Passive MIMO device

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to passive multiple-input multiple-output devices, wireless communication devices, methods, and other aspects. In some aspects, an apparatus is provided that includes a first radio frequency (RF) transmission line having a first end terminated at a quarter wavelength ground transmission line; and a first antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements. The apparatus further includes a switch array including a corresponding switch for each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements of the first antenna array to selectively connect each antenna element to the first RF transmission line, and a path length selectable by the switch at a half wavelength distance for passive transmission. The apparatus also includes one or more lens elements configured to modify a wireless input signal to the first antenna array and to modify a wireless output signal from the first antenna array.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Generally speaking, the present disclosure relates to electronics and wireless communications. For example, aspects of the present disclosure relate to passive multiple-input multiple-output (pMIMO) devices used in the communication of wireless electromagnetic signals. Background Art

[0002] Wireless communication devices and technologies are becoming increasingly common. Wireless communication devices typically send and receive communication signals. Communication signals are typically processed by a variety of different components and circuits. In some modern communication systems, many different wavelengths of electromagnetic waves may be used in a single device. Some environments may include areas where wireless signals are reflected or blocked by buildings or objects in the environment. Providing consistent signal strength in such environments may involve additional complexity in wireless communication systems. Summary of the invention

[0003] Various implementations of systems, methods, and devices within the scope of the appended claims each have several aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for the desirable attributes described herein. Without limiting the scope of the appended claims, some prominent features are described herein.

[0004] In some aspects, passive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) surface (pMIMO) devices are described. Such devices can be used to relay signals from a base station to user devices in portions of a coverage area that may otherwise not be able to receive system signals. Various aspects described herein include beamforming structures (such as lenses and Butler matrices and transmission line-based switches) to receive signals and redirect or "reflect" the signals from a pMIMO surface (e.g., one or more surfaces used for antenna arrays in pMIMO) to a desired location. Such pMIMO can passively relay communication signals (e.g., redirect signals without directly amplifying signals or signal components in pMIMO).

[0005] In one aspect, a wireless communication device is provided. The wireless communication device includes: an antenna array; a beamforming structure coupled to the antenna array, wherein wireless signals incident on the wireless communication device at multiple angles correspond to corresponding ports based on the operation of the beamforming structure; one or more transmission lines; and a plurality of switches configured to couple the corresponding ports to the one or more transmission lines. Some such aspects may be configured: wherein the one or more transmission lines each have a first end terminated with a quarter-wavelength ground line; and wherein the plurality of switches are configured to couple the corresponding ports to corresponding transmission lines of the one or more transmission lines via the plurality of switches, wherein an initial switch is coupled to each corresponding transmission line positioned at a quarter-wavelength distance from the first end of the corresponding transmission line, and wherein each of the plurality of switches is coupled to the corresponding transmission line at an integer multiple of a half-wavelength distance from a corresponding adjacent switch of the plurality of switches.

[0006] In some aspects, a wireless communication device is provided. The wireless communication device includes: a first radio frequency (RF) transmission line having a first end terminated with a quarter-wavelength grounded transmission line; a first antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements; a switch array including a corresponding switch for each of the plurality of antenna elements of the first antenna array, wherein the corresponding switch for each antenna element is configurable to selectively connect each antenna element to the first RF transmission line, wherein an initial switch of the switch array is coupled to the first RF transmission line at a quarter-wavelength distance from the first end of the first RF transmission line, and wherein each switch of the switch array is coupled to the first RF transmission line at an integer multiple of a half-wavelength distance from a corresponding adjacent switch of the switch array along the first RF transmission line; and one or more lens elements configured to modify a wireless input signal to the first antenna array and to modify a wireless output signal from the first antenna array.

[0007] Some such aspects operate wherein the first RF transmission line further comprises a second end terminated with a quarter wavelength grounded transmission line, and wherein a final switch of the switch array is coupled to the first RF transmission line at a quarter wavelength distance from the second end of the first RF transmission line.

[0008] Some such aspects also include: a control circuit coupled to the first antenna array, wherein the control circuit is configured to select a switch configuration in which a first selected switch is closed for receiving a communication signal via a first selected antenna connected to the first selected switch, a second selected switch is closed for transmitting the communication signal via a second selected antenna connected to the second selected switch, and switches of the switch array other than the first selected switch and the second selected switch are in an open position.

[0009] Some such aspects also include: a control circuit coupled to the switch array and configured to: direct a wireless communication signal along a selected path from a first antenna element selected as an input to the first RF transmission line and to a second antenna selected as an output in the first antenna array by selecting an open or closed state of each switch of the switch array, without amplifying the wireless communication signal.

[0010] Some such aspects further include a control antenna coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive control instructions from a base station via the control antenna.

[0011] Some such aspects further include a wired communication port coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive control instructions from a base station via the wired communication port.

[0012] Some such aspects operate wherein the one or more lens elements comprise a single elliptical lens, a single hemispherical lens, a single fisheye lens, or a metamaterial lens positioned to direct input signals to the first antenna array and to direct output signals from the first antenna array.

[0013] Some such aspects also include: a second RF transmission line having a first end terminated with a quarter-wavelength grounded transmission line; a second antenna array; and a second switch array providing a corresponding switch for each antenna element in the second antenna array; wherein the first antenna array is linear and positioned along a first line, wherein the second antenna array is linear and positioned along a second line parallel to the first line, and wherein the one or more lens elements are also configured to direct wireless input signals to the antenna elements in the second antenna array and to direct wireless output signals from the antenna elements in the second antenna array.

[0014] Some such aspects operate wherein the second RF transmission line is coupled to the first RF transmission line via an additional switch, the additional switch configurable to allow communication signals received at the first antenna array to be transmitted via the second antenna array.

[0015] Some such aspects also include: a second RF transmission line having a first end coupled to ground; a connecting RF transmission line; wherein the first antenna array includes at least two rows of antenna elements; wherein the switch array includes at least two rows of switch elements; wherein the first row of antenna elements is coupled to the first RF transmission line via a first row of switch elements; wherein the second row of antenna elements is coupled to the second RF transmission line via a second row of switch elements; and wherein the second end of the first RF transmission line is connectable to the connecting RF transmission line via a first connecting switch; wherein the second end of the second RF transmission line is connectable to the connecting RF transmission line via a second connecting switch.

[0016] Some such aspects also include: a first quarter wavelength short line having a first end connected to the ground, wherein the first connecting switch selects between connecting the second end of the first RF transmission line to the second end of the first quarter wavelength short line and the connecting RF transmission line.

[0017] Some such aspects operate wherein the connecting RF transmission line includes a first end connected to ground, wherein the first RF transmission line is connectable to the connecting RF transmission line at a quarter wavelength distance from the first end of the connecting RF transmission line.

[0018] Some such aspects operate wherein the connecting RF transmission line includes a second end connected to the ground; wherein the first RF transmission line is connectable to the connecting RF transmission line at a quarter wavelength distance from the second end of the connecting RF transmission line; and wherein the first RF transmission line is connectable to the connecting RF transmission line at an integer multiple of a half wavelength distance from the connection between the second RF transmission line and the connecting RF transmission line.

[0019] Some such aspects also include: a plurality of RF transmission lines, comprising at least the first RF transmission line, the second RF transmission line, and a third RF transmission line; wherein each of the plurality of RF transmission lines is connected to antenna elements of a corresponding row of the first antenna array via switches of a corresponding row of the switch array, such that each antenna element is associated with a single switch of the switch array; wherein each of the plurality of RF transmission lines has a first end coupled to the ground and a second end coupleable to a corresponding quarter-wavelength stub or the connecting RF transmission line via a corresponding connecting switch; and wherein the corresponding connecting switch is attached to the connecting RF transmission line at an integer multiple of a half-wavelength distance from an adjacent corresponding connecting switch.

[0020] Some such aspects operate wherein the control circuit is configured to create a second passive transmission path using the second RF transmission line, the connecting RF transmission line, and the third RF transmission line to relay a first signal on the second passive transmission path while relaying a second signal on the first passive transmission path such that the first signal and the second signal are isolated by the switch array and the corresponding connecting switches.

[0021] Some such aspects operate wherein the one or more lens elements comprise a flat metasurface lens having concentric ring units.

[0022] Some such aspects operate wherein the first antenna array includes between 10 and 30 antenna elements.

[0023] In other aspects, a wireless communication device is provided. The wireless communication device includes: a Butler matrix including a plurality of antenna ports and a plurality of beam ports; a switch array including a corresponding switch coupled to each of the plurality of beam ports; and a radio frequency (RF) transmission line coupled to the switch array, the RF transmission line including a first end coupled to ground and a second end coupled to ground, wherein a first switch of the switch array is coupled to the RF transmission line at a quarter wavelength distance from the first end, wherein a second switch of the switch array is coupled to the RF transmission line at a quarter wavelength distance from the second end, and wherein each switch of the switch array is coupled to the RF transmission line at a half wavelength distance from an adjacent switch of the switch array along the RF transmission line.

[0024] In other aspects, a method includes: receiving a control signal at a passive multiple-input multiple-output (pMIMO) device; configuring a switch array of the pMIMO device to create a passive communication path from a first element of an antenna array to a second element of the antenna array via a radio frequency (RF) transmission line, wherein switches of the switch array are positioned along the RF transmission line at a half-wavelength distance from adjacent switches, and wherein an initial switch at a first end of the RF transmission line and a final switch at a second end of the RF transmission line are positioned at a quarter-wavelength distance from a ground coupling at the first end and the second end of the RF transmission line; receiving a wireless data signal at the first element of the antenna array; passively transmitting the wireless data signal from the first element of the antenna array to the second element of the antenna array using the passive communication path; and sending the wireless data signal using the second element of the antenna array.

[0025] In some aspects, the apparatus described above may include a computing device implemented in a communication system including communication with a mobile device. In some aspects, additional wireless communication circuitry. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood with reference to the entire specification, any or all drawings, and appropriate portions of each claim.

[0026] The foregoing as well as other features and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the following description, claims and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In the drawings, unless otherwise noted, like reference numerals refer to like parts in the various views. For reference numerals with alphabetic character designations (such as "102a" or "102b"), the alphabetic character designations may distinguish between two similar parts or elements present in the same figure. When a reference numeral is intended to include all parts having the same reference numeral in all figures, the alphabetic character designation for the reference numeral may be omitted.

[0028] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a wireless device that can be implemented in accordance with various aspects described herein to communicate with a wireless communication system including a pMIMO surface device.

[0029] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating a wireless device that communicates with a wireless communication system that can be implemented in accordance with various aspects described herein.

[0030] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a wireless device that communicates with a wireless communication system that can be implemented in accordance with various aspects described herein.

[0031] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating a portion of a pMIMO surface device in accordance with various aspects described herein.

[0032] Figure 5A is a diagram illustrating a portion of a pMIMO surface device in accordance with various aspects described herein.

[0033] Figure 5B is a diagram illustrating a portion of a pMIMO surface device in accordance with various aspects described herein.

[0034] Figure 5C is a diagram illustrating a portion of a pMIMO surface device in accordance with various aspects described herein.

[0035] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating an antenna array, transmission lines, and switch array for a pMIMO device in accordance with various aspects described herein.

[0036] Fig. 7A is a diagram illustrating a portion of a Butler matrix-based pMIMO device in accordance with various aspects described herein.

[0037] Figure 7B is a diagram illustrating a portion of a Butler matrix-based pMIMO device in accordance with various aspects described herein.

[0038] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating a portion of a Rotman lens based pMIMO device in accordance with various aspects described herein.

[0039] Fig.9A Aspects of a lens-based pMIMO device in accordance with aspects described herein are shown.

[0040] Fig. 9B Aspects of an antenna array for a pMIMO device in accordance with various aspects described herein are shown.

[0041] Fig.10 Aspects of methods for operating a pMIMO device in accordance with various aspects described herein are shown.

[0042] Fig.11 Aspects of a pMIMO device in accordance with various aspects described herein are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The specific embodiments described below in conjunction with the drawings are intended to be descriptions of exemplary implementations and are not intended to represent the only implementations in which the present invention can be practiced. The term "exemplary" used throughout the specification means "used as an example, instance, or illustration" and should not necessarily be interpreted as being preferred or advantageous over other exemplary implementations. For the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of exemplary implementations, the specific embodiments include specific details. In some cases, some devices are shown in block diagram form. Common elements of the drawings in the following figures may be identified using the same reference numerals.

[0044] Cellular communication systems use centralized base stations and system controllers to allow mobile devices to send and receive wireless data from a wide variety of locations. Such base stations require significant resources, and due to signal absorption or signal reflection, it is difficult to cover certain environments without blind spots in the communication system, especially at higher frequencies. One solution is to use passive multiple-input multiple-output (pMIMO) surface devices. Since the communication signal is not amplified in the pMIMO device, such a device is considered passive. Due to the control programming for guiding the reflected communication signal, power consumption in the pMIMO device occurs, so the "passive" pMIMO device consumes power, but compared with the active device that amplifies the communication signal, power consumption can be reduced. Existing pMIMO devices can use varactor diodes, pin diodes, radio frequency (RF) switches, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and other such elements to implement programmable phase shifters, which can be controlled to relay wireless signals. However, such existing pMIMO devices use a large number of phase shifter components, resulting in high power consumption, high component costs and complex architectures, which may involve hundreds or thousands of components. Additionally, beam direction using pMIMO devices involves component control (e.g., programming of switches and other components), and program execution time may be problematic or resource intensive in low-latency systems with a large number of programmable elements. In some such systems, end-to-end latency targets may be as low as 5 milliseconds (ms), which may result in associated delay budgets for individual interfaces (e.g., the delay budget for pMIMO devices) as low as 1 ms. In this context, MIMO does not imply that multiple inputs and outputs are required simultaneously, but rather that multiple input and / or output angles are possible and may be selected.

[0045] Various aspects described herein include pMIMO devices that utilize beamforming structures (such as lens elements and / or Butler matrices and switching paths based on RF transmission lines). Various aspects described herein reduce the number of components used when compared to previous pMIMO devices, resulting in reduced complexity of the control architecture for a given control circuit architecture and a corresponding reduction in programming time. In addition, given the consistent delay characteristics of the optional paths implemented using RF transmission lines, some aspects can implement or simplify hardware-based arrival direction estimation for devices in a communication system. Such arrival direction estimation can be used where each antenna port corresponds to a beam direction, where the antenna ports are equipped with power sensors and are used to monitor the arrival direction having a power level detected at the power sensor, and the various aspects described herein can reduce the hardware used for such functions.

[0046] Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating a wireless device 110 communicating with a wireless communication system 120 including a pMIMO surface device 135 in accordance with various aspects described herein. The wireless communication system 120 may be a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) system, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) system, a 5G NR (New Radio) system, or some other wireless system. The CDMA system may implement Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), CDMA IX, Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO), Time Division Synchronous CDMA (TD-SCDMA), or some other version of CDMA. For simplicity, Figure 1 A wireless communication system 120 is shown including base stations 130 and 132, a single pMIMO surface device 135, and a system controller 140. In general, a wireless communication system may include any number of base stations, pMIMO surface devices 135, and any other collection of network entities.

[0047] The wireless device 110 may also be referred to as a user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a terminal, an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a station, etc. The wireless device 110 may be a cellular phone, a smart phone, a tablet device, or other such mobile device (e.g., a device integrated with a display screen). Other examples of the wireless device 110 include a wireless modem, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device, a laptop computer, a smart book, a netbook, a tablet device, a cordless phone, a medical device, a device configured to connect to one or more other devices (e.g., through the Internet of Things), a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a Bluetooth device, etc. The wireless device 110 may communicate with the wireless communication system 120. The wireless device 110 may also receive signals from a broadcast station (e.g., a broadcast station 134) and / or receive signals from a satellite (e.g., a satellite 150 in one or more global navigation satellite systems (GNSS)). The wireless device 110 may support one or more radio technologies for wireless communication, such as LTE, WCDMA, CDMA1X, EVDO, TD-SCDMA, GSM, 802.11, 5G, etc.

[0048] Figure 2 2 is a diagram showing an environment 200 including an electronic device 202 and a base station 204. The environment 200 may be part of the system 120, the device 202 may be similar to the device 110, and the base station 204 may be similar to the system 120. Figure 1 Base station. Figure 2In the example of , the electronic device 202 is depicted as a smart phone, however, the electronic device 202 can be implemented as any suitable computing or other electronic device, such as a cellular base station, a broadband router, an access point, a cellular or mobile phone, a gaming device, a navigation device, a media device, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, a server, a network attached storage (NAS) device, a smart appliance, a vehicle-based communication system, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, etc.

[0049] Base station 204 communicates with electronic device 202 via wireless link 206, which may be implemented as any suitable type of wireless link. According to aspects described herein, wireless link 206 may include a pMIMO surface device according to aspects described herein, such as pMIMO surface device 135. Although depicted as a base station tower of a cellular radio network, base station 204 may represent or be implemented as another device, such as a satellite, a cable TV headend, a terrestrial television broadcast tower, an access point, a peer device, a mesh network node, a router, a fiber optic line, generally another electronic device, etc.

[0050] The wireless link 206 may include a downlink of data or control information transmitted from the base station 204 to the electronic device 202 and an uplink of other data or control information transmitted from the electronic device 202 to the base station 204. In some implementations, the control information may include control information for a pMIMO surface device. In such an implementation, the control information may not be transmitted to the electronic device 202, but may terminate at the pMIMO surface device. The wireless link 206 may be implemented using any suitable communication protocol or standard, such as 3rd Generation Partnership Project Long Term Evolution (3GPP LTE), 5G New Radio (3GPP5GNR), IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16, Bluetooth TM wait.

[0051] The electronic device 202 includes a processor 208 and a computer-readable storage medium (CRM 210). The processor 208 may include any type of processor configured to execute processor-executable instructions (e.g., code) stored by the CRM 210, such as an application processor or a multi-core processor. The CRM 210 may include any suitable type of data storage medium, such as volatile memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM)), non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory), optical media, magnetic media (e.g., disk or tape), etc. In the context of the present disclosure, the CRM 210 is implemented to store instructions 212, data 214, and other information for the electronic device 202, and therefore does not include a transient propagating signal or carrier wave.

[0052] The electronic device 202 may also include an input / output port 216 (I / O port 216) or a display 218. The I / O port 216 enables data exchange or interaction with other devices, networks, or users. The I / O port 216 may include a serial port (e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) port), a parallel port, an audio port, an infrared (IR) port, etc. The display 218 may be implemented as a screen or projection that presents graphics (e.g., one or more graphic images) of the electronic device 202, such as a user interface associated with an operating system, a program, or an application. Alternatively or in addition, the display 218 may be implemented as a display port or a virtual interface through which the graphics content of the electronic device 202 is transmitted or presented.

[0053] For communication purposes, the electronic device 202 also includes a modem 220, a wireless transceiver 222, and at least one antenna 230. The wireless transceiver 222 provides connectivity to a corresponding network and other electronic devices connected thereto using RF wireless signals. Additionally or alternatively, the electronic device 202 may include a wired transceiver, such as an Ethernet or fiber optic interface for communicating through a personal or local network, an intranet, or the Internet. The wireless transceiver 222 may facilitate communication through any suitable type of wireless network described herein.

[0054] The modem 220 (such as a baseband modem) can be implemented as a system on chip (SoC) that provides a digital communication interface for data, voice, messaging, and other applications of the electronic device 202. The modem 220 may also include a baseband circuit to perform a high-rate sampling process, which may include analog-to-digital conversion (ADC), digital-to-analog conversion (DAC), gain correction, skew correction, frequency conversion, etc. The modem 220 may also include logic for performing in-phase / quadrature (I / Q) operations (such as synthesis, encoding, modulation, demodulation, and decoding). More generally, the modem 220 may be implemented as a digital signal processor (DSP) or a processor configured to perform signal processing to support communication via one or more networks. Alternatively, the ADC or DAC operation may be performed by a separate component or another illustrated component (such as a wireless transceiver 222).

[0055] The wireless transceiver 222 may include circuits, logic, and other hardware for sending or receiving wireless signals for at least one communication frequency band. In operation, the wireless transceiver 222 may implement at least one radio frequency transceiver unit to process data and / or signals associated with transmitting data of the electronic device 202 via the antenna 230. Typically, the wireless transceiver 222 may include filters, switches, amplifiers, etc. for routing and processing signals sent or received via the antenna 230. Typically, the wireless transceiver 222 includes multiple transceiver units (e.g., for different wireless protocols, such as WLAN and WWAN or for supporting different frequency bands or frequency band combinations).

[0056] Figure 3 3 is a diagram showing an environment 300 including an electronic device 302 and a base station 304. Figure 2 Similarly, environment 300 may be part of system 120, device 302 may be similar to device 110, and base station 204 may be similar to Figure 1 Environment 300 includes structures 391 and 392 that may prevent base station 304 from communicating with device 302 when device 302 is located in certain portions of environment 300. Poor quality of service may be due to, for example, structure 391 absorbing signals in a direct path from base station 304 to device 302. Using pMIMO device 335 may allow the system to provide communication signals to device 302 with significantly lower resource usage when compared to a second base station or an active relay device. In some aspects, this may occur when the distance from base station 304 to pMIMO device 335 (e.g., as a first portion of wireless link 306A) and the signal from pMIMO device 335 to device 302 (e.g., as a second portion of wireless link 306B) is approximately similar to the maximum normal service distance of base station 304 (e.g., because passive pMIMO device 335 (which may be similar to device 135) does not amplify communication signals of wireless links 306A and 306B). In other aspects, the pMIMO surface can extend the range of the cell because the large surface of the pMIMO can introduce passive gain into the system. Although the environment 300 is shown as including one electronic device 302 and one base station 304, any number of electronic devices and / or base stations may be included. In some examples, the pMIMO device 335 is configured to communicate with several electronic devices 302 and / or several base stations 304 simultaneously. Additional details of the pMIMO device operation according to various aspects described herein are described below, including separate Butler matrix and / or lens configurations.

[0057] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating portions of a pMIMO device 400 in accordance with various aspects described herein. Figure 4The pMIMO device 400 includes a lens structure 402, which may include one or more lens elements. Other aspects described herein may be configured without a lens structure, for example, by using a Butler matrix for beamforming. Some aspects may use a lens array, while other aspects may use a single lens structure. Different examples of lens structures that may operate as the lens structure 402 or additional details of various aspects having other beamforming structures are described below.

[0058] During operation, when a particular device, such as device 302, moves around in an area covered by the output range of pMIMO device 400, pMIMO device 400 can be controlled to direct signals to that device. pMIMO device 400 provides signals to devices by using different antenna elements of antenna array 404 to receive input signal 412 via lens structure 402 and generate appropriate output signal 414 to match the current position of the target (e.g., receiving device). In other aspects, pMIMO device 400 receives transmissions from a device, such as device 302, and provides transmissions to another device (e.g., a base station or access point).

[0059] As part of this operation, different antenna elements in the antenna array 404 may be associated with different physical locations or different angular orientations so that when the device moves, different antenna elements in the antenna array 404 are used to appropriately receive input signals 412 and / or transmit output signals 414. For initial communications when pMIMO is first used for a given device, a control signal is received via the pMIMO control channel 411, and the pMIMO control circuit 410 uses the control signal to set switches in the switch and RF transmission line network 408 to match the initial position of the device. In some implementations, such control signals may be transmitted by separate control antennas using separate communication circuits (e.g., in addition to signals relayed by the pMIMO device). In other aspects, signals received at the antenna array that relays the received signal for transmission may be used in addition to receive control signals. In some such aspects, any switching network described herein may include a switching path to relay the control signal to the control circuit of the pMIMO device (e.g., during a predefined control timing window). Such control circuits may then be used to dynamically configure the pMIMO switch for the wireless signal indicated by the control signal. For example, initial wireless communication may be from a base station to a UE where the third antenna element from the left side of a one-dimensional antenna array (e.g., antenna array 404) receives a signal and the rightmost antenna element is associated with the current location of the device. Control circuitry 410 will receive control data identifying these locations and determine the appropriate antenna elements for communication and will then connect switches for the antenna element array associated with input signal 412 and output signal 414. The control data may be received via an antenna separate from antenna array 404 or via a wired connection. In some examples, the reception and / or processing of the control data may be performed by the same methods as described above with respect to Figure 2 The electronic device 202 may be implemented by a processor, CRM, modem, wireless transceiver and / or antenna similar to those discussed above for the electronic device 202.

[0060] A wireless communication input signal 412 will pass through the lens structure 402 and be received at an element of the antenna array 404. For example, the lens may focus the input signal 412 onto a specific element of the antenna array 404 determined by the direction from which the input signal 412 is received. The input signal will then be passed to the corresponding antenna feed and across the closed switch to the RF transmission line of the switch and RF transmission line network 408. The signal will travel along the RF transmission line to the switch corresponding to the antenna element that is used to transmit to the current location of the device, across the switch and feed of the feed network 406 to the corresponding antenna element of the antenna array 404, and radiated as an output signal 414. The lens structure 402 will shape the output signal 414 (e.g., toward a specific direction), and the output signal 414 will then propagate to the target device. Switches associated with unused antenna elements will be opened to isolate antenna elements that are not associated with current communications from the RF transmission line.

[0061] When the target device moves, the corresponding antenna elements of the antenna array 404 change. The pMIMO control channel 411 can be used to receive control data from the system (e.g., from the base station 132 or the system controller 140) to indicate control data for setting the switch structure in the pMIMO device 400. For example, the control data may include the location and / or orientation of the base station and the electronic device, and the processor in the pMIMO control 410 can determine which switches in the switch and RF transmission line network 408 are closed based on the control data and send instructions to set the appropriate switch structure. In some aspects, the pMIMO surface may include a separate control antenna that is configured to receive control data for setting the switches within the pMIMO device. In other aspects, a wired connection between a wired communication port of the pMIMO surface and a base station (e.g., the pMIMO surface 135 and the base station 132) can be used to provide control data to the pMIMO surface 135. In other implementations, base station 132 and device 110 may provide control data to the pMIMO surface using the same wireless path used for data communications between device 110 and base station 132 (e.g., using control data from base station 132 or device 110 indicating an output angle associated with the communication path).

[0062] Figure 5A is a diagram illustrating a portion of a pMIMO surface device in accordance with various aspects described herein. Figure 5A A two-dimensional planar lens 520 is shown that can be used with a pMIMO device (such as pMIMO devices 135, 335, 400) according to various aspects. In some implementations, the lens 520 can be used as the lens structure 402. Although Figure 4 shows a one-dimensional antenna array, but Figure 5A The planar lens 520 is configured with a two-dimensional array of lens elements. Figure 5A The planar lens 520 includes a lens element 521. In some aspects, the planar lens 520 includes an NxN array of concentric ring elements, shown as elements 521-1-1 to 521-NN (e.g., such that the planar lens 520 is composed of a plurality of lens elements 521, which can be loop antennas or other such lens elements). Although Figure 5A 521-NN are each shown as a square element, but each element 521-NN may be a ring-shaped unit. In other implementations, other such lens structures specific to the set of operating frequencies may be used (e.g., so that the lens 520 matches the wireless signal focused or modified by the planar lens 520). Thus, the lens 520 is an implementation of a beamforming structure in pMIMO for converting the spatial angles of the input and output signals (e.g., the input signal 412 and the output signal 414) to match the antenna element positions in the antenna array (e.g., the feed network 406 positions of the antenna array 404).

[0063] Figure 5B is a diagram illustrating a portion of a pMIMO surface device in accordance with various aspects described herein. Figure 5B It shows that it can be used in pMIMO devices with Figure 5A The antenna array 530 is used together with the planar lens 520. The antenna array 530 includes antenna elements of the antenna element array 531 in rows 1 to N and columns 1 to N, shown as elements 531-1-N to 531-NN. Figure 5A and 5B Examples with a given number of elements are shown, but other numbers of elements may be used. However, in many implementations, the number of lens elements (e.g., elements 521-NN) will be greater than the number of antenna elements (e.g., elements 531-1-1 through 531-NN) to achieve the benefits described herein. In some implementations, the number of antenna elements may be between 16 and 100. In some implementations, fewer antenna elements may be used where a limited number of directions are expected for a wireless communication path (e.g., due to the geometry of available UE locations and base stations communicating with the UE locations). Some aspects may use more antenna elements at the expense of more complex switch control. Additional details of the functionality of pMIMO with a two-dimensional antenna array are further described below, including information regarding Figure 6 and 7B Certain aspects are described. The spacing between antenna elements is determined by the lens size and beam resolution of a given pMIMO device.

[0064] Figure 5C is a diagram illustrating portions of a pMIMO device 500 in accordance with various aspects described herein. Figure 5CAntenna array 530 is shown relative to lens 520 according to some aspects. As shown, lens 520 includes an array of lens elements that are not matched to elements of antenna array 530. Lens 520 is used to beamform incoming and outgoing signals to improve the coverage area of ​​pMIMO device 500 and to improve the energy delivered to antenna array 530.

[0065] Because pMIMO functionally "reflects" wireless communication signals, lens 520 is a bidirectional beamforming surface that is used to beamform incoming wireless signals to convert incoming spatial angles to specific feed point areas of the antenna array, and to convert signals radiated from antenna elements to specific spatial angles. In this structure, different antenna elements of antenna array 530 are associated with specific spatial angles due to the fixed association created by lens 520. In addition, as a passive device, limited signal loss in lens 520 provides improved performance for both input and output signals, so a bidirectional lens structure with limited loss is used. pMIMO operates by receiving a signal at a first incident angle and beamforming the signal using lens 520 (e.g., utilizing a transformation or signal focusing effect determined by the arrangement of lens elements 521). The beamformed signal is received at antenna element 521 of lens 520 and is directed to a specific antenna element 531 of antenna array 530 based on the beamforming that occurs due to lens 520. The received beam excites the antenna element corresponding to the incident angle (e.g., and the corresponding position or area associated with the device by control data). Power from a signal received at a first angle of incidence is transferred from the antenna through the switch network to an antenna element corresponding to an output angle of incidence set by the control data (eg, associated with a target recipient device). Lens 520 then beamforms the signal output from the antenna element to the output angle of incidence.

[0066] In addition, although Figure 5C The examples described above describe a single lens being used to excite a single antenna array, but more complex antenna or lens structures may be used. For example, while a single antenna array is shown, in some implementations a single lens may be used for different groups of incident angles that match different antenna arrays such that a single lens can direct signals to different antenna arrays. Similarly, for some implementations, multiple lenses and multiple arrays may be configured in different arrangements to provide similar passive MIMO operations covering different groupings of incident and output angles for different wireless communication paths. In addition, while in the above examples beamformed signals are directed to specific antenna elements 531 by lens 520, in some examples antenna elements 531 are organized into groups, where each group has its feeds coupled together, and beamformed signals may be directed by lens 520 to a group of antenna elements 531. Figure 6is a diagram illustrating an antenna array, a switch array, and transmission lines for a two-dimensional pMIMO device 600 in accordance with various aspects described herein. Figure 6 It can be considered as a two-dimensional antenna array similar to antenna array 404 (or 530 ), where the corresponding two-dimensional switch and RF transmission line network is similar to switch and RF transmission line network 408 . Figure 6 Shown with Figure 4 The antenna array 404 and the switch and RF transmission line network 408 corresponding to the pMIMO device 600. The antenna array and switch network of the pMIMO device 600 are used to receive a beam from a lens element (e.g., lens 520) at an antenna element (or antenna element group) corresponding to a given area including a transmitting device (e.g., device 110 or base station 134). The power from the incoming wireless signal received at the antenna element is transmitted through the switch, along the RF transmission line, and through an additional switch associated with the second antenna element. The second antenna element corresponds to the desired output direction associated with the location of the receiving device. Therefore, the pMIMO device 600 uses a network of switches and transmission lines to effectively "reflect" the signal in a controllable direction. For example, a signal can be received at an antenna element of antenna array 610B, travel through switches and transmission lines, and be output at an element of antenna array 610C. The switch configuration allows any antenna element to be connected to any other antenna element with limited power loss. The association of different antenna elements with different spatial directions allows the direction of the "reflected" signal to be controlled regardless of the input angle. The described operation assumes that the direction is known from control signaling so that the correct switches for the antenna elements corresponding to the incoming and outgoing signal directions are closed, with the remaining switches open to isolate the unselected antenna elements from the communication signals.

[0067] Figure 6The device 600 includes an antenna array 610 having three rows, shown as row 610A, row 610B, and row 610C of the antenna array. The device further includes a switch array 620 having three rows 620A, 620B, and 620C. The antenna elements of the antenna array 610 each have a corresponding switch of the switch array 620. In addition, RF transmission lines 630, 640, and 650 each correspond to a row of antenna elements of the antenna array 610 and a corresponding switch of a given row of the switch array 620. Each antenna element in row 610A of the antenna array 610 is coupled to the RF transmission line 630 via a switch of row 620A of the switch array 620. The RF transmission line 630 has a first end 631 and a second end 632. The first end 631 is terminated to ground with a quarter-wavelength line. RF transmission lines 640 and 650 similarly have respective first ends 641 and 651 and respective second ends 642 and 652, wherein the first ends 641 and 651 are terminated to ground with quarter-wavelength lines. The second ends 632, 642 and 652 are each selectively coupled to a connecting RF transmission line 660 or a corresponding quarter-wavelength stub 634, 644 and 654.

[0068] The first antenna element of antenna array 610 is attached to RF transmission line 630 at a quarter wavelength distance from first end 631 of the RF transmission line. Antenna elements of row 610A are coupled to the RF transmission line via corresponding switches of row 620A of switch array 620 at positions that are integer multiples of half a wavelength distance from adjacent switches.

[0069] As shown, the first antenna element of row 610A is coupled to the RF transmission line via the first switch of row 620A at a location one quarter wavelength from the first end 631 of the RF transmission line. The second antenna element is coupled via a switch that is an integer multiple of a half wavelength distance ("d") from the attachment point of the first switch. Each subsequent switch is attached along the RF transmission line at an additional integer multiple of a half wavelength distance. The half wavelength positioning from the adjacent switch connections and the quarter wavelength distance at the end of the RF transmission line (e.g., which produces a half wavelength distance for reflections that start at the end switch and reflect away from the ground reference connection for twice the quarter wavelength distance) produces a virtual block that directs the signal toward the right end of the transmission line (e.g., the second end 632). The positioning description recites the distance of a specific wavelength, but it will be apparent that communications in the channel of the communication system will work without the system being limited to signals at precise frequencies. Therefore, the system operation can be designed with tolerances to accommodate a given communication channel for operation of the communication standards described herein.

[0070] In a single-dimensional structure (e.g., a 1xN array of antenna elements) with a single RF transmission line, the second end of the RF transmission line is also connected (e.g., terminated) to ground at the second end as well as at the first end. Figure 6In the two-dimensional structure described, the RF transmission line 630 includes a connection switch 621 that selectively couples the second end 632 of the RF transmission line 630 to the quarter-wavelength stub 634 or to the RF transmission line 660. If the device 600 is configured to operate with input and output signals that both occur at the antenna elements of row 610A, the connection switch 621 couples the second end 632 to the quarter-wavelength stub 634, and the switches in row 620A corresponding to the input and output antenna elements are closed. Connecting to one end of the quarter-wavelength stub and the other end of the quarter-wavelength stub connected to ground replicates the operation of the one-dimensional standing wave structure as described herein, so that the last antenna element of row 610A is coupled to the second end 632 and is a quarter wavelength away from the ground due to the position of the connection switch 621. In such a configuration, the power from the input signal will be reflected off the ground connection at the first end 631 and the second end 632, and will be passed to the selected antenna of row 610A for transmission. If a signal is input to the antenna elements of row 610A but is output on a different row, connecting switch 621 connects second end 632 of RF transmission line 630 to connecting RF transmission line 660. In addition, switches in switch array 620 corresponding to antenna elements in different rows that are outputting signals are closed.

[0071] The connecting RF transmission line 660 has a similar structure to the RF transmission line 630, wherein the connecting switches 621, 622, and 623 couple the connecting RF transmission line to the RF transmission lines 630, 640, 650, which are positioned at integer multiples of a half-wavelength distance from an adjacent switch having a connection point to the connecting RF transmission line 660. The first end 661 and the second end 662 of the connecting RF transmission line 660 are each terminated with a quarter-wavelength grounded transmission line such that the nearest connecting switch is positioned at a quarter-wavelength distance (e.g., such that the reflected signal from the switch connection point travels a half-wavelength distance when traveling to and from the ground point, which is twice the distance of the quarter-wavelength position, and thus the quarter-wavelength ground acts as an open circuit blocking power flow in the ground direction).

[0072] Signal energy is thus transferred from the (receiving) antenna element to the RF transmission line, to the connecting RF transmission line, to another RF transmission line, and then to the radiating element via the switch. For example, if the control signal indicates that the first switch of the two elements of row 620A from the first end 631 of RF transmission line 630 is to be closed, and the selected two switch elements from the end 652 of RF transmission line 650 are to be closed, the remaining switches remain open. Connecting switches 621 and 623 couple RF transmission lines 630 and 650 to connecting RF transmission line 660, and connecting switch 622 couples RF transmission line 640 to quarter-length stub 644. The switch configuration essentially creates a path that is configured to transfer energy between two selected antenna elements of the antenna array, which will correspond to the input angle and output angle of the signal being relayed (e.g., reflected) by the pMIMO device 600. In the described example, energy will be received at the selected antenna element of row 610A and delivered to RF transmission line 630 via the selected switch of row 620A (e.g., the switch corresponding to the selected antenna element of row 610A). The above switch positions create a guide path using RF transmission line 630, connecting RF transmission line 660 and RF transmission line 650, wherein RF transmission line 640 and quarter-wavelength stubs 634, 644 and 654 are isolated from the passive communication path selected by the switch configuration. All other antenna elements except the selected antenna element of row 610A and the selected antenna element of row 610C are also isolated from the passive communication path selected by the switch configuration. The selected antenna element of row 610C receives the power of the input signal from the passive communication path (e.g., the transmission line resonant structure for the operating channel wavelength) via the closed corresponding selected switch positioned at a quarter-wavelength distance from the first end 651 of RF transmission line 650. When other devices use pMIMO or the current device moves, the switch configuration is adjusted to guide the signal to the new position.

[0073] In the above operation, the RF transmission line 640 is isolated from the passive communication path, wherein the connecting switch 622 couples the second end 642 of the RF transmission line 640 to the quarter-wavelength stub 644. In some aspects, if the devices in the system are appropriately positioned, the RF transmission line 640 can be used for a second passive communication path (e.g., using the RF transmission lines 630, 640 and the connecting RF transmission line 660) that operates simultaneously with the above-described first passive communication path. This second passive communication path can connect antenna elements within the second row 610B, but cannot be connected to other elements outside the second row because the connecting RF transmission line 660 is part of another passive communication path that is actively used. In another configuration, a second connecting RF transmission line (not shown) can be coupled to the first ends 631, 641, 651 of the RF transmission lines 630, 640, 650 via a switch that can be selectively coupled to the second connecting RF transmission line or the additional quarter-wavelength stub. In such a configuration, two simultaneous passive communication paths may be used, each with an input and output on a different row, as long as the two communication paths do not have a shared RF transmission line (e.g., neither the input nor the output of both paths are in the same row) by having two separate connecting RF transmission lines. Thus, such a configuration of device 600 may enable multiple input signals (e.g., received from different directions or angles) to be simultaneously routed to corresponding outputs (for transmission to corresponding "reflected" directions or angles). In other implementations, other such configurations may be used, as long as the configuration does not produce excessive signal loss.

[0074] The spacing between switch connections at the transmission line is shown as an integer factor of a half-wavelength distance, so that the short-circuited terminals of the transmission line operate as an open circuit at the connected feed point to efficiently transfer power. The various aspects described herein use relatively few elements to receive power (e.g., in designs with few simultaneously incident beams). The limited number of beams and the associated limited number of elements simplifies operation and limits power usage of pMIMO devices operating according to the various aspects described herein. The limited number of elements also simplifies control signaling and determination of signal direction for selecting switches and antenna elements associated with appropriate directions and device positioning (e.g., as Figure 3 shown).

[0075] In some implementations, multi-pole switches can be used with additional transmission lines to create additional independent signal paths. Figure 6Any transmission line of 630 may be replicated where an additional pole is added to each switch connected to the replicated transmission line where the additional pole has a similar connection to the new transmission line. For example, transmission line 630 may be replicated where each switch 620 in switch row 620A has an additional pole to select between connecting an antenna element from a first transmission line, a second transmission line, or a disconnected position (e.g., not connected to any transmission line). The second transmission line allows antenna pairs in row 610A to be connected to each other while having independent transmission paths that do not overlap due to the availability of parallel paths via two transmission lines and multi-pole switches. Similarly, connecting transmission line 660 may be replicated where switches 621, 622, and 623 have multi-pole connections to allow independent signal paths. With such additional transmission lines and multi-pole signal paths, any number of paths may be active simultaneously as long as all active paths are isolated from each other.

[0076] In some implementations, each antenna is configured to communicate in multiple pols (e.g., V pol and H pol, where a corresponding feed is coupled to each antenna for each pol). These pols can be used to transmit separate data streams. For example, there can be a set of switches 620 and a set of transmission lines 630, 640, 650, and 660 coupled for each pol. In some examples, this can enable multiple data streams to be transmitted simultaneously between two devices (e.g., the settings of the switches will be the same for both pols). In some examples, this can enable multiple data streams to be transmitted simultaneously between more than two devices. For example, corresponding streams can be received from a base station at H pol and V pol, and then sent to different UEs through separate antennas based on setting the switches associated with each pol in different ways. As another example, the streams on H pol and V pol may not have any association with each other, and two incoming signals (one incoming signal on H pol and another incoming signal on V pol) can be routed independently.

[0077] Fig. 7A is a diagram illustrating a portion of a pMIMO device based on a Butler matrix 720 in accordance with various aspects described herein. Fig. 7A The pMIMO device of the structure operates similarly to the above-described device, but instead of having the lens configured to focus the beam on a particular antenna (or set of antennas) of the antenna array, as Figure 4, but instead uses a Butler matrix to convert between a beam at the antenna array and a signal at a specific port. A Butler matrix is ​​a beamforming network used to feed the antennas of the antenna array 708 in order to control the direction of one or more beams. The Butler matrix can use couplers and (fixed value) phase shifters to receive and / or transmit signals within a range of directions as shown. Similarly, a given configuration will accept a transmit signal from a given direction. The Butler matrix accepts input power or feeds output power to elements with progressive phase differences so that the output beam is directed in the desired direction. The 8x8 Butler matrix 720 shown has eight associated directions 4R to 1R and 1L to 4L. Functionally, the structure operates similarly to the above structure, but instead of a lens structure the beamforming signal is mapped to Figure 4 The Butler matrix 720 and the antenna array map the beams to the beam ports according to the positions of the antenna arrays described in FIG.

[0078] exist Fig. 7A In the structure shown in FIG. 1 , a signal received at a given angle (e.g., 1L-4L or 1R-4R) generates energy at the corresponding beam port. The beam port can be connected to Figure 5B or Figure 6 The antenna elements of the Butler matrix 720 are treated identically, with corresponding switches of the switch array 730 matched to each beam port of the Butler matrix 720. The switches of the switch array 730 are then coupled along the transmission line 740 at half a wavelength from adjacent switches or at a quarter wavelength from the end of the transmission line 740 to create a guided path to efficiently transfer energy between the beam ports. Control signaling and circuitry are used to determine which switches are closed (e.g., corresponding to Fig. 7A 620A (or Figure 6 621) are configured similarly to switch array 730, except that the switches are connected to corresponding beam ports of Butler matrix 720 rather than to antenna 610A. Further to this example, when end 632 is coupled to quarter-wavelength stub 634, transmission line 740 can be configured similarly to transmission line 630 (but note that switch 621 can be omitted so that the transmission line is permanently coupled to the stub).

[0079] exist Fig. 7AIn the example of , an input signal 712 is received from a direction corresponding to antenna port 4L to be output in a direction corresponding to antenna port 2R. Control signaling indicating the direction is used by the control circuitry of the pMIMO to close the switches corresponding to those antenna ports and to open the remaining switches. Energy associated with the input signal 712 is output at beam port 4L to the corresponding switch of the switch array 730. The energy is then transferred to the transmission line 740 and then to the beam port 2R via the corresponding switch of the switch array 730. The Butler matrix then radiates an output communication signal 714 in a direction associated with antenna port 2R. In some aspects, a Rotman lens implementation can be similar to a Butler matrix implementation, as described below with respect to Figure 8 as described.

[0080] Figure 7B is a diagram illustrating a portion of a Butler matrix-based pMIMO device in accordance with various aspects described herein. Figure 7B Two-dimensional scanning is shown using a one-dimensional Butler matrix array (which includes Butler matrices 720A to 720N having an antenna array 708 (e.g., where each Butler matrix in the Butler matrices 720A to 720N is associated with a row of antennas in the antenna array 708)) and corresponding one-dimensional switch and phase shifter networks 750A to 750N connected to each corresponding one-dimensional Butler matrix in the Butler matrices 720A to 720N.

[0081] Figure 7B The illustration shows a limited number of antenna elements in antenna array 708, but the antenna array may include any number of antenna elements as described herein (e.g., between approximately 4 and 32 antennas in the antenna array). Figure 7B In the implementation of , a one-dimensional switch and RF transmission line network 750A is composed of two SPNT (Single Path N Through) switches, shown as SPNTRX switch 751A and SPNTTX switch 752A, and a phase shifter 754A coupled between the two SPNT switches 751A and 752A. Each SPTN of each network 750 includes a transmission line and switch array similar to the transmission line 740 and the switch array 730, but if the transmission line is connected via a phase shifter instead of the transmission line 660, the SPNTRX switch 751A (for example, it includes a transmission line) and the SPNTTX switch 752A (which also includes a separate transmission line) are connected to the same as the transmission line 740 and the switch array 730. Figure 6 A structure similar to that of is connected via phase shifter 754A.

[0082] Although only the elements of network 750A for Butler matrix 720A are shown, each of Butler matrices 720A to 720N will have corresponding elements in the corresponding switch and RF transmission line networks 750A to 750N. During operation, the incoming signal direction and reflected signal direction is known (e.g., from a control signal received as part of the operation of the device). The direction of the incoming beam and the associated beam port number (1L, 4R, 3L, ...) can be based on The SPNT RX switch 751A path couples the associated beam port to the phase shifter 754A. The phase shifter 754A applies nΔψ to the signal passing through row phase shift, where n is the row number, and Finally, SPNT TX switch 752A connects the output of phase shifter 754A to the The output signal beam port obtained. The control signal input to the phase shifter 754A is shown as the phase shifter control input 755A. As described above, the control signal provided at the phase shifter control input 755A (for example, generated based on a wireless control signal received at the system as part of the communication network operation of the passive MIMO device) is determined based on the known incoming signal direction and the reflected signal direction. The phase shift applied at each of the phase shifters 754A to 754N matches the combined signal received at each of the Butler matrices 720A to 720N to create an output wireless signal at each of the Butler matrices 720A to 720N, which is combined to generate a phase shift signal based on the received signal direction at each of the Butler matrices 720A to 720N. The incoming signal received at As described above, the details of the switch and RF transmission line network 750A are described, and similar configurations can be implemented for each of the switch and RF transmission line networks 750A to 750N. Figure 7B One implementation of the aspects of pMIMO described herein is described, but other similar implementations are possible based on other details described herein, including other switch and RF transmission line networks and other antenna and lens structures.

[0083] Figure 8 8 is a diagram illustrating a portion of a Rotman lens based pMIMO device 800 according to various aspects described herein. In some aspects, Fig. 7A The one-dimensional Butler matrix implementation of can be thought of as Figure 8 The one-dimensional Rotman lens of FIG. 8 is an implementation of the same concept, where the corresponding operating characteristics of the one-dimensional switch and RF transmission line network are used in each implementation. The Rotman lens is a passive lens-based beamforming network that receives signals from multiple antenna elements at antenna port 808 and outputs signals on multiple beam ports 812. Similar to Fig. 7AButler matrix-based pMIMO and other structures mentioned above, Figure 8 The Rotman lens-based pMIMO device 800 receives wireless signals at antenna elements associated with antenna port 808. The Rotman lens 810 builds reflections into the structure of the Rotman lens 810 so that the output direction at beam port 812 depends on the input direction of the incoming beam received at antenna port 808. High angular resolution can be achieved by using a large number of ports. In some aspects, virtual ports can be used to improve angular resolution at the expense of signal loss.

[0084] Similar to the operation and structure described above, the output at beam port 812 can be functionally connected to the Figure 4 800. Each beam port of the beam port 812 is matched to a particular switch of the switch and RF transmission line network 818, which is constructed to have a half-wavelength attachment spacing at the transmission line as described above to generate a standing wave at the communication frequency. The control signaling selects the input and output switches associated with the particular beam port based on knowledge of the locations of the two devices (e.g., a UE and a base station, such as device 110 and base station 132). As part of the passive communication path, the energy received from the beam port of the beam port 812 is sent along the transmission line of the switch and RF transmission line network 818. The energy is then input back into the Rotman lens 810 via the port of the beam port 812 associated with the destination device. The wireless communication signal is output at the antenna port 808 as a signal directed to a location determined by the control signaling and circuitry as a reflection of the input signal generated by the pMIMO device 800. A two-dimensional antenna array can be achieved by coupling multiple Rotman lenses together, similar to multiple Butler matrices in Figure 7B How to couple together.

[0085] Fig.9A Aspects of a lens-based pMIMO device in accordance with aspects described herein are shown. Fig.9AIncludes lens 900 and antenna array 902 that can be used in pMIMO devices according to various aspects described herein. As described above, a single-dimensional pMIMO device can be used to send and receive signals along a single axis with a selectable incident angle. A lens structure such as lens 900 can be used to enhance the available range of the area covered by pMIMO. Lens 900 can be, for example, an implementation of lens structure 402. Lens 900 and antenna array 902 can be used with any structure described herein (including a Rotman lens structure, a Butler matrix structure, or a simple antenna feed structure). In some aspects, lens 900 can be combined with a planar lens structure such as lens 520. In other aspects, other such lens structures can be used, such as an elliptical lens structure, a spherical lens structure, a fisheye lens structure, or any other such lens structure that can be used to convert an incident communication signal into a corresponding antenna feed source for a pMIMO device.

[0086] Fig. 9B Aspects of an antenna array 902 for a pMIMO device are shown in accordance with various aspects described herein. Fig. 9B A lens 900 or other such lens is shown. Fig.9A Antenna array 902. Antenna array 902 is a simple 1xN one-dimensional array. In some aspects, two such one-dimensional arrays can be used with a lens structure to provide two degrees of freedom when receiving and transmitting wireless signals.

[0087] Fig.10 is a flow chart describing an example of the operations of a method 1000 for operation of a pMIMO device in accordance with various aspects described herein. In some aspects, the operations described may be performed by a device including a memory and a processing circuit coupled to the memory and configured to perform the operations of the method 1000. In some aspects, the method 1000 may be embodied as instructions stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that, when executed by a processing circuit (e.g., a control circuit) of the device, causes the device to perform the operations of the method 1000 described below. The blocks in the method 1000 may or may not be performed in the order shown, and in some embodiments, may be performed at least partially in parallel.

[0088] The method 1000 includes block 1002, which involves receiving a control signal at a passive multiple-input multiple-output (pMIMO) device.

[0089] Method 1000 includes box 1004, which involves configuring a switch array of pMIMO to create a passive communication path from a first element of the antenna array to a second element of the antenna array via a radio frequency (RF) transmission line, wherein switches of the switch array are positioned along the RF transmission line at a half-wavelength distance from adjacent switches, and wherein an initial switch at a first end of the RF transmission line and a final switch at a second end of the RF transmission line are positioned at a quarter-wavelength distance from a ground coupling at the first end and the second end of the RF transmission line.

[0090] Method 1000 includes block 1006 , which involves receiving a wireless data signal at a first element of an antenna array.

[0091] The method 1000 includes block 1008 , which involves passively transmitting a wireless data signal from a first element of the antenna array to a second element of the antenna array using a passive communication path.

[0092] Method 1000 includes block 1010 , which involves transmitting a wireless data signal using a second element of the antenna array.

[0093] Method 1000 may additionally include repeated blocks or intervening blocks operating in accordance with any description or device provided herein, and may additionally include operations of related devices or duplicate devices that similarly perform pMIMO communication operations in accordance with any description provided herein.

[0094] Fig.11 is a functional block diagram of a wireless communication apparatus, which may be a pMIMO device or a portion of a pMIMO device. Apparatus 1100 includes means 1102 for receiving a control signal at a passive multiple-input multiple-output (pMIMO) device.

[0095] The apparatus 1100 includes a unit 1104 for configuring a switch array of pMIMO to create a passive communication path from a first element of the antenna array to a second element of the antenna array via a radio frequency (RF) transmission line, wherein switches of the switch array are positioned along the RF transmission line at a half-wavelength distance from adjacent switches, and wherein an initial switch at a first end of the RF transmission line and a final switch at a second end of the RF transmission line are positioned at a quarter-wavelength distance from a ground coupling at the first end and the second end of the RF transmission line.

[0096] The apparatus 1100 includes means 1106 for receiving a wireless data signal at a first element of the antenna array.

[0097] The apparatus 1100 includes means 1108 for transmitting the wireless data signal using a second element of the antenna array.

[0098] Additionally, in some aspects, apparatus 1100 may include duplicate or additional components of any pMIMO device or element according to the communication systems described herein.

[0099] The devices, networks, systems and certain units described herein for sending or receiving signals may be configured to communicate via one or more portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The electromagnetic spectrum is usually subdivided into various categories, frequency bands, channels, etc. based on frequency or wavelength. In 5G NR, two initial operating bands have been identified as frequency range names FR1 (410MHz–7.125GHz) and FR2 (24.25GHz–52.6GHz). The frequencies between FR1 and FR2 are usually referred to as mid-band frequencies. Although a portion of FR1 is greater than 6GHz, FR1 is usually (interchangeably) referred to as the “below 6GHz” band in various documents and articles, and will be referred to as “below 7GHz” in this article. Similar naming issues sometimes occur with respect to FR2, which is usually (interchangeably) referred to as the “millimeter wave” (mmW) band in documents and articles, although it includes frequencies outside the extremely high frequency (EHF) band (30GHz-300GHz) identified by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as “mmWave” or mmW band. In other examples, higher frequencies, such as frequencies in the sub-THz band, may be used. Unless otherwise specifically stated, it should be understood that if the terms "mmWave", mmW, etc. are used herein, they can broadly represent frequencies that may include mid-band frequencies, frequencies that may be within FR2, or frequencies that may be within the EHF band. In some configurations, the pMIMO device described above can achieve sufficient performance while using a smaller number of antennas (e.g., a two-dimensional matrix with tens (e.g., 16 or 25) or approximately 100 antennas instead of hundreds or thousands of antennas) compared to previous structures. In some examples, multiple arrays are arranged close to each other, with each array being configured for a specific frequency or frequency range.

[0100] The circuit architecture described herein may be implemented on one or more ICs, analog ICs, mmWICs, mixed-signal ICs, ASICs, printed circuit boards (PCBs), electronic devices, etc. The circuit architecture described herein may also be manufactured using various IC process technologies, such as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), N-channel MOS (NMOS), P-channel OS (PMOS), bipolar junction transistor (BJT), bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS), silicon germanium (SiGe), gallium arsenide (GaAs), heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT), high electron mobility transistor (HEMT), silicon on insulator (SOI), etc.

[0101] The apparatus implementing the circuits described herein may be a stand-alone device or may be part of a larger device. The device may be (i) a stand-alone IC, (ii) a collection of one or more ICs that may include a memory IC for storing data and / or instructions, (iii) an RFIC such as an RF receiver (RFR) or RF transmitter / receiver (RTR) or corresponding mmW components, (iv) an ASIC such as a mobile station modem (MSM), (v) a module that may be embedded in other devices, (vi) a receiver, a cellular phone, a wireless device, a handset or a mobile unit, (vii) and the like.

[0102] While selected aspects have been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that various substitutions and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0103] Illustrative aspects of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to:

[0104] Aspect 1: A wireless communication device, comprising: a first radio frequency (RF) transmission line having a first end terminated with a quarter-wavelength grounded transmission line; a first antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements; a switch array comprising a corresponding switch for each of the plurality of antenna elements of the first antenna array, wherein the corresponding switch for each antenna element can be configured to selectively connect each antenna element to the first RF transmission line, wherein an initial switch of the switch array is coupled to the first RF transmission line at a quarter-wavelength distance from the first end of the first RF transmission line, and wherein each switch of the switch array is coupled to the first RF transmission line along the first RF transmission line at an integer multiple of a half-wavelength distance from a corresponding adjacent switch of the switch array; and one or more lens elements configured to modify a wireless input signal to the first antenna array and to modify a wireless output signal from the first antenna array.

[0105] Aspect 2: A wireless communication device according to Aspect 1, wherein the first RF transmission line also includes a second end terminated with a quarter-wavelength grounded transmission line, and wherein the final switch of the switch array is coupled to the first RF transmission line at a quarter-wavelength distance from the second end of the first RF transmission line.

[0106] Aspect 3: The wireless communication device according to any one of Aspects 1 to 2 further includes: a control circuit coupled to the first antenna array, wherein the control circuit is configured to select a switch configuration, wherein a first selected switch is closed for receiving a communication signal via a first selected antenna connected to the first selected switch, a second selected switch is closed for sending the communication signal via a second selected antenna connected to the second selected switch, and switches of the switch array other than the first selected switch and the second selected switch are in an open position.

[0107] Aspect 4: The wireless communication device according to any one of Aspects 1 to 2 also includes: a control circuit, which is coupled to the switch array and is configured to: guide the wireless communication signal along a selected path from the first antenna element selected as an input to the first RF transmission line in the first antenna array and to the second antenna selected as an output in the first antenna array by selecting the open or closed state of each switch of the switch array, without amplifying the wireless communication signal.

[0108] Aspect 5: The wireless communication device according to any one of Aspects 1 to 4, further comprising: a control antenna coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive a control instruction from a base station via the control antenna.

[0109] Aspect 6: The wireless communication device according to any one of Aspects 3 to 5, further comprising: a wired communication port coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive a control instruction from a base station via the wired communication port.

[0110] Aspect 7: A wireless communication device according to any one of Aspects 1 to 6, wherein the one or more lens elements include a single elliptical lens, a single hemispherical lens or a single fisheye lens, which is positioned to direct input signals to the first antenna array and to direct output signals from the first antenna array.

[0111] Aspect 8: The wireless communication device according to any one of Aspects 1 to 7 further includes: a second RF transmission line having a first end terminated with a quarter-wavelength grounded transmission line; a second antenna array; and a second switch array providing a corresponding switch for each antenna element in the second antenna array; wherein the first antenna array is linear and positioned along a first line, wherein the second antenna array is linear and positioned along a second line orthogonal to the first line, and wherein the one or more lens elements are also configured to modify wireless input signals to and wireless output signals from the second antenna array.

[0112] Aspect 9: The wireless communication device according to Aspect 8, wherein the second RF transmission line is coupled to the first RF transmission line via an additional switch, and the additional switch is configurable to allow the communication signal received at the first antenna array to be transmitted via the second antenna array.

[0113] Aspect 10: The wireless communication device according to any one of Aspects 1 to 7 further includes: a second RF transmission line having a first end coupled to ground; a connecting RF transmission line; wherein the first antenna array includes at least two rows of antenna elements; wherein the switch array includes at least two rows of switch elements; wherein the first row of antenna elements is coupled to the first RF transmission line via the first row of switch elements; wherein the second row of antenna elements is coupled to the second RF transmission line via the second row of switch elements; and wherein the second end of the first RF transmission line is connectable to the connecting RF transmission line via the first connecting switch; wherein the second end of the second RF transmission line is connectable to the connecting RF transmission line via the second connecting switch.

[0114] Aspect 11: The wireless communication device according to Aspect 10 further includes: a first quarter-wavelength stub having a first end connected to ground, wherein the first connecting switch selects between connecting the second end of the first RF transmission line to the second end of the first quarter-wavelength stub and the connecting RF transmission line.

[0115] Aspect 12: The wireless communication device according to Aspect 11, wherein the connecting RF transmission line includes a first end connected to the ground, wherein the first RF transmission line can be connected to the connecting RF transmission line at a quarter wavelength distance from the first end of the connecting RF transmission line.

[0116] Aspect 13: A wireless communication device according to Aspect 12, wherein the connecting RF transmission line includes a second end connected to the ground; wherein the first RF transmission line can be connected to the connecting RF transmission line at a quarter wavelength distance from the second end of the connecting RF transmission line; and wherein the first RF transmission line can be connected to the connecting RF transmission line at an integer multiple of a half-wavelength distance between the second RF transmission line and the connecting RF transmission line.

[0117] Aspect 14: The wireless communication device according to Aspect 13 further includes: a plurality of RF transmission lines, which include at least the first RF transmission line, the second RF transmission line and the third RF transmission line; wherein each of the plurality of RF transmission lines is connected to the antenna elements of the corresponding row of the first antenna array via the switches of the corresponding row of the switch array, so that each antenna element is associated with a single switch of the switch array; wherein each of the plurality of RF transmission lines has a first end coupled to the ground and a second end capable of being coupled to a corresponding quarter-wavelength stub or the connecting RF transmission line via a corresponding connecting switch; and wherein the corresponding connecting switch is attached to the connecting RF transmission line at an integer multiple of a half-wavelength distance from an adjacent corresponding connecting switch.

[0118] Aspect 15: The wireless communication device according to Aspect 14 further includes: a control circuit configured to control the switch array and the corresponding connection switch to create a first passive transmission path from the first antenna element of the first antenna array to the second antenna element.

[0119] Aspect 16: The wireless communication device according to Aspect 15 further includes: a single phase shifter for each corresponding row of switches, wherein the control circuit is configured to: control the single phase shifter for the first passive transmission path to guide the wireless output signal in combination with the one or more lens elements.

[0120] Aspect 17: A wireless communication device according to Aspect 15, wherein the control circuit is configured to: use the second RF transmission line, the connecting RF transmission line and the third RF transmission line to create a second passive transmission path to relay a first signal on the second passive transmission path and simultaneously relay a second signal on the first passive transmission path, so that the first signal and the second signal are isolated by the switch array and the corresponding connecting switch.

[0121] Aspect 18: The wireless communication device according to any one of Aspects 1 to 18 excluding Aspect 7, wherein the one or more lens elements include a flat metasurface lens having concentric ring units.

[0122] Aspect 19: The wireless communication device according to any one of Aspects 1 to 18 excluding Aspect 7, wherein the one or more lens elements include a spherical lens.

[0123] Aspect 20: A wireless communication device according to any one of aspects 1 to 19, wherein the first antenna array includes between 16 and 100 antenna elements.

[0124] Aspect 21: A wireless communication device, comprising: a Butler matrix, which includes multiple antenna ports and multiple beam ports; a switch array, which includes a corresponding switch coupled to each of the multiple beam ports; and a radio frequency (RF) transmission line, which is coupled to the switch array, the RF transmission line including a first end coupled to ground and a second end coupled to ground, wherein a first switch of the switch array is coupled to the RF transmission line at a quarter wavelength distance from the first end, wherein a second switch of the switch array is coupled to the RF transmission line at a quarter wavelength distance from the second end, and wherein each switch of the switch array is coupled to the RF transmission line along the RF transmission line at a half wavelength distance from an adjacent switch of the switch array.

[0125] Aspect 22: The wireless communication apparatus according to Aspect 21, wherein the Butler matrix is ​​configured to support beamforming in a single plane.

[0126] Aspect 23: The wireless communication apparatus according to any one of aspects 21 to 22, wherein the Butler matrix comprises an 8x8 Butler matrix, and the 8x8 Butler matrix comprises eight beam ports and eight antenna ports.

[0127] Aspect 24: The wireless communication device according to Aspect 21 further includes: a plurality of Butler matrices, which include the Butler matrix; a plurality of RF transmission lines, which include a corresponding transmission line for each Butler matrix in the plurality of Butler matrices, and wherein the plurality of RF transmission lines include the RF transmission line; and a connecting transmission line coupled to an end of the corresponding transmission line for each Butler matrix in the plurality of Butler matrices.

[0128] Aspect 25: The wireless communication device according to Aspect 24, further comprising: one or more phase shifters coupled to the plurality of RF transmission lines and configured to adjust the phase of the communication signal within the wireless communication device.

[0129] Aspect 26A: The wireless communication device according to any one of Aspects 21 to 25 further includes: multiple Butler matrices, including the Butler matrix; a single path N pass-through (SPNT) receive (RX) switch coupled to the multiple Butler matrices; an SPNT transmit (TX) switch coupled to the multiple Butler matrices; and a phase shifter coupled to the SPTN RX switch and the SPNT TX switch.

[0130] Aspect 26B: The wireless communication device according to any one of aspects 21 to 25, further comprising: a plurality of Butler matrices including the Butler matrix; a plurality of single path N pass-through (SPNT) receive (RX) switches, wherein each of the SPNT RX switches is coupled to a corresponding Butler matrix in the plurality of Butler matrices; a plurality of SPNT transmit (TX) switches, wherein each of the SPNT TX switches is paired with a corresponding SPNT RX switch and coupled to the corresponding Butler matrix in the plurality of Butler matrices; and a plurality of phase shifters, each of the plurality of phase shifters being coupled to a corresponding SPTN RX switch and a SPTN RX switch pair. Coupled to the SPTN RX switch and the SPNT TX switch.

[0131] Aspect 27: A method comprising: receiving a control signal at a passive multiple-input multiple-output (pMIMO) device; configuring a switch array of the pMIMO device to create a passive communication path from a first element of an antenna array to a second element of the antenna array via a radio frequency (RF) transmission line, wherein switches of the switch array are positioned along the RF transmission line at a half-wavelength distance from adjacent switches, and wherein an initial switch at a first end of the RF transmission line and a final switch at a second end of the RF transmission line are positioned at a quarter-wavelength distance from a ground coupling at the first end and the second end of the RF transmission line; receiving a wireless data signal at the first element of the antenna array; passively transmitting the wireless data signal from the first element of the antenna array to the second element of the antenna array using the passive communication path; and sending the wireless data signal using the second element of the antenna array.

[0132] Aspect 28: A wireless communication device, comprising: an antenna array; a beamforming structure coupled to the antenna array, wherein wireless signals incident on the wireless communication device at multiple angles correspond to corresponding ports of the antenna array based on the operation of the beamforming structure; one or more transmission lines, each transmission line having a first end terminated with a quarter-wavelength ground line; and a plurality of switches configured to couple corresponding antennas of the antenna array to corresponding transmission lines among the one or more transmission lines, wherein an initial switch coupled to each corresponding transmission line is positioned at a quarter-wavelength distance from the first end of the corresponding transmission line, and wherein each switch of the switch array is coupled to the corresponding transmission line at an integer multiple of a half-wavelength distance from a corresponding adjacent switch of the switch array.

[0133] Aspect 29: A wireless communication device, comprising: an antenna array; a beamforming structure coupled to the antenna array, wherein wireless signals incident on the wireless communication device at multiple angles correspond to corresponding ports based on the operation of the beamforming structure; one or more transmission lines; and a plurality of switches configured to couple the corresponding ports to the one or more transmission lines.

[0134] Aspect 30: A wireless communication device according to Aspect 29, wherein the one or more transmission lines each have a first end terminated with a quarter-wavelength ground line; and wherein the plurality of switches are configured to couple the corresponding ports to corresponding transmission lines among the one or more transmission lines via the plurality of switches, wherein an initial switch is coupled to each corresponding transmission line positioned at a quarter-wavelength distance from the first end of the corresponding transmission line, and wherein each of the plurality of switches is coupled to the corresponding transmission line at an integer multiple of a half-wavelength distance from a corresponding adjacent switch among the plurality of switches.

[0135] Aspect 31: A wireless communication device according to any one of Aspects 29 to 30, wherein the corresponding port includes a feed port, wherein the beamforming structure includes a lens, the lens is configured to focus the wireless signal onto the corresponding antenna, and each of the corresponding antennas is coupled to a corresponding feed port.

[0136] Aspect 32: A wireless communication apparatus according to any one of Aspects 29 to 31, wherein the beamforming structure comprises a Butler matrix coupled to the antenna array, and wherein the corresponding ports comprise beam ports of the antenna matrix.

[0137] Aspect 33: A wireless communication device according to any one of Aspects 29 to 32, wherein the wireless communication device is configured to receive control information from a network entity, and is configured to: open and close specific switches among the multiple switches based on the control information to achieve communication between the base station and the user equipment without amplification in the wireless communication device.

[0138] Aspect 34: An apparatus comprising means for implementing a passive multiple-input multiple-output (pMIMO) device according to any aspect described above.

[0139] Aspect 35: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing circuit of a device, cause the device to control a passive multiple-input multiple-output (pMIMO) device operation according to any aspect described above.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device, comprising: a first radio frequency (RF) transmission line having a first end terminated with a quarter wavelength grounded transmission line; a first antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements; a switch array comprising a corresponding switch for each of the plurality of antenna elements of the first antenna array, wherein the corresponding switch for each antenna element is configurable to selectively connect each antenna element to the first RF transmission line, wherein an initial switch of the switch array is coupled to the first RF transmission line at a quarter wavelength distance from the first end of the first RF transmission line, and wherein each switch of the switch array is coupled to the first RF transmission line at an integer multiple of a half wavelength distance from a corresponding adjacent switch of the switch array along the first RF transmission line; and One or more lens elements configured to modify wireless input signals to the first antenna array and to modify wireless output signals from the first antenna array.

2. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein: The first RF transmission line further includes a second end terminated with a quarter wavelength grounded transmission line, and wherein a final switch of the switch array is coupled to the first RF transmission line at a quarter wavelength distance from the second end of the first RF transmission line.

3. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, further comprising: a control circuit coupled to the first antenna array, wherein the control circuit is configured to select a switch configuration in which a first selected switch is closed for receiving a communication signal via a first selected antenna connected to the first selected switch, a second selected switch is closed for transmitting the communication signal via a second selected antenna connected to the second selected switch, and switches of the switch array other than the first selected switch and the second selected switch are in an open position.

4. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, further comprising: a control circuit coupled to the switch array and configured to direct a wireless communication signal along a selected path from a first antenna element selected as an input to the first RF transmission line and to a second antenna selected as an output in the first antenna array by selecting an open or closed state of each switch of the switch array without amplifying the wireless communication signal.

5. The wireless communication device according to claim 4, further comprising: A control antenna is coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive control instructions from a base station via the control antenna.

6. The wireless communication device according to claim 4, further comprising: A wired communication port is coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive control instructions from a base station via the wired communication port.

7. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein: The one or more lens elements include a single elliptical lens, a single hemispherical lens, or a single fisheye lens positioned to direct input signals to the first antenna array and to direct output signals from the first antenna array.

8. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, further comprising: a second RF transmission line having a first end terminated with a quarter wavelength grounded transmission line; a second antenna array; as well as A second switch array is provided for each antenna element in the second antenna array.

9. The wireless communication device according to claim 8, wherein: The second RF transmission line is coupled to the first RF transmission line via an additional switch, the additional switch being configurable to allow communication signals received at the first antenna array to be transmitted via the second antenna array.

10. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, further comprising: a second RF transmission line having a first end coupled to ground; Connect RF transmission lines; wherein the first antenna array comprises at least two rows of antenna elements; Wherein, the switch array comprises at least two rows of switch elements; wherein a first row of antenna elements is coupled to the first RF transmission line via a first row of switch elements; wherein a second row of antenna elements is coupled to the second RF transmission line via a second row of switch elements; and wherein the second end of the first RF transmission line can be connected to the connecting RF transmission line via a first connecting switch; The second end of the second RF transmission line can be connected to the connecting RF transmission line via a second connecting switch.

11. The wireless communication device according to claim 10, further comprising: A first quarter wavelength stub having a first end connected to ground, wherein the first connecting switch selects between connecting the second end of the first RF transmission line to the second end of the first quarter wavelength stub and the connecting RF transmission line.

12. The wireless communication device according to claim 11, wherein: The connecting RF transmission line includes a first end connected to the ground, wherein the first RF transmission line is connectable to the connecting RF transmission line at a quarter wavelength distance from the first end of the connecting RF transmission line.

13. The wireless communication device according to claim 12, wherein: The connecting RF transmission line includes a second end connected to the ground; wherein the first RF transmission line is connectable to the connecting RF transmission line at a distance of a quarter wavelength from the second end of the connecting RF transmission line; and Wherein, the first RF transmission line is connectable to the connecting RF transmission line at an integer multiple of a half-wavelength distance from the connection between the second RF transmission line and the connecting RF transmission line.

14. The wireless communication device according to claim 13, further comprising: a plurality of RF transmission lines, comprising at least the first RF transmission line, the second RF transmission line and a third RF transmission line; wherein each transmission line of the plurality of RF transmission lines is connected to a corresponding row of antenna elements of the first antenna array via a switch of a corresponding row of the switch array, such that each antenna element is associated with a single switch of the switch array; wherein each of the plurality of RF transmission lines has a first end coupled to the ground and a second end capable of being coupled to a corresponding quarter-wavelength stub or the connecting RF transmission line via a corresponding connecting switch; and Wherein, the corresponding connecting switch is attached to the connecting RF transmission line at an integral multiple of a half-wavelength distance from an adjacent corresponding connecting switch.

15. The wireless communication device according to claim 14, further comprising: A control circuit is configured to control the switch array and the corresponding connecting switch to create a first passive transmission path from a first antenna element to a second antenna element of the first antenna array.

16. The wireless communication device according to claim 15, further comprising: A single phase shifter for each corresponding row of switches, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the single phase shifter for the first passive transmission path to direct the wireless output signal in conjunction with the one or more lens elements.

17. The wireless communication device according to claim 15, wherein: The control circuit is configured to create a second passive transmission path using the second RF transmission line, the connecting RF transmission line, and the third RF transmission line to relay a first signal on the second passive transmission path and simultaneously relay a second signal on the first passive transmission path, so that the first signal and the second signal are isolated by the switch array and the corresponding connecting switches.

18. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein: The one or more lens elements include a flat metasurface lens having concentric ring units.

19. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein: The one or more lens elements include a spherical lens.

20. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein: The first antenna array comprises between 16 and 100 antenna elements.

21. A wireless communication device, comprising: A Butler matrix including a plurality of antenna ports and a plurality of beam ports; a switch array comprising a corresponding switch coupled to each beam port of the plurality of beam ports; as well as A radio frequency (RF) transmission line coupled to the switch array, the RF transmission line comprising a first end coupled to ground and a second end coupled to ground, wherein a first switch of the switch array is coupled to the RF transmission line at a quarter wavelength distance from the first end, wherein a second switch of the switch array is coupled to the RF transmission line at a quarter wavelength distance from the second end, and wherein each switch of the switch array is coupled to the RF transmission line at a half wavelength distance from an adjacent switch of the switch array along the RF transmission line.

22. The wireless communication device according to claim 21, wherein: The Butler matrix is ​​configured to support beamforming in a single plane.

23. The wireless communication device according to claim 21, wherein: The Butler matrix includes an 8x8 Butler matrix, and the 8x8 Butler matrix includes eight beam ports and eight antenna ports.

24. The wireless communication device of claim 21, further comprising: a plurality of Butler matrices including the Butler matrix; a plurality of RF transmission lines including a corresponding transmission line for each Butler matrix of the plurality of Butler matrices, and wherein the plurality of RF transmission lines includes the RF transmission line; as well as A connecting transmission line is coupled to an end of each corresponding transmission line for each Butler matrix of the plurality of Butler matrices.

25. The wireless communication device of claim 24, further comprising: One or more phase shifters are coupled to the plurality of RF transmission lines and configured to adjust the phase of communication signals within the wireless communication device.

26. The wireless communication device of claim 21, further comprising: a plurality of Butler matrices including the Butler matrix; a plurality of single-path-N-through (SPNT) receive (RX) switches, wherein each of the SPNT RX switches is coupled to a corresponding Butler matrix of the plurality of Butler matrices; a plurality of SPNT transmit (TX) switches, wherein each of the SPNT TX switches is paired with a corresponding SPNT RX switch and coupled to the corresponding Butler matrix of the plurality of Butler matrices; and A plurality of phase shifters, each phase shifter of the plurality of phase shifters is coupled to a corresponding SPTN RX switch and a pair of SPTN RX switches.

27. A method comprising: receiving a control signal at a passive multiple-input multiple-output (pMIMO) device; configuring a switch array of the pMIMO device to create a passive communication path from a first element of an antenna array to a second element of the antenna array via a radio frequency (RF) transmission line, wherein switches of the switch array are positioned along the RF transmission line at a half-wavelength distance from adjacent switches, and wherein an initial switch at a first end of the RF transmission line and a final switch at a second end of the RF transmission line are positioned at a quarter-wavelength distance from ground couplings at the first and second ends of the RF transmission line; receiving a wireless data signal at the first element of the antenna array; passively transmitting the wireless data signal from the first element of the antenna array to the second element of the antenna array using the passive communication path; and The wireless data signal is transmitted using the second element of the antenna array.

28. A wireless communication device, comprising: Antenna arrays; a beamforming structure coupled to the antenna array, wherein wireless signals incident on the wireless communication device at a plurality of angles correspond to respective ports of the antenna array based on operation of the beamforming structure; one or more transmission lines, each transmission line having a first end terminated with a quarter wavelength ground line; and a plurality of switches configured to couple respective antennas of the antenna array to respective ones of the one or more transmission lines, wherein an initial switch coupled to each respective transmission line is positioned at a quarter wavelength distance from the first end of the respective transmission line, and wherein each switch of the switch array is coupled to the respective transmission line at an integer multiple of a half wavelength distance from a respective adjacent switch of the switch array.

29. A wireless communication device, comprising: Antenna arrays; a beamforming structure coupled to the antenna array, wherein wireless signals incident on the wireless communication device at a plurality of angles correspond to respective ports based on operation of the beamforming structure; one or more transmission lines; and A plurality of switches are configured to couple the respective ports to the one or more transmission lines.

30. The wireless communication device according to claim 29, wherein: The one or more transmission lines each have a first end terminated with a quarter wavelength ground line; and wherein the plurality of switches are configured to couple the respective ports to corresponding ones of the one or more transmission lines via the plurality of switches, wherein an initial switch is coupled to each corresponding transmission line positioned at a quarter wavelength distance from the first end of the corresponding transmission line, and wherein each of the plurality of switches is coupled to the corresponding transmission line at an integer multiple of a half wavelength distance from a corresponding adjacent switch of the plurality of switches.

31. The wireless communication device according to claim 29, wherein: The respective ports include feed ports, wherein the beamforming structure includes a lens configured to focus the wireless signal onto the respective antennas, each of the respective antennas being coupled to a respective feed port.

32. The wireless communication device according to claim 29, wherein: The beamforming structure comprises a Butler matrix coupled to the antenna array, and wherein the corresponding ports comprise beam ports of the antenna matrix.

33. The wireless communication device according to claim 29, wherein: The wireless communication device is configured to: receiving control information from a network entity; as well as A specific switch among the plurality of switches is opened and closed based on the control information to enable communication between a base station and a user equipment without amplification in the wireless communication device.

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