Reconfigurable Antenna Subarray Mapping for Vertical Beam Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile communication antenna systems face challenges in providing flexible beam coverage, particularly in vertical directions due to fixed beam configurations, which result in poor coverage for users distributed across multiple floors in high-rise buildings.
Innovation Solution
An antenna system with a reconfigurable network unit that dynamically adjusts the mapping relationship between antenna subarray groups and radio frequency channels, allowing for changes in the quantity and distribution of radiating elements and beam directions to enhance coverage flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If radio frequency channels are concentrated in horizontal dimension with fixed beam configuration, then horizontal beam coverage is achieved (120 degrees), but vertical beam coverage is poor and inflexible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic beam coverage by enabling radio frequency channels to be flexibly mapped between horizontal and vertical dimensions. The system can dynamically adjust the quantity of antenna subarrays connected to each radio frequency channel and reconfigure the mapping relationships, allowing beam coverage to adapt to different user distribution scenarios in real-time
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna array is divided into multiple antenna subarrays that can be independently configured and mapped to different radio frequency channels. This segmentation allows flexible reconfiguration where subarrays can be grouped in different patterns (horizontal or vertical) depending on the required beam coverage direction and user distribution
2Device complexity
If a fixed beam configuration is used in vertical direction, then system complexity is reduced, but coverage effectiveness for users in high-rise buildings deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The same antenna subarrays and radio frequency channels can serve multiple functions by being reconfigured for different beam directions. The system can switch between horizontal beam scanning and vertical beam scanning using the same hardware resources, making the system universally applicable to different user distribution scenarios without requiring additional dedicated components
3Stability of the object's composition
If antenna subarray groups are fixed to specific radio frequency channels, then system stability is improved, but adaptability to different user distributions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mapping relationship between antenna subarray groups and radio frequency channels is made dynamic rather than fixed. The control unit can adjust the mapping in real-time based on user distribution patterns, allowing the system to adapt to different scenarios while maintaining operational stability through controlled reconfiguration
Data Source
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AI summary
This application discloses an antenna system, a feeding network reconfiguration method, and an apparatus. The antenna system may include an antenna array, a reconfigurable network unit, a control unit, and K radio frequency channels. The antenna array may include L antenna subarrays, and the reconfigurable network unit may divide the L antenna subarrays into M antenna subarray groups, and separately connect the M antenna subarray groups to the K radio frequency channels; any one of the K radio frequency channels may perform signal processing on a signal received by a connected antenna subarray group and/or a to-be-transmitted signal; and the control unit may control the reconfigurable network unit to adjust a mapping relationship between an antenna subarray group connected to each radio frequency channel and the antenna subarrays. According to this application, beam coverage of the antenna system may be dynamically adjusted.