Beamforming Antenna Subarray Switching for Gain and Beam Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beamforming technologies in MIMO systems face limitations in antenna gain and beam width, leading to reduced coverage and impaired system capacity due to narrow analog beams and centralized user coverage, which are not adaptable to diverse application scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A communication apparatus is designed with power dividers, switches, and phase shifters to control the gain and direction of beams, allowing flexible adaptation to different scenarios by controlling the number of driven antenna subarrays and beam width through switch and phase shifter configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If one power amplifier drives two antenna subarrays through a power divider, then antenna gain is improved and radiation distance is extended, but beam width becomes narrower and coverage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces switches that enable dynamic reconfiguration of the antenna subarray connections. The system can switch between different beamforming modes: narrow beam mode (for high gain and long distance) and wide beam mode (for broader coverage). This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize beam width according to different operational requirements while maintaining the power amplifier driving two subarrays through the power divider.
2Reliability
If beamforming technology is used to direct main lobe to target user, then received signal is enhanced and interference is reduced, but system capacity is impaired due to narrow beam and centralized coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic switching between narrow beam and wide beam configurations. When system capacity is prioritized, the system can activate wide beam mode to serve multiple users simultaneously, thereby improving productivity while maintaining acceptable signal quality through the distributed antenna subarray architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the antenna system into multiple independently controllable subarrays (first antenna subarray and second antenna subarray). This segmentation allows the system to form multiple simultaneous beams or switch between different beam patterns, thereby supporting multiple users and improving system capacity while maintaining reliable communication with each user through dedicated beamforming.
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
The apparatus enhances antenna gain and beam flexibility, enabling wider coverage and improved system capacity by allowing multiple beam directions and widths, overcoming limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
The first phase shifter is disposed on a branch circuit on which the first power divider is connected to the first antenna subarray or a branch circuit on which the first power divider is connected to the third antenna subarray
Implementation Method 2
The first power divider is separately connected to the first antenna subarray and the third antenna subarray
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of this application disclose a communication apparatus, configured to control a gain/beam width and a direction of a beam, to adapt to different application scenarios. In this application, the communication apparatus includes a first channel. The first channel includes a first power divider, a first switch, a first phase shifter, a first antenna subarray, and a third antenna subarray. The first power divider is separately connected to the first antenna subarray and the third antenna subarray. The first switch is disposed on a branch circuit on which the first power divider is connected to the first antenna subarray. The first phase shifter is disposed on the branch circuit on which the first power divider is connected to the first antenna subarray or a branch circuit on which the first power divider is connected to the third antenna subarray.