Shape-Adaptive 5G Beam Books for Foldable Antenna Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
5G electronic devices face challenges in maintaining effective beam coverage and communication efficiency when their physical form changes, such as folding or extending, due to the need for repositioning antenna arrays and adapting beam patterns.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a changeable housing and multiple antenna modules, where a processor manages beamforming by switching between different beam books stored in memory, allowing for seamless communication adjustments based on form changes, reducing beam search time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the physical form of the electronic device is changed (folding or extending), then the display surface and portability are improved, but the beam coverage and communication efficiency deteriorate due to antenna array repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the beamforming configuration adaptive to the device's physical state. The processor dynamically switches between first beamforming configurations (for unfolded state) and second beamforming configurations (for folded state), allowing the beam coverage to adapt to the changing antenna array positions caused by folding or extending the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the beamforming parameters based on the device's physical form. Different beamforming configurations (sets of beamforming weights, phases, and amplitudes) are selected according to whether the device is in an unfolded or folded state, thereby maintaining optimal beam coverage despite changes in antenna positions.
2Ease of operation
If the device form is changed to improve portability, then the ease of operation is improved, but the communication efficiency deteriorates due to need for beam search
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple beamforming configurations corresponding to different device states (unfolded and folded). When the device state changes, the processor directly switches to the pre-configured appropriate beamforming configuration, avoiding the need for time-consuming beam searching and maintaining communication efficiency.
3Reliability
If multiple antenna arrays are positioned inside the housing to form beams in different directions, then the beam coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the antenna modules to serve multiple functions. The same physical antenna arrays are used for both forming beams in different directions (spatial diversity) and adapting to different device states (folded/unfolded). The processor manages multiple beamforming configurations that leverage the same hardware resources for different communication scenarios.
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
Enables efficient communication by dynamically switching between beam patterns associated with different antenna configurations, maintaining performance even when the device's form is altered, thus enhancing portability and display capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
the electronic device and the base station may transmit and receive signals using beamforming. Unlike an omni-directional beam pattern in the conventional art, a beam-formed beam pattern of the electronic device may have relatively high directivity.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may include a housing of which a shape is changeable, a plurality of antenna modules positioned inside the housing and including at least one antenna array, and at least one processor operatively connected to the plurality of antenna modules. The electronic device may detect a change in the shape of the housing and perform communication using a first beam book and/or a second beam book based at least on the change in the shape of the housing. In addition to the above, various embodiments identified through the specification are possible.