Steerable Cellular Antennas for Obstructed 5G Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G cellular systems face limitations in antenna height due to environmental obstructions, which restrict the range and reliability of communications, especially in urban areas where vegetation, buildings, and other obstacles impede signal propagation.
Innovation Solution
The system employs electrically or mechanically steerable cellular transceivers with edge processing modules and antennas that can be adjusted using liquid lenses or actuators to optimize antenna directionality and extend communication range, integrated with edge learning machines for real-time beam sweeping and network resource management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If antenna height is increased to extend communication range, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase due to environmental obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs steerable antennas that can dynamically adjust their beam direction electronically or mechanically to overcome environmental obstructions. This allows the system to maintain reliable communication by dynamically redirecting signals around obstacles without requiring permanent installation at great heights, thus improving communication reliability while avoiding the complexity of fixed high-altitude structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the directional parameters of antenna beams through electronic steering or mechanical adjustment. By modifying the orientation and directionality parameters of the antenna radiation patterns, the system can adapt to varying environmental conditions and obstructions, maintaining reliable communication links without requiring increased antenna height or complex installation structures.
2Device complexity
If traditional fixed antennas are used, then device complexity is reduced, but communication range is limited due to environmental obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements steerable antennas with electronic or mechanical steering capabilities that allow dynamic adjustment of beam direction. This dynamic adaptability enables the system to extend communication range by redirecting signals around obstacles such as vegetation and buildings, achieving longer effective communication distances without requiring complex fixed infrastructure or increased antenna height.
3Length of moving object
If permanent high-altitude antenna structures are installed, then communication range is extended, but installation time and cost increase due to permit requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs steerable antennas that can be deployed on existing structures at lower heights while achieving extended communication range through dynamic beam steering. This eliminates the need for permanent high-altitude installations and associated permit requirements, significantly reducing installation time and administrative overhead while maintaining extended communication coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces mechanical solutions (physical antenna height increase through towers or masts) with electronic or software-controlled beam steering mechanisms. This substitution allows the system to achieve extended communication range through electronic direction control rather than physical height increase, avoiding the need for complex mechanical installation structures and permitting processes.
4Ease of manufacture
If antenna height is limited by environmental obstructions, then installation simplicity is maintained, but communication reliability deteriorates in obstructed environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements steerable antennas that can dynamically adjust their beam direction to navigate around environmental obstructions such as vegetation canopies and buildings. This dynamic beam steering capability allows the system to maintain simple, low-height installations while achieving reliable communication by electronically redirecting signals around obstacles, thus preserving installation simplicity while eliminating reliability concerns.
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
This solution enhances communication range and reliability by dynamically adjusting antenna orientation and beamforming, enabling effective communication in obstructed environments while minimizing installation time and costs.
Implementation Method 1
liquid is added or removed to adjust the curvature of the movable surface
Implementation Method 2
one or more actuators; a ground cover above the one or more actuators providing a moveable surface, wherein the actuators move to adjust the curvature of the movable surface
Implementation Method 3
The antenna may be used for reception, transmission or both reception and transmission of an electromagnetic signal
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a cellular transceiver to communicate with a predetermined target; one or more antennas coupled to the 5G or 6G transceiver each electrically or mechanically steerable to the predetermined target; a processor to control a directionality of the one or more antennas in communication with the predetermined target; and an edge processing module coupled to the processor and the one or more antennas to provide low-latency computation for the predetermined target.