Aircraft Antenna MIMO Control via Dynamic Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircrafts face challenges in enhancing data communication speed with ground stations due to limitations in antenna integration, which is complex, expensive, and constrained by weight, size, and power consumption, necessitating a method to increase transmission speed without adding additional antenna units.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a central control unit that enables multi-antenna MIMO communication by simultaneously activating existing antenna units, allowing for increased data rate and improved signal quality without requiring additional hardware, using MISO and SIMO transmission technologies and software-defined radio modules for flexible control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If additional antenna units are installed to increase data transmission speed, then data communication speed is improved, but device complexity, weight, size, and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing antenna units perform multiple functions by enabling them to operate in different modes (first operating mode for original functions, second operating mode for MIMO data communication). The control unit dynamically assigns antenna units between these modes, allowing the same hardware to serve both its primary purpose and enhance data transmission speed through MIMO technology without requiring additional antenna installations.
2Speed
If additional antenna units are installed to increase data transmission speed, then data communication speed is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables existing antenna units to serve dual purposes: their original function (radar, communication, navigation) and MIMO data transmission. By programming the control unit to dynamically assign antenna units between first and second operating modes, the system achieves enhanced data transmission speed without adding any physical antenna hardware, thereby avoiding any weight increase.
3Speed
If additional antenna units are installed to increase data transmission speed, then data communication speed is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables existing antenna units to perform both their original functions and MIMO data transmission by dynamic mode assignment. The control unit manages the switching between first and second operating modes, allowing the system to achieve higher data transmission speeds using already-powered antenna units rather than powering additional antenna hardware, thus avoiding extra power consumption from new components.
4Speed
If existing antenna units are used for MIMO communication, then data transmission speed is improved, but reliability of primary functions may be impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic mode assignment where the control unit can flexibly switch antenna units between first operating mode (primary functions) and second operating mode (MIMO communication) based on operational requirements. This dynamic reconfiguration ensures that when primary functions are critical, antenna units are assigned to those functions, while data communication speed is enhanced when conditions permit, thus maintaining system reliability while achieving MIMO benefits.
Data Source
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AI summary
An aircraft has at least two antenna units and a central control unit. In a first operating mode, the two antenna units transmit and receive signals independently of each other in different, non-overlapping frequency bands. The central control unit is configured to control the two antenna units in a second operating mode so that they transmit and/or receive a common signal in a shared frequency band using multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission technology.