Planar Array OAM Beam Steering With Ring-Based Element Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems using spiral phase plates or uniform circular arrays for generating orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams face limited beam steering capabilities, restricting their application and utilization.
Innovation Solution
A wireless device selects antenna elements from a planar array based on a determined area and applies weights to these elements based on OAM mode index and spatial parameters to steer OAM beams more directionally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If spiral phase plates or uniform circular arrays are used to generate OAM beams, then OAM beam generation is achieved, but beam steering capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the uniform circular array into multiple sub-arrays or groups, where each sub-array can be independently controlled to generate OAM beams with different steering directions. This segmentation enables flexible beam steering while maintaining OAM generation capability, resolving the contradiction between beam steering capability and application versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of the antenna elements' excitation parameters (amplitude, phase, frequency) to enable real-time beam steering. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system can steer OAM beams in different directions and adapt to various application scenarios, overcoming the limited beam steering capability of static configurations.
2Reliability
If antenna elements are selected from a planar array based on a determined area, then directionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different weights to different antenna elements based on their spatial positions within the determined area. Elements closer to the desired beam direction receive higher weights, while those farther away receive lower weights. This localized weighting approach improves directionality without requiring complex selection mechanisms, as the weighting follows a simple spatial pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary determination of the active area on the planar array based on the desired beam direction before actual beam transmission. This preliminary action simplifies the subsequent beamforming process by pre-identifying which antenna elements should be activated and with what weights, reducing real-time computational complexity while maintaining high directionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. In some systems, a device may select antenna elements from a planar array to transmit or receive an orbital angular momentum (OAM) beam. The device may determine a first area (e.g., a first ring area) based on an angular direction over which the device can communicate an OAM beam with a second device and may determine a second area (e.g., a second ring area) on the planar array based on projecting the first area on the planar array. The device may select a set of antenna elements from the planar array that are located within the second area. The device may determine a complex-valued weight for each antenna element of the selected set of antenna elements and may transmit or receive an OAM beam to or from the second device via the set of antenna elements according to the angular direction.