METHOD FOR ELIMINATION OF ANTENNA ANGULAR ORIENTATION ERROR IN POINT-TO-POINT COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention is related to means for elimination of antenna orientation errors in millimeter wave point-to-point communication systems with beam steerable antennas. The advantage of the proposed method consists in accelerating antenna angular orientation adjustment for two connected transceivers. The advantage is achieved via determination of a value and a direction of an antenna orientation error and its further fast mechanical elimination. The method assumes transmission of radio signals and reception of them with measurement of the received signal powers. Determination of a direction and a value of an orientation error of the first transceiver antenna is achieved via measurement of the powers of signals transmitted by this antenna using different radiation patterns. Determination of a direction and a value of an orientation error of the second transceiver antenna is achieved via measurement of the powers of signals received by this antenna using different radiation patterns.

Claims

1. A method for elimination of an antenna angular orientation error in a point-to-point communication system which consists of two transceivers with a connection established between them comprising: transmission of modulated radio signals by the first transceiver; reception of the signals of the first transceiver and measurement of received signal powers by the second transceiver; wherein elimination of an angular orientation error of an antenna of the first transceiver is performed via: transmission of signals by the first transceiver with successive switching of an antenna radiation pattern used for transmission from a set comprising at least two patterns with different angular orientations of the pattern maximum; reception and measurement of powers by the second transceiver for the signals transmitted by the first transceiver using at least two antenna radiation patterns from the said set; determination of a value and a direction of an antenna angular orientation error of the first transceiver in at least one plane due to processing by the second transceiver of the measured powers of the signals transmitted by the first transceiver using at least two antenna radiation patterns from the said set; and mechanical turning of an antenna of the first transceiver in at least one plane; and elimination of an angular orientation error of an antenna of the second transceiver is performed via: transmission of signals by the first transceiver; reception and measurement of signal powers by the second transceiver with successive switching of an antenna radiation pattern used for reception from a set comprising at least two patterns with different angular orientations of the pattern maximum; determination of a value and a direction of an antenna angular orientation error of the second transceiver in at least one plane due to processing by the second transceiver of the measured powers of the signals received by the second transceiver using at least two antenna radiation patterns from the said set; and mechanical turning of an antenna of the second transceiver in at least one plane.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein processing of the measured powers by the second transceiver consists in selection of a radiation pattern corresponding to the maximal received power.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein processing of the measured powers by the second transceiver consists in selection of an element from a set of known vectors of powers closest to the vector of measured powers in a vector space of powers.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least two signals modulated by different sequences of symbols are used for transmission with radiation patterns having different angular orientations of the maximum.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein sequences with low mutual correlation are used.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a signal modulated by a single sequence of symbols is used for transmission with radiation patterns having different angular orientations of the maximum, a succession of switching the radiation patterns of the first transceiver is a priori known to both the transceivers, and both the transceivers are synchronized in time.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signals are modulated by Golay sequences.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein transmission of the signals is performed in time intervals allocated in a frame in which transmission of signals carrying payload data and other control signals is not performed.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein transmission of the signals is performed in a transceiver operation mode specially intended for elimination of an antenna angular orientation error in which transmission of payload data and other control signals is not performed.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein beam steerable dielectric lens antennas are used for forming radiation patterns with different angular orientations of the maximum.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein phased antenna arrays are used for forming radiation patterns with different angular orientations of the maximum.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein values of antenna angular orientation errors determined in the method are used for deciding on presence or absence of necessity for mechanical turning of an antenna.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to accompanying drawings.

[0036] FIG. 1a sequence of actions performed for elimination of an antenna angular orientation error.

[0037] FIG. 2examples of radiation patterns for an antenna for which elimination of an angular orientation error is performed.

[0038] In the figures, the numbers indicate the following positions:

[0039] 101a stage of transmission of modulated radio signals by the first transceiver, 102a stage of reception and measurement of signal powers by the second transceiver, 103a stage of determination and indication of antenna angular orientation errors, 104a stage of mechanical turning of an antenna, 201a first radiation pattern, 202a second radiation pattern, 203a direction to the opposite transceiver corresponds to the optimal antenna orientation, 204an example of a current direction to the opposite transceiver, 205the left edge of the angular range where determination of a turn direction is possible from knowledge of a diagram with the maximal measured power, 206the right edge of the angular range where determination of a turn direction is possible from knowledge of a diagram with the maximal measured power, 207another example of a current direction to the opposite transceiver.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] A description of an embodiment of the claimed method for elimination of an antenna angular orientation error in a point-to-point communication system assuming measurement of values and directions of current antenna angular orientation errors at the two ends of a link and further mechanical turning of the antennas is provided below.

[0041] A network consists of two transceivers located at the two ends of a communication link which are further called the first and the second transceivers. It is assumed that measurement of angular orientation errors is performed by the second transceiver and determined orientation errors are initially available at the second transceiver side. The claimed method consists in performing a sequence of actions provided in FIG. 1. The sequence comprises transmission of modulated radio signals by the first transceiver (101), reception and measurement of powers of the received signals by the second transceiver (102), processing of the measured powers by the second transceiver for determination and indication of current antenna angular orientation errors (103), and mechanical turning of an antenna (104).

[0042] Details of implementation of individual stages vary depending on whether the first transceiver antenna or the second transceiver antenna is being tuned.

[0043] For elimination of an angular orientation error of the antenna of the first transceiver the method for elimination of antenna angular orientation errors in a point-to-point communication system which consists of two transceivers with a connection established between them is performed as follows.

[0044] According to FIG. 1, transmission of modulated radio signals by the first transceiver (101) with successive switching of an antenna radiation pattern used for transmission from a set comprising at least two patterns with different angular orientations of the pattern maximum is performed for elimination of an angular orientation error of the antenna of the first transceiver.

[0045] Then reception and measurement of signal powers by the second transceiver (102) for the signals transmitted by the first transceiver using at least two antenna radiation patterns from the said set is performed for elimination of an angular orientation error of the first transceiver antenna.

[0046] After this stage determination of a value and a direction of an antenna angular orientation error of the first transceiver in at least one plane (vertical and/or horizontal) is performed at the stage of determination and indication of antenna angular orientation errors (103) due to processing by the second transceiver of the measured powers of the signals transmitted by the first transceiver using at least two antenna radiation patterns from the said set. It is assumed that for determination of a value and a direction of an antenna angular orientation error in a particular plane at least some of the radiation patterns within the set have different orientations of the maximum in the corresponding plane.

[0047] Then mechanical turning of the first transceiver antenna in at least one plane (vertical and/or horizontal) according to the determined value and direction of the angular orientation error of the first transceiver antenna is performed at the stage of mechanical turning of an antenna (104) by RRS service staff or respective devices in the automatic mode.

[0048] For elimination of an angular orientation error of the antenna of the second transceiver the method for elimination of antenna angular orientation errors in a point-to-point communication system which consists of two transceivers with a connection established between them is performed as follows.

[0049] According to FIG. 1, transmission of modulated radio signals by the first transceiver (101) is performed for elimination of an angular orientation error of the second transceiver antenna.

[0050] Then reception and measurement of signal powers by the second transceiver (102) with successive switching of an antenna radiation pattern used for reception from a set comprising at least two patterns with different angular orientations of the pattern maximum is performed for elimination of an angular orientation error of the second transceiver antenna.

[0051] After this stage determination of a value and a direction of an antenna angular orientation error of the second transceiver in at least one plane (vertical and/or horizontal) is performed at the stage of determination and indication of antenna angular orientation errors (103) due to processing by the second transceiver of the measured powers of the signals received by the second transceiver using at least two antenna radiation patterns from the said set. It is assumed that for determination of a value and a direction of an antenna angular orientation error in a particular plane at least some of the radiation patterns within the set have different orientations of the maximum in the corresponding plane.

[0052] Then mechanical turning of the second transceiver antenna in at least one plane (vertical and/or horizontal) according to the determined value and direction of the angular orientation error of the second transceiver antenna is performed at the stage of mechanical turning of an antenna (104) by RRS service staff or respective devices in the automatic mode.

[0053] In an embodiment of the method, processing of the measured powers by the second transceiver consists in selection of a radiation pattern corresponding to the maximal received power. FIG. 2 provides examples of the first radiation pattern (201) and the second radiation pattern (202) of an antenna for which the orientation adjustment is performed. The provided diagrams constitute a set of diagrams for transmission of modulated radio signals by the first transceiver (101) or reception and measurement of signal powers by the second transceiver (102). In the example, determination of an orientation in a single plane is considered. Determination of an orientation in another plane, if present, is similar. A direction to the opposite transceiver corresponding to the optimal antenna orientation (203) is provided in FIG. 2. Examples (204) and (207) are examples of directions to the opposite transceiver corresponding to the current antenna orientation. In the proposed method, if the maximal power is measured at the first radiation pattern (201), necessity to rotate the antenna to the left is determined and if the maximal power is measured at the second radiation pattern (202), necessity to rotate the antenna to the right is determined. In the angular range from the left edge (205) to the right edge (206) correct determination of a turn direction leading to the optimal antenna orientation is possible from knowledge of a diagram with the maximal measured power. In the general case, the required directions and angles of rotation of an antenna are unambiguously determined through an index of a selected radiation pattern.

[0054] In another embodiment, processing of the measured powers by the second transceiver consists in selection of an element from a set of known vectors of powers closest to the vector of measured powers in a vector space of powers. The set of vectors of powers is formed preliminarily, e.g. via enumeration of an orientation angle with a fixed small step in a set of radiation patterns with different angular orientations of the maximum. For each angle, a set of values for all radiation patterns constitutes a vector corresponding to a vector of measured powers at the considered antenna orientation angle (up to a common normalization factor). If a vector of powers measured at the stage of reception and measurement of signal powers by the second transceiver (102) coincides with or is close enough to an element from the set of vectors, a decision on equality of the current antenna orientation angle and the angle used for forming the element of the set is done. In the general case, the required directions and angles of rotation of an antenna are unambiguously determined through an index of a selected element from the set.

[0055] In an embodiment of the method, at least two signals modulated by different sequences of symbols are used for transmission with radiation patterns having different angular orientations of the maximum. In particular, sequences with low mutual correlation can be chosen. Low mutual correlation of the sequences provides a possibility of unambiguous identification of each of them at the second transceiver. Identification of the signals allows to associate the measured powers with the radiation patterns of the first transceiver used for transmission of the corresponding signals.

[0056] In another embodiment, a signal modulated by a single sequence of symbols or by different sequences having high mutual correlation is used for transmission with radiation patterns having different angular orientations of the maximum. A succession of switching the radiation patterns of the first transceiver is a priori known to both the first and second transceivers, and both the transceivers are synchronized in time. This approach also allows to unambiguously associate the measured signal powers with the radiation patterns of the first transceiver used for transmission of the corresponding signals.

[0057] In one embodiment of the method, the transmitted radio signals are modulated by Golay sequences. The structure of Golay sequences allows implementing an efficient Golay correlator at the second transceiver for fast and computationally simple measurement of the received signal powers which is especially important for RRS of the millimeter band because of a large signal bandwidth.

[0058] In an embodiment of the method, transmission of the signals is performed in time intervals allocated in the frame structure in which transmission of signals carrying payload data and other control signals is not performed. These intervals can be allocated in the beginning of each frame. In each interval transmission of one of the test signals is performed. Radiation patterns used for transmission of the test signals in the allocated time intervals can alternate each other from frame to frame such as all radiation patterns from the specified set are used once each in several consecutive frames. The used signals can alternate each other according to the alternation rule of the radiation patterns. Out of the allocated intervals a radiation pattern selected optimally is used for transmission and reception of the payload signals and other control signals.

[0059] In another embodiment, transmission of the signals is performed in a transceiver operation mode specially intended for elimination of antenna angular orientation errors in which transmission of payload data and other control signals is not performed. In this approach transmission of the test signals can occupy all the system time resources. The used radiation patterns and the corresponding signals can alternate each other in time.

[0060] In an embodiment of the method, beam steerable dielectric lens antennas are used for forming radiation patterns with different angular orientations of the maximum. Such antennas have multiple radiating elements placed in a focal plane of a lens. Forming different radiation patterns in such antennas is performed by means of enabling a single radiating element from a set of available elements.

[0061] In another embodiment, phased antenna arrays are used for forming radiation patterns with different angular orientations of the maximum. In this case, a set of phases for different array elements can be one-to-one associated with a radiation pattern. All used sets of phases in this case constitute a code book of the array including a finite set of elements.

[0062] In one embodiment of the method, a possibility of changing a radiation pattern assumed in the invention can be also applied to dynamic adjustment of a radiation pattern during the system operation after the initial mechanical orientation. A possibility of dynamic adjustment can be used, for example, for compensation of insignificant variations of the orientation angle during the system operation. Values of angular orientation errors determined in the proposed method can be used during the system operation for deciding on necessity for a next mechanical correction of the antenna orientation. Such decision can be done if measured errors exceed the angular range of variations of a direction of the radiation pattern maximum at least in one plane.

[0063] The proposed method for RRS antenna orientation adjustment sufficiently increases a range of detectable and measurable orientation errors compared to a range of variation of the radiation pattern maximum of the same antenna due to usage of measured values of the gains in directions of side lobes of the radiation pattern. Increasing the angular range in which an antenna gain is high enough also lets to increase a range of detectable and measurable orientation errors for a low signal-to-noise ratio of the received signal, e.g. for long ranges of a link. Measurement of gains for multiple radiation patterns and using a set of the estimates provides a possibility to determine not only a fact of an incorrect orientation but also a particular direction and a value of an error.

[0064] Therefore, the proposed invention allows avoiding a blind search of an optimal antenna orientation during the initial transceiver mounting or in the case of an orientation disturbance during the system operation. Avoiding a blind search provides acceleration of the process of optimal antenna orientation selection.

[0065] The invention was disclosed above with a reference to its specific embodiments. Specialists may suggest other implementations of the invention that do not alter its essence as it is described above. Therefore, the invention should be limited only by the following claims.