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 beamsteering or beamforming of the antenna system.
Claims15
An antenna system for a mobile communications network base station, the antenna system comprising:
- an antenna array comprising a plurality of dual-polarized patch antennas;
- and
- a controller coupled to the antenna array for configuring each of the plurality of dual-polarized patch antennas to transmit or receive radio frequency (RF) signals, the controller being operable in a first mode and a second mode;
- wherein the controller, in the first mode, is operable to:
- configure a first antenna of the plurality of dual-polarized patch antennas to operate in either a transmit mode or a receive mode and in a first polarization;
- and
- configure a second antenna of the plurality of dual-polarized patch antennas to operate in either the transmit mode or the receive mode and in a second polarization;
- configure a third antenna of the plurality of dual-polarized patch antennas to operate in either the transmit mode or the receive mode and in the first polarization;
- and
- configure a fourth antenna of the plurality of dual-polarized patch antennas to operate in either the transmit mode or the receive mode and in the second polarization;
- and
- wherein the controller, in the second mode, is operable to:
- configure the first antenna to operate in only the transmit mode and in the first polarization;
- and
- configure the second antenna to operate in only the receive mode and in the first polarization.
An antenna system for a mobile communications network base station, the antenna system comprising:
- an antenna array comprising a plurality of dual-polarized patch antennas;
- and
- a controller coupled to the antenna array for configuring each of the plurality of dual-polarized patch antennas to transmit or receive radio frequency (RF) signals, the controller being operable in a first mode and a second mode;
- wherein the controller, in the first mode, is operable to:
- configure a first antenna of the plurality of dual-polarized patch antennas to operate in either a transmit mode or a receive mode and in a first polarization;
- configure a second antenna of the plurality of dual-polarized patch antennas to operate in either the transmit mode or the receive mode and in the first polarization;
- configure a third antenna of the plurality of dual-polarized patch antennas to operate in either the transmit mode or the receive mode and in a second polarization;
- and
- configure a fourth antenna of the plurality of dual-polarized patch antennas to operate in either the transmit mode or the receive mode and in the second polarization;
- and
- wherein the controller, in the second mode, is operable to:
- configure the first antenna to operate in only the transmit mode and in the first polarization;
- and
- configure the second antenna to operate in only the receive mode and in the first polarization.
A method of operating an RF apparatus in a mobile communications network, the RF apparatus comprising an antenna system for beamforming, the antenna system comprising a plurality of dual-polarized patch antennas, wherein the antenna system is and configurable as an imaging radar sensor, a RF communications beamforming antenna or a combined imaging radar sensor and RF communications beamforming antenna, the method comprising:
- configuring, in a first mode, a portion of the antenna system as a beamforming antenna to transmit and receive communications signals by:
- configuring in the first mode, a first antenna of the plurality of dual-polarized patch antennas to operate in either the transmit mode or the receive mode and in a first polarization;
- and
- configuring, in the first mode, a second antenna of the plurality of dual-polarized patch antennas to operate in either the transmit mode or the receive mode and in the first polarization;
- and
- configuring, in the first mode, a fourth antenna of the plurality of dual-polarized patch antennas to operate in either the transmit mode or the receive mode and in the second polarization,
- receiving and transmitting signals, in the first mode, for at least one communication channel between a network element and user equipment;
- configuring, in a second mode, the portion of the antenna system to transmit a radar signal and to receive a reflected radar signal by:
- configuring, in the second mode, the first antenna to operate in only the transmit mode and in the first polarization;
- and
- configuring, in the second mode, the second antenna to operate in only the receive mode and in the first polarization;
- and
- determining, in the second mode, at least one parameter for use in channel estimation from the received reflected radar signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.