Integrated mmWave Repeater With Impedance Matching for Low-E Glass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional repeater systems experience significant transmission loss and performance degradation when operating near low-e glass structures, such as low-e glass windows, due to high insertion loss and filtering effects, leading to insufficient 5G signal strength and lower data rates.
Innovation Solution
An integrated repeater system with phased array antenna receivers and transmitters, combined with an impedance matching component and a lens, is designed to operate on one side of low-e glass structures, reducing transmission loss and improving signal quality by matching impedance and enhancing antenna gain, while supporting multiple frequency spectrums including 5G NR.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional repeater systems are placed near low-e glass structures, then the repeater system can be installed in building interiors, but transmission loss increases significantly (30-40 dB at mm-wave frequencies)
Solution Approach 1:
An impedance matching component is introduced as an intermediary between the repeater antenna and the low-e glass structure. This component acts as a mediator that transforms the impedance mismatch caused by the glass, reducing reflection and improving signal transmission through the glass while maintaining the benefit of indoor installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameters (impedance, capacitance, inductance) of the interface between the repeater and the glass structure by introducing an impedance matching component. This parameter transformation allows the system to adapt to the high reflection characteristics of low-e glass, converting a high-loss configuration into a lower-loss configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional repeater antennas are placed near low-e glass structures, then the system can provide indoor coverage, but antenna performance degrades due to filtering effects and lower output power
Solution Approach 1:
The impedance matching component serves as a mediator that protects the antenna from the adverse filtering effects of the low-e glass. By placing this intermediate component between the antenna and the glass, the system maintains antenna performance while still achieving indoor coverage through the glass structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The impedance matching component is installed in advance to counteract the anticipated filtering and reflection effects of the low-e glass. This preliminary anti-action prevents performance degradation before the signal encounters the glass, rather than attempting to correct it afterward.
3Reliability
If dual repeater devices are used to compensate for transmission loss through glass, then signal strength can be maintained, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the repeater function with an impedance matching component into a single integrated device. This merging eliminates the need for separate dual repeater installations, as the single repeater equipped with the impedance matching component achieves performance equivalent to or better than multiple repeaters would provide.
Solution Approach 2:
The repeater device is enhanced with multi-functionality by integrating the impedance matching capability directly into the repeater unit. This universal design allows a single device to perform both signal repetition and impedance transformation, replacing the need for multiple specialized devices.
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
The integrated repeater system achieves almost no transmission loss or significantly reduced loss for mmWave radio frequency signals through low-e glass structures, enhancing signal strength and data rates, and reduces the form factor and cost by eliminating the need for dual repeater devices.
Implementation Method 1
change, by the impedance matching component, a filter response of the glass structure such that the transmitted mmWave radio frequency signal has at least one of: no transmission loss at a frequency of the transmitted mmWave radio frequency signal or a second level of transmission loss that is less than the first level of transmission loss
Implementation Method 2
increase, by the lens arranged at the glass structure, a scanning range of the repeater device such that the transmitted mmWave radio frequency signal has an increased antenna gain in the increased scanning range
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated repeater system that includes a repeater device having a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to the first surface. The repeater device further comprises phased array antenna receivers arranged on the first surface and receives a mmWave radio frequency signal from a base station, and one or more phased array antenna transmitters arranged on the second surface and transmits the received mmWave radio frequency signal through a glass structure to a user equipment. The integrated repeater system further comprises an impedance matching component between the second surface and the glass structure. Further, an impedance of the one or more phased array antenna transmitters is tuned in accordance with the glass structure based on the impedance matching component.