Switched Log-Periodic Repeater Antenna for Adaptive Radiation Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular repeater systems face challenges in optimizing communication between indoor devices and cellular base stations due to limitations in antenna configuration and radiation patterns, leading to suboptimal signal quality and latency.
Innovation Solution
A cellular repeater system with an outdoor antenna featuring multiple log-periodic antennas rotated to different directions and a switching device that selectively couples these antennas to a RF transceiver, allowing configuration into various antenna modes based on channel quality indicators to tailor radiation patterns for improved communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single fixed antenna configuration is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different channel conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a switching device that dynamically reconfigures the antenna array based on channel quality indicators. The system transitions from a static single-antenna configuration to a dynamic multi-antenna system where the active antenna elements are selected in real-time according to communication conditions, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the antenna array by selectively activating different subsets of antenna elements based on measured channel conditions. This parameter change approach allows the same physical antenna structure to adapt to varying channel qualities without requiring multiple complete antenna systems, thus improving adaptability while controlling complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple log-periodic antennas are used with different radiation patterns, then the adaptability to channel conditions is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the complete antenna array into multiple selectable subsets or groups of antenna elements. Each subset can be independently activated to provide different radiation patterns. This segmentation allows the system to offer multiple radiation patterns using a single shared antenna structure, improving adaptability while avoiding the complexity of maintaining multiple complete antenna systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna array is designed with multi-functionality where the same physical antenna elements can serve different radiation pattern functions depending on which subset is activated. The switching device enables a single antenna structure to perform multiple radiation pattern functions, resolving the contradiction between having diverse radiation patterns and maintaining simple device architecture.
3Productivity
If antenna modes are switched based on channel quality indicators, then communication efficiency is improved, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where channel quality indicators are continuously monitored and used to control the switching of antenna modes. This closed-loop feedback system automatically adjusts the antenna configuration based on real-time communication conditions, improving productivity through adaptive optimization while using standard feedback control techniques to manage the complexity of the control system.
Data Source
AI summary
A cellular repeater system is provided. The cellular repeater system includes an outdoor antenna communicatively coupled to a repeater. The outdoor antenna is configured to relay communications from the repeater to a cellular base station. The outdoor antenna includes a plurality of log-periodic antennas rotated relative to one another such that each of the plurality of log-periodic antennas is pointed in a different direction. The cellular repeater system includes a switching device configured to selectively couple one or more of the plurality of log-periodic antennas to a RF transceiver of the repeater in order to configure the outdoor antenna in a plurality of antenna modes. Each of the plurality of antenna modes have a distinct radiation pattern.