# US 2021/0344383 A1 · Method and System for Controlling an Antenna Array

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- Number: US 2021/0344383 A1
- Document ID: US20210344383A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/238,489
- Filed: 2021-04-23
- Published: 2021-11-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-04-30
- Assignees: AVX Antenna, Inc. d/b/a Ethertronics, Inc.
- Applicants: AVX Antenna, Inc. d/b/a Ethertronics, Inc.
- Inventors: Olivier Pajona; Laurent Desclos
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210344383A1

## CPC

- H01Q 5/378: Combination of fed elements with parasitic elements
- H04B 7/0404: the mobile station comprising multiple antennas, e.g. to provide uplink diversity
- G16Y 10/75: Information technology; Communication
- H01Q 3/34: by electrical means (active lenses or reflecting arrays H01Q3/46)
- H01Q 21/28: Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems {(multiple beam H01Q25/00)}
- H04B 7/0413: MIMO systems
- H04L 5/0023: {Time-frequency-space}
- H04L 5/0053: {Allocation of signalling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals}
- H04L 27/04: Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits
- H04B 7/0689: {using different transmission schemes, at least one of them being a diversity transmission scheme}
- H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72)
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- G16Y: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE INTERNET OF THINGS [IoT]
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

An antenna system can include an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements. The antenna system can include an array controller configured to control operation of the antenna array for beam forming of the antenna array. The antenna system can include a radiofrequency circuit. The antenna system can include a transmission line coupling the radiofrequency circuit to the array controller. The transmission line can be configured to carry a radio-frequency signal to the antenna array. The radiofrequency circuit can be configured to modulate an antenna array control signal onto the radiofrequency signal to generate a transmit signal for communication over the transmission line to the array controller. The array controller can be configured to demodulate the antenna array control signal from the transmit signal such that the array controller is configured to control operation of the antenna array based at least in part on the antenna array control signal.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An antenna system, comprising:
an antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements;
an array controller configured to control operation of the antenna array for beam forming of the antenna array;
a radiofrequency circuit;
a transmission line coupling the radiofrequency circuit to the array controller, the transmission line configured to carry a radiofrequency signal for communication via the antenna array;
wherein:
the radiofrequency circuit is configured to modulate an antenna array control signal onto the radiofrequency signal to generate a transmit signal for communication over the transmission line to the array controller; and
the array controller is configured to demodulate the antenna array control signal from the transmit signal such that the array controller is configured to control operation of the antenna array based at least in part on the antenna array control signal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the antenna array control signal specifies a phase shift for one or more of the plurality of antenna elements, and wherein the array controller is configured to implement the phase shift at the one or more of the plurality of antenna elements.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the antenna array control signal specifies an amplitude for one or more of the plurality of antenna elements, and wherein the array controller is configured to implement the amplitude at the one or more of the plurality of antenna elements.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the antenna array is a first antenna array, the antenna system further comprising:
a second antenna array coupled to a second array controller, wherein the second array controller is configured to control operation of the second antenna array to operate the second antenna array to support multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication with the first antenna array, wherein a second transmission line is coupled to the second array controller.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the radiofrequency circuit is configured to modulate the antenna array control signal onto the radiofrequency signal by amplitude-shift keying modulation.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the transmission line is a single coaxial cable.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The antenna system of claim 1, further comprising a tuning circuit coupled to a parasitic element, the parasitic element disposed proximate to the antenna array, wherein:
the radiofrequency circuit is configured to modulate a parasitic element control signal onto the radiofrequency signal to generate the transmit signal for communication over the transmission line to the tuning circuit; and
the tuning circuit is configured to demodulate the parasitic element control signal from the transmit signal and control operation of the parasitic element for beam steering based on the parasitic element control signal.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The antenna system of claim 1, further comprising a front end module, wherein at least a first portion of the front end module is disposed proximate the radiofrequency circuit.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The antenna system of claim 8, wherein at least a second portion of the front end module is disposed proximate the antenna array.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the radiofrequency signal is in a frequency band of about 24 GHz to about 86 GHz.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the radiofrequency circuit is physically separated from at least one of the array controller or antenna array.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the antenna system is disposed in a mobile device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the transmit signal further comprises DC power for the antenna array controller.

### Claim 14

A method for operating an antenna system comprising an antenna array, the method comprising:
modulating an antenna array control signal onto a radiofrequency signal to generate a transmit signal;
communicating the transmit signal to an array controller via a transmission line;
demodulating the antenna array control signal at the array controller; and
controlling operation of the antenna array based at least in part on the antenna array control signal.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the transmission line is a single coaxial transmission line.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the antenna array control signal is modulated onto the radiofrequency signal using amplitude-shift keying modulation to generate the transmit signal.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the antenna array control signal is modulated onto the radiofrequency signal using on-off keying modulation to generate the transmit signal.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein modulating the control signal onto the radiofrequency signal comprises selectively varying an amplitude associated with a carrier signal.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the antenna array control signal specifies an amplitude for one or more of a plurality of antenna elements of the antenna array.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the antenna array control signal specifies a phase shift for one or more of a plurality of antenna elements of the antenna array.