The present application relates to wireless communications. More particularly, the present application relates to antenna systems comprising a plurality of antenna elements.
Multi-element antenna arrays can provide performance advantages over single element antenna arrays. For example, radiation from multiple elements can be phased so that energy constructively adds in desired directions and destructively cancels in undesired directions. Multiple elements can also allow for gain increases. When adjustable phase shifts and gains are provided to the individual elements, adaptation of the antenna array can be performed in real time, enabling additional performance gains.
Unfortunately, multi-element antenna arrays can tend toward the complex and expensive. For example, for an aircraft platform, antenna elements may be required on both the top and bottom of the aircraft to enable communications in all desired directions (e.g., to satellites in orbit and to fixed stations on the ground). A large number of individual elements may be required to provide desired coverage directions and aperture size. As antenna arrays increase in size there is attendant increase in cost, power, and size due to power amplifiers, low noise amplifiers, phase shifters, and similar components associated with each individual element. Moreover, switching and feed systems become more complex as the number of elements increases. Accordingly, very large arrays, while desirable from a theoretical radio communications performance standpoint, have generally proven to be of limited feasibility except in specialized applications.
A mobile distributed antenna array system using a plurality of independently moveable airborne antenna elements has been developed. The mobile distributed antenna array system can provide various advantages over prior art multi-element antenna arrays.
In some embodiments of the invention, a mobile distributed antenna array system can include a plurality of mobile elements. Each mobile element can be capable of controlled movement in three dimensions. The mobile elements can each include an antenna element and radio equipment coupled to the antenna element capable of transmission and/or reception of a propagating radio signal. Movement of the mobile elements can be under control of a control platform. The mobile elements can be positioned relative to each other to achieve a desired array pattern.
In some embodiments of the invention, a method for forming a distributed antenna array can use a plurality of mobile platforms each having radio equipment disposed thereon. The method can include deploying the mobile platforms into a three-dimensional area of interest and controlling the movement of the mobile platforms. Radio signals can be transmitted and/or received from the mobile platforms. The movement of the mobile platforms can be controlled so that a desired antenna pattern is formed relative to the transmitter or received radio signals.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention; and, wherein:
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.
In describing the present invention, the following terminology will be used:
The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to an antenna includes reference to one or more antennas.
As used herein, the term “about” means quantities, dimensions, sizes, formulations, parameters, shapes and other characteristics need not be exact, but may be approximated and/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting acceptable tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like and other factors known to those of skill in the art.
By the term “substantially” is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.
Numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical range of “about 1 to 5” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 1 to 5, but also as including all of the individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range are individual values such as 2, 3, and 4 and sub-ranges such as 1-3, 2-4, and 3-5, etc. This same principle applies to ranges reciting only one numerical value and should apply regardless of the breadth of the range or the characteristics being described.
As used herein, a plurality of items may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary.
As discussed briefly above, a distributed antenna array can be formed by placing a plurality of antenna elements onto a corresponding plurality of mobile platforms. Antenna elements can take on many forms, including for example horns, dipoles, monopoles, dishes, and other configurations. Various types of mobile platforms can be used, including for example aircraft, lighter than air vehicles, satellites, ships, ground vehicles, and the like. The mobile platforms can be controlled individually, allowing the positioning of the platforms to be optimized for particular functions to be performed by the antenna array. The positioning can be relative to each other, relative to some common reference point, or relative to a coordinate system (e.g., geographic coordinates, military grid locators, arbitrary inertial reference frames, etc.). The mobile platforms can be moveable in three-dimensions.
In some embodiments, the control platform 104 can include a position control subsystem 210 and an array control subsystem 212. The position control subsystem can communicate with each of the airborne mobile platforms to control their movement, for example, by transmitting control commands from the control subsystem to the airborne mobile platforms. The array control subsystem can communicate with each of the airborne mobile platforms to control the transmission and/or reception of propagating radio signals via the antenna elements 202. For example, the control platform can communicate a signal to each of the airborne mobile platforms, which can be retransmitted by the antenna elements. As another example, the airborne mobile platforms can each receive a signal via their antenna elements and communicate the received signals to the control platform. In some embodiments, the position control and array control functions can be combined in the control platform.
The position control subsystem 210 and the array control subsystem 212 can share the communicate links 106, for example, by multiplexing information into a common radio channel. Alternately, separate links can be provided where position control can be performed over a first communication link and array control can be performed over a second communication link. The first and second communications links can be, for example, frequency division multiplexed radio channels, time division multiplexed radio channels, code division multiplexed radio channels, other types of radio channels, and combinations thereof. The communications links can use a different channel for communications between the control platform and each airborne mobile platform. The channels can be, for example, frequency division multiplexed radio channels, time division multiplexed radio channels, code division multiplexed radio channels, other types of radio channels, and combinations thereof.
Turning to the details of controlling the antenna array pattern, a number of different scenarios can be used in embodiments of the present invention. Returning to
In general, the process of combining signals in an antenna array is referred to as beamforming. While beamforming has been used in some adaptive antenna array systems, generally prior antenna array systems have used a fixed relative placement of the antenna elements. For example, airborne phased array antennas typically comprise a large number of individual elements mounted in close proximity to each other on a surface of the airborne platform. Typically, the elements are mounted less than a half wavelength apart to avoid so-called grating lobes. Grating lobes can represent unwanted peaks or nulls in the response which result when a set of regularly spaced elements are positioned more than about a half wavelength apart.
In contrast, a mobile distributed antenna array can be sparse (using antenna elements many wavelengths apart) yet avoid undesirable grating lobes or sidelobes by positioning the airborne mobile platforms appropriately. In particular, the airborne mobile platforms can be positioned in three-dimensional space so that, in combination with electronic steering (e.g., through phase and amplitude control), a desired response without grating lobes is produced. For example, the airborne mobile platforms can be positioned using irregular spacing to help avoid grating lobes. Because the positions of the airborne mobile platforms can be controlled, additional degrees of freedom are obtained in forming the antenna pattern as compared to a fixed element array. These additional degrees of freedom can accordingly translate into improved performance and greater flexibility.
Adaptation of the array can be performed in several manners. One approach is to directly compute desired positions, phasing, and amplitude for the airborne mobile platforms to achieve a desired antenna pattern. The desired antenna pattern can vary with time, and thus repeated or iterative calculations can be performed to provide updates to the desired positions, phasings and amplitudes used by the individual mobile platforms. Another approach is to adaptively form the desired beam pattern, for example, to optimize signal level, signal to noise ratio, signal to interference ratio, or other similar parameter at a receiver (e.g., when receiving at a network node or when receiving at the control platform). Accordingly, control of the array can include providing feedback from signal processing circuitry into the position control of the airborne mobile platforms.
One advantage of the mobile distributed antenna array can be scalability. For example, the number of airborne mobile platforms (and hence the number of antenna elements) used can be varied as needed. For example, a small number of airborne mobile platforms can be deployed when only a small number of antenna elements is needed, helping to save or conserve resources.
Adaptation of the mobile distributed antenna array can also be performed, for example using measurements of signal to noise ratio, signal to interference ratio, and similar measurements while varying weighting (phases and gains) of signals transmitted via the individual antenna elements. As another example, control of antenna patterns can be determined adaptively, based on open-loop, closed-loop, or other techniques.
Relative positioning of the airborne mobile platforms can be determined using a variety of techniques. In one example, the airborne mobile platforms can include Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers (or the like) which allow their position to be determined. As another example, the airborne mobile platforms can determine their relative positions by ranging between each other and/or the control platform. While in some applications (e.g. open loop transmit beamforming) accurate position control can be desirable, in other applications (e.g. closed loop receive beamforming) accurate position control can be omitted.
Mobile distributed antenna arrays can be used in a number of different applications in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.
As another example, a mobile distributed antenna array can be used in a jamming application. In a jamming application, noise or interfering signals are transmitted in an attempt to disrupt or inhibit an adversary's communications ability. In a jamming application, peaks of the antenna pattern can be directed towards enemy communications nodes and nulls can be directed toward friendly communications nodes.
Generating desired peaks and nulls (referred to generally as beamforming) can include accurate positioning of the mobile elements 102 relative to each other. For example, positioning can use GPS or self-ranging as described above. Synchronization of timing between the mobile platforms can be provided using similar techniques. As another example, separate control links (for position control, timing synchronization, and similar functions) and communications links (for network communication data related to network nodes) can be provided between the mobile elements and the control platform 104.
One benefit of the example in
If desired, the mobile elements can also be used to relay signals between each other, for example, to provide even greater range extent. For example, a first one 102a of the mobile elements can receive transmitted signals from the control platform 104 and retransmit the signals to a second one 102b of the mobile elements to form a relay link 406. Similarly, the second one of the mobile elements can receive signals from a communication node 404 which are retransmitted (relayed) back to the control platform via the first one of the mobile elements.
In a relay configuration, different frequencies (e.g., frequency division multiplexing techniques) can be used for the relay link 406 than for the links 108 to the communications nodes to avoid interference problems. Alternately, time division multiplexing, code division multiplexing techniques, or other multiplexing techniques and combinations can be used. The mobile elements can include directional antennas which can mitigate interference problems, and can allow the same frequencies to be used for relay links and communications links.
Analogously, in a jamming application, the mobile elements 102 can be positioned so that transmitted radio signals create interference over a desired geographic extent. Jamming applications can also incorporate relay functions into the mobile elements as described above.
Processing of MIMO signals received from a communication node 504 can be performed entirely on the control platform 104, for example by each mobile element 102 relaying the signals it has received to the control platform. As another example, MIMO signals can be partially processed by each mobile element by including distributed signal processing in the mobile elements as described further below.
As another example, a distributed antenna array can be used for signal intelligence, monitoring, source localization, and similar applications.
As mentioned above, the mobile elements can be used for transmitting, receiving, or both. For example, in some applications, some mobile elements can be used for transmitting only (e.g., for jamming or communications). Other mobile elements can be used for receiving only (e.g., for interceptions, direction finding or communications). Other mobile elements can be used for both receiving and transmitting. Some mobile elements can switch back and forth between transmitting and receiving at different times and some mobile elements can simultaneously transmit and receive. Mobile elements can be deployed to form a distributed antenna array, and additional mobile elements deployed at a later time to augment the antenna array (e.g., in response to changes in operational requirements or environmental conditions).
If desired, a controllable gain amplifier or phase shifter 716 can be included within the mobile element 700. For example, the amplifier/adjuster can be used for shaping antenna patterns in a coherent antenna array application as described above. As another example, the amplifier/shifter can be used to provide a desired signal level for range extension and relay type applications as described above. The amplifier/shifter can be controlled by a control platform, for example, allowing for changes in the gain or phase with time.
If desired, a single antenna can be shared between the relay transmission and relay reception functions, for example by replacing diplexers 804, 810 with a single four way diplexer coupled to the single antenna, provided that reception and transmission on each of the links all occurs on a different frequency.
By demodulation and remodulating relay signals, signal processing can be performed on the individual mobile elements to provide distributed signal processing within the distributed antenna array. For example,
Another example of a mobile element is provided in
If desired, the mobile units can include signal processing associated with each individual antenna element as illustrated in
Inclusion of signal processing on the individual mobile units can be used to implement filter-and-sum beamforming as an alternative to phase-shift or delay-and-sum type beamforming as described above. An additional benefit of including signal processing on the individual antenna elements can be enhanced scalability. For example, as additional antenna elements are deployed, the signal processing power available within the array increases. Distributed signal processing architectures can also provide benefits in reducing the amount of data that is transferred between the individual antenna elements and the control platform. Accordingly, the individual antenna elements can be relatively self-contained, providing for distributed adaptation, array beam forming, nulling, and other functions while requiring minimal direction from the control platform. Signal processing can be performed on individual elements, on the control platform, or a combination of both, depending on which is most advantageous in a particular application.
A distributed antenna array system can include any of the different types of mobile elements illustrated above and other types of mobile elements, and can use a combination of different types of mobile elements. Mobile elements need not correspond exactly to one of the configurations shown above, but can include a mixture of different elements as described above.
One benefit of distributed antenna arrays as described above can be that the antenna array can be easily deployed. For example, the mobile elements can be small unmanned aerial vehicles having radio equipment and antennas disposed thereon. The unmanned aerial vehicles can be stored on an aircraft, and launched when needed to deploy the distributed antenna array. When no longer needed, the unmanned aerial vehicles can be retrieved by the aircraft or disposed of. The aircraft can also function as the control platform. One benefit of using unmanned aerial vehicles can be that the exposure of personnel to hostile forces can be reduced.
The mobile elements can include radio equipment, such as the various examples described above, to provide transmitting or receiving capability. Accordingly, the method 1200 can include 1204 transmitting or receiving a radio signal at ones of the plurality of mobile elements. For example, as described above, individual mobile elements can each be transmitting, receiving, transmitting and receiving, or in a standby mode. The method can also include 1206 controlling the movement of the plurality of mobile elements from a control platform so that radio signals transmitted or received from the plurality of mobile elements form a desired antenna pattern. For example, as described above, the antenna pattern can be coherently formed to produce peaks and nulls in desired directions. As another example, as described above, the mobile elements can be positioned so the antenna pattern provides a desired geographic coverage area. As yet another example, as described above, the mobile elements can be positioned so the antenna pattern provides multipath components for multiple-input multiple-output signal communications. Controlling the positions can thus take into account characteristics of the radio signal transmitted or received from the array. For example, adaptive feedback control can be used to adjust phase, amplitude, and positions as described above. Controlling the position of the mobile elements can be performed over a wireless link, for example, as described above.
Summarizing and reiterating to some extent, a mobile distributed antenna array system has been developed. The mobile distributed antenna array can be used in a wide variety of communications applications, such as coherent beam forming, multiple-input multiple-output, range extension, relay, and similar applications. Because the positions of the mobile elements of the distributed antenna array can be controlled, the mobile elements can be positioned into advantageous configurations. This provides additional flexibility as compared to traditional phased array antenna systems which typically use fixed relative positions of the array elements.
The mobile distributed antenna array can be reconfigured to optimize performance for differing scenarios or to adapt to environmental conditions. For example, wide spacing between mobile elements can be used to improve resolution in beam forming or direction finding applications, while dynamic movement of the mobile elements can be performed to resolve ambiguities or losses created by grating lobes or disadvantageous geometries. Mobile elements can be added or removed from the array during operation to adjust to differing operational requirements or environmental conditions.
Different portions of the antenna array can even been operated in different modes. For example, some mobile elements can be used for range extension and simultaneously other mobile elements can be used for nulling a jammer affecting one geographic region. As another example, some portions of the antenna array can be used for jamming while other portions are used for communications. During operation, mobile elements may be moved or reassigned to different functions, for example to adapt for changing conditions. Accordingly, a wide variety of operational modes can be implemented by the antenna array.
Additionally, the number of deployed mobile elements can be varied during operation of the distributed antenna array. For example, if conditions change such that a larger number of mobile elements are required, additional mobile elements can be deployed. Conversely, mobile elements may be retrieved, reducing the number of mobile elements active in the array. As another example, mobile elements may be placed into a standby mode, where they no longer needed to be actively transmitting or receiving antennas.
Because the distributed antenna array can be highly mobile, a communication system using the distributed antenna array gains significant flexibility. Communication range can be extended by simply deploying a mobile element (or several linked relay mobile elements) in directions in which increased range is desired. Communications reliability can be enhanced in a particular area by deploying multiple mobile elements to provide diversity paths. Jamming and interference can be mitigated (or created) by deploying multiple mobile elements which are phased to produce desired antenna pattern peaks and nulls.
Because the mobile elements positions can be controlled, it is possible to separate mobile elements to help provide multiple uncorrelated paths. This can help to provide for diversity gain, as the uncorrelated paths experience uncorrelated fading. Conversely, for beamforming, mobile elements can be moved closer together to help provide desired coherence in radiated (or received) signals where needed to achieve a desired solution, without requiring a large number of elements to be provided. Squint losses when steering a beam can also be reduced by moving the mobile elements into more favorable positions. The mode of operation of the array can be changed during operation to respond to environmental conditions. For example, when needed, mobile elements can be positioned for diversity gain, and when needed, mobile elements can be repositioned for nulling or beam formation. Elements can be moved and reassigned from one function to another function adaptively.
In conclusion, while a number of illustrative applications have been illustrated, many other applications of the mobile distributed antenna array are likely to prove useful which have not previously been feasible with conventional antenna arrays. Accordingly, the above-referenced arrangements are illustrative of some applications for the principles of the present invention. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5365516 | Jandrell | Nov 1994 | A |
20060094449 | Goldberg | May 2006 | A1 |
20060223519 | Yahagi | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20060232382 | Bauer et al. | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20070076649 | Lin et al. | Apr 2007 | A1 |
20070086512 | Can et al. | Apr 2007 | A1 |
20070165581 | Mehta et al. | Jul 2007 | A1 |