Abstract: Systems and methods for providing antenna beams having reduced grating and side lobes when steered off of the antenna broadside are disclosed. According to the present invention an arrangement of antenna elements suitable for use in generating antenna beams steered at greater angles off of the antenna broadside is utilized with a beam feed network consistent with the antenna beams being steered at the greater angles and reduced antenna element spacing to provide the reduced grating and side lobes. A preferred embodiment utilizes a 2n+1 Butler matrix coupled to 2n+1 antenna columns spaced according to the present invention to provide 2n antenna beams. Preferred embodiments provide a dual mode antenna system in which antenna elements of a first mode are interspersed with antenna elements of a second mode.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated antenna array comprising a plurality of interleaved sub-arrays separately controllable and responding to either the same or separate frequency bands. Both arrays operate with substantially the same phase center and substantially within the same effective aperture. The first sub-array of array comprises of spaced linear radiating elements such as dipoles, log-periodic, Yagi, slotted-waveguide, patch, or array consisting of the same or different elements as used in the first sub-array, either on the same or an entirely different frequency band. Independent beam shaping systems are shown for independent operation of the two arrays.

Abstract: There is disclosed an RF synthesis system for allowing a phase signal to be created from a plurality of antennas while using a single LPA for each panel of the array. Provision is made to control the power levels between the antennas of each panel by a series of phase adjustments used in conjunction with RF hybrid circuits. Provision is made for changing the sector alignment by using cross panels and also by rearranging the signals from the various RF inputs.

Abstract: A wireless communication system base station uses a dual-polarized antenna array to receive two signal groups having orthogonal polarizations. In a preferred embodiment, a first signal group is received using a first sub-array of odd-numbered antenna elements, while a second signal group is received using a second sub-array of even-numbered antenna elements. Dipoles within the odd-numbered elements are selected so that they have a common polarization orthogonal to the dipoles selected in the even-numbered elements. The two signal groups thus have orthogonal polarizations. Base station signal processing hardware performs separate spatial channel estimation for these two groups, and uses the polarization diversity to improve performance in both the uplink and downlink. The use of polarization diversity allows the physical dimensions of the antenna array to be kept to a minimum.

Abstract: A system and method for changing the phase relationship of input signals so as to generate a composite signal having the strongest possible signal. One related input vector signal is phase rotated and a phase is selected which yields the smallest value of the output composite signal. The selected phase is rotated 180 degrees. This procedure for that input signal is repeated for each input vector signal. When all inputs have thus been adjusted, the procedure can be repeated until the output composite signal is essentially free of errors.

Abstract: Known antenna array manifold information is exploited to provide for fast and accurate channel estimation and demodulation on both the forward and reverse links, thereby increasing capacity in PCS and cellular CDMA networks that use adaptive antenna arrays. On the reverse link, an “extended” array manifold is used to assist the demodulator in maintaining a dynamic estimate of the spatial signature to use for beamforming and coherent demodulation. On the forward link, channel estimation is performed in the handset to provide a robust solution for beamforming.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method providing beam forming and selection to provide desired signals to/from signal processing devices such as cell site modems. Systems of the present invention are operable with multi-beam antenna arrays to utilize antenna beams provided by the multi-beam antenna array and to form antenna beams which supplement the antenna beams formed by the multi-beam antenna array. Additionally, systems of the present invention are operable with adaptive array antennas to form antenna beams having desired characteristics. Preferably, predefined sets of beam forming weighting characteristics are utilized to provide a hybrid adaptive beam forming technique wherein antenna beams having predetermined characteristics may be rapidly selected and formed. Additionally, dynamically determined sets of beam forming weighting characteristics may be utilized to provide additional antenna beams having other desired characteristics.

Abstract: Traffic channel signals and pilot channel signals are transmitted from a base station to a mobile station using different beams. The beam carrying the pilot channel signal is a sector-wide beam, while the beam carrying the traffic channel signal has been minimized based on the number of frame errors associated with the traffic channel signal. The pilot and traffic channel signals are also phase matched. All traffic channel antenna beams in the same direction are maintained at approximately the same effective radiated power.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides an antenna array for transmitting one or more beams in a communication system. The antenna includes a cavity slot antenna array that is adapted to be operatively connected to a beam forming module (e.g., via a plurality of signal feed lines that are connected to radiating signal probes). The antenna array has one or more cavity slot columns adjacently fixed to one another with each of the one or more columns having at least one cavity slot antenna element for providing a radiating beam component. The combined cavity slot elements from the one or more columns define a cavity slot array for providing the one or more beams from the cavity slot beam components.

Abstract: A cellular micro-cell is deployed within a building or other structure to provide wireless communication services therein. Accordingly, a plurality of antennas are deployed such that their area of influence illuminates the desired service area, Each antenna is in selective communication with various inputs/outputs of the micro-cell base transceiver station radio in order to allow mobile subscriber units to move throughout the service area without necessitating handoff conditions. Additionally, as the antennas may be selectively coupled to the transceiver inputs, all channels of the micro-cell may be made available throughout the entire service area thus providing increased capacity in all regions of the service area.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a particular wireless communication signal appearing within an antenna beam to a cellular base station to the exclusion of other communication signals also appearing within the antenna beam is disclosed. Preferably multiple narrow antenna beams are utilized to target a communication unit sourcing the particular communication signal. Signals provided by these multiple narrow beams are filtered to exclude undesired communication signals appearing therein and then are provided to select inputs of the cellular base station. Preferably the system of the disclosed invention is adapted to substantially universally couple to various cellular base station configurations.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for phase shifting signals wherein the phase shifting circuitry may be disposed in a relatively small footprint. The preferred embodiment utilizes PIN diodes to provide switched line phase shifting, wherein the switched lines are microstrip and/or stripline transmission lines of predetermined lengths. To minimize the space required, the switched lines of the preferred embodiment are disposed on different layers of a multi-layered support structure, such as a multi-layer circuit board. Layer changing vias are preferably adapted to provide a constant impedance to thereby make changes in layers in the transmission path electrically transparent to a transmitted signal.

Abstract: A receiving system 100 is disclosed which includes at least one antenna 101 providing a plurality of antenna beams providing signal diversity between communicated signals. A first processing branch 103 is included for processing a first plurality of signals appearing within a first plurality of the antenna beams. The first processing branch 103 includes a plurality of signal paths, some of which include delays 105, each receiving a one of the first plurality of signals from a corresponding one of the first plurality of antenna beams. Delays 105 apply a predetermined amount of delay proportionate to the corresponding one of the beams. First processing branch 103 further includes a combiner 106 for combining the first plurality of signals after output from the plurality of signal paths. A second processing branch 104 is provided for processing a second plurality of signals appearing within a second plurality of the antenna beams.

Abstract: A practical way to enhance signal quality (carrier to interference. C/I) in both up and downlink of wireless point to multi-point CDMA service implements basic radio direction finding techniques to allow for optimal diversity combining in an antenna array employing large number of elements. This approach is facilitated through the use of very small bit counts arithmetic and capitalizing on finite alphabet signal structure (Walsh symbols, for example in IS-95 CDMA) or a known training sequence. Alternate implementations can use floating point data representations. The method facilitates ASIC implementation, thereby enabling distributed processing to achieve the required computation practicality. The method utilizes the uplink channel data to determine the downlink spatial structure (array beams) to enhance downlink C/I and hence, increase downlink capacity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a base station of a wireless communications system including an adaptive antenna array and beam forming means for forming simultaneous multiple forward link beams. Preferably mobile stations are separated into groups of mobile stations corresponding to a maximum number of simultaneous forward link beams for determining which of said groups can be served by compatible simultaneous forward link beams. Preferably, if mobiles remain outside of a compatible group, the number of simultaneous forward link beams is increased and grouping of the mobile stations is repeated until all the mobile stations are included in compatible groups. Preferably simultaneous data beams are formed to mobiles of a said group during a time interval accorded to said group, such that every mobile station receives service data during a full cycle of said time intervals at a rate equal to or in excess of a target service data rate for that mobile.

Abstract: A base station clustered adaptive antenna array includes a plurality of clusters of antenna elements. Each cluster is spaced away from an adjacent cluster by a first predetermined spacing related to receive-mode beamforming and includes a plurality of transmit-receive antenna elements. Each element within the cluster is spaced away from an adjacent element by a second predetermined spacing related to transmit-mode beamforming. In order to reduce the visual impact of the antenna array, each cluster is included within a single exterior housing or radome. A medial receive-only antenna element may be provided between adjacent clusters to enhance beamforming for reverse link reception.

Abstract: This invention provides a CDMA (IS-95) cellular communication system, in which a base station transmits a common broadcast pilot signal through a sector wide beam and traffic signals through narrower adaptive spatial beams by way of an adaptive antenna array. The present invention further provides methods of recovering the phase mismatch between the pilot and traffic signals received at a mobile station, thereby providing for coherent demodulation. By implementing the phase-recovery process at individual mobile stations, the present invention enables the base station to transmit the traffic signals with optimal power gain and minimal interference.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing a beam forming phase reference line remote from an antenna system is taught. By providing a phase reference line at a selected position in the signal path the present invention allows for a beam forming matrix to be utilized in providing distributed amplification without requiring additional power sharing matrix arrangements. Moreover, disposing of the phase reference line at a selected point in the signal path according to the present invention allows for multi-mode communications wherein both switched beam and adaptive beam forming may be utilized.

Abstract: An antenna system adapted to provide antenna beams having various characteristics, such as various beam widths and/or different orientations, is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the antenna system is adapted to provide forward link signals in wide antenna beams while providing reverse link signals in narrow antenna beams. In the preferred embodiment multiple forward link wide beams are provided to allow uniform radiation of forward link signals throughout a desired area, such as a sector of a cell, while multiple non-overlapping narrow antenna beams are provided in the reverse link. In the preferred embodiment passive or parasitic antenna elements are utilized in the antenna array to provide symmetric current distribution in the antenna array to provide multiple beams having uniform characteristics.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for illuminating multiple columns of antennas to provide a desired wave front without introducing non-coherent combining. The preferred embodiment feed network provides elevation scanning for a multiple beam antenna system on a per antenna beam basis. In a preferred embodiment columns of antenna elements are divided into phase-centers having a relative phase shift introduced there between. Phase differentials are introduced into the antenna beam signals of each phase-center of antenna elements in order to provide a phase progression which steers the antenna beam a predetermined angle from the broadside. The phase differentials are independently provided for each antenna beam signal to thereby allow independent steering of each antenna beam.