Reflect Array Layout for Wide-Beam High-Gain Radio Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reflector designs face challenges in achieving high gain with wide beam width and are costly due to the need for various parameters based on the size of the area and distance between the transmitter and receiver, leading to narrow communication areas and high costs.
Innovation Solution
A design method for a reflect array that uses multiple narrower beam reflectors with slightly different reflection phases and directions, arranged to achieve the required beam width, allowing for flexible design and reduced reflector types, including identical cells at varying intervals and metasurface configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a reflector is designed with high gain, then the gain of reflected waves is improved, but the beam width becomes narrow and the communication area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The reflect array is divided into multiple independent reflectors arranged in an array configuration. Each reflector contributes to the overall reflected wave, and by controlling the phase of each individual reflector, the system achieves both high gain and wide beam width simultaneously. This segmentation allows independent optimization of gain and beam width parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflect array employs phase control mechanisms that allow dynamic adjustment of the reflection phase for each reflector element. This dynamic phase control enables the system to adaptively shape the reflected beam, maintaining high gain while expanding the communication area through electronic beamforming techniques.
2Power
If conventional reflector design methods are used with multiple parameters based on area size and distance, then the required gain and beam width can be achieved, but the design complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The reflect array uses identical or standardized reflector elements that can be universally applied across different configurations. By arranging these universal elements in specific patterns and controlling their phases, the system can achieve various gain and beam width requirements without redesigning individual reflectors, thereby reducing design complexity and manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of changing the physical design parameters of each reflector based on area size and distance, the system maintains standardized reflector designs and achieves different performance requirements by changing the arrangement configuration and phase parameters of the array elements. This parameter-based adjustment simplifies the design process while meeting diverse operational requirements.
3Reliability
If a reflector is designed for far field operation, then the far field communication performance is improved, but the near field coverage and flexible placement options are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The reflect array employs dynamic phase control that allows the system to adapt to different operational distances. By adjusting the phase parameters of individual reflector elements, the system can optimize performance for both far field and near field operations, providing placement flexibility while maintaining communication reliability across different ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses parameter adjustment rather than fixed design configurations. By changing the phase and amplitude parameters of the reflector elements, the same physical array can be optimized for different operational distances, enabling both far field and near field applications without requiring different hardware designs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables wide-angle directivity without reducing gain, reduces the number of reflector types, and lowers design and manufacturing costs by allowing for flexible placement and use of pre-designed reflectors in various settings, such as indoor glass windows and building materials.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of narrower beam reflectors that satisfy the required gain, have slightly different reflection phases, and have slightly different reflection directions are prepared and arranged
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention addresses the problem of high costs resulting from the necessity of a variety of reflector design parameters due to area size and distance of transmission/reception and reflectors. A design method for a reflect array that transmits, to a reception region, radio waves from a base station used in communications, said method comprising: a gain setting step for setting necessary gain; a width setting step for setting a necessary beam width; a preparation step for preparing a plurality of reflectors having differing reflection directions from each other; and an arrangement step for arranging the plurality of reflector such that the beams formed by the plurality of reflectors satisfy the necessary beam width as a whole.