Apparatus and methods for selecting sections of an antenna array and use therewith

• US 10,389,037 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2016
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Johnson, Shikik, Britz, David M., Henry, Paul Shala, Bennett, Robert, Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barnickel, Donald J., Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sorowar, Golam
• Application Number:
  US15/372,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20180166787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2291 used in bluetooth or WI-FI devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN] H01Q1/241 takes precedence; WLAN in general H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/24 constituted by a dielectric or ferromagnetic rod or pipe H01Q13/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/00 Antenna arrays or systems arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/242 Circumferential scanning
• 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: H01Q 3/30 varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array H01Q3/2605, H01Q3/2658, H01Q3/2682, H01Q3/44 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0495 using overlapping sectors in the same base station to implement MIMO for antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0691 using subgroups of transmit antennas

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, selecting a first segment from a plurality of selectable segments of an array of dielectric antennas, where the first segment corresponds to a first set of one or more dielectric antennas from the array of dielectric antennas coupled to a first set of launchers, directing the first set of launchers to launch first electromagnetic waves directed to the first set of one or more dielectric antennas to generate a first beam pattern, selecting a second segment from the plurality of selectable segments, where the second segment corresponds to a second set of one or more dielectric antennas from the array of dielectric antennas coupled to a second set of launchers, and directing the second set of launchers to launch second electromagnetic waves directed to the second set of one or more dielectric antennas to generate a second beam pattern. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

an array of dielectric antennas;

a plurality of dielectric cores coupled to the array of dielectric antennas;

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising;

organizing the array of dielectric antennas into a plurality of sections, each section comprising one or more dielectric antennas that differs from other dielectric antennas in other sections of the array of dielectric antennas;

detecting a first trajectory of a first communication device;

selecting a first section from the plurality of sections to direct a first beam pattern to the first communication device based on the first trajectory, wherein the first section corresponds to a first set of one or more dielectric antennas from the array of dielectric antennas coupled to a first set of one or more dielectric cores from the plurality of dielectric cores;

launching first electromagnetic waves along the first set of one or more dielectric cores that causes the first set of one or more dielectric antennas to generate the first beam pattern;

detecting a second trajectory of a second communication device;

selecting a second section from the plurality of sections to direct a second beam pattern to the second communication device based on the second trajectory, wherein the second section corresponds to a second set of one or more dielectric antennas from the array of dielectric antennas coupled to a second set of one or more dielectric cores from the plurality of dielectric cores, wherein the first set of one or more dielectric antennas differs from the second set of one or more dielectric antennas, and wherein the first set of one or more dielectric cores differs from the second set of one or more dielectric cores; and

launching second electromagnetic waves along the second set of one or more dielectric cores that cause the second set of one or more dielectric antennas to generate the second beam pattern.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first electromagnetic waves conveys first data, wherein the second electromagnetic waves conveys second data, and wherein the first data differs from the second data.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein launchers, coupled to dielectric antennas associated with a remainder of the plurality of sections that are not in use, are disabled.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first electromagnetic waves comprise a plurality of electromagnetic waves, and wherein each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves is launched in a different dielectric core of the first set of one or more dielectric cores.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the operations further comprise adjusting the plurality of electromagnetic waves to steer a direction of the first beam pattern.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the operations further comprise adjusting the plurality of electromagnetic waves to adjust a shape of the first beam pattern.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the second electromagnetic waves comprise a plurality of electromagnetic waves, wherein each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves is launched in a different dielectric core of the second set of one or more dielectric cores.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise adjusting the plurality of electromagnetic waves to steer a direction of the second beam pattern.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise adjusting the plurality of electromagnetic waves to adjust a shape of the second beam pattern.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

selecting a third section from the plurality of sections, wherein the third section corresponds to a third set of one or more dielectric antennas from the array of dielectric antennas coupled to a third set of one or more dielectric cores from the plurality of dielectric cores; and

launching third electromagnetic waves along the third set of one or more dielectric cores that cause the third set of one or more dielectric antennas to generate a beam pattern that combines with the first beam pattern to form a third beam pattern.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

selecting a third section from the plurality of sections, wherein the third section corresponds to a third set of one or more dielectric antennas from the array of dielectric antennas coupled to a third set of one or more dielectric cores from the plurality of dielectric cores; and

launching third electromagnetic waves along the third set of one or more dielectric cores that cause the third set of one or more dielectric antennas to generate a beam pattern that combines with the second beam pattern to form a third beam pattern.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the array of dielectric antennas comprises an array of dielectric polyrod antennas.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein each dielectric polyrod antenna of the array of dielectric polyrod antennas is independently selectable via a printed circuit board, and wherein the array of dielectric polyrod antennas is configured in a circular configuration to enable generation of beam patterns from the plurality of sections having different angular directions.

14. A method, comprising:

detecting, by a processing system including a processor, a first trajectory of a first communication device;

selecting, by the processing system, a first section from a plurality of selectable sections of an array of dielectric antennas, wherein the first section corresponds to a first set of one or more dielectric antennas from the array of dielectric antennas coupled to a first set of launchers to direct a first beam pattern to the first communication device based on the first trajectory;

directing, by the processing system, the first set of launchers to launch first electromagnetic waves directed to the first set of one or more dielectric antennas to generate the first beam pattern;

detecting, by the processing system, a second trajectory of a second communication device;

selecting, by the processing system, a second section from the plurality of selectable sections, wherein the second section corresponds to a second set of one or more dielectric antennas from the array of dielectric antennas coupled to a second set of launchers to direct a second beam pattern to the second communication device based on the second trajectory; and

directing, by the processing system, the second set of launchers to launch second electromagnetic waves directed to the second set of one or more dielectric antennas to generate the second beam pattern, wherein the first beam pattern conveys first data, wherein the second beam pattern conveys second data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first electromagnetic waves comprise a plurality of electromagnetic waves, wherein each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves is launched by a different one of the first set of launchers, and wherein the method further comprises directing the first set of launchers to adjust the plurality of electromagnetic waves to steer a direction of the first beam pattern or adjust a shape of the first beam pattern.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the second electromagnetic waves comprise a plurality of electromagnetic waves, wherein each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves is launched by a different one of the second set of launchers, and wherein the method further comprises directing the second set of launchers to adjust the plurality of electromagnetic waves to steer a direction of the second beam pattern or adjust a shape of the second beam pattern.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

selecting, by the processing system, a third section from the plurality of selectable sections, wherein the third section corresponds to a third set of one or more dielectric antennas from the array of dielectric antennas coupled to a third set of launchers; and

directing, by the processing system, the third set of launchers to launch third electromagnetic waves directed to the third set of one or more dielectric antennas to generate a beam pattern that combines with the first beam pattern or the second beam pattern to form a third beam pattern.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving at a third section of the plurality of selectable sections a wireless signal supplied by a communication device, wherein the wireless signal conveys third data, and wherein the third section corresponds to a third set of one or more dielectric antennas from the array of dielectric antennas coupled to receivers; and

directing the receivers to obtain the third data from third electromagnetic waves generated by the third set of one or more dielectric antennas responsive to receiving the wireless signal.

19. A device, comprising:

means for detecting a first trajectory of a first communication device and a second trajectory of a second communication device;

means for selecting a first segment from a plurality of selectable segments of an array of dielectric antennas to direct a first beam pattern to the first communication device based on the first trajectory, wherein the first segment corresponds to a first set of one or more dielectric antennas from the array of dielectric antennas coupled to a first set of launchers;

means for directing the first set of launchers to launch first electromagnetic waves directed to the first set of one or more dielectric antennas to generate the first beam pattern; and

means for selecting a second segment from the plurality of selectable segments of the array of dielectric antennas to direct a second beam pattern to the second communication device based on the second trajectory, wherein the second segment corresponds to a second set of one or more dielectric antennas from the array of dielectric antennas coupled to a second set of launchers;

means for directing the second set of launchers to launch second electromagnetic waves directed to the second set of one or more dielectric antennas to generate the second beam pattern directed to the second communication device based on the second trajectory, wherein the first electromagnetic waves differ from the second electromagnetic waves based on frequency or phase.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising means for steering the first beam pattern or the second beam pattern, or adjusting a shape of the first beam pattern or adjusting the second beam pattern, wherein the array of dielectric antennas comprises an array of dielectric polyrod antennas.