Radial Antenna Nulling for Small Cell Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Omnidirectional antennas in low-power cells face significant cross-interference issues with neighboring high-power cells, as conventional methods for adjusting directional antennas are not applicable, leading to decreased network performance and increased signal interference.
Innovation Solution
An omnidirectional antenna assembly comprising multiple radially spaced antenna array elements connected in parallel, allowing individual elements to be disconnected from the RF source to nullify portions of the omnidirectional beamwidth, thereby mitigating interference between cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If omnidirectional antennas are used in low-power cells to provide 360-degree coverage, then coverage area is improved, but cross-interference with neighboring high-power cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The omnidirectional antenna is segmented into multiple individual antenna elements arranged radially. By selectively deactivating specific elements, the antenna can create nulls in directions of neighboring high-power cells while maintaining coverage in other directions, thus reducing cross-interference while preserving overall coverage area.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna system transitions from a static omnidirectional configuration to a dynamic configuration where individual elements can be selectively activated or deactivated based on interference conditions. This allows the radiation pattern to be adjusted dynamically to create nulls toward interfering cells while maintaining coverage elsewhere.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional directional antenna adjustment methods are used, then cross-interference is reduced, but omnidirectional coverage capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the omnidirectional antenna into multiple controllable segments (individual elements), the system can selectively adjust radiation in specific directions without affecting the overall omnidirectional capability. This allows interference mitigation in certain directions while maintaining coverage in others.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna system applies different radiation characteristics to different spatial regions. By deactivating specific elements, nulls are created only in directions of neighboring high-power cells, while other directions maintain full omnidirectional coverage, thus achieving local interference reduction without global coverage loss.
3Reliability
If multiple antenna array elements are used to maintain omnidirectional coverage, then coverage reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna is divided into multiple independent elements that can be controlled individually. While this increases component count, it enables selective deactivation of elements to create interference nulls, improving overall system reliability by reducing cross-interference while maintaining coverage through the remaining active elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A device, method, and computer-readable medium are provided for adjusting omnidirectional antenna array elements for mitigating cross interference between communication network cells. Radially disposed antenna array elements are configured to collectively function as a single omnidirectional antenna assembly at a cell. Signal data associated with signal strength and/or quality is monitored and received. Based on the signal data received, at least one antenna array element is selected for disconnection from the antenna assembly. The at least one antenna array element is disconnected from the assembly to nullify at least a portion of the omnidirectional signal distributed therefrom, thereby mitigating cross-interference with a neighboring cell.