Adaptive Parasitic Element Selection for Smart Beam Steering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beam steering techniques for antennas face challenges in accurately and efficiently steering antenna beams in real-time, especially in fast-changing environments, due to reliance on signal strength measurements that combine desired and noise signals, leading to delayed and inaccurate decisions.

Innovation Solution

The method involves sensing changes in antenna impedance, selecting a subset of parasitic elements based on a stored table of impedances, and determining channel quality measures to perform adaptive beam steering by activating specific parasitic elements, thereby improving beam direction and reducing interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple real-time signal strength measurements are performed to determine the best hardware configuration, then beam steering accuracy is improved, but system delay increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam steering accuracyVSAvoidsystem delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-calculates and stores impedance values for different parasitic element configurations in a lookup table before operation. During real-time beam steering, the system directly queries this pre-computed table based on current channel conditions, eliminating the need for multiple iterative measurements and significantly reducing system delay while maintaining steering accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/iterative measurement-based beam steering system with an impedance-based selection system. Instead of performing multiple physical signal strength measurements and mechanically adjusting beam direction, the system uses electrical impedance sensing combined with a pre-computed lookup table to directly determine the optimal parasitic element configuration, achieving faster and more accurate beam steering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If total signal strength is used to determine the best hardware configuration, then the selection process is simplified, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to noise contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveselection process complexityVSAvoidchannel quality measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and measures only the impedance component related to desired signal strength, separating it from the total signal strength that includes noise. By using impedance sensing specifically tuned to the antenna's resonant frequency, the system isolates the useful signal information from noise contamination, achieving accurate channel quality measurement without requiring complex signal processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces impedance as an intermediary measurement parameter between the antenna and the control system. Instead of directly measuring total signal strength which includes noise, the system measures impedance which serves as a cleaner indicator of channel quality. This intermediary measurement provides more accurate feedback for hardware configuration selection while keeping the selection process relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If traditional beam steering mechanisms are implemented to control hardware configuration, then beam direction control is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam direction controlVSAvoidsteering mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-service beam steering mechanism where the antenna system automatically senses its own impedance changes and selects the appropriate parasitic element configuration based on pre-stored impedance data. The system uses its own electrical characteristics (impedance) as feedback to autonomously determine the optimal beam direction without requiring external control mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 enables accurate and efficient real-time beam steering, reducing power consumption and improving signal quality by effectively directing antenna beams towards or away from users and base stations, while minimizing interference.

Implementation Method 1

sensing a change in impedance of the antenna

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpedance sensing: Electrical Impedance Tomography

Data Source

PatentUS9219308B2Adaptively optimized method and system of parasitic element selection for smart beam steering

Publication Date: 2015.12.22 MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LTD

AI summary

A method at a device having an antenna and a plurality of parasitic elements, and the device, the method sensing a change in impedance of the antenna; selecting a subset of parasitic element options from a set of parasitic element options based on a stored table of impedances; if the subset of parasitic element options is greater than one, determining a channel quality measure for each parasitic element option within the subset of parasitic element options; and performing a beam steering action based on the change in antenna impedance and channel quality measure if determined, the beam steering action comprising selecting one or more of the plurality of parasitic elements to activate.