Ubiquitous Internet is a current demand and will only increase going forward. Consumers desire wireless networks to deliver these data services directly to their mobile devices and workspaces. A large development in wireless technology is the fifth generation of cellular communications (5G), which encompasses more than the current long-term evolution (LTE) capabilities of the fourth generation (4G) and promises to deliver high-speed Internet via mobile, fixed wireless and so forth. This will require the use of previously unused higher frequency band to increase Internet speeds.
In some of these approaches for 5G, the Internet will connect to an RF transmitter, which then sends signals to one or more receivers. One type of connection and method is referred to as “Fixed Wireless” (“FW”). Compared to a cellular system that broadcasts to many users within an area defined as a cell in the vicinity and range of a base station (BS), an FW system uses remote stations, typically smaller than a traditional BS, to transfer data at high speeds. The FW transmitter acts as a localized satellite, where the transmitters, or FW stations, may be clustered close together. This provides the ability to deliver faster Internet speeds with lower latency than 4G communications. It is possible to expand the coverage area footprint using FW. This is a reliable, cost-effective way to provide the current demand of users while having the potential to reach new and previously unconnected areas of the world.
The use of higher frequencies give the capacity to transform FW into a broadband type solution. The concepts of FW systems may also find use in another type of data delivery, referred to as mobile broadband (MB), which is Internet delivered over the conventional cellular network to a mobile device, such as a cell phone. MB systems are designed for high volume with low bandwidth, and are used for video and Internet streaming as well as for transferring voice data. MB systems are flexible, and are able to cover a large area, or cell, at the cost of losing speed and adding latency.
Both FW and MB may be used to cover the “last hop” or “last mile” from the BS to your device or home. FW receives its connection to the Internet through the cellular system and then sends that data within a building, or between buildings. There are many scenarios that my find the focused, local delivery of the FW systems convenient. These are dedicated wireless connections with low latency. Typically, FW systems require line-of-sight (LOS) delivery, but as these systems expand in use, additional requirements will come in to play.
The present application may be more fully appreciated in connection with the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are not drawn to scale and in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout and wherein:
The present disclosure relates to fixed wireless networks and applications, and in particular, passive reflectors within a fixed wireless scheme. Although the present disclosure relates to wireless systems using passive reflectors, the subject technology may include active reflector systems, where a signal is redirected and controlled to achieve other type delivery. The present disclosure provides for methods and apparatuses to FW systems and reflectors to enable high-speed Internet and data transmissions. The reflectors are configured as a reflect array made up of multiple individual tiles to achieve a desired redirection of a received signal. In some implementations the reflect array is made up of a configuration of passive patch antenna tiles, referred to herein as “reflector elements.” The reflect array is designed to operate at the higher frequencies utilized in 5G and to operate at relatively short distance. In some instances, FW systems are more secure than conventional high-speed broadband connections, as it uses wireless components that are not typically used for public or open access. In addition, FW system are typically secured by military grade encryption, such as the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).
The flexibility of FW systems enables any number of configurations. In addition, a FW system may have built-in fail-safe features so that if one transmission path is unavailable, another may be used. In addition, for set up, there may be any number of FW components configured with direct transmission path, or LOS, to a BS or transmitter. The present disclosure also provides for reflectors that direct the signal throughout a given space. In some cases, this may be a single reflection, or deflection, of a received signal to a specific receiver.
The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of various configurations of the subject technology and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the subject technology may be practiced. The appended drawings are incorporated herein and constitute a part of the detailed description. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the subject technology. However, the subject technology is not limited to the specific details set forth herein and may be practiced using one or more implementations. In one or more instances, structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the subject technology. In other instances, well-known methods and structures may not be described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the examples. Also, the examples may be used in combination with each other.
As illustrated in
Rather than to use a large sized metallic sheet, the present disclosure provides for configurations having individual reflective tiles that may be patch antennas, meta-structures, such as metamaterials, or other configurations.
The process 400 starts, at step 402, by determining a reflection point or reflection area. This area is defined by the angular relation to boresight of the directed reflect array, which is a beam directed perpendicular to the x and y directions of the plane, and along the z axis. Next, at step 404, the process 400 extracts values, such as the free space propagation constant, ko, the reflection phase, φr, and the reflection elevation, θo. Subsequently, at step 406, the process 400 determines an equation for the reflection phase, which can be expressed as:
φr=k0(di−(xi cos φ0+yi sin φ0)sin θ0)±2Nπ (Eq. 1)
wherein k0 is free space propagation constant, di, is the distance from the phase center of the transmitter to the center of the ith element, N is an integer, and the target reflection point is identified by an angle in azimuth (φ0) and an angle in elevation (θ0) from the directed reflect array to the target reflection point. Using these values, the process, at step 408, calculates the reflection phase, φr, for reflector element (i) to radiate to the reflection point. The calculation identifies a desired or required reflection phase φr by ith element on the xy plane to point the array beam to (φ0, θ0). This formula and equation may further include weights to adapt and adjust specific tiles or sets of tiles. In some implementations, the directed reflection is a composition of the entire array of tiles, or a subarray of the tiles, in which each tile contributes to that directed reflection beam. In some implementations, a reflect array may include multiple subarrays allowing redirection of a received signal in more than one direction.
Next, at step 410, the process 400 determines the shape and combination of reflect array elements, referred to herein as tiles. Subsequently, at step 412, the process 400 determines the number of tiles. Next, at step 414, the process 400 determines the positions of the reflect array elements. Subsequently, at step 418, the process 400 determines whether the configuration is accurate. If the configuration is accurate, the process 400 proceeds back to step 408, where the processing continues for the next tile. Otherwise, the process 400 proceeds to step 420. At step 420, the process 400 determines a correction and recalculates the reflection phase. A correction may include an adjustment to the weighting of the tiles, or to add a tapering formulation and so forth.
The bus 1808 collectively represents all system, peripheral, and chipset buses that communicatively connect the numerous internal devices of the electronic system 1800. In one or more implementations, the bus 1808 communicatively connects the one or more processing unit(s) 1812 with the ROM 1810, the system memory 1804, and the permanent storage device 1802. From these various memory units, the one or more processing unit(s) 1812 retrieves instructions to execute and data to process in order to execute the processes of the subject disclosure. For example, the processing unit(s) 1812 can execute instructions that perform one or more processes, such as processes 300 and 700. The one or more processing unit(s) 1812 can be a single processor or a multi-core processor in different implementations.
The ROM 1810 stores static data and instructions that are needed by the one or more processing unit(s) 1812 and other modules of the electronic system 1800. The permanent storage device 1802, on the other hand, may be a read-and-write memory device. The permanent storage device 1802 may be a non-volatile memory unit that stores instructions and data even when the electronic system 1800 is off. In one or more implementations, a mass-storage device (such as a magnetic or optical disk and its corresponding disk drive) may be used as the permanent storage device 1802.
In one or more implementations, a removable storage device (such as a floppy disk, flash drive, and its corresponding disk drive) may be used as the permanent storage device 1802. Like the permanent storage device 1802, the system memory 1804 may be a read-and-write memory device. However, unlike the permanent storage device 1802, the system memory 1804 may be a volatile read-and-write memory, such as random access memory. The system memory 1804 may store any of the instructions and data that one or more processing unit(s) 1812 may need at runtime. In one or more implementations, the processes of the subject disclosure are stored in the system memory 1804, the permanent storage device 1802, and/or the ROM 1810. From these various memory units, the one or more processing unit(s) 1812 retrieves instructions to execute and data to process in order to execute the processes of one or more implementations.
The bus 1808 also connects to the input and output device interfaces 1814 and 1806. The input device interface 1814 enables a user to communicate information and select commands to the electronic system 1800. Input devices that may be used with the input device interface 1814 may include, for example, alphanumeric keyboards and pointing devices (also called “cursor control devices”). The output device interface 1806 may enable, for example, the display of images generated by electronic system 1800. Output devices that may be used with the output device interface 1806 may include, for example, printers and display devices, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, a flexible display, a flat panel display, a solid state display, a projector, or any other device for outputting information. One or more implementations may include devices that function as both input and output devices, such as a touchscreen. In these implementations, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, such as visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.
Finally, as shown in
It is appreciated that the previous description of the disclosed examples is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to these examples will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other examples without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
As used herein, the phrase “at least one of” preceding a series of items, with the terms “and” or “or” to separate any of the items, modifies the list as a whole, rather than each member of the list (i.e., each item). The phrase “at least one of” does not require selection of at least one item; rather, the phrase allows a meaning that includes at least one of any one of the items, and/or at least one of any combination of the items, and/or at least one of each of the items. By way of example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C” or “at least one of A, B, or C” each refer to only A, only B, or only C; any combination of A, B, and C; and/or at least one of each of A, B, and C.
Furthermore, to the extent that the term “include,” “have,” or the like is used in the description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprise” as “comprise” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
A reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.” The term “some” refers to one or more. Underlined and/or italicized headings and subheadings are used for convenience only, do not limit the subject technology, and are not referred to in connection with the interpretation of the description of the subject technology. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various configurations described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the subject technology. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the above description.
While this specification contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of particular implementations of the subject matter. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable sub combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub combination or variation of a sub combination.
The subject matter of this specification has been described in terms of particular aspects, but other aspects can be implemented and are within the scope of the following claims. For example, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. The actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. As one example, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the aspects described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all aspects, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single hardware product or packaged into multiple hardware products. Other variations are within the scope of the following claim.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/687,663 filed Nov. 18, 2019 entitled “TILED REFLECTOR FOR FIXED WIRELESS APPLICATIONS,” which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/768,931 filed Nov. 18, 2018 entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A TILED REFLECTOR FOR FIXED WIRELESS APPLICATIONS,” of which are all incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62768931 | Nov 2018 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16687663 | Nov 2019 | US |
Child | 17467117 | US |