Method and apparatus for beamforming

• US 9,728,862 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2013
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Choi, Won-Suk, Song, In-Sang, Oh, Inn-Yeal, Lee, Joong-Ho, Park, Chul-Soon, Lee, Chae-Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Dieu H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jegede, Bamidele A
• Application Number:
  US14/101,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20140225794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 343817, 343757
• 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;

an antenna module including a plurality of radiators, a plurality of directors, and a plurality of reflectors;

a controller configured to determine a beam direction of the antenna apparatus using first radiators of the plurality of radiators, first directors of the plurality of directors, and first reflectors of the plurality of reflectors; and

a plurality of switching elements, wherein each of first switching elements of the plurality of switching elements is configured to connect to each of the first radiators, and wherein each of second switching elements of the plurality of switching elements is configured to connect to a floating metal module, each of second directors of the plurality of directors, and each of second reflectors of the plurality of reflectors, based on the beam direction determined by the controller,

wherein the plurality of radiators are installed on the base in a radial shape.

2. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the 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 unit floating metal which is connected to an upper portion of each of the second reflectors and each of the second directors.

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 plurality of radiators when connected with the second reflectors and the second directors.

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

6. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the second directors, the second reflectors, and the floating metal module are connected, radiation signals radiated by the first radiators are not induced in a direction thereof.

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

determining a direction and width of the beam using first radiators of a plurality of radiators, first directors of a plurality of directors, and first reflectors of a plurality of reflectors;

connecting second reflectors of the plurality of reflectors and second directors of the plurality of directors to a floating metal module; and

providing a signal to the first radiators,

wherein the plurality of radiators are installed in a radial shape.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of radiators, the plurality of reflectors, and the plurality of directors are included in an antenna apparatus comprising an antenna module.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the antenna apparatus comprises:

a controller configured to determine a beam direction of the antenna apparatus; and

a plurality of switching elements, wherein each of first switching elements of the plurality of switching elements is configured to connect to each of the first radiators, and wherein each of second switching elements of the plurality of switching elements is configured to connect to a floating metal module, each of second directors of the plurality of directors, and each of second reflectors of the plurality of reflectors, based on the beam direction determined by the controller.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the antenna module comprises:

a radiator installed to comprise a specific length and a specific diameter in a direction orthogonal to a 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.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the floating metal module comprises a unit floating metal which is connected to an upper portion of each of the second reflectors and each of the second directors.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the unit floating metal of the floating metal module is formed to comprise a length longer than a length of the plurality of radiators when connected with the second reflectors and the second directors.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the corresponding unit floating metal is coupled to one metal plate together.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein when the second directors, the second reflectors, and the floating metal module are connected, radiation signals radiated by the first radiator are not induced in a direction thereof.

15. A 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 using first radiators of a plurality of radiators, first directors of a plurality of directors, and first reflectors of a plurality of reflectors;

connect second reflectors of the plurality of reflectors and second directors of the plurality of directors to a floating metal module; and

provide a signal to the first radiators,

wherein the plurality of radiators are installed in a radial shape.

16. The user equipment of claim 15, wherein the plurality of radiators, the plurality of reflectors, and the plurality of directors are included in an antenna apparatus comprising an antenna module.