8T8R Quasi-Omnidirectional Antenna for Null-Free 360° Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional quasi-omnidirectional antennas suffer from limited gain, omnification loss, and nulls in their gain patterns, which affect their performance in providing 360-degree coverage.
Innovation Solution
The 8T8R Quasi-Omnidirectional Antenna design features six array faces arranged in a hexagonal pattern, with each array face having four C-Band radiator columns coupled to two antenna ports per polarization, allowing for differential amplitude and phase weighting to steer the service beams and eliminate nulls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If conventional quasi-omnidirectional antennas use three panels spaced 120 degrees apart with independent radiator columns, then 360-degree azimuthal coverage is achieved, but gain is limited and omnification loss of 4-5 dB occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges all four radiator columns across three array faces into a single coordinated 8T8R system with eight antenna ports, replacing the conventional approach of three independent panels. This unified structure allows constructive interference and coherent combining of signals from all radiator elements, achieving 15 dB higher gain per lobe while eliminating the omnification loss that occurs when signals are distributed across separate independent panels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic beamforming capabilities through eight antenna ports and differential amplitude/phase weighting, allowing the antenna to adaptively steer service beams in specific directions. This dynamic control enables the formation of high-gain lobes pointing toward target locations while maintaining 360-degree coverage, resolving the contradiction between directional gain and omnidirectional coverage.
2Area of moving object
If conventional antennas distribute signals to three C-Band arrays for quasi-omnidirectional coverage, then 360-degree coverage is maintained, but gain reduction of 4-5 dB occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines all radiator columns into a unified eight-antenna-port system that coherently processes signals, eliminating the energy distribution losses inherent in conventional three-panel architectures. By merging the arrays and using coordinated amplitude/phase control, the system achieves constructive interference that recovers the omnification loss while maintaining full coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters by implementing differential amplitude and phase weighting across the eight antenna ports, allowing precise control over signal distribution. This parameter control enables the system to concentrate energy in desired directions rather than uniformly distributing it across three separate arrays, thereby reducing omnification loss.
3Area of moving object
If conventional quasi-omni gain patterns are formed from distinct non-overlapping gain lobes, then 360-degree coverage is achieved, but nulls appear in the gain pattern
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic beamforming with eight antenna ports to continuously adjust the phase and amplitude of signals from each radiator column. This dynamic control allows the formation of overlapping gain lobes that can be steered to fill coverage gaps, eliminating the nulls that appear in conventional static quasi-omni patterns while maintaining 360-degree coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies differential amplitude and phase weighting parameters to each antenna port, enabling precise control over the shape, direction, and overlap of gain lobes. By adjusting these parameters, the system creates continuous overlapping coverage patterns that eliminate nulls, improving gain pattern uniformity while preserving omnidirectional coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a quasi-omnidirectional antenna having three array faces, wherein each of the three array faces has a radiator array having a plurality of radiator columns. Each of the corresponding radiator columns on the radiator arrays are coupled together to a single pair of antenna ports, one per polarization. This results in a service beam having three gain lobes that can be swept in unison in a scan. By scanning the service beam, the antenna may enable a high-gain connection to a mobile device, emulating a high gain omnidirectional antenna. Further disclosed is a variation having four array faces spaced 90 degrees apart, which offers additional performance benefits.