Method and apparatus for selecting antenna elements of an antenna array

An apparatus configured to select a plurality of antenna elements of an active antenna array, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

• receive a measure of a first signal based upon transmission or reception of a signal by a first plurality of antenna elements;
• receive a measure of a second signal based upon transmission or reception of a signal by a second plurality of antenna elements;
• receive a measure of a third signal based upon transmission or reception of a signal by a third plurality of antenna elements, wherein the first, second and third plurality of antenna elements are each different selections of the plurality of antenna elements of the active antenna array;
• process the measures of the first, second and third signals;
• and
• determine a subarray of antenna elements of the active antenna array to be utilized based on the processing of the measures of the first, second and third signals.

An antenna system comprising:

• an antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements;
• processing circuitry configured to:
• receive a measure of a first signal based upon transmission or reception of a signal by a first plurality of antenna elements;
• receive a measure of a second signal based upon transmission or reception of a signal by a second plurality of antenna elements;
• receive a measure of a third signal based upon transmission or reception of a signal by a third plurality of antenna elements, wherein the first, second and third plurality of antenna elements are each different selections of the plurality of antenna elements of the antenna array;
• process the measures of the first, second and third signals;
• and
• determine a subarray of antenna elements of the antenna array to be utilized based on the processing of the measures of the first, second and third signals;
• and
• a receiver or a transmitter connected to the subarray of antenna elements and configured to receive or transmit signals, respectively.

A method for determining an arrangement of antenna elements of an antenna array, the method comprising:

• determining a first dimension of the arrangement in terms of a number of antenna elements based on a total number of the antenna elements of the antenna array, a number of radio frequency chains, a nominal beamwidth of the antenna elements and an angular spread;
• determining a second dimension of the arrangement in terms of a number of antenna elements based on the first dimension, the total number of the antenna elements of the antenna array and the number of radio frequency chains;
• determining an effective gain of the arrangement of the antenna elements having the first and second dimensions;
• and
• determining the arrangement of the antenna elements of the antenna array based on the effective gain.