Reconfigurable MIMO Antenna Array for Grating Lobe Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mm-Wave transceivers face challenges in operating over wide frequency ranges due to grating lobes and spatial interference, which limits their scalability and efficiency, especially in heterogeneous environments with multiple spectral bands.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a multi-port co-design approach between unit transceiver elements and the integrated electromagnetic interface for element-level programmability, allowing independent reconfiguration of antenna patterns to control side and grating lobes, and enabling broadband operation and unique signal processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If fixed antenna spacings are used in uniform linear arrays, then the array structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but grating lobes appear at frequencies where spacings approach a wavelength, causing spatial interference and limiting broadband operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements reconfigurable antenna elements that can dynamically change their radiation patterns and beamforming characteristics. Each antenna element is equipped with phase shifters and amplitude controllers that allow the array to adapt its spatial configuration electronically, transforming the static array into a dynamic system that can optimize performance across different frequencies without physical reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the antenna elements by introducing programmable phase and amplitude control at each element. This allows the array to modify its effective spacing and radiation characteristics through parameter adjustment rather than physical changes, enabling broadband operation while maintaining a fixed physical structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple dedicated arrays are deployed across multiple spectral bands to ensure spatial diversity, then frequency coverage and spatial diversity are improved, but the system complexity and space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal antenna array that can operate across multiple spectral bands and provide spatial diversity through electronic reconfiguration rather than requiring separate dedicated arrays for each band. The reconfigurable elements enable the same physical array to adapt its characteristics for different frequency bands and spatial configurations, consolidating multiple functions into a single system.
Solution Approach 2:
By implementing dynamically reconfigurable antenna elements with programmable beamforming capabilities, the system can adapt its radiation patterns and spatial diversity characteristics in real-time without adding physical arrays. This dynamic adaptation allows a single array to replace multiple static arrays, reducing overall system complexity and space requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If broadband frequency synthesis and linear broadband power amplifiers are implemented, then operation over wide frequency ranges is enabled, but energy efficiency and circuit complexity are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the broadband signal processing into narrower frequency bands, each handled by more efficient narrowband power amplifiers. Instead of using a single broadband amplifier across the entire frequency range, the system divides the spectrum into multiple segments, allowing each amplifier to operate in its optimal efficiency range while collectively covering the broad frequency spectrum.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs periodic switching between different frequency bands and reconfigures the antenna elements accordingly. By switching between bands rather than continuously operating across the entire spectrum, the system can optimize power amplifier efficiency for each band while maintaining overall broadband capability through time-division multiplexing of the frequency resources.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments generally disclosed herein relate to a sub-wavelength multi-port codesign approach between the unit transceiver element and the integrated EM interface to enable a generalized broadband MIMO array with individually programmable element patterns. The co-design approach allows processing of radiated signals at the antenna level distinct from classical arrays. The transmitter and receiver architectures with the integrated EM interface are implemented in 65-nm CMOS and have a bandwidth of 37-73 GHz. Wireless links with data rates up to 12 Gb/s are demonstrated across the spectrum with a wide range of reconfigurability of the active EM interface. The multifunctional EM interface and the broadband transceivers can enable future efficient and compact MIMO arrays for reliable links exploiting frequency, spatial, pattern and polarization diversities.