WO2024002506A1

WO2024002506A1 - A reconfigurable beam antenna assembly and an apparatus comprising the antenna assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2024002506A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/075879
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexander Khripkov; Ruiyuan TIAN; Timofey KAMYSHEV
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-07-01
Filing date: 2022-09-19
Publication date: 2024-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2025-01-01
Also published as: CN119096425A

Abstract

The invention allows a beam antenna assembly with reconfigurable beamforming. For example, the beam shape may be changed based on an installation location, such as a ceiling corner or a wall. Furthermore, beam coverage (e.g. from limited coverage to an entire room or the like) may be changed based on needs. The reconfigurable beamforming may in turn con-tribute to a high resolution (needed for, e.g., high-resolution sensing services and the like) andomni-coverage (needed for, e.g., a uniform coverage of various rooms by a same sensor apparatus).

Description

A RECONFIGURABLE BEAM ANTENNA ASSEMBLY AND AN APPARATUS COMPRISING THE ANTENNA ASSEMBLY

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of antennas, and, more particularly, to a reconfigurable beam antenna assembly and an apparatus comprising the antenna assembly.

BACKGROUND

A smart-automated home or office may have multiple smart automation applications, including, e.g., an intelligent building management, and security and/or health monitoring systems. Such smart automation applications may need technologies for occupancy detection and activity sensing. Information about human presence may enable intelligent context-aware smart-automated homes, capable of exploiting localization and sensing information to optimize deployment, operation, and energy usage with no or limited human intervention: a smart light control, a smart heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control, turning off unused devices, starting self-propelled devices (such as cleaning robots), and checking the correct use of an equipment (such as by counting people in an elevator).

Furthermore, high-accuracy localization and high-resolution sensing services may provide continuous, real-time physiological information via dynamic, non-invasive, contactless measurements for future digital health technologies. For example, a contactless analysis of a person breathing may be used for, e.g., sleep monitoring (e.g., to rate the quality of sleep, which is important for a human’s immune, nervous, skeletal and muscular systems), and/or fall detection (e.g., to raise an alarm and inform family or household members about a falling person).

These technologies may enable a new set of features and service capabilities for the smart-automated home, where localization and sensing may coexist with communication.

Accordingly, at least in some situations, there may be a need for implementing these technologies with radio frequency (RF) wireless sensors, since vision-based technologies (such as cameras and the like) may interfere with ensuring privacy of the users. Therefore, at least in some situations, there may be a need for a multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) millimeter wave (mmWave) sensor apparatus and antenna topology for, e.g., contactless vital sign monitoring and spatial tracking of multiple people and other objects that may allow an entire room coverage via allocation of the sensor apparatus in a room side position or a room corner position, for example.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

It is an object of the invention to allow a beam antenna assembly with reconfigurable beamforming. The foregoing and other objects are achieved by the features of the independent claims. Further implementation forms are apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a reconfigurable beam antenna assembly is provided. The reconfigurable beam antenna assembly comprises a first number of antenna radiating parts. Each antenna radiating part has the first number of antenna ports. The reconfigurable beam antenna assembly further comprises a second number of feed points. The reconfigurable beam antenna assembly further comprises a switch that is connected to the feed points and to a radio frequency, RF, circuitry. The switch is configured to switch the RF circuitry between the feed points. The reconfigurable beam antenna assembly further comprises a multi-mode switching feed waveguide. The multi-mode switching feed waveguide is configured to couple the feed points to the antenna radiating parts, such that power from each feed point is distributed among the antenna radiating parts with predetermined magnitudes and predetermined phases. The present disclosure allows a beam antenna assembly with reconfigurable beamforming. More specifically, the present disclosure allows electrically reconfigurable beamforming. Distributing the power from each feed point among the antenna radiating parts allows the distribution ratio to define the beam shape. Distributing the power among the antenna radiating parts with predetermined magnitudes and predetermined phases allows beam switching in two planes, such as horizontal and vertical planes. For example, the beam shape may be changed based on an installation location, such as a ceiling comer or a wall. Furthermore, beam coverage (e.g. from limited coverage to an entire room or the like) may be changed based on needs. The reconfigurable beamforming may in turn contribute to a high resolution (needed for, e.g., high-resolution sensing services and the like) and omni-coverage (needed for, e.g., a uniform coverage of various rooms by a same sensor apparatus).

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the multi-mode switching feed waveguide is based on a transverse magnetic mode planar waveguide. This implementation form allows optimizing the reconfigurable beam antenna assembly for mmWave frequencies, such as frequencies between 10 GHz and 60 GHz.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the multi-mode switching feed waveguide further comprises a microstrip line -based feed network. This implementation form allows optimizing the reconfigurable beam antenna assembly for low frequencies, such as frequencies below 40 gigahertz (GHz). This implementation form further allows a reconfigurable beam antenna assembly with a low profile (e.g., height less than one millimeter (mm)).

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the multi-mode switching feed waveguide further comprises one or more dielectric waveguide -type antennas. This implementation form allows optimizing the reconfigurable beam antenna assembly for micrometer wave frequencies and above, such as frequencies between 60 GHz and 200 GHz.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the multi-mode switching feed waveguide further comprises one or more partially reflective walls. This implementation form allows a uniform distribution of phase and magnitude, or achieving a predefined distribution accordingly.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the multi-mode switching feed waveguide further comprises one or more wave matching reactive loading and separation walls. This implementation form allows suppression of parasitic modes.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the reconfigurable beam antenna assembly further comprises reflective structures that are configured to surround the antenna radiating parts. This implementation form allows suppression of surface waves on a printed circuit board (PCB). In an implementation form of the first aspect, the reflective structures comprise at least one of metal spikes, metal fences, mushroom structures, or electromagnetic bandgap, EBG, structures. This implementation form further allows the suppression of the surface waves on the PCB.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the reconfigurable beam antenna assembly further comprises a cavity-backed slot transformer for the multi-mode switching feed waveguide. This implementation form allows direct feeding of the multi-mode switching feed waveguide.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the multi-mode switching feed waveguide is based on a dielectric rod waveguide. This implementation form allows optimizing the reconfigurable beam antenna assembly for micrometer wave frequencies and above, such as frequencies between 60 GHz and 200 GHz.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises the reconfigurable beam antenna assembly according to the first aspect of the present disclosure. The present disclosure allows a beam antenna assembly with reconfigurable beamforming. More specifically, the present disclosure allows electrically reconfigurable beamforming. Distributing the power from each feed point among the antenna radiating parts allows the distribution ratio to define the beam shape. Distributing the power among the antenna radiating parts with predetermined magnitudes and predetermined phases allows beam switching in two planes, such as horizontal and vertical planes. For example, the beam shape may be changed based on an installation location, such as a ceiling comer or a wall. Furthermore, beam coverage (e.g. from limited coverage to an entire room or the like) may be changed based on needs. The reconfigurable beamforming may in turn contribute to a high resolution (needed for, e.g., high-resolution sensing services and the like) and omni-coverage (needed for, e.g., a uniform coverage of various rooms by a same sensor apparatus).

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the apparatus has a sensing function. This implementation form allows high-resolution sensing services and the like.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the sensing function comprises at least one of anonymous presence detection or location tracking of at least one of: one or more living beings or one or more autonomously moving objects. This implementation form further allows the high-resolution sensing services and the like.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the sensing function is configured to enable beam switching for the reconfigurable beam antenna assembly in a first plane and a second plane, thereby providing switchable field-of-view, FOV, segmentation via the beam switching. The switchable beam FOV segmentation allows a minimized phase error due to a more focused beam. The switchable beam FOV segmentation further allows high accuracy and resolution due to the beam being focused only on a human (or another object of interest) with less wall reflections and hence less interference. The switchable beam FOV segmentation further allows an enlarged total FOV coverage and an improved signal -to-noise ratio (SNR) due to a stable high gain and phase pattern.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the sensing function is further configured to use the switchable FOV segmentation for at least one of: adapting the FOV to an environment of the apparatus, or customizing the FOV to at least one of an installation location or installation position in the environment of the apparatus. This implementation form allows a uniform coverage of various rooms by a same sensor apparatus.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the antenna radiating parts comprise multiple-input and multiple-output, MIMO, transmit, TX, and receive, RX, antenna radiating parts, such that an antenna pitch in the first plane is Nv*X/2 and an antenna pitch in the second plane is Nh*X/2. Nv represents a number of the antenna ports in the first plane, Nh represents a number of the antenna ports in the second plane, and X represents a free space wavelength of an operating frequency. The MIMO array topology of this implementation form, i.e., multiple TX and RX antennas, provides high aperture efficiency. That is, instead of using a single TX antenna and an array of multiple RX antennas, the use of multiple antenna elements at both the TX and the RX end provides better angular estimation resolution occupying the same aperture array size. The choice of the antenna pitch in an array allows achieving a good balance between a sufficient low side lobe level and a sufficient high angular resolution.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the MIMO TX and RX antenna radiating parts are configured in a sparse array. The MIMO array topology of this implementation form, i.e., multiple TX and RX antennas, provides high aperture efficiency. That is, instead of using a single TX antenna and an array of multiple RX antennas, the use of multiple antenna elements at both the TX and the RX end provides better angular estimation resolution occupying the same aperture array size. The choice of the antenna pitch in an array allows achieving a good balance between a sufficient low side lobe level and a sufficient high angular resolution.

Many of the attendant features will be more readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, example embodiments are described in more detail with reference to the attached figures and drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a diagram illustrating pattern reconfigurability with different installation locations;

Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating beam shaping with a flat placed antenna device;

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating room coverage by a sensor apparatus located at a ceiling;

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an elevation angle of a peak beam direction;

Fig. 5 is a diagram further illustrating an antenna gain for meeting requirements of room coverage;

Fig. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating sensor apparatus installations to a ceiling and to a wall, respectively;

Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a reconfigurable beam antenna assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating reflective structures;

Figs. 9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating a multi-mode switching feed waveguide;

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating the multi-mode switching feed waveguide in more detail;

Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating field distribution inside the multi-mode switching feed waveguide when one port is active;

Figs. 12 and 13 are diagrams illustrating three-dimensional FOV segmentation with a two-plane scanning reconfigurable beam antenna;

Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating a magnitude pattern for realized gain; Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating a phase pattern; and

Fig. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

In the following, identical reference signs refer to identical or at least functionally equivalent features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form part of the disclosure, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific aspects in which the invention may be placed. It is understood that other aspects may be utilized, and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, as the scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims.

For instance, it is understood that a disclosure in connection with a described method may also hold true for a corresponding device or system configured to perform the method and vice versa. For example, if a specific method step is described, a corresponding device may include a unit to perform the described method step, even if such unit is not explicitly described or illustrated in the figures. On the other hand, for example, if a specific apparatus is described based on functional units, a corresponding method may include a step performing the described functionality, even if such step is not explicitly described or illustrated in the figures. Further, it is understood that the features of the various example aspects described herein may be combined with each other, unless specifically noted otherwise.

As will be discussed in more detail below, at least some of the disclosed embodiments may allow anonymous presence detection and/or location tracking of one or more living beings and/or one or more autonomously moving objects (e.g., robot objects).

Achieving this may require at least some of the following:

- high sensitivity and accurate vital signals detection within an entire indoor environment, while being reliably distinguished from unwanted disturbance;

- contactless monitoring of individual vital signs (e.g., heartbeat and/or respiration) of multiple people in a real-world setting; - robustness against random body movements (e.g., limb movements, walking, etc.); and

- ability to keep track of individual people during vigorous movement (such as walking and standing up).

At least some of these requirements may be contradictory and require beam shaping antennas and/or a multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) sensor topology optimized for antennas and for resolution.

As will be discussed in more detail below, the present disclosure provides a reconfigurable beam antenna assembly at least some embodiments of which may comply with the above-described requirements.

Fig. l is a diagram illustrating beam pattern reconfigurability in general with different installation locations 100 A and 100B of a sensor apparatus 110.

The location 100B of the sensor apparatus 110 at a center of a room may have limited sensitivity and room coverage. Such a location of the sensor apparatus 110 may require a wide angle beam coverage, at least over the horizontal plane. Otherwise, it may be necessary to deploy reconfigurable sensor beams scanning in order to cover areas at each side around the sensor apparatus 110.

The location 100 A of the sensor apparatus 11 Oat a comer of the room may be best for aesthetic considerations. However, installation at the corner ceiling location may not be always possible. Sometimes it is more convenient to install the sensor apparatus 110 on a vertical wall of the room, as in 100B. As shown in Fig. 1, two such different installation locations may require different beam coverage from the antennas. Thus, the so-called beam pattern reconfigurability may be needed to allow different beam shaping in different scenarios.

In an installation location of the sensor apparatus, it may be desirable to be able to focus the beam for a dedicated limited coverage region. This may be beneficial for higher beam stability and less interference from the environment. However, it may also be desirable to be able to cover the entire room area. Therefore, beam reconfigurability may be desirable at least in some situations. At least in some situations, a corner installation location of a sensor apparatus may require an antenna beam shaped for a uniform room coverage: the beam may need to be tilted, and a peak antenna gain may need to be directed towards the furthest point of the room from the sensor apparatus.

As will be discussed in more detail below, at least some of the disclosed embodiments may allow flat placed antennas radiating tilted beams, as well as beam pattern reconfigurability without a need for mechanical tilting. This is illustrated in diagram 200 of Fig. 2 which shows beam shaping with a flat placed antenna device or sensor apparatus 202 installed on a ceiling 201 and having a field-of-view (FOV) 203.

As will be discussed in more detail below, at least some of the disclosed embodiments may allow electrically reconfigurable beamforming which in turn may allow a high resolution and omni-coverage sensor apparatus.

At least some of the disclosed embodiments may allow one or more of the following:

- a minimized phase difference among multiple TX channels and among multiple RX channels, respectively, of a MIMO sensor apparatus or radar (< 7.8°, with an average difference of 5° in a vertical plane (e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB) with dielectric rods with a radome cover));

- a flat PCB (e.g., a virtually tilted antenna PCB up to 85°);

- an achieved phase error of < 22°, 10° in average in a wide FOV, corresponding to a 0.5 meter (m) accuracy at a 6 m distance;

- suppressed surface waves and parasitic modes, and reduced distortions caused by the radome;

- dielectric rods tilting the beam further in an elevation plane: from 23-61° to 30-82°, the dielectric rods reducing beam ripple in a horizontal plane and minimizing parasitic effects of the radome.

At least in some of the disclosed embodiments, electrically reconfigurable sensor beamforming may allow a high resolution omni-coverage scanning sensor apparatus and sensing system. The electrically reconfigurable beamforming of the present disclosure may be based on, e.g., discrete components with a varying impedance: conductivity (PEST diodes, Gunn or Schottky diodes, metal-insulator-metal (MIM) diodes, transistors) or reactance (varactors). Alternatively or additionally, dielectric rods may be based on functional radio frequency (RF) materials: liquid crystals, barium-strontium-titanate, graphene, vanadium dioxide and/or semiconductor photonics.

At least some of the disclosed embodiments may allow switchable FOV segmentation. The idea is to achieve adaptive sensing on a more general level, with the switchable FOV segmentation using beam pattern reconfigurable antennas. At least in some of the disclosed embodiments, the switchable FOV segmentation may allow a minimized phase error due to a more focused beam, a high accuracy and resolution enabled by a beam focused only on a human (or other object of interest) with less wall reflections, an enlarged total coverage when combining multiple FOV regions, and/or an improved signal -to-noise ratio (SNR) due to a stable high gain and phase pattern.

At least in some of the disclosed embodiments, the high beam pattern stability may allow the sensing to achieve a better performance. On the one hand, within each FOV region, a focused beam with a higher gain may improve SNR for each FOV region, and hence a better range estimation accuracy may be attained. A higher gain may also increase the coverage range for each FOV region, and with beam pattern reconfigurable antenna, the total combined FOV coverage may further increase. On the other hand, within each FOV region, a focused beam also increases the phase stability, and reduces the phase difference among the antennas of the radar array topology. At least in some of the disclosed embodiments, minimization of the phase difference may allow improving angular estimation accuracy. Furthermore, a focused beam with high beam pattern stability may also improve Doppler estimation accuracy, which may allow applications such as a vital sign detection.

The implementation of the switchable FOV segmentation may be done using time division multiplexing, for example. That is, each FOV segmentation may be scanned in a time division multiplexing manner. Such time division multiplexing is compatible with a conventional MIMO radar for sensing applications in which case multiple TX antenna elements may be scanned in the same time division multiplexing manner. Using the beam pattern reconfigurable antennas, the TX antenna elements may be set to a different FOV region at a time, and the entire combined FOV may be scanned by means of the time division multiplexing. At least some of the disclosed embodiments may allow entire room coverage beam shaping.

For room coverage by the sensor apparatus located at the ceiling, angular parameters for the sensor apparatus antenna may be estimated for the typical room geometry as illustrated in diagram 300 of Fig. 3. In Fig. 3, point (A) represents a 3m x 3m room range, and point (B) represents a 5m x 5m room range.

At least in some of the disclosed embodiments, the MIMO sensor apparatus antenna solution may meet the aforementioned user scenarios for room sizes of 3m x 3m up to 6m x 6m. At least in some of the disclosed embodiments, the radar/sensor antennas may be adjusted for each type of room in order to meet requirements for RX power levels and SNR by a shaped beam pattern of antenna gain G(0,(z>), as illustrated in diagram 400 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 shows an elevation angle 0 of the peak beam direction, needed to assure radar sensitivity all over the rooms sizes marked with points (A) - (D), as described in the table below.

An expected peak elevation angle may be 65-75 degrees up to 80 degrees.

The room coverage defines a theoretical antenna gain G( ,(p) needed to meet requirements for RX power levels and SNR. A target antenna shaped pattern in an elevation plane is illustrated in diagram 500 of Fig. 5, based on radar equation and channel models.

A sensor apparatus is typically installed in a room at a fixed position, with the room size being stable in time. At least in some of the disclosed embodiments, the electrical reconfigurability of the beam patterns may allow achieving a uniform coverage of various rooms by a same sensor apparatus.

At least in some of the disclosed embodiments, sensor apparatus installation locations may include, e.g., a horizontal installation location or a vertical installation location, depending on user preferences. These installation locations may result in different requirements for the sensor apparatus FOV and beam properties, as illustrated in diagrams 600A of Fig. 6A and 600B of Fig. 6B in which 600A illustrates a sensor apparatus antenna 610 attached to a ceiling 601, and 600B illustrates a sensor apparatus antenna 610 attached to a wall 602. At least in some of the disclosed embodiments, the beam patterns reconfigurability may allow achieving a uniform coverage of various rooms by a same sensor apparatus.

Next, example embodiments of a reconfigurable beam antenna assembly 700 are described based on Fig. 7. Some of the features of the described devices are optional features which provide further advantages. Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the reconfigurable beam antenna assembly 700 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The reconfigurable beam antenna assembly 700 may be used to achieve the above discussed switchable FOV segmentation via pattern reconfigurable antennas coupled with a multi-mode switching feed waveguide. At least in some embodiments, the reconfigurable beam antenna assembly 700 may allow three-dimensional (3D) or two-plane scanning.

The reconfigurable beam antenna assembly 700 comprises a first number (e.g., four) of antenna radiating parts 701A-701D. Each antenna radiating part 701A-701D has the first number of antenna ports 701A1-701D1.

The reconfigurable beam antenna assembly 700 further comprises a second number of feed points or ports 702A-702D (e.g., two for scanning in one plane, or four for scanning in two planes).

The reconfigurable beam antenna assembly 700 further comprises a switch 703 that is connected to the feed points 702A-702D and to a radio frequency (RF) circuitry 704. The switch 703 is configured to switch the RF circuitry 704 between the feed points 702A- 702D. The reconfigurable beam antenna assembly 700 further comprises a multi-mode switching feed waveguide 705. The multi-mode switching feed waveguide 705 is configured to couple the feed points 702A-702D to the antenna radiating parts 701 A-701D, such that power from each feed point 702A-702D is distributed among the antenna radiating parts 701A-701D with predetermined magnitudes and predetermined phases. The distribution ratio may define the beam shape (e.g., cosecant). For example, the antenna radiating parts 701A-701D may be progressively phased in two planes, enabling beam switching in, e.g., horizontal and vertical planes.

For example, there may be an N number of TX antennas, and an M number of RX antennas, thereby forming an NxM MEMO array. Each of the TX or RX antennas may have the first number (e.g., four as in the example of Fig. 8) of antenna radiating parts 701 A-701D. Thus, each of the antennas may have the first number (e.g., four) of antenna ports 701A1-701D1 (as shown in Fig. 9A, for example). The multi-mode switching feed waveguide 705 couples the energy from the feed ports 702A-702D (as shown in Fig. 9B, for example), to the antenna ports 701 A1-701D1 (as shown in Fig. 9A, for example).

At least in some embodiments, the multi-mode switching feed waveguide 705 may be based on a transverse magnetic (TM) mode planar waveguide.

At least in some embodiments, the multi-mode switching feed waveguide 705 may further comprise a microstrip line (MSL) -based feed network.

At least in some embodiments, the multi-mode switching feed waveguide 705 may further comprise one or more dielectric waveguide -type antennas.

At least in some embodiments, the multi-mode switching feed waveguide 705 may further comprise one or more partially reflective walls.

At least in some embodiments, the multi-mode switching feed waveguide 705 may further comprise one or more wave matching reactive loading and separation walls.

At least in some embodiments, the reconfigurable beam antenna assembly 700 may further comprise reflective structures 706 (e.g., high impedance surfaces) that are configured to surround the antenna radiating parts 701A-701D. For example, the reflective structures 706 may comprise metal spikes, metal fences, mushroom structures, and/or electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structures. Fig. 8 illustrates an example of the reflective structures 706. At least in some embodiments, the reflective structures 706 may allow suppressing surface waves on the PCB.

At least in some embodiments, the reconfigurable beam antenna assembly 700 may further comprise a cavity-backed slot transformer for the multi-mode switching feed waveguide 705.

At least in some embodiments, the multi-mode switching feed waveguide 705 may be based on a dielectric rod waveguide.

Design details of the multi-mode switching feed waveguide are further illustrated in Figs. 9A, 9B and diagrams 1000A and 1000B of Fig. 10. Figs. 9A (top view) and 9B (bottom view) show an example of the coupling of the multi-mode switching feed waveguide 705 and the antenna ports 701A1-701D1. From the top surface, a set of, e.g., four slots may be coupled to the bottom of the antenna apertures (as shown in Fig. 8, for example). From the bottom surface as shown in 10, a set of, e.g., four feedings 702A-702D may be connected to a single pole - four throw (SP4T) switch 703, where the common port may be connected to the RF circuitry 704. In Fig. 10, the multi-mode switching feed waveguide 705 may include, e.g., MSL feeding and/or waveguide (WG) antennas, (2) indicates partially reflective walls for phase and magnitude uniform distribution, and (3) indicates wave-matching reactive loading and separation walls for parasitic modes suppression.

Field distribution (power flow) inside the feed waveguide 705 when one port (port 1) is active is illustrated in diagram 1100 of Fig. 11. The power may be distributed to each antenna port with a desired amplitude and phase. The result of the 3D (2-plane) scanning re- configurable beam antenna is shown in diagram 1200 of Fig. 12 and diagrams 1300A-1300D of Fig. 13. The entire FOV may be divided into a set of four segments over two planes, in each of which a beam with high performance may be realized.

At least in some embodiments, the reconfigurable beam antenna assembly 700 may be simplified to one-plane scanning with a set of two antennas. Diagram 1400 of Fig. 14 and diagram 1500 of Fig. 15 illustrate numerical results of such a reconfigurable beam antenna assembly 700. In Fig. 14, the entire FOV in one-plane is divided into two segments, and a beam is switched for each FOV. Fig. 14 also shows that a roll-off of the beam shape may be designed, e.g., by adjusting a magnitude balance in the multi-mode switching feed waveguide 705. A beam shaping with less roll-off as an example may be achieved. In Fig. 15, a corresponding phase pattern is shown. As can be seen, the phase pattern is very flat with small ripples (< ±1 degrees) in the FOV.

At least in some embodiments, type of the antenna radiating parts used may depend on the feeding network type of the multi-mode switching feed waveguide 705. For example, a rectangular waveguide may be coupled to a horn-like radiating aperture. This may be suitable, e.g., for a wide frequency range between 10 GHz and 60 GHz. For lower frequencies, an implementation may be realized using, e.g., microwave technologies, such as a co-planar waveguide, a microstrip line or a strip line coupled to a patch-antenna aperture. For higher frequencies, an implementation may use, e.g., a dielectric waveguide feeding network coupled to dielectric rod antennas.

Fig. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus 1600 according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The apparatus 1600 comprises the reconfigurable beam antenna assembly 700. At least in some embodiments, the apparatus 1600 may have a sensing function, thereby allowing the apparatus 1600 to function as a sensor apparatus or a sensing apparatus.

The apparatus 1600 may further comprise one or more processors 1611 and one or more memories 1612 that may comprise computer program code. The apparatus 1600 may also include other elements not shown in Fig. 16.

Although the apparatus 1600 is depicted to include only one processor 1611, the apparatus 1600 may include more processors. In an embodiment, the memory 1612 is capable of storing instructions. Furthermore, the memory 1612 may include a storage.

Furthermore, the processor 1611 is capable of executing the stored instructions. In an embodiment, the processor 1611 may be embodied as a multi-core processor, a single core processor, or a combination of one or more multi-core processors and one or more single core processors. For example, the processor 1611 may be embodied as one or more of various processing devices, such as a coprocessor, a microprocessor, a controller, a digital signal processor (DSP), a processing circuitry with or without an accompanying DSP, or various other processing devices including integrated circuits such as, for example, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a microcontroller unit (MCU), a hardware accelerator, a special-purpose computer chip, or the like. In an embodiment, the processor 1611 may be configured to execute hard-coded functionality. In an embodiment, the processor 1611 is embodied as an executor of software instructions.

The memory 1612 may be embodied as one or more volatile memory devices, one or more non-volatile memory devices, and/or a combination of one or more volatile memory devices and non-volatile memory devices. For example, the memory 1612 may be embodied as semiconductor memories (such as mask ROM, PROM (programmable ROM), EPROM (erasable PROM), flash ROM, RAM (random access memory), etc.).

At least in some embodiments, the sensing function may comprise anonymous presence detection and/or location tracking of one or more living beings and/or one or more autonomously moving objects (e.g., robot objects).

At least in some embodiments, the sensing function may be configured to enable beam switching for the reconfigurable beam antenna assembly 700 in a first (e.g., vertical) plane and a second (e.g., horizontal) plane, thereby providing switchable field-of-view (FOV) segmentation via the beam switching.

At least in some embodiments, the sensing function may be further configured to use the switchable FOV segmentation for adapting the FOV to an environment of the apparatus 1600, and/or for customizing the FOV to an installation location and/or installation position in the environment of the apparatus 1600.

At least in some embodiments, the antenna radiating parts 701A-701D may comprise multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) transmit (TX) and receive (RX) antenna radiating parts, such that an antenna pitch in the first plane is Nv*k/2 and an antenna pitch in the second plane is Nh*X/2. Nv represents a number of the antenna ports in the first plane, Nh represents a number of the antenna ports in the second plane, and X represents a free space wavelength of an operating frequency. At least in some embodiments, the MIMO TX and RX antenna radiating parts may be configured in a sparse array.

Further features of the apparatus 1600 related to the antenna assembly 700 directly result from the features and parameters of the antenna assembly 700 and thus are not repeated here.

The functionality described herein can be performed, at least in part, by one or more computer program product components such as software components. According to an embodiment, the apparatus 1600 may comprise a processor or processor circuitry, such as for example a microcontroller, configured by the program code when executed to execute the embodiments of the operations and functionality described. Alternatively, or in addition, the functionality described herein can be performed, at least in part, by one or more hardware logic components. For example, and without limitation, illustrative types of hardware logic components that can be used include Field-programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Program-specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Program-specific Standard Products (ASSPs), System-on-a-chip systems (SOCs), Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLDs), and Graphics Processing Units (GPUs).

Any range or device value given herein may be extended or altered without losing the effect sought. Also, any embodiment may be combined with another embodiment unless explicitly disallowed.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as examples of implementing the claims and other equivalent features and acts are intended to be within the scope of the claims.

It will be understood that the benefits and advantages described above may relate to one embodiment or may relate to several embodiments. The embodiments are not limited to those that solve any or all of the stated problems or those that have any or all of the stated benefits and advantages. It will further be understood that reference to 'an' item may refer to one or more of those items.

The steps of the methods described herein may be carried out in any suitable order, or simultaneously where appropriate. Additionally, individual blocks may be deleted from any of the methods without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. Aspects of any of the embodiments described above may be combined with aspects of any of the other embodiments described to form further embodiments without losing the effect sought.

The term 'comprising' is used herein to mean including the method, blocks or elements identified, but that such blocks or elements do not comprise an exclusive list and a method or apparatus may contain additional blocks or elements.

It will be understood that the above description is given by way of example only and that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art. The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments. Although various embodiments have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, or with reference to one or more individual embodiments, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this specification.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable beam antenna assembly (700), comprising: a first number of antenna radiating parts (701A-701D), each antenna radiating part (701 A-701D) having the first number of antenna ports (701 A1-701D1); a second number of feed points (702A-702D); a switch (703) connected to the feed points (702A-702D) and to a radio frequency, RF, circuitry (704), configured to switch the RF circuitry (704) between the feed points (702A- 702D); and a multi-mode switching feed waveguide (705), configured to couple the feed points (702A-702D) to the antenna radiating parts (701A-701D), such that power from each feed point (702A-702D) is distributed among the antenna radiating parts (701A-701D) with predetermined magnitudes and predetermined phases.

2. The reconfigurable beam antenna assembly (700) according to claim 1, wherein the multi-mode switching feed waveguide (705) is based on a transverse magnetic mode planar waveguide.

3. The reconfigurable beam antenna assembly (700) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the multi-mode switching feed waveguide (705) further comprises a microstrip line - based feed network.

4. The reconfigurable beam antenna assembly (700) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the multi-mode switching feed waveguide (705) further comprises one or more dielectric waveguide -type antennas.

5. The reconfigurable beam antenna assembly (700) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the multi-mode switching feed waveguide (705) further comprises one or more partially reflective walls.

6. The reconfigurable beam antenna assembly (700) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the multi-mode switching feed waveguide (705) further comprises one or more wave matching reactive loading and separation walls.

7. The reconfigurable beam antenna assembly (700) according to any of claims 1 to 6, further comprising reflective structures (706) configured to surround the antenna radiating parts (701A-701D).

8. The reconfigurable beam antenna assembly (700) according to claim 7, wherein the reflective structures (706) comprise at least one of metal spikes, metal fences, mushroom structures, or electromagnetic bandgap, EBG, structures.

9. The reconfigurable beam antenna assembly (700) according to any of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a cavity-backed slot transformer for the multi-mode switching feed waveguide (705).

10. The reconfigurable beam antenna assembly (700) according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the multi-mode switching feed waveguide (705) is based on a dielectric rod waveguide.

11. An apparatus (1600), comprising the reconfigurable beam antenna assembly (700) according to any of claims 1 to 10.

12. The apparatus (1600) according to claim 11, having a sensing function.

13. The apparatus (1600) according to claim 12, wherein the sensing function comprises at least one of anonymous presence detection or location tracking of at least one of one or more living beings or one or more autonomously moving objects.

14. The apparatus (1600) according to any of claims 12 or 13, wherein the sensing function is configured to enable beam switching for the reconfigurable beam antenna assembly (700) in a first plane and a second plane, thereby providing switchable field-of-view, FOV, segmentation via the beam switching.

15. The apparatus (1600) according to claim 14, wherein the sensing function is further configured to use the switchable FOV segmentation for at least one of adapting the FOV to an environment of the apparatus (1600), or customizing the FOV to at least one of an installation location or installation position in the environment of the apparatus (1600).

16. The apparatus (1600) according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the antenna radiating parts (701A-701D) comprise multiple-input and multiple-output, MIMO, transmit, TX, and receive, RX, antenna radiating parts, such that an antenna pitch in the first plane is Nv*X/2 and an antenna pitch in the second plane is Nh*X/2, with Nv representing a number of the antenna ports in the first plane, Nh representing a number of the antenna ports in the second plane, and X representing a free space wavelength of an operating frequency.

17. The apparatus (1600) according to claim 16, wherein the MIMO TX and RX antenna radiating parts are configured in a sparse array.