Feature: Automotive
Figure 1: Connectivity requirements in the modern car
Figure 1: The metaverse will require AR, VR and legacy devices
Capacity in dense environments Cellular network coverage in densely-populated areas is almost universal. T e challenge here is not coverage but capacity, since vehicles can lose mobile network service even with an available cellular signal, due to an overloaded network. In densely-developed and occupied environments, the solution
is 5G mmWave technology, which uses the 5G FR2 frequency band between 24.25GHz and 52.6GHz. In congested conditions, mmWave technology provides speeds 4-5 times faster than low- or mid-band FR1, enabling signifi cantly better performance and network utilisation. Using mmWave connectivity requires precisely-aligned antenna
arrays that incorporate digitally-controlled beamforming, to improve signal reception and mitigate interference. Beamforming involves focusing and directing the signal beam by changing the phase of the input signals on the radiating elements in the array; see Figure 4. With this capability, the eff ective range and signal integrity can both be improved. Beamforming also requires high-speed interfaces and high-
performance signal processing capability within the vehicle to create a control loop that can regularly monitor and adjust the beamforming setting, to optimise performance and signal strength. T ere are three beamforming options: analogue, digital and
hybrid. Analogue beamforming changes the phase of the signal in the analogue domain. A single RF transceiver output is split into several paths, served by diff erent antenna elements, with a phase shiſt er and amplifi er modifying each signal before it reaches the antenna element. T e disadvantage is that analogue beamforming can only handle a single data stream and generate one signal beam at a time, limiting its use with 5G, where multiple beams are necessary. It also requires additional space for components and cables. In digital beamforming, each signal is pre-coded (through
Figure 2: The zonal architecture divides the vehicle’s functionalities into zones so that individual devices, like the antennas, are connected to the nearest zonal controller
www.electronicsworld.co.uk April 2024 15
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