Antenna Array Beamform Recovery with Faulty Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Antenna arrays with faulty elements can produce unintended beamforms, leading to service disruptions for user equipment due to temporary or permanent faults, resulting in coverage gaps between intended and realized beamforms.
Innovation Solution
A system and method to dynamically adjust the signals supplied to an antenna array by identifying faulty elements and recalculating signals to be emitted by operational elements, creating an optimized beamform that partially or fully recaptures the coverage gap between intended and realized beamforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If signals are supplied to an antenna array with faulty elements, then the antenna array can still transmit signals, but the realized beamform deviates from the intended beamform causing coverage gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and identifies faulty antenna elements from the array by comparing expected vs. actual beamform characteristics. Once identified, these faulty elements are excluded from active participation in beamforming operations, allowing the system to maintain reliable beamform accuracy using only functional elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts signal parameters (amplitude, phase, frequency) supplied to operational antenna elements based on real-time monitoring of beamform quality. When deviations are detected, the system modifies these parameters to compensate for the absence of faulty elements and restore the intended beamform pattern.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the antenna array operates with faulty elements, then continuous service is maintained, but user equipment experiences service disruptions due to coverage gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors beamform quality and detects deviations caused by faulty elements. This feedback loop triggers automatic compensation actions by adjusting signals to operational elements, ensuring service continuity without disruptions to user equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adapts the beamforming configuration in real-time based on the operational status of antenna elements. The system can reconfigure which elements are active and adjust signal parameters on-the-fly, maintaining continuous reliable service even as element failures occur.
3Measurement precision
If signals are adjusted to compensate for faulty elements, then beamform accuracy is improved, but the system complexity increases due to fault detection and signal recalculation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the antenna array system to self-diagnose and self-correct by autonomously detecting faulty elements and automatically adjusting signals to operational elements without external intervention. This self-service capability maintains beamform accuracy while minimizing the need for complex external monitoring and control infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for dynamically adjusting the beamform of an antenna array. An intended beamform, which should ideally be propagated by an antenna array based on a supply of a first set of signals, may not be realized if one or more antenna elements of the antenna array are experiencing a fault. Utilizing various methods, one or more faulty antenna elements of the antenna array are identified and a second set of signals is calculated that, when propagated by one or more operational antenna elements, yield an optimized beamform, wherein the optimized beamform at least partially recovers a portion of a coverage gap.