Movable MIMO Reflector Feeds for Multipath Field Focusing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna systems face challenges in maintaining stable wireless communication due to multipath fading effects caused by inhomogeneous propagation media, particularly in millimeter wave communication, where traditional MIMO systems with electrically large apertures are costly and complex to design and implement.
Innovation Solution
A reflector antenna system with movable MIMO multiple feeds that adapts by enlarging the aperture from the feeds to the reflector, using simple signal processing based on conjugate transmission coefficients, allowing wave components to superimpose synchronously regardless of the complexity of the wireless channel, thus improving transmission quality without requiring detailed channel modeling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a MIMO antenna system with electrically large aperture is used to overcome multipath fading, then the capability to resist multipath fading is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large aperture MIMO system into a reflector antenna with multiple feeds, where each feed operates independently. This segmentation reduces the overall system complexity by dividing the function of thousands of antenna elements into a manageable number of feeds (typically 2-8) that illuminate different regions of the reflector aperture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested structure where multiple feeds are positioned within the focal region of a single large reflector antenna. This nesting allows the system to achieve the functionality of a large aperture MIMO system while using far fewer physical components, as the feeds share the common reflector structure.
2Reliability
If a MIMO antenna system with electrically large aperture is deployed, then multipath fading is overcome, but the manufacturing cost becomes prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple antenna functions into a single reflector structure with multiple feeds. By combining the radiation elements into feeds that illuminate the reflector, the system achieves MIMO functionality with significantly reduced component count and manufacturing cost compared to traditional large aperture MIMO systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflector antenna structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the large aperture for high gain, acts as the reflecting surface for signal directionality, and works with multiple feeds to achieve spatial diversity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, lowering manufacturing cost.
3Ease of operation
If traditional beam alignment is used in inhomogeneous propagation media, then geometric alignment is achieved, but signal quality deteriorates due to multipath fading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic beamforming capabilities where the phase and amplitude of signals from multiple feeds are adjusted in real-time based on channel conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain optimal signal quality despite changes in propagation conditions, unlike static geometric alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from channel state information to adjust the beamforming weights of multiple feeds. By continuously adapting to channel conditions, the system can compensate for multipath fading effects that would otherwise degrade signal quality even when geometric alignment is maintained.
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 provides high-efficiency wireless transmission with improved signal quality and SNR in environments with multipath fading, while being cost-effective and compatible with various operation modes, including fixed beam, scanning beam, and MIMO modes, with reduced manufacturing and maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
a reflector antenna with movable MIMO multiple feeds... the feeds... connected to a same feed via a duplexer form a pair of signal receiving and transmitting channels
Implementation Method 2
adjusting the phase of the powered signals to be transmitted in each signal transmitting channel to a complex conjugate of the phase of the received signal measured in the signal receiving channel of same pair, based on reciprocity theorem of electromagnetic
Data Source
AI summary
This document discloses a reflector antenna system with movable MIMO multiple feeds and adaptive field focusing method for wireless communication in multipath fading environment; the system comprises antenna reflector, multiple feeds, the equal number of the signal receiving channels and signal transmitting channels to the feeds, all the channels are capable to measure and adjust the amplitude and time delay of signals, and the method for amplitude and time delay adjustment of the powered signals. In signal receiving mode the antenna system makes the signal components arrived through unknown multipath superimpose synchronously; in signal transmitting mode, the system let the wave components radiated from different transmitting channels superimpose synchronously, realizing adaptive field focusing at the antenna of the communication target. This antenna system is suitable for point to point wireless communication in wireless propagation environment with multipath fading effect, showing remarkable improvement of SNR of the signals transmitted and received.