RIS OTA Measurement With Single-Antenna Transmit-Receive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing over-the-air (OTA) measurement systems for reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) are costly and require significant spatial resources due to the need for multiple antennas for testing beamforming capabilities.
Innovation Solution
An OTA measurement system utilizing a single RF antenna or antenna array for both transmission and reception, combined with a positioner unit to adjust the RIS's position, and a signal processing module to determine reflection parameters, allowing for efficient testing with reduced hardware and spatial requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a bistatic antenna OTA measurement system is used to test RIS beamforming capabilities, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to requiring multiple antennas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the universality principle by designing a single antenna that can function as both transmitter and receiver. The antenna is configured to transmit RF signals to the RIS and receive reflected signals, eliminating the need for separate transmit and receive antennas. This multi-functional design reduces the number of antenna components while maintaining measurement capabilities for RIS beamforming performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the transmit and receive antenna functions into a single antenna structure. By combining these functions, the system reduces hardware complexity and manufacturing cost while still enabling accurate measurement of RIS reflection characteristics through the single-antenna transceiver configuration.
2Measurement precision
If multiple antennas are used for OTA measurement system, then measurement precision is improved, but spatial requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single antenna serves dual purposes as both transmitter and receiver, eliminating the need for multiple antenna positions. This multi-functional design reduces the spatial footprint of the measurement system while maintaining the ability to accurately characterize RIS beamforming performance through the single-antenna transceiver configuration.
3Device complexity
If a single RF antenna is used for both transmission and reception, then device complexity and manufacturing cost are reduced, but measurement precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The single antenna receives reflected RF signals from the RIS and transmits these signals back through the same antenna for processing. This feedback mechanism enables the system to measure reflection parameters by analyzing the returned signals, maintaining measurement precision despite using a single antenna for both transmit and receive functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical complexity of multiple antenna components with signal processing techniques. By using signal analysis methods to extract reflection parameters from the single-antenna received signals, the system achieves accurate measurements without requiring multiple physical antennas, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining precision.
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
The solution significantly reduces manufacturing costs and spatial requirements by halving the number of necessary antennas and optimizing measurement conditions, enabling accurate determination of RIS performance parameters.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one RF antenna is connected to the at least one signal generator module so as to receive the at least one RF signal, and wherein the at least one RF antenna is configured to transmit the at least one RF signal
Implementation Method 2
the at least one RF antenna further is configured to receive at least one reflected RF signal, wherein the at least one reflected RF signal corresponds to the at least one RF signal reflected by the RIS module
Data Source
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AI summary
An over-the-air, OTA, measurement system (10) for testing a reconfigurable intelligent surface, RIS, is described. The OTA measurement system (10) comprises at least one signal generator module (18) being configured to generate at least one RF signal. The OTA measurement system (10) further comprises at least one RF antenna (28) that is configured to transmit the at least one RF signal. The OTA measurement system (10) further comprises a positioner unit (26) that is configured to hold an RIS module (16) in an adaptable position, wherein the positioner unit is configured to modify the adaptable position. The at least one RF antenna (28) further is configured to receive at least one reflected RF signal. The OTA measurement system (10) is configured such that far-field conditions of the at least one transmitted RF signal are provided at the RIS module (16) , and that far-field conditions of the at least one reflected RF signal are provided at the at least one RF antenna (28). The OTA measurement system (10) further comprises at least one receiver module (22) being connected to the at least one RF antenna (28) so as to receive the at least one reflected RF signal from the at least one RF antenna (28). The OTA measurement system (10) further comprises a signal processing module (24), wherein the signal processing module (24) is configured to determine at least one reflection parameter based on the at least one RF signal and based on the at least one reflected RF signal. Further, an OTA measurement method is described.