Reconfigurable Antenna Node for Dynamic Beamwidth Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in dynamically adjusting sector width in cellular networks, which affects beam matching and leads to inefficiencies in energy consumption and interference management.
Innovation Solution
A node with an antenna arrangement comprising controllable power dividers/combiners and phase shifters, allowing for automatic adjustment of beamwidth and phase center separation to match sector width changes, thereby enabling flexible beam configuration and suppressing grating lobes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If reconfigurable antennas are used to change sector width, then beamwidth and coverage are improved, but phase center separation becomes mismatched with codebook beams
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic reconfiguration of the antenna system by making the phase center separation adjustable through switching networks. The antenna ports can be dynamically connected to different physical antenna elements, allowing the phase center separation to adapt in real-time to match the codebook beam configurations for different sector widths.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the electrical parameters of the antenna system by adjusting which antenna elements are activated and how they are connected through the switching network. This allows the phase center separation parameter to be modified to match different sector width requirements while maintaining proper alignment with codebook beams.
2Reliability
If traditional base station antennas are used, then sector coverage is provided, but beamwidth adjustment and interference management are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static traditional antenna system into a dynamic reconfigurable system using switching networks that can change the active antenna elements and their connections. This allows the beamwidth to be adjusted dynamically while maintaining reliable sector coverage through proper phase and amplitude control.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna system is designed to perform multiple functions by using the same physical antenna elements for different beamwidth configurations and sector coverage patterns. The switching network enables a single antenna array to serve both wide-sector coverage and narrow user-specific beamforming requirements.
3Productivity
If codebook-based precoding is used, then user-specific beamforming is achieved, but beam matching becomes inaccurate when sector width changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the network monitors the sector width and traffic conditions, then adjusts the antenna port configurations and phase center separations accordingly. This ensures that the codebook-based precoding remains accurately matched to the current sector width and beam requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-configures multiple antenna port arrangements and switching patterns that correspond to different sector width requirements. When sector width changes are anticipated or detected, the system can switch to the pre-configured arrangement that matches the new sector width, ensuring accurate beam matching without delay.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a node in a wireless communication system, where the node comprises at least one antenna arrangement. Each antenna arrangement comprises a first, second, third and fourth antenna device positioned one after the other. Each antenna device comprises at least a corresponding first antenna port connected to a first polarization of the corresponding antenna device, the first antenna device and the second antenna device forming a first antenna device pair, and the third antenna device and the fourth antenna device forming a second antenna device pair. For each antenna device pair, the first antenna ports are at least indirectly connected to at least one respective controllable power divider/combiner having a respective common port. Each controllable power divider/combiner is arranged to adjust and/or set a corresponding power relation between the first antenna ports of the corresponding antenna device pair for power received and/or transmitted at its common port.