Antenna Array Beam Steering for Near-Field MPE Blockages
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in managing Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) events due to near-field blockages, leading to inefficient power back-off mechanisms that degrade uplink performance and increase radio link failures.
Innovation Solution
An antenna array in a wireless device uses radar functionality to measure distance and angular direction of blockages, optimizing its configuration to maximize output power while complying with MPE regulations by adjusting the number of elements and beam steering based on near-field power density analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If transmission power is reduced to comply with MPE limits during near-field blockage, then harmful radiation to the blockage is reduced, but uplink transmission reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna array is segmented into multiple independently controllable elements. During near-field blockage, the system selectively deactivates specific elements that contribute most to radiation toward the blockage while keeping other elements active for uplink transmission. This segmentation allows differentiated control of radiation patterns to simultaneously reduce harmful exposure and maintain communication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating direction-dependent transmission characteristics. The system identifies the angular direction of the blockage and applies different power levels or element configurations specifically in that direction, while maintaining full power in other directions. This localized control reduces radiation to the blockage without compromising overall uplink transmission quality.
2Measurement precision
If the number of antenna elements is reduced for radar functionality at very close distances, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna array configuration is made dynamic by adapting the number of active elements based on the measured distance to the blockage. At very close distances (near-field), fewer elements are activated to simplify the radiation pattern and improve angular measurement precision. As distance increases, more elements are activated to maintain measurement accuracy while utilizing the full array capability. This dynamic reconfiguration optimizes the trade-off between measurement precision and system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances uplink transmission reliability by increasing output power and reducing radio link failures while adhering to MPE limits, thereby improving communication efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
measuring a distance to a blockage using a radar functionality of an antenna array
Implementation Method 2
determining an angular direction of an incoming signal comprised in the radar functionality
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Disclosed is a method comprising measuring a distance to a blockage using a radar functionality of an antenna array, determining, based on the distance, that transmission power is to be limited due to a maximum permissible exposure event, determining if the distance is greater or shorter than a threshold distance which corresponds to a far-field distance of a radiation pattern used for the radar functionality and performing one of the following, if the distance is greater than the far-field distance, determining an angular direction of an incoming signal comprised in the radar functionality and optimizing the antenna array configuration for a beam used for uplink transmission to an access node, or if the distance is shorter than the far-field distance and the distance is greater than a minimum distance for obtaining reliable angular directions of the blockage using the radar functionality, reducing the number of elements used for the radar functionality, wherein the elements are comprised in the antenna array, measuring the distance to the blockage using the radar functionality of the antenna array, determining based on the distance, that the transmission power is to be limited due to the maximum permissible exposure event, determining that the distance is greater than the threshold distance which corresponds to the far-field distance of the radiation pattern used for the radar functionality, and determining the angular direction of the incoming signal comprised in the radar functionality and optimizing the antenna array configuration for the beam used for uplink transmission to the access node, or if the distance is shorter than the far-field distance and the distance is less than the minimum distance for obtaining reliable angular directions of the blockage using the radar functionality, determining which elements, comprised in the antenna array, are covered by the blockage and optimizing the antenna array configuration for a beam used for uplink transmission to an access node.