# US 12,184,370 B2 · Antenna system and method of operating an antenna system

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- Number: US 12,184,370 B2
- Document ID: US12184370B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/316,907
- Filed: 2023-05-12
- Published: 2023-09-07
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2020-05-14
- Assignees: NXP B.V.
- Applicants: NXP B.V.
- Inventors: Paul Mattheijssen; Konstantinos Doris; Dominicus Martinus Wilhelmus Leenaerts; Mark Tomesen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12184370B2

## CPC

- H04B 7/0617: {for beam forming}
- G01S 7/006: {using shared front-end circuitry, e.g. antennas (G01S13/765, G01S13/825 take precedence)}
- G01S 7/024: {using polarisation effects (in waveguides H01P1/165; for aerials H01Q, e.g. H01Q15/22, H01Q15/24, H01Q19/195)}
- G01S 7/025: {involving the transmission of linearly polarised waves}
- G01S 7/03: Details of HF subsystems specially adapted therefor, e.g. common to transmitter and receiver
- G01S 7/411: {Identification of targets based on measurements of radar reflectivity (G01S7/415 takes precedence)}
- G01S 13/003: {Bistatic radar systems; Multistatic radar systems}
- G01S 13/89: for mapping or imaging
- H01Q 1/246: {specially adapted for base stations}
- H01Q 21/065: {Patch antenna array}
- H01Q 21/24: Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction {(circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001)}
- G01S 13/4454: {phase comparisons monopulse, i.e. comparing the echo signals received by an interferometric antenna arrangement}
- G01S 13/56: for presence detection {(presence detection using near field arrangements G01V3/00, e.g. G01V3/08, G01V3/12; burglar, theft or intruder alarms with electrical actuation G08B13/22 - G08B13/26)}
- G01S 13/867: {Combination of radar systems with cameras}
- G01S 13/878: {Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector (G01S13/874 takes precedence)}
- Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the first polarization is orthogonal with respect to the second polarization.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the controller, in the second mode, is further operable to:
configure the third antenna to operate in only the transmit mode and in the second polarization; and
configure the fourth antenna to operate in only the receive mode and in the second polarization.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the controller, in the first mode, is operable to configure each of the first antenna and the second antenna to time multiplex between the transmit mode and the receive mode to support time domain duplex (TDD) communication.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of dual-polarized patch antennas are configured to transmit and receive radio frequency (RF) communication signals in the first mode and to transmit and receive radar signals in the second mode.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The antenna system of claim 5, wherein the antenna system is configurable as an imaging radar sensor, a RF communications antenna or a combined imaging radar sensor and RF communications antenna.

### Claim 7

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.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The antenna system of claim 7, wherein the controller, in the second mode, is further operable to:
configure the third antenna of the plurality of dual-polarized patch antennas to operate in the transmit mode and in the second polarization; and
configure the fourth antenna of the plurality of dual-polarized patch antennas to operate in the receive mode and in the second polarization.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The antenna system of claim 7, wherein the first polarization is orthogonal with respect to the second polarization.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The antenna system of claim 7, wherein the controller, in the first mode, is operable to configure each of the first antenna and the second antenna to time multiplex between the transmit mode and the receive mode to support time domain duplex (TDD) communication.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The antenna system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of dual-polarized patch antennas are configured to transmit and receive radio frequency (RF) communication signals in the first mode and to transmit and receive radar signals in the second mode.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The antenna system of claim 11, wherein the antenna system is configurable as an imaging radar sensor, a RF communications antenna or a combined imaging radar sensor and RF communications antenna.

### Claim 13

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.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein configuring, in the second mode, the portion of the antenna system to transmit the radar signal and to receive the reflected radar signal further comprises:
configuring, in the second mode, the third antenna to operate in only the transmit mode and in the second polarization; and
configuring, in the second mode, the fourth antenna to operate in only the receive mode and in the second polarization.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the first polarization is orthogonal with respect to the second polarization.