Circular-antenna-array-based codebook design and training method for 60GHz beamforming

Beamforming is necessary in 60GHz millimeter-wave communications in order to compensate for high path loss. A complete beamforming algorithm includes codebook design and beam training. The existing beamforming protocol of IEEE 802.15.3c standard has following flaws: (1) Not all three beamforming pattern types (quasi-omni pattern, sector and beam) have their own codebooks; (2) Almost every beam points to two directions, one of which is expected but the other one is unwanted; (3) Setup time of beam training is long. This paper proposes a codebook design and corresponding training procedure based on circular antenna array with a two-layer-structure. It allows every pattern type to own its corresponding codebook and highly directional antenna radiation pattern. The training setup time is reduced to around half of 3c training time. Performance evaluations also manifest that the proposed algorithm leads to less antenna gain loss and more robust performance than the 3c standard.