Automatic Antenna Alignment in Microwave Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for aligning antennas in directional radio links, particularly in the millimeter wave range, are time-consuming and require additional tools or control communication channels, making automatic alignment difficult due to the small beam diameter and lack of independent communication links.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves a master and slave transceiver system, where the master quickly scans and determines an initial alignment, then iteratively adjusts the slave's beam direction to find a direct line of sight, allowing for accelerated alignment by focusing on the local environment of the initial alignment and optimizing signal quality through fine scanning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual alignment of antennas is performed, then alignment can be achieved, but it is very time-consuming and requires additional tools
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic alignment without manual intervention by having the master station control the slave station's antenna orientation based on received signal quality feedback. The slave station autonomously adjusts its antenna direction according to master station instructions, enabling self-service alignment that eliminates manual operation requirements and reduces alignment time.
2Loss of time
If automatic antenna adjustment is implemented, then alignment time is reduced, but it is difficult without independent communication link
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment control information is transmitted using the same communication channel that carries data traffic between master and slave stations. This multi-functional use of the communication channel allows the system to perform both data communication and alignment control without requiring separate independent communication links, thereby reducing device complexity while enabling automatic alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the alignment control function with the existing data communication channel. Control messages for antenna orientation are merged into the same communication infrastructure used for data transmission, eliminating the need for separate alignment-specific communication channels and reducing overall system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If full beam sweep search is performed to find optimal alignment, then best alignment is found, but search time is very long due to small beam diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The master station performs a preliminary beam sweep to quickly identify a rough alignment direction with the slave station. Based on this preliminary action, the system then focuses subsequent refined searches only in the vicinity of the initially found alignment, rather than performing exhaustive searches across all possible beam directions. This preliminary action significantly reduces the total search time while maintaining alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
After finding an initial alignment through beam sweeping, the system concentrates subsequent search efforts locally around the identified alignment point rather than uniformly searching all directions. This local quality approach applies refined search only where needed (in the neighborhood of the initial alignment) rather than across the entire search space, reducing overall search time while maintaining precision.
4Loss of time
If path loss information is used to limit search space, then search time is reduced, but manual entry or side channel transmission is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines path loss information through bidirectional signal exchange between master and slave stations without requiring manual entry. The slave station measures received signal strength from master station transmissions and uses this information to calculate path loss, enabling self-service operation that reduces search time without compromising ease of operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for the automatic alignment of antennas of stations in a microwave link, where one station is configured as the master and at least one other station as the slave. In a first phase, the master and the slave determine an initial alignment for signal exchange. If no line of sight is yet established, in a second phase, the master specifies a new slave beam direction and a dwell time for the slave over a number of iterations. The master then transmits search signals in a predetermined number of its master beam directions. During the dwell time, the slave performs a signal quality parameter determination for each received signal and stores the results. After the dwell time has elapsed, the slave transmits the signal quality parameter determination results. If a line of sight has been established, it is optimized in a third phase, and an optimal alignment of the antennas of the master and slave is determined.