Wireless UWB connection for rotating RF antenna array
AssigneeMitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsMasashi Saito, Andreas F. Molisch, Jinyun Zhang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A movable portion of an array of antenna elements receives RF signals. A movable ultra-wideband (UWB) transmitter is connected to each antenna element, via a RF to UWB converter. A fixed portion of the antenna array is separated from the movable portion by an air gap. The fixed portion includes one fixed UWB receiver for each movable UWB transmitter. An application system is connected to the fixed UWB receivers. The UWB signals from the movable transmitter are sent across the air gap to the fixed UWB receivers to be processed by the application system as the movable portion rotates.
Claims12
An apparatus, comprising:
- a movable portion comprising:
- an array of RF antenna elements configured to receive RF signals;
- and
- a movable ultra-wideband (UWB) transmitter connected to each RF antenna element via means for converting between the RF signals to UWB signals, each movable UWB transmitter including one UWB antenna;
- a fixed portion, separated from the movable portion by an air gap, and further comprising:
- one fixed UWB receiver for each movable UWB transmitter, each fixed UWB receiver including one UWB antenna;
- and
- an application system connected to the fixed UWB receiver, and in which tile movable UWB transmitters are configured to communicate the converted RF signals as the UWB signals across the air gap to be processed by the application system while the movable portion moves.
A method for operating a RF antenna array, comprising:
- receiving RF signals by a movable array of antenna elements;
- converting the RF signals received by each antenna element to an ultra-wideband (UWB) signal;
- transmitting the UWB signals to fixed UWB receivers as the antenna elements move;
- and
- receiving the UWB signals by the fixed transceivers to be processed by an application system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.