Multi-Beam Antenna System for Wireless Transceivers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless technologies face limitations in high-gain front-end systems for millimeter-wave communications due to high spectral and power inefficiencies, especially with large apertures and numerous radiating elements, which restrict their capacity and performance in multi-beam operations.
Innovation Solution
A multi-beam beamforming front-end antenna system that includes a radiation layer with metamaterial elements and a feed layer with tunable devices, coupled with a distribution network, enabling simultaneous transmission and reception of multiple beams with independent control over radiation parameters like direction, pattern, power, and polarization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If phased-array systems or metamaterial antennas are used for beamforming, then high gain and narrow beams are achieved, but spectral efficiency and power efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna array is divided into multiple sub-arrays, each capable of independent beamforming. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple beams, improving spectral efficiency while maintaining high gain through focused beam formation in each sub-array.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional 2D phased-array beamforming to a multi-dimensional approach by introducing vertical sub-arrays and enabling 3D beamforming. This dimensional expansion allows simultaneous multi-beam operation, improving spectral efficiency without sacrificing gain.
2Power
If large apertures and large number of elements are used in phased arrays, then high gain is achieved, but power efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The large aperture array is segmented into multiple smaller sub-arrays. Each sub-array processes a portion of the signal independently, reducing the power consumption associated with large-scale phased array operations while maintaining the overall high gain through coordinated beamforming across sub-arrays.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically activates only the necessary sub-arrays and elements based on current communication requirements. This dynamic operation reduces power consumption by avoiding the continuous operation of all elements, while maintaining high gain when needed through selective activation of optimal sub-arrays.
3Productivity
If digital beamforming approaches are used for multi-beam operation, then capacity is improved, but power consumption deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The digital beamforming system is segmented into multiple independent sub-array processors. Each sub-array can perform digital beamforming operations independently, enabling multi-beam capacity while reducing the overall computational burden and power consumption compared to processing the entire array as a single unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines analog beamforming at the sub-array level with digital signal processing at the baseband level. This hybrid approach merges the low-power analog beamforming capabilities with the high-capacity digital processing, achieving multi-beam operation with reduced power consumption compared to fully digital approaches.
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 system achieves high spectral and power efficiency, enabling increased information transfer capacity, continuous connections with multiple nodes, and reduced latency, while reducing complexity and power consumption, making it suitable for advanced wireless communication and imaging applications.
Implementation Method 1
a radiation layer comprising one or more radiating elements configured to at least one of transmit and receive the one or more beams
Implementation Method 2
a distribution network layer comprising a wave distribution device, wherein the wave distribution device is configured to distribute the one or more beams from the front-end electronic circuit layer to the feed layer
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna system includes a module that is electrically coupled to a front-end electronic circuit layer configured to process one or more beams. The module includes a radiation layer including one or more radiating elements configured to at least one of transmit and receive the one or more beams and a feed layer including one or more feed elements, where the one or more feed elements are configured to excite the radiation layer, transmit the one or more beams, receive the one or more beams, or a combination thereof. The module further includes a distribution network layer including a wave distribution device, where the wave distribution device is configured to distribute the one or more beams from the front-end circuit layer to the feed layer.