mmWave c-V2X Antenna with Lensless Camera for Beam Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The implementation of directional smart antennas for mmWave C-V2X communication is complex due to the need for substantial processing power to train and track beams between vehicles, especially in the Ka and V bands, where Doppler shift becomes a significant issue.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle equipped with a mmWave antenna featuring a plurality of light elements and active antenna elements in a predefined configuration surrounding a lensless camera element, with an antenna controller that receives images of other mmWave antennas, computes phase angles, and adjusts the beam to form a targeted communication link, utilizing techniques like Fourier transforms and Kalman filters to estimate rotation and scaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If directional smart antennas are used for mmWave C-V2X communication, then communication directionality and data rate are improved, but processing power requirements and system complexity increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lensless camera as an intermediary device that captures images of the opposing vehicle's antenna array. This visual information serves as a mediator between the antenna systems, enabling the determination of relative position, orientation, and scale without requiring complex real-time signal processing for beam training and tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/electronic beam training and tracking system with an optical-based image capture and processing system. Instead of using complex phased array processing to determine relative position and orientation, the system uses a lensless camera to capture images and derives the necessary geometric information through image processing algorithms.
2Reliability
If beam training and tracking are performed to maintain communication links between moving vehicles, then communication reliability is improved, but processing power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lensless camera acts as an intermediary that provides visual feedback about the relative position and orientation of the opposing antenna. This visual information allows the system to calculate beamforming parameters without requiring continuous, power-intensive beam training and tracking operations, thereby maintaining communication reliability while reducing processing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by capturing images of the opposing antenna to determine relative position, orientation, and scale before initiating beamforming. This advance knowledge of the geometric relationship between antennas allows the system to directly compute beamforming parameters without requiring continuous training operations during communication.
3Measurement precision
If Doppler shift correction is applied in Ka and V bands, then communication accuracy is improved, but system complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by using the lensless camera to capture images and determine the relative velocity vector between vehicles before communication occurs. This visual information provides advance knowledge of the Doppler shift that will occur, allowing the system to pre-correct for Doppler effects in the Ka and V bands without requiring complex real-time Doppler tracking and correction 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 solution simplifies the beamforming process, reduces processing power requirements, and maintains effective communication links even when vehicles move or encounter obstructions, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of mmWave C-V2X communication.
Implementation Method 1
receive an image of a second mmWave antenna of a second vehicle via the lensless camera of the mmWave antenna
Implementation Method 2
transmit data using the active antenna elements to the second vehicle, according to the computed phase angles, to form a beam targeted at the second mmWave antenna
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a millimeter wave (mmWave) antenna, including a millimeter wave (mmWave) antenna, including a plurality of light elements and a plurality of active antenna elements in a predefined configuration surrounding a lensless camera element. The vehicle further includes an antenna controller configured to receive an image of a second mmWave antenna of a second vehicle via the lensless camera of the mmWave antenna, identify a scale and angle of rotation between the mmWave antenna and the second mmWave antenna based on the image, compute phase angles for the active antenna elements of the mmWave antenna according to the scale and angle of rotation, and transmit data using the active antenna elements to the second vehicle, according to the computed phase angles, to form a beam targeted at the second mmWave antenna of the second vehicle.