Hemispherical antenna beam selection method for 5G communication

Abstract

The invention discloses a hemispherical antenna beam selection method for 5G communication, and belongs to the technical field of antennae, and the method comprises the steps: constructing a 5G integrated base station module with m base station channels; constructing an antenna module; power is supplied to the 5G integrated base station module and the antenna module; the 5G integrated base station module identifies and reads the ID number of the antenna module and judges the type of the antenna; a control processor in the hemispherical antenna module ensures synchronization with a base station by acquiring a synchronization reference signal of the base station, and provides a time reference for switching of the switch; the control processor drives the switch to switch n paths of cyclic traversal to realize connection of m * n sub-antennas; according to the beam selection method, the antenna high gain of the hemispherical radiating surface in any direction can be realized; meanwhile, the circuit complexity and the cost are effectively reduced, and the application range is wider.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application belongs to the field of antenna technology, and specifically, relates to a hemispherical antenna beam selection method for 5G communication. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, with the greatly improved payload capacity of drones, the gradual safety and stability of flight control hardware and algorithms, and the rapid development of 5G communication technology, the development of low-altitude economy, emergency communication support, military field, and the next-generation 6G low-altitude base station coverage have all put forward the need to use drones to mount integrated base stations into the sky and achieve communication coverage of terminals within a radius of 10 kilometers on the ground. According to the conversion of air-to-ground communication scenarios and radio signal attenuation characteristics, in order for the base station to achieve communication coverage of terminals within a radius of 10 kilometers, the base station antenna needs to achieve a hemispherical gain of 8dBi; therefore, an antenna beam selection method that can achieve a gain of more than 8dBi in all directions of the hemispherical coverage and increase the airborne 5G communication coverage radius to more than 10 kilometers is particularly important. Summary of the invention

[0003] In order to solve the above problems and technical defects, the embodiment of the present application adopts the following technical solution, a hemispherical antenna beam selection method for 5G communication, comprising the following steps: Step S1: construct a 5G integrated base station module, with m base station channels; Step S2, constructing an antenna module; Step S3, supplying power to the 5G integrated base station module constructed in step S1 and the antenna module in step S2; Step S4, the 5G integrated base station module identifies and reads the ID number of the antenna module, and determines the antenna type according to the ID number. When the identification is determined to be a hemispherical antenna, the algorithm program for driving the hemispherical antenna is triggered. When the identification is determined to be an ordinary antenna, the standard mode of cooperation with the ordinary directional antenna is adopted; Step S5, the time synchronization module in the 5G integrated base station module sends the synchronization reference signal of the base station to the control processor in the hemispheric antenna module, providing a time reference for the subsequent switch switching; the hemispheric antenna module is synchronized through the time reference to ensure synchronization with the base station; In step S6 and step S5, the control processor drives the switch of each port to switch n-way loop traversal to achieve the connection of m*n sub-antennas.

[0004] Furthermore, in step S1, a 5G integrated base station module is constructed to integrate RRU, BBU, 5GC and IMS core network.

[0005] Preferably, the hemispherical antenna module constructed in step S2 includes an antenna interface module, a radio frequency switch module, a clock synchronization circuit module, a sub-antenna module, a control processor module and a power management circuit module; The antenna interface module includes a radio frequency interface and a digital interface on the top plane of the hemisphere. The radio frequency interface is m SMA interfaces connected to the 5G integrated station through a feeder. The digital interface is a serial port connected to the base station, receiving the 1pps time reference signal from the base station and transmitting the antenna ID signal back. The RF switch module includes m SPnT RF switches, each of which realizes the expansion of 1-way RF transceiver to n-way RF transceiver through switch control; The clock synchronization circuit module includes TCXO and phase-locked loop circuits, which are responsible for receiving the 1pps time reference signal from the 5G integrated station and completing the new clock output through the internal phase-locked frequency circuit to ensure that the clock is synchronized with the 5G signal clock; The sub-antenna module patch is on a spherical dielectric carrier; The control processor module is used to control the m switches to select and switch, and control the dwell time and switching protection time of the 1-n channels of each switch; The power management circuit module contains an onboard battery to power the switch, TCXO and phase-locked loop chip.

[0006] Furthermore, the sub-antenna modules are 1 to L layers from top to bottom, and the horizontal 3dB lobe width of the p-th layer sub-antenna module is The 3dB lobe width of all layers of antenna modules is: in, , 1≤p≤L, is the communication frequency in MHz, and r is the hemispherical antenna radius in meters.

[0007] Furthermore, there are L layers of m*n sub-antenna modules from top to bottom, and the spacing between array elements in each circle layer is 0.75λ, where λ is the wavelength corresponding to the center frequency.

[0008] Furthermore, after the antenna and the base station are synchronized, the control processor drives the switch to switch the path. The first group of sub-antennas is selected in the initial state, and then the sub-antennas are switched in sequence according to the sequence number of each group of sub-antennas and then return to the initial state, and the cycle is repeated; Beam dwell time ≥ SSB transmission period; During the switching process, the sub-antenna module selected by the i-th switch is numbered j+(i-1)*n, where 1≤i≤m and 1≤j≤n.

[0009] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present application are: The beam selection method in this application can achieve an antenna gain of more than 8dBi in any direction on the hemispherical radiation surface, enable the UAV base station to fly 500-5000 meters, and provide a ground mobile phone communication coverage radius of more than 10 kilometers. In addition, there are no blind spots in communication coverage for any flight posture and mobile phone within a radius of 10 kilometers. At the same time, the circuit complexity and cost in this application are effectively compressed, and the scope of application is wider. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] In the attached picture: Figure 1 This is a flowchart of an embodiment of the present application; Figure 2 This is a hardware block diagram of the hemispherical antenna in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 3 This is a distribution diagram of the sub-antenna modules in the embodiment of the present application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the sector division of the neutron antenna coverage in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 5 This is a switch switching timing diagram in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 6 This is the gain diagram of the hemispherical radiation surface of the antenna in the embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Generally, the components of the embodiments of the present application described and shown in the drawings here can be arranged and designed in various different configurations. Example

[0012] In order to ensure that there are no blind spots in the communication coverage design, in addition to the horizontal coverage angle of 0~360°, the pitch coverage angle design of drone communication also needs to meet 0~180° coverage.

[0013] Reference Figure 1 , a hemispherical antenna beam selection method for 5G communication, comprising the following steps: Step S1: construct a 5G integrated base station module, with m base station channels; Step S2, constructing an antenna module; Step S3, supplying power to the 5G integrated base station module constructed in step S1 and the antenna module in step S2; Step S4, the 5G integrated base station module identifies and reads the ID number of the antenna module, and determines the antenna type according to the ID number. When the identification is determined to be a hemispherical antenna, the algorithm program for driving the hemispherical antenna is triggered. When the identification is determined to be an ordinary antenna, the standard mode of cooperation with the ordinary directional antenna is adopted; Step S5, the time synchronization module in the 5G integrated base station module sends the synchronization reference signal of the base station to the control processor in the hemispheric antenna module, providing a time reference for the subsequent switch switching; the hemispheric antenna module is synchronized through the time reference to ensure synchronization with the base station; Step S6, the control processor in step S5 drives the switch of each port to switch n paths in a loop, connects m*n sub-antennas, and achieves m*n sector coverage through antenna beam pointing coverage.

[0014] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the specific implementation, the optimal selection of the base station channel in step S1 is 4 ports; at this time, the control processor drives the switch of each port to switch 8 channels in a loop to connect 32 sub-antennas, and through the antenna beam pointing coverage, 32 sector coverage is achieved.

[0015] In step S1, a 5G integrated base station module is constructed that integrates RRU, BBU, 5GC and IMS core network. It is oriented to mobile networking and long-distance coverage, suitable for airborne mobile deployment application scenarios, and can meet application requirements such as public network coverage and industry-specific networks. It provides wireless access, wireless resource management, mobility management and service exchange functions. The base station reads back the ID number of the antenna and provides a 1pps time reference signal to the hemispherical antenna.

[0016] The hemispherical antenna module constructed in step S2 includes an antenna interface module, an RF switch module, a clock synchronization circuit module, a sub-antenna module, a control processor module and a power management circuit module; the antenna interface module includes an RF interface and a digital interface on the top plane of the hemispherical top, and the RF interface is m SMA interfaces connected to the 5G integrated station through a feeder; the digital interface is a serial port connected to the base station, receiving a 1pps time reference signal from the base station and transmitting an antenna ID signal back; in specific implementation, 4 SMA interfaces can be set, such as Figure 2 shown.

[0017] The RF switch module includes m SPnT RF switches, each of which realizes the expansion of 1-way RF transceiver to n-way RF transceiver through switch control; in specific implementation, the RF switch module includes 4 SP8T RF switches, such as Figure 2 shown.

[0018] The clock synchronization circuit module includes TCXO and phase-locked loop circuits, which are responsible for receiving the 1pps time reference signal from the 5G integrated station, completing the new clock output through the internal phase-locked frequency circuit, and ensuring that the clock is synchronized with the 5G signal clock.

[0019] The sub-antenna module is patched on a spherical dielectric carrier. Each sub-antenna has a narrow beam and high gain. Through spatial distribution techniques, it can achieve horizontal coverage of 0~360° and elevation coverage of 0~180°, ultimately realizing a complete hemisphere of the radiation surface.

[0020] The control processor module is used to control the m switches to select and switch, and control the residence time and switching protection time of the 1-n channels of each switch. Figure 2 , a control processor module controls the switching of 4 switches, and controls the dwell time and switching protection time of each switch 1-8 channel.

[0021] The power management circuit module contains an onboard battery to power the switch, TCXO and phase-locked loop chip. It should be noted that the default permanent output of the power management circuit module is 5V; one of the 5V outputs is changed to 3.3V through LDO to power the control processor.

[0022] Reference Figure 3 The horizontal 3dB lobe width of the sub-antenna module is between ±18°, and the elevation 3dB lobe width is between ±12°.

[0023] Multiple sub-antennas are spliced ​​together to achieve a 360° horizontal surround and 180° pitch hemisphere.

[0024] In the specific implementation, 32 sub-antennas are arranged in 4 layers from top to bottom, and the spacing between array elements in each circle layer is 0.75λ, where λ is the wavelength corresponding to the center frequency.

[0025] Reference Figure 3-4 The number of sub-antennas in layers 1 to 4 are 10, 10, 8, and 4 respectively; the array elements in the first layer are numbered 1-10, the array elements in the second layer are numbered 11-20, the array elements in the third layer are numbered 21-28, and the array elements in the fourth layer are numbered 29-32.

[0026] The normal directions of the array elements in the elevation direction are -12°, -34°, -56°, and -78° respectively; the antenna normal gain is 14dBi, the elevation vertical 3dB lobe is ±12°, and can cover 0~90°; 0° is the horizontal plane direction, and -90° is the free fall direction.

[0027]

[0028] Table 1 Referring to Table 1, the normal horizontal angles of the array elements in the 1st and 2nd layers are 18°, 54°, 90°, 126°, 162°, 198°, 234°, 270°, 306°, and 342°, respectively. Because the normal gain of the antenna is 14dBi and the horizontal 3dB lobe is ±18°, the horizontal coverage angles of the array elements are 0~36°, 36~72°, 72~108°, 108~144°, 144~180°, 180~216°, 216~252°, 252~288°, 288~324°, and 324~360°.

[0029] For the third layer, the normal horizontal angles of the array elements are 22.5°, 67.5°, 112.5°, 157.5°, 202.5°, 247.5°, 292.5°, and 337.5°, respectively. Because the normal gain of the array elements in the third layer is 14dBi, the horizontal 3dB lobe is ±22.5°.

[0030] The horizontal coverage angles of the array elements are 0~45°, 45~90°, 90~135°, 135~180°, 180~225°, 225~270°, 270~315°, and 315~360°.

[0031] At the 4th layer, the horizontal angles of the array element normal are 45°, 135°, 225°, and 315°, respectively. Because the normal gain of the 4th layer array element is 11dBi, the horizontal 3dB lobe is ±45°, and the horizontal coverage angle of the array element is 0~45°, 45~90°, 90~135°, 135~180°, 180~225°, 225~270°, 270~315°, and 315~360°. The 32 sub-antenna beam illumination directions of the hemispherical antenna are mapped to the ground, and the circle with a radius of 10 kilometers is divided into 32 sectors. The sector number is the sub-antenna number, the inner ring has 29-32 sectors, the second ring has 21-28 sectors, the third ring has 11-20 sectors, and the outer ring has 1-10 sectors. The 32 sub-antennas have the same structure, and the radius of the radiation cavity is 0.5λ.

[0032] Reference Figure 5 After the antenna is synchronized with the base station, the control processor drives the four switches to switch the paths. The initial state is to select the 1, 9, 17, and 25 sub-antennas, and then switch to 2, 10, 18, and 26; 3, 11, 19, 27; 4, 12, 20, 28; 5, 13, 21, 29; 6, 14, 22, 30; 7, 15, 23, 31; 8, 16, 24, and 32, and then return to the initial state and traverse the loop; It should be noted that the dwell time of each beam needs to be greater than or equal to the transmission period of SSB; In the specific implementation, the base station sets the SSB transmission period to 10mS and designs the dwell time of each beam to 10mS to complete the uplink and downlink services.

[0033] In specific implementation, the switch switching time is 1uS, occupying the cyclic prefix of the first OFDM symbol within the next 10mS; the switch cyclically switches 1-8 rounds, and the traversal period is: 10mS*8 =80mS.

[0034] Reference Figure 6 , through the antenna array plus high-speed electronic switch traversal scanning, and through electromagnetic simulation, the hemispherical coverage area omnidirectional gain is finally achieved to be greater than 9dBi; it can be concluded that the gain in the dark area is greater than 9dBi, and the gain has completely covered the hemisphere.

[0035] The insertion loss of RF switches is usually less than 0.5dB, so the equivalent gain is: 9dBi-0.5dB=8.5dBi.

[0036] In summary, the beam selection method in this application can achieve an antenna gain greater than 8dBi in any direction on the hemispherical radiation surface, and achieve a drone base station flight altitude of 500-5000 meters, with a ground mobile phone communication coverage radius greater than 10 kilometers, and no blind spots in communication coverage at any flight posture and when the mobile phone is within a circle with a radius of 10 kilometers.

[0037] At the same time, the circuit complexity and cost in this application are effectively reduced, and the scope of application is wider.

[0038] The above-mentioned embodiments only express the preferred implementation methods of the present application, and the descriptions thereof are relatively specific and detailed, but they cannot be understood as limiting the scope of the present application. It should be pointed out that, for ordinary technicians in this field, several modifications, improvements and substitutions can be made without departing from the concept of the present application, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A hemispherical antenna beam selection method for 5G communication, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: Step S1: construct a 5G integrated base station module, with m base station channels; Step S2, constructing an antenna module; Step S3, supplying power to the 5G integrated base station module constructed in step S1 and the antenna module in step S2; Step S4, the 5G integrated base station module identifies and reads the ID number of the antenna module, and determines the antenna type according to the ID number. When the identification is determined to be a hemispherical antenna, the algorithm program for driving the hemispherical antenna is triggered. When the identification is determined to be an ordinary antenna, the standard mode of cooperation with the ordinary directional antenna is adopted; Step S5, the time synchronization module in the 5G integrated base station module sends the synchronization reference signal of the base station to the control processor in the hemispheric antenna module to provide a time reference for subsequent switch switching; The hemispherical antenna module is synchronized with the base station through the time reference; In step S6 and step S5, the control processor drives the switch of each port to switch n-way loop traversal to achieve the connection of m*n sub-antennas.

2. According to claim 1, a hemispherical antenna beam selection method for 5G communication is characterized in that: In step S1, a 5G integrated base station module is constructed to integrate RRU, BBU, 5GC and IMS core network.

3. According to claim 1, a hemispherical antenna beam selection method for 5G communication is characterized in that: The hemispherical antenna module constructed in step S2 includes an antenna interface module, a radio frequency switch module, a clock synchronization circuit module, a sub-antenna module, a control processor module and a power management circuit module; The antenna interface module includes a radio frequency interface and a digital interface on the top plane of the hemisphere. The radio frequency interface is m SMA interfaces connected to the 5G integrated station through a feeder. The digital interface is a serial port connected to the base station, receiving the 1pps time reference signal from the base station and transmitting the antenna ID signal back. The RF switch module includes m SPnT RF switches, each of which realizes the expansion of 1-way RF transceiver to n-way RF transceiver through switch control; The clock synchronization circuit module includes TCXO and phase-locked loop circuits, which are responsible for receiving the 1pps time reference signal from the 5G integrated station and completing the new clock output through the internal phase-locked frequency circuit to ensure that the clock is synchronized with the 5G signal clock; The sub-antenna module patch is on a spherical dielectric carrier; The control processor module is used to control the m switches to select and switch, and control the dwell time and switching protection time of the 1-n channels of each switch; The power management circuit module contains an onboard battery to power the switch, TCXO and phase-locked loop chip.

4. A hemispherical antenna beam selection method for 5G communication according to claim 3, characterized in that: The sub-antennas are 1 to L layers from top to bottom, and the horizontal 3dB lobe width of the p-th layer sub-antenna module is The 3dB lobe width of all layers of antenna modules is: in, , 1≤p≤L, is the communication frequency in MHz, and r is the hemispherical antenna radius in meters.

5. A hemispherical antenna beam selection method for 5G communication according to claim 4, characterized in that: There are L layers of m*n sub-antenna modules from top to bottom, and the spacing between array elements in each circle layer is 0.75λ, where λ is the wavelength corresponding to the center frequency.

6. A hemispherical antenna beam selection method for 5G communication according to claim 3, characterized in that: After the antenna and the base station are synchronized, the control processor drives the switch to switch the path. The first group of sub-antennas is selected in the initial state, and then the sub-antennas are switched in sequence according to the sequence number of each group of sub-antennas and then return to the initial state, and the cycle is repeated; Beam dwell time ≥ SSB transmission period; During the switching process, the sub-antenna module selected by the i-th switch is numbered j+(i-1)*n, where 1≤i≤m and 1≤j≤n.

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