Abstract: The present invention relates to a communications antenna structure. The communications antenna structure comprises first and second antennas each having an axis about which a mode of electrical field vector polarisation can be generated. In a first orientation, with an axis associated with the structure vertical, the first antenna operates in a horizontal mode of electrical field vector polarisation and the second antenna operates in a vertical mode of electrical field vector polarisation; and, in a second orientation, with said structure axis horizontal, the first antenna operates in a vertical mode of electrical field vector polarisation and the second antenna operates in a horizontal mode of electrical field vector polarisation.

Abstract: Liquid transfer apparatus (10) for transferring liquid from one container to another container including an elongate liquid storage chamber (12) having a liquid inlet (13), and a fluid outlet (16), a pump chamber (17) with a fluid inlet (18) and fluid outlet (19), a fluid flow passage connecting the fluid outlet of the storage chamber to the fluid inlet of the pump chamber, suction pump means (24) for sucking air from the storage chamber via the pump chamber fluid inlet, and valve means (26) for selectively opening and closing the liquid inlet (13) whereby liquid may, be allowed to flow into the storage chamber (12) upon suction being applied to the storage chamber (12) by the pump means (24) and opening of the liquid inlet (13). Also disclosed is a carry case for the liquid transfer apparatus and three different adaptors. Each adaptor can be connected to an aperture of a container for use with a liquid transfer apparatus.

Abstract: Sectorisation has been used in cellular communications networks in order to increase capacity without the need for obtaining new cell sites. However, previously, the increase in the number of main antenna beams provided by a base station transceiver has not produced a commensurate increase in capacity. For example, a hex sectored tricellular network is found to provide an increase in capacity by a factor of only 1.6 over a tri sectored tricellular network despite the fact that twice as many antenna beams are provided. A multiple beam antenna arrangement is described where the increase in capacity is commensurate with the increase in the number of antenna beams provided. In one example, a nine sectored tricellular CMDA network is described which comprises a multiple beam antenna arrangement with six antenna elements each provided as columns. The antenna beams may be orthogonal and a 6×6 Butler matrix beamformer is used which is advantageously loss less.

Abstract: Liquid transfer apparatus transfers liquid between containers, and includes a liquid storage chamber having an inlet and an outlet; a pump chamber having an inlet and an outlet; a passage connecting the storage chamber outlet to the pump chamber inlet; a suction pump mechanism for sucking air from the storage chamber via the pump chamber inlet; and a valve for selectively opening and closing the inlet of the liquid storage chamber, allowing liquid to flow into the storage chamber upon suction being applied to the storage chamber by a pump and opening of the inlet. A carry case stores the liquid transfer apparatus and three different adaptors, which can be connected to an aperture of a container for use with a liquid transfer apparatus. One adaptor has a radially adjustable thread engaging components to enable the adaptor to be connected to different sized apertures.

Abstract: The invention relates particularly to fixed wireless access networks and provides a cellular communication network which serves directional subscribers while reducing co-frequency interference substantially uniformly across the network. The network comprises a plurality of base stations arranged to form sectored cells using a plurality of carrier frequencies, where sectors carrying common frequencies are directionally mis-aligned and arranged such that the polarization of said frequencies are varied with respect to each other across the network in order to reduce co-frequency interference.

Abstract: A dual band antenna is described which comprises a single band antenna surrounded by single band antenna elements. For example, the single band antenna may be a horn operating at a first frequency band and the single band antenna elements may be a flat plate array. In this case, the flat plate array contains an aperture through which the horn extends. The single band antenna and single band antenna elements are positioned such that a transmit and a receive antenna beam are created which have approximately equal phase centres and beamwidths. The single band antenna may also be an array of antenna elements, such as a flat plate array. Alternatively the single band antenna may be formed from dipole elements. As well as this the single band antenna elements may be dipole elements, flat-plate elements or any other suitable type of elements. The dual band antennas described may be used as feeds for reflector antennas or as antennas in their own right.

Abstract: A flat-plate dual band array antenna is described which comprises two flat plate arrays of single band antenna elements, each of which operates in a different frequency band. The two flat plate arrays are positioned one above the other, with areas in the upper flat plate array being removed in order that the antenna elements in the lower flat plate array can radiate through the upper flat plate array. The geometric arrangement of the antenna elements is such that distribution networks for the antenna elements can be accommodated in the limited space available. Dual band flat-plate array feeds for a reflector antenna are also described. These use at least two flat-plate arrays that are positioned one above the other. Again regions in the upper flat-plate array are removed to allow the lower flat-plate to operate through the upper one.

Abstract: A flat-plate dual band array antenna is described which comprises two flat plate arrays of single band antenna elements, each of which operates in a different frequency band. The two flat plate arrays are positioned one above the other, with areas in the upper flat plate array being removed in order that the antenna elements in the lower flat plate array can radiate through the upper flat plate array. The geometric arrangement of the antenna elements is such that distribution networks for the antenna elements can be accommodated in the limited space available. Dual band flat-plate array feeds for a reflector antenna are also described. These use at least two flat-plate arrays that are positioned one above the other. Again regions in the upper flat-plate array are removed to allow the lower flat-plate to operate through the upper one.

Abstract: A dual band antenna is described which comprises a single band antenna surrounded by single band antenna elements. For example, the single band antenna may be a horn operating at a first frequency band and the single band antenna elements may be a flat plate array. In this case, the flat plate array contains an aperture through which the horn extends. The single band antenna and single band antenna elements are positioned such that a transmit and a receive antenna beam are created which have approximately equal phase centers and beamwidths. The single band antenna may also be an array of antenna elements, such as a flat plate array. Alternatively the single band antenna may be formed from dipole elements. As well as this the single band antenna elements may be dipole elements, flat-plate elements or any other suitable type of elements. The dual band antennas described may be used as feeds for reflector antennas or as antennas in their own right.

Abstract: This invention relates to internal antenna arrangements for radio communications handsets. Internal antenna size and shape represents a constraint on handset miniaturisation if good antenna efficiency and bandwidth characteristics are to be maintained. The use of acoustic enhancing volumes of free space about a handset's speaker unit also constrains further miniaturisation. The present invention provides an internal antenna arrangement which facilities further miniaturisation and which combines antenna volume with the acoustic enhancing volume.

Abstract: A fuel-gauging system has an ultrasonic probe mounted in a tank, the probe being connected to a processor unit via an electrical signal path comprising two lengths of electrical wires and a piezoelectric transformer connected in series between the two lengths of wires. The transformer has two piezoelectric elements mounted on opposite sides of the wall of the tank so there is no direct electrical passage into the tank. The piezoelectric elements are matched to the resonant frequency of the probe so that signals of different frequencies are heavily attentuated.

Abstract: An expandable sleeping bag comprising a modified draft tube design incorporating a draft tube expansion segment and expansion zipper which are used to expand the circumferential measurement of the sleeping bag's inner lining and outer shell.

Abstract: A base transceiver station operating a sectorized cell of a cellular radio system operates a plurality of narrow uplink main receive beams, and one or a plurality of uplink diversity received beams. A scanning means scans each of the uplink main receive beams to locate a communications channel on the main uplink beams. A diversity receiver receives a diverse beam signal from the diverse beam(s), which is compared with a beam signal received from a main uplink beam, and the main beam signal from the main beam, or a diverse beam signal from the diversity antenna is selected, depending on the comparative signal to noise ratio and signal strength of the main beam signal and diversity beam signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antenna arrangements for radio communications devices including cordless phone handsets and base stations. The handset includes an antenna arrangement incorporating one or more batteries as part of a monopole structure. The base station includes an antenna arrangement incorporating a low voltage power supply cable. Both handset and base station may also optionally further incorporate an antenna structure located in the split line between their respective casing components.

Abstract: An antenna beam forming for generating a plurality of broad overlapping radiation beams for a cellular radio application comprises an antenna array having a plurality of individual antenna elements, each individual antenna element connected by a cable to a respective diplexor, each diplexor fed by a multi-channel power amplifier receiving an input from an output port of an eight way Butler matrix. Transmission signals are input to seven input ports of the Butler matrix, and output transmission signals are produced at four of the output ports of the Butler matrix. A remaining four output ports are each terminated with a respective matched load. A 3 dB power loss incurred in the Butler matrix is compensated by provision of a plurality of pre-amplifiers prior to the input ports of the Butler matrix, with the power amplification stage being carried out on the outputs of the Butler matrix. Side lobe suppression is maintained by ensuring phase and amplitude integrity across the output channels.

Abstract: A beam forming apparatus and method for forming a plurality of directional beams within a sector, as well as a full sector coverage beam is disclosed, wherein uplink reception diversity is maintained, through provision of a either a single facet antenna or a pair of single facet antennas. Two implementations are disclosed: a first implementation employs orthogonal polarization diversity from a single antenna facet, whereas a second implementation employs space diversity from a pair of spaced apart antenna facets. A first implementation employing polarization diversity comprises an antenna having an array of dipole pairs, dipoles of each pair being positioned orthogonally from each other. The dipole pairs are driven on a downlink, to form a plurality of directional beams having first polarization, and a full sector coverage beam having second polarization.

Abstract: Plural antennas are located sufficiently closely to associated radiation reflective surfaces for consequential reduction of elevation beam-width and increase gain in azimuth. Two pairs of antennas associated with differently directed said radiation reflective surfaces afford diversity action. The antennas can be dipoles and the reflective surfaces can be faces of a housing box for related electronics.

Abstract: A wireless subscriber terminal having an improved performance is disclosed. The terminal 12 comprises: a quarter wavelength monopole first antenna 14; a folded monopole second antenna; and a ground plane having a surface 18 angled with respect to the horizontal, wherein the ground plane has an axis a quarter of a wavelength long extending from a feed point for the first antenna and is electrically symmetrical about the axis. Mutual coupling effects between the first antenna and the second antenna are reduced. A method of operation is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antennas. One of the problems which arises during the operation of a linear array antenna with electrical downtilt is that cross-polar radiation currents are generated. These cross-polar radiation currents, if at the same frequency as the operating band of the antenna, interfere with the required gain of the antenna. The present invention provides a solution to cross-polar radiation currents with an antenna assembly comprising first and second apertured ground planes with an antenna probe feed network printed upon a dielectric substrate supported therebetween, the array of radiating elements having different phase input feeds, wherein an outwardly extending ground plane flange extends from one of the apertured ground planes. There is also provided a method of receiving and transmitting signals by means of a layered antenna of this construction.

Abstract: A hand held motor driven applicator (10) for applying liquids including weedicides selectively to undesired plants. The applicator includes a motor (12), and a rotor assembly (22) including a rotatable wick support (41) having one or more applicator wicks (45) attached thereto. The rotator assembly is supported for rotation, in use, about a vertical axis (43) by support structure (18). A drive assembly (23) is operatively connected to the motor and rotor assembly for transferring rotary drive from the motor to the rotor assembly. A storage assembly (26) is in liquid communication with the applicator wicks for storing a quantity of liquid for supplying the wicks with liquid while the rotor assembly is rotating. An elongate handle (15) is operatively connected to the support structure so that a user can maintain the rotor assembly proximal to the surface of the ground so that the applicator wicks may apply liquid to selective plants upon contact.