Repeater device with multi-range antenna array and method of operation of repeater device

A repeater device, comprising:

• a first antenna array that comprises a plurality of antenna elements, wherein the plurality of antenna elements is sectioned into a plurality of different sub-arrays;
• the first antenna array further comprises a plurality of antenna configuration modes,
• wherein the plurality of antenna configuration modes comprises a first antenna configuration mode, a second antenna configuration mode, a third antenna configuration mode, and a fourth antenna configuration mode,
• and wherein the fourth antenna configuration mode comprises a first sub-array of the first antenna array,
• and wherein the third antenna configuration mode comprises the first sub-array and a second sub-array of the first antenna array,
• and wherein the second antenna configuration mode comprises a combination of the first sub-array, the second sub-array, and a third sub-array of the first antenna array,
• and wherein the first antenna configuration mode is a combination of the first sub-array, the second sub-array, and the third sub-array, and a fourth sub-array of the first sub-array;
• and
• control circuitry configured to select the first antenna configuration mode, the second antenna configuration mode, the third antenna configuration mode, or the fourth antenna configuration mode when a user equipment (UE) is at a first communication range, a second communication range, a third communication range, or a fourth communication range, respectively, from the first antenna array.

A method of operation of a repeater device, the method comprising:

• selecting, by control circuitry of the repeater device, one of a plurality of antenna configuration modes;
• activating, by the control circuitry, a first set of antenna elements of a first antenna array of the repeater device and deactivating a second set of antenna elements of the first antenna array based on the selection of one of the plurality of antenna configuration modes, wherein the first set of antenna elements corresponds to a first configuration of one or more sub-arrays of the first antenna array;
• and
• directing, by the control circuitry, a beam of radio frequency (RF) signal to a user equipment (UE) from the first configuration of the one or more sub-arrays of the first antenna array.