Configurable Mobile Antenna with Dynamic Element Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile radio antennas require multiple variants for different frequency bands and operational needs, leading to increased production costs and limited flexibility, as existing antennas need replacement when additional frequency bands are required.
Innovation Solution
A mobile radio antenna with a configuration function that allows activation or deactivation of functional elements, such as ports and communication interfaces, via an external controller, enabling all antennas to be manufactured with a full range of elements and adapted as needed, reducing production variants and enabling flexible expansion without replacing the antenna.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If antennas are manufactured with different configurations of radiators for different frequency bands, then the antenna can meet specific operator requirements, but the number of manufacturing variants increases and production costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal antenna design where all radiators are present in every antenna unit but can be selectively activated or deactivated. This allows a single antenna model to serve multiple frequency bands and operational requirements, eliminating the need for multiple specialized antenna variants while maintaining full adaptability to different operator needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic configurability through control units that can activate or deactivate specific radiators based on operational requirements. This dynamic switching capability transforms a static antenna structure into an adaptable system that can reconfigure itself to meet different frequency band requirements without physical modification.
2Adaptability or versatility
If antennas are manufactured with a full range of functional elements, then flexibility and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-installing all potential functional elements (radiators, communication interfaces) in the antenna during manufacturing, but keeping them deactivated by default. The control unit is pre-programmed with configuration capabilities that allow selective activation of needed elements, thus providing full flexibility without requiring complex physical structures for each variant.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the complexity management function to a separate control unit that handles activation/deactivation of functional elements. This separates the physical antenna structure from the configuration logic, allowing the antenna to maintain a simple, uniform physical design while the control unit manages the complexity of supporting multiple frequency bands and functional elements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If operators need additional frequency bands or features, then service requirements are met, but antenna replacement is required which increases operational costs and downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic reconfiguration of the antenna's functional elements through software control. When additional frequency bands or features are needed, the control unit simply activates the corresponding radiators or communication interfaces without requiring physical antenna replacement. This maintains continuous operation and eliminates service downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows operators to activate previously unused radiators and functional elements that were already present but deactivated in the antenna. Instead of discarding the existing antenna and installing a new one, the system recovers the functionality of existing components by enabling them through the control unit, thus avoiding replacement costs and operational disruption.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an antenna, in particular a mobile communication antenna, especially for a mobile communication base station, with an antenna control, a plurality of radiators and with a plurality of functional elements, wherein the antenna control has a configuration function which can be accessed via an external control, wherein at least one functional element can be deactivated and/or enabled via the configuration function.