Rotating Millimeter Wave Antenna for 5G Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and inefficiency of aligning multiple millimeter wave antennas in customer premise equipment for optimal network communication, particularly in 5G networks, due to the need for precise directional alignment with base stations, which increases setup costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A customer premise equipment system that includes a millimeter wave antenna, a radio frequency circuit, and a processor to divide the scanning range into blocks, construct an interval step strategy, and control the antenna to rotate based on this strategy to identify and align with the target block for optimal network information acquisition and communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple millimeter wave antenna modules are fixed in different positions to improve alignment direction with base station, then communication alignment is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the single millimeter wave antenna dynamic by enabling it to rotate and change its radiation direction actively. The antenna can adjust its orientation to align with the base station, replacing the need for multiple fixed antennas with different orientations. This dynamic adjustment capability allows one antenna to perform the function that previously required multiple static antennas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the antenna system by introducing rotatable movement. The antenna's radiation direction becomes a variable parameter that can be adjusted according to the base station's position. This parameter change allows the system to achieve optimal alignment without increasing the number of antenna modules, thereby reducing cost while maintaining or improving alignment reliability.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple antenna modules are used to cover different directions, then scanning coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple fixed antennas to cover different directions simultaneously, the patent employs a single rotatable antenna that dynamically changes its orientation. This dynamic approach allows one antenna to scan through multiple directions sequentially, achieving the same coverage area without the structural complexity of multiple antenna modules and their associated mounting structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the scanning process into discrete angular positions or blocks. Rather than having multiple antennas covering all directions at once, the single antenna systematically divides the scanning range into segments and sequentially targets each segment. This segmentation of the scanning process reduces structural complexity while maintaining comprehensive coverage capability.
3Productivity
If traditional antenna alignment method is used, then setup process is simple, but alignment efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system measures network information from different angular positions and uses this information to determine the optimal radiation direction. The control system receives feedback about signal quality or network performance at each angular position and adjusts the antenna orientation accordingly. This feedback loop enables efficient automatic alignment, significantly improving productivity compared to simple manual alignment methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-alignment by automatically measuring network information and determining the optimal direction without requiring external intervention. The control system autonomously controls the antenna rotation and positioning based on measured data, enabling the system to service itself during the alignment process. This self-service capability improves alignment efficiency while the added control complexity is justified by the automated functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A customer premise equipment, an antenna control method and a non-transitory storage medium are provided. The customer premise equipment includes a millimeter wave antenna configured to receive and transmit antenna signals, a RF circuit configured to measure a piece of network information of each antenna signal, a driver module and a processor. The processor is configured to divide a scanning range of the millimeter wave antenna into a plurality of blocks, and constructing an interval step strategy based on the plurality of blocks, control the driver module to drive the millimeter wave antenna to rotate based on the interval step strategy, acquire a plurality of pieces of network information of antenna signals measured by the millimeter wave antenna under the plurality of blocks, and determine a target block according to the plurality of pieces of network information, and control the millimeter wave antenna to rotate to the target block.