WO2020240073A1 - Solution de commutation d'antenne - Google Patents

Solution de commutation d'antenne Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2020240073A1
WO2020240073A1 PCT/FI2019/050409 FI2019050409W WO2020240073A1 WO 2020240073 A1 WO2020240073 A1 WO 2020240073A1 FI 2019050409 W FI2019050409 W FI 2019050409W WO 2020240073 A1 WO2020240073 A1 WO 2020240073A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
antenna
switching
unit
switch
signal
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/FI2019/050409
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Paavo Väänänen
Hans Herzog
Petri Kotilainen
Markus HAKAMO
Original Assignee
Corehw Semiconductor Oy
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Corehw Semiconductor Oy filed Critical Corehw Semiconductor Oy
Priority to PCT/FI2019/050409 priority Critical patent/WO2020240073A1/fr
Publication of WO2020240073A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020240073A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • 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
    • G01S3/00—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received
    • G01S3/02—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using radio waves
    • G01S3/14—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction
    • G01S3/16—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using amplitude comparison of signals derived sequentially from receiving antennas or antenna systems having differently-oriented directivity characteristics or from an antenna system having periodically-varied orientation of directivity characteristic
    • G01S3/20—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using amplitude comparison of signals derived sequentially from receiving antennas or antenna systems having differently-oriented directivity characteristics or from an antenna system having periodically-varied orientation of directivity characteristic derived by sampling signal received by an antenna system having periodically-varied orientation of directivity characteristic
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • 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
    • G01S1/00—Beacons or beacon systems transmitting signals having a characteristic or characteristics capable of being detected by non-directional receivers and defining directions, positions, or position lines fixed relatively to the beacon transmitters; Receivers co-operating therewith
    • G01S1/02—Beacons or beacon systems transmitting signals having a characteristic or characteristics capable of being detected by non-directional receivers and defining directions, positions, or position lines fixed relatively to the beacon transmitters; Receivers co-operating therewith using radio waves
    • G01S1/04—Details
    • G01S1/042—Transmitters
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • 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
    • G01S1/00—Beacons or beacon systems transmitting signals having a characteristic or characteristics capable of being detected by non-directional receivers and defining directions, positions, or position lines fixed relatively to the beacon transmitters; Receivers co-operating therewith
    • G01S1/02—Beacons or beacon systems transmitting signals having a characteristic or characteristics capable of being detected by non-directional receivers and defining directions, positions, or position lines fixed relatively to the beacon transmitters; Receivers co-operating therewith using radio waves
    • G01S1/08—Systems for determining direction or position line
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • 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
    • G01S3/00—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received
    • G01S3/02—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using radio waves
    • G01S3/04—Details
    • G01S3/043—Receivers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • 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
    • G01S3/00—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received
    • G01S3/02—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using radio waves
    • G01S3/14—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction
    • G01S3/46—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using antennas spaced apart and measuring phase or time difference between signals therefrom, i.e. path-difference systems
    • G01S3/48—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using antennas spaced apart and measuring phase or time difference between signals therefrom, i.e. path-difference systems the waves arriving at the antennas being continuous or intermittent and the phase difference of signals derived therefrom being measured
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
    • H01Q3/24—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
    • H01Q3/242—Circumferential scanning
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
    • H01Q3/44—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of reflecting, refracting, or diffracting devices associated with the radiating element
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B7/00—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
    • H04B7/02—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas
    • H04B7/04—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas
    • H04B7/06—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the transmitting station
    • H04B7/0602—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the transmitting station using antenna switching
    • H04B7/0604—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the transmitting station using antenna switching with predefined switching scheme
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B7/00—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
    • H04B7/02—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas
    • H04B7/04—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas
    • H04B7/08—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the receiving station
    • H04B7/0802—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the receiving station using antenna selection
    • H04B7/0805—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the receiving station using antenna selection with single receiver and antenna switching
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B7/00—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
    • H04B7/02—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas
    • H04B7/04—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas
    • H04B7/08—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the receiving station
    • H04B7/0802—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the receiving station using antenna selection
    • H04B7/0822—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the receiving station using antenna selection according to predefined selection scheme

Definitions

  • the invention concerns in general the technical field of direction finding systems. Especially the invention concerns antenna switching solution for direction finding systems.
  • radio direction finding systems may be divided into systems using Angle of Arrival (AoA) method and Angle of Depar ture (AoD) method. Both methods utilize an antenna array constructed of several distinct antenna elements, which are physically separated from each other. Hav ing more antennas in the antenna array generally improves positioning accuracy and positioning system tolerance against impairments caused by radio signal propagation environment.
  • AoA Angle of Arrival
  • AoD Angle of Depar ture
  • Both methods utilize an antenna array constructed of several distinct antenna elements, which are physically separated from each other. Hav ing more antennas in the antenna array generally improves positioning accuracy and positioning system tolerance against impairments caused by radio signal propagation environment.
  • one of the an tenna elements of the antenna array is active at a time and the active antenna is changed over the time.
  • FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a simple example of the principle of AoA direction finding system 100.
  • the AoA radio direction finding system 100 comprises a transmitter unit 102 and a re DC unit 104.
  • the transmitter unit 102 comprises a transmitting antenna 106 and a RF transmitter 108, e.g. BLE transmitter.
  • the receiver unit 104 comprises a receiving antenna array, which comprises in this simple example four antenna elements 110a-110d.
  • the receiver unit 104 comprises an antenna switch unit 112 to switch between the antenna elements 110a-110d, a RF receiver 1 14, e.g. BLE receiver, and an AoA estimation unit 1 16.
  • the AoA esti mation unit 1 16 of the receiver unit 104 estimates the angle of arrival of the signal by using the sampled receiver signal.
  • the antenna array is used for transmission.
  • the transmitter signal is fed consecutively to each antenna element of the antenna array for a short time period to produce signal in receiving end.
  • the transmitted signal is switched between the antenna elements according to a pre-determined antenna switching pattern.
  • the antenna switching pattern defines the order in which the antennas in the antenna array are activated.
  • the switching generates a direc tionally variable phase-modulated radiated signal, which may be used for esti mating the relative direction between a distant receiver and the transmitter.
  • the estimation is based on the received signal, and the receiver does not need to have a directional antenna.
  • Figure 2 schematically illustrates a simple example of the principle of AoD direction finding system 200.
  • the AoD radio direction finding system 200 comprises a transmitter unit 202 and a receiver unit 204.
  • the transmitter unit 202 comprises a transmitting antenna array, which comprises in this simple example four antenna elements 206a-206d.
  • the trans mitter unit 204 comprises an antenna switch unit 212 to switch the transmitted signal between the antenna elements 206a-206d and a RF transmitter 208, e.g. BLE transmitter.
  • the receiver unit 204 comprises a receiving antenna 210, a RF receiver 214, e.g. BLE receiver, and an AoD estimation unit 216.
  • the AoD esti mation unit 216 of the receiver unit 204 estimates the angle of arrival of the signal by using the sampled receiver signal.
  • an antenna switch unit a receiver unit, a transmitter unit, a method as defined by the respective independent claims.
  • an antenna switch unit for a direction finding system
  • the antenna switch unit comprises at least one antenna switch module and at least one antenna array comprising at least two antenna elements
  • each at least one antenna switch module comprising: at least one antenna port for each antenna element of the at least one antenna array connected to said antenna switch module; at least one radio frequency, RF, in terface for at least one RF signal; a switching network for each antenna port, wherein each switching network comprises a switching device and a termination network; and at least one switch control unit configured in response to at least one control signal received via a control interface to control the switching net works according to a pre-defined antenna switching pattern to: connect consec utively at least one antenna port to the RF signal through the switching device of the switching network of said at least one antenna port to activate said at least one antenna port, and terminate the other antenna ports with the termination networks of the switching networks of the other antenna ports, wherein the ter mination networks of each of the other switching networks are configured to pro vide a plurality of different
  • Each termination network may comprise at least one termination switching de vice and at least one load impedance arranged in series with the at least one termination switching device for providing the plurality of different terminations for the antenna port.
  • each termination network may comprise at least one adjustable load impedance for providing the plurality of different terminations for the an tenna port.
  • the antenna switching pattern may be formed to optimize one or more proper ties of a radiation pattern of the at least one antenna array connected to the antenna switch unit for a specific application, preferably for direction finding.
  • a radiation pattern of the at least one antenna array connected to the antenna switch unit may be adjustable.
  • At least one antenna switch module of the antenna switch unit may further com prise a soft switching unit configured to switch the amplitude of the at least one RF signal smoothly from a first antenna port to a second antenna port during the switching of the active antenna port to reduce level of unwanted emissions of a transmitted RF spectrum or spurious responses in a received RF signal.
  • the soft switching unit may be arranged to the at least one RF signal path be tween the at least one RF interface and the switching networks as a common soft switching unit for all antenna ports of the antenna switch module.
  • the soft switching network of the soft switching unit may be imple mented as a part of the switching networks of the antenna switch module so that the antenna switch module comprises individual soft switching device for each antenna port.
  • the antenna ports of the antenna switching module may be divided into at least two antenna groups, wherein the active antenna port may be selected alternat- ingly between the antenna groups and the at least one soft switching unit may be configured to switch the amplitude of the at least one RF signal between the at least two antenna groups.
  • At least one antenna element of the at least one antenna array may be differen tially fed balanced antenna element
  • the at least one antenna switch module, to which the at least one differentially fed balanced antenna element is connected may further comprise a conversion unit configured to provide single-end to dif ferential conversion of the at least one RF signal for providing at least one pos itive phase RF signal and at least one negative phase RF signal for each at least one differentially fed balanced antenna element.
  • the at least one antenna switch module may comprise two antenna ports for each differentially fed antenna element, a first antenna port to which the at least one positive phase RF signal may be connected through the switch ing device of the first antenna port and a second antenna port to which the at least one negative phase RF signal may be connected through the switching device of the second antenna port, when the first antenna port and the second antenna port are activated.
  • the at least one switch control unit of at least one antenna switch module may be implemented as a state machine configured to control the consecutive an tenna port activation and to control the state of the at least one switch control unit of the at least one antenna switch module with at least one control signal.
  • the antenna switch unit may comprise a plurality of antenna switch modules, wherein one antenna switch module may implemented as a control module and the at least one RF interface of the other antenna switch modules may be con nected to the antenna ports of the control module, the control module may be configured to divide the at least one RF signal between the other antenna switch modules with the switching networks of the control module according to the an tenna switching pattern, wherein each of the other antenna switch modules may comprise two switch control units, a first switch control unit for defining the an tenna port of the control module to which the at least one RF signal is connected and a second switch control unit for controlling the switching networks of the antenna switch module according to the pre-defined antenna switching pattern.
  • a receiver unit for an Angle of Arrival, AoA, direc tion finding system comprising: at least one radio frequency, RF, receiver; an AoA estimation unit; and the antenna switch unit as described above, wherein the antenna switch unit is connected to the at least one RF receiver via the at least one RF interface and control interface of at least one antenna switch module of the antenna switch unit.
  • a transmitter unit for an Angle of Departure, AoD, direction finding system comprising: at least one radio frequency, RF, transmitter; and the antenna switch unit as de scribed above, wherein the antenna switch unit is connected to the at least one RF transmitter via the at least one RF interface and control interface of at least one antenna switch module of the antenna switch unit.
  • a method for controlling an antenna switch unit comprising at least one antenna switch module and at least one antenna array comprising at least two antenna ele ments, wherein the method comprises, performed by at least one antenna switch module: controlling, by at least one switch control unit, in response to at least one control signal received via a control interface switching networks of said antenna switch module according to a pre-defined antenna switching pat tern, wherein the controlling comprises: connecting consecutively at least one antenna port of said antenna switch module to at least one RF signal through a switching device of the switching network of said at least one antenna port to activate said at least one antenna port, and terminating other antenna ports with termination networks of the switching networks of the other antenna ports, wherein the termination networks of each of the other switching networks pro vides a plurality of different terminations for each of the other antenna ports to optimize one or more properties of a radiation pattern of the antenna element connected to the activated at least one antenna port; wherein the antenna switching pattern defines at least the order in which the antenna ports are acti vated
  • Figure 1 illustrates schematically a simple example of the principle of Angle of Arrival (AoA) direction finding system.
  • Figure 2 illustrates schematically a simple example of the principle of Angle of Departure (AoD) direction finding system.
  • Figure 3A illustrates a simple example of an antenna switch unit for a direction finding system according to the invention.
  • Figure 3B illustrates schematically an example of an antenna switch module ac cording to the invention.
  • Figure 4 illustrates an example of a switching device implemented with a digitally controlled attenuator.
  • Figure 5 illustrates an example of antenna switching pattern according to the invention.
  • Figure 6 illustrates an example of azimuth gain patterns of one antenna element of an example antenna array connected to one antenna port of a switch module according to invention.
  • Figure 7 illustrates an example of simulated root mean square error (RMSE) values of bearing angle as a function of elevation angle.
  • RMSE root mean square error
  • Figure 8 illustrates an example of simulated RMSE values of elevation angle as a function of elevation angle.
  • Figure 9 illustrates schematically another example of an antenna switch module according to the invention.
  • Figure 10 illustrates schematically an example of a soft switching unit according to the invention.
  • Figures 11A and 11 B illustrate schematically another example of a soft switching unit according to the invention.
  • Figure 12 illustrates schematically another example of an antenna switch mod- ule according to the invention.
  • Figure 13 illustrates schematically an example of an antenna switching pattern for a configuration of at least one antenna switch module of Figure 12.
  • Figure 14 illustrates bearing and elevation root mean square error (RMSE) as a function of elevation angle for two different co-located antenna arrays.
  • RMSE root mean square error
  • Figure 15 illustrates schematically an example of a multi-chip-configuration of an antenna switch unit according to the invention.
  • Figure 16 illustrates an example of an antenna switch unit comprising a plurality of antenna switch modules according to the invention.
  • FIGS 17 A and 17B illustrates an example of antenna switching pattern for an antenna switch unit configuration of Figure 16.
  • Figure 18 illustrates schematically an example block diagram of some compo nents of the at least one switch control unit according to the invention.
  • Figure 19 illustrates an example of an AoA receiver unit according to the inven tion.
  • Figure 20 illustrates an example of an AoD transmitter unit according to the in vention.
  • Figure 21 illustrates an example of a method according to the invention.
  • FIG 3A illustrates a simple example of an antenna switch unit 301 for a direc tion finding system according to the invention.
  • the antenna switch unit 301 may be implemented in a receiver unit or in a transmitter unit of a direction finding system for switching between the transmitting antenna elements or receiving antenna elements as will be discussed later in this application.
  • the antenna switch unit 301 comprises at least one antenna switch module 300 and at least one antenna array 303 comprising at least two antenna elements 302.
  • Each antenna switch module 300 of the an tenna switch unit 301 comprises at least one antenna port 304 for each antenna element 302 of the at least one antenna array 303 connected to said antenna switch module 300.
  • the antenna elements 302 of the at least one antenna array 303 may be connected to the at least one antenna switch module 300 via the respective at least one antenna port 304.
  • the antenna elements 302 of one antenna array 303 may be connected to antenna ports of one or more antenna switch modules 300.
  • the antenna elements 302 of one or more antenna arrays 303 may be connected to antenna ports of one antenna switch module 300.
  • Each antenna switch module 300 of the antenna switch unit 301 further comprises at least one radio frequency (RF) interface 306 for at least one RF signal 307.
  • Each antenna switch module 300 of the antenna switch unit 301 further comprises a switching network 308 for each antenna port 304 and at least one switch control unit 312 for controlling the switching networks 308 of the antenna switch module 300 to switch the at least one RF signal 307 between the antenna ports 304 and also between the antenna elements 302 connected to the antenna ports 304.
  • Each switching network 308 comprises a switching device 309 and a termination network 310.
  • the controlling of the components of the switching networks 308 by the at least one control unit 312 are illustrated in Figures throughout this application by an arrow followed by a reference number of the respective component to be controlled, e.g.
  • connection i.e. communica tively couplings, between any components, modules, and/or units according to the invention throughout this application (except between transmitter unit and receiver unit) may be based on any known wired communication technologies.
  • the communication between the transmitter unit and receiver unit may be based on any known wireless communication technologies, e.g. Bluetooth low energy (BLE).
  • BLE Bluetooth low energy
  • FIG. 3B illustrates schematically an example of an antenna switch module 300 according to the invention.
  • the antenna switch unit 301 com prises one antenna switch module 300 and one antenna array 303 comprising four antenna elements 302a-302d.
  • the four antenna elements 302a-302d are connected to the antenna switch module 300 via respective four antenna ports 304a-304d, i.e. the antenna switch module 300 comprises one antenna port 304a-304d for each antenna element 302a-302d of the antenna array 303.
  • the number of the antenna elements and thus the number of the antenna ports is four, however the invention is not limited to that and each an tenna switch module 300 may comprise any number of antenna ports being at least two.
  • the antenna switch module 300 of Figure 3B comprises one RF interface 306 for one RF signal, one switch control unit 312, and one switching network 308a-308d for each antenna port 304a-304d.
  • the number of antenna elements 302a-302n of the at least one antenna array 303 connected to the antenna switch module 300 defines the number of antenna ports 304a- 304d and the number of switching networks 308a-308d in the antenna switching module 300.
  • Each switching network 308a-308d comprises a switching device 309a-309d and a termination network 310a-310d.
  • the antenna switch module 300 comprises one switch control unit 312 and one RF interface 306, but the invention is not limited to that and the antenna switch module may comprise more than one switch control unit 312 and more than one RF interface 306.
  • the switching device 309 of the switching network 308 may be one of the fol lowing: a transistor, such as a junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET), Metal- oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), metal-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MESFET), or pseudomorphic high electron mobility tran sistor (PFIEMT); a PIN diode; a digitally controlled attenuator.
  • the digitally con trolled attenuator is constructed from multiple resistive elements, which may be connected in series or parallel using ordinary switches controlled digitally.
  • the topology of the attenuator may be series or parallel resistor, L, pi or T network etc.
  • Figure 4 illustrates an example of a switching device implemented with the digitally controlled attenuator, wherein resistive elements 402a-402n are con nected parallel and digital control signals C are used to control controllable switching elements 404a-404n.
  • the controllable switching elements may be e.g. a transistor, such as JFET, MOSFET, MESFET, or PFIEMT; or a PIN diode.
  • each switching network 308 is configured to pro vide a plurality of different terminations for the respective antenna port 304, when the antenna port is not activated through the switching device 309 of the switching network 308, i.e. when the antenna port and the respective antenna element 302, is not connected to the at least one RF signal 307.
  • Each termina tion network 310 may comprise at least one termination switching device Ta1 - Tnn and at least one load impedance Za-Zn for providing the plurality of different terminations for the antenna port 304.
  • the at least one load impedance may be arranged in series with the at least one terminal switching devices Ta1 -Tnn.
  • the termination network 310 comprises two or more load impedances
  • the load impedances may be arranged parallel or in series with each other.
  • the termi nation network 310 comprises two or more termination switching devices Ta1 - Tnn
  • the termination switching devices may be arranged parallel or in series with each other.
  • each termination network 310 may comprise at least one adjusta ble load impedance for providing the plurality of different terminations for the antenna port.
  • the termination network 310 comprises two or more adjustable load impedances
  • the adjustable load impedances may be arranged parallel or in series with each other.
  • each ter mination network 308a-308d comprises two parallel termination switching de vices Ta1 -Td1 , Ta2-Td2 and one load impedance Za-Zd arranged in series with the termination switching device Ta2-Td2.
  • the impedance termination for the antenna port 304a may be set to:
  • the same termination settings may be provided for each of the other antenna ports 304b-304d in the example antenna switch module 300 of Figure 3B.
  • the switch control unit 312 controls the states, i.e. open or close, of the switching devices 309 and the termination switching devices Ta1 -Tnn of the termination networks 310 with at least one control signal.
  • the at least one control signal may be received via a control interface 314, from an external control unit, e.g. an external controller.
  • the external control unit may be arranged to the receiver or to the transmitter to which the antenna switch unit 301 according to the invention may be connected. Alternatively, the external control unit may be external also for the receiver or the transmitter to which the antenna switch unit 301 according to the invention may be connected.
  • the switch control unit 312 receives two control signals CO and C1 . Both control signals may have two states, i.e. 0 and 1 .
  • each switching device 309a-309d and terminal switching devicesTal - -Td1 , Ta2-Td2 may have two states, i.e. 0 and 1 , wherein 0 means that the switch is in open state and 1 means that the switch is in closed state.
  • Table 1 illustrates an example of mapping of the states of the control signals CO and C1 for the switching networks 308a-308d of the example antenna switch module 300 of Figure 3B.
  • the mapping of the states of the control signals defines the states of the switching devices 309a-309d and the terminal switching devices Ta1 - Td1 , Ta2-Td2 of the switching networks according to the states of the con- trol signals CO and C1.
  • the switching device 309a With the control state 0 of the control signal CO and the control state 0 of the control signal C1 the switching device 309a is in state 1 to activate the antenna port 304a by connecting the RF signal is connected to the antenna port 304a.
  • the impedances of the other antenna ports 304b-304c may be terminated to optimize one or more properties of the radiation pattern of the antenna element 302a connected to the activated an tenna port 304a.
  • the antenna ports 303b and 303d are termi nated to a respective load impedances Zb and Zd and the antenna port 303c is terminated to SFIORT.
  • the switching device 309b is in state 1 to activate the antenna port 304b by connecting the RF signal is connected to the antenna port 304b and the antenna ports 304a and 304c are terminated to a respective load impedances Za and Zc and the antenna port 303d is terminated to SFIORT, etc.
  • Table 1 an example of mapping of the control states of the control signals for the example switching networks of Figure 3B.
  • the at least one switch control unit 312 is configured to control the switching networks 308 according to a pre-defined antenna switching pattern to activate consecutively at least one antenna port at a time and terminate the impedance of the other, i.e. inactivated or unused, antenna ports with the termination net works 310 of the switching networks 308 of the other antenna ports, wherein the termination networks 310 of each of the other switching networks 308 are con figured to provide a plurality of different terminations for each of the other antenna ports to optimize one or more properties of a radiation pattern of the antenna element connected to the activate at least one antenna port.
  • the at least one switch control unit 312 is configured to connect the at least one antenna port 304 to the at least one RF signal 306 through the switching device 309 of the switching network 308 of said at least one antenna port 304. Moreover, the at least one switch control unit 312 is con figured to control the switching devices 309 of the other antenna ports to be open, i.e. inactivated, to not to connect the other antenna ports to the at least one RF signal. At least one of the at least one control signal may be used for timing the switching events. With the term“switching event’ is meant throughout this application the switching the RF signal from one antenna port to another.
  • the antenna switching pattern comprises a sequence of switching events, i.e. a switching sequence.
  • control signal itself is a timing signal and the antenna switching events may be controlled by internal switch state functionalities of the at least one switch control unit 312 as will be described later in this application.
  • the timing may be sensitive for ascending edge, descending edge, or for both ascending edge and descending edge. Al ternatively, if more than one control signals are used, one of the control signals may be used for timing the switching events or a combination of multiple control signals may be used for timing the switching events.
  • the antenna switching pattern defines at least the order in which the antenna ports are activated and the terminations of the other antenna ports depending on the at least one control signal in order to optimize one or more properties of the radiation pattern of the antenna element connected to the activate at least one antenna port.
  • the one or more properties of the radiation pattern may com prise gain, phase and/or polarization.
  • the impedance termi nations of the other antenna ports 304 and thus also the antenna elements 302 connected to the respective other antenna ports 304 have an effect on the an tenna radiation pattern of the antenna element 302 connected to the activated antenna port 204.
  • the impedances of the other antenna ports may be op timized to optimize the one or more properties of the radiation pattern of the active antenna element.
  • the optimization of the one or more properties of the antenna radiation pattern of each active antenna port and antenna element con nected said active antenna port enables an optimal radiation pattern of the at least one antenna array that is formed by the antenna elements.
  • optimizing one or more properties of a radiation pattern is meant a favorable one or more properties of the radiation pattern for a specific application, such as direction finding, beam forming or any other application.
  • optimal radiation pattern is meant a favorable radiation pattern for a specific ap plication, such as direction finding, beam forming or any other application.
  • the application is direction finding.
  • Properties of an optimal radiation pattern for the direction finding may for exam ple comprise:
  • the antenna switching pattern may be formed e.g. from the switch state map ping by using the at least one control signal.
  • Figure 5 illustrates an example of antenna switching pattern formed from the switch state mapping of Table 1 for the example antenna switching module of Figure 3B.
  • the at least one switch control unit 312 of the antenna switching module 300 is configured to control the switching networks 308a-308d according to the defined antenna switching pat tern 500 in response to the control signal as discussed above.
  • the switch control unit 312 in response to that the state of the control signal C1 is 0 and the state of the control signal C1 is 0, the switch control unit 312 is configured to activate the antenna port 304a to which the antenna ele ment 302a (Anti in Figure 5) is connected and to terminate the other antenna ports so that the antenna ports 304b (Ant2 in Figure5) and 304d (Ant4 in Figure 5) are set to impedance Z termination and the antenna port 304c (Ant3 in Figure 5) is set to SFIORT termination.
  • the switch control unit 312 is configured to activate the antenna port 304b to which the antenna element 302b (Ant2 in Figure 5) is connected and to terminate the other antenna ports so that the antenna ports 304a (Anti in Figure5) and 304c (Ant3 in Figure 5) are set to impedance Z termination, the antenna port 304d (Ant4 in Figure 5) is set to SHORT termination.
  • the switch control unit 312 is configured to activate the antenna port 304c to which the antenna element 302c (Ant3 in Figure 5) is connected and to terminate the other antenna ports so that the an tenna ports 304b (Ant2 in Figure5) and 304d (Ant4 in Figure 5) are set to imped ance Z termination, the antenna port 304a (Anti in Figure 5) is set to SHORT termination.
  • the switch control unit 312 is configured to activate the antenna port 304c to which the antenna element 302c (Ant3 in Figure 5) is con nected and to terminate the other antenna ports so that the antenna ports 304b (Ant2 in Figure5) and 304d (Ant4 in Figure 5) are set to impedance Z, termination the antenna port 304a (Anti in Figure 5) is set to SHORT termination.
  • the acti vation of the antenna port 304a-304d by connecting the antenna port 304a-304d to the at least one RF signal through the switching device 309a-309d causes also that the antenna element 302a-302d connected to the antenna port 304a- 304d may be activated and connected to the at least one RF signal.
  • the two control signals CO and C1 are used for timing the switching events, i.e. the timing of the switching events depends on the combination of the two control signals CO and C1 .
  • the antenna ports are activated in the following order: antenna port 304a, antenna port 304b, antenna port 304c, antenna port 304d, antenna port 304a, antenna port 304b, antenna port 304c, antenna port 304d.
  • the example antenna switching pattern of Figure 5 is a circular pattern, i.e. the same activation order and the same terminations are repeated two times.
  • the antenna ports may be activated first according to first order and first terminations and after that according to a second order and second terminations, etc. as many times as defined in the antenna switching pattern.
  • the antenna switching pattern 500 may be formed to optimize one or more prop erties of a radiation pattern of the at least one antenna array connected to the antenna switch unit 301 for a specific application.
  • the one or more properties of the radiation pattern of the antenna array may be optimized for direction finding.
  • the one or more properties of the radiation pattern of the antenna array may be optimized for beam forming or any other application.
  • the one or more properties of the radiation pattern may comprise gain, phase and/or polarization.
  • Figure 6 illustrates an example of azimuth gain patterns of one antenna element of an example antenna array connected to one antenna port of the switch mod ule 300 according to invention with three different terminations 602a, 602b, 602c of the unused antenna ports. From Figure 6 it may be seen that the terminations of the other antenna ports have significant effect on the radiation pattern of the active antenna element of the antenna array connected to the antenna switch module according to the invention. Depending on application different properties may be desired from the radiation pattern of the antenna array comprising, but not limited to, direction independent phase center, smooth phase pattern, omni directional gain pattern or directive gain pattern, or specific polarization.
  • Figure 7 illustrates an example of simulated root mean square error (RMSE) values of bearing angle as a function of elevation angle with three different un used antenna port terminations 602a, 602b, 602c. From Figure 7 it may be seen that the RMSE of bearing angle starts to increase at different elevation angles with different terminations 602a, 602b, 602c of the unused antenna ports. With the termination 602b, the RMSE of bearing angle starts to increase already from 45 degrees elevation angle, whereas with the termination 602c the RMSE of bearing angle starts to increase from 70 degrees elevation angle.
  • the bearing angle may be the horizontal angle between a direction of an object and a loca tion of another object, i.e. a relative bearing. Alternatively, the bearing angle may be the horizon angle between magnetic north or true north and an object, i.e. absolute bearing.
  • Figure 8 illustrates an example of simulated RMSE values of elevation angle as a function of elevation angle with using same three different unused antenna port terminations 602a, 602b, 602c. From Figure 8 it may be seen that the RMSE of elevation angle starts to increase at different elevation angles with different terminations of the unused antenna ports. With the termination 602b, the RMSE of elevation angle is higher than the RMSE of the elevation angle with the termination 602a and termination 602c between elevation angles from 10 degrees to 80 degrees, and lower between the elevation angles above 85 de grees.
  • the elevation angle is the angle between the horizontal plane and the line of sight.
  • the radiation pattern of the an tenna array connected to the at least one antenna switch module 300 may be adjustable by changing one or more terminations of the other antenna ports de fined by the antenna switching pattern.
  • the antenna switching pattern may be stored in a memory unit.
  • Each antenna switch module 300 may comprise a separate memory unit 904 as illustrate e.g. in Figure 9 or the memory unit may be part of the at least one switch control unit as illustrated in Figure 3B.
  • the antenna switching pattern may be formed based on one or more properties of the radiation pattern of the antenna array connected to the at least one antenna switch module 300.
  • the antenna switching pattern may be formed during the design or initialization of the at least one antenna array 303 connectable to the antenna switch module 300 and/or during the design or initialization of the transmitter unit or the receiver unit to which the antenna switch module 300 may be connectable.
  • Flaving more antenna elements in the at least one antenna array 303 connected to the at least one antenna switch module 300 means that the required number of control signals increases at the same. This may be troublesome for the exter nal control unit, if there are many control signals in parallel interface that need to be time aligned relatively accurately in short time window. To simplify require ments for the external control unit, more functionality may be implemented inside the at least one antenna switch module 300 of antenna switch unit 301 to get rid of increasing number of control signals, to achieve more accurately timed control signals and/or glitch free antenna switching.
  • balanced antenna element type that has differential feed.
  • balanced antennas may often require more volume compared to unbalanced antennas, in small devices, i.e. device size is in range of wavelength or smaller, the balanced antennas typically have several advantages because they are less dependent on ground plane modes:
  • phase center of a balanced antenna is often less direction dependent than phase center of an unbalanced antenna.
  • the at least one antenna switch module 300 may comprise a single-end to differential conversion unit in between the at least one RF interface 306 and the antenna ports 304.
  • Figure 9 illustrates schematically an example of the antenna switch module 300 according to one embodiment of the invention, wherein the antenna switch mod ule 300 comprises a conversion unit 902 configured to provide single-end to differential conversion of the at least one RF signal 306 for providing at least one positive phase RF signal RF+ and at least one negative phase RF signal RF- for each differentially fed balanced antenna elements 302a-302f of the at least one antenna array 303 connected to the antenna ports 304a-304l of the antenna switch module 300.
  • the conversion unit 902 for the single-end to differential conversion may be implemented e.g. with an on-chip passive planar trans former.
  • the antenna switch module 300 comprises two antenna ports for each differentially fed antenna element 302a-302f.
  • the antenna switch module 300 comprises the first antenna port 304a to which at least one positive phase RF signal RF+ may be connected through the switching device of the switching network 308a of the first antenna port 302a and the second antenna port 304b to which the at least one negative phase RF signal RF- may be connected through the switching device of the switching network 308b of the second antenna port 304b.
  • the antenna ports 304a, 304c, 304e, 304g, 304i, and 304k are connected to the positive phase output of the conversion unit 902 through the respective switching network 308a, 308c, 308e, 308g, 308i, and 308k, and the antenna ports 304b, 304d, 304f, 304h, 304j, and 304I are con nected to the negative phase output of the conversion unit 902 the respective switching network 308b, 308d, 308f, 308h, 308j, and 308I.
  • the components i.e.
  • the example antenna switch module 300 of Figure 9 comprises a separate memory unit 904 for storing the antenna switching pattern.
  • the memory unit 904 for storing the antenna switching pattern may be part of the switch control unit 312.
  • the memory unit 904 may comprise at least one memory interface 906 for accessing the memory unit 904.
  • the at least one switch control unit 312 may be configured to retrieve the antenna switching pattern stored to the memory unit 904.
  • all the antenna elements 302a-302f of the antenna array 303 are differentially fed balanced antenna elements.
  • the at least one antenna array 303 connected to the antenna switch module 300 may comprise both single-end antenna elements and differentially fed balanced an tenna elements.
  • the antenna switch module 300 comprises one an tenna port for each single-end antenna element and two antenna ports for each differentially fed antenna elements.
  • the at least one switch control unit 312 may comprise internal switch state functionalities for controlling the state of the at least one switch control unit 312, i.e. the at least one switch control unit 312 may be implemented as a state machine, e.g. a finite state machine.
  • the states of the switch control unit 312 may be for example OFF, ON, SWITCFI.
  • the OFF state the RF signal is disconnected from all antenna ports.
  • the ON state the at least one antenna port and the antenna element connected to the at least one antenna port is connected to the RF interface 307 to enable reception or transmission of the RF signal.
  • the SWITCFI state next active antenna port in the switching sequence is defined and activated according to the antenna switching pattern.
  • the state machine implementation of the switch control unit 312 enables that only one control signal may be used to control both the con secutive antenna port activation and the state of the at least one switch control unit.
  • the timing of the switching events may be defined by using the one control signal so that the sequence of the switching events is started by changing the state of the switch control unit 312 from OFF to ON.
  • the RF signal is connected to the active antenna port.
  • the state of the switch control unit 312 is changed from ON to SWITCH, wherein the next active antenna port is defined and activated and after that the state of the switch control unit 312 is changed from SWITCH to ON.
  • the RF interface is disconnected from the an tenna ports, when the state of the switch control unit 312 is changed from ON to OFF.
  • control signal for timing enables that more antenna ele ments may be used without increasing the number of control signals required to control the switching between the antenna elements, which eases the connec tion of the antenna switch unit according to the invention with commercial trans
  • the at least one antenna switch module 300 of the antenna switch unit 301 may further comprise at least one soft switching unit 1000, 1 100.
  • the switching transient of the transmitted RF signal into different antenna elements causes unwanted spreading, i.e. unwanted emissions, of the transmit ted RF spectrum, if the switching is performed too rapidly.
  • the rapid switching between the antenna elements may cause unwanted spurious responses in the received RF signal from nearby radio transmitters.
  • the at least one soft switching unit 1000, 1 100 may be configured switch the amplitude of the RF signal 307 smoothly from a first antenna port to a second antenna port during the switching of the active antenna port to reduce level of the unwanted spectral emissions of the transmitted RF spectrum of an AoD transmitter unit comprising the at least one antenna switch module 300 comprising the at least one soft switching unit 1000, 1 100 according to the in vention.
  • the at least one soft switching unit 1000, 1 100 may be config ured to switch the amplitude of the RF signal 307 smoothly from a first antenna port to a second antenna port during the switching of the active antenna port to reduce level of spurious responses in a received RF signal of an AoA receiver unit comprising the antenna switch module 300 comprising the at least one soft switching unit 1000, 1 100 according to the invention.
  • the AoA and AoD functionality in direction finding has been included in Blue tooth SIG standard version 5.1 .
  • the AoA and AoD functionality of the direction finding systems is enabled by adding so called Constant Tone Extension (CTE) period at the end of a transmitted BLE advertisement packet frame.
  • CTE Constant Tone Extension
  • the AoD transmit extension involves switching the RF signal between the antenna ports and the antenna elements connected to the antenna ports, which causes direc tion-dependent phase modulation to the radiated, i.e. transmitted, RF signal. If the switching is instantaneous, the switching transients will cause wideband spreading of the radiated RF spectrum, which may cause potentially harmful interferences to other radio receivers operating in close vicinity of the transmitter unit.
  • time for switching the antenna port from one to another may be 1 ps or 2 ps.
  • BLE 2.4 GFIz frequencies may be used.
  • the antenna switch unit 301 according to the invention may pref erably be used in BLE based indoor positioning applications, but the invention is not limited to that.
  • the BLE frequencies enable smaller dimensions of the antenna switch unit 301 and the antenna elements.
  • the at least one soft switching unit 1000, 1 100 may be used to smoothen the rise/fall transients of the RF signal to be switched into different antenna ports of the at least one antenna switch module 300. This smoothing may be achieved in various ways and some example configurations of the soft switching unit will be described next in this application.
  • the control unit 312 is configured to control the soft switching unit with at least one soft switching control signal SSU, which defines at least a starting time of the switching event and optionally also a ter mination time of the switching event.
  • the soft switching unit 1000, 1 100 may comprise a generator unit 1002 and a soft switching network 1003 comprising at least two switching devices 1004a, 1004b.
  • the generator unit 1002 may be configured to generate at least one waveform for controlling the switching network 303.
  • the soft switching network 1003 of the soft switching unit 1 100 may be arranged to the RF signal path 307 between the at least one RF interface 306 and the switching networks 308 of the antenna switch module 300 as a common soft switching network 1003 for all antenna ports 304 of the antenna switch module 300.
  • the soft switching unit 1000 may be implemented as part of the switching networks 308 of the antenna switch module 300 so that the switching devices 309 of the switching networks 308 of the antenna switch module 300 may be used as the switching devices 1004a, 1004b of the soft switching unit 1000.
  • This enables that an individual soft switching device 1004a, 1004b may be arranged to each switching network 308 of the antenna switch module 300 so that the antenna switch module comprises individual soft switching device 1004a, 1004b for each antenna port 304.
  • Next some examples of the soft switching unit 1000, 1 100 according to the invention are described so that the switching takes place from a first antenna port 304a to the second antenna port 304a, however the inventive idea is directly applicable in switching between any two antenna ports 304 of the antenna switch module 300.
  • each antenna element 302 of the at least one antenna array 303 is connected to at least antenna port 304, the switching from one antenna port to another antenna port causes also switching from one antenna element to another antenna element, i.e. switching from first antenna element 302a connected to the first antenna port 304a to the second antenna element 302b connected to the second antenna port 304b.
  • the first antenna port 304a and the second antenna port 304b may be any two antenna ports of the antenna switch module 300.
  • the first antenna element 302a connected to the respective first antenna port 304a and the second an tenna element 302b connected to the respective second antenna port 304b may be any two antenna elements of the at least one antenna array 303.
  • FIG 10 illustrates an example of the soft switching unit 1000 according to the invention, the soft switching unit 1000 is implemented as part of the switching networks 308 of the antenna switch module 300.
  • the generator unit 1002 may be configured to control the soft switching network 1003 (i.e. the switching de vices 309 of the switching networks 308) during the switching event according to the at least one soft switching signal SSU so that the amplitude of the RF signal 307 at the first antenna port 304a is substantially smoothly, i.e. gradually, ramped down, i.e. decreased, and simultaneously the amplitude of the RF signal 307 at the second antenna port 304b is substantially smoothly, i.e. gradually, ramped up, i.e. increased.
  • This smooth switching then reduces the out-of-chan- nel spectral emissions of the transmitted RF spectrum of AoD transmitter unit or the spurious responses in the received RF signal of AoA receiver unit in com parison to instantaneous on/off switching between the first antenna port 304a and the second antenna port 304b.
  • the same waveform may be used to control the first switching device 1004a and the second switching device 1004b by ar ranging an inverting component 1006, e.g. an inverting amplifier arrangement with a voltage gain arranged to 1 , between the generator unit 1002 and the sec ond switching device 1004b to invert the waveform generated by the generator unit 302.
  • the at least two switching devices 1004a, 1004b may be resistive switching de vices, fully reactive switching devices, partially reactive switching devices, or active switching devices.
  • the at least two resistive switching devices 1004a, 1004b may utilize junction gate field-effect transistors (JFETs), Metal-oxide- semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), metal-semiconductor field- effect transistors (MESFETs); pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistors (PHEMTs); PIN diodes; digitally controlled attenuators (e.g. attenuators illus trated in Figure 4); or any other suitable RF switches.
  • JFETs junction gate field-effect transistors
  • MOSFETs Metal-oxide- semiconductor field-effect transistors
  • MESFETs metal-semiconductor field- effect transistors
  • PHEMTs pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistors
  • PIN diodes digitally controlled attenuators (e.g. attenuators illus trated in Figure 4
  • the generator unit 1002 may comprise an analog waveform generator or a dig ital waveform generator. If the generator unit 1002 comprises the digital wave form generator, the generator unit 1002 may further comprise a D/A converter and a reconstruction filter to filter the output of the D/A converter to remove ali ases. Alternatively, if the generator unit 1002 comprises the digital waveform generator, the generator unit 1002 may further comprise a waveform encoder for converting the waveform generated by the digital waveform generator into control signals of the individual controllable switching elements 404a-404n of digitally controlled attenuators. Alternatively, the generator unit 302 may com prises a counter and the waveform may be encoded into the at least two switch ing devices, e.g. the values of the resistive elements 402a-402n of the switching devices 1004a, 1004b may be defined such that the resulting RF waveform ap proximates a desired waveform when the control signal is simply an ascending or descending count.
  • Figure 1 1 illustrates an example of the antenna soft switching unit 1 100 accord ing to the invention, wherein the soft switching unit 1 100 is a separate soft switching unit providing a common antenna soft switching unit 1 100.
  • the gen erator unit 1002 may be configured to control the soft switching network 1003 so that the amplitude of the RF signal 307 at the first antenna port 304a is sub stantially smoothly ramped down and simultaneously the amplitude of the RF signal 304 at a reference port 1 130 is ramped up substantially smoothly.
  • the switching network 308 of the antenna switch module 300 may be configured to change the active antenna port and the active antenna element by connecting the RF signal path 307 from the first antenna port 304a to the second antenna port 304b while the RF signal 307 is led to a dummy load 1 120 of the reference port 1 130, i.e. the changing of the antenna element 302a, 302b takes place at a moment when there is no RF signal 307 present at any antenna ports 304a, 304b.
  • the generator unit 1002 may be configured to control the switch ing network 1003 so that the amplitude of the RF signal 307 at the reference port 1 130 is substantially smoothly ramped down and simultaneously the ampli tude of the RF signal 307 at second antenna port 304b is substantially smoothly ramped up.
  • the generator unit 1002 comprises a digital waveform generator 1 102 and a wave form encoder 1 104.
  • Figure 1 1 B illustrates an example of the antenna soft switching system 1 100 according to the invention, wherein the soft switching unit 1 100 is a separate switching unit providing a common antenna soft switching unit 1 100 and the an tenna ports 304a-304n and the antenna elements 302a-302n are arranged to two groups, wherein the first antenna port 304a and the respective first antenna element 302a belong to a first antenna group 1 140 and the second antenna port 304b and the respective second antenna element 302b belong to the second antenna port group 1 150.
  • the soft switching network 1003 is separate from the switching networks 308a of the first antenna group 1 140 of the antenna switch module 300 and the switching networks 308b of the second antenna group 1 150 of the antenna switch module 300.
  • the active antenna element 302a-302n may be selected alternately from the first antenna group 1 140 and form the second antenna group 1 150.
  • the selection of the active antenna port and respective active antenna element of the antenna group may be performed when said an tenna group is not active, i.e. the RF signal 307 is not led to said antenna group.
  • the second antenna port 304b may be pre-selected as the active antenna of the second antenna group 1 150 by the switching networks 308b of the second antenna group 1 150 when the RF signal is led to the first antenna group 1 140.
  • the first antenna port 304a may be pre-selected as the active antenna of the first antenna group 1 140 by the switching networks 308a of the first antenna group 1 140 when the RF signal 307 is led to the second antenna group 1 150.
  • the generator unit 1002 may be configured to control the soft switching network 1003 so that the amplitude of the RF signal 307 at the first antenna group 1 140 (to which the first antenna port 304a belongs) is sub stantially smoothly ramped down and simultaneously the amplitude of the RF signal 307 at the second antenna group 1 150 (to which the second antenna port 304b belongs) is substantially smoothly ramped up, wherein the second antenna port 304b is pre-selected as the active antenna of the second antenna group 1 150.
  • the two antenna groups 1 140, 1 150 do not need to be exclusive, i.e. any physical antenna element may belong to both groups, if access from both RF paths is provided by the antenna switches 308a, 308b (dashed lines between the first antenna element 302a and the switching networks 308b of the second antenna group 1 150 and between the second antenna element 302b and the switching networks 308a of the first antenna group 1 140 in Figure 1 1 B).
  • This enables flexible switching sequences, where the active antenna element may be selected arbitrarily at each switching event.
  • Figure 12 illustrates schematically an example of the at least one antenna switch module 300 according to the invention.
  • the antenna switch module 300 of Fig ure 12 is otherwise similar to the example antenna switch module 300 of Figure 9, but the antenna switch module 300 of Figure 12 further comprises the soft switching unit 1 100, more antenna ports and antenna elements, and the at least one switch control unit 312 comprises internal switch state functionalities, i.e. the at least one switch control unit 312 is implemented as the state machine.
  • the switch control unit 312 is implemented as the state machine, but the invention is not limited to that.
  • the soft switching unit 1 100 is arranged between the at least one RF interface 306 and the conversion unit 902 as a common soft switching unit 1 100 for all antenna ports 304a-304p.
  • the soft switching unit 1 100 may be used without the conversion unit 902, i.e.
  • the antenna switch module 300 may be connected with an antenna array 303 comprising only single-end antenna elements.
  • the soft switching unit 1 100 may be arranged to between the at least one RF interface 306 and the switching networks 308a-308p.
  • the soft switching unit 1000 may be implemented by arranging individual soft switching devices 1004a, 1004b to each switching network 308a-308p so that the antenna switch module 300 comprises individual soft switching devices 1004a, 1004b for each antenna port 304a-304p as discussed above referring to Figure 10.
  • FIG 13 illustrates an example of antenna switching pattern 500 for the config uration of the at least one antenna switch module 300 of Figure 12.
  • the antenna switching pattern 500 may be used for example for an antenna switch unit 301 imple mented in a BLE AoD transmitter unit to transmit a BLE advertisement packet frame comprising a CTE frame.
  • BLE AoD transmitter unit to transmit a BLE advertisement packet frame comprising a CTE frame.
  • the structure of the CTE frame is illustrates above the antenna switching pattern.
  • the CTE frame as defined in BLE 5.1 comprises the following structure: a guard period 1304, a reference period 1306, and a plurality of alternating switch slots 1308 and sam ple slots 1310.
  • the CTE frame comprises 10 switch slots 1308 and 10 sample slots 1310.
  • the guard period 1304 is a first part of the CTE and no useful information is transmitted during the guard period 1304.
  • the duration of the guard period 1304 is 4 microseconds.
  • the reference period 1306 is for the phase reference for subsequent measurements.
  • the duration of the reference period 1306 is 8 microseconds.
  • Each switch slot 1308 is the time re served for changing, i.e. switching, the active antenna port.
  • the duration of each switch slot 1308 is 1 microsecond or 2 microseconds.
  • Each sample slot 1310 is the time reserved for phase measurement of the active antenna element.
  • the duration of each sample slot 1310 is 1 microsecond or 2 microseconds.
  • the at least one switch control unit 312 of the antenna switching module 300 is config ured to control the switching networks 308a-308p according to the pre-defined antenna switching pattern 500 in response to the control signal as discussed above. In the beginning, all the antenna ports 304a-304p are set to SHORT ter mination meaning that antennas are grounded with the switching devices of the switching networks 308a-308p.
  • the state of the control signal C is changed and RF+ and RF- signals are connected through antenna port 304o and antenna port 304p to differential antenna element 302h (ANT8+ and ANT8- in Figure 13).
  • the CTE transmission begins.
  • the state of the control signal C is changed. This will cause the control unit 312 to trigger change in the state of the soft switching control signal (SSU) for controlling the soft switching unit 1000, 1 100 and in response to the change in the state of the SSU the soft switching unit 1000, 1 100 is configured to ramp the RF+ signal and RF- signal power down.
  • SSU soft switching control signal
  • the switch control unit 312 controls the switching networks 308a-308p to change the active an tenna element to 302g (ANT7+ and ANT7- in Figure 13) through the antenna ports 304m and 304n by closing the switching devices of the respective switch ing networks 308m and 308n. Simultaneously, the switching devices of the switching networks 308o and 308p are opened, and termination networks of the switching networks 308o and 308p set the antenna ports 304o and 304p (ANT8+ and ANT8- in Figure 13) to SHORT termination. The switching between the an tenna ports 304a-304p continues according to the antenna switching pattern 500 until the CTE transmission ends.
  • the timings of the switching sequence depend on change of the state of the control signal CO, i.e. the control signal CO is a timing signal and the antenna switching events may be controlled by internal switch state functionalities of the switch control unit 312 that is imple mented as the internal state machine.
  • the control signal CO is a timing signal
  • the antenna switching events may be controlled by internal switch state functionalities of the switch control unit 312 that is imple mented as the internal state machine.
  • SHORT termination is used for the unused antenna ports, but alternatively or in addition OPEN ter mination and/or impedance Z termination may be used.
  • Expanding the antenna array by increasing the number of antenna elements even further may be beneficial from direction finding performance point of view, but it may become impractical to implement antenna switch unit 301 comprising a great number of antenna switch modules 300, e.g. more than five antenna switch modules 300, into a single antenna switch unit chip, e.g. a circuit board. It may be possible to have parallel control interface to each antenna switch mod ule 300 to
  • FIG. 14 illustrates an example of simulated bearing and elevation RMSE as a function of elevation angle for two different co-located antenna ar rays 2 and 3 under ideal anechoic and certain static multipath conditions.
  • Array 2 is optimal for small elevation angles and the antenna array 3 is better for large elevation angles. Furthermore, the antenna array 3 is more tolerant against these specific multipath conditions.
  • FIG. 15 illustrates schematically an example of a multi-chip-configuration of an antenna switch unit 301 according to the invention, wherein the antenna switch unit 301 is implemented on a single circuit board and comprises five antenna switch modules 300a-300e.
  • the antenna switch module 300a comprises four antenna ports for providing RF signal to the other antenna switch modules 300b-300e and each of the other antenna switch mod ules 300b-300e comprises three antenna ports to which antenna elements of at least one antenna array may be connected.
  • one antenna switch module of the plurality of antenna switch modules 300 may be implemented as a control module.
  • the antenna switch module 300a is the control module.
  • the at least one RF interfaces of the other antenna switch modules may be connected to the antenna ports of the control module.
  • the control module may be configured to divide the at least one RF signal between the other antenna switch modules with the switching net works of the control module according to the antenna switching pattern.
  • Each of the other antenna switch modules comprises two switch control units.
  • the first switch control unit may be identical to the switch control unit of the control mod ule in order to define the antenna port of the control module to which the at least one RF signal is connected.
  • the second switch control unit may be used for controlling the switching networks of the antenna switch module according to the pre-defined antenna switching pattern.
  • FIG 16 illustrates an example of the antenna switch unit 301 comprising a plurality of antenna switch modules 300a-300e.
  • the example antenna switch unit 301 of Figure 16 comprises five antenna switch modules 300a-300e.
  • the antenna switch modules 300b-300e of the antenna switch unit 301 in this exam ple are connected to two different type of antenna arrays 303a, 303b.
  • Ant1 - Ant22 are single fed antenna elements forming a single-end antenna array 303a.
  • Anti +/Ant1 - to Ant8+/Ant8- are differentially fed antenna elements forming a dif ferential antenna array 303b.
  • the antenna switch modules 300b- 300e of the antenna switch unit 301 may be connected to similar type of antenna arrays or to any other number of different types of antenna arrays.
  • the antenna switch module 300a is the control module.
  • the control module 300a does not comprise a soft switching unit 1000, 1 100 in this example, but the control module 300a may also comprise the soft switching unit 1000, 1 100.
  • the switch control unit 312a of the control module 300a is imple mented as a state machine.
  • the control interface of the control module 300a comprises two control signals CO and C1 . For sake of clarity only one control signal path is illustrated in Figure 16.
  • the first control signal CO is for timing the switching events and the second control signal C1 is for selecting between two sub-switching patterns 500a, 500b.
  • the sub-switching patterns will be described later in this application.
  • at least one further control signal may be used for selecting whether the single feed antenna array 303a or the differential antenna array 303b.
  • the at least one further control signal is not mandatory and the selection between single-ended and differential configuration may also be made implemented by the internal switch state functionalities.
  • the control mod ule 300a may be configured to divide the at least one RF signal between the other antenna switch modules 300b-300e with the switching networks of the control module 300a. For sake of clarity in Figure 16 the switching networks and the antenna ports of the control module 300a are illustrated with a single block 1604a.
  • the antenna switching modules 300b and 300c may be used for switching the RF signals RF1 and RF2 between the single-end antenna elements Ant1 -Ant22 connected to the antenna ports of the antenna switch modules 300b and 300c.
  • the antenna switching modules 300d and 300e may be used for switching the RF signals RF3 and RF4 between the differential antenna elements Ant1 (+/-) - Ant8(+/-) connected to the antenna ports of the antenna switch modules 300d and 300e.
  • the control signals CO and C1 are connected to the control interfaces of the antenna switching modules 300b, 300c, 300d, 300e.
  • the antenna switch ing modules 300b, 300c, 300d, 300e each comprise two switch control units 312b, 312b’, 312c, 312c’, 312d, 312d’, 312e, 312e’.
  • the first switch control units 312b, 312c, 312d, 312e are identical to the switch control unit 312a of the con trol module 300a in order to define the antenna port of the control module 300a to which the RF signal is connected, i.e. to define when the RF signal is con nected to said antenna switch module.
  • the second switch control unit 312b’, 312c’ may be used for controlling the switching networks of the antenna switch module 300b, 300c according to the pre-defined antenna switching pattern 500a ( Figure 17A).
  • the second switch control unit 312d’, 312e’ may be used for con trolling the switching networks of the antenna switch module 300d, 300e accord ing to the pre-defined antenna switching pattern 500b ( Figure 17B).
  • the selec tion between switching patterns 500a and 500b may be made by means of the second control signal C1 .
  • the switching networks, soft switching units and the antenna ports of each antenna switch module 300b- 300e are illustrated with a single block 1604b-1604e.
  • an tenna switch modules 300d and 300e have similar configurations as the antenna switch modules 300b and 300c, but they comprise conversion units 902 (not shown in Figure 16 for sake of clarity) to convert the single-end RF signal to differential RF signal and the antenna ports of the antenna switch modules 300d and 300e may be connected to differentially feed antenna elements of the dif ferential antenna array 303b.
  • each of the antenna switch modules 300b-300d comprises a soft switching unit 1000, 1 100 comprising the soft switching device 1004a, 1004b arranged to each switching network for each antenna port of the antenna switch modules.
  • at least one of the antenna switch modules 300b-300d may comprise a common soft switching unit 1 100.
  • at least one of the antenna switch modules 300b-300d may be imple mented without the at least one soft switching unit 1000, 1 100.
  • the memory unit 904a-904e of each antenna switch module 300a-300e com prises an input and an output interface in the example of Figure 16.
  • the memory units 904a-904e of the antenna switch modules 300a-300e may be chained, i.e.
  • the output of the memory unit 904a of the control module 300a is connected to the input of the memory unit 904b of the antenna switch module 300b
  • the output of the memory unit 904b of the antenna switch module 300b is connected to the input of the memory unit 904c of the antenna switch module 300c
  • the output of the memory unit 904c of the antenna switch module 300c is connected to the input of the memory unit 904d of the antenna switch module 300d
  • the out put of the memory unit 904d of the antenna switch module 300d is connected to the input of the memory unit 904e of the antenna switch module 300e.
  • Figures 17A and 17B illustrate an example of antenna switching pattern for the multi-chip-configuration illustrated in Figure 16 used for transmission of two BLE AoD frames (Frame 1 and Frame 2) both comprising the CTE.
  • the antenna switching pattern 500 may be stored in the memory units 904a-904e of the an tenna switch modules 300a-300e.
  • the antenna switching pattern may comprise a plurality of sub-switching patterns.
  • the example antenna switching pattern of Figures 17A and 17B comprises two sub-switching patterns 500a, 500b, one sub-switching pattern 500b for the single-end antenna array 303a used during transmission of the Frame 2 and one sub-switching pattern 500a for the differ ential antenna array 303b used during the transmission of the Frame 1 .
  • Figure 17A illustrates the example sub-switching pattern 500a and Figure 17B illus trates the example sub-switching pattern 500b.
  • the structure of the CTE frame 1 is illustrates above the antenna sub-switching pat tern 500a.
  • the structure of the CTE frame 2 is illustrates above the antenna sub-switching pattern 500b.
  • the state of the first control sig nal CO is changed first.
  • the state of the second control signal C1 may be se lected so that the sub-switching pattern 500a for the differential antenna array 303b is loaded from the memory unit of each antenna switch modules 300a- 300e.
  • the switching devices of the switching network of the antenna switch module 300e are set to connect the RF signal from the antenna port providing the RF4 signal through the single-end to differential conversion unit to the antenna element Ant8+ and Ant8-.
  • Payload, i.e. BLE packet 1302 of the BLE is transmitted and after the payload transmission ends the CTE trans mission starts. After a reference antenna measurement slot of the CTE, i.e. ref erence period 1306, part has been transmitted, the first switch slot 1308 of the CTE begins, i.e.
  • the state of the first control signal CO is changed, which triggers the two switch control units of the antenna switch module 300e to select the next active antenna with the switching network of the antenna switch module 300e.
  • the antenna ports connected to the antenna element Ant7+/Ant7- are the next active antenna ports and the antenna ports connected to the antenna element Ant8+ and Ant8- are set to SHORT termination with the termination network of the switching network of the respective antenna port.
  • the control module 300a controls its switching networks so that the RF signal is connected to the antenna port providing the RF3 signal.
  • the reference antenna measurement of the CTE may be used to compensate change in a phase of a local oscillator of the trans mitter and/or receiver connectable to the antenna switch unit 301 during the CTE.
  • the antenna reference measurement is not necessary, if a short-term sta bility of the phase of the local oscillator is good enough.
  • the short-term stability of the of the phase of the local oscillator does not depend on the characteristics of the antenna switch unit 301 .
  • the SSU signal shown in the Figures 17A and 17B defines the activity of soft switching units of the antenna switching modules 300b-300e during switch slot.
  • the soft switching units of the antenna switch modules 300b- 300e are activated only if the antenna port is changed from active to termination or the other way around.
  • the state of the second control signal C1 is changed so that the sub-switching pattern 500b for the single-end antenna array 303a is loaded from the memory unit 904a-904e of each antenna switch module 300a-300e before the state of the first control signal CO is changed.
  • the switch control unit 312a of the control module 300a and the two switch control units 312b, 312b’ of the antenna switch module 300b set the switching devices of the switching networks of the antenna switch module 300b for transmitting the BLE packet 1302 of the Frame 2 via the antenna element Anti of the single-end antenna array 303a.
  • first switch slot 1308 of the CTE begins.
  • the sub-switching pattern 500b used for the single-end antenna array 303a during the Frame 2 differs from the sub-switching pattern 500a used for the differential antenna array 303b during the Frame 1 .
  • the antenna element Anti which is a reference antenna for the Frame 2, is used for every other sam ple slot 3010 (return-to-reference switching pattern). Return-to-reference means that the antenna element that is used during the reference period is used again between using any other antenna element in the switching sequence.
  • the switching networks of the antenna switch module 300b are used for switching, i.e.
  • the switch control unit 312a of the control module 300a connects the RF signal to the antenna ports of the control module 300a providing RF1 or RF2 depending is the next sample slot 3010 transmitted though the reference antenna element Anti connected to the antenna port of the antenna switch module 300b or through the one of the antenna elements Anti 2 to Ant22 connected the antenna ports of the antenna switch module 300c.
  • switch slot timing for each an tenna switch module may be simply synchronized by using one control signal, the control signal CO in this example.
  • the timing of the ascending edges and descending edges of the control signal CO may be used to control the timing of the state changes of the switch control units which are implemented as internal state machines in this example.
  • the antenna switch unit 301 may be implemented with any suitable semiconductor technology, such as silicon-on-insulator (SOI), and all the above discussed op erations of the antenna switch unit may be integrated on one monolithic inte grated circuit or , e.g. on one circuit board.
  • SOI silicon-on-insulator
  • FIG 18 illustrates schematically an example block diagram of some compo nents of the at least one switch control unit 312 according to the invention.
  • the switch control unit 312 may comprise one or more processors 1802, one or more memories 1804, one or more communication interfaces 1806.
  • the mentioned elements may be communicatively coupled to each other with e.g. an internal bus.
  • the one or more memories may be volatile or non-volatile for storing por tions of computer program code 1805a-1805n and any data, i.e. the pre-defined antenna switching pattern 500 as discussed above.
  • the one or more memories 1804 may comprise the memory unit 904 as discussed above.
  • the one or more communication interfaces 1806 provides interface for communication with any external unit, such as the external control unit, switching networks, soft switching unit 1000, 1 100, separate memory unit 904 etc.
  • the one or more communication interfaces may comprise the control interface 314.
  • the one or more processors 1803 of the switch control unit 312 is configured to implement at least some operation of the switch control unit as described above.
  • the implementation of the operations may be achieved by arranging the one or more processors to execute at least some portion of computer program code 1805a-1805n stored in the one or more memories 1804 causing the one or more processors 1802, and thus the switch control unit 312, to implement one or more operations as described.
  • the one or more processors 1802 is arranged to ac cess the one or more memories 1804 and retrieve and store any information therefrom and thereto, e.g. the antenna switching pattern 500.
  • the processor herein refers to any unit suitable for processing information and control the operations of the antenna switch module, among other tasks.
  • the operations may also be implemented with a microcontroller solution with embedded software.
  • the memory is not limited to a certain type of memory only, but any memory type suitable for storing the described pieces of information may be applied in the context of the present invention.
  • the invention relates also to a receiver unit 1902 for an AoA direction finding system comprising an antenna switch unit 301 according to any of the embodi ments of the invention described above.
  • the receiver unit 1902 may further com prise at least one RF receiver 1904, and AoA estimation unit 1906.
  • Any RF re DCver capable for operating as an RF receiver for direction finding purposes may be used in the receiver unit 1902 according to the invention.
  • the at least one RF receiver 1904 may be based on any known technologies, e.g. the at least one receiver may be a BLE receiver. If the AoA receiver unit 1902 com prises more than one RF receivers 1904, the more than one RF receivers 1904 may operate at the same RF channel or at different RF channels.
  • the AoA esti mation unit 1906 may be configured to estimate the angle of arrival of the RF signal by using the sampled receiver signal.
  • Each at least one antenna array of the antenna switch unit 301 comprises at least two antenna elements in order to be able to define 180 degrees bearing angle. In order to define the whole 360 degrees bearing angle each at least one antenna array of the antenna switch unit 301 comprises at least three antenna elements.
  • the example AoA receiver unit 1902 comprises four antenna elements 302a-302d.
  • the antenna switch unit 301 may be connected to the at least one RF receiver 1904 via the at least one RF interface and control interface of at least one antenna switch module of the antenna switch unit 301 as discussed above.
  • FIG. 19 illustrates an example of the AoA receiver unit 1902 according to the invention.
  • the receiver antenna element 302a-302d may be changed with the antenna switch unit 301 according to the invention to find the direction of incoming RF signal from a transmitter unit (not shown in Figure 19) and the position may be defined from the observed phase differences collected from the receiver antenna elements.
  • the invention relates also to a transmitter unit 2004 for an AoD direction finding system comprising an antenna switch unit 301 according to the invention described above.
  • the transmitter unit 2004 may further comprise at least one RF transmitter 2004. Any RF transmitter capable for operating as an RF transmitter for direction finding purposes may be used in the transmitter unit 2004 according to the invention.
  • the at least one RF transmitter 2004 may be based on any known technologies, e.g. the at least one transmitter may be a BLE transmitter. If the AoD transmitter unit comprises more than one RF trans mitters 2004, the more than one RF transmitters 2004 may operate on the same RF channer or on different RF channels.
  • Each of the at least one antenna array of the antenna switch unit 301 comprises at least two antenna elements in order to be able to define 180 degrees bearing angle.
  • each of the at least one antenna array of the antenna switch unit 301 comprises at least three antenna elements.
  • the example AoD transmitter unit 2002 comprises four antenna elements 302a-302d.
  • the antenna switch unit may be connected to the at least one RF transmitter 2004 via the at least one RF interface and control interface of at least one antenna switch mod ule of the antenna switch unit 301 as discussed above.
  • the simple configuration of the RF interface and control interface enables an easy connection of the an tenna switch unit 301 according to the invention to almost any (commercial) RF transmitters.
  • Figure 20 illustrates an example of the AoD transmitter unit 2004 according to the invention.
  • the antenna switch unit 301 is implemented in the AoD transmitter unit 2002
  • the at least one RF signal is fed consecutively to each transmitter antenna element of the antenna array for a short time period to produce RF signal in a receiver unit (not shown in Figure 20).
  • the switching with the antenna switch unit 301 according to the invention generates a direc tionally variable phase-modulated radiated RF signal, which may be used in the receiver unit for defining the relative direction between a distant receiver unit and the AoD transmitter unit 2002.
  • the invention relates also to a method for controlling the antenna switch unit 301 described above in the different embodiments of the invention.
  • a method for controlling the antenna switch unit 301 described above in the different embodiments of the invention is described by referring to Fig ure 21 .
  • the method comprises, performed by at least one antenna switch mod ule of the antenna switch unit, controlling 2102 in response to the at least one control signal received via the control interface 314, by the at least one switch control unit 312, the switching networks 308, 308a-308p of said antenna switch module according to the pre-defined antenna switching pattern 500.
  • the con trolling comprises connecting 2104 consecutively at least one antenna port of said antenna switch module to the at least one RF signal 307 through the switch ing device 309, 309a-309d of the switching network 308, 308a-308p of said at least one antenna port to activate said at least one antenna port; and terminating 2106 other antenna ports with the termination networks 310, 310a-310d of the switching networks 308, 308a-308p of the other antenna ports.
  • the termination networks 310, 310a-310d of each of the other switching networks 308, 308a- 308p provides a plurality of different terminations for each of the other antenna ports to optimize one or more properties of a radiation pattern of the antenna element 302, 302a-302h connected to the activated at least one antenna port as discussed above.
  • the antenna switching pattern 500 defines at least the or der in which the antenna ports 304, 304a-304p are activated and the termina tions of the other antenna ports.
  • the present invention comprises an antenna switch unit 301 , a method, a re DC unit 1902, and a transmitter unit 2004.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une unité de commutation d'antenne permettant une recherche de direction. L'unité de commutation d'antenne comprend au moins un module de commutation d'antenne et au moins un réseau d'antennes comprenant au moins deux éléments d'antenne. Chacun desdits modules de commutation d'antenne comprend : au moins un port d'antenne pour chaque élément d'antenne connecté audit module de commutation d'antenne ; au moins une interface RF pour au moins un signal RF ; un réseau de commutation pour chaque port d'antenne ; et au moins une unité de commande de commutation. Lesdites unités de commande de commutation sont conçues pour commander les réseaux de commutation en fonction d'un motif de commutation d'antenne prédéfini afin : de connecter consécutivement au moins un port d'antenne au signal RF afin d'activer lesdits ports d'antenne, et de terminer les autres ports d'antenne avec des réseaux de terminaison des réseaux de commutation des autres ports d'antenne. Les réseaux de terminaison de chacun des autres réseaux de commutation sont conçus de façon à fournir une pluralité de terminaisons différentes pour chacun des autres ports d'antenne afin d'optimiser une ou plusieurs propriétés d'un motif de rayonnement de l'élément d'antenne connecté auxdits ports d'antenne activés. L'invention concerne également une unité de réception et une unité d'émission comprenant l'unité de commutation d'antenne et un procédé de commande de l'unité de commutation d'antenne.
PCT/FI2019/050409 2019-05-28 2019-05-28 Solution de commutation d'antenne WO2020240073A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/FI2019/050409 WO2020240073A1 (fr) 2019-05-28 2019-05-28 Solution de commutation d'antenne

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/FI2019/050409 WO2020240073A1 (fr) 2019-05-28 2019-05-28 Solution de commutation d'antenne

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2020240073A1 true WO2020240073A1 (fr) 2020-12-03

Family

ID=66770502

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/FI2019/050409 WO2020240073A1 (fr) 2019-05-28 2019-05-28 Solution de commutation d'antenne

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2020240073A1 (fr)

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1994028595A1 (fr) * 1993-05-27 1994-12-08 Griffith University Antennes destinees a des dispositifs de communications portables
US6473466B1 (en) * 1997-12-08 2002-10-29 Hitachi Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha Data transmitting method and data transmitting apparatus accompanied with a plurality of transmitting of receiving antennas
US6515635B2 (en) * 2000-09-22 2003-02-04 Tantivy Communications, Inc. Adaptive antenna for use in wireless communication systems
WO2003079561A2 (fr) * 2002-03-14 2003-09-25 Ipr Licensing, Inc. Combine de communication mobile a reseau d'antenne adaptatif
GB2459919A (en) * 2008-05-12 2009-11-18 Nokia Corp Combined communication and direction-finding apparatus
US20110080325A1 (en) * 2009-10-01 2011-04-07 Qualcomm Incorporated Methods and apparatus for beam steering using steerable beam antennas with switched parasitic elements
WO2016026431A1 (fr) * 2014-08-18 2016-02-25 Media Tek Inc. Format d'antenne de radiogoniométrie

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1994028595A1 (fr) * 1993-05-27 1994-12-08 Griffith University Antennes destinees a des dispositifs de communications portables
US6473466B1 (en) * 1997-12-08 2002-10-29 Hitachi Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha Data transmitting method and data transmitting apparatus accompanied with a plurality of transmitting of receiving antennas
US6515635B2 (en) * 2000-09-22 2003-02-04 Tantivy Communications, Inc. Adaptive antenna for use in wireless communication systems
WO2003079561A2 (fr) * 2002-03-14 2003-09-25 Ipr Licensing, Inc. Combine de communication mobile a reseau d'antenne adaptatif
GB2459919A (en) * 2008-05-12 2009-11-18 Nokia Corp Combined communication and direction-finding apparatus
US20110080325A1 (en) * 2009-10-01 2011-04-07 Qualcomm Incorporated Methods and apparatus for beam steering using steerable beam antennas with switched parasitic elements
WO2016026431A1 (fr) * 2014-08-18 2016-02-25 Media Tek Inc. Format d'antenne de radiogoniométrie

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7346316B1 (en) Radio communication system, a transmitter and a receiver
CN107959533B (zh) 一种无线设备及射频通道校准方法
US20220291374A1 (en) Position-measuring device using uwb antenna
WO2010017706A1 (fr) Antenne active, station de base, procédé d’actualisation de l’amplitude et de la phase et procédé de traitement de signal
US10249961B2 (en) Transmit device and method thereof
Gaudio et al. Joint radar target detection and parameter estimation with MIMO OTFS
WO2018063549A1 (fr) Apprentissage de formation de faisceau à l'aide d'échos d'une impulsion omnidirectionnelle
US20140341261A1 (en) Transmitter
CN102780522B (zh) 一种天线阵列、基于该天线阵列的通信系统以及通信方法
Li et al. High-efficiency wideband millimeter-wave channel sounder system
WO2020240073A1 (fr) Solution de commutation d'antenne
Lie et al. Ultra wideband direction finding using digital channelization receiver architecture
US20200169347A1 (en) Operating method of terminal in wireless communication system and terminal for performing the method
Lee et al. A K-band CMOS UWB four-channel radar front-end with coherent pulsed oscillator array
JP7395619B2 (ja) ＡｏＤ方向探知送信機のアンテナソフトスイッチングの解決策
US11128040B2 (en) Method and apparatus for receiving signal in mobile communication system
WO2021231843A1 (fr) Architectures de dispositif de formation de faisceaux d'ondes millimétriques 5g résistant au brouillage et à trajets multiples
Zhang et al. Cell-free massive MIMO Channels in an Urban Environment--Measurements and Channel Statistics
Staudinger et al. The 5g localization waveform ranging accuracy over time-dispersive channels–an evaluation
CN111509405A (zh) 一种天线模组及电子设备
Whitlock High gain pseudo-Doppler antenna
CN112311426B (zh) 一种二维模拟多波束接收阵列系统
CN103579779B (zh) 一种自适应阵列天线
Hao et al. A 60 GHz Phased Array System Analysis and Its Phase Shifter in a 40 nm CMOS Technology.
WO2022048433A1 (fr) Procédé de commande de direction de polarisation d'antenne et système d'antenne

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 19728721

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

DPE1 Request for preliminary examination filed after expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed from 20040101)
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 19728721

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1