Antenna Subarray Beam Sweeping for Faster Beam Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large antenna arrays in 5G communications face inefficiencies in beam alignment due to the need for extensive beam sweeping, which is time-consuming and cannot meet the requirements for high-frequency, high-speed mobility scenarios, leading to increased power consumption and reduced communication quality.
Innovation Solution
The antenna apparatus employs a hierarchical beam sweeping approach, utilizing subarrays with varying radiating element configurations to generate beams that are wider in one direction and narrower in another, allowing for reduced sweeping times and improved alignment efficiency by controlling phase shift increments and applying Hanning window weighting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large antenna array is used to achieve high gain and overcome path loss, then communication quality is improved, but beam alignment time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam alignment process into two distinct stages: coarse beam alignment using a first antenna subarray with wider beam width, and fine beam alignment using a second antenna subarray with narrower beam width. This segmentation allows the system to first quickly acquire a rough direction and then refine the alignment, significantly reducing the total beam alignment time while maintaining communication quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the beam width by switching between different antenna subarrays with different configurations. The first antenna subarray is used when wider coverage is needed for initial alignment, while the second antenna subarray is used for precise alignment. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize performance at different stages of the alignment process.
2Measurement precision
If beam sweeping is performed frequently to maintain alignment in high-speed mobility scenarios, then alignment accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the beam alignment process into coarse and fine stages, allowing the system to perform less frequent coarse alignment using the first antenna subarray, and only perform fine alignment when necessary. This reduces the overall frequency of beam sweeping operations while maintaining alignment accuracy, thereby lowering power consumption in high-speed mobility scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the beam width parameter by switching between different antenna subarrays with different element configurations. By using wider beams for coarse alignment and narrower beams only when needed for fine alignment, the system reduces the total number of beam sweeping operations required, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining alignment precision.
3Measurement precision
If the quantity of radiating elements is increased to narrow the beam width, then directional precision is improved, but the number of beams to be swept increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the radiating elements into different antenna subarrays with different quantities of elements. The first antenna subarray has fewer elements for wider beams and initial alignment, while the second antenna subarray has more elements for narrower beams and precise alignment. This segmentation allows the system to achieve directional precision when needed without increasing the total number of beams to be swept across the entire alignment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically selects different antenna subarrays based on the alignment stage. By using the first antenna subarray for coarse alignment and switching to the second antenna subarray only for fine alignment, the system achieves high directional precision at the appropriate moment without requiring continuous sweeping of all possible narrow beams, thus improving beam sweeping efficiency.
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 method significantly reduces the number of sweeping times required, enhances beam alignment precision, and maintains communication quality by optimizing beam widths and phases, thus meeting the demands of high-frequency, high-speed mobility scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the N rows includes M antenna elements that are perpendicular to each other in a column direction
Implementation Method 2
The control unit is configured to: control a phase shift increment change of the first antenna subarray to generate a plurality of first beams
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention disclose an antenna apparatus and a related device. The antenna apparatus may include an antenna array and a control unit. The control unit is configured to: determine a first antenna subarray from N rows and M columns of radiating elements of the antenna array, where the first antenna subarray includes X1 rows and Y1 columns of radiating elements, and X1 is greater than Y1; control a phase shift increment change of the first antenna subarray to generate a plurality of first beams; and determine a first aligned beam from the plurality of first beams based on a feedback from a receive end. The control unit is further configured to: determine a second antenna subarray from the N rows and M columns of radiating elements, where the second antenna subarray includes X2 rows and Y2 columns of radiating elements, and Y2 is greater than X2; control a phase shift increment change of the second antenna subarray to generate a plurality of second beams; and determine a second aligned beam from the plurality of second beams based on a feedback from the receive end. According to the embodiments of the present invention, beam alignment efficiency can be improved.