H01Q25/02

APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR BEAMFORMING TRACKING

Signals are received from antenna elements in an antenna array, and respective phase shifts are applied to the received signals. The respective phase shifts are relative to a channel phase shift associated with each antenna element, and correspond to side angles from a current antenna beam direction of the antenna array. Control signals based on the phase shifted signals are generated to control the channel phase shifts, to provide beamforming tracking.

Dual-beam sector antenna and array

A low sidelobe beam forming method and dual-beam antenna schematic are disclosed, which may preferably be used for 3-sector and 6-sector cellular communication system. Complete antenna combines 2-, 3- or -4 columns dual-beam sub-arrays (modules) with improved beam-forming network (BFN). The modules may be used as part of an array, or as an independent 2-beam antenna. By integrating different types of modules to form a complete array, the present invention provides an improved dual-beam antenna with improved azimuth sidelobe suppression in a wide frequency band of operation, with improved coverage of a desired cellular sector and with less interference being created with other cells. Advantageously, a better cell efficiency is realized with up to 95% of the radiated power being directed in a desired cellular sector.

LEO SATELLITE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

A low earth orbit (LEO) satellite including a processor, a memory, and a communication sub-system. The communication sub-system including: an antenna array and a reconfigurable digital logic processing device. The processor dynamically reconfigures the reconfigurable digital logic processing device to amplify or attenuate transmissions received from one or more directions of interest, or to amplify or attenuate signals transmitted by the antenna array in one or more directions of interest according to the orbital schedule of the LEO satellite.

Systems and methods for a radar system using sectional three-dimensional beamforming

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to scanning a surrounding environment of a vehicle by radar during automated driving. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting an object by using a three-dimensional beam formed by a layered array of end-fire antennas. The method also includes scanning the object by using a fine three-dimensional beam formed by a section of the layered array of end-fire antennas. The method also includes tracking the object by using the fine three-dimensional beam.

DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA MODULE AND METHOD
20170310003 · 2017-10-26 ·

The present invention relates to a directional antenna module comprising: at least one antenna array having at least two antenna elements connected to a 180-degree hybrid providing an inphase summation signal and an out-of-phase summation signal of the antenna signals received from the antenna elements and a switching element adapted to switch between the inphase summation signal and the out-of-phase summation signal output by said 180-degree hybrid in response to a direction finding mode control signal (DFM-CRTL) to provide an antenna output signal at an antenna module output of said directional antenna module. The present invention further relates to a method for direction finding of a signal source.

Imaging Radar Sensor with Horizontal Digital Beam Forming and Vertical Object Measurement by Phase Comparison in Mutually Offset Transmitters
20170293028 · 2017-10-12 ·

According to the invention, a device and a method are provided for determining the position of an object, in particular a moving object, in the three-dimensional space. The device comprises at least two switchable transmitting antennas having a different vertical position of the phase center as well as a plurality of receiving antennas which are arranged in series. The transmitting antennas are arranged in the horizontal direction and at a distance that corresponds to the distance of the receiving antennas. The transmitting antennas are vertically offset with respect to each other by a value that is less than or equal to half the free-space wavelength of the transmitted signal. The transmitting antennas can otherwise be arranged at any position around the receiving antenna. Horizontal beam sweep across a wide angular range is carried out according to the method of “digital beamforming”. The measurement of the vertical object position is carried out by phase measurement between the antenna beams when the transmitting antennas are sequentially switched.

Non-uniformly thinned half-duplex phased arrays with dual-band antenna elements

Phased arrays to be used for Tx and Rx communications in different frequency bands are disclosed. The phased arrays presented herein are non-uniformly thinned half-duplex phased arrays with dual-band antenna elements. Such phased arrays are “half-duplex” in that they are configured for communication in one direction at a time, i.e., either for Tx or for Rx, while utilizing a common array. Such phased arrays are “with dual-band antenna elements” in that, in addition to using antenna elements configured for Tx or for Rx only, they implement some antenna elements that are configured for both Tx and Rx. Such phased arrays are “thinned” in that they are formed according to a method of optimizing array geometry known as “thinning.” Such phased arrays are thinned “non-uniformly” in that different antenna elements used for Tx may have different numbers of nearest and/or second-nearest neighbor antenna elements used for Rx, or vice versa.

Non-uniformly thinned half-duplex phased arrays with dual-band antenna elements

Phased arrays to be used for Tx and Rx communications in different frequency bands are disclosed. The phased arrays presented herein are non-uniformly thinned half-duplex phased arrays with dual-band antenna elements. Such phased arrays are “half-duplex” in that they are configured for communication in one direction at a time, i.e., either for Tx or for Rx, while utilizing a common array. Such phased arrays are “with dual-band antenna elements” in that, in addition to using antenna elements configured for Tx or for Rx only, they implement some antenna elements that are configured for both Tx and Rx. Such phased arrays are “thinned” in that they are formed according to a method of optimizing array geometry known as “thinning.” Such phased arrays are thinned “non-uniformly” in that different antenna elements used for Tx may have different numbers of nearest and/or second-nearest neighbor antenna elements used for Rx, or vice versa.

RANDOM ACCESS HANDLING IN SINGLE FREQUENCY NETWORK WITH UNIDIRECTIONAL ANTENNA NODE ARRANGEMENT
20170289834 · 2017-10-05 ·

A network node is connected to a plurality of antenna nodes that are located along a constrained path where a plurality of wireless communication devices are located. The antenna nodes are controlled to maintain reception radio lobes substantially along the path such that the wireless communication devices can perform uplink radio communication with the network node via the reception radio lobes. At least one RF signal is detected in a PRACH, with a first PRACH configuration. A determination is made of a radio frequency offset of the detected RF signal. A determination is then made that the at least one RF signal originates from a wireless communication device of a specific subset among the plurality of wireless communication devices. Each wireless communication devices in the specific subset is associated with the radio frequency offset. A second PRACH configuration that is common to all wireless communication devices in the specific subset of wireless communication devices is then provided to the wireless communication device.

RANDOM ACCESS HANDLING IN SINGLE FREQUENCY NETWORK WITH UNIDIRECTIONAL ANTENNA NODE ARRANGEMENT
20170289834 · 2017-10-05 ·

A network node is connected to a plurality of antenna nodes that are located along a constrained path where a plurality of wireless communication devices are located. The antenna nodes are controlled to maintain reception radio lobes substantially along the path such that the wireless communication devices can perform uplink radio communication with the network node via the reception radio lobes. At least one RF signal is detected in a PRACH, with a first PRACH configuration. A determination is made of a radio frequency offset of the detected RF signal. A determination is then made that the at least one RF signal originates from a wireless communication device of a specific subset among the plurality of wireless communication devices. Each wireless communication devices in the specific subset is associated with the radio frequency offset. A second PRACH configuration that is common to all wireless communication devices in the specific subset of wireless communication devices is then provided to the wireless communication device.