Beam Steering Controller Antenna Failure Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Satellite wireless communication systems face challenges in maintaining communication when an antenna element fails, as existing technologies do not efficiently reconfigure to compensate for the loss in signal gain and beam directionality.

Innovation Solution

A wireless communication terminal with a phased array antenna and a beam steering controller that disables the failed antenna element and adjusts phase shifts applied by remaining elements, using pre-stored beam pointing data structures to maintain beam direction and switch modulation schemes as necessary to accommodate the loss in gain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an antenna element fails in a phased array system, then the system continues to operate with reduced elements, but the signal gain and beam directionality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous operation capabilityVSAvoidsignal gain

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the phase shift parameters of the remaining antenna elements to compensate for the failed element. By changing the phase shift values stored in the beam pointing data structures, the system maintains the main beam direction and signal gain despite the reduction in active antenna elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The beam steering controller dynamically reconfigures the antenna array by disabling the failed element and adjusting the phase shifts of remaining elements in real-time. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain optimal performance characteristics despite changing operational conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If an antenna element fails, then the system operates with fewer elements, but the beam directionality and radiation pattern quality worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational continuityVSAvoidbeam directionality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system modifies the phase shift parameters applied to each remaining antenna element to compensate for the geometric imbalance caused by the failed element. This parameter adjustment restores the radiation pattern and maintains accurate beam directionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The beam steering controller continuously monitors the operational status of antenna elements and automatically reconfigures the phase shifts in response to detected failures, maintaining beam directionality through closed-loop control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the system reconfigures phase shifts to compensate for antenna failure, then beam direction is maintained, but the complexity of control increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores multiple beam pointing data structures corresponding to different combinations of enabled and disabled antenna elements. When a failure occurs, the controller simply selects the appropriate pre-computed configuration rather than performing complex real-time calculations, reducing control complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The beam pointing data structures are segmented into discrete configurations for different failure scenarios. This segmentation allows the controller to handle each failure case independently using pre-defined phase shift patterns, simplifying the control logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If modulation schemes are switched to accommodate gain loss, then communication reliability is maintained, but the system adaptability requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidmodulation scheme adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between different modulation schemes based on the current operational configuration and signal gain conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain reliable communication by selecting the appropriate modulation complexity for the current antenna element status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables continuous communication by reconfiguring the antenna array to maintain radiation patterns and adjust modulation schemes, ensuring reliable communication even with failed antenna elements, thereby extending operational capability.

Implementation Method 1

each of which is configured to apply a phase shift to a signal transmitted by the antenna element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase shift:

Implementation Method 2

the beam steering controller is also configured to detect a failure of an antenna element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSignal detection:

Data Source

PatentUS11158943B2Wireless communication terminal

Publication Date: 2021.10.26 IRIDIUM SATELLITE LLC

AI summary

In one implementation, an antenna array has a plurality of antenna element, each of which is configured to apply a phase shift to a signal. A beam steering controller is configured to steer a main beam of the antenna by controlling the phase shifts applied by the antenna elements. In addition, the beam steering controller also is configured to detect a failure of an antenna element and, in response to detecting the failure, disable the failed antenna element and modify the phase shifts applied by remaining ones of the antenna elements.