Remote Beamforming for Positioning Accuracy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing positioning systems face challenges in multipath environments due to signal reflection, which affects accuracy and requires multiple physical antenna elements, limiting miniaturization and portability, especially in applications like mobile devices.
Innovation Solution
A method for forming multiple beams using a single RF front end with a large number of antenna elements, switching elements between states to transmit and receive positioning signals, and processing these signals to create an accumulated signal indicative of beam direction and magnitude, allowing for precise positioning without complex circuitry or calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a local receiver antenna is used to form a beam and mitigate multipath, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the number of physical antenna elements increases, limiting miniaturization and portability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the antenna array at the receiver by using signal processing to synthesize the beam formation that would otherwise require physical antenna elements at the receiver. The transmitter's antenna array pattern is copied and replicated in the signal domain, allowing the receiver to achieve directional beamforming without requiring a corresponding physical antenna array.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical antenna array structure with an electronic signal processing system. Instead of requiring physical antenna elements to be arranged in specific geometric patterns, the system uses digital signal processing to achieve the same beamforming effect, substituting electronic manipulation for mechanical arrangement.
2Measurement precision
If multiple physical antenna elements are used to form beams, then beam directionality is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent copies the transmitter's antenna array characteristics into the receiver's signal processing, eliminating the need for complex physical antenna structures at the receiver. By replicating the array pattern information in the digital domain, the system achieves beam directionality without requiring complex hardware implementations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the receiver's signal processing universally capable of handling any antenna array configuration by using a general-purpose correlation-based beamforming algorithm. This universal approach works with any transmitter array geometry without requiring receiver-specific hardware modifications, reducing overall system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If a large number of antenna elements are used to form narrow beams, then beam precision is improved, but the number of required components and calibration complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent copies the precise array geometry information from the transmitter to the receiver through signal processing. By using correlation techniques that inherently account for the array structure, the system achieves narrow, precise beams without requiring manual calibration of each antenna element's phase and amplitude characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the system to self-calibrate by using the known transmitter array configuration and signal correlation techniques. The receiver automatically determines the optimal beamforming weights through correlation processing, eliminating the need for external calibration equipment or complex manual adjustment procedures.
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 enhances positioning accuracy in multipath environments while minimizing electronic complexity and power consumption, enabling more portable and scalable positioning systems by forming narrow beams with existing components.
Implementation Method 1
mixing the received signal with a modified reference signal to generate a mixed signal
Implementation Method 2
generating a reference signal, mixing the received signal with a modified reference signal
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method are provided for forming a beam of a transmit antenna array in the direction of a positioning receiver. Since the beam of the transmit antenna array is formed remotely by the positioning receiver, the received gain of the incoming positioning signal is maximised while signals from other directions are attenuated, thereby mitigating any unwanted effects of multipath. Depending on the number of elements in the transmit antenna array and their physical distribution, the width of the beam can be made finer such that the positioning receiver only requires a simple omni-directional antenna to achieve an accurate positioning solution.