Phased Antenna Array Tapering for External Blockage Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices with wireless capabilities face challenges in achieving high data rates due to over-the-air attenuation of radio-frequency signals at higher frequencies, and external objects can further limit wireless performance.
Innovation Solution
A user equipment device with a phased antenna array receives a reference signal during a beam training interval, and control circuitry measures wireless performance metric data. Based on this data, the control circuitry selectively activates or disables antennas to optimize wireless performance, even in the presence of external objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If higher frequency radio-frequency signals are used to increase data rates, then data transfer capability is improved, but signal attenuation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna array is divided into multiple individual antennas that can be independently controlled. By segmenting the antenna system, the device can selectively activate only the antennas that are not blocked by external objects, thereby maintaining high data rates while reducing the effective signal loss from blocked antennas.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna activation status is dynamically adjusted based on real-time detection of external objects. The system transitions from a static all-or-nothing antenna activation approach to a dynamic selective activation approach, where antennas are enabled or disabled based on their current operational status, optimizing both data rate and signal attenuation.
2Reliability
If all antennas in the phased antenna array are kept active, then wireless performance is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Blocked antennas are extracted from the active antenna set and removed from operation. The system identifies antennas that are obstructed by external objects and takes them out of service, activating only the unblocked antennas. This reduces power consumption while maintaining wireless performance through the remaining functional antennas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system temporarily discards blocked antennas from active operation and recovers them when the blocking condition is removed. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize power consumption by disabling antennas only when necessary, and restoring full antenna usage when conditions improve, balancing power savings with performance requirements.
3Reliability
If external objects are present near the antennas, then signal blockage occurs, but continuous monitoring and selective antenna deactivation adds system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the performance of each antenna and detecting the presence of external objects. Based on this feedback information, the control circuitry dynamically adjusts which antennas are active. This feedback mechanism enables reliable wireless communication by automatically adapting to changing environmental conditions without requiring complex manual intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
A user equipment (UE) device may communicate with a wireless base station (BS). Each antenna in a phased antenna array on the UE may receive a reference signal transmitted by the BS during the beam training interval. Transceiver circuitry may measure wireless performance metric data from the reference signal. While receiving the reference signal, control circuitry may selectively activate different individual antennas, may selectively activate different subsets of antennas, or may concurrently activate all of the antennas in the array. The control circuitry may identify, based on the wireless performance metric data, a first set of the antennas in the array to that are being blocked by an external object and a second set of antennas array that are not blocked. After the beam training interval, the transceiver may use the second set of antennas to convey wireless data with the BS while the first set of antennas are disabled.