Active Antenna Sub-Array Structures for Transceiver Failure Compensation

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional active antenna systems are costly and inefficient due to a one-to-one correspondence between transceivers and radiating elements, leading to high power consumption and operational failures when a single transceiver fails, causing the entire array to operate out of compliance.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of sub-arrays with shared transceivers and power divider/combiner networks, allowing for phase and power adjustments to maintain antenna performance even if a transceiver fails, by detecting failure states and compensating with increased power and phase adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a one-to-one correspondence between transceivers and radiating elements is used, then each radiating element can be individually controlled, but the cost and power consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual element control precisionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple radiating elements are grouped into sub-arrays that share common transceivers and power divider/combiner networks. This merging reduces the total number of transceivers required while maintaining individual element control through the power divider network, thereby reducing power consumption and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The antenna array is segmented into multiple sub-arrays, each with its own shared transceiver. This segmentation allows for localized control and failure isolation, where a failure in one sub-array does not affect the entire antenna system, while still maintaining individual element control through the power divider network within each sub-array.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a one-to-one correspondence between transceivers and radiating elements is used, then individual element performance is optimized, but the system becomes vulnerable to single point failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem vulnerability to failureVSAvoidnumber of transceivers

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple radiating elements are grouped into sub-arrays that share common transceivers and power divider/combiner networks. This merging reduces the total number of transceivers required while maintaining individual element control through the power divider network, thereby reducing power consumption and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The antenna array is segmented into multiple sub-arrays, each with its own shared transceiver. This segmentation allows for localized control and failure isolation, where a failure in one sub-array does not affect the entire antenna system, while still maintaining individual element control through the power divider network within each sub-array.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If power divider/combiner networks are used in sub-arrays, then cost is reduced, but the ability to maintain performance after transceiver failure becomes challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidperformance restoration after failure

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates dynamic phase and power adjustment capabilities that allow real-time reconfiguration of the sub-arrays. When a transceiver fails, the remaining transceivers can dynamically adjust their phase and power levels to compensate for the failure and restore antenna performance, maintaining reliability despite the reduced number of transceivers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters (phase angles and power levels) of the remaining functional transceivers to compensate for failed transceivers. By adjusting these parameters, the antenna can restore its radiation pattern and performance characteristics even with fewer operational transceivers, maintaining reliability while using fewer components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9819096B2Active antenna sub-array structures

Publication Date: 2017.11.14 OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC

AI summary

An antenna comprising a plurality of sub-arrays and methods and structure for restoring performance after a transceiver failure is provided. Each sub-array may include a power divider/combiner network, a first radiating element coupled to a first port of the power divider/combiner network, a second radiating element coupled to a second port of the power divider/combiner network, and a transceiver coupled to a third port of the power divider/combiner network. An adjustable power supply may be coupled to each transceiver, the adjustable power supply having current monitors to detect at least one failure state of a transceiver, and a power compensation mode to increase absolute power to a transceiver in a non-failed state. The adjustable power supply provides a first voltage in normal operation and a second voltage, where the second voltage is higher than the first voltage in power compensation mode.