Diagonal Conductive Structures for Antenna Self-Cancellation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Full duplex antenna arrays face significant self-interference issues due to mutual coupling, especially in dense configurations like massive MIMO, making digital cancellation techniques computationally demanding and less effective.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a conductive structure between dual polarity antenna elements in a diagonal axis configuration to form coupling paths that reduce cross-polarity mutual coupling, with the conductive structures extending between diagonally adjacent elements to achieve self-cancellation of signals, ensuring that the signal from one element arrives 180 degrees out of phase at the adjacent element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If digital cancellation techniques are used to filter self-interference signals, then signal isolation between transmit and receive ports is improved, but computational complexity increases and effectiveness decreases in dense antenna arrays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful mutual coupling effect into a beneficial self-cancellation mechanism by strategically placing conductive structures that create cancellation signals. These structures exploit the coupling phenomenon to generate signals that are 180 degrees out of phase with interference signals, thereby converting the harmful coupling into a useful cancellation mechanism that reduces computational complexity requirements
Solution Approach 2:
Conductive structures serve as intermediary elements between antenna elements, creating controlled coupling paths that enable self-cancellation. These intermediate structures mediate the interaction between transmit and receive elements, providing a physical mechanism for interference reduction rather than relying solely on digital processing
2Productivity
If antenna elements are placed in dense configurations for massive MIMO functionality, then array capacity and throughput are improved, but self-interference and mutual coupling increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the antenna array into groups with specific geometric relationships, placing conductive structures between diagonally adjacent elements. This segmentation allows selective management of coupling effects, creating cancellation mechanisms for specific element pairs while maintaining overall array density and capacity
Solution Approach 2:
Conductive structures are selectively placed between specific diagonally adjacent antenna elements rather than uniformly across the entire array. This local application creates targeted cancellation zones where mutual coupling is exploited beneficially, while maintaining high array density overall for massive MIMO functionality
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conductive structures are added to reduce mutual coupling, then self-interference is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive structures are positioned asymmetrically between diagonally adjacent antenna elements rather than symmetrically around each element. This asymmetric placement creates specific coupling paths that exploit the geometric relationship between elements to generate cancellation signals, achieving interference reduction with minimal additional structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive structures enable the antenna array to self-cancel interference signals through controlled coupling. The system uses its own transmitted signals, coupled through the conductive structures, to generate cancellation signals that automatically neutralize interference without requiring external active compensation mechanisms
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
This approach effectively reduces or nulls unwanted couplings between antenna elements across the full two dimensions of a massive MIMO array, maintaining performance without increasing array depth and adding only incremental complexity, thereby enhancing full duplex communication capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a first conductive structure, extending between the first and second antenna elements along the diagonal axis forms a coupling path between the first and the second antenna elements
Implementation Method 2
The formed coupling path is such that at least a portion of a signal generated by the first antenna element is coupled, via the coupling path, to the second antenna element to at least reduce cross polarity mutual coupling
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna array capable of full duplex communication is described. The antenna array includes a first dual polarity antenna element and a second dual polarity antenna element. A first conductive structure, extends between the first and second antenna elements along a diagonal axis in common between the first antenna element and the second element, and forms a coupling path between the first and the second antenna elements such that at least a portion of a signal generated by the first antenna element is coupled, via the coupling path, to the second antenna element to at least reduce cross polarity mutual coupling between the first antenna element and the second antenna element.