Repeater Mechanical Beam Steering for Obstructed Wireless Links

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently steering mechanical beams in repeaters to optimize communication links, especially in environments with obstructions that affect signal quality.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for repeater mechanical beam steering, where a repeater identifies parameters for mechanical beam steering and performs beam steering based on these parameters, either autonomously or upon receiving an indication from a base station or network controller.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mechanical beam steering is implemented in repeaters to optimize communication links, then signal quality and network coverage are improved, but device complexity and control difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal qualityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a base station as an intermediary that generates and transmits beam steering parameters to the repeater. This mediator handles the complex calculations and decision-making, while the repeater simply executes the parameters received, thereby improving signal quality without significantly increasing the repeater's own complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical beam steering control with a parameter-based control system. Instead of directly controlling mechanical movements through complex mechanisms, the system uses electrical parameters (beam steering parameters) to control the mechanical phaseers, simplifying the control architecture while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Speed

If autonomous mechanical beam steering is implemented in repeaters, then response speed and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse speedVSAvoidprocessing requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station performs preliminary calculations and determines the optimal beam steering parameters in advance, before transmitting them to the repeater. This preliminary action allows the repeater to quickly execute pre-computed parameters without needing complex real-time processing capabilities, thus improving response speed while limiting processing requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The repeater is designed to autonomously apply the received beam steering parameters to its mechanical phaseers without requiring continuous external control. This self-service capability enables quick local execution of beam steering actions while keeping the processing requirements manageable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12316428B2Repeater mechanical beam steering

Publication Date: 2025.05.27 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a repeater may identify one or more parameters for mechanical beam steering. The repeater may perform mechanical beam steering based at least in part on the one or more parameters. Numerous other aspects are provided.