood that the following description is only illustrative of the embodiments of the present application and does not constitute any special limitation on the present application.

[0053] As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 , according to the embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, a 5G-based signal coverage enhancement method 100 is provided. The signal coverage enhancement method 100 can generally include the following steps:

[0054] S102: installing a reflecting plate 300 at the front end of an antenna 200; and

[0055] S104: transmitting the wireless signals emitted by the antenna 200 again after beam shaping by the reflecting plate 300.

[0056] According to the above embodiments of the present application, by installing the reflecting plate 300 at the front end of the antenna 200 and transmitting the wireless signals emitted by the antenna 200 again after beam shaping by the reflecting plate 300, the coverage range of the antenna 200 can be controlled, and at the same time, due to the change of the coverage range, the coverage signal power spectral density in the coverage area is increased to enhance the coverage quality. In addition, after adding the reflecting plate 300, the coverage field strength and coverage range of high-frequency indoor coverage are greatly increased in actual application, the cell coverage range is increased, and the interference coordination between cells is more easily coordinated.

[0057] Further, in an embodiment of the present application, before step S102, the signal coverage enhancement method 100 further includes a step of selecting the shape of the reflecting plate 300.

[0058] Specifically, as shown in Figure 3 , the shape of the reflecting plate 300 is selected as a parabolic shape, and the planar shape of the reflecting plate 300 in the planar projection of the four peripheral edges is selected as a rectangular shape.

[0059] In the design process, the reflector 300 needs to have the function of beam shaping, so the shape of the reflector 300 is selected as a parabolic shape. When the antenna 200 is placed at the focal point of the parabolic reflector 300, the reflected wave of the parabolic reflector 300 becomes a parallel beam; when the antenna 200 is placed inside the focal point, the reflected beam diverges; and when the antenna 200 is placed outside the focal point, the reflected beam converges. With the change of the antenna position, the reflected wave diverges or converges.

[0060] When the application is performed indoors, since the indoor coverage area is irregular, it is impossible to use a hexagonal cellular structure to achieve continuous coverage, so the antenna shape for indoor cell coverage can be selected as a rectangle with higher coverage intensity. Accordingly, the planar projection of the reflector 300 is selected as a rectangle, and the direction pattern of the reflected wave tends to be a rectangle, which not only can achieve continuous coverage, but also can more easily achieve interference coordination indoors.

[0061] When the application is performed in a stand area of a stadium, a large number of users are concentrated in a limited range, and a large amount of traffic bursts in a concentrated period of time such as a sports event. In order to meet the communication service demand, the stand area needs to be cell split to meet the tight frequency reuse.

[0062] At present, the antenna is generally erected on the upper steel frame of the stand area to achieve coverage, but the upper steel frame of the stand area is high, and after the antenna is erected, the coverage range is large, it is difficult to achieve tight frequency reuse, and the boundary overlapping area is large, and the interference is serious. Therefore, the reflector 300 can be used to shape the beam, and the antenna 200 can be deployed at the lower part of the stand to achieve rectangular coverage of the stand area, and tight frequency reuse can be achieved to meet the demand of high traffic.

[0063] Further combining Figures 4 to 6 According to one embodiment of the present application, the signal coverage enhancement method 100 can further include the step of selecting the size of the reflector 300.

[0064] Specifically, the parabolic equation of the reflector 300 is as follows:

[0065] x 2 +y 2 = 2pz;

[0066] In order to avoid the problem that the electromagnetic wave far field area rapidly attenuates with the increase of distance, the focal point of the reflector 300 is equal to the boundary between the near field and the far field of the electromagnetic wave, that is:

[0067]

[0068] Wherein, D is the maximum size of the antenna, and λ is the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave (if it is a multi-frequency signal source, the highest frequency wavelength is taken).

[0069] In practical application, because the indoor coverage base station antenna does not directly cover the target area, it is required that the reflector can reflect more than 90% of the antenna electromagnetic radiation energy to the target area. Assuming that the indoor base station antenna has a horizontal half-power angle of a and a vertical half-power angle of β, then at a distance L from the focal point of the reflector, the horizontal angle h is greater than or equal to 2a, and the vertical angle v is greater than or equal to 2β.

[0070] Further, the coordinates of the edge of the X-Z axis section of the reflector are (x, z), and the following relationship is satisfied:

[0071] x 2 = 2pz;

[0072] From the triangular relationship:

[0073] (L-z)tgα=x;

[0074] From the above two equations, the value of the edge point x of the X-Z axis plane of the reflector, i.e., the radius of the x-axis bottom surface of the reflector, is:

[0075]

[0076] Similarly, the value of the edge point y of the Y-Z axis plane of the reflector, i.e., the radius of the y-axis bottom surface of the reflector, is:

[0077]

[0078] When the frequency is high, the coordinate value of the focal point of the reflector is much larger than the coordinate value of the antenna placement position, so the parabolic reflector can be approximated as a plane, and its area is approximately equal to 2x × 2y, i.e., 4x × y, i.e., the surface area of the reflector is:

[0079]

[0080] Taking 28 GHz millimeter waves as an example, the maximum size D of the 28 GHz millimeter wave antenna is 0.3 m, the horizontal half-power angle is 75 degrees, and the vertical half-power angle is 65 degrees. The distance between the antenna and the reflector is 0.1 m, so the x-axis bottom surface radius of the reflector is 0.36 meters, the y-axis bottom surface radius is 0.21 meters, and the surface area is approximately 0.3 square meters.

[0081] When the frequency is low, assuming that the maximum size D of the indoor antenna is 0.3 m, the horizontal half-power angle is 75 degrees, and the vertical half-power angle is 65 degrees. The distance between the antenna and the reflector is 0.1 m, so:

[0082] 1) 4.9 GHz: the x-axis bottom surface radius of the reflector is 0.3 meters, the y-axis bottom surface radius is 0.2 meters, and the surface area is approximately 0.25 square meters.

[0083] 2) 2.6GHz: the x-axis bottom radius of the reflector plate is 0.28 meters, the y-axis bottom radius is 0.19 meters, and the surface area is about 0.21 square meters.

[0084] 3) 1.8GHz: the x-axis bottom radius of the reflector plate is 0.26 meters, the y-axis bottom radius is 0.18 meters, and the surface area is about 0.19 square meters.

[0085] 4) 900MHz: the x-axis bottom radius of the reflector plate is 0.21 meters, the y-axis bottom radius is 0.16 meters, and the surface area is about 0.14 square meters.

[0086] From the above analysis, it can be seen that: low frequency coverage can also use the proposed coverage beam convergence shaping; when using multi-frequency antennas, as long as the convergence shaping requirements of high frequency are met, the convergence shaping requirements of medium and low frequency can be met.

[0087] In addition, according to the embodiment of the present application, as shown in Figures 7 to 10 , the signal coverage enhancement method 100 can further include the step of adjusting the reflector plate 300. Specifically, at least one of the distance from the reflector plate 300 to the antenna 200 and the placement position of the reflector plate 300 can be adjusted to control the coverage range of the antenna 200.

[0088] In one embodiment, the distance between the reflector plate 300 and the antenna 200 in the focal length direction of the reflector plate 300 can be adjusted by using the telescopic support rod 400 to adjust the divergence and convergence state of the reflected beam of the reflector plate 300.

[0089] Specifically, as shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8 , when the antenna 200 is located at the focal point (p / 2) of the reflector plate 300, the reflected wave is a parallel beam; when the antenna 200 is located within the focal point (p / A, A>2) of the reflector plate 300, the closer the installation position of the antenna 200 to the focal point, the more convergent the reflected beam. The distance between the antenna 200 and the reflector plate 300 in the focal length direction of the reflector plate 300 is adjustable, that is, the divergence and convergence control of the reflected beam can be adjusted to achieve controllable cell coverage. In one embodiment, the distance adjustment between the reflector plate 300 and the antenna 200 in the focal length direction can use the telescopic support rod 400.

[0090] In another embodiment, the placement position of the reflector plate 300 can be adjusted by using the slide rail 500 with a parabolic trajectory.

[0091] Specifically, as shown in Figure 9A , 9B and Figure 10 , the angle between the focal length direction of the parabolic reflector plate 300 and the horizontal direction can be defined as θ. From the formula of the parabola, it can be seen that when the angle θ is 0, the reflected beam is parallel to the horizontal direction, that is, the reflected beam is parallel to the ground. When the angle θ is 90 degrees, the reflected beam is parallel to the focal length direction, that is, the reflected beam is parallel to the vertical direction.Figure 9A and Figure 9B It can be seen that the greater the θ, the smaller the cell coverage range; the smaller the θ, the greater the cell coverage range. In an embodiment, the adjustment of the placement position of the reflecting plate 300 can use a sliding rail 500 with a parabolic trajectory.

[0092] Further, due to the inward convergence of the reflected wave at the edge, it has the following coverage enhancement effect:

[0093] Under the same coverage range, the signal level in the coverage range is enhanced by more than 3dB.

[0094] Under the same coverage quality, the high-frequency coverage radius is increased by about 20% in the LOS wireless environment, the number of required signal sources / antenna points is reduced by about 30%, and the construction investment is also reduced.

[0095] On the other hand, according to an embodiment of the present application, there is also provided an antenna assembly 600 based on the signal coverage enhancement method 100 as described above. Referring back to Figure 2 , the antenna assembly 600 includes an antenna 200 and a reflecting plate 300. Specifically, the antenna 200 can be installed on a holding pole 700. The reflecting plate 300 is located at the front end of the antenna 200 and is used to re-emit the wireless signal emitted by the antenna 200 after beam shaping.

[0096] In addition, in an embodiment, the antenna assembly 600 further includes a telescopic support rod 400 and a sliding rail 500. Specifically, the telescopic support rod 400 is connected to the reflecting plate 300 and is used to drive the reflecting plate 300 to move relative to the antenna 200. The reflecting plate 300 can also be slidingly installed on the sliding rail 500, so that the reflecting plate 300 can rotate along a parabolic trajectory relative to the antenna 200.

[0097] Since the antenna assembly 600 can operate based on the signal coverage enhancement method 100 as described above, the antenna assembly 600 also has various advantages as described above.

[0098] In summary, the signal coverage enhancement method and antenna assembly based on 5G provided by the present application can flexibly adjust the coverage range of high-frequency indoor signal sources; can improve indoor coverage level and effectively improve high-frequency indoor coverage effect; can adjust the coverage pattern to adapt to the coverage requirements of special scenarios.

[0099] It should be pointed out finally that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, but not to limit the same; and although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing embodiments can be modified, or some technical features thereof can be replaced equivalently; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A 5G-based signal coverage enhancement method, characterized in that, The method comprises: selecting the size of the reflecting plate and selecting the shape of the reflecting plate, wherein the shape of the reflecting plate is selected as a parabolic shape, and the planar shape of the four peripheral edges of the reflecting plate in planar projection is selected as a rectangle, the x-axis bottom surface radius of the reflecting plate is obtained by the following formula: wherein x is the x-axis bottom surface radius of the reflecting plate, a is the half-power angle in the horizontal direction of the antenna, L is the distance of the reflecting plate from the antenna in the focal length direction, and p is obtained by the following formula: wherein D is the maximum size of the antenna, and λ is the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave; the y-axis bottom surface radius of the reflecting plate is obtained by the following formula: wherein y is the y-axis bottom surface radius of the reflecting plate, and β is the half-power angle in the vertical direction of the antenna; the surface area of the reflecting plate is obtained by the following formula: wherein S is the surface area of the reflecting plate; the reflecting plate is installed at the front end of the antenna; the wireless signal emitted by the antenna is shaped and then emitted again by using the reflecting plate.

2. The signal coverage enhancement method of claim 1, wherein, Further comprising: adjusting at least one of the distance from the reflecting plate to the antenna and the placement position of the reflecting plate to control the coverage range of the antenna.

3. The signal coverage enhancement method of claim 2, wherein, The step of adjusting at least one of the distance from the reflecting plate to the antenna and the placement position of the reflecting plate further comprises: adjusting the distance of the reflecting plate from the antenna in the focal length direction of the antenna by using a telescopic support rod to adjust the divergence and convergence state of the reflected beam of the reflecting plate.

4. The signal coverage enhancement method of claim 2, wherein, The step of adjusting at least one of the distance from the reflecting plate to the antenna and the placement position of the reflecting plate further comprises: adjusting the placement position of the reflecting plate by using a slide rail with a parabolic trajectory.

5. An antenna assembly based on the signal coverage enhancement method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The method comprises: an antenna installed on a holding pole; a reflecting plate located at the front end of the antenna and used for shaping and then emitting the wireless signal emitted by the antenna.

6. The antenna assembly of claim 5, wherein, Further comprising: a telescopic support rod connected to the reflecting plate and used for driving the reflecting plate to move relative to the antenna; a slide rail on which the reflecting plate is slidingly installed, so that the reflecting plate can rotate along a parabolic trajectory relative to the antenna.

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