Antenna Control for Sharp Magnetic Field Boundary

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric field communication systems face challenges in forming a sharp boundary for the communication area due to environmental and positional dependencies, leading to instability and reliability issues.

Innovation Solution

The use of magnetic field antennas with loop or bar configurations, where two antennas are fed with electric currents in reverse directions to create a magnetic field with a steep attenuation rate, allowing for precise control of the inter-center distance and current intensity to define the communication area boundary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an electric field communication system is used, then communication can be established between terminal devices and access point apparatus, but the communication area boundary becomes unclear and unreliable due to environmental influences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication area boundary definition
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the communication medium from electric field to magnetic field. Magnetic fields are less susceptible to environmental factors such as conductors and dielectric substances that strongly influence electric fields. This parameter change enables clear boundary formation and stable communication area definition, directly resolving the reliability and boundary definition issues while maintaining communication functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If electric field is used as communication medium, then wireless communication is enabled, but the field distribution is strongly influenced by surrounding conductors and dielectric substances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewireless communication capabilityVSAvoidenvironmental influence on field distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the communication medium parameter from electric field to magnetic field. Magnetic fields interact differently with surrounding materials and are not strongly influenced by conductors and dielectric substances that adversely affect electric fields. This resolves the harmful environmental influences while preserving wireless communication capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If terminal device position or user posture varies, then user convenience is maintained, but electric field distribution changes causing communication instability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidcommunication stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the field type parameter from electric to magnetic field. Magnetic field distribution is much less sensitive to variations in terminal device position and user posture compared to electric fields. This allows users to move freely and change posture without causing field distribution changes, thereby maintaining both user convenience and communication stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This approach enables the formation of a communication area with a sharp boundary at a desired location, enhancing the reliability of the radio communication system by minimizing the impact of the surrounding environment and optimizing magnetic field distribution.

Implementation Method 1

two loop antennas separated by a certain inter-center distance, wherein the intensity and the polarity of the driving currents of the two loop antennas are determined such that the magnetic field decays with a desired decay rate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic Induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3264527B1Antenna control apparatus, antennal control program, and antenna control system
Publication Date: 2019.10.30 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP
  • EP3264527B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3264527B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3264527B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Provided is an antenna control technique for forming the boundary of a communication area at a desired location. An antenna parameter control apparatus 2 calculates an antenna parameter in a case of feeding electric currents with an equal intensity in mutually reverse directions to two antennas 1A, 1B which generate a magnetic field. The antenna parameter control apparatus 2 includes an input parameter acquisition unit 21 that acquires input parameters for calculating the antenna parameter; and a parameter calculation unit 22 that calculates an inter-center distance d between the antennas 1A, 1B as the antenna parameter based on the input parameters.