Beamforming communication systems with sensor aided beam management

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for beamforming communication systems with sensor aided beam management are provided. In certain embodiments, a beamforming communication system includes an antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements. The beamforming communication system further includes a plurality of signal conditioning circuits operatively associated with the antenna elements, one or more sensors that generate sensor data, and a beam management circuit that controls the signal conditioning circuits to manage beamforming. The beam management circuit provides beam management based on the sensor data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile device comprising:
 a first antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements;   a front end system electrically connected to the first antenna array and operable to condition a plurality of radio frequency signals each transmitted by a corresponding one of the plurality of antenna elements to thereby form a transmit beam;   a first sensor configured to generate sensor data; and   a beam management circuit configured to control the front end system to manage the transmit beam based on the sensor data.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the beam management circuit is configured to steer the transmit beam based on the sensor data. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile device of  claim 2  wherein the beam management circuit is configured to process the sensor data to maintain the transmit beam pointed at a base station. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile device of  claim 2  wherein the beam management circuit is configured to process the sensor data to move the transmit beam away from environmental blockage. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile device of  claim 1  further comprising a second antenna array, the beam management circuit configured to disable the first antenna array and to transmit using the second antenna array in response to determining that the sensor data indicates environmental blockage of the first antenna array. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile device of  claim 5  further comprising a second sensor configured to detect environmental blockage of the second antenna array. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the beam management circuit is configured to control transmission of at least a portion of the sensor data to a base station. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the first sensor is an accelerometer. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the first sensor is a plug detection sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the first sensor is a time of flight sensor, an infrared sensor, or a camera. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the first sensor is an antenna reflection measurement detector. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile device of  claim 1  further comprising a baseband modem including the beam management circuit. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile device of  claim 12  further comprising an application processor, the beam management circuit configured to receive the sensor data via the application processor. 
     
     
         14 . A method of beam management in a mobile device, the method comprising:
 conditioning a plurality of radio frequency signals using a front end system;   transmitting each of the plurality of radio frequency signals on a corresponding one of a plurality of antenna elements of a first antenna array to form a transmit beam;   generating sensor data using a sensor; and   controlling the front end system to manage the transmit beam based on the sensor data.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising steering the transmit beam based on the sensor data. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising processing the sensor data to maintain the transmit beam pointed at a base station. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising processing the sensor data to move the transmit beam away from environmental blockage. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising transmitting using a second antenna array in response to determining that the sensor data indicates environmental blockage of the first antenna array. 
     
     
         19 . A radio frequency module for a mobile device, the radio frequency module comprising:
 an antenna array configured to radiate a transmit beam in response to receiving a plurality of radio frequency signals;   a sensor configured to generate sensor data; and   a semiconductor die including signal conditioning circuitry operable to condition the plurality of radio frequency signals, and a beam management circuit configured to control the signal conditioning circuitry to manage the transmit beam based on the sensor data.   
     
     
         20 . The radio frequency module of  claim 19  wherein the sensor is configured to detect environmental blockage of the antenna array.