Antenna Array Beam Shaping for Misalignment-Resilient mmWave Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beam management of large antenna arrays in mmWave communication systems is complex, particularly in determining which beam shape to use and where to point it, leading to potential misalignment errors and reduced directional gain.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for determining a power angular spectrum, beam aiming direction estimation, and angular spread to optimize beam shape and direction using a processor, enabling joint beam direction finding and shape determination, which includes beam sweeping in a normalized angular frequency domain to enhance resilience and directional gain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If large antenna arrays are used in mmWave for 5G/6G communication, then available spectrum and potential directional gain increase, but beam management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-calibration by autonomously determining the power angular spectrum, beam aiming direction, and angular spread parameters without external intervention. The apparatus automatically optimizes beam shapes and directions based on measured channel characteristics, enabling the large antenna array to self-manage its beamforming parameters and reduce operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention dynamically adjusts beamforming parameters including beam shape, aiming direction, and angular spread based on determined power angular spectrum characteristics. By changing these parameters adaptively according to measured channel conditions, the system optimizes directional gain while managing the complexity of beam control in large antenna arrays.
2Reliability
If beam direction and shape are not optimized, then beam misalignment errors occur, but determining optimal parameters increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration by determining the power angular spectrum, beam aiming direction, and angular spread parameters before actual communication. This advance preparation establishes optimal beam shapes and directions, preventing misalignment errors during operation without requiring complex real-time adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus uses measured power angular spectrum data as feedback to automatically determine and adjust beamforming parameters. The system continuously monitors channel characteristics and adjusts beam shape and direction based on this feedback, improving alignment reliability while using automated algorithms to manage determination complexity.
3Reliability
If joint beam direction finding and shape determination is performed, then directional gain is improved, but computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines beam direction finding and beam shape determination into a single integrated process. By simultaneously determining both parameters based on the power angular spectrum, the system achieves improved directional gain while avoiding the separate computational overhead of two independent optimization processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus uses a universal algorithm that handles both beam direction and shape determination through a single power angular spectrum analysis. This multi-functional approach allows the same computational framework to optimize multiple beam parameters, reducing overall computational requirements compared to separate specialized algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions, the at least one memory and the instructions configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: determine a power angular spectrum characterizing a power distribution associated with an antenna array in a two-dimensional angular range, determine a beam aiming direction estimation and an associated confidence, determine estimates for an azimuthal angular spread, ASD, and an elevation angular spread, ZSD, determine a best beam shape and best beam aiming direction according to a predetermined criterion based on at least one of a) the power angular spectrum, b) the beam aiming direction estimation and the associated confidence, c) the estimate for the azimuthal angular spread, d) the estimate for the elevation angular spread.