Vertical Beam Forming Antenna for Low Wind Loading Backhaul
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless backhaul solutions for MicroCells and PicoCells face challenges in providing cost-effective, high-capacity connections due to the limitations of Line of Sight (LOS) technologies, which are costly and restricted to elevated sites, and the need for Non Line of Sight (NLOS) solutions that can handle increased data rates and frequency reuse without incurring high operational expenses or interference issues.
Innovation Solution
A beam forming antenna module with a wide aperture arrangement of radiating elements, designed to provide narrow beams in the azimuth plane and wide beams in the elevation plane, allowing for low wind loading and inconspicuous deployment, capable of implementing 2×2 MIMO and configured for digital beam forming to enhance frequency reuse and capacity while maintaining a small form factor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional LOS microwave backhaul is used, then high-capacity wireless backhaul is achieved, but elevated sites are required and deployment flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is divided into multiple antenna elements arranged in a specific geometry, with each element contributing to different spatial beams. This segmentation enables the system to achieve high capacity through spatial multiplexing while maintaining a compact form factor that can be deployed in various locations without requiring elevated sites.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional horizontal antenna arrays to a vertical antenna geometry, utilizing the vertical dimension to create narrow horizontal beams. This dimensional change allows the system to achieve directional beamforming capability in a compact horizontal footprint, enabling deployment in space-constrained environments while maintaining backhaul capacity.
2Measurement precision
If antenna array size is increased to improve beam forming performance, then beam directionality is improved, but wind loading and structural requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By orienting the antenna array vertically rather than horizontally, the system achieves narrow horizontal beamwidth through vertical element spacing. This allows the antenna to maintain compact horizontal dimensions (reducing wind loading) while still providing the directional precision needed for beamforming through the vertical dimension.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna elements are integrated into a compact modular unit with a shared ground plane and electronic beamforming circuitry. This composite structure achieves high directionality through precise electromagnetic field control while minimizing the physical footprint and associated wind loading through integrated design.
3Productivity
If cell splitting is implemented to increase capacity, then aggregate network capacity increases, but infrastructure cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The compact antenna system with integrated beamforming capability can be deployed in multiple locations (microcells, picocells, femtocells) to implement cell splitting and increase aggregate capacity. The same antenna design serves multiple deployment scenarios, reducing infrastructure complexity compared to traditional solutions that would require different antenna types for different cell sizes.
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
The solution enables high-capacity wireless backhaul with reduced wind loading and aesthetically pleasing deployments, supporting increased frequency reuse and capacity without the need for extensive infrastructure upgrades, thus addressing the limitations of existing LOS solutions and enhancing network performance.
Implementation Method 1
a wide aperture arrangement of a plurality of radiating elements, wherein the plurality of radiating elements are arranged in an array on a panel
Implementation Method 2
beam forming antenna module with a wide aperture arrangement of radiating elements, designed to provide narrow beams in the azimuth plane and wide beams in the elevation plane
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna arrangement, a system, and method are provided for implementing a wireless communication module capable of performing adaptive beam forming, with a small antenna sail area. The antenna has a large horizontal to vertical aspect ratio. The antenna module is designed to include very few, or potentially a single radiating element in the vertical direction, and many elements in the horizontal direction, in order to create narrow beam in the azimuth plane, while maintaining a small sail area. The novel form factor advantageously provides for reduced wind loading, and for less conspicuous installations on buildings or towers, for example. The module is anticipated to find widespread applications in LOS and NLOS backhaul applications, and other wireless links between stationary nodes.