Airborne Antenna Tilt Control for Continuous Target Area Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air-space integrated emergency communication systems face challenges in providing continuous signal coverage to target regions due to changes in aircraft position and flight attitude, resulting in poor communication quality, especially during emergencies like natural disasters.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that determine and adjust the downward inclination angle of airborne antennas based on flight height, maximum flight trajectory distance, roll angle, preset center position, V-Plane Half Power beamwidth, and furthest signal coverage point position to ensure continuous signal coverage of the target region.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the aircraft circles in the air to implement signal coverage, then the coverage area is expanded, but the signal coverage becomes discontinuous due to position and flight attitude changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal coverage areaVSAvoidsignal coverage continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the antenna's downward inclination angle adjustable and adaptable. Instead of a fixed antenna orientation, the system dynamically adjusts the inclination angle based on real-time flight parameters (flight height, roll angle, trajectory distance) to maintain continuous signal coverage over the target region despite the aircraft's movement and attitude changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of antenna inclination angle to resolve the contradiction. By calculating and adjusting the downward inclination angle based on flight height, roll angle, and trajectory distance, the system adapts the antenna orientation to maintain continuous coverage. This parameter adjustment ensures that the signal coverage remains reliable while the aircraft circles to cover the target area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the aircraft position and flight attitude change, then the coverage flexibility is improved, but the communication service quality deteriorates due to signal coverage interruption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage flexibilityVSAvoidcommunication service quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring flight parameters (flight height, roll angle, trajectory distance) and using this information to adjust the antenna's downward inclination angle. This closed-loop control ensures that despite changes in aircraft position and attitude that provide coverage flexibility, the communication service quality remains high through real-time adaptation of the antenna orientation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If ground mobile emergency communication vehicles are used, then the communication service can be provided, but they cannot reach the target region timely when roads are congested or damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication service availabilityVSAvoiddeployment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from ground-based communication vehicles to air-based deployment, moving the emergency communication system to a different dimension (air space). This allows the aircraft to bypass congested or damaged roads and reach target regions quickly, significantly reducing deployment time while maintaining communication service availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4072038B1Signal continuous coverage method and apparatus for target area, and antenna system
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 CHINA MOBILE CHENGDU INFORMATION & TELECOMM TECH CO LTD
  • EP4072038B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4072038B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4072038B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed in the present application are a signal continuous coverage method, device and apparatus for a target area, and an antenna system. The signal continuous coverage method for a target area, which is used for an aircraft bearing a communication base station, comprises: acquiring the flight height, the farthest distance of a flight trajectory, the roll angle and a preset center position of a target area of the aircraft; acquiring a vertical half-power angle of an airborne antenna of the communication base station and a farthest signal coverage point position relative to the preset center position; on the basis of the flight height, the farthest distance of the flight trajectory, the roll angle, the preset center position, the vertical half-power angle and the farthest signal coverage point position, determining a target downward inclination angle of the airborne antenna; and adjusting a current downward inclination angle of the airborne antenna to the target downward inclination angle so as to enable a signal continuous coverage area to comprise the target area.