Dual-Polarized Antenna Array Beamforming for Wide-Beam Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication networks face challenges in achieving good performance and capacity, particularly at high frequencies, due to difficulties in generating wide beams suitable for both transmission and reception of signals, which can lead to reduced coverage and increased signaling overhead.
Innovation Solution
The use of a dual polarized antenna array with dual polarization beamforming for transmission and single polarization beamforming for reception, enabling the generation of wide beams that fulfill an overlap criterion with respect to their total power patterns, allowing full output power utilization and polarization diversity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If narrow beams are used for signal transmission at mmW frequencies, then data transmission performance is improved, but initial network access delay increases due to the large number of beams required to cover the cell
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beamforming approach by using different beam widths for different purposes: narrow beams for data transmission and wide beams for cell-defining reference signals. This segmentation allows the system to optimize for both high data throughput and fast initial access without compromise
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts beam width based on the operational phase: wide beams are used during initial network access and mobility procedures, while narrow beams are used for established data transmission. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between access speed and transmission efficiency
2Loss of time
If wide beams are used for signal transmission, then initial network access delay is reduced, but beam shape matching between transmission and reception becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces polarization as an additional dimension to resolve the beam shape matching problem. By using dual-polarized antenna elements and applying polarization beamforming, the system can generate wide transmit beams with matching receive beams in both horizontal and vertical polarizations, achieving both wide coverage and proper beam matching
3Power
If dual polarization beamforming is used for transmission, then full output power can be utilized and gain ripple is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the dual-polarized antenna array universally functional by configuring it to support both dual-polarization beamforming for full power utilization and single-polarization beamforming for reception. The same antenna structure serves multiple beamforming modes, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining power efficiency
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 enhances cell coverage and reduces gain ripple, enabling efficient transmission of cell-defining reference signals while maintaining beam shape matching between transmission and reception, thus improving network performance and capacity.
Implementation Method 1
The antenna array comprises antenna elements of a first polarization and of a second polarization. The transmit antenna port is connected to the antenna elements of both the first polarization and the second polarization.
Implementation Method 2
The receive beams and the transmit beam fulfil an overlap criterion with respect to their total power patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided mechanisms for communication in a wireless access network using a dual polarized antenna array. The antenna array comprises antenna elements of a first polarization and of a second polarization. A method comprises transmitting a first signal via a transmit antenna port in a transmit beam on a first link of the wireless access network. The transmit antenna port is connected to the antenna elements of both the first polarization and the second polarization. The method comprises receiving a second signal on a second link of the wireless access network via a first receive antenna port in a first receive beam and via a second receive antenna port in a second receive beam. The first receive antenna port is connected to antenna elements of the first polarization and the second receive antenna port is connected to antenna elements of the second polarization. The receive beams and the transmit beam fulfil an overlap criterion with respect to their total power patterns.