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(11) |
EP 2 214 261 A1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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Date of publication: |
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04.08.2010 Bulletin 2010/31 |
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Date of filing: 30.01.2009 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO
PL PT RO SE SI SK TR |
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Designated Extension States: |
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AL BA RS |
| (71) |
Applicant: Alcatel Lucent |
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75008 Paris (FR) |
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| (72) |
Inventors: |
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- Wild, Thorsten
70435 Stuttgart (DE)
- Ohm, Michael
70372 Stuttgart (DE)
- Hoek, Cornelis
71732 Tamm (DE)
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| (74) |
Representative: Kohler Schmid Möbus |
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Patentanwälte
Ruppmannstraße 27 70565 Stuttgart 70565 Stuttgart (DE) |
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Remarks: |
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Amended claims in accordance with Rule 137(2) EPC. |
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| (54) |
Beam forming antenna system on flexible plastic foil |
(57) The invention provides an antenna system (A) comprising an antenna array (11, 12,..,1l,
21, 22,...,2m, 31, 32,...,3n, 41, 42,...,40) having a plurality of arrayed antenna
elements (111, 211, 311, 411) and a plurality of signal processing units (112, 212,
312, 412) respectively associated to said antenna elements (111, 211, 311, 411) and
adapted for at least amplifying signals being fed from and/or to said associated antenna
elements (111, 211, 311, 411), wherein said plurality of antenna elements (111, 211,
311, 411) and said associated signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412) are commonly
arranged on a flat supporting substrate (10) which has flexibility and electric insulating
property, said supporting substrate (10) preferably comprising a flexible plastic
foil.
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Field of the invention
[0001] This invention relates to beam forming antenna systems.
Description of related art
[0002] Existing conventional antenna arrays which allow beam forming are made of rigid non-flexible
materials and therefore are difficult to handle and not easily adaptable on different
antenna applications and/or operations. Further, the known beam forming antenna systems
are mostly very expensive and need heavy and non-flexible supporting constructions.
Summary of the invention
[0003] According to an important aspect the invention provides an antenna system comprising
an antenna array having a plurality of arrayed antenna elements and a plurality of
signal processing units respectively associated to said antenna elements and adapted
for at least amplifying signals being fed from and/or to said respectively associated
antenna elements, wherein said plurality of antenna elements and said associated signal
processing units are commonly arranged on a flat supporting substrate which has flexibility
and electric insulating property.
[0004] In view of the above the object of the present invention is creating a simple and
easy-to-handle antenna system being suitable for two-dimensional antenna arrays and
allowing a flexible structure for various applications and deployment scenarios.
[0005] Thus, the antenna system according to the invention is an array antenna having a
flexible flat supporting substrate that carries the antenna elements and the processing
units.
[0006] According to advantageous developments, the antenna system of the present invention
can be realized by printing the antenna elements and the processing units on a flexible
plastic foil forming that supporting substrate.
[0007] The present antenna system preferably forms a two-dimensional array, wherein the
antenna elements are distributed vertically and horizontally on the flat and supporting
substrate. In cases where the two-dimensional antenna array is bent or gets a three-dimensional
shape depending on its application, the present antenna system has a third dimension
in space. Each antenna element preferably can be controlled individually thus allowing
e.g. beam forming or spatial multiplexing exploiting elevation and azimuth direction.
[0008] The present antenna system can be realized by applying the antenna elements and even
the signal processing units, e.g. by printing, on a flexible plastic foil which may
be inflatable to become a balloon-like antenna object thus having a three-dimensional
shape. The balloon-like antenna object may thus become a flying antenna object if
inflated by a light gas. Thereby, the inflated status of the inflatable flexible (elastically
deformable) plastic foil may determine the respective frequency range of the antenna
elements and/or the processing units of the balloon-like antenna object.
[0009] Signal processing for the present antenna system can be carried out at least partly
by the processing units respectively associated to the antenna elements and provided
and arranged on the flat flexible supporting substrate.
[0010] Signal processing of the present antenna system can also be carried out by means
of a separate base station which may be provided at the exterior of the antenna array.
Preferably the signal processing adapts to the actual size and/or shape of the antenna
array resulting from the application and adapts to the antenna deployment and/or operation.
[0011] The amount of the plurality of arrayed antenna elements and the plurality of signal
processing units gives redundancy. Thus, if a single antenna element or processing
unit is not functional, there are enough antenna elements and processing units in
total remaining to be used from the signal processing entity. This concept allows
various forms and sizes of the antenna array which also allows large antenna apertures.
Flexible and thin antenna arrays according to the present invention can be easily
and quickly deployed by just sticking them on objects where they are needed:
- around and on street lamps, buildings, chimneys, towers;
- on vehicles such as private cars, police vehicles, firefighter vehicles, military
vehicles, etc.;
- inside e.g. of busses, trains or at the exterior walls thereof;
- in industrial plants, on machines, etc.;
- it is further possible to form a balloon-like flying antenna object or to apply the
present antenna system on clothes, hats, helmets, etc.
[0012] According to a second preferred application, the present antenna system may be applied
to an air borne vehicle such as Zeppelin-like object or a balloon or also to a marine
vehicle or to a marine-based beacon. According to a further advantageous application
the present antenna system may be applied to a stationary object, such as a building,
an industrial facility, a power plant, a tower, a mast, a chimney, or a beacon. Moreover,
according to another advantageous application, the present antenna system may be applied
to a portable object, such as a cloth, a hat, a helmet, a portable telephone, a portable
or movable radio transceiver and the like. Preferably, in all of these applications,
at least the antenna elements and the signal processing units are applied by printing
on said supporting substrate.
[0013] The deployed antenna array on the flexible plastic foil can have any sort of bends
and shapes depending on the object it is attached to or depending on the inflated
status of the balloon-like antenna object. Therefore, as mentioned above, a signal
processing adapts to the actual array shape and/or size of the array resulting at
deployment and/or usage. Further, as mentioned above, a frequency range of said inflatable
antenna object can be determined by the size or inflated status thereof.
[0014] Advantageously the antenna array including the antenna elements and the processing
units can be linked to a base station partly carrying out the processing functions
of the present antenna system. The link can be carried out by various technologies
such as:
- micro-wave link;
- free-space optics (diffused or directed);
- in-band techniques (relaying, ...);
- cable (copper or optical fiber).
[0015] For autonomous operation the present antenna system can be arranged in combination
with thin batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, etc., wherein thin batteries may also
be applied and arranged on the flexible flat supporting substrate.
[0016] The present antenna system having the above advantageous features thus allows complete
new deployment scenarios in mobile wireless communication systems, adding more flexibility,
allowing improved public acceptance by avoiding classical antenna shapes and by creating
signal processing concepts. Further the present antenna system provides a low cost
and very flexible new technology option.
Brief description of the drawings
[0017] Various exemplary embodiments of the inventive antenna system will be described in
detail with reference to the following figures, wherein:
- Fig. 1
- schematically depicts a first embodiment of the antenna system of the present invention
wherein antenna elements and processing units are two-dimensionally distributed and
arranged on a flexible flat supporting substrate;
- Figs. 2 to 7
- are schematically depicting further different exemplary embodiments of the invention,
where the present antenna system is applied to various different supporting objects,
a Zeppelin, a bus, a beacon, a tower, a chimney, a cloth, respectively.
[0018] The first embodiment of the invention as depicted in Fig.1 and described in the following
description relates to an antenna system A comprising an antenna array having a plurality
of arrayed antenna elements and a plurality of signal processing units respectively
associated to said antenna elements and adapted for at least amplifying signals being
fed from/or to said respectively associated antenna elements, wherein said plurality
of antenna elements and said associated signal processing units are commonly arranged
on a flat supporting substrate which has flexibility and electric insulating property.
How to apply the present antenna system according to this invention to a variety of
exemplary applications is schematically depicted in Figs. 2 to 7 and will be described
in the following description.
[0019] In the first embodiment of an antenna system A according to the invention as schematically
shown in Fig. 1, the antenna system A comprises an antenna array 11, 12, ....., 1l,
21, 22, ......2m, 31, 32,....,3n, 41, 42, ....4o having a plurality of two-dimensionally
arrayed antenna elements only a part of which are designated by reference numbers
111, 211, 311, 411 and further a plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed signal processing
units simply and schematically depicted as transistor symbols and only partly designated
by reference numbers 112, 212, 312, 412. These signal processing units 112, 212, 312,
412 are respectively associated to a respective antenna element 111, 211, 311, 411
and adapted for at least amplifying signals being fed from/or to the associated antenna
elements 111, 211, 311, 411. Signal transmission means 6, e.g. signal transmission
lines are likewise arranged on the flexible substrate 10 for transmitting signals
to/from the antenna elements 111, 211, 311, 411 and/or to/from the processing units
112, 212, 312, 412.
[0020] The flat flexible supporting substrate 10 can have any sort of bends and shapes depending
on an object to which it is attached or depending on a specific application of the
present antenna system A.
[0021] The processing units have an amplifying function, however, may additionally have
certain other processing functions for the signals being fed from and/or to the respectively
associated antenna elements.
[0022] Even if Fig. 1 shows that the processing units 112, 212, 312, 412 are also locally
associated to the respective antenna element 111, 211, 311, 411, but alternatively
the processing units 112, 212, 312, 412 may locally be concentrated at different sites
on the flat flexible supporting substrate 10 even if these processing units are operatively
one-to-one associated to the respective antenna elements 111, 211, 311, 411.
[0023] In any case in the present antenna system the signal processing adapts to the actual
array shape and /or size of the antenna array.
[0024] Fig. 1 further depicts that in addition to the plurality of signal processing units
112, 212, 312, 412 the present antenna system may comprise a base station 8 provided
in the exterior of the antenna array, i.e. the base station 8 is not arranged on the
flexible flat supporting substrate 10 but linked to the plurality of signal processing
units and/or the antenna elements on the flat flexible supporting substrate 10 by
means of a signal communication link 7. This signal communication link 7 can be realized
in various technologies, such as micro-wave link, free space optics (diffused or directed),
in-band techniques (relaying, etc.), cable (copper or optical fiber). For autonomous
operation of the antenna system A the latter may be combined with any possible power
generation means such as thin batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, etc. Fig. 1 indicates
that a solar cell battery 9 or alternatively a thin battery 9 can be arranged and
fixed directly on the flat flexible supporting substrate 10.
[0025] According to the embodiment of the antenna system A depicted in Fig. 1, the plurality
of antenna elements 111, 211, 311, 411 and associated signal processing units 112,
212, 312, 412 can be arranged with redundancy on the flexible supporting substrate
10. If a single antenna element and/or processing unit is not functional, the amount
of redundant antenna elements and/or signal processing units can be used to maintain
the functionality of the antenna system A.
[0026] The present concept of the inventive antenna system A allows to individually control
the plurality of antenna elements 111, 211, 311, 411 by the associated signal processing
units 112, 212, 312, 412 and/or by the base station 8. Thus the individual control
of each antenna element allows to adapt the antenna system to at least one of the
actual shape of the antenna array, the actual size thereof and to the number of antenna
elements actually being in operation.
[0027] Further the concept of the individual control of each single antenna element by the
associated processing unit allows beam forming or spatial multiplexing exploiting
elevation and azimuth direction.
[0028] As already mentioned, the signal processing functionality beyond the amplifying function
can be located partly or fully directly on the flexible flat supporting substrate
10 or it can be fully or partly implemented at the base station 8. Accordingly, the
signal processing functionality can be located at both the flexible flat supporting
substrate 10 and in the base station 8. I.e. the whole processing function (besides
the amplifying functions carried out by the processing units 112, 212, 312, 412 of
the antenna array) may be totally or partly implemented in the base station 8. Signal
processing functions can be provided for signals fed from the signal processing units
to the base station 8 and/or signals to be supplied from the base station 8 to the
signal processing units 112, 212, 312, 412. This means that also an adaptation to
at least one of the actual shape of the antenna array, actual size of the antenna
array and a number of the antenna elements actually being in operation instead of
being totally carried out by the signal processing units 112, 212, 312, 412 on the
flexible supporting substrate 10 can be either partly or totally be carried out in
the base station 8.
[0029] Likewise the functionality of altering the antenna characteristic of the antenna
system A in response to a corresponding control signal being for example supplied
from the exterior to the antenna system A can be either partly or totally carried
out by the base station 8 instead of being carried out by the signal processing units
112, 212, 312, 412 on the flexible flat supporting substrate 10.
[0030] Preferably and advantageously the flexible supporting substrate 10 depicted in Fig.
1 comprises a plastic foil. This allows to apply at least the antenna elements 111,
211, 311, 411, signal processing units 112, 212, 312, 412 and signal transmission
lines 6 by a printing process on the flexible plastic foil 10 used as the flat flexible
supporting substrate.
[0031] Additionally also the base station 8 can be totally or partly be printed on the flexible
plastic foil 10 instead of being installed at the exterior of the flexible plastic
foil 10 like it is described for the antenna system of the first embodiment as shown
in Fig. 1.
[0032] In case of the embodiment mentioned above, wherein at least the antenna elements
111, 211, 311, 411, the signal processing units 112, 212, 312, 412 and the signal
transmission lines 6 are applied by printing on the flexible plastic foil 10, a flexible
protecting layer (not shown) can be applied on the flexible plastic foil 10 and adapted
for covering and protecting at least the antenna elements 111, 211, 311, 411, the
signal processing units 112, 212, 312, 412 and the signal transmission lines 6 on
said flexible plastic foil 10 against harmful environmental interference.
[0033] The first embodiment of the antenna system A of the present invention described above
with reference to Fig. 1 forms a basis for complete new deployment scenarios in mobile
wireless communication systems, adds more flexibility, allows improved public acceptance
by avoiding classical antenna shapes and creates new signal processing concepts. Further
the embodiment of the present antenna system A described above achieves a low cost
flexible technology option.
[0034] An exemplary second embodiment depicted in
Fig. 2 shows the antenna system A according to the present invention applied to an air borne
flying object F, in the example a propelled Zeppelin.
[0035] According to a further embodiment (not shown) the flexible flat supporting substrate
10 carying the antenna elements, the signal processing units and the signal transmission
lines as depicted in Fig. 1 is used to create an inflatable flying antenna object
such as a balloon (unpropelled) where optionally the flexible supporting substrate
10 itself may be inflatabe. Again in the embodiment depicted in Fig. 2 and in the
embodiment where the antenna system A is applied to a balloon, signal processing is
either located at the antenna array applied to the flying object, at a base station
linked by a communication link to the antenna array or at both, the base station and
the antenna array.
[0036] If the present antenna system is realized as a balloon-like flying antenna object,
a size of the balloon, in particular an inflated status of the inflatable flexible
plastic foil may determine the respective frequency range of the antenna elements
and/or the processing units of the balloon-like antenna object.
[0037] In such cases where the antenna system A according to the present invention is applied
to a flying object like the Zeppelin shown in Fig. 2 or to an inflatable balloon,
the flying antenna system A of the invention can be used for e.g. quickly setting
up wireless communication, broadcast or surveillance networks at events with many
users such as sport events. For these embodiments the flying antenna system A can
be linked to a base station via various technology options mentioned above. As previously
described for autonomous operation of the antenna system A of the present invention
combination with thin batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, etc. are preferred. If the
flying object carrying the antenna system A of the present invention is propelled
by an engine such as the propelled Zeppelin according to Fig.2, some power from the
engine can also be used for the power supply of the electronics of the signal processing,
or the engine even is a full power supply for a full base station carried onboard
a flying object carrying the present antenna system A.
[0038] A third exemplary embodiment is schematically depicted in
Fig. 3 where the antenna system A of the present invention is applied to a ground vehicle
V exemplified as a motor-driven bus.
[0039] In other similar embodiments (not shown) the antenna system A of the invention can
be applied inside a bus, inside trains, etc. and further on different vehicles like
private cars, police cars, firefighter cars, military vehicles, etc.
[0040] In a further embodiment (not shown) the antenna system A according to the present
invention can be applied at a marine vehicle, such as a ship or ferry.
[0041] A fourth exemplary embodiment is depicted in
Fig. 4 where the antenna system A according to the present invention is applied to a marine
beacon B.
[0042] Figs. 5 and 6 respectively show a fifth and sixth embodiment where the antenna system A is applied
to a tower T and to a chimney K, respectively.
[0043] According to a seventh exemplary embodiment depicted in
Fig. 7, the antenna system A of the present invention is integrated in an article of dress
D, in the example a coat.
[0044] All embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying Figs. 1 to 7 are realizing
an antenna system allowing various flexible forms and sizes which also allows large
antenna apertures. The flexible and thin antenna arrays according to the present invention
can be easily and quickly deployed by just sticking them where they are needed:
- around and on street lamps, buildings, towers, chimneys, etc., on vehicles (air borne,
land borne and marine borne vehicles, private cars, police cars, firefighter vehicles,
military vehicles, etc.), inside busses, trains, subways, etc., in industrial plants,
on machines,
- as a flying balloon-like antenna object, and
- further the flexible thin antenna array according to the present invention can be
integrated in clothes, such as depicted in Fig. 7.
1. An antenna system (A) comprising an antenna array (11, 12, ..,1l, 21, 22,...,2m, 31,
32,...,3n, 41, 42, ...,4o) having a plurality of arrayed antenna elements (111, 211,
311, 411,...) and a plurality of signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...)
respectively associated to said antenna elements (111, 211, 311, 411, ...) and adapted
for at least amplifying signals being fed from and/or to said respectively associated
antenna elements (111, 211, 311, 411,...), wherein said plurality of antenna elements
(111, 211, 311, 411,...) and said associated signal processing units (112, 212, 312,
412, ...) are commonly arranged on a flat supporting substrate (10) which has flexibility
and electric insulating property, said supporting substrate (10) preferably comprising
a flexible plastic foil.
2. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of antenna elements
(111, 211, 311, 411,...) and associated signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,
...) on said supporting substrate (10) form a two-dimensional array.
3. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plurality of antenna elements
(111, 211, 311, 411,...) and associated signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...)
on said supporting substrate are arranged with redundancy.
4. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plurality of antenna elements
(111, 211, 311, 411, ...) can be individually controlled by said associated signal
processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...).
5. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control of said plurality
of antenna elements (111, 211, 311, 411,...) by said associated signal processing
units (112, 212, 312, 412,...) adapts to at least one of an actual shape of the antenna
array, an actual size thereof and a number of said antenna elements (111, 211, 311,
411,...) actually being in operation.
6. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein in addition to the amplifying
function said signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...) are additionally adapted
to carry out signal processing of the signals fed from and/or to said respectively
associated antenna elements (111, 211, 311, 411, ...).
7. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 6, wherein a signal processing function
of said signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...) is adaptable to at least
one of an actual shape of the antenna array, an actual size of the antenna array and
a number of said antenna elements (111, 211, 311, 411,...) actually being in operation.
8. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 6, wherein a signal processing function
of said signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...) comprises altering an antenna
characteristic of the antenna system (A) in response to a control signal supplied
to said antenna system (A) from the exterior thereof.
9. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a base station (8)
provided in the exterior of the supporting substrate (10), said base station (8) being
operatively connected to at least one of said signal processing units (112, 212, 312,
412,...) and said antenna elements (111, 211, 311, 411, ...) of said antenna array
(11, 12, ..,1l, 21, 22,...,2m, 31, 32,...,3n, 41, 42,...,4o) and having a signal processing
function for at least one of signals fed from said signal processing units (112, 212,
312, 412,...) to said base station (8) and signals to be supplied from said base station
(8) to said signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...).
10. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 1 or 9, further comprising connecting and
conducting means (6) at least partly arranged on said supporting substrate (10) and
adapted for at least one of electrical, electro-magnetical and electro-optical conduction
of signals, preferably from said base station (8), to at least one of said signal
processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...) and/or at least one of said antenna elements
(111, 211, 311, 411,...) of said antenna array, and/or from at least one of said signal
processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...) and /or at least one of said antenna elements
(111, 211, 311, 411,...) of said antenna array to said base station (8).
11. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 9, wherein a signal processing function
of at least one of said base station (8) and said signal processing units (112, 212,
312, 412,...) is adaptable to at least one of an actual shape of the antenna array,
an actual size of the antenna array and a number of said antenna elements actually
being in operation and/or a signal processing function of at least one of said base
station (8) and said signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...) comprises altering
an antenna characteristic of the antenna system (A) in response to a control signal
supplied from the exterior of said antenna system (A).
12. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flexible plastic foil is
inflatable to form a balloon-like three-dimensional, in particular flying antenna
object, a shape of said three-dimensional antenna object preferably being alterable
according to the inflated status of the inflatable flexible plastic foil.
13. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 12, wherein a frequency range of the antenna
elements (111, 211, 311, 411,...) and/or the signal processing units (112, 212, 312,
412,...) is determinable according to a respective inflated status of the inflatable
flexible plastic foil.
14. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least the antenna elements
(111, 211, 311, 411,...) and the signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...)
are applied by printing on said supporting substrate (10) and/or said antenna array
(11, 12,..,11, 21, 22,...,2m, 31, 32,...,3n, 41, 42,...,4o) comprises a protecting
layer applied on said supporting substrate (10) and adapted for covering and protecting
at least the antenna elements (111, 211, 311, 411,...) and the signal processing units
(112, 212, 312, 412,...) on said supporting substrate (10) against harmful environmental
interference.
15. A movable object, in particular a ground vehicle (V), an air-born vehicle (F) or a
marine vehicle, a stationary object, in particular a building, an industrial facility,
a power plant, a tower (T), a mast, a chimney (K), or a beacon (B), or a portable
object, in particular a hat, a helmet, a portable telephone, or a portable radio transceiver,
comprising said antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 1.
Amended claims in accordance with Rule 137(2) EPC.
1. An antenna system (A) comprising an antenna array (11, 12,..,1l, 21, 22,...,2m, 31,
32,...,3n, 41, 42,...,4o) having a plurality of arrayed antenna elements (111, 211,
311, 411,...) and a plurality of signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...)
operatively one-to-one associated to said antenna elements (111, 211, 311, 411,...)
and adapted for amplifying signals being fed from and/or to said respectively associated
antenna elements (111, 211, 311, 411,...), wherein said plurality of antenna elements
(111, 211, 311, 411,...) and said associated signal processing units (112, 212, 312,
412,...) are commonly arranged on a flat supporting substrate (10) which has flexibility
and electric insulating property, said supporting substrate (10) preferably comprising
a flexible plastic foil.
2. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of antenna elements
(111, 211, 311, 411,...) and associated signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...)
on said supporting substrate (10) form a two-dimensional array.
3. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plurality of antenna elements
(111, 211, 311, 411,...) and associated signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...)
on said supporting substrate are arranged with redundancy.
4. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plurality of antenna elements
(111, 211, 311, 411,...) can be individually controlled by said associated signal
processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...).
5. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control of said plurality
of antenna elements (111, 211, 311, 411,...) by said associated signal processing
units (112, 212, 312, 412,...) adapts to at least one of an actual shape of the antenna
array, an actual size thereof and a number of said antenna elements (111, 211, 311,
411,...) actually being in operation.
6. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein in addition to the amplifying
function said signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...) are additionally adapted
to carry out signal processing of the signals fed from and/or to said respectively
associated antenna elements (111,211,311,411,...).
7. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 6, wherein a signal processing function
of said signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...) is adaptable to at least
one of an actual shape of the antenna array, an actual size of the antenna array and
a number of said antenna elements (111, 211, 311, 411,...) actually being in operation.
8. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 6, wherein a signal processing function
of said signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...) comprises altering an antenna
characteristic of the antenna system (A) in response to a control signal supplied
to said antenna system (A) from the exterior thereof.
9. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a base station (8)
provided in the exterior of the supporting substrate (10), said base station (8) being
operatively connected to at least one of said signal processing units (112, 212, 312,
412,...) and said antenna elements (111, 211, 311, 411,...) of said antenna array
(11, 12,..,1l ,21, 22,...,2m, 31, 32,...,3n, 41, 42,...,4o) and having a signal processing
function for at least one of signals fed from said signal processing units (112, 212,
312, 412,...) to said base station (8) and signals to be supplied from said base station
(8) to said signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...).
10. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 1 or 9, further comprising connecting
and conducting means (6) at least partly arranged on said supporting substrate (10)
and adapted for at least one of electrical, electro-magnetical and electro-optical
conduction of signals, preferably from said base station (8), to at least one of said
signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...) and/or at least one of said antenna
elements (111, 211, 311, 411,...) of said antenna array, and/or from at least one
of said signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...) and /or at least one of said
antenna elements (111, 211, 311, 411,...) of said antenna array to said base station
(8).
11. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 9, wherein a signal processing function
of at least one of said base station (8) and said signal processing units (112, 212,
312, 412,...) is adaptable to at least one of an actual shape of the antenna array,
an actual size of the antenna array and a number of said antenna elements actually
being in operation and/or a signal processing function of at least one of said base
station (8) and said signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...) comprises altering
an antenna characteristic of the antenna system (A) in response to a control signal
supplied from the exterior of said antenna system (A).
12. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flexible plastic foil
is inflatable to form a balloon-like three-dimensional, in particular flying antenna
object, a shape of said three-dimensional antenna object preferably being alterable
according to the inflated status of the inflatable flexible plastic foil.
13. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 12, wherein a frequency range of the antenna
elements (111, 211, 311, 411,...) and/or the signal processing units (112, 212, 312,
412,...) is determinable according to a respective inflated status of the inflatable
flexible plastic foil.
14. The antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least the antenna elements
(111, 211, 311, 411,...) and the signal processing units (112, 212, 312, 412,...)
are applied by printing on said supporting substrate (10) and/or said antenna array
(11, 12,..,1l, 21, 22,...,2m, 31, 32,...,3n, 41, 42,...,4o) comprises a protecting
layer applied on said supporting substrate (10) and adapted for covering and protecting
at least the antenna elements (111, 211, 311, 411,...) and the signal processing units
(112, 212, 312, 412,...) on said supporting substrate (10) against harmful environmental
interference.
15. A movable object, in particular a ground vehicle (V), an air-born vehicle (F) or
a marine vehicle, a stationary object, in particular a building, an industrial facility,
a power plant, a tower (T), a mast, a chimney (K), or a beacon (B), or a portable
object, in particular a hat, a helmet, a portable telephone, or a portable radio transceiver,
comprising said antenna system (A) as claimed in claim 1.