Antenna system and method of operating an antenna system
AssigneeNXP B.V.
InventorsPaul Mattheijssen, Konstantinos Doris, Dominicus Martinus Wilhelmus Leenaerts, Mark Tomesen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An antenna system for a mobile communications base station and a method of operating a communications network including a base station is described. The antenna system includes an antenna array for beamforming and is configured either as a radar sensor, a communications antenna or a combined radar sensor. A radar image may be used to determine a map of objects in the vicinity of the antenna system and to adapt the beam-steering or beamforming of the antenna system.
Claims17
A method for operating a mobile network comprising a base station including an antenna system, the antenna system comprising an antenna array for beamforming, the antenna array configurable as any of an imaging radar sensor, an RF communications antenna or a combined imaging radar sensor and RF communications antenna, the method comprising:
- in a radar mode, configuring a part of the antenna system as an imaging radar sensor;
- in a radar mode, transmitting a radar signal and receiving the reflected radar signal via the imaging radar sensor;
- determining a radar image of the surroundings of the mobile communications base station from the reflected radar signal;
- determining at least one of a location of objects and a classification of objects from the radar image;
- in a communications mode, configuring the part of the antenna system as an RF communications antenna;
- and
- in the communications mode, wirelessly transmitting and/or receiving at least one communications signal via the RF communications antenna.
A mobile communications base station comprising:
- an antenna system comprising an antenna array for beamforming, and
- a controller coupled to the antenna array and operable to:
- in a radar mode, configure a part of the antenna system as an imaging radar sensor;
- in the radar mode, transmit a radar signal and receive the reflected radar signal via the imaging radar sensor;
- transmit the reflected radar signal information to a network apparatus;
- in a communications mode, configure the part of the antenna system as an RF communications antenna;
- and
- in the communications mode, wirelessly transmit and/or receive at least one communications signal via the RF communications antenna.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.