Orbital Angular Momentum Beam Generation and Steering

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. In some systems, a device may select antenna elements from a planar array to transmit or receive an orbital angular momentum (OAM) beam. The device may determine a first area (e.g., a first ring area) based on an angular direction in which the device may communicate the OAM beam with a second device, and may determine a second area (e.g., a second ring area) on the planar array based on a projection of the first area on the planar array. The device may select a set of antenna elements from the planar array located within the second area. The device may determine a complex-valued weight for each antenna element of the selected set of antenna elements, and may transmit or receive the OAM beam to or from the second device via the set of antenna elements according to the angular direction.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The following relates to wireless communications involving the generation and steering of orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams. [Background technology]

[0002] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content, such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcasts, and the like. These systems may be capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include fourth-generation (4G) systems, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), or LTE-A Pro systems, and fifth-generation (5G) systems, sometimes referred to as New Radio (NR) systems. These systems may employ technologies such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), or Discrete Fourier Transform Spread Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM). A wireless multiple-access communication system may include one or more base stations or one or more network access nodes, each simultaneously supporting communication for multiple communication devices, which may be known as user equipment (UE), in some cases. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] The described techniques relate to improved methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses that support the generation and steering of orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams. Generally, the present disclosure describes techniques for selecting antenna elements from a group, such as a planar array of antenna elements, for steering an OAM beam and loading weights to at least some, if not each, of the antenna elements selected for communicating (e.g., transmitting or receiving) the OAM beam. In some examples, a device, which may be a base station or a user equipment (UE), may select one or more antenna elements from a group, such as a planar array of antenna elements, based on which the antenna elements fall within an area on the planar array. The device may determine an area on the planar array based on an angular direction in which the device may communicate (e.g., transmit or receive) the OAM beam. For example, the device may determine a first area oriented in an angular direction from the planar array (e.g., in a plane perpendicular to a direction in which the device may transmit and receive the OAM beam), determine a second area based on a projection of the first area on the planar array, and select an antenna element from the planar array of antenna elements based on which the antenna element is located within the second area on the planar array. In some examples, the first and second areas may be ring areas, such as circular ring areas or elliptical ring areas. The device may determine a weight, which may be a complex-valued weight, for each selected antenna element based on a function of an OAM mode index associated with the selected antenna element and one or more spatial parameters, among other options.

[0004] A method of wireless communication in a first device is described, which may include determining a first ring area based on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an OAM beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a set of antenna elements, the first ring area being oriented in the angular direction, selecting a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements based on the first ring area, and transmitting the OAM beam via the set of antenna elements to the second device according to the angular direction.

[0005] An apparatus for wireless communication in a first device is described. The apparatus may include a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions may be executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to determine a first ring area based on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an OAM beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a set of antenna elements, the first ring area being oriented in the angular direction, select a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements based on the first ring area, and transmit the OAM beam via the set of antenna elements to the second device according to the angular direction.

[0006] Another apparatus for wireless communication in a first device is described that may include means for determining a first ring area based on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an OAM beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a set of antenna elements, the first ring area being oriented in the angular direction, means for selecting a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements based on the first ring area, and means for transmitting the OAM beam via the set of antenna elements to the second device according to the angular direction.

[0007] A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication in a first device is described, which may include instructions executable by a processor to determine a first ring area based on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an OAM beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a set of antenna elements, the first ring area being oriented in the angular direction, select a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements based on the first ring area, and transmit the OAM beam via the set of antenna elements to the second device according to the angular direction.

[0008] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, selecting a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements may include operations, features, means, or instructions for determining a second ring area on the planar array based on a projection of the first ring area on the planar array, and selecting a set of antenna elements that may be located within the second ring area on the planar array.

[0009] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, determining the second ring area on the planar array may include operations, features, means, or instructions for projecting the first ring area onto the planar array based on the angular orientation.

[0010] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, selecting a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements may include operations, features, means, or instructions for activating the set of antenna elements that may be located within a second ring area on the planar array and deactivating the remainder of the set of antenna elements that may be located outside the second ring area on the planar array.

[0011] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the angular orientation may be equal to 0 degrees, and the second ring area comprises a circular ring area.

[0012] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the angular orientation can be equal to an angle different from 0 degrees, and the second ring area includes an elliptical ring area.

[0013] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for determining a set of complex-valued weights for the set of antenna elements, where each complex-valued weight in the set of complex-valued weights corresponds to an antenna element of the set of antenna elements and is based on a function of the OAM mode index and the one or more spatial parameters, and applying the set of complex-valued weights to the set of antenna elements, where transmitting an OAM beam via the set of antenna elements may be based on applying the set of complex-valued weights.

[0014] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the one or more spatial parameters may include an angular orientation, a distance between a projected location of the antenna element on the first ring area and a center of the first ring area, an angle measured at the center of the first ring area from a reference line of the first ring area to the projected location of the antenna element on the first ring area, or a wavelength of a signal transmitted using the OAM beam.

[0015] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the first ring area may be defined by the area between a first circle associated with a first radius and a second circle associated with a second radius different from the first radius.

[0016] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the planar array includes a uniform planar array (UPA).

[0017] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the planar array includes a multi-antenna array or an intelligent surface.

[0018] A method of wireless communication in a first device is described, which may include determining a first ring area based on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an OAM beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a set of antenna elements, the first ring area being oriented in the angular direction, selecting a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements based on the first ring area, and receiving an OAM beam from the second device via the set of antenna elements according to the angular direction.

[0019] An apparatus for wireless communication in a first device is described. The apparatus may include a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions may be executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to determine a first ring area based on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an OAM beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a set of antenna elements, the first ring area being oriented in the angular direction, select a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements based on the first ring area, and receive an OAM beam from the second device via the set of antenna elements according to the angular direction.

[0020] Another apparatus for wireless communication in a first device is described, which may include means for determining a first ring area based on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an OAM beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a set of antenna elements, the first ring area being oriented in the angular direction, means for selecting a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements based on the first ring area, and means for receiving an OAM beam from the second device via the set of antenna elements according to the angular direction.

[0021] A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication in a first device is described, which may include instructions executable by a processor to determine a first ring area based on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an OAM beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a set of antenna elements, the first ring area being oriented in the angular direction, select a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements based on the first ring area, and receive an OAM beam from the second device via the set of antenna elements according to the angular direction.

[0022] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, selecting a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements may include operations, features, means, or instructions for determining a second ring area on the planar array based on a projection of the first ring area on the planar array, and selecting a set of antenna elements that may be located within the second ring area on the planar array.

[0023] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, determining the second ring area on the planar array may include operations, features, means, or instructions for projecting the first ring area onto the planar array based on the angular orientation.

[0024] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, selecting the set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for activating the set of antenna elements that may be located within a second ring area on the planar array and deactivating the remainder of the set of antenna elements that may be located outside the second ring area on the planar array.

[0025] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the angular orientation may be equal to 0 degrees, and the second ring area comprises a circular ring area.

[0026] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the angular orientation can be equal to an angle different from 0 degrees, and the second ring area includes an elliptical ring area.

[0027] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for determining a set of complex-valued weights for a set of antenna elements, where each complex-valued weight in the set of complex-valued weights corresponds to one antenna element of the set of antenna elements and is based on a function of the OAM mode index and the one or more spatial parameters, and applying the set of complex-valued weights to the set of antenna elements, where receiving an OAM beam via the set of antenna elements may be based on applying the set of complex-valued weights.

[0028] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the one or more spatial parameters may include an angular orientation, a distance between a projected location of the antenna element on the first ring area and a center of the first ring area, an angle measured at the center of the first ring area from a reference line of the first ring area to the projected location of the antenna element on the first ring area, or a wavelength of a signal received using the OAM beam.

[0029] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the first ring area may be defined by the area between a first circle associated with a first radius and a second circle associated with a second radius different from the first radius.

[0030] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the planar array includes a UPA.

[0031] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the planar array includes a multi-antenna array or an intelligent surface. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication system supporting orbital angular momentum (OAM) beam generation and steering according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication system supporting orbital angular momentum (OAM) beam generation and steering according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] A diagram showing an example of a projection that supports OAM beam generation and steering in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 illustrates an example antenna element selection procedure to support OAM beam generation and steering, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5]FIG. 1 illustrates an example process flow for supporting OAM beam generation and steering in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a device that supports OAM beam generation and steering, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a device that supports OAM beam generation and steering, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communications manager supporting OAM beam generation and steering according to an embodiment of the disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system including a device that supports OAM beam generation and steering, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for supporting OAM beam generation and steering according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for supporting OAM beam generation and steering according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for supporting OAM beam generation and steering according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for supporting OAM beam generation and steering according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 14] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for supporting OAM beam generation and steering according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for supporting OAM beam generation and steering according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] In some wireless communication systems, a wireless device, such as a base station or a user equipment (UE), or both, may communicate directionally, for example, using a beam to direct a communication signal across one or more directions. In some systems, such as an orbital angular momentum (OAM)-enabled communication system, a wireless device may communicate using an orbital angular momentum (OAM) beam, which in addition to providing signal directivity, may also provide an additional dimension for signal or channel multiplexing. In some aspects, for example, such an additional dimension may include a state or mode of an OAM beam, where different states or modes of an OAM beam may be orthogonal to one another. Thus, different OAM states or modes may be multiplexed together to increase the capacity of an OAM link. In some cases, a wireless device may use a spiral phase plate (SPP) or a uniform circular array (UCA) based on the method for generating an OAM beam. However, in such use cases requiring SPP or UCA to generate OAM beams, wireless devices may obtain limited beam steering capacity, which may result in limited application and utilization in OAM-based communications.

[0034] In some implementations of the present disclosure, a wireless device may steer an OAM beam in a desired angular direction based on selecting an antenna element from a planar array of antenna elements located within a determined area on the planar array. In some examples, a wireless device may determine an area on the planar array based on an angular direction in which the wireless device may transmit or receive an OAM beam. Upon selecting antenna elements from the planar array, the wireless device may apply or load weights to at least some, if not each, of the selected antenna elements on an element-by-element basis based on the OAM mode index and the location of each of the selected antenna elements. For example, the wireless device may determine a weight for each selected antenna element based on inputting the OAM mode index and one or more angle or distance values ​​associated with the selected antenna element into an antenna element weighting function.

[0035] Certain aspects of the subject matter described herein may be implemented to realize one or more potential advantages. The described techniques may be implemented to realize a higher steering capability of a wireless device to transmit or receive an OAM beam. For example, based on the implementation of the described antenna element selection techniques, a wireless device may be able to steer an OAM beam with higher degrees of freedom, and as a result, the wireless device may be able to communicate (e.g., transmit or receive) signaling with another wireless device using an OAM beam with higher directionality. In other words, a wireless device may be able to transmit or receive an OAM beam more directionally based on the implementation of the described antenna element selection techniques. Furthermore, based on a higher capability to steer an OAM beam, as well as to transmit or receive an OAM beam more directionally, a wireless device may obtain increased reliability and a higher likelihood of successful communication. For example, based on transmitting or receiving an OAM beam more directionally, signaling carried by an OAM beam may be less susceptible to interference, and signaling carried by an OAM beam may be associated with a higher received power at a receiving device. Furthermore, based on the implementation of the use of OAM beams, wireless devices can obtain higher data rates and denser communication networks.

[0036] Aspects of the present disclosure are first described in the context of a wireless communication system. Aspects of the present disclosure are further described in the context of a projection of an area on a planar array and an antenna element selection procedure based on the determined area on the planar array. Aspects of the present disclosure are further illustrated by and described with reference to apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flow charts related to OAM beam generation and steering.

[0037] 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communication system 100 supporting OAM beam generation and steering according to aspects of the disclosure. The wireless communication system 100 may include one or more base stations 105, one or more UEs 115, and a core network 130. In some examples, the wireless communication system 100 may be a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, a LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network, a LTE-A Pro network, or a New Radio (NR) network. In some examples, the wireless communication system 100 may support enhanced broadband communications, ultra-reliable (e.g., mission-critical) communications, low latency communications, communications with low-cost and low-complexity devices, or any combination thereof.

[0038] The base stations 105 may be distributed throughout a geographic area to form the wireless communication system 100 and may be devices of different forms or with different capabilities. The base stations 105 and the UEs 115 may communicate wirelessly via one or more communication links 125. Each base station 105 may provide a coverage area 110 over which the UEs 115 and the base station 105 may establish one or more communication links 125. The coverage area 110 may be an example of a geographic area over which the base stations 105 and the UEs 115 may support communication of signals via one or more radio access technologies.

[0039] The UEs 115 may be distributed throughout the coverage area 110 of the wireless communication system 100, and each UE 115 may be fixed or mobile or both at different times. The UEs 115 may be devices of different forms or with different capabilities. Some example UEs 115 are shown in FIG. 1. The UEs 115 described herein may be capable of communicating with various types of devices, such as other UEs 115, base stations 105, or network equipment (e.g., core network nodes, relay devices, integrated access and backhaul (IAB) nodes, or other network equipment) as shown in FIG.

[0040] The base stations 105 may communicate with the core network 130, with each other, or both. For example, the base stations 105 may interface with the core network 130 through one or more backhaul links 120 (e.g., via an S1, N2, N3, or other interface). The base stations 105 may communicate with each other over the backhaul links 120 (e.g., via an X2, Xn, or other interface), either directly (e.g., directly between the base stations 105), or indirectly (e.g., via the core network 130), or both. In some examples, the backhaul links 120 may be or include one or more wireless links.

[0041] One or more of the base stations 105 described herein may include or be referred to as a base transceiver station, radio base station, access point, radio transceiver, Node B, eNode B (eNB), Next Generation Node B or Giga Node B (any of which may be referred to as a gNB), Home Node B, Home eNode B, or other suitable terminology by those skilled in the art.

[0042] The UE 115 may include or be referred to as a mobile device, a wireless device, a remote device, a handheld device, or a subscriber device, or some other suitable terminology, and a "device" may also be referred to as a unit, a station, a terminal, or a client, among other examples. The UE 115 may also include or be referred to as a personal electronic device, such as a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a personal computer. In some examples, the UE 115 may include or be referred to as a wireless local loop (WLL) station, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, an Internet of Everything (IoE) device, or a machine type communication (MTC) device, among other examples, which may be implemented in various articles, such as an appliance, a vehicle, or a meter, among other examples.

[0043] The UEs 115 described herein may be capable of communicating with various types of devices, such as other UEs 115, which may act as relays, as shown in FIG. 1, as well as base stations 105 and network equipment, including macro eNBs or gNBs, small cell eNBs or gNBs, or relay base stations, among other examples.

[0044] The UE 115 and the base station 105 may wirelessly communicate with each other via one or more communication links 125 on one or more carriers. The term “carrier” may refer to a set of radio frequency spectrum resources having a defined physical layer structure for supporting the communication link 125. For example, a carrier used for the communication link 125 may include a portion (e.g., a bandwidth portion (BWP)) of a radio frequency spectrum band operated according to one or more physical layer channels for a given radio access technology (e.g., LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR). Each physical layer channel may carry collection signaling (e.g., synchronization signals, system information), control signaling that coordinates operation on the carrier, user data, or other signaling. The wireless communication system 100 may support communication with the UE 115 using carrier aggregation or multi-carrier operation. The UE 115 may be configured with multiple downlink component carriers and one or more uplink component carriers according to a carrier aggregation configuration. Carrier aggregation may be used with both frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD) component carriers.

[0045] In some examples (e.g., in a carrier aggregation configuration), a carrier may also have collection or control signaling to coordinate operation with respect to other carriers. A carrier may be associated with a frequency channel (e.g., an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number (EARFCN)) and may be arranged according to a channel raster for discovery by the UE 115. A carrier may be operated in a standalone mode, where initial collection and connection may be made by the UE 115 over the carrier, or the carrier may be operated in a non-standalone mode, where a connection is anchored using a different carrier (e.g., of the same or different radio access technology).

[0046] The communication links 125 shown in the wireless communication system 100 may include uplink transmissions from the UE 115 to the base station 105 or downlink transmissions from the base station 105 to the UE 115. A carrier may carry downlink or uplink communications (e.g., in FDD mode) or may be configured to carry downlink and uplink communications (e.g., in TDD mode).

[0047] A carrier may be associated with a particular bandwidth of the radio frequency spectrum, and in some examples, the carrier bandwidth may be referred to as the carrier or the “system bandwidth” of the wireless communication system 100. For example, the carrier bandwidth may be one of several determined bandwidths for a carrier of a particular radio access technology (e.g., 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40, or 80 megahertz (MHz)). The devices of the wireless communication system 100 (e.g., the base station 105, the UE 115, or both) may have a hardware configuration that supports communication on a particular carrier bandwidth or may be configurable to support communication on one of a set of carrier bandwidths. In some examples, the wireless communication system 100 may include a base station 105 or a UE 115 that supports simultaneous communication via a carrier associated with multiple carrier bandwidths. In some examples, each served UE 115 may be configured to operate on a portion (e.g., a sub-band, BWP), or all, of the carrier bandwidth.

[0048] A signal waveform transmitted on a carrier may be composed of multiple subcarriers (e.g., using a multicarrier modulation (MCM) technique such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) or discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM)). In a system employing MCM techniques, a resource element may include one symbol period (e.g., the duration of one modulation symbol) and one subcarrier, where the symbol period and subcarrier spacing are inversely proportional. The number of bits carried by each resource element may depend on the modulation scheme (e.g., the order of the modulation scheme, the coding rate of the modulation scheme, or both). Thus, the more resource elements the UE 115 receives and the higher the order of the modulation scheme, the higher the data rate of the UE 115 may be. Wireless communication resources may refer to a combination of radio frequency spectrum resources, time resources, and spatial resources (e.g., spatial layers or beams), and the use of multiple spatial layers may further increase the data rate or data integrity for communication with the UE 115.

[0049] One or more numerologies for a carrier may be supported, where the numerology may include a subcarrier spacing (Δf) and a cyclic prefix. A carrier may be divided into one or more BWPs having the same or different numerologies. In some examples, a UE 115 may be configured with multiple BWPs. In some examples, a single BWP for a carrier may be active at a given time, and communication for the UE 115 may be limited to one or more active BWPs.

[0050] The time interval for the base station 105 or the UE 115 may be, for example, T s =1 / (Δf max N f ) seconds, where Δf max may represent the maximum supported subcarrier spacing, and N fmay represent the maximum supported discrete Fourier transform (DFT) size. The communication resource time intervals may be organized according to radio frames, each having a specified duration (e.g., 10 milliseconds (ms)). Each radio frame may be identified by a system frame number (SFN) (e.g., ranging from 0 to 1023).

[0051] Each frame may include multiple consecutively numbered subframes or slots, and each subframe or slot may have the same duration. In some examples, a frame may be divided (e.g., in the time domain) into subframes, and each subframe may be further divided into several slots. Alternatively, each frame may include a variable number of slots, and the number of slots may depend on the subcarrier spacing. Each slot may include several symbol periods (e.g., depending on the length of a cyclic prefix prepended to each symbol period). In some wireless communications systems 100, a slot may be further divided into multiple minislots containing one or more symbols. Excluding the cyclic prefix, each symbol period may include one or more (e.g., N f The duration of a symbol period may depend on the subcarrier spacing or the frequency band of operation.

[0052] A subframe, slot, minislot, or symbol may be the smallest scheduling unit (e.g., in the time domain) of the wireless communications system 100 and may be referred to as a transmission time interval (TTI). In some examples, the TTI duration (e.g., the number of symbol periods in a TTI) may be variable. Additionally or alternatively, the smallest scheduling unit of the wireless communications system 100 may be dynamically selected (e.g., in a burst of shortened TTIs (sTTIs)).

[0053] The physical channels may be multiplexed on the carriers according to various techniques. The physical control channels and the physical data channels may be multiplexed on the downlink carriers using, for example, one or more of a time division multiplexing (TDM), a frequency division multiplexing (FDM), or a hybrid TDM-FDM technique. A control region (e.g., a control resource set (core set)) for the physical control channel may be defined by a number of symbol periods and may extend across the system bandwidth of the carrier or a subset of the system bandwidth. One or more control regions (e.g., core sets) may be configured for a set of UEs 115. For example, one or more of the UEs 115 may monitor or search the control region for control information according to one or more search space sets, and each search space set may include one or more control channel candidates at one or more aggregation levels located in a cascaded manner. The aggregation level for the control channel candidates may refer to the number of control channel resources (e.g., control channel elements (CCEs)) associated with the coded information for a control information format having a given payload size. The search space sets may include a common search space set configured for sending control information to multiple UEs 115 and a UE-specific search space set for sending control information to a particular UE 115.

[0054] Each base station 105 may provide communication coverage via one or more cells, e.g., macro cells, small cells, hot spots, or other types of cells, or any combination thereof. The term "cell" may refer to a logical communication entity used for communication with the base station 105 (e.g., on a carrier) and may be associated with an identifier (e.g., a physical cell identifier (PCID), a virtual cell identifier (VCID), or other) to distinguish neighboring cells. In some examples, a cell may also refer to a geographic coverage area 110 or a portion (e.g., a sector) of the geographic coverage area 110 in which the logical communication entity operates. Such a cell may range from a smaller area (e.g., a structure, a subset of a structure) to a larger area, depending on various factors such as the capabilities of the base station 105. For example, a cell may be or include a building, a subset of a building, or an outside space between or overlapping with the geographic coverage area 110, among other examples.

[0055] A macro cell generally covers a relatively large geographic area (e.g., a radius of several kilometers) and may allow unrestricted access by UEs 115 subscribing to the service of a network provider supporting the macro cell. A small cell may be associated with a lower power base station 105 compared to a macro cell, and the small cell may operate in the same or different (e.g., licensed, unlicensed) frequency band as the macro cell. A small cell may provide unrestricted access to UEs 115 subscribing to the service of a network provider, or may provide restricted access to UEs 115 that have an association with the small cell (e.g., UEs 115 in a closed subscriber group (CSG), UEs 115 associated with a user in a home or office). A base station 105 may support one or more cells and may also support communication on one or more cells using one or more component carriers.

[0056] In some examples, a carrier may support multiple cells, and different cells may be configured according to different protocol types (e.g., MTC, Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB)) that may provide access to different types of devices.

[0057] In some examples, the base stations 105 may be mobile and thus provide communication coverage to moving geographic coverage areas 110. In some examples, different geographic coverage areas 110 associated with different technologies may overlap, but the different geographic coverage areas 110 may be supported by the same base station 105. In other examples, overlapping geographic coverage areas 110 associated with different technologies may be supported by different base stations 105. The wireless communication system 100 may include a heterogeneous network, for example, where different types of base stations 105 provide coverage to various geographic coverage areas 110 using the same or different radio access technologies.

[0058] The wireless communications system 100 may support synchronous or asynchronous operation. For synchronous operation, the base stations 105 may have similar frame timing and transmissions from different base stations 105 may be approximately aligned in time. For asynchronous operation, the base stations 105 may have different frame timing and transmissions from different base stations 105 may not be aligned in time, in some examples. The techniques described herein may be used for either synchronous or asynchronous operation.

[0059] Some UEs 115, such as MTC or IoT devices, may be low-cost or low-complexity devices and may provide automated communication between machines (e.g., via machine-to-machine (M2M) communication). M2M communication or MTC may refer to data communication technologies that allow devices to communicate with each other or with the base station 105 without human intervention. In some examples, M2M communication or MTC may include communication from devices that incorporate sensors or meters to measure or capture information and relay that information to a central server or application program that utilizes such information or presents the information to a human who interacts with the application program. Some UEs 115 may be designed to collect information or enable automated behavior of machines or other devices. Examples of applications for MTC devices include smart metering, inventory monitoring, water level monitoring, equipment monitoring, healthcare monitoring, wildlife monitoring, weather and geological event monitoring, fleet management and tracking, remote security sensing, physical access control, and transaction-based business billing.

[0060] Some UEs 115 may be configured to use operating modes that reduce power consumption, such as half-duplex communication (e.g., a mode that supports one-way communication via transmission or reception, but not simultaneous transmission and reception). In some examples, the half-duplex communication may be performed at a reduced peak rate. Other power saving techniques for the UE 115 include entering a power-saving deep sleep mode when not engaged in active communication, operating over a limited bandwidth (e.g., in accordance with narrowband communication), or a combination of these techniques. For example, some UEs 115 may be configured for operation using a narrowband protocol type associated with a defined portion or range (e.g., a set of subcarriers or resource blocks (RBs)) within a carrier, within a guard band of the carrier, or outside of the carrier.

[0061] The wireless communication system 100 may be configured to support ultra-reliable or low latency communications, or various combinations thereof. For example, the wireless communication system 100 may be configured to support ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC) or mission-critical communications. The UE 115 may be designed to support ultra-reliable, low latency, or critical functions (e.g., mission-critical functionality). Ultra-reliable communications may include private or group communications and may be supported by one or more mission-critical services, such as mission-critical push-to-talk (MCPTT), mission-critical video (MCVideo), or mission-critical data (MCData). Support for mission-critical functions may include service prioritization, and the mission-critical services may be used for public safety or general commercial applications. The terms ultra-reliable, low latency, mission-critical, and ultra-reliable low latency may be used interchangeably herein.

[0062] In some examples, the UE 115 may also be able to communicate directly with other UEs 115 over a device-to-device (D2D) communication link 135 (e.g., using a peer-to-peer (P2P) protocol or a D2D protocol). One or more UEs 115 utilizing D2D communication may be within the geographic coverage area 110 of the base station 105. Other UEs 115 in such a group may be outside the geographic coverage area 110 of the base station 105 or may not be able to receive transmissions from the base station 105 in some examples. In some examples, a group of UEs 115 communicating via D2D communication may utilize a one-to-many (1:M) system in which each UE 115 transmits to every other UE 115 in the group. In some examples, the base station 105 facilitates scheduling of resources for D2D communication. In other cases, D2D communication occurs between UEs 115 without the involvement of the base station 105.

[0063] In some systems, the D2D communication link 135 may be an example of a communication channel, such as a sidelink communication channel, between vehicles (e.g., UE 115). In some examples, the vehicles may communicate using vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, or some combination thereof. The vehicles may signal information related to traffic conditions, signal scheduling, weather, safety, emergency situations, or any other information related to the V2X system. In some examples, the vehicles in the V2X system may communicate with roadside infrastructure, such as roadside units, and / or with a network via one or more network nodes (e.g., base stations 105) using vehicle-to-network (V2N) communication.

[0064] The core network 130 may provide user authentication, access authorization, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. The core network 130 may be an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) or 5G Core (5GC), which may include at least one control plane entity (e.g., a mobility management entity (MME), an access and mobility management function (AMF)) that manages access and mobility, and at least one user plane entity (e.g., a serving gateway (S-GW), a packet data network (PDN) gateway (P-GW), or a user plane function (UPF)) that routes packets or interconnects to external networks. The control plane entity may manage non-access stratum (NAS) functions, such as mobility, authentication, and bearer management for UEs 115 served by base stations 105 associated with the core network 130. User IP packets may be forwarded through a user plane entity, which may provide IP address allocation as well as other functions. The user plane entities may be connected to network operator IP services 150. The operator IP services 150 may include access to the Internet, an intranet, an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), or packet-switched streaming services.

[0065] Some of the network devices, such as the base stations 105, may include subcomponents, such as an access network entity 140, which may be an example of an access node controller (ANC). Each access network entity 140 may communicate with the UE 115 through one or more other access network transmitting entities 145, which may be referred to as a radio head, a smart radio head, or a transmit / receive point (TRP). Each access network transmitting entity 145 may include one or more antenna panels. In some configurations, various functions of each access network entity 140 or base station 105 may be distributed across various network devices (e.g., radio heads and ANCs) or integrated into a single network device (e.g., the base station 105).

[0066] The wireless communication system 100 may operate using one or more frequency bands in the range of 300 megahertz (MHz) to 300 gigahertz (GHz). The 300 MHz to 3 GHz region is generally known as the ultra-high frequency (UHF) region or decimeter band because the wavelengths range from approximately 1 decimeter to 1 meter in length. Although UHF waves may be blocked or redirected by buildings and environmental features, these waves may penetrate structures sufficiently for a macrocell to serve UEs 115 located indoors. Transmission of UHF waves may be associated with smaller antennas and shorter distances (e.g., less than 100 kilometers) compared to transmissions using lower frequencies and longer waves in the shortwave (HF) or very high frequency (VHF) portions of the spectrum below 300 MHz.

[0067] The wireless communication system 100 may also operate in the centimeter wave (SHF) region, using a frequency band from 3 GHz to 30 GHz, also known as the centimeter band, or in the millimeter wave (EHF) region of the spectrum (e.g., from 30 GHz to 300 GHz), also known as the millimeter band. In some examples, the wireless communication system 100 may support millimeter wave (mmW) communications between the UE 115 and the base station 105, and the EHF antennas of the respective devices may be smaller and more closely spaced than UHF antennas. In some examples, this may facilitate the use of antenna arrays within the devices. However, propagation of EHF transmissions may experience more atmospheric attenuation and shorter distances than SHF or UHF transmissions. The techniques disclosed herein may be employed across transmissions using one or more different frequency regions, and the designated use of the bands across these frequency regions may vary by country or regulatory body.

[0068] The wireless communication system 100 may utilize both licensed and unlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands. For example, the wireless communication system 100 may employ Licensed Assisted Access (LAA), LTE Unlicensed (LTE-U) radio access technology, or NR technology in an unlicensed band, such as the 5 GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band. When operating in an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band, devices such as the base station 105 and the UE 115 may employ carrier sensing for collision detection and avoidance. In some examples, operation in an unlicensed band may be based on a carrier aggregation configuration in conjunction with component carriers operating in a licensed band (e.g., LAA). Operation in an unlicensed spectrum may include downlink transmissions, uplink transmissions, P2P transmissions, or D2D transmissions, among others.

[0069] The base station 105 or UE 115 may be equipped with multiple antennas that may be used to employ techniques such as transmit diversity, receive diversity, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communications, or beamforming. The antennas of the base station 105 or UE 115 may be located in one or more antenna arrays or antenna panels that may support MIMO operations or transmit or receive beamforming. For example, one or more base station antennas or antenna arrays may be placed together in an antenna assembly such as an antenna tower. In some examples, antennas or antenna arrays associated with the base station 105 may be located in diverse geographic locations. The base station 105 may have an antenna array with several rows and columns of antenna ports that the base station 105 may use to support beamforming of communications with the UE 115. Similarly, the UE 115 may have one or more antenna arrays that may support various MIMO or beamforming operations. Additionally or alternatively, the antenna panel may support radio frequency beamforming for signals transmitted through the antenna ports.

[0070] A base station 105 or a UE 115 may use MIMO communications to exploit multipath signal propagation and increase spectral efficiency by transmitting or receiving multiple signals via different spatial layers. Such techniques may be referred to as spatial multiplexing. The multiple signals may be transmitted by a transmitting device via, for example, different antennas or different combinations of antennas. Similarly, the multiple signals may be received by a receiving device via different antennas or different combinations of antennas. Each of the multiple signals may be referred to as a separate spatial stream and may carry bits related to the same data stream (e.g., the same codeword) or different data streams (e.g., different codewords). The different spatial layers may be associated with different antenna ports used for channel measurements and reporting. MIMO techniques include single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO), in which multiple spatial layers are transmitted to the same receiving device, and multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO), in which multiple spatial layers are transmitted to multiple devices.

[0071] Beamforming, sometimes referred to as spatial filtering, directional transmission, or directional reception, is a signal processing technique that may be used in a transmitting or receiving device (e.g., base station 105, UE 115) to shape or steer an antenna beam (e.g., transmit beam, receive beam) along a spatial path between the transmitting device and the receiving device. Beamforming may be achieved by combining signals communicated through antenna elements of an antenna array such that some signals propagating in a particular orientation relative to the antenna array are subject to constructive interference and other signals are subject to destructive interference. Adjustment of signals communicated through antenna elements may include a transmitting or receiving device applying an amplitude offset, a phase offset, or both to signals carried through an antenna element associated with the device. The adjustments associated with each of the antenna elements may be defined by a beamforming weight set associated with a particular orientation (e.g., relative to the antenna array of the transmitting or receiving device, or relative to some other orientation).

[0072] The base station 105 or the UE 115 may use beam sweeping techniques as part of a beamforming operation. For example, the base station 105 may use multiple antennas or antenna arrays (e.g., antenna panels) to perform a beamforming operation for directional communication with the UE 115. Some signals (e.g., synchronization signals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals) may be transmitted by the base station 105 multiple times in different directions. For example, the base station 105 may transmit signals according to different beamforming weight sets associated with different directions of transmission. The transmissions in different beam directions may be used (e.g., by a transmitting device such as the base station 105 or by a receiving device such as the UE 115) to identify beam directions for later transmission or reception by the base station 105.

[0073] Some signals, such as data signals associated with a particular receiving device, may be transmitted by the base station 105 in a single beam direction (e.g., a direction associated with a receiving device, such as the UE 115). In some examples, the beam direction associated with a transmission along a single beam direction may be determined based on signals transmitted in one or more beam directions. For example, the UE 115 may receive one or more of the signals transmitted by the base station 105 in different directions and may report to the base station 105 an indication of the signal that the UE 115 received with the highest signal quality or possibly an acceptable signal quality.

[0074] In some examples, transmission by a device (e.g., by the base station 105 or the UE 115) may be performed using multiple beam directions, and the device may use a combination of digital precoding or radio frequency beamforming to generate a combined beam for transmission (e.g., from the base station 105 to the UE 115). The UE 115 may report feedback indicating precoding weights for one or more beam directions, and the feedback may correspond to a configured number of beams across the system bandwidth or one or more subbands. The base station 105 may transmit a reference signal (e.g., cell-specific reference signal (CRS), channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS)) that may or may not be precoded. The UE 115 may provide feedback for beam selection, which may be a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) or codebook-based feedback (e.g., multi-panel type codebook, linear combination type codebook, port selection type codebook). These techniques are described with reference to signals transmitted in one or more directions by the base station 105, although the UE 115 may employ similar techniques for transmitting a signal multiple times in different directions (e.g., to identify a beam direction for subsequent transmission or reception by the UE 115) or for transmitting a signal in a single direction (e.g., to transmit data to a receiving device).

[0075] A receiving device (e.g., UE 115) may attempt multiple receive configurations (e.g., directional listening) when receiving various signals, such as synchronization signals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals, from the base station 105. For example, the receiving device may attempt multiple receive directions by receiving via different antenna subarrays, by processing the received signals according to different antenna subarrays, by receiving according to different receive beamforming weight sets (e.g., different directional listening weight sets) applied to signals received at multiple antenna elements of the antenna array, or by processing the received signals according to different receive beamforming weight sets applied to signals received at multiple antenna elements of the antenna array, any of which may be referred to as "listening" with different receive configurations or receive directions. In some examples, the receiving device may use a single receive configuration to receive along a single beam direction (e.g., when receiving a data signal). The single receive configuration may be aligned to a beam direction determined based on listening with different receive configuration directions (e.g., a beam direction determined to have the highest signal strength, the highest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), or possibly acceptable signal quality based on listening with multiple beam directions).

[0076] The wireless communication system 100 may be a packet-based network that operates according to a layered protocol stack. In the user plane, communication at the bearer or Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer may be IP-based. The Radio Link Control (RLC) layer may perform packet segmentation and reassembly to communicate on logical channels. The Medium Access Control (MAC) layer may perform priority handling and multiplexing of logical channels into transport channels. The MAC layer may also use error detection, error correction, or both techniques to support retransmissions at the MAC layer to improve link efficiency. In the control plane, the Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol layer may establish, configure, and maintain an RRC connection between the UE 115 and the base station 105 or core network 130, which supports radio bearers for user plane data. In the physical layer, the transport channels may be mapped to physical channels.

[0077] The UE 115 and the base station 105 may support retransmission of data to increase the likelihood of successful reception of the data. Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback is one technique for increasing the likelihood that data is correctly received on the communication link 125. HARQ may include a combination of error detection (e.g., using a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)), forward error correction (FEC), and retransmission (e.g., Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ)). HARQ may improve throughput at the MAC layer in poor radio conditions (e.g., low signal-to-noise conditions). In some examples, a device may support same-slot HARQ feedback, in which the device may provide HARQ feedback in a particular slot for data received in a previous symbol in that slot. In other cases, the device may provide HARQ feedback in a subsequent slot or according to some other time interval.

[0078] In some cases, the wireless system 100 may be an example of, or may support, an OAM-based communication system, and the base station 105 or UE 115 may communicate via an OAM beam. In some examples, the base station 105 or UE 115 may generate and steer an OAM beam based on selecting a set of antenna elements from a planar array of antenna elements (e.g., antenna elements on the base station 105 or UE 115) based on which the antenna elements fall within a determined area on the planar array. In some implementations, for example, the base station 105 or UE 115 may determine a first area based on an angular direction, which may be referred to herein as θ, that may be defined relative to the planar array through which the base station 105 or UE 115 may communicate with another wireless device using an OAM beam. In some aspects, the first area may be a logical area (e.g., which may be used for computational purposes and may not physically exist) located in a plane that is orthogonal to the angular direction θ in which the base station 105 or UE 115 may communicate using an OAM beam.

[0079] The base station 105 or UE 115 may determine the second area based on the projection of the first area on the planar array. For example, the second area may be associated with the projection of the first area on the planar array by the angular direction θ. Thus, the second area may be located on a plane coplanar with the planar array. The base station 105 or UE 115 may select an antenna element from the planar array based on the determination of the second area based on which the antenna element is located in the second area. For example, the base station 105 or UE 115 may select an antenna element that falls into the second area and may refrain from selecting an antenna element that falls out of the second area. Having selected an antenna element from the planar array based on which the antenna element is located in the second area, the base station 105 or UE 115 may transmit or receive an OAM beam via the selected antenna element according to the angular direction θ.

[0080] 2 illustrates an example of a wireless communication system 200 supporting OAM generation and steering according to aspects of the disclosure. In some examples, the wireless communication system 200 may implement aspects of the wireless communication system 100. The wireless communication system 200 may illustrate communications between a base station 105-a and a UE 115-a, which may be examples of corresponding devices described herein. In some examples, the wireless communication system 200, which may be an example of a sixth generation (6G) system, may support OAM-based communications, such that the base station 105-a and the UE 115-a may transmit or receive an OAM beam 210 over a communication link 205 (e.g., an OAM link 205) within a geographic coverage area 110-a.

[0081] For example, the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may support OAM-based communication by using the OAM of the electromagnetic wave to distinguish different signals. The OAM of the electromagnetic wave may be different from the spin angular momentum (SAM) of the electromagnetic wave and may contribute to the overall angular momentum of the electromagnetic wave as defined in quantum mechanics according to Equation 1, shown below.

[0082]

number

[0083] As shown in Equation 1, J equals the angular momentum of the electromagnetic wave, r is the position vector, S=E×H equals the Poynting flux, E equals the electric field vector, H equals the magnetic auxiliary field vector, Σ equals the SAM of the electromagnetic wave (and may alternatively be denoted as S), and L equals the OAM of the electromagnetic wave. In some cases, the SAM of the electromagnetic wave may be associated with the polarization of the electromagnetic wave. For example, an electromagnetic wave may be associated with different polarizations, such as left and right (e.g., circular polarization). Thus, the SAM of the electromagnetic wave may have multiple (e.g., two) degrees of freedom.

[0084] In some cases, the OAM of an electromagnetic wave may be associated with the magnetic field spatial distribution of the electromagnetic wave, which may take the form of a helical or twisted wavefront shape (e.g., in an example where a light beam may be associated with a helical or twisted waveform). For example, an electromagnetic wave (e.g., a light beam) may be in helical modes (sometimes referred to as OAM modes), which may be characterized by a wavefront shaped as a helix with an optical vortex at its center (e.g., at the beam axis), with each helical mode associated with a different helical waveform structure. A helical mode (e.g., an OAM mode, sometimes referred to as an OAM state) may be defined or referred to by a mode index m, where the sign of the mode index m corresponds to the "handedness" (e.g., left or right) of the helix, and the magnitude of the mode index m (e.g., |m|) corresponds to the amount of different, but interleaved, helices of the electromagnetic wave.

[0085] For example, for an electromagnetic wave associated with an OAM mode index of m=0, the electromagnetic wave is not a spiral, but rather the waveform of the electromagnetic wave is a plurality of cut planes (e.g., the electromagnetic wave is a series of parallel planes). For an electromagnetic wave associated with an OAM mode index of m=+1, the electromagnetic wave may propagate in a right-handed direction (e.g., may be understood to have a right-handed circular polarization or to have a clockwise circular polarization), and the wavefront of the electromagnetic wave may be shaped as a single spiral plane with a step length equal to the wavelength λ of the electromagnetic wave. Similarly, the phase delay over one revolution of the electromagnetic wave may be equal to 2π. Similarly, for an OAM mode index of m=-1, the electromagnetic wave may propagate in a left-handed direction (e.g., may be understood to have a left-handed circular polarization or to have a counterclockwise circular polarization), and the wavefront of the electromagnetic wave may also be shaped as a single spiral plane with a step length equal to the wavelength λ of the electromagnetic wave. Similarly, the phase delay over one revolution of the electromagnetic wave may be equal to -2π.

[0086] As a further example, for an OAM mode index of m=±2, the electromagnetic wave may propagate in either a right-handed (for +2) or left-handed (for -2) direction, and the wavefront of the electromagnetic wave may include two distinct, but interleaved, helical planes. In such an example, the step length of each helical plane may be equal to λ / 2. Similarly, the phase delay over one revolution of the electromagnetic wave may be equal to ±4π. In general terms, an electromagnetic wave of mode-m may propagate in either a right-handed or left-handed direction (depending on the sign of m) and may include m distinct, but interleaved, helical planes, with a step length of each helical plane equal to λ / |m|. Similarly, the phase delay over one revolution of the electromagnetic wave may be equal to 2mπ. In some examples, the electromagnetic wave may be extended indefinitely to provide an infinite number of degrees of freedom (e.g., m=0, ±1, ±2, .., ±∞) of the OAM of the electromagnetic wave. Therefore, the OAM of an electromagnetic wave (eg, L as defined in Equation 1) can be associated with infinite degrees of freedom.

[0087] In some examples, the OAM mode index m of an electromagnetic wave may correspond to or possibly function as (e.g., may be defined as) an additional dimension for signal or channel multiplexing. For example, each OAM mode or OAM state (which may be infinite) may function similarly (e.g., equally) as a communication channel, such as a subchannel. In other words, an OAM mode or OAM state (in a 6G system) may correspond to a communication channel (in a 5G system), and vice versa. For example, in the same way that the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may transmit separate signals over different communication channels, the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may communicate separate signals using electromagnetic waves having different OAM modes or OAM states. In some aspects, such use of OAM modes or OAM states of an electromagnetic wave to carry different signals may be referred to as using an OAM beam 210.

[0088] Additionally, in some examples, electromagnetic waves having different OAM modes (e.g., OAM states) may be mutually orthogonal with respect to one another (e.g., in a Hilbert sense where space may include an infinite set of axes and sequences may be infinite by always having another coordinate direction in which the next element of the sequence may proceed). Similarly, in the Hilbert sense, orthogonal OAM modes or states correspond to orthogonal communication channels (e.g., orthogonal sequences transmitted over a communication channel), and based on a potentially infinite number of OAM modes or states, a wireless communication system 200 employing the use of OAM beams 210 may theoretically achieve infinite capacity. For example, logically, an infinite number of OAM states or modes may be twisted together for multiplexing, and the capacity of the OAM link 205 may approach infinity while preserving orthogonality between signals carried by different OAM modes (e.g., indexes).

[0089] In some cases, the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may generate such an OAM beam 210 using an SPP or UCA method. When the base station 105-a or UE 115-a uses an SPP method, for example, the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may convert an electromagnetic wave associated with an OAM mode index m=0 (e.g., a non-spiral electromagnetic wave associated with mode zero OAM) to an electromagnetic wave associated with an OAM mode index m≠0 (e.g., a spiral electromagnetic wave associated with non-zero OAM) based on passing the electromagnetic wave through an optical operator (e.g., an SPP). Such an optical operator may be associated with a geometric constraint and may be capable of generating an electromagnetic wave associated with a single OAM mode. In other words, the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may generate one OAM mode of the OAM beam 210 using one SPP. Thus, the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may implement a different SPP for each OAM mode of the OAM beam 210 that the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may transmit, which may be inefficient and may consume costly amounts of memory and processing power at the base station 105-a or UE 115-a. Furthermore, the base station 105-a or UE 115-a implementing an SPP to generate the OAM beam 210 may not be able to transmit or receive the OAM beam 210 in a direction other than perpendicular to the plane in which the SPP is located.

[0090] When the base station 105-a or UE 115-a uses the UCA method to generate the OAM beam 210, the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may identify a set of antenna elements on a circular array of antenna elements and may load a weight onto each of the identified antenna elements based on an OAM mode index m. For example, to generate an OAM beam 210 having an OAM mode index of m, the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may load a weight onto the UCA for each antenna element based on an angle measured between a reference line on the UCA (e.g., an x-axis on a plane on which the UCA is located, whose origin is the center of the UCA) and the antenna element, the OAM mode index m, and i (e.g., for a complex-valued weight that may alternatively be denoted as j in some cases). In some cases, for example, the weight onto antenna element n may be

[0091]

number

[0092] where:

[0093]

number

[0094] is equal to the angle measured between a reference line on the UCA and antenna element n.

[0095] For example, when m=0, the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may determine that the weight of each antenna element is equal to 1, and when m=1, the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may determine that the weight of each antenna element n is equal to

[0096]

number

[0097] For m=2, the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may determine that the weight of each antenna element n is equal to

[0098]

number

[0099] and so on. However, in some cases, a base station 105-a or UE 115-a implementing UCA to generate OAM beam 210 may not be able to transmit or receive OAM beam 210 in a direction other than perpendicular to the plane in which the UCA is located. Thus, the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may have limited ability to steer OAM beam 210 when using SPP or UCA methods, which may result in limited application or utilization of OAM beam 210.

[0100] In some implementations of the present disclosure, the base station 105-a or the UE 115-a may steer the OAM beam 210 in any desired angular direction, referred to herein as θ, based on selecting an antenna element from the planar array 215 in the area 220 on the planar array 215. For example, the base station 105-a may select an antenna element from the planar array 215-a of the base station 105-a in the area 220-a on the planar array 215-a and may use the selected antenna element to transmit or receive the OAM beam 210 to or from the UE 115-a. Similarly, the UE 115-a may select an antenna element from the planar array 215-b of the UE 115-a in the area 220-b on the planar array 215-b and may use the selected antenna element to transmit or receive the OAM beam 210 to or from the base station 105-a. In some aspects, the planar array 215 may be, or in some cases may function as, an example of a (massive or holographic) MIMO array or an intelligent surface.

[0101] In some examples, the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may determine an area 220 on the planar array 215 based on an angular direction θ in which the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may communicate (e.g., transmit or receive) the OAM beam 210. For example, the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may determine a first area associated with an “equivalent” circular array and may determine an area 220 (e.g., second area 220) based on a projection of the first area on the planar array 215. In some examples, the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may effectively use the first area associated with the equivalent circular array to generate the OAM beam 210 and may use the area 220 to steer the OAM beam 210. In some aspects, the first area may be located on a plane that is orthogonal to the angular direction θ in which the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may transmit or receive the OAM beam 210, and the first area may be located such that a point (e.g., a point) of the first area may be located in a plane that includes the planar array 215, as shown in FIG. 3. Although the point of the first area is shown to be located in a plane that includes the planar array 215, the first area may be arranged in any other manner such that the first area is located in a plane that is orthogonal to the angular direction θ (e.g., a point of the first area may not intersect the plane that includes the planar array 215, or multiple points of the first area may intersect the plane that includes the planar array 215). Thus, the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may determine the area 220 on the planar array 215 based on a projection of the first area on the planar array 215. Additional details regarding the projection of the first area relative to the equivalent circular array on the planar array 215 are described herein, including with reference to FIG.

[0102] The base station 105 or UE 115 may select a set of antenna elements from the planar array 215 based on which the antenna elements are located within the area 220 based on the determination of the area 220. For example, the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may select antenna elements located within the area 220 and refrain from selecting antenna elements located outside the area 220. Additional details regarding the selection of antenna elements from the planar array 215 are described herein, including with reference to FIG. 4. Upon selecting a set of antenna elements from the planar array 215, the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may apply a weight to each of the selected antenna elements based on the OAM mode index m of the transmitted or received OAM beam 210 and one or more spatial parameters associated with each antenna element. Additionally, in some implementations, the weights applied to the set of selected antenna elements may be based on an attenuation loss function that may account for attenuation loss relative to the distance over which the OAM beam is transmitted. Thus, the attenuation loss function may be equivalently referred to as a distance-dependent attenuation loss function. Additional details regarding the weights applied to each antenna element in the set of selected antenna elements are described herein, including with reference to FIG.

[0103] Thus, the base station 105-a or the UE 115-a may transmit or receive the OAM beam 210 via a selected set of antenna elements located within the area 220 on the planar array 220 based on a weight applied to each of the selected antenna elements. Additionally, although shown as being between the base station 105-a and the UE 115-a, the base station 105-a or the UE 115-a, or both, may transmit or receive the OAM beam 210 to or from other wireless devices, such as peer devices. For example, by implementing the techniques described without going beyond the scope of this disclosure, the base station 105-a may transmit or receive the OAM beam 210 to or from another base station 105, and the UE 115-a may transmit or receive the OAM beam 210 to or from another UE 115.

[0104] 3 illustrates an example of a projection 300 that supports generation and steering of an OAM beam according to aspects of the disclosure. In some examples, the projection 300 may be implemented to realize aspects of the wireless communication system 100 and the wireless communication system 200. For example, the base station 105 or the UE 115 may implement the projection 300 to determine an area from which the base station 105 or the UE 115 can select an antenna element 310 from the planar array 305 based on a beam direction 325 (which may be associated with an angular direction θ) from which the base station 105 or the UE 115 can transmit or receive an OAM beam.

[0105] For example, the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may determine the equivalent circular array 320 based on the beam direction 325 in which the base station 105-a or UE 115-a may transmit or receive an OAM signal. In some aspects, the base station 105 or UE 115 may determine the equivalent circular array 320 as a theoretical circular array from which the base station 105 or UE 115 may generate (virtually or virtually) an OAM beam in the beam direction 325 (e.g., since the equivalent circular array may be orthogonal to the beam direction 325). As shown in FIG. 3, the equivalent circular array 320 may be associated with an origin O′ and a radius R and may intersect the planar array 305 at a point (e.g., shown on the x-axis). In addition, based on being orthogonal to the beam direction 325, the equivalent circular array 320 may be angled to the planar array 305 by an angular direction θ. In an example where the base station 105 or UE 115 receives an OAM beam, the angular direction θ may correspond to the azimuth angle of arrival (AoA), or the zenith angle of arrival (ZoA), or both. In an example where the base station 105 or UE 115 transmits an OAM beam, the angular direction θ may correspond to the azimuth angle of departure (AoD), or the zenith angle of departure (ZoD), or both.

[0106] In some implementations, the base station 105 or UE 115 may project the equivalent circular array 320 onto the planar array 305 and determine the elliptical array 315 based on the projection. Additionally, although referred to as an ellipse, the elliptical array 315 may be other shapes without going beyond the scope of this disclosure. For example, in examples where the beam directions 325 are orthogonal to the planar array 305 (e.g., such that the angular direction θ=0), the elliptical array 315 may be circular (if the equivalent circular array 320 is circular). Alternatively, in examples where the beam directions 325 are not orthogonal to the planar array 305 (e.g., such that the angular direction θ≠0), the elliptical array 315 may be an ellipse.

[0107] As shown in FIG. 3, the elliptical array 315 may be located above the planar array 305 (e.g., may be coplanar with the planar array 305) and may be arranged such that the x 2 (cosθ) 2 +y 2 =R 2 (or, more generally, (xx e ) 2 (cosθ) 2 +(yy e ) 2 =R 2 ) The base station 105 or UE 115 can determine which antenna element 310 is x 2 (cosθ) 2 +y 2 =R 2 (or, more generally, (xx e ) 2 (cosθ) 2 +(yy e ) 2 =R 2 ) an antenna element 310 may be selected from the planar array 305, and the selected antenna element may be used to generate an OAM beam according to a departure angle θ or to receive an OAM beam at an arrival angle θ.

[0108] Further, as described herein, including with reference to FIG. 4 , the elliptical array 315 may be associated with or, in some cases, may include an area 330 (e.g., R may include a value range defined by a smaller radius R1 and a larger radius R2 such that R1≦R≦R2), and the base station 105 or UE 115 may select an antenna element 310 from the planar array 315 located within the area 330 (e.g., a ring area 330 defined by R1 and R2). For example, the equivalent circular array 320 may be associated with or include an area defined as an area between a first circle associated with a first radius R1 and a second circle associated with a second radius R2, and accordingly, a projection of the ring area associated with the uniform circular array 320 on the planar array 305 may similarly result in the ring area 330 defined by R1 and R2. In such an example where the elliptical array 315 is associated with or includes an area 330, the base station 105 or UE 115 may select an antenna element 310 from the planar array 315 located within the area 330 (e.g., a ring area 330 defined by R1 and R2). 2 (cosθ) 2 +y 2 Antenna elements may be selected that have coordinate locations that satisfy R2.

[0109] For each selected antenna element 310, the base station 105 or UE 115 may determine and apply a weight w, which may be a complex-valued weight, based on the OAM mode index m and one or more spatial parameters. For example, the base station 105 or UE 115 may determine a weight for the antenna element 310 based on an antenna element weighting function w(Φ), for which the OAM mode index m and one or more spatial parameters may be inputs. For example, the weight determined for the antenna element 310 may be based on an angle Φ associated with the antenna element 310. As shown in FIG. 3, the antenna element 310 may be

[0110]

number

[0111] and the antenna element 310 may be located at z=0. In some aspects, the angle Φ is determined by the (e.g., coordinate (x,y) of the elliptical array 315 from a reference line (e.g., denoted as the x-axis) of the elliptical array 315 to the antenna element 310. e ,y e ) may be measured about the origin O. The function w(Φ) may be defined according to Equation 2, as shown below:

[0112]

number

[0113] As shown in Equation 2, α may be a positive constant, h(x) may be an attenuation loss function (e.g., a distance-dependent attenuation loss function), and for free space propagation,

[0114]

number

[0115] where β is a constant and λ is the waveform of the electromagnetic wave (e.g., OAM beam). In some examples, the input x to the attenuation loss function h(x) may be a distance function d(Φ′,θ), which is

[0116]

number

[0117] where R may be the distance between the projected location P of the antenna element 310 on the equivalent circular array 320 and the center (e.g., O') of the equivalent circular array 320. Thus, the one or more spatial parameters may include one or more of the angular direction θ, the distance R between the projected location P of the antenna element on the equivalent circular array 320 and the center (e.g., O') of the equivalent circular array 320, the angle Φ' measured at the center O' of the equivalent circular array 320 from a reference line of the equivalent circular array 320 (e.g., a distance drawn from where the equivalent circular array 320 crosses the x-axis to where the equivalent circular array 320 crosses the z-axis) to the projected location P of the antenna element on the equivalent circular array 320, and the wavelength λ of the electromagnetic wave (e.g., the OAM beam) carrying the signal.

[0118] In some embodiments, in Formula 2

[0119]

number

[0120] The condition may be optional and therefore may or may not be included in the calculation of the weight for the antenna element 310. For example, w(Φ) may be expressed as:

[0121]

number

[0122] In addition, the base station 105 or UE 115 may determine the weights for the antenna elements 310 based on the relationship between Φ, Φ′, and θ, as shown in Equation 3 below.

[0123]

number

[0124] Additionally, although described and shown in the context of determining a weight for a single antenna element 310, the base station 105 or UE 115 may similarly determine a weight for each of the selected antenna elements based on the OAM mode index m and one or more spatial parameters associated with each respective antenna element 310. Upon determining a weight (e.g., a complex-valued weight) for each of the selected antenna elements 310 on an antenna element basis, the base station 105 or UE 115 may apply or load the determined weight to each of the selected antenna elements 310 and may transmit or receive an OAM beam based on applying or loading the weight.

[0125] FIG. 4 illustrates example antenna selection procedures 400 and 401 supporting OAM beam generation and steering according to aspects of the disclosure. In some examples, the antenna selection procedures 400 and 401 may be implemented to implement aspects of the wireless communication system 100 and the wireless communication system 200. For example, the base station 105 or the UE 115 may implement one of the antenna selection procedures 400 or the antenna selection procedures 401 to select an antenna element 410 from the planar array 405 located within an area 415 on the planar array 405. In some aspects, the planar array 405 may be an example of a uniform planar array (UPA), such as a MIMO array (e.g., a massive or holographic MIMO array or a multi-antenna array) or an intelligent surface of antenna elements 410. Additionally, although the antenna elements 410 are illustrated as being distributed (e.g., uniformly distributed) on the planar array 405 in a rectangular pattern, the antenna elements 410 may be distributed on the planar array 405 in any pattern, such as a triangular pattern, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0126] As described in more detail herein, including with reference to Figures 2 and 3, the base station 105 or UE 115 can determine the area 415 based on a projection of a first area (e.g., a first ring area, a first elliptical area, or another area shape) on the planar array 405, the first area being disposed on a plane that is perpendicular to the angular direction θ. In an example where the first area is a first ring area, the first ring area can be defined as an area between a first circle associated with a first radius R1 and a second circle associated with a second radius R2. In some aspects, the first radius R1 can be smaller than the second radius R2. Thus, the projection of the first ring area onto the planar array 405 may result in a circular ring area 415-a defined by an inner circle associated with a first radius R1 and an outer circle associated with a second radius R2 (e.g., in an example where the angular direction θ in which the base station 105 or UE 115 may transmit or receive an OAM beam is equal to zero), or an elliptical ring area 415-b defined by an inner ellipse associated with a semi-minor axis R1 and an outer ellipse associated with a semi-minor axis R2 (e.g., in an example where the angular direction θ in which the base station 105 or UE 115 may transmit or receive an OAM beam is not equal to zero).

[0127] Thus, in an example where the angular direction θ at which the base station 105 or UE 115 may transmit or receive an OAM beam is equal to zero, the base station 105 or UE 115 may implement the antenna selection procedure 400 to select an antenna element 410-a from the planar array 405-a based on determining which antenna element 410-a is located within the circular ring area 415-a. For example, the base station 105 or UE 115 may select an antenna element 410-a that is inside the circle defined by a radius of R2 and outside the circle defined by a radius of R1, and may refrain from selecting an antenna element 410-a that is outside the circle defined by the radius of R2 or inside the circle defined by the radius of R1. Alternatively, in examples where the angular direction θ at which the base station 105 or UE 115 may transmit or receive an OAM beam is equal to an angle different from 0, the base station 105 or UE 115 may implement the antenna selection procedure 401 and select an antenna element 410-b from the planar array 405-b based on determining which antenna elements 410-b are located within the elliptical ring area 415-b. For example, the base station 105 or UE 115 may select an antenna element 410-b that is inside the ellipse defined by the semiminor axis of R2 and outside the ellipse defined by the semiminor axis of R1, and may refrain from selecting an antenna element 410-b that is outside the ellipse defined by the semiminor axis of R2 or inside the ellipse defined by the semiminor axis of R1. Additionally, although described in the context of circular ring area 415-a and elliptical ring area 415-b, the base station 105 or UE 115 may implement similar antenna selection procedures to select antenna elements 410 from differently shaped areas 415 on the planar array 405 without going beyond the scope of this disclosure.

[0128] In some examples, selecting the set of antenna elements 410 located within the area 415 may include activating the set of antenna elements 410 located within the area 415 and deactivating (e.g., turning off) the remainder of the antenna elements 410 on the planar array 405 located outside the area 415. Thus, the base station 105 or UE 115 may transmit or receive OAM beams using the activated antenna elements 410 and refrain from using any of the deactivated antenna elements 410. Upon activating the selected set of antenna elements 410, the base station 105 or UE 115 may apply weights, such as complex-valued weights, on an element-by-element basis to at least some, if not each, of the activated antenna elements 410. Additional details regarding the determination and application or loading of per-element weights are described herein, including with reference to FIG. 3.

[0129] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a process flow 500 supporting OAM beam generation and steering according to aspects of the disclosure. In some examples, the process flow 500 may implement aspects of the wireless communication system 100 or the wireless communication system 200. The process flow 500 may illustrate OAM-based communication between a first device 505 and a second device 510, which may be examples of other devices described herein, such as a base station 105 or a UE 115. In some examples, the first device 505 and the second device 510 may each select a set of antenna elements from a respective planar array of antenna elements based on an angular direction θ at which the first device 505 may transmit an OAM beam to the second device 510. Alternative examples of process flows may be implemented in which some features are performed in a different order than described or not performed at all. In some examples, the operations may include additional features not described below or further operations may be added.

[0130] At 515-a and 515-b, the first device 505 and the second device 510 may determine a first ring area based on an angular direction (e.g., θ) in which the first device 505 and the second device 510 may communicate using the OAM beam. In some aspects, the angular direction is relative to a planar array of antenna elements (at each respective device), and the first ring area may be oriented in the angular direction. For example, the first ring area may be located in a plane that is perpendicular to the angular direction.

[0131] At 520 and 525, the first device 505 and the second device 510 may each select a set of antenna elements from the antenna elements on its respective planar array based on the first ring area. For example, at 520-a and 520-b, the first device 505 and the second device 510 may each determine a second ring area on the planar array based on a projection of the first ring area on the planar array. For example, the first device 505 and the second device 510 may each project the first ring area onto its respective planar array based on an angular direction in which the first ring area is oriented with respect to the planar array.

[0132] At 525-a and 525-b, the first device 505 and the second device 510 may each select a set of antenna elements located within a second ring area on its respective planar array. In some examples, the first device 505 and the second device 510 may each activate the selected set of antenna elements and deactivate the remainder of the antenna elements located outside the second ring area on its respective planar array. Additional details regarding how the first device 505 and the second device 510 may each select a set of antenna elements from the second ring area are described herein, including with reference to FIG. 4.

[0133] At 530-a and 530-b, the first device 505 and the second device 510 may each determine a set of complex-valued weights for a set of antenna elements, where each complex-valued weight of the set of complex-valued weights corresponds to one antenna element of the set of antenna elements and is based on a function of an OAM mode index (e.g., OAM mode index m) and one or more spatial parameters. For example, the first device 505 and the second device 510 may determine the set of complex-valued weights on an antenna element basis. In some examples, the function may be referred to as w(Φ) and may be defined according to Equation 2. In some aspects, the one or more spatial parameters may include one or more of: an angular direction θ; a distance R between a projected location P of the antenna element on the first ring area (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3) and a center O′ of the first ring area; an angle Φ′ measured at the center O′ of the first ring area from a reference line of the first ring area (e.g., a diameter of the first ring area drawn from where the first ring area crosses the x-axis to where the first ring area crosses the z-axis, as shown in FIG. 3) to the projected location P of the antenna element on the first ring area; and a wavelength λ of a signal transmitted or received using the OAM beam (e.g., a wavelength λ of an electromagnetic wave carrying the signal). In some implementations, the one or more spatial parameters may further include an attenuation loss function h(x). Additional details regarding how the first device 505 and the second device 510 may determine a set of complex-valued weights are described herein, including with reference to FIG. 3.

[0134] At 535-a and 535-b, the first device 505 and the second device 510 may each apply a set of complex-valued weights to its respective selected set of antenna elements. In some examples, applying a set of complex-valued weights to a set of antenna elements may be equivalently referred to as loading a set of complex-valued weights to a set of antenna elements. In some examples, the set of complex-valued weights may play a role similar to that of a precoder in MIMO transmission. For example, each weight is multiplexed with an amount weighted corresponding to an antenna element. For example, the first device 505 may apply a set of complex-valued weights to a selected set of antenna elements based on multiplexing (e.g., weighting) an information code to be transmitted and carried by an OAM mode (e.g., index) with a per-antenna-element weight at the transmitting side and mapping the product to a selected antenna element prior to final transmission. The second device 510 may, at the receiving side, apply a set of complex-valued weights to a selected set of antenna elements based on multiplexing (e.g., weighting) the signals received at the selected antenna elements with per-antenna-element weights. The second device 510 may determine (e.g., perform) summations on the weighted values ​​to detect the information code.

[0135] At 540, the first device 505 may transmit an OAM beam to the second device 510 via a set of antenna elements selected by the first device 505 according to the angular direction. Similarly, the second device 510 may receive an OAM beam from the first device 505 via a set of antenna elements selected by the second device 510 according to the angular direction. In some examples, the first device 505 and the second device 510 may transmit and receive OAM beams based on applying a set of complex-valued weights to their respective selected sets of antenna elements.

[0136] Further, although process flow 500 shows both the first device 505 and the second device 510 performing the described operations, in some examples, either the first device 505 or the second device 510, but not both, may perform the described operations without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0137] 6 illustrates a block diagram 600 of a device 605 supporting OAM beam generation and steering according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The device 605 may be an example of an embodiment of a device as described herein. The device 605 may include a receiver 610, a communications manager 615, and a transmitter 620. The device 605 may include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0138] The receiver 610 may receive information such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to OAM beam generation and steering, etc.). The information may be passed to other components of the device 605. The receiver 610 may be an example of an aspect of the transceiver 920 described with reference to FIG. 9. The receiver 610 may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

[0139] In some implementations, the communications manager 615 may determine a first ring area based on an angular direction in which a first device may communicate with a second device using an OAM beam, where the angular direction is relative to a planar array including the set of antenna elements and in which the first ring area is oriented in the angular direction, select a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements based on the first ring area, and transmit the OAM beam to the second device via the set of antenna elements in accordance with the angular direction.

[0140] In some other implementations, the communications manager 615 may determine a first ring area based on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with the second device using the OAM beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including the set of antenna elements and in which the first ring area is oriented in the angular direction, select a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements based on the first ring area, and receive the OAM beam from the second device via the set of antenna elements according to the angular direction. The communications manager 615 may be an example of an aspect of the communications manager 910 described herein.

[0141] Communications manager 615, or subcomponents thereof, may be implemented in hardware, code executed by a processor (e.g., software or firmware), or any combination thereof. If implemented in code executed by a processor, the functions of communications manager 615, or subcomponents thereof, may be performed by a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described in this disclosure.

[0142] The communications manager 615 or its subcomponents may be physically located in various locations, including being distributed such that portions of the functionality are implemented at different physical locations by one or more physical components. In some examples, the communications manager 615 or its subcomponents may be separate and distinct components according to various aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, the communications manager 615 or its subcomponents may be combined with one or more other hardware components, including, but not limited to, an input / output (I / O) component, a transceiver, a network server, another computing device, one or more other components described in this disclosure, or combinations thereof according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0143] The transmitter 620 may transmit signals generated by other components of the device 605. In some examples, the transmitter 620 may be co-located with the receiver 610 in a transceiver module. For example, the transmitter 620 may be an example of an embodiment of a transceiver 920 described with reference to FIG. 9. The transmitter 620 may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

[0144] In some examples, the communications manager 615 may be implemented as an integrated circuit or chipset for a mobile device modem, and the receiver 610 and transmitter 620 may be implemented as analog components (e.g., amplifiers, filters, antennas) coupled with the mobile device modem to enable wireless transmission and reception over one or more bands.

[0145] The communications manager 615 as described herein may be implemented to realize one or more potential advantages. In some implementations, the communications manager 615 may be capable of transmitting or receiving an OAM beam with greater directivity based on selecting a set of antenna elements from a planar array based on a projection of the first ring area on the planar array. Thus, the communications manager 615 may be associated with a higher likelihood of successful communication (e.g., either a higher likelihood of successful reception of an OAM beam transmitted by the device 605 at another device or a higher likelihood of successful reception of an OAM beam at the device 605) based on achieving greater directivity in an OAM-based communication. For example, an OAM beam may be less susceptible to interference and path loss based on achieving greater directivity in an OAM-based communication.

[0146] Furthermore, based on a higher likelihood of successful communication, the device 605 may potentially communicate with other devices more efficiently, such as by performing fewer retransmissions, which may allow the communications manager 615 to turn off one or more processing components of the device 605 more frequently, or for a longer duration, or both. Thus, the device 605 may obtain improved power savings and longer battery life.

[0147] 7 illustrates a block diagram 700 of a device 705 supporting OAM beam generation and steering according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The device 705 may be an example of an embodiment of the device 605 or the device 115 as described herein. The device 705 may include a receiver 710, a communications manager 715, and a transmitter 730. The device 705 may include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0148] The receiver 710 may receive information such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to OAM beam generation and steering, etc.). The information may be passed to other components of the device 705. The receiver 710 may be an example of an embodiment of a transmitter 920 described with reference to FIG. 9. The receiver 710 may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

[0149] The communications manager 715 may be an example of an aspect of the communications manager 615 described herein. The communications manager 715 may include an antenna selection component 720 and an OAM beam component 725. The communications manager 715 may be an example of an aspect of the communications manager 910 described herein.

[0150] In some implementations, the communications manager 715 may transmit an OAM beam. In some implementations, the antenna selection component 720 may determine a first ring area based on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with the second device using the OAM beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including the set of antenna elements, in which the first ring area is oriented in the angular direction, and select a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements based on the first ring area. The OAM beam component 725 may transmit the OAM beam via the set of antenna elements to the second device according to the angular direction.

[0151] In some other implementations, the communications manager 715 may receive an OAM beam. In some implementations, the antenna selection component 720 may determine a first ring area based on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with the second device using the OAM beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including the set of antenna elements, in which the first ring area is oriented in the angular direction, and select a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements based on the first ring area. The OAM beam component 725 may receive the OAM beam from the second device via the set of antenna elements according to the angular direction.

[0152] The transmitter 730 may transmit signals generated by other components of the device 705. In some examples, the transmitter 730 may be co-located with the receiver 710 in a transceiver module. For example, the transmitter 730 may be an example of an embodiment of the transceiver 920 described with reference to FIG. 9. The transmitter 730 may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

[0153] 8 illustrates a block diagram 800 of a communications manager 805 supporting OAM beam generation and steering according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Communications manager 805 may be an example of an embodiment of communications manager 615, communications manager 715, or communications manager 910 described herein. Communications manager 805 may include an antenna selection component 810, an OAM beam component 815, an antenna activation component 820, an antenna deactivation component 825, an antenna weighting component 830, and an antenna array component 835. Each of these modules may be in direct or indirect communication with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0154] The antenna selection component 810 may determine a first ring area based on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an OAM beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including the set of antenna elements and in which the first ring area is oriented. In some examples, the antenna selection component 810 may select a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements based on the first ring area.

[0155] In some examples, the antenna selection component 810 may determine a second ring area on the planar array based on a projection of the first ring area on the planar array. In some examples, the antenna selection component 810 may select a set of antenna elements located within the second ring area on the planar array. In some examples, the antenna selection component 810 may project the first ring area onto the planar array based on an angular orientation.

[0156] In some cases, the angular orientation is equal to 0 degrees and the second ring area comprises a circular ring area. In some cases, the angular orientation is equal to an angle different from 0 degrees and the second ring area comprises an elliptical ring area. In some cases, the first ring area is defined by an area between a first circle associated with a first radius and a second circle associated with a second radius different from the first radius.

[0157] In some examples, the OAM beam component 815 may transmit the OAM beam to the second device via the set of antenna elements according to the angular direction. In some other examples, the OAM beam component 815 may receive the OAM beam from the second device via the set of antenna elements according to the angular direction.

[0158] The antenna activation component 820 may activate a set of antenna elements located within a second ring area on the planar array. The antenna deactivation component 825 may deactivate the remainder of the set of antenna elements located outside the second ring area on the planar array.

[0159] The antenna weights component 830 may determine a set of complex-valued weights for the set of antenna elements, where each complex-valued weight in the set of complex-valued weights corresponds to one antenna element in the set of antenna elements and is based on a function of the OAM mode index and one or more spatial parameters. In some examples, the antenna weights component 830 may apply the set of complex-valued weights to the set of antenna elements, where transmitting an OAM beam via the set of antenna elements is based on applying the set of complex-valued weights.

[0160] In some cases, the one or more spatial parameters may include one or more of an angular orientation, a distance between a projected location of the antenna element on the first ring area and a center of the first ring area, an angle measured at the center of the first ring area from a reference line on the first ring area to a projected location of the antenna element on the first ring area, or a wavelength of a signal transmitted using the OAM beam. In some cases, the one or more spatial parameters may further include an attenuation loss function. For example, the attenuation loss function may be an optional component of a function used to determine the set of complex-valued weights.

[0161] The antenna array component 835 may include antenna elements distributed across an antenna array. In some cases, the planar array includes a UPA. In some cases, the planar array includes a multi-antenna array or an intelligent surface.

[0162] 9 illustrates a diagram of a system 900 including a device 905 supporting OAM beam generation and steering, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The device 905 may be or include an example of a component of device 605, device 705, or a device as described herein. The device 905 may include components for two-way voice and data communication, including components for transmitting and receiving communications, including a communications manager 910, an I / O controller 915, a transceiver 920, an antenna 925, a memory 930, a processor 940, and a coding manager 950. These components may be in electronic communication over or may be coupled to one or more buses (e.g., bus 945).

[0163] In some implementations, the communications manager 910 may determine a first ring area based on an angular direction in which a first device may communicate with a second device using an OAM beam, where the angular direction is relative to a planar array including the set of antenna elements and the first ring area is oriented in the angular direction, select a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements based on the first ring area, and transmit the OAM beam to the second device via the set of antenna elements in accordance with the angular direction.

[0164] In some implementations, the communications manager 910 may determine a first ring area based on an angular direction in which a first device may communicate with a second device using an OAM beam, where the angular direction is relative to a planar array including the set of antenna elements and in which the first ring area is oriented in the angular direction; select a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements based on the first ring area; and receive the OAM beam from the second device via the set of antenna elements in accordance with the angular direction.

[0165] The I / O controller 915 may manage input and output signals for the device 905. The I / O controller 915 may also manage peripheral devices that are not built into the device 905. In some cases, the I / O controller 915 may represent a physical connection or port to an external peripheral device. In some cases, the I / O controller 915 may utilize an operating system, such as iOS®, ANDROID®, MS-DOS®, MS-WINDOWS®, OS / 2®, UNIX®, LINUX®, or another known operating system. In other cases, the I / O controller 915 may represent or interact with a modem, keyboard, mouse, touch screen, or similar device. In some cases, the I / O controller 915 may be implemented as part of a processor. In some cases, a user may interact with the device 905 through the I / O controller 915 or through hardware components controlled by the I / O controller 915.

[0166] The transceiver 920 may communicate bidirectionally via one or more antennas, wired links, or wireless links as described herein. For example, the transceiver 920 may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicate bidirectionally with another wireless transceiver. The transceiver 920 may also include a modem for modulating packets, providing the modulated packets to an antenna for transmission, and demodulating packets received from the antenna.

[0167] In some cases, a wireless device may include a single antenna 925. In some cases, however, a device may have two or more antennas 925 that may be capable of simultaneously transmitting or receiving multiple wireless transmissions.

[0168] The memory 930 may include random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM). The memory 930 may store computer-readable computer-executable code 935 that includes instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform various functions described herein. In some cases, the memory 930 may include a basic I / O system (BIOS) that may control basic hardware or software operations, such as interaction with peripheral components or devices, among others.

[0169] The processor 940 may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general purpose processor, a DSP, a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic components, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the processor 940 may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In other cases, the memory controller may be integrated into the processor 940. The processor 940 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., memory 930) to cause the device 905 to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting the generation and steering of OAM beams).

[0170] The code 935 may include instructions for implementing aspects of the disclosure, including instructions for supporting wireless communication. The code 935 may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as a system memory or other type of memory. In some cases, the code 935 may not be directly executable by the processor 940, but may (e.g., when compiled and executed) cause a computer to perform functions described herein.

[0171] FIG. 10 illustrates a flow chart illustrating a method 1000 for supporting OAM beam generation and steering according to an aspect of the disclosure. The operations of method 1000 may be implemented by a device or components thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of method 1000 may be performed by a communications manager as described with reference to FIGS. 6-9. In some examples, the device may execute a set of instructions to control functional elements of the device to perform functions described herein. Additionally or alternatively, the device may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the functions described herein.

[0172] At 1005, the device may determine a first ring area based on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an OAM beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a set of antenna elements, the first ring area being oriented in the angular direction. The operations of 1005 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1005 may be performed by an antenna selection component, as described with reference to FIGS. 6-9.

[0173] At 1010, the device may select a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements based on the first ring area. The operations of 1010 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1010 may be performed by an antenna selection component as described with reference to FIGS.

[0174] At 1015, the device may transmit the OAM beam via the set of antenna elements to the second device according to the angular direction. The operations of 1015 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1015 may be performed by an OAM beam component as described with reference to FIGS.

[0175] FIG. 11 illustrates a flow chart illustrating a method 1100 for supporting OAM beam generation and steering according to aspects of the disclosure. The operations of method 1100 may be implemented by a device or components thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of method 1100 may be performed by a communications manager as described with reference to FIGS. 6-9. In some examples, the device may execute a set of instructions to control functional elements of the device to perform functions described herein. Additionally or alternatively, the device may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the functions described herein.

[0176] At 1105, the device may determine a first ring area based on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an OAM beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a set of antenna elements, in which the first ring area is oriented in the angular direction. The operations of 1105 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1105 may be performed by an antenna selection component, as described with reference to FIGS. 6-9.

[0177] At 1110, the device may determine a second ring area on the planar array based on a projection of the first ring area on the planar array. The operations of 1110 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1110 may be performed by an antenna selection component, as described with reference to FIGS. 6-9.

[0178] At 1115, the device may select a set of antenna elements located within a second ring area on the planar array. The operations of 1115 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1115 may be performed by an antenna selection component as described with reference to FIGS. 6-9.

[0179] At 1120, the device may transmit the OAM beam via the set of antenna elements to the second device according to the angular direction. The operations of 1120 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1120 may be performed by an OAM beam component as described with reference to FIGS.

[0180] FIG. 12 illustrates a flow chart illustrating a method 1200 for supporting OAM beam generation and steering according to aspects of the disclosure. The operations of method 1200 may be implemented by a device or components thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of method 1200 may be performed by a communications manager as described with reference to FIGS. 6-9. In some examples, the device may execute a set of instructions to control functional elements of the device to perform functions described herein. Additionally or alternatively, the device may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the functions described herein.

[0181] At 1205, the device may determine a first ring area based on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with the second device using the OAM beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a set of antenna elements, in which the first ring area is oriented in the angular direction. The operations of 1205 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1205 may be performed by an antenna selection component, as described with reference to FIGS. 6-9.

[0182] At 1210, the device may select a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements based on the first ring area. The operations of 1210 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1210 may be performed by an antenna selection component as described with reference to FIGS.

[0183] At 1215, the device may determine a set of complex-valued weights for the set of antenna elements, where each complex-valued weight of the set of complex-valued weights corresponds to one antenna element of the set of antenna elements and is based on a function of the OAM mode index and the one or more spatial parameters. The operations of 1215 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1215 may be performed by an antenna weight component as described with reference to FIGS. 6-9.

[0184] At 1220, the device may apply the set of complex-valued weights to the set of antenna elements. The operations of 1220 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1220 may be performed by an antenna weight component as described with reference to FIGS.

[0185] At 1225, the device may transmit the OAM beam via the set of antenna elements to the second device according to the angular direction. The operations of 1225 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1225 may be performed by an OAM beam component as described with reference to FIGS.

[0186] FIG. 13 illustrates a flow chart illustrating a method 1300 for supporting OAM beam generation and steering according to aspects of the disclosure. The operations of method 1300 may be implemented by a device or components thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of method 1300 may be performed by a communications manager as described with reference to FIGS. 6-9. In some examples, the device may execute a set of instructions to control functional elements of the device to perform functions described herein. Additionally or alternatively, the device may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the functions described herein.

[0187] At 1305, the device may determine a first ring area based on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with the second device using the OAM beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a set of antenna elements, in which the first ring area is oriented in the angular direction. The operations of 1305 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1305 may be performed by an antenna selection component, as described with reference to FIGS. 6-9.

[0188] At 1310, the device may select a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements based on the first ring area. The operations of 1310 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1310 may be performed by an antenna selection component as described with reference to FIGS.

[0189] At 1315, the device may receive an OAM beam from the second device via the set of antenna elements according to the angular direction. The operations of 1315 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1315 may be performed by an OAM beam component as described with reference to FIGS.

[0190] FIG. 14 illustrates a flow chart illustrating a method 1400 for supporting OAM beam generation and steering according to aspects of the disclosure. The operations of method 1400 may be implemented by a device or components thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of method 1400 may be performed by a communications manager as described with reference to FIGS. 6-9. In some examples, the device may execute a set of instructions to control functional elements of the device to perform functions described herein. Additionally or alternatively, the device may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the functions described herein.

[0191] At 1405, the device may determine a first ring area based on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an OAM beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a set of antenna elements, in which the first ring area is oriented in the angular direction. The operations of 1405 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1405 may be performed by an antenna selection component, as described with reference to FIGS. 6-9.

[0192] At 1410, the device may determine a second ring area on the planar array based on a projection of the first ring area on the planar array. The operations of 1410 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1410 may be performed by an antenna selection component, as described with reference to FIGS. 6-9.

[0193] At 1415, the device may select a set of antenna elements located within a second ring area on the planar array. The operations of 1415 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1415 may be performed by an antenna selection component as described with reference to FIGS.

[0194] At 1420, the device may receive an OAM beam from the second device via the set of antenna elements according to the angular direction. The operations of 1420 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1420 may be performed by an OAM beam component as described with reference to FIGS.

[0195] FIG. 15 illustrates a flow chart illustrating a method 1500 for supporting OAM beam generation and steering according to aspects of the disclosure. The operations of method 1500 may be implemented by a device or components thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of method 1500 may be performed by a communications manager as described with reference to FIGS. 6-9. In some examples, the device may execute a set of instructions to control functional elements of the device to perform functions described herein. Additionally or alternatively, the device may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the functions described herein.

[0196] At 1505, the device may determine a first ring area based on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an OAM beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a set of antenna elements, the first ring area being oriented in the angular direction. The operations of 1505 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1505 may be performed by an antenna selection component, as described with reference to FIGS. 6-9.

[0197] At 1510, the device may select a set of antenna elements from the set of antenna elements based on the first ring area. The operations of 1510 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1510 may be performed by an antenna selection component as described with reference to FIGS.

[0198] At 1515, the device may determine a set of complex-valued weights for the set of antenna elements, where each complex-valued weight of the set of complex-valued weights corresponds to one antenna element of the set of antenna elements and is based on a function of the OAM mode index and one or more spatial parameters. The operations of 1515 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1515 may be performed by an antenna weight component as described with reference to FIGS. 6-9.

[0199] At 1520, the device may apply the set of complex-valued weights to the set of antenna elements. The operations of 1520 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1520 may be performed by an antenna weight component as described with reference to FIGS.

[0200] At 1525, the device may receive an OAM beam from the second device via the set of antenna elements according to the angular direction. The operations of 1525 may be performed according to methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1525 may be performed by an OAM beam component as described with reference to FIGS.

[0201] It should be noted that the methods described herein represent possible implementations, that the acts and steps may be rearranged or possibly modified, and that other implementations are possible. Furthermore, aspects from two or more of these methods may be combined.

[0202] Although aspects of LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR systems may be described as examples, and LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR terminology may be used throughout much of the description, the techniques described herein may be applicable to other than LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR networks. For example, the described techniques may be applicable to various other wireless communication systems, such as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDM, and other systems and radio technologies not explicitly mentioned herein.

[0203] The information and signals described herein may be represented using any of a wide variety of technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referred to throughout the description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

[0204] The various example blocks and components described with respect to the disclosure herein may be implemented or performed using a general purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, a CPU, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but alternatively, the processor may be any processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration).

[0205] The functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software executed by a processor, the functions may be stored on or transmitted via a computer-readable medium as one or more instructions or codes. Other examples and implementations are within the scope of this disclosure and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, the functions described herein may be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, or any combination thereof. Features implementing the functions may also be physically located in various locations, including being distributed such that parts of the functions are implemented in different physical locations.

[0206] Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storage media and communication media, including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Non-transitory storage media may be any available medium that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, non-transitory computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), Flash memory, Compact Disk (CD) ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transitory medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or a general purpose or special purpose processor. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included within the definition of computer readable media. As used herein, disk and disc include CD, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and Blu-ray disc, where disks typically reproduce data magnetically and discs reproduce data optically using lasers. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of computer readable media.

[0207] As used herein, including in the claims, "or" as used in a list of items (e.g., a list of items beginning with a phrase such as "at least one of" or "one or more of") indicates an inclusive list, such as, for example, a list of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Also, the phrase "based on" as used herein should not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions. For example, an exemplary step described as "based on condition A" may be based on both condition A and condition B without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, the phrase "based on" as used herein is to be construed similarly to the phrase "based at least in part on."

[0208] In the accompanying figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label. Furthermore, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label with a dash and a second label that distinguishes the similar components. If only a first reference label is used herein, the description is applicable to any of the similar components having the same first reference label, regardless of the second reference label, or any other subsequent reference label.

[0209] The description set forth herein with respect to the accompanying drawings describes exemplary configurations and does not represent every example that may be implemented or fall within the scope of the claims. The term "example" as used herein means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration" and does not mean "preferred" or "advantageous over other examples." The detailed description includes specific details for the purposes of providing an understanding of the described techniques. However, these techniques may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the concepts of the described examples.

[0210] The description herein is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. [Explanation of symbols]

[0211] 100 Wireless communication system 105 Base station 105-a base station 110 Coverage Area, Geographical Coverage Area 110-a Coverage Area 115 UE 115-a UE 120 backhaul links 125 Communication Links 130 Core Network 135 Device-to-Device (D2D) Communication Links 140 Access Network Entity 145 Access Network Transmission Entity 150 Network Operator IP Services 200 Wireless Communication System 205 Communication links, OAM links 210 OAM beam 215 Planar Array 215-a Planar Array 215-b Planar Array 220 Area, Second Area 220-a Area 220-b Area 300 projection 305 Planar Array 310 Antenna Element 315 Elliptical Array 320 Equivalent Circular Array 325 Beam Direction 330 Area, Ring Area 400 Antenna Selection Procedure 401 Antenna Selection Procedure 405 Planar Array 405-a Planar Array 405-b Planar Array 410 Antenna Element 410-a Antenna element 410-b Antenna element 415 Area 415-a Circular Ring Area 415-b Oval Link Area 500 Process Flow 600 Block Diagram 605 Devices 610 Receiver 615 Communications Manager 620 Transmitter 700 Block Diagram 705 Devices 710 Receiver 715 Communications Manager 720 Antenna Selection Component 725 OAM Beam Components 730 Transmitter 800 Block Diagram 805 Communications Manager 810 Antenna Selection Component 815 OAM Beam Components 820 Antenna Activation Components 825 Antenna Deactivation Component 830 Antenna Weighting Components 835 Antenna Array Components 900 System 905 Devices 910 Communications Manager 915 I / O Controller 920 Transceiver 925 Antenna 930 Memory 940 Processor 945 Bus 950 Coding Manager 1000 ways 1100 methods 1200 methods 1300 methods 1400 methods 1500 ways

Claims

1. 1. A method for wireless communication in a first device, comprising: determining a first ring area based at least in part on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an orbital angular momentum beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a plurality of antenna elements, the first ring area being oriented in a plane aligned with the angular direction; determining a second ring area by projecting the first ring area onto the planar array in a direction normal to the plane; selecting a set of antenna elements from the plurality of antenna elements located within the second ring area corresponding to a projection of the first ring area on the planar array; transmitting the orbital angular momentum beam via the set of antenna elements to the second device according to the angular orientation; Including, method.

2. said selecting said set of antenna elements from said plurality of antenna elements, activating the set of antenna elements located within the second ring area on the planar array; deactivating the remainder of the plurality of antenna elements located outside the second ring area on the planar array; The method of claim 1, further comprising:

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the angular orientation is equal to 0 degrees and the second ring area comprises a circular ring area.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the angular orientation is equal to an angle different from 0 degrees and the second ring area comprises an elliptical ring area.

5. determining a set of complex-valued weights for the set of antenna elements, each complex-valued weight in the set of complex-valued weights corresponding to one antenna element of the set of antenna elements and based at least in part on a function of an orbital angular momentum mode index and one or more spatial parameters; applying the set of complex-valued weights to the set of antenna elements, wherein the transmitting of the orbital angular momentum beam via the set of antenna elements is based at least in part on the applying of the set of complex-valued weights; The method of claim 1, further comprising:

6. The one or more spatial parameters for determining complex-valued weights for antenna elements include: The angular orientation, a distance between a projected location of the antenna element on the first ring area and a center of the first ring area; an angle measured at the center of the first ring area from a reference line of the first ring area to the projected location of the antenna element on the first ring area; or The wavelength of the signal transmitted using said orbital angular momentum beam. The method of claim 5, comprising one or more of:

7. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ring area is defined by an area between a first circle associated with a first radius and a second circle associated with a second radius different from the first radius.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the planar array comprises a uniform planar array.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the planar array comprises a multi-antenna array or an intelligent surface.

10. 1. A method for wireless communication in a first device, comprising: determining a first ring area based at least in part on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an orbital angular momentum beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a plurality of antenna elements, the first ring area being oriented in a plane aligned with the angular direction; determining a second ring area by projecting the first ring area onto the planar array in a direction normal to the plane; selecting a set of antenna elements from the plurality of antenna elements located within the second ring area corresponding to a projection of the first ring area on the planar array; receiving the orbital angular momentum beam from the second device via the set of antenna elements according to the angular orientation; Including, method.

11. said selecting said set of antenna elements from said plurality of antenna elements, activating the set of antenna elements located within the second ring area on the planar array; deactivating the remainder of the plurality of antenna elements located outside the second ring area on the planar array; 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the angular orientation is equal to 0 degrees and the second ring area comprises a circular ring area.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the angular orientation is equal to an angle different from 0 degrees and the second ring area comprises an elliptical ring area.

14. determining a set of complex-valued weights for the set of antenna elements, each complex-valued weight in the set of complex-valued weights corresponding to one antenna element of the set of antenna elements and based at least in part on a function of an orbital angular momentum mode index and one or more spatial parameters; applying the set of complex-valued weights to the set of antenna elements, wherein the step of receiving the orbital angular momentum beam via the set of antenna elements is based at least in part on the step of applying the set of complex-valued weights; 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

15. The one or more spatial parameters used to determine complex-valued weights for antenna elements are The angular orientation, a distance between a projected location of the antenna element on the first ring area and a center of the first ring area; an angle measured at the center of the first ring area from a reference line of the first ring area to the projected location of the antenna element on the first ring area; or The wavelength of the signal received using said orbital angular momentum beam.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising one or more of:

16. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first ring area is defined by an area between a first circle associated with a first radius and a second circle associated with a second radius different from the first radius.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the planar array comprises a uniform planar array.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the planar array comprises a multi-antenna array or an intelligent surface.

19. 16. An apparatus for wireless communication in a first device, comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and a method for determining a signal level in a first device, the method comprising: determining a first ring area based at least in part on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an orbital angular momentum beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a plurality of antenna elements, the first ring area being oriented in a plane aligned with the angular direction; projecting the first ring area onto the planar array in a direction normal to the plane to determine a second ring area; selecting a set of antenna elements from the plurality of antenna elements located within the second ring area corresponding to a projection of the first ring area on the planar array; transmitting the orbital angular momentum beam via the set of antenna elements to the second device according to the angular orientation; instructions executable by the processor to cause the device to An apparatus comprising:

20. the instructions for selecting the set of antenna elements from the plurality of antenna elements, activating the set of antenna elements located within the second ring area on the planar array; deactivating the remainder of the plurality of antenna elements located outside the second ring area on the planar array; and 20. The apparatus of claim 19, further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

21. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the angular orientation is equal to 0 degrees and the second ring area comprises a circular ring area.

22. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the angular orientation is equal to an angle different from 0 degrees and the second ring area comprises an elliptical ring area.

23. The instruction: determining a set of complex-valued weights for the set of antenna elements, each complex-valued weight in the set of complex-valued weights corresponding to one antenna element of the set of antenna elements and based at least in part on a function of an orbital angular momentum mode index and one or more spatial parameters; applying the set of complex-valued weights to the set of antenna elements, wherein the transmitting of the orbital angular momentum beam via the set of antenna elements is based at least in part on the applying of the set of complex-valued weights; 20. The apparatus of claim 19, further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

24. The one or more spatial parameters are The angular orientation, a distance between a projected location of the antenna element on the first ring area and a center of the first ring area; an angle measured at the center of the first ring area from a reference line of the first ring area to the projected location of the antenna element on the first ring area; or The wavelength of the signal transmitted using said orbital angular momentum beam.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, comprising one or more of:

25. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first ring area is defined by an area between a first circle associated with a first radius and a second circle associated with a second radius different from the first radius.

26. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the planar array comprises a uniform planar array.

27. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the planar array comprises a multi-antenna array or an intelligent surface.

28. 16. An apparatus for wireless communication in a first device, comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and a method for determining a signal level in a first device, the method comprising: determining a first ring area based at least in part on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an orbital angular momentum beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a plurality of antenna elements, the first ring area being oriented in a plane aligned with the angular direction; projecting the first ring area onto the planar array in a direction normal to the plane to determine a second ring area; selecting a set of antenna elements from the plurality of antenna elements located within the second ring area corresponding to a projection of the first ring area on the planar array; receiving the orbital angular momentum beam from the second device via the set of antenna elements according to the angular orientation; instructions executable by the processor to cause the device to An apparatus comprising:

29. the instructions for selecting the set of antenna elements from the plurality of antenna elements, activating the set of antenna elements located within the second ring area on the planar array; deactivating the remainder of the plurality of antenna elements located outside the second ring area on the planar array; and 30. The apparatus of claim 28, further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

30. 30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the angular orientation is equal to 0 degrees and the second ring area comprises a circular ring area.

31. 30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the angular orientation is equal to an angle different from 0 degrees and the second ring area comprises an elliptical ring area.

32. The instruction: determining a set of complex-valued weights for the set of antenna elements, each complex-valued weight in the set of complex-valued weights corresponding to one antenna element of the set of antenna elements and based at least in part on a function of an orbital angular momentum mode index and one or more spatial parameters; applying the set of complex-valued weights to the set of antenna elements, wherein the receiving of the orbital angular momentum beam via the set of antenna elements is based at least in part on the applying of the set of complex-valued weights; 30. The apparatus of claim 28, further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

33. The one or more spatial parameters are The angular orientation, a distance between a projected location of the antenna element on the first ring area and a center of the first ring area; an angle measured at the center of the first ring area from a reference line of the first ring area to the projected location of the antenna element on the first ring area; or The wavelength of the signal received using said orbital angular momentum beam.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, comprising one or more of:

34. 30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the first ring area is defined by an area between a first circle associated with a first radius and a second circle associated with a second radius different from the first radius.

35. 30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the planar array comprises a uniform planar array.

36. 30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the planar array comprises a multi-antenna array or an intelligent surface.

37. 1. An apparatus for wireless communication in a first device, comprising: means for determining a first ring area based at least in part on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an orbital angular momentum beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a plurality of antenna elements, the first ring area being oriented in a plane aligned with the angular direction; means for projecting the first ring area onto the planar array in a direction normal to the plane to determine a second ring area; means for selecting a set of antenna elements from the plurality of antenna elements, the set being located within the second ring area corresponding to a projection of the first ring area on the planar array; means for transmitting the orbital angular momentum beam via the set of antenna elements to the second device according to the angular orientation; 13. An apparatus comprising:

38. 1. An apparatus for wireless communication in a first device, comprising: means for determining a first ring area based at least in part on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an orbital angular momentum beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a plurality of antenna elements, the first ring area being oriented in a plane aligned with the angular direction; means for projecting the first ring area onto the planar array in a direction normal to the plane to determine a second ring area; means for selecting a set of antenna elements from the plurality of antenna elements, the set being located within the second ring area corresponding to a projection of the first ring area on the planar array; means for receiving the orbital angular momentum beam from the second device via the set of antenna elements according to the angular orientation; 13. An apparatus comprising:

39. 1. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing code for wireless communication in a first device, the code comprising: determining a first ring area based at least in part on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an orbital angular momentum beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a plurality of antenna elements, the first ring area being oriented in a plane aligned with the angular direction; projecting the first ring area onto the planar array in a direction normal to the plane to determine a second ring area; selecting a set of antenna elements from the plurality of antenna elements located within the second ring area corresponding to a projection of the first ring area on the planar array; transmitting the orbital angular momentum beam via the set of antenna elements to the second device according to the angular orientation; A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform the steps of:

40. 1. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing code for wireless communication in a first device, the code comprising: determining a first ring area based at least in part on an angular direction in which the first device may communicate with a second device using an orbital angular momentum beam, the angular direction being relative to a planar array including a plurality of antenna elements, the first ring area being oriented in a plane aligned with the angular direction; projecting the first ring area onto the planar array in a direction normal to the plane to determine a second ring area; selecting a set of antenna elements from the plurality of antenna elements located within the second ring area corresponding to a projection of the first ring area on the planar array; receiving the orbital angular momentum beam from the second device via the set of antenna elements according to the angular orientation; A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform the steps of:

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