Access Point Antenna Switching for Radar Detection and Beamforming
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication networks, the use of beamformers for reception can complicate radar detection and degrade reception performance, especially when updating beams, leading to potential data loss and interference issues.
Innovation Solution
An access point with a selector switch that allows selection between reception from a sector antenna and a beamformer for different receivers in timeslots, using step-wise controllable phase shift arrangements in the beamformer to form beams, and configuring receivers to connect to either the sector antenna or beamformer based on function, enabling efficient simultaneous reception and radar detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a beamformer is used on reception within a sector, then reception gain is improved and interference is reduced, but radar detection becomes difficult to achieve reliably
Solution Approach 1:
The receive function is segmented into two separate receivers: a first receiver dedicated to radar detection connected to the sector antenna, and a second receiver dedicated to data reception connected to the beamformer. This segmentation allows each receiver to optimize its function without interference from the other, resolving the contradiction between radar detection reliability and reception gain.
Solution Approach 2:
The access point system is designed with multi-functionality by enabling the first receiver to perform radar detection while the second receiver performs data reception, allowing the system to simultaneously achieve both radar detection capability and improved reception gain through the beamformer.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the beamformer is updated iteratively by perturbation, then beam optimization is achieved, but reception performance degrades and data may be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The receive function is segmented into two separate receivers: a first receiver dedicated to radar detection connected to the sector antenna, and a second receiver dedicated to data reception connected to the beamformer. This segmentation allows each receiver to optimize its function without interference from the other, resolving the contradiction between radar detection reliability and reception gain.
Solution Approach 2:
The beamformer weights are updated based on signals received during dedicated radar detection timeslots by the first receiver, before the actual data reception timeslots begin. This preliminary action allows the beamformer to be optimized in advance without degrading ongoing data reception, as the weight updates occur during times when the second receiver is not actively receiving data.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a beamformer is used instead of sector antenna, then signal-to-interference ratio is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beamforming function is extracted and dedicated to the second receiver for data reception, while the first receiver maintains a simple sector antenna connection for radar detection. This extraction allows the complex beamforming operations to be confined to only where they are needed for data reception, minimizing overall system complexity while still achieving the signal-to-interference ratio improvement.
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 solution provides improved signal-to-interference ratio, allows reliable radar detection, and maintains data reception quality by switching between sector antennas and beamformers, ensuring efficient operation and minimizing data loss during beam adaptation.
Implementation Method 1
steering respective beams towards specific user equipments to allow communication between the access point with improved gain and/or reduced interference reception
Implementation Method 2
The first beamformer comprises a plurality of step-wise controllable phase shift arrangements, each phase shift arrangement being for controlling the phase and not amplitude of signals received from a respective antenna element of the antenna array
Implementation Method 3
the sector antenna is arranged to receive signals at a first polarisation and at a second polarisation, different from the first polarisation
Implementation Method 4
at least one of the first and second receivers is a superheterodyne receiver. This allows rejection of interference in the frequency domain in addition to the rejection of interference in the spatial domain
Data Source
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AI summary
An access point (1) for use in a point to multipoint wireless network comprises a sector antenna (8) and an antenna array of antenna elements (7), the antenna elements not including the sector antenna, and the antenna elements being arranged to receive signals from the same sector as the sector antenna. A first beamformer (10) is configurable to form a first beam (11) from signals received at the antenna array and a selector switch (5) is switchable to at least a first state in which signals received at the sector antenna (8) are connected to a first receiver (2), and a second state in which signals received from the first beamformer (10) are connected to the first receiver (2). A scheduler is configured to set the selector switch (5) to the first state for at least a first receive timeslot and to the second state for at least a second receive timeslot.