Adaptive Array Antenna Beam Control in Cluttered Urban Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional array antennas fail to optimize beam-steering parameters for transmission in cluttered urban environments, leading to sub-optimum performance due to interference, multipath effects, and obstacles, which results in inefficient signal coverage and positioning errors.
Innovation Solution
An array antenna system comprising multiple antenna elements, sensors, and a control unit that dynamically adjusts transmission and reception parameters based on real-time operational parameters such as signal strength and bit error rate to optimize communication links with subscriber devices, allowing for conditional communication link establishment and minimizing signal power in areas without active devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the same parameters optimized for reception are used for transmission, then device complexity is reduced, but transmission performance deteriorates due to transmitter electronics limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates transmission parameter optimization from reception parameter optimization. Independent control units are provided for transmission beam-steering parameters and reception beam-steering parameters, allowing each to be optimized independently according to their specific requirements rather than using the same parameters for both functions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by optimizing transmission parameters separately from reception parameters. Instead of using reception-optimized parameters for transmission, the system independently determines transmission-optimized parameters based on transmission-specific conditions and requirements
2Productivity
If narrow beams are projected to various subscribers, then frequency reuse is improved, but coverage reliability deteriorates in cluttered urban environments due to multipath effects and obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic beam-steering parameter optimization that adapts to changing environmental conditions. The system continuously monitors transmission quality and adjusts beam-steering parameters in real-time to account for multipath effects, obstacles, and changing subscriber positions, making the beam formation dynamic rather than static
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where transmission quality is monitored and used to adjust beam-steering parameters. The system receives feedback about actual transmission performance and uses this information to optimize beam directions and shapes, compensating for multipath effects and obstacles through continuous adaptation
3Measurement precision
If beam-steering parameters are optimized for each antenna element, then directional control is improved, but actual transmission quality deteriorates because the approach fails to account for multipath effects and obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback from transmission quality monitoring to adjust beam-steering parameters. The system measures actual transmission performance and uses this feedback to refine beam directions, compensating for environmental factors like multipath effects and obstacles that initial precision calculations cannot account for
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes beam-steering parameters based on observed transmission quality. Rather than maintaining fixed precise beam directions, the system adjusts parameters like beam width, direction, and shape in response to environmental conditions, transforming the approach from static precision to dynamic adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
An array antenna of arbitrary shape configured to establish a communication link with a subscriber device based on a radio signal defined by a plurality of radio waves comprises a plurality of antenna elements (1a), a sensor and a control unit. Each antenna element (1a) is configured to transmit/receive a respective radio wave according to a respective set of working parameters and the sensor is configured to acquire at least one operational parameter identifying a transmission quality of the radio signal. The control unit can be operated to vary at least one working parameter of at least one antenna element (1a) based on the at least one operational parameter.