METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BEAMFORMING

• US 20140225794A1
• Filed: 12/09/2013
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korea Adavanced Institute Of Science And Technology, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Chul-Soon, Song, In-Sang, Oh, Inn-Yeal, Lee, Chae-Jun, Choi, Won-Suk, Lee, Joong-Ho
• Granted Patent: US 9,728,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/757
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/30 the primary active element being centre-fed and substantially straight, e.g. Yagi antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/00 Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system means for positioning H01Q1/125
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/01 varying the shape of the antenna or antenna system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching

Abstract

A wireless communication system provides an antenna apparatus for the wireless communication system. The antenna apparatus includes a base, a plurality of Yagi-Uda antenna modules disposed in a specific arrangement, a plurality of floating metal modules correspondingly installed in upper portions of the Yagi-Uda antenna modules and selectively connected to a corresponding Yagi-Uda module among the plurality of Yagi-Uda antenna modules, a switching element for selectively switching the floating metal module and the Yagi-Uda antenna module, and a controller for controlling the Yagi-Uda antenna module to comprise a directivity in a desired direction by selectively switching the switching element.

Claims

1. An antenna apparatus for a wireless communication system, the antenna apparatus comprising:

a base;

a plurality of Yagi-Uda antenna modules disposed in a specific arrangement;

a plurality of floating metal modules correspondingly installed in upper portions of the Yagi-Uda antenna modules and selectively connected to a corresponding Yagi-Uda module among the plurality of Yagi-Uda antenna modules;

a switching element for selectively switching the floating metal module and the Yagi-Uda antenna module; and

a controller for controlling the Yagi-Uda antenna module to comprise a directivity in a desired direction by selectively switching the switching element.

2. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the Yagi-Uda antenna module comprises:

a radiator installed with a specific length and a specific diameter in a direction orthogonal to the base;

a reflector installed in parallel with the radiator to one side of the radiator; and

at least one director installed with a specific interval in a direction facing the reflector with the radiator as its center on a straight line connecting the reflector and the radiator.

3. The antenna apparatus of claim 2, wherein the floating metal module comprises a corresponding unit floating metal which is correspondingly installed to an upper portion of each of the reflector and the director.

4. The antenna apparatus of claim 3, wherein the unit floating metal of the floating metal module is formed to comprise a length longer than a length of the radiator when connected with a corresponding reflector and a corresponding director of the Yagi-Uda antenna module.

5. The antenna apparatus of claim 3, wherein the corresponding unit floating metal is installed on one metal plate together.

6. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of Yagi-Uda antenna modules are disposed to the base in a radial shape.

7. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of Yagi-Uda antenna modules are disposed to the base in a radial shape with one radiator as its center so as to be commonly used.

8. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the Yagi-Uda antenna module and its corresponding floating module are connected, a radiation signal radiated by the radiator is not induced in a direction thereof.

9. A method of controlling a beam for a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

determining a direction and width of the beam;

bringing a reflector and director, not corresponding to the direction and width of the beam to be radiated, in contact with a floating metal by using a switch; and

providing a signal to a radiator.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the radiator, the reflector, and the director are included in an antenna apparatus comprising a plurality of Yagi-Uda antenna modules disposed to a base in a specific arrangement.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the antenna apparatus comprises:

a plurality of floating metal modules correspondingly installed in upper portions of the Yagi-Uda antenna modules and selectively connected to a corresponding Yagi-Uda module among the plurality of Yagi-Uda antenna modules;

a switching element for selectively switching the floating metal module and the Yagi-Uda antenna module; and

a controller for controlling the Yagi-Uda antenna module to comprise a directivity in a desired direction by selectively switching the switching element.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the Yagi-Uda antenna module comprises:

a radiator installed to comprise a specific length and a specific diameter in a direction orthogonal to the base;

a reflector installed in parallel with the radiator to one side of the radiator; and

at least one director installed with a specific interval in a direction facing the reflector with the radiator as its center on a straight line connecting the reflector and the radiator.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the floating metal module comprises a corresponding unit floating metal which is correspondingly installed to an upper portion of each of the reflector and the director.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the unit floating metal of the floating metal module is formed to comprise a length longer than a length of the radiator when connected with a corresponding reflector and a corresponding director of the Yagi-Uda antenna module.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the corresponding unit floating metal is installed on one metal plate together.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of Yagi-Uda antenna modules are disposed to the base in a radial shape.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of Yagi-Uda antenna modules are disposed to the base in a radial shape with one radiator as its center so as to be commonly used.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein when the Yagi-Uda antenna module and its corresponding floating module are connected, a radiation signal radiated by the radiator is not induced in a direction thereof.

19. An user equipment, comprising:

a memory element;

a processor associated with the memory element, the processor configured to execute a set of instructions to;

determine a direction and width of a beam in a wireless communication system;

bring a reflector and director, not corresponding to the direction and width of the beam to be radiated, in contact with a floating metal by using a switch; and

provide a signal to a radiator.

20. The user equipment of claim 19, wherein the radiator, the reflector, and the director are included in an antenna apparatus comprising a plurality of Yagi-Uda antenna modules disposed to a base in a specific arrangement.