US-20260128514-A1 - MULTI-STACK ANTENNA

US20260128514A1US 20260128514 A1US20260128514 A1US 20260128514A1US-20260128514-A1

Abstract

Aspects provided herein provide a multi-stack phased antenna array that includes multiple antenna-element layers, each having a matrix of individual antenna elements. The antenna-element layers are separated by at least one dielectric layer and are electrically connected to a modular ratio-combining engine configured to perform maximum-ratio combining across the layers. The combining engine aligns signals in time and phase to maximize in-phase signal strength and may apply amplitude weighting based on signal characteristics. The array supports bidirectional operation for transmit and receive paths and may be used with a base-station transceiver to provide combined uplink and downlink signals. Structural arrangements such as inter-layer spacing, layer alignment, and dielectric thickness may be selected to control polarization, beamwidth, and sidelobes.

Inventors

Nagi A. Mansour
Akin Ozozlu

Assignees

T-MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251027

Claims (20)

1 . A multi-stack antenna array, comprising: at least two antenna element layers, each antenna element layer comprising a matrix of individual antenna elements; a modular ratio combining engine electrically connected to the matrix of individual antenna elements of the at least two antenna element layers, the modular ratio combining engine configured to perform maximum ratio combining to maximize in-phase signal strength; and at least one dielectric layer disposed between the at least two antenna element layers.
2 . The multi-stack antenna array of claim 1 , wherein the matrix of individual antenna elements comprises a four-by-four matrix of antenna elements.
3 . The multi-stack antenna array of claim 2 , wherein the individual antenna elements of the at least two antenna element layers are electrically connected in columns.
4 . The multi-stack antenna array of claim 3 , wherein each of the at least two antenna element layers contains four columns.
5 . The multi-stack antenna array of claim 4 , wherein each of the at least two antenna element layers contains eight columns with eight outputs.
6 . The multi-stack antenna array of claim 1 , wherein the at least two antenna element layers are positioned such that antenna elements of one layer are aligned with corresponding antenna elements of another layer.
7 . The multi-stack antenna array of claim 1 , wherein the modular ratio combining engine is electrically connected to the antenna elements of each antenna element layer and configured to combine signals across the antenna element layers.
8 . A multi-stack antenna array, comprising: at least two antenna element layers, each antenna element layer comprising a matrix of individual antenna elements; a modular ratio combining engine electrically coupled to the matrix of individual antenna elements of the at least two antenna element layers, the modular ratio combining engine comprising per-element phase and amplitude control circuits configured to adapt received signal components in real time to maintain coherent phase alignment across the antenna element layers; and at least one dielectric layer disposed between the at least two antenna element layers.
9 . The multi-stack antenna array of claim 8 , wherein the modular ratio combining engine further comprises a control path between antenna element layers configured to adjust a phase reference of one antenna element layer based on a measured phase deviation of another antenna element layer.
10 . The multi-stack antenna array of claim 8 , wherein the per-element phase and amplitude control elements are adjustable based on a signal-to-noise ratio measured for each antenna element.
11 . The multi-stack antenna array of claim 8 , wherein the modular ratio combining engine adds signals from the antenna elements together in-phase across the antenna element layers to produce a combined signal.
12 . The multi-stack antenna array of claim 8 , wherein the modular ratio combining engine adjusts amplitude weighting and phase alignment of the antenna element signals based on detected variations in signal strength or phase.
13 . The multi-stack antenna array of claim 8 , wherein the modular ratio combining engine is implemented in a network component coupled to a base station.
14 . A multi-stack antenna array, comprising: at least two antenna element layers, each antenna element layer comprising a matrix of individual antenna elements; a dielectric layer disposed between the at least two antenna element layers; and an adaptive combining engine electrically coupled to the individual antenna elements across the at least two antenna element layers, the adaptive combining engine comprising active signal-processing circuitry configured to branches from the antenna elements, combine the weighted and phase-adjusted signal branches to produce a composite output signal having maximized in-phase gain.
15 . The multi-stack antenna array of claim 14 , wherein the adaptive combining engine is configured for bidirectional operation such that a same adaptive network is used for both transmit and receive paths.
16 . The multi-stack antenna array of claim 14 , wherein the adaptive combining engine is communicatively coupled with a base station transceiver to provide combined uplink and downlink signals for a wireless network.
17 . The multi-stack antenna array of claim 14 , wherein each antenna element layer is separated by a dielectric substrate having a thickness selected to control polarization, beamwidth, and sidelobes.
18 . The multi-stack antenna array of claim 14 , wherein the adaptive combining engine comprises a measurement circuit configured to determine amplitude weighting for each antenna element based on amplitude and phase measurements.
19 . The multi-stack antenna array of claim 14 , wherein the adaptive combining engine comprises phase-adjustment circuitry configured to adjust the timing and phase of signals between the antenna element layers to maximize in-phase signal strength.
20 . The multi-stack antenna array of claim 14 , wherein each individual antenna element is electrically connected to a modular ratio combining engine configured to perform maximum-ratio combining.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This non-provisional application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/985,718 (filed Nov. 11, 2022), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND Phased antenna array systems have been increasingly used for a variety of applications. The phased antenna array systems are desirable for their high directivity, narrow beams, beam-forming and scanning in systems as diverse as data links, radar communications, and synthetic aperture imaging. The transmitting elements used in phased antenna arrays have been microstrip patch, Vivaldi antennas, and dipoles because of their high gain and directionality. The narrow beamwidth and linear polarization restricts use of phased antenna arrays in many applications, such as wireless networks. SUMMARY A high-level overview of various aspects of the present technology is provided in this section to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description section of this disclosure. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. According to aspects herein, methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for a multi-stack antenna. The method of operating a multi-stack antenna begins with receiving at least one signal from at least one user equipment (UE) at a multi-stack phased antenna array. The at least one signal is received by each antenna element of the multi-stack phased antenna array. The at least one signal is then modified by adapting a received signal from each antenna element in time and phase to maximize in-phase signal strength. In a further embodiment, a multi-stack phased antenna array is provided. The antenna includes at least two antenna element layers with the at least two antenna element layers comprising a matrix of individual antenna elements. Each individual antenna element is electrically connected to a modular ratio combining engine. At least one dielectric layers is disposed between the at least two antenna element layers. An additional embodiment provides a non-transitory computer storage media storing computer-useable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors cause the processors to receive at least one signal from at least one UE at a multi-stack phased antenna array, with the at least one signal being received by each antenna element of the phased antenna array. The received signal is then adapted by the processors to adjust a received signal from each antenna element in time and phase to maximize in-phase signal strength. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS Implementations of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: FIG. 1 depicts a diagram of an exemplary network environment in which implementations of the present disclosure may be employed, in accordance with aspects herein; FIG. 2 depicts a cellular network suitable for use in implementations of the present disclosure, in accordance with aspects herein; FIG. 3 depicts a diagram of an exemplary multi-stack antenna, suitable for use in a network environment, in accordance with aspects herein; FIG. 4 is a diagram of a maximum ratio combining (MRC), in which implementations of the present disclosure may be employed, in accordance with aspects here; FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for operating a multi-stack phased antenna array, in accordance with aspects herein; and FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary computing device suitable for use in implementations of the present disclosure, in accordance with aspects herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The subject matter of embodiments of the invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject matter might be embodied in other ways, to include different steps or combinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Moreover, although the terms “step” and/or “block” may be used herein to connote different elements of methods employed, the terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described. Throughout this disclosure, several acronyms and shorthand notations are employed to aid the understanding of certain concepts pertaining to the associated system and services. These acronyms and shorthand notations are intended to help provide an easy methodology of communicating the ideas expressed herein and are not meant to limit the scope of embodiments described in the present disclosure. The following