Smart Antenna Analog Weighting for Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional smart antenna devices require a long time to obtain optimal weights due to initial normalized integer settings and digital conversion processes, leading to increased process time and reduced operation speed.
Innovation Solution
A smart antenna device with first and second weighting units for two antennas, an operating unit to calculate the weight ratio, and a phase shifting unit to equalize signal phases, allowing for real-time optimization of signal-to-noise ratio without digital conversion, using analog circuits for weighting and phase adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If weight operation is performed after digital conversion with initial normalized integer settings, then weight calculation can be performed, but process time increases and operation speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the digital signal processing system with an analog circuit system. Specifically, it uses analog multipliers to perform weight operations directly on analog signals before digital conversion, eliminating the need for post-conversion weight calculation and significantly reducing processing time while maintaining calculation accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs weight operations preliminarily in the analog domain before digital conversion. By calculating weights and applying them to signals in the analog stage, the system prepares the signals in advance, avoiding time-consuming digital weight operations later and accelerating overall processing speed
2Ease of operation
If weight operation is performed after digital conversion, then weight can be applied to signals, but operation speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes digital weight application operations with analog circuit operations. Analog multipliers and mixers perform weight multiplication in the analog domain, enabling real-time weight application without the processing delays inherent in digital systems, thus maintaining ease of operation while dramatically improving speed
3Reliability
If conventional digital processing is used for weight optimization, then signal processing can be performed, but the configuration becomes complex and processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex digital signal processing circuits with simpler analog circuits. Analog multipliers, mixers, and phase shifters perform weight operations and signal processing in the analog domain, reducing the number of digital components required and simplifying the overall system configuration while maintaining processing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the weight operation function from the digital processing stage and separates it into the analog processing stage. This extraction allows weight calculations to be performed independently in the analog domain before digital conversion, simplifying the digital processing requirements and reducing overall system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A smart antenna device includes: first and second weighting units provided to correspond to two antennas disposed apart from each other so as to weight received signals inputted from the antennas, respectively; an operating unit that obtains a ratio of a weight of the second weighting unit to a weight of the first weighting unit; an adding unit that adds a signal outputted from the first weighting unit and a signal outputted from the second weighting unit to each other; and a phase shifting unit that makes phases of the two signals equal to each other.