ROBUST BEAMFORMING FOR ANTENNA ARRAYS THROUGH USE OF MOTION/DISPLACEMENT SENSING
One embodiment of a beamforming system includes an antenna array and at least one sensor configured to sense one of movement and displacement of at least a portion of the antenna array. A processor is configured to control beamforming by the antenna array based on output from the sensor.
1 . A beamforming system, comprising:
an antenna array;
at least one sensor configured to sense one of movement and displacement of at least a portion of the antenna array; and
a processor configured to control beamforming by the antenna array based on output from the sensor.
2 . The beamforming system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is connected to a support supporting antenna elements of the antenna array.
3 . The beamforming system of claim 1 , wherein
the antenna array includes a plurality of antenna elements;
each of a plurality of sensors is associated with a different one of the antenna elements, each of the plurality of sensors is configured to sense one of movement and displacement of the associated antenna element; and
the processor is configured to control beamforming by the antenna array based on output from the plurality of sensors.
4 . The beamforming system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and an electronic compass.
5 . The beamforming system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is cooperatively coupled to the antenna array to sense undesired movement or displacement of the antenna array.
6 . The beamforming system of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to compensate for the undesired movement or displacement of the antenna array based on output from the sensor in controlling the beamforming.
7 . The beamforming system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is cooperatively coupled to an antenna element of the antenna array to sense undesired movement of the antenna element.
8 . The beamforming system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to compensate for the undesired movement or displacement of the antenna element based on output from the sensor in controlling the beamforming.
9 . The beamforming system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to output a warning if the detected movement or displacement exceeds a threshold.
10 . A method for controlling beamforming of an antenna array, comprising:
measuring, using at least one sensor, at least one of movement and displacement of at least a portion of an antenna array;
controlling beamforming by the antenna array based on output from the sensor.