Communication Unit Multi-Sector Beam Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional passive antenna systems can only support one sector per carrier frequency, leading to increased costs and reduced antenna gain when trying to provide different tilts or sectored beams, as they require duplicate antenna arrays or sub-partitioning, which results in overlapping beam regions and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
An active antenna system with a communication unit that includes multiple antenna element feeds, transmitters, and beamformer logic to apply independent beamform weights on signals, allowing a single antenna array to support multiple sectors on a single carrier frequency by combining signals to produce a combined signal that supports multiple sectored beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate antenna arrays are used to provide different tilts for different sectors, then multiple sectored beams can be supported, but installation costs and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sector beams into a single antenna array by combining signals from multiple transmitters through a signal combiner. The beamformer logic applies independent beamform weights to signals from different transmitters, allowing multiple sectored beams to be generated simultaneously from one shared antenna array, eliminating the need for separate arrays per sector
Solution Approach 2:
The single antenna array is designed to serve multiple functions by supporting multiple cell sectors simultaneously. The beamformer logic enables the antenna array to generate different tilted beams for different sectors using the same physical infrastructure, making the antenna system universal rather than dedicated to a single sector
2Adaptability or versatility
If antenna array is sub-partitioned to create separate groups for different sectors, then different tilts can be achieved, but beam width increases and overlap regions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic beamforming weights applied through beamformer logic to control beam tilt and shape. Instead of static partitioning, the system dynamically adjusts the phase and amplitude of signals from multiple transmitters to achieve desired beam tilts while maintaining optimal beam width and minimizing overlap between sectors
3Adaptability or versatility
If antenna array is divided between sectors, then different sectored beams can be generated, but antenna gain is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines signals from multiple transmitters through a signal combiner before radiating through the antenna array. This merging approach allows the full antenna array to be utilized for each sector beam, maintaining high antenna gain while supporting multiple sectors simultaneously, rather than dividing the array which would reduce gain per sector
Data Source
AI summary
A communication unit comprises a plurality of antenna element feeds (203, 205) for coupling to a plurality of antenna elements of an antenna array, where each antenna element feed comprises at least one coupler; and a plurality of transmitters operably coupled to the plurality of antenna element feeds. At least one transmitter of the plurality of transmitters comprises: an input for receiving a first signal and at least one second signal; beamformer logic arranged to apply independent beamform weights (RefBF1, RefBF2) on the first signal and the at least one second signal of the transmitter respectively, wherein each of the independent beamform weights is allocated on a per sector basis; and a signal combiner arranged to combine the first signal and the second signal to produce a combined signal, such as that the combined signal supports a plurality of sectored beams.