Rotatable Millimeter-Wave Antenna Scanning for CPE Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost and complexity of setting up multiple millimeter-wave antenna modules in customer premise equipment (CPE) for improved alignment with base stations in 5G networks, leading to increased costs and potential signal interference.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an interval stepping strategy in the CPE's processor to control the millimeter-wave antenna's rotation, allowing for omnidirectional coverage and reduced signal interference by determining the target orientation and block for optimal alignment with base stations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple millimeter-wave antenna modules are fixed in different positions of the CPE to improve alignment with base stations, then the alignment accuracy and omnidirectional coverage are improved, but the device cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of multiple fixed antenna modules into a single rotatable millimeter-wave antenna. By combining the radiation functions of multiple antennas into one movable antenna, the system achieves omnidirectional coverage through rotation while reducing device complexity and cost associated with multiple simultaneous antenna modules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the static configuration of multiple fixed antenna modules into a dynamic single rotatable antenna system. The millimeter-wave antenna can rotate to different orientations to achieve alignment with base stations from various directions, providing the same omnidirectional coverage functionality as multiple fixed antennas but with reduced complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple millimeter-wave antenna modules are deployed to achieve omnidirectional coverage, then the coverage capability is improved, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveomnidirectional coverageVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple antenna functions into a single rotatable antenna unit. This merged design achieves omnidirectional coverage by rotating the single antenna to different positions, eliminating the need for multiple simultaneous antenna modules and thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single rotatable millimeter-wave antenna is designed to perform multiple functions that would otherwise require separate antenna modules. By rotating to different orientations, the same antenna can serve multiple directional coverage needs, making it a universal solution that replaces multiple specialized fixed antennas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If adjacent stepping rotations are performed to scan multiple blocks for network information, then the alignment accuracy is improved, but signal interference between rotations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment accuracyVSAvoidsignal interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing a coarse interval scan across multiple blocks before conducting fine-grained alignment in the target block. This two-stage approach allows the system to first identify the general direction of the base station with minimal interference, then perform precise alignment in the identified target block, thereby reducing overall signal interference while maintaining alignment accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the scanning process into two distinct phases: interval scanning across multiple blocks to identify the target block, and then fine scanning within the target block to achieve precise alignment. This segmentation allows the system to perform coarse localization with larger steps (less interference) followed by fine tuning in the identified region, reducing cumulative signal interference while achieving high alignment accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3855633B1Customer premise equipment, method for antenna control, and computer-readable storage medium
Publication Date: 2024.01.10 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP3855633B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3855633B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3855633B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A customer premise equipment (CPE), a method for antenna control, and a computer-readable storage medium are provided in an implementation of the present disclosure. The CPE includes a millimeter-wave antenna (241), a radio frequency (RF) circuit (242), a driving module (25), and a processor (22). The processor (22) is configured to perform the following. Control the driving module (25) to drive, according to an interval stepping strategy, the millimeter-wave antenna to rotate to perform interval scan on multiple blocks, and correspondingly obtain network information measured in each of the blocks to obtain multiple pieces of network information measured. Determine a target block for the millimeter-wave antenna according to the multiple pieces of network information measured. Control, in the target block, the driving module (25) to drive, according to a preset rotation stepping, the millimeter-wave antenna to rotate to obtain a target orientation. Control the millimeter-wave antenna to rotate to the target orientation.