Mobile Sensor Beam Steering for Phased Array Antennas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Advanced wireless communication systems face challenges in maintaining beam alignment and tracking due to environmental factors and user equipment movement, leading to increased signal acquisition time and reduced network resource efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of sensors within user equipment to detect changes in orientation and environment, allowing for real-time adjustment of phased array antenna configurations to compensate for movement and environmental interference, thereby improving beam steering and tracking performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If beamformed communication is used to improve antenna gain, then signal directionality is improved, but beam alignment is lost when mobile device moves or orientation changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary beam alignment and establishes the optimal beam direction before communication begins. Sensors continuously monitor device orientation and movement, allowing the system to predict and compensate for alignment changes before they significantly degrade communication quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback through sensors that monitor device orientation, movement, and environmental conditions. This feedback loop enables real-time adjustments to beam direction and antenna configuration, maintaining beam alignment despite device movement or environmental changes.
2Reliability
If sensors are added to detect orientation changes, then beam tracking is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages existing multi-functional sensors in mobile devices (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers) that serve both standard device functions and beam tracking purposes. This approach avoids adding dedicated sensors, reducing complexity while achieving improved beam tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors already present in the mobile device for beam tracking purposes, making the device self-sufficient for maintaining beam alignment without requiring additional external sensing equipment or complex integrated sensor systems.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to technology beam steering in which one or more antennas are configured to form a beam directed to a first beam direction based on a configuration corresponding to an environment. A change in direction of the beam is identified in response to a change in orientation of user equipment, the change in orientation determined via one or more sensors in the user equipment, and a second beam direction is calculated based on a the first beam direction and the change in orientation of the user equipment. The one or more antennas are then configured by steering the beam to the second beam direction to compensate for the change in orientation of the user equipment.