Terminal Antenna Configuration Selection for Signal Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in configuring antenna arrays, especially at higher frequency bands and in poor transmission conditions, particularly with conformal antennas which have complex transmission properties and are difficult to steer, and pilot signals can be near the noise floor, making channel sounding procedures ineffective.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize a plurality of preset antenna configurations with defined reception parameters for each antenna element, allowing for iterative optimization and selection of the best configuration based on determined reception characteristics, even under poor reception conditions, to enhance signal transmission efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conformal antennas are used in terminal devices to meet increasing wireless communication demands, then the antenna array can be integrated into the device structure, but the transmission properties become complex and difficult to steer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing multiple steering vectors corresponding to different terminal orientations and positions in a codebook before actual communication occurs. When the terminal device is used, the system simply selects the appropriate pre-calculated steering vector from the codebook based on detected orientation and position, avoiding complex real-time calculations and making the complex conformal antenna system easy to control.
2Reliability
If channel sounding procedure is used to configure antenna parameters, then transmission performance can be optimized, but pilot signals become undetectable in poor transmission conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using reference signals that are transmitted with higher power or different characteristics than regular pilot signals. These reference signals serve as intermediaries to establish initial channel information in poor conditions, enabling subsequent normal pilot signal detection and channel sounding procedures to function properly.
3Productivity
If higher frequency bands are used to meet increasing data transmission demands, then bandwidth capacity increases, but the aperture of single antenna element becomes small and transmission efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining signals from multiple antenna elements through coherent combining techniques. By properly phase-aligning and summing the signals from multiple small aperture antennas, the system achieves an effective aperture equivalent to or larger than individual elements, compensating for the reduced size of single antenna elements at higher frequencies and maintaining transmission efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application relates to a method for adjusting an antenna configuration of the terminal device (30) in a cellular communication system (10). The system (10) comprises a base station (20) and a terminal device (30) comprising a plurality of antenna elements (40-43). In the terminal device (30) a plurality of preset antenna configurations is provided. Each antenna configuration defines at least one reception parameter for the plurality of antenna elements (40-43). For each antenna configuration of the plurality of preset antenna configurations the antenna configuration is applied to the plurality of antenna elements (40-43) and a reception characteristic of a signal transmission from the base station (20) is determined. Based on the plurality of reception characteristics one antenna configuration is selected and applied to the plurality of antenna elements (40-43) for further signal transmissions.