HAPS Array Antenna Beamforming Control for Cell Footprint Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerial-floating communication relay apparatuses face frequent handovers and communication interruptions due to changes in attitude and position caused by airflow and atmospheric pressure, leading to unstable cell footprints and increased control signals.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs an array antenna system with an information acquisition section to monitor position and attitude, and a control section that adjusts signal phases and amplitudes to fix cell footprints, using a combination of circular and linear array antennas to maintain beam direction and suppress footprint movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If mechanical control mechanism is used to fix cell footprint, then footprint stability is improved, but device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical control mechanisms with electronic beamforming control. The array antenna system uses phase and amplitude adjustment of signals across multiple antenna elements to electronically steer and stabilize the beam direction, eliminating the need for mechanical moving parts while achieving footprint stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the electromagnetic signals (phase and amplitude) to control beam direction. By adjusting these parameters electronically based on detected position and attitude changes, the system maintains stable cell footprints without mechanical intervention.
2Device complexity
If array antenna with beamforming control is used, then device size is reduced, but footprint stability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where position and attitude detectors continuously monitor changes in the aerial platform's location and orientation. This information feeds to the beamforming controller, which adjusts signal phases and amplitudes in real-time to compensate for platform movements, maintaining stable cell footprints despite the compact antenna design.
Solution Approach 2:
The beamforming controller proactively adjusts beam direction based on detected position and attitude changes before they significantly impact cell footprint stability. This preliminary correction prevents footprint drift and maintains communication stability.
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 solution reduces the size of the communication relay apparatus and stabilizes the cell footprint, minimizing handovers and communication interruptions by effectively controlling signal distribution and beam direction.
Implementation Method 1
a control section that controls phases and amplitudes of plural transmission/reception signals transmitted/received via each of the plural antenna elements of the array antenna so as to fix a position of a cell footprint
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an aerial-floating type communication relay apparatus capable of reducing a size and suppressing a movement of a cell footprint. The communication relay apparatus comprises an array antenna that has plural antenna elements forming a cell for performing a radio communication of a service link with a terminal apparatus, an information acquisition section that acquires information on at least one of a position and an attitude of the communication relay apparatus, and a control section that controls phases and amplitudes of plural transmission/reception signals transmitted/received via each of the plural antenna elements of the array antenna so as to fix the position of the cell footprint, based on the information on at least one of the position and the attitude of the communication relay apparatus.