Abstract: A single chip diversity beamforming antenna array processor is disclosed. The processor utilizes low-power and low area circuits to achieve combining game mitigate the effects of multipath fading provide spatial suppression and provide diversity gain to a single input receiver. The device is radiofrequency transparent yet provides antenna gain by selective three G and four G code acquisition and tracking of a desired downlink channel.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and system for weight generation in an adaptive array with spread spectrum signals. Signals received by each antenna are amplified, weighted and summed. Complex weighting is achieved by splitting the signal into inphase and quadrature components, and adjusting the gain of each of these components before combining these weighted components. The output signal after combining of the weighted signals from each antenna is downconverted to baseband, creating inphase and quadrature baseband components. The baseband components are multiplied by the spread spectrum sequence to despread the output signal and reduce the bandwidth of the desired spread spectrum signal to the original desired signal bandwidth. The signals received by each antenna are also downconverted to baseband inphase and quadrature components.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for operating a wireless communication system in which received signals from a plurality of antennas are weighted and combined with a beam forming operation to form an output signal. In an embodiment of the present invention, beamforming operations are performed with maximal ratio combining (MRC) and an interference nulling algorithm (INA). The INA receives an error signal which is 180° out of phase with a combination of the channels for individual antennas, referred to as the SUM channel. The error signal is determined by complex conjugate multiplication of the individual signals and a reference complex signal. The weight amplitude is controlled by weight normalization to provide faster convergence and prevent integrator overflow.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle mountable satellite antenna as defined in the claims which is operable while the vehicle is in motion. The satellite antenna of the present invention can be installed on top of (or embedded into) the roof of a vehicle. The antenna is capable of providing high gain and a narrow antenna beam for aiming at a satellite direction and enabling broadband communication to vehicle. The present invention provides a vehicle mounted satellite antenna which has low axial ratio, high efficiency and has low grating lobes gain. The vehicle mounted satellite antenna of the present invention provides two simultaneous polarization states. In one embodiment, a hybrid mechanic and electronic steering approach provides a more reasonable cost and performance trade-off. The antenna aiming in the elevation direction is achieved via control of an electronic beamforming network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for fast satellite antenna acquisition via signal identification. The method and apparatus operate by positioning a satellite antenna using signal identification in order to reduce false satellite signal locks and missed detections and speed the acquisition of the correct satellite.

Abstract: A smart external antenna module is proposed for wireless systems. The module allows the advantages of smart antennas to be easily added to existing wireless systems without any modification to the transceiver. Specifically, the smart antenna module weights and combines the signals received by multiple antennas to improve the received signal quality, and then when it detects that there is a signal to be transmitted by the transceiver, it turns off the receiver, turns on the transmitter and uses the receive weights to transmit the signal out of the multiple antennas to improve signal reception at the desired user. Such a module can be added to the external antenna port of an existing transceiver with no change to that transceiver.

Abstract: A method for weight training for beamforming in handset terminals deployed in a system employing Frequency Division Duplexing and Time-Division Multiple Access (FDD/TDMA). Generally there is signal in time slots that are not destined for a certain terminal. During this time the receiver scans a beam around the terminal and measures received signal strength, determining the best beam angle and storing corresponding weights for transmission.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle mountable satellite antenna as defined in the claims which is operable while the vehicle is in motion. The satellite antenna of the present invention can be installed on top of (or embedded into) the roof of a vehicle. The antenna is capable of providing high gain and a narrow antenna beam for aiming at a satellite direction and enabling broadband communication to vehicle. The present invention provides a vehicle mounted satellite antenna which has low axial ratio, high efficiency and has low grating lobes gain. The vehicle mounted satellite antenna of the present invention provides two simultaneous polarization states.

Abstract: The present invention relates to use of a smart antenna for a RF reader on a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system to significantly increase the operating range of the RFID system. The smart antenna can be an adaptive antenna array. The smart antenna comprises a plurality of antenna elements and, by combining the signals from multiple antenna elements, significantly increases the received signal-to-noise ratio. In a noise limited environment, combining the signals to maximize the received signal-to-noise ratio can be based on the maximal ratio combining (MRC) principle. To achieve the best signal quality, the received signal from each antenna can be phase-shifted such that the resultant signals from all antennas are in phase. In addition, the signal from each antenna can be scaled in amplitude based on the square root of its received signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle mountable satellite antenna as defined in the claims which is operable while the vehicle is in motion. The satellite antenna of the present invention can be installed on top of (or embedded into) the roof of a vehicle. The antenna is capable of providing high gain and a narrow antenna beam for aiming at a satellite direction and enabling broadband communication to vehicle. The present invention provides a vehicle mounted satellite antenna which has low axial ratio, high efficiency and has low grating lobes gain. The vehicle mounted satellite antenna of the present invention provides two simultaneous polarization states. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a ridged waveguide instead of a conventional rectangular waveguide to alleviate the effects of grating lobes. The ridge waveguide provides a ridged section longitudinally between walls forming the waveguide. A plurality of radiating elements are formed in a radiating surface of the ridged waveguide.

Abstract: A low profile, vehicle mounted, in-motion tracking, satellite antenna includes a pair of antenna assemblies mounted in parallel on a rotatable platform. Each antenna assembly includes two subreflectors with a plastic matching element. The outputs of the two antenna assemblies are coupled with a single phase shifter. The combined outputs are retransmitted to a receiver inside the vehicle. The satellite antenna also includes a receiver for receiving channel selection data and/or for providing two-way communication with equipment inside the vehicle. The antennae, transmitter and receiver are self-powered by a storage device which is charged by a wind driven generator. A retractable radome lowers to a lower profile when the antenna is not in use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle mountable satellite antenna as defined in the claims which is operable while the vehicle is in motion. The satellite antenna of the present invention can be installed on top of (or embedded into) the roof of a vehicle. The antenna is capable of providing high gain and a narrow antenna beam for aiming at a satellite direction and enabling broadband communication to vehicle. The present invention provides a vehicle mounted satellite antenna which has low axial ratio, high efficiency and has low grating lobes gain. The vehicle mounted satellite antenna of the present invention provides two simultaneous polarization states. In one embodiment, an inverted L-shaped waveguide has a first wall extending vertically downward from a top surface. The top surface can include a ridge portion. The top surface includes a plurality of radiating elements for forming a radiating surface.