Millimeter-wave system with beam direction by switching sources
View Patent ↗Various embodiments of a millimeter-wave wireless point-to-point or point-to-multipoint communication system which enables determining preferred directions of transmissions, and transmitting in such preferred directions without routing radio-frequency signals. The system comprises a millimeter-wave focusing element, multiple millimeter-wave antennas, and multiple radio-frequency-integrated circuits (“RFICs”). In various embodiments, preferred directions are determined, and millimeter-wave beams are transmitted in the preferred directions.
1. A method for controlling a direction of a millimeter-wave beam in a point-to-point millimeter-wave communication system, comprising:
using a first millimeter-wave radiating source, located at a first location on a focal surface of a millimeter-wave focusing element, to transmit a millimeter-wave beam via said millimeter-wave focusing element, wherein said millimeter-wave beam having a first direction consequent upon the first location;
determining a desired direction for the millimeter-wave beam, wherein said desired direction is expected to improve performance of a point-to-point millimeter-wave communication system employing the millimeter-wave beam;
identifying, out of a plurality of millimeter-wave radiating sources, a second millimeter-wave radiating source located at a second location on the focal surface of the millimeter-wave focusing element, which when in use will result in a second direction for the millimeter-wave beam that is closest to the desired direction for the millimeter-wave beam; and
using the second millimeter-wave radiating source to transmit the millimeter-wave beam having the second direction consequent upon the second location, thereby improving performance of the point-to-point millimeter-wave communication system;
wherein each of said first and second millimeter-wave radiating sources comprises a radio-frequency-integrated-circuit which is mounted on a printed-circuit-board that is located substantially on said focal surface of said millimeter-wave focusing element or slightly behind said focal surface of said millimeter-wave focusing element.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said each of said first and second millimeter-wave radiating sources further comprises a millimeter-wave antenna operative to radiate said millimeter-wave beam.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein each of said millimeter-wave antennas is printed on said printed-circuit-board, in proximity to one of said radio-frequency-integrated-circuits.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said radio-frequency-integrated-circuits are mounted using flip-chip mounting technology, and each of said radio-frequency-integrated-circuits is directly connected to one of said millimeter-wave antennas via a transmission line printed on said printed-circuit-board.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein each of said radio-frequency-integrated-circuits is connected to one of said millimeter-wave antennas via a bonding wire.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein each of said radio-frequency-integrated-circuits is operative to convert a base-band signal or an intermediate-frequency signal into a millimeter-wave signal, and said millimeter-wave signal is injected into one of said millimeter-wave antennas which is in proximity to said radio-frequency-integrated-circuit, thereby generating said millimeter-wave beam.
7. The method of claim 2 , wherein each of said millimeter-wave antennas is located on top of one of said radio-frequency-integrated-circuits or on top of an enclosure of one of said radio-frequency-integrated-circuits, and each such millimeter-wave antenna is facing said millimeter-wave focusing element.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein each of said millimeter-wave antennas is printed on one of said radio-frequency-integrated-circuits.
9. A method for controlling a direction of a millimeter-wave beam in a point-to-point millimeter-wave communication system, comprising:
using a first millimeter-wave radiating source, located at a first location on a focal surface of a millimeter-wave focusing element, to transmit a millimeter-wave beam via said millimeter-wave focusing element, wherein said millimeter-wave beam having a first direction consequent upon the first location;
determining a desired direction for the millimeter-wave beam, wherein said desired direction is expected to improve performance of a point-to-point millimeter-wave communication system employing the millimeter-wave beam;
identifying, out of a plurality of millimeter-wave radiating sources, a second millimeter-wave radiating source located at a second location on the focal surface of the millimeter-wave focusing element, which when in use will result in a second direction for the millimeter-wave beam that is closest to the desired direction for the millimeter-wave beam; and
using the second millimeter-wave radiating source to transmit the millimeter-wave beam having the second direction consequent upon the second location, thereby improving performance of the point-to-point millimeter-wave communication system;
wherein each of said first and second millimeter-wave radiating sources comprises a radio-frequency-integrated-circuit operative to convert a base-band signal or an intermediate-frequency signal into a millimeter-wave signal operative to generate said millimeter-wave beam.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said base-band signal or intermediate-frequency signal is delivered to said radio-frequency-integrated-circuits, and selection of said first or second directions is done by commanding one of said radio-frequency-integrated-circuits associated with said first or second directions to start generating said millimeter-wave beam.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said base-band signal or intermediate-frequency signal is an analog signal.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein said base-band signal is a digital signal.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein said base-band signal or intermediate-frequency signal is delivered to one of said radio-frequency-integrated-circuits associated with said first direction, thereby facilitating selection of said first direction.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein said base-band signal or intermediate-frequency signal is delivered to one of said radio-frequency-integrated-circuits associated with said second direction, thereby facilitating selection of said second direction.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second millimeter-wave radiating sources comprises an antenna printed on the printed-circuit-board.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein: (i) said millimeter-wave focusing element belongs to a first millimeter-wave transceiver of said point-to-point millimeter-wave communication system, and (ii) said millimeter-wave beam is used by the first millimeter-wave transceiver to communicate with a second millimeter-wave transceiver belonging to said point-to-point millimeter-wave communication system.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said improving performance is required due do undesired movement of said millimeter-wave focusing element relative to the second millimeter-wave transceiver.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said undesired movement is caused by wind.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein said improving performance is required in order to direct said beam toward said second millimeter-wave transceiver when first installing the first millimeter-wave transceiver.