Multi-port Multi-beam Antenna System with Low Correlation for MIMO
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional phased array antennas have limited scan range due to scan blindness and require beamforming, which is either computationally challenging for digital or costly for analog implementations, and they fail to provide omnidirectional signal propagation effectively for MIMO systems.
Innovation Solution
A multi-port multi-beam antenna system using a dielectric substrate with end fire antennas in a Yagi-Uda configuration around the edges and dual polarized broadside radiations in the center, employing a Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) circuit board to achieve wideband impedance match and low correlation between ports, bypassing the need for beamforming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional phased array antennas are used, then beamforming capability is achieved, but scan range is limited due to scan blindness
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is divided into multiple independent antenna elements arranged in specific geometries (e.g., tetrahedral, rectangular configurations). Each element operates independently to provide omnidirectional radiation patterns, eliminating the need for beamforming while achieving wide scan coverage through the combined effect of multiple segments.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using beamforming to achieve directional coverage, the patent inverts the approach by using omnidirectional radiation from multiple elements to achieve wide scan coverage. The system achieves adaptability through geometric arrangement rather than active beam steering, turning the conventional wisdom upside down.
2Adaptability or versatility
If digital beamforming is used, then beamforming capability is achieved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the beamforming function from the system, replacing it with passive omnidirectional radiation elements. By taking out the complex digital beamforming processing, the system achieves directional coverage through geometric arrangement of simple antenna elements, eliminating computational complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex, expensive digital beamforming processors with simple, inexpensive omnidirectional antenna elements. The complexity is shifted from active processing to passive geometric arrangement, using simple radiating elements that require minimal processing to achieve the desired coverage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If analog beamforming is used, then beamforming capability is achieved, but implementation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive analog beamforming components (phase shifters, delay lines, RF chains) with inexpensive omnidirectional antenna elements. The system achieves adaptability through the geometric arrangement of these simple elements rather than through expensive active components, significantly reducing implementation cost.
4Power
If multiple antenna elements are used to increase gain, then beam narrowness increases, but omnidirectional coverage decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system uses multiple segmented elements arranged in three-dimensional geometries (tetrahedral, rectangular, etc.). Each element provides omnidirectional radiation, and the combined effect of properly spaced segments maintains omnidirectional coverage while achieving gain through constructive interference in all directions, not just narrow beams.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional planar arrays to three-dimensional spatial configurations. By distributing antenna elements in three-dimensional space with appropriate spacing and geometric arrangements, the system achieves gain through spatial diversity while maintaining omnidirectional coverage in all directions, adding a dimensional aspect that resolves the gain-coverage tradeoff.
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 antenna system achieves omnidirectional signal propagation with a combined 3 dB scan angle of −145° to 145° and low correlation between ports, supporting multiple 5G frequency bands with high gain and minimal mutual coupling, while reducing circuitry interference and maintaining impedance match across wide frequency bands.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of end fire antennas in a Yagi-Uda configuration is positioned around edges of the dielectric substrate
Implementation Method 2
Antenna arrays may be used to suppress multipath fading and interference, and to increase system capacity
Implementation Method 3
A device for dual polarized broadside radiations is formed on a top surface of a center area of the dielectric substrate
Implementation Method 4
The upper dipole pair is formed of a first set of parallel dipoles and the lower dipole pair is formed of a second set of parallel dipoles
Implementation Method 5
employing a Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) circuit board to achieve wideband impedance match
Implementation Method 6
A metallic wall is formed around a back and side areas of the upper dipole pair and the lower dipole pair
Implementation Method 7
A ground plane is coupled to the lower dipole pair
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna assembly has a dielectric substrate. A plurality of end fire antennas in a Yagi-Uda configuration is positioned around edges of the dielectric substrate.