Radio Relay Antenna Directivity Control via Signal Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Radio backhaul devices in mountainous and remote areas face challenges in maintaining antenna directivity due to environmental factors like earthquakes and snowfall, leading to reduced propagation characteristics and increased maintenance difficulties, especially in securing high-frequency bandwidths for reliable communication.

Innovation Solution

A radio relay device with a directivity controller that adjusts antenna directivity based on received signal propagation characteristics, using absolute or relative thresholds to determine when adjustments are needed, and transmitting an adjustment signal to interlock with a counterpart device for precise alignment, ensuring maximum reception power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a high frequency such as millimeter wave bandwidth is used to achieve high transmission rate, then transmission rate is improved, but propagation strength becomes highly dependent on antenna directivity making the system more sensitive to misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission rateVSAvoidpropagation strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors propagation characteristics (received signal strength) and uses this feedback to automatically adjust antenna directivity when deviations are detected, ensuring reliable high-frequency transmission without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The radio relay device performs self-adjustment of antenna directivity by detecting propagation characteristic changes and automatically controlling the antenna orientation, eliminating the need for service engineers to physically adjust antennas in remote locations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of repair

If service engineers are sent to mountainous or remote areas to manually adjust antenna position, then antenna alignment can be corrected, but maintenance time and recovery time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna alignment correctionVSAvoidrecovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The radio relay device automatically detects propagation characteristic changes and adjusts its own antenna directivity without requiring service engineers,实现ing self-maintenance in remote areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual adjustment process with an automated control system that uses electronic sensing of propagation characteristics and automatic actuation of antenna positioning mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If the direction of antennas is manually adjusted based on received signal, then antenna directivity can be optimized, but the adjustment process is time-consuming and requires service engineer presence

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna direction optimizationVSAvoidadjustment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors received signal strength as feedback and automatically adjusts antenna directivity in real-time, achieving precise optimization without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an automated control system that electronically senses propagation characteristics and actuates antenna positioning mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9924377B2Radio relay apparatus and radio relay method

Publication Date: 2018.03.20 KYOCERA CORP

AI summary

A radio relay device includes: an antenna, which transmits and receives a radio signal with respect to a counterpart radio relay device; and a directivity controller, which adjusts directivity of the antenna, wherein the directivity controller determines whether to adjust the directivity of the antenna based on a relation between a propagation characteristic at a time when the radio signal is received from the counterpart radio relay device in an operating period and an absolute value or a relative value serving as a threshold, and when it is determined to adjust the directivity of the antenna, the directivity controller transmits an adjustment start signal to the counterpart radio relay device and adjusts the directivity of the antenna, with interlocking with the counterpart radio relay device.