Train Antenna Sector Layout for Independent Base Station Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems for moving ground-based vehicles, such as trains, face challenges in maintaining optimal transmission performance and capacity, especially in areas with poor radio coverage, leading to insufficient bandwidth and increased costs due to competing links from the same mobile network operator.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication system for ground-based vehicles that uses a router connected to directional antennas arranged on planes of the vehicle, isolating or absorbing planes, to transmit and receive data through multiple base stations, allowing non-overlapping antenna sectors to connect to different base stations independently, thereby increasing capacity and reducing competition between links.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple wireless links are used concurrently to improve transmission capacity, then bandwidth and capacity are improved, but competition between links from the same mobile network operator increases costs and reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wireless communication system into multiple independent antenna sectors, where each sector can independently connect to different base stations. This segmentation allows the system to utilize multiple wireless links concurrently without competition, as each sector operates independently with its own beam direction and base station connection, thereby improving transmission capacity while avoiding the cost inefficiency of competing links from the same operator.
2Reliability
If directional antennas are arranged on planes of the ground based vehicle, then transmission performance is improved through isolated sectors, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the existing planes of the ground based vehicle (such as the train body) to serve dual functions: as structural support and as ground planes for the directional antennas. This multi-functionality approach allows the antenna system to achieve isolated sectors and improved transmission performance without adding separate support structures, thereby reducing the overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Productivity
If antennas are directed to cover laterally directed sectors to different sides of the vehicle, then capacity utilization is improved by connecting to different base stations, but antenna beam control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-configures the directional antennas with fixed beam directions that are predetermined to cover specific lateral sectors. This preliminary action of setting fixed beam directions eliminates the need for complex real-time beam control mechanisms, while still achieving the goal of connecting different antenna sectors to different base stations, thereby improving capacity utilization without excessive control complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communication system for a ground based vehicle, such as a train, is disclosed. In an embodiment, the system includes a router connected to a plurality of antennas. The router is configured to transmit and receive a wireless data communication to and from a stationary communication server outside the ground based vehicle through at least one base station of an exterior mobile network via the plurality of antennas. The plurality of antennas are directional antennas arranged on planes of the vehicle functioning as ground planes, isolating planes, or absorbing planes. Each plane extends in a height direction or a length direction of the ground based vehicle. At least one antenna's beam covers a laterally directed sector to a first side of the vehicle, and at least one antenna's beam covers a laterally directed sector to a second side of the vehicle.