In-Band Full-Duplex Antenna with Direction-Finding Capability

Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication systems are essential for enhancing road safety, improving traffic efficiency, and enabling autonomous driving technologies. These systems rely on robust, reliable wireless communication between vehicles, infrastructure, pedestrians, and other road users to exchange critical information in real time. As the automotive industry advances toward increasingly connected and automated vehicles,  sophisticated antenna technologies are needed to support high data rates, wide coverage areas, and multiple simultaneous communication channels while maintaining compact, efficient designs suitable for integration into moving platforms. However, current antenna solutions for V2X communications face several significant challenges. Traditional systems often struggle with self-interference management in full-duplex operations, limiting their ability to transmit and receive simultaneously on the same frequency band. Additionally, accurately determining the direction of incoming signals (direction of arrival) is difficult with omnidirectional or limited directional antennas, reducing the effectiveness of communication and environmental sensing. Spectrum utilization remains inefficient to support multiple concurrent functions such as radar, communication, and spectral sensing within a single system. These limitations hinder the performance and scalability of V2X networks, particularly in dynamic and high-density traffic environments where reliable and multifaceted communication capabilities are paramount.

Technology Description

The in-band full-duplex (IBFD) antenna system comprises an omnidirectional transmit antenna paired with a receive antenna array designed to generate multiple difference beams. Tailored for vehicle-to-everything communications, the transmit component ensures 360-degree coverage through circular mode phasing and can be implemented using monopole, horn, or monocone designs. The receive array utilizes wideband horn antennas arranged to create difference patterns with nulls, enabling precise direction-finding capabilities. This configuration allows the antenna system to be mounted on moving platforms, providing comprehensive coverage around the vehicle. Advanced signal processing elements, including a multichannel receiver, an adaptive beamformer network employing the MUA algorithm, and a bidirectional frequency converter, facilitate simultaneous transmission and reception within the same frequency band while effectively managing self-interference and supporting multiple concurrent functions such as radar and communication.

What sets this technology apart is its innovative integration of omnidirectional transmission with directional reception on a single frequency band, optimizing spectrum usage and enhancing V2X communication efficiency. The sophisticated signal processing techniques, like the Minimum Variance Distortionless Response algorithm and the bidirectional frequency converter, enable effective separation of transmit and receive signals without the need for complex hardware splitters. Additionally, the flexible antenna configurations, including multiple horn antennas and phased arrangements, provide accurate direction-of-arrival determination and eliminate pattern ambiguities. This system's ability to support simultaneous multifunction operations on mobile platforms delivers superior performance in dynamic environments, making it exceptionally valuable for modern vehicular communication systems that demand reliable, versatile connectivity.