2D MIMO Radar Beamforming for Precise Horizontal and Vertical Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly in the context of 5G, face challenges in accurately sensing angles using conventional MIMO radar due to limitations in beamforming capabilities, which affect the precision of positioning and data transfer.
Innovation Solution
A method employing a 2D MIMO antenna array that configures into vertical and horizontal columns/rows to perform RF sensing using phased-array beamforming, allowing for orthogonal signal transmission in both dimensions to enhance angle sensing accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional MIMO radar is used for angle sensing, then the system can perform basic RF sensing, but the angle sensing precision is limited due to insufficient beamforming capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the MIMO antenna array into multiple virtual arrays, where each virtual array corresponds to a specific transmit antenna. This segmentation enables independent beamforming operations for each transmit antenna, improving angle sensing precision by allowing focused beam formation in specific directions while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends conventional 1D MIMO radar to 2D MIMO radar by adding elevation angle sensing capability. This dimensional expansion enables the system to sense both azimuth and elevation angles simultaneously, significantly improving three-dimensional angle sensing precision while utilizing the spatial dimensions of the antenna array more effectively
2Measurement precision
If more orthogonal signals are used to improve angle sensing accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but the number of signals required increases system complexity and reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple transmit antennas into virtual arrays, where each virtual array processes signals from a specific transmit antenna. This merging approach allows the system to achieve high angle sensing accuracy through coherent signal combination and beamforming, reducing the need for a large number of separate orthogonal signals while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial parameters of the antenna array by configuring elements in specific geometric patterns (e.g., uniform linear arrays, uniform rectangular arrays). By optimizing the spacing and arrangement of antenna elements, the system achieves improved angle sensing accuracy through enhanced spatial resolution and beamforming capability, reducing dependence on the number of orthogonal signals
3Measurement precision
If signal-to-noise ratio is increased to improve sensing precision, then measurement accuracy improves, but this requires more signal power or longer integration time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous beamforming operations across multiple signal processing stages, maintaining coherent signal accumulation throughout the processing chain. This continuous useful action allows the system to integrate signal energy effectively over time, improving signal-to-noise ratio and sensing precision without requiring excessive instantaneous signal power
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical signal power increase with digital signal processing techniques, specifically beamforming and virtual array processing. By using computational methods to enhance signal-to-noise ratio through coherent integration and spatial filtering, the system achieves improved sensing precision without the energy consumption penalties associated with increasing transmit power
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach improves angle sensing precision by reducing the number of orthogonal signals required and increasing signal-to-noise ratio, thereby enhancing positioning and data transfer capabilities in 5G wireless communication systems.
Implementation Method 1
A method for radio frequency (RF) sensing performed by a network entity that controls a two-dimensional (2D) multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) antenna array... performing RF sensing in a first mode for sensing a horizontal angle using horizontal MIMO radar with vertical beamforming... performing RF sensing in a second mode for sensing a vertical angle using vertical MIMO radar with horizontal beamforming
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are techniques for radio frequency (RF) sensing. In an aspect, a network entity (e.g., base station or road-side unit) may perform RF sensing in a first mode for sensing a horizontal angle using horizontal multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) radar with vertical beamforming, in which a two-dimensional MIMO antenna array is configured into a plurality of vertical columns, each column comprising a plurality of antenna elements configured to transmit as a phased array, each column transmitting a different orthogonal signal from the other columns. The network entity may perform RF sensing in a second mode for sensing a vertical angle using vertical MIMO radar with horizontal beamforming, in which the MIMO antenna array is configured into a plurality of horizontal rows, each row comprising a plurality of antenna elements configured to transmit as a phased array, each row transmitting a different orthogonal signal from the other rows.