2023 journal article

Green Joint Communications and Sensing Employing Analog Multi-Beam Antenna Arrays

IEEE COMMUNICATIONS MAGAZINE, 61(7), 172–178.

By: K. Wu*, J. Zhang*, X. Huang*, R. Heath n & Y. Guo*

author keywords: Discrete Fourier transforms; Radio frequency; Array signal processing; Sensors; Antennas; Phased arrays; Lenses; Power demand; Phase shifters; Butler matrices; 6G mobile communication; Hybrid power systems; Energy efficiency; Telecommunication services
TL;DR: The energy-efficient and easy-to-design multi-beam antenna arrays (MBAAs) for JCAS, using pre-designed and fixed analog devices, can simultaneously steer multiple beams yet with negligible power consumption compared with other techniques are introduced. (via Semantic Scholar)
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
7. Affordable and Clean Energy (OpenAlex)
Source: Web Of Science
Added: September 11, 2023

Joint communications and sensing (JCAS) is potentially a hallmark technology for the sixth generation mobile network (6G). Most existing JCAS designs are based on digital arrays, analog arrays with tunable phase shifters, or hybrid arrays, which are effective but are generally complicated to design and power inefficient. This article introduces the energy-efficient and easy-to-design multi-beam antenna arrays (MBAAs) for JCAS. Using pre-designed and fixed analog devices, such as lens or Butler matrix, MBAA can simultaneously steer multiple beams yet with negligible power consumption compared with other techniques. Moreover, MBAAs enable flexible beam synthesis, accurate angle-of-arrival estimation, and easy handling/utilization of the beam squint effect. All these features have not been well captured by the JACS community yet. To promote the awareness of them, we intuitively illustrate them and also exploit them for constructing a multi-beam JCAS framework. Finally, the challenges and opportunities are discussed to foster the development of green JCAS systems.