Antenna Alignment Method Using Self-Determined Beam Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna alignment methods in microwave devices require additional feedback channels, leading to high costs and implementation difficulties, as they need to detect and align beams between transmit and receive antennas before establishing a communication link.
Innovation Solution
The method involves a first device transmitting signals using a fixed beam and frequency mode, while the second device switches through multiple beams and frequencies to determine the optimal receive signal power and frequency, allowing the first device to permanently use the aligned beam without the need for an additional feedback channel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional feedback channels are constructed for beam alignment detection, then beam alignment accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the peer microwave device to autonomously detect and determine beam alignment using existing communication channels. The local device transmits test signals through its transmit antenna array, and the peer device independently measures receive signal power across different transmit beams and frequencies, eliminating the need for dedicated feedback infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes existing communication channels multi-functional by using them for both normal communication and beam alignment detection. The same transmit and receive antenna arrays used for data transmission are also employed for alignment testing, allowing a single channel to serve dual purposes without requiring separate feedback pathways.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional feedback channels are constructed for beam alignment detection, then beam alignment capability is improved, but implementation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The peer microwave device performs self-determination of optimal beam parameters by autonomously measuring receive signal power across multiple transmit beams and frequencies. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex external feedback channel construction and simplifies implementation while maintaining full beam alignment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a simplified feedback mechanism where the peer device determines optimal beam alignment parameters and communicates them back through existing channels. The local device transmits test signals, the peer device measures and determines optimal parameters, and this determination information is transferred back to complete the alignment process using conventional communication pathways.
3Reliability
If beam alignment is performed before communication link establishment, then communication reliability is improved, but additional feedback channels are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing communication channels multi-functional by using them for both beam alignment detection and normal communication. The transmit and receive antenna arrays serve dual purposes: establishing alignment through test signal transmission and measurement, and subsequently handling data communication, eliminating the need for separate feedback infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The peer microwave device autonomously performs beam alignment detection by independently measuring receive signal power and determining optimal beam parameters. This self-service capability ensures reliable alignment is achieved before communication without requiring complex external feedback channels, as the peer device self-determines and communicates alignment results through existing pathways.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide an antenna alignment method. A first device has NAT transmit beams and NAR receive beams. A second device has NBT transmit beams and NBR receive beams. The first device transmits a signal to the second device according to a first cycle, and traverses switching of NAT transmit beams according to a third beam mode, where a transmit beam for transmitting a signal by the first device is unchanged in a same first cycle; the second device receives a signal from the first device according to the first cycle, and traverses switching of NBR receive beams according to a fourth beam mode, where a receive beam for receiving a signal by the second device is unchanged in a same first cycle, and each receive beam can receive signals from the NAT transmit beams of the first device; the second device counts a receive signal power in each first cycle, and obtains a receive signal power corresponding to each receive beam according to the fourth beam mode, to learn that a receive signal power corresponding to an Sth receive beam is the highest; the second device permanently uses a receive beam whose receive signal power is the highest as a receive beam.