Multiple Antenna System for Seamless Handover and Combined Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna systems with multiple antennas often have one antenna idle while another supports communications, leading to inefficient use of resources and potential gaps in coverage.
Innovation Solution
A multiple antenna system that supports one or more beams by coupling both antennas with a common modem, allowing for collective reception sensitivity and transmission power, and enabling seamless handover between target devices without breaking communications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If one antenna is used to support communications with a target device while another antenna remains idle, then the system can maintain simple operations and lower complexity, but the antenna resources are wasted and coverage efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antennas (first antenna and second antenna) to form a collective beam that works together to support communications with target devices. Both antennas are coupled with the same modem and work simultaneously to provide combined reception sensitivity and transmission power, eliminating idle antennas and improving resource utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple antenna system is designed to support multiple functions: it can communicate with multiple target devices simultaneously, provide both reception and transmission capabilities, and maintain operations during handovers. The system can dynamically allocate antennas to different functions based on operational needs, making the antenna resources universally applicable.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system establishes communications with a second target device by decoupling and reorienting an antenna, then the system can support multiple target devices, but communications with the first target device may be interrupted during the transition
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing communications with a second target device using the second antenna before completely transitioning away from the first target device. The first antenna is reoriented toward the second target device in advance, so that when the switch occurs, both antennas can immediately support communications with the second target device, preventing communication interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining communications with the first target device through the first antenna while simultaneously establishing communications with the second target device through the second antenna. During the handover process, both communication links operate concurrently, ensuring that the useful communication action never stops even though the system is transitioning between target devices.
3Reliability
If multiple antennas are coupled with the same modem to leverage combined reception sensitivity and transmission power, then the system achieves improved performance and coverage, but the system complexity and resource management requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the first antenna and second antenna by coupling both with the same modem, allowing the system to leverage combined reception sensitivity and transmission power. The antennas are electrically connected to share common signal processing resources, improving overall system performance and reliability while managing complexity through unified control.
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna system may be configured with multiple antennas that may be used in combination (e.g., for communication with a common target device), or separately (e.g., for communication with different target devices). In some examples, using the antennas in combination may include a coupling with a common modem for signal reception (e.g., to increase reception gain). In some such examples, a single antenna may be used for signal transmission (e.g., to reduce interference associated with simultaneous transmission toward a common target device). Using the antennas separately may facilitate handover or other communication transition scenarios, such as establishing a communication link with a new target device before breaking an established communication link with another target device. Some such implementations may involve antennas associated with a mechanical positioning axis for one direction of beam alignment (e.g., azimuth orientation) and a beamforming axis for another direction of beam alignment (e.g., elevation orientation).