Spatially-Offset Directional Antenna Sub-Arrays for Backhaul
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microwave backhaul radios struggle to maintain high data rates and low latency in obstructed line-of-sight conditions, especially in urban environments, due to the need for precise antenna alignment and the inability to effectively communicate with multiple radios simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
The development of intelligent backhaul radios that are compact, light, and low power, capable of operating at 100 Mb/s or higher at ranges of 300 m or longer in obstructed line-of-sight conditions with low latencies of 5 ms or less, supporting both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint topologies without requiring precise physical antenna alignment, utilizing directional transmit and receive antenna arrays with diversity mechanisms such as spatial, polarization, and angular beam diversity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional microwave backhaul radios use high-gain directional antennas, then data rate and range are improved, but precise antenna alignment is required which increases installation complexity and reduces adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is divided into multiple sub-arrays with different beamwidths and orientations. Each sub-array segment handles a specific spatial sector, allowing the system to maintain high gain in multiple directions simultaneously without requiring precise alignment of a single narrow beam antenna.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna system performs multiple functions through a single integrated structure: it provides both narrow-beam high-gain communication and wide-beam coverage, adapts to different propagation conditions (line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight), and eliminates the need for precise manual alignment while maintaining high data rates.
2Reliability
If conventional radios use narrow beamwidth antennas for high gain, then signal strength is improved, but the ability to communicate with multiple radios simultaneously is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is divided into multiple sub-arrays with different beamwidths and orientations. Each sub-array segment handles a specific spatial sector, allowing the system to maintain high gain in multiple directions simultaneously without requiring precise alignment of a single narrow beam antenna.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimension narrow beam approach to a multi-dimensional antenna system that operates in both azimuth and elevation planes. This creates a three-dimensional coverage pattern that can simultaneously serve multiple radios at different spatial locations with appropriate signal strength.
3Weight of moving object
If compact and light antenna designs are used, then ease of deployment is improved, but achieving high gain and narrow vertical beamwidths becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is divided into multiple sub-arrays with different beamwidths and orientations. Each sub-array segment handles a specific spatial sector, allowing the system to maintain high gain in multiple directions simultaneously without requiring precise alignment of a single narrow beam antenna.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple antenna sub-arrays with complementary radiation patterns into a single integrated system. This merging of multiple compact elements achieves the high gain and directional control of a large single antenna while maintaining the advantages of compact, lightweight individual components that are easier to deploy.
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
These radios provide reliable, high-capacity data communications in urban deployments by leveraging multipath scattering and diffraction, achieving wide azimuthal coverage, narrow vertical beamwidths, and high-gain antennas, ensuring efficient use of radio spectrum resources and maintaining performance without the need for precise alignment.
Implementation Method 1
directional transmit antenna array for simultaneously transmitting a plurality of transmit symbol streams to a target radio
Implementation Method 2
leveraging multipath scattering and diffraction
Implementation Method 3
leveraging multipath scattering and diffraction
Data Source
AI summary
An intelligent backhaul radio that has an advanced antenna system for use in PTP or PMP topologies. The advanced antenna system includes a plurality of directional antenna arrays, wherein each directional antenna array includes a plurality of directional antenna sub-arrays, and wherein each directional antenna sub-array includes a plurality of directional antenna elements. At least one of the plurality of directional antenna arrays includes at least one first directional antenna sub-array, said first directional antenna sub-array including a first number of directional antenna elements. At least one of the plurality of directional antenna arrays includes at least one second directional antenna sub-array, said second directional antenna sub-array including a second number of directional antenna elements. The first number is different than the second number.