Optical Lens Beamforming for Multi-Band Wireless Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently directing and processing signals across multiple frequency bands and spatial sectors due to the fine-tuning required for each antenna, leading to increased costs and inflexibility as the number of antennas and frequency bands increases.

Innovation Solution

The use of an optical lens as a beamformer, which converts electrical signals to optical signals and back to RF signals, allowing for flexible beamforming and simultaneous processing of multiple frequency bands and sectors through an optical switch matrix and signal conversion circuitry, decoupling beamforming from specific frequency bands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional antenna beamforming is used for each frequency band and spatial sector, then signal directionality is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase with the number of antennas and frequency bands

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal directionalityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

An optical lens is introduced as an intermediary component between the antenna array and the signal sources. The lens performs beamforming in the spatial domain optically, allowing a single set of antennas to serve multiple frequency bands and spatial sectors simultaneously without requiring separate beamforming networks for each band, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining signal directionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The optical lens is designed to handle multiple frequency bands and spatial sectors with a single configuration. By using the lens to perform beamforming optically, the same antenna array can be universally applied across different frequency bands and transmission sectors, eliminating the need for separate antenna systems for each band and reducing device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate optical source generators are used for each frequency band, then frequency-specific beamforming is achieved, but cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrequency-specific performanceVSAvoidnumber of optical sources

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single optical source generator is designed to serve multiple frequency bands by using the optical lens to perform frequency-specific beamforming in the spatial domain. The lens can focus or diverge the optical signals to create different beam patterns corresponding to different frequency bands, allowing one optical source to replace multiple frequency-specific sources, thereby reducing device complexity and cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the number of antennas is increased to cover more spatial sectors, then coverage is improved, but fine-tuning requirements and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial coverageVSAvoidfine-tuning requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/electrical beamforming network that requires precise fine-tuning of each antenna element with an optical lens-based system. The lens inherently performs the beamforming function through its optical properties, eliminating the need for complex electronic phase shifters and amplitude controllers, thus reducing fine-tuning requirements while maintaining or expanding spatial coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This approach enables cost-effective, scalable, and modular wireless transmission systems with improved reliability and linearity, supporting multiple simultaneous beams and reducing the need for separate optical source generators, while maintaining coherence and reducing phase noise.

Implementation Method 1

transforming the second optical signal of the first optical fiber from a first wave format to a second wave format

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical lens wave format transformation: Lens

Data Source

PatentUS12051859B2Apparatus and methods for transmitting signals using optical lens as a beamformer

Publication Date: 2024.07.30 PHASE SENSITIVE INNOVATIONS INC

AI summary

In certain embodiments, a system includes an optical switch matrix, an optical lens coupled to the switch matrix, and a wireless transmitter coupled to the lens. The switch matrix is configured to switch first optical signals from input ports to output ports of the switch matrix, and output second optical signals that are based at least partially on the first optical signals. The lens is configured to transform wave formats of the second optical signals based on the output ports over which the second optical signals are received. The transmitter includes an antenna array and circuitry coupled to the array. The circuitry is configured to receive the second optical signals from the lens, convert the second optical signals into beamformed wireless signals in accordance with the transformed formats, and transmit the beamformed wireless signals, which signals have spatial characteristics in accordance with the transformed formats, over the array.