Virtual Antenna Radiation Pattern with Sharp Cutoff Beam Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face issues with signal leakage outside designated beamwidth regions due to non-negligible antenna radiation patterns, leading to data reception by undesired users with higher error probabilities, and physical antenna designs for narrow beamwidths are expensive and difficult to adjust.

Innovation Solution

A multistage coding scheme is used to create a virtual antenna radiation pattern with a sharp cutoff defined by a designated bit-energy-to-noise-ratio, preventing signal reception outside the designated region by adjusting the beamwidth through artificial errors in the coding process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If spot beam antenna is used to concentrate radiated energy within designated beamwidth region, then signal leakage to undesired users is reduced, but physical antenna design becomes extremely expensive and difficult to adjust when narrow beamwidth is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal concentrationVSAvoidantenna design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical antenna system with an information processing system. Instead of using physical spot beam antennas with complex feeder systems and reflector structures to concentrate signals, the invention uses multistage coding schemes (information processing) to achieve the same effect of concentrating communication resources to designated users while preventing undesired users from receiving signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the approach from physically adjusting antenna parameters (feeder system configuration, reflector structure, aperture distribution) to adjusting information processing parameters (coding scheme, number of coding stages, artificial error insertion). This allows flexible control of beamwidth and signal concentration without complex physical redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If physical antenna design is elaborated to achieve narrow beamwidth, then signal leakage is reduced, but manufacturing cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeamwidth controlVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive physical antenna designs with information processing methods. The multistage coding scheme achieves narrow effective beamwidth and signal concentration without requiring elaborate antenna components, thereby eliminating the need for costly manufacturing and installation of specialized antenna systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses software-based information processing (coding schemes) instead of expensive hardware antenna systems. The coding algorithms can be easily updated, adjusted, or replaced without physical changes, making the system more cost-effective and flexible compared to permanent physical antenna installations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If physical antenna is used to define beamwidth, then signal coverage is controlled, but beamwidth adjustment becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeamwidth definitionVSAvoidbeamwidth adjustability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the beamwidth dynamic and adjustable through information processing. By changing the coding scheme parameters, number of coding stages, or artificial error insertion levels, the effective beamwidth can be dynamically adjusted to match different communication scenarios without physical antenna reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent achieves beamwidth adjustment by changing information processing parameters rather than physical antenna parameters. The multistage coding scheme allows flexible control of signal concentration and beamwidth definition through software-based parameter adjustment, providing adaptability to different communication requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8472622B2Wireless communication method, information access method, and virtual antenna radiation pattern forming method

Publication Date: 2013.06.25 TAIWAN SPACE AGENCY

AI summary

A wireless communication method for transmitting information to the designated region with the boundary defined by the sharp cutoff is provided. Receivers outside the designated region are excluded from retrieving the encoded information. The boundary of designated region is adjustable. The wireless communication method can be applied to clearly defining the accepted region and rejection region in satellite communications. The wireless communication method includes steps of providing an information; encoding the information into an encoded data regarding a designated bit-energy-to-noise-ratio; transmitting the encoded data to form a virtual antenna radiation pattern covering a designated region with boundary defined by the sharp cutoff based on the designated bit-energy-to-noise-ratio; receiving the encoded data; and decoding the encoded data into the original information only when receivers within the designated region with bit-energy-to-noise-ratio no less than the designated bit-energy-to-noise-ratio. The critical feature of the method is clarified by experiments on the communication satellite ST-1.