Rotatable PCB Directional Antenna for Mobile Hotspots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile hotspots with omnidirectional antennas have lower gain and performance compared to directional antennas, but mechanical steering of directional antennas is complex and costly, and signal transmission through slip rings is challenging.
Innovation Solution
A directional wireless hotspot device with a rotatable printed circuit board (PCB) housing a directional antenna, compass, and electric motor, where the motor parts are connected to optimize mechanical simplicity and signal processing, and slip rings are used for power and data transmission, with a method to automatically point the antenna towards a base station based on positional data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a directional antenna is used instead of an omnidirectional antenna, then the gain and performance are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase due to mechanical steering requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic directional steering by rotating the PCB assembly containing the antenna and processing components as a unified unit. The electric motor rotates the entire PCB assembly (including antenna, modem, and processing unit) to dynamically point the antenna toward the base station based on calculated azimuth angles, eliminating the need for complex separate mechanical steering mechanisms while maintaining high signal gain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the antenna, wireless modem, processing unit, and motor into a single rotatable PCB assembly. This integration allows all signal processing components to move together with the antenna, simplifying the mechanical structure by eliminating the need for slip rings and complex cable management systems that would be required if these components remained stationary.
2Reliability
If mechanical parts are added to steer the directional antenna, then the signal gain is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to complex assembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple components (antenna, modem, processing unit, motor) onto a single PCB assembly that rotates as one unit. This merging dramatically simplifies manufacturing and assembly compared to traditional approaches requiring separate mounting brackets, multiple fasteners, and complex alignment procedures for each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the hotspot device into two main parts: a stationary housing and a rotatable PCB assembly. This segmentation allows the complex antenna system to be manufactured and tested as a separate module before final integration, simplifying the overall manufacturing process and enabling modular production.
3Adaptability or versatility
If slip rings are used for signal transmission in the rotating structure, then the adaptability is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to challenges in transmitting RF signals through slip rings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges all signal processing components (modem, processing unit) with the antenna on the same rotatable PCB assembly. This eliminates the need for slip rings entirely, as all signals are processed locally on the rotating board and only power transmission is required, which can be handled by simpler rotary connectors or flexible cables.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the signal processing functions from the stationary housing and relocates them to the rotatable PCB assembly. This extraction removes the problematic RF signal transmission through slip rings, leaving only DC power transmission requirements which are much easier to implement reliably in rotating structures.
4Ease of operation
If the antenna and processing unit are separated, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional signal transmission components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the antenna and processing unit onto the same PCB assembly, allowing them to move together as one unit. This simplifies the signal transmission structure by eliminating the need for complex rotating connectors and cable management systems, while the entire assembly can still be independently controlled to rotate toward the base station for optimal signal reception.
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 provides a robust, compact, and high-gain directional antenna system that can handle mobility scenarios dynamically, optimizing signal transmission and simplifying production, while avoiding complex mechanical motions and signal transmission challenges through slip rings.
Implementation Method 1
the electric motor, such as a substantially flat piezoelectric motor, for rotating the printed circuit board around an axis substantially perpendicular to the directional antenna
Implementation Method 2
a compass, such as a magnetometer
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a directional wireless hotspot device for communication in a mobile network having a number of distributed cells, each cell covered by at least one fixed transceiver, the device comprising: a printed circuit board; a directional antenna; a compass, such as a magnetometer; a geographical positioning device, such as a GPS receiver; an electric motor, such as a substantially flat piezoelectric motor, for rotating the printed circuit board around an axis substantially perpendicular to the directional antenna; a wireless modem, such as a 3G/4G/LTE/5G modem, or a receiving element, such as a socket, arranged to receive an external wireless modem; a local communication element, such as a Wi-Fi circuit, for communication with a local device; a microprocessor configured to calculate an azimuthal rotation angle for pointing the directional antenna to one of the fixed transceivers based on: directional and positional data from the compass and geographical positioning device; positional data of the fixed transceivers; a housing.