Switched Beam Antenna Angle of Arrival Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Classic Bluetooth Basic Rate devices face challenges in determining the angle of arrival (AOA) of signals due to the relatively long gap between connections, requiring re-initialization of the switched beam antenna (SBA) beam selection process for each short connection time, which is not suitable for permanent connections.
Innovation Solution
A method and device using a switched beam antenna (SBA) in a wireless device to determine the AOA by selecting a beam with the highest average signal strength, where the SBA processes a first beam with a specific width and sector coverage, transmitting identifiable sequences on multiple narrower beams, receiving packets, and determining signal strength to identify the optimal beam for communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a switched beam antenna re-initializes beam selection for each connection, then AOA determination accuracy is improved, but connection efficiency deteriorates due to long gaps between connections
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary beam selection and stores the results before the connection gap occurs. When a new connection is needed, the stored beam selection information is reused instead of re-initializing the beam selection process, thus maintaining AOA accuracy while reducing connection establishment time.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam selection approach transitions from static re-initialization to dynamic adaptation. The system dynamically decides whether to re-initialize beam selection based on the connection gap duration and signal conditions, optimizing between accuracy and efficiency in real-time.
2Measurement precision
If multiple narrower beams are transmitted in succession, then AOA measurement precision is improved, but transmission time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of transmitting on all possible beams, the system transmits on a subset of beams that are most likely to contain the target device, based on previous beam selection results or spatial filtering. This partial action maintains AOA measurement precision while reducing the total transmission time required.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam transmission process is segmented into phases: initial wide-beam scanning followed by focused narrow-beam transmission only in promising directions. This segmentation allows the system to achieve precise AOA measurement without exhaustively testing all narrow beams.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for measuring the angle of arrival AOA of Classic Bluetooth Basic Rate (BR) packets, using a switched beam antenna SBA is described. Paging packets are transmitted and wide antenna beams, quadrants, are selected in turn until the paging response is received. After transmitting the synchronization packet and the temporary connection is established, narrow antenna beams are selected, in sequences and the average signal strength for each beam is recorded, for each sequence. The beam with the highest signal strength is returned as the AOA. Based upon which beam recorded the highest signal strength, the next sequence of antenna beams is selected.