Antenna Interference Cancellation via Auxiliary Beamwidth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communications systems face interference issues in shared frequency bands, such as the 5 GHz band, leading to reduced data throughput and link availability, with existing solutions like adaptive modulation and null-steering beamforming being costly and complex.
Innovation Solution
An interference mitigation system using a main antenna with a pre-configured directional radiation pattern and at least one auxiliary antenna with a different beamwidth and direction, combined with interference cancelling circuitry to control and combine signals, effectively reducing interference levels without significantly reducing wanted signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If null-steering beamforming techniques are used to mitigate interference, then interference reduction is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the antenna function into two separate components: a main antenna for receiving wanted signals and auxiliary antennas for receiving interference signals. This segmentation allows each antenna to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the overall system complexity compared to using a single complex beamforming system.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary antenna acts as an intermediary that specifically captures interference signals, which are then processed and combined with the main antenna signal to cancel interference. This intermediary approach simplifies the system by dedicating specific components to specific tasks rather than requiring a single complex adaptive system.
2Reliability
If adaptive modulation and error correction coding are used to mitigate interference, then communication reliability is improved, but data capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful interference signal into a useful component by using the auxiliary antenna to capture it and then combining it with the main antenna signal in a way that cancels the interference. This transforms the interference from a detrimental factor into a means of achieving interference cancellation, maintaining data throughput without relying on error correction coding.
3Power
If a high-performance main antenna is used to receive wanted signals, then signal gain is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different quality levels to different antenna components based on their specific functions. The main antenna is designed with high performance characteristics for receiving wanted signals, while the auxiliary antennas can be simpler designs since their sole function is to capture interference. This local differentiation of quality reduces overall cost while maintaining signal gain performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary antennas can be implemented as lower-cost, simpler antenna structures since they only need to capture interference signals and do not require the high performance characteristics of the main antenna. This allows the system to achieve interference cancellation functionality without the expense of making all antennas high-performance.
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 allows for low-cost and effective interference cancellation, maintaining data throughput while reducing noise and interference, using a lower-cost auxiliary antenna with broader coverage to complement a high-performance main antenna.
Implementation Method 1
the main antenna arrangement is configured to receive with a pre-configured first directional radiation pattern having a first beam with a first beamwidth
Implementation Method 2
the at least one auxiliary antenna is configured to receive with a pre-configured respective second directional radiation pattern having a second beam with a second beamwidth, different from the first beamwidth
Implementation Method 3
combine the weighted second received signals with the first signals received from the main antenna arrangement to reduce a level of interference signals received by the main antenna arrangement
Data Source
AI summary
A main antenna arrangement is configured to receive with a pre-configured first directional radiation pattern having a first beam with a first beamwidth and to provide first received signals at a first output, and at least one auxiliary antenna is configured to receive with a pre-configured respective second directional radiation pattern having a second beam with a second beamwidth, different from the first beamwidth and to provide second received signals at a second output. Interference cancelling circuitry is configured to control the amplitude and phase of the second received signals received from the at least one auxiliary antenna to produce weighted second received signals and combine the weighted second received signals with the first signals received from the main antenna arrangement to reduce a level of interference signals received by the main antenna arrangement in relation to a level of wanted signals received in the main antenna arrangement.