MILLIMETER-WAVE COMMUNICATIONS USING A REFLECTOR

• US 20120206299A1
• Filed: 02/10/2011
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Valdes-Garcia, Alberto
• Granted Patent: US 8,797,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/359
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/102 wherein the surfaces are of convex toroïdal shape biconical horns H01Q13/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/104 using a substantially flat reflector for deflecting the radiated beam, e.g. periscopic antennas periscopic fed Cassegrain antennas H01Q19/191; passive relays H04B7/145
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/20 wherein the primary active element is fixed and the reflecting device is movable
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/145 Passive relay systems

Abstract

Methods and systems for establishing a non-line of sight millimeter wave connection that include a transmitter unit having beam-steering capability, a receiver unit having beam-steering capability, and a reflecting unit in a position having a line-of-sight path to the transmitter unit and the receiver unit. The reflecting unit includes an attachment mechanism configured to attach to a mounting point on an object or surface, a reflecting surface that is reflective to millimeter-wave radiation, and an adjustable pivot connected between the attachment mechanism and the reflecting surface configured to permit directional positioning of the reflecting surface relative to the attachment mechanism.

Claims

1. A reflector, comprising:

an attachment mechanism connecting to a mounting point on an object or surface;

a reflecting surface that is reflective to millimeter-wave (mmWave) radiation; and

an adjustable pivot connected between the attachment mechanism and the reflecting surface configured to permit directional positioning of the reflecting surface relative to the attachment mechanism such that a non-line-of-sight connection between an mmWave transmitter and an mmWave receiver is formed.

2. The reflector of claim 1, further comprising:

a signal strength detector configured to measure the intensity of mmWave radiation at the reflector; and

an indicator connected to the signal strength detector configured to activate when signal has been detected.

3. The reflector of claim 2, wherein the signal strength detector and the indicator are disposed within the reflecting surface and wherein the reflecting surface has apertures associated with the signal strength detector and the indicator.

4. The reflector of claim 2, wherein the indicator comprises a light emitting diode.

5. The reflector of claim 2, wherein the indicator comprises a speaker.

6. The reflector of claim 2, wherein the indicator is activated when signal strength exceeds a threshold value.

7. The reflector of claim 2, wherein the indicator is configured to activate in a pattern that corresponds to signal strength.

8. The reflector of claim 1, wherein the reflecting surface has a convex shape.

9. The reflector of claim 1, further comprising a low-frequency broadcast device configured to broadcast signal information.

10. The reflector of claim 1, wherein the adjustable pivot comprises an elbow joint.

11. The reflector of claim 1, wherein the adjustable pivot comprises a ball-and-socket joint.

12. The reflect of claim 1, wherein the adjustable pivot comprises a motor configured to change the directional position of the reflecting surface relative to the attachment mechanism.

13. A communication system, comprising:

a millimeter-wave (mmWave) transmitter unit having beam-steering capability;

an mmWave receiver unit having beam-steering capability; and

a reflecting unit disposed in a position having a line-of-sight path to the transmitter unit and the receiver unit, comprising;

a flexible mount for positioning a reflective surface to form a non-line-of-sight path between the transmitter unit and the receiver unit; and

a signal strength detector configured to detect mmWave radiation.

14. The communication system of claim 13, wherein the mmWave transmitter unit and the mmWave receiver unit are located in or on different buildings.

15. The communication system of claim 13, wherein the mmWave transmitter unit and the mmWave receiver unit are located less than ten meters apart.

16. The communication system of claim 13, wherein the reflecting unit further comprises a low-frequency broadcast device configured to broadcast signal information.

17. A method for establishing a non-line-of-sight connection comprising:

providing a reflector having a flexible mount at a location in a line-of-sight path from both a transmitter unit and a receiver unit;

adjusting the transmitter unit to steer a beam toward a reflector unit;

adjusting the receiver unit to steer a receiving pattern toward a reflector unit; and

if the receiver unit cannot form a connection with the transmitter unit through the reflector, adjusting the flexible mount of the reflector into a direction that forms a non-line-of-sight path between the transmitter unit and the receiver unit.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the adjusting is automatically performed by adjustment mechanisms within the reflector.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the reflector includes a convex reflecting surface.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein adjusting the transmitter unit includes iteratively testing transmitter beam positions until a received signal strength at the reflector exceeds a threshold.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein adjusting the receiver unit includes iteratively testing receiving pattern positions until a received signal strength at the receiver unit exceeds a threshold.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein adjusting the transmitter unit and adjusting the receiver unit is repeated after adjusting the flexible mount of the reflector.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising communicating a link status between the transmitter unit and the reflector to trigger adjusting the receiver unit.

24. A computer readable storage medium comprising a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

adjust a transmitter unit to steer a beam toward a reflector unit that is at a location in a line-of-sight path from both the transmitter unit and the receiver unit;

adjust a receiver unit to steer a receiving pattern toward the reflector unit; and

if the receiver unit cannot form a connection with the transmitter unit through the reflector, adjust a flexible mount of the reflector into a direction that forms a non-line-of-sight path between the transmitter unit and the receiver unit.