Abstract: Various embodiments of a patch antenna, element thereof and method of feeding therefor are described. In general, the patch antenna is configured to generate orthogonal beams and comprises an array of patch elements each contributing to the orthogonal beams and comprising one or more resonators, a base reflector, and a dual feed mechanism. The dual feed mechanism generally comprises two pairs of feeding elements, each one of which comprising substantially balanced feeds configured to drive a respective one of the orthogonal beams via substantially anti-phase capacitive coupling.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing capacity and performance of a base station for a sectorized cellular wireless network is disclosed in which one of the sector antennas is replaced or supplanted by a novel sub-sector antenna that generates a plurality of asymmetrical sub-sector coverage areas that collectively substantially cover the coverage area of the replaced sector antenna. The use of asymmetrical coverage areas permits the total coverage area to closely approximate the symmetrical sector coverage area without creating excessively large sub-sector handover zones or introducing severe degradation in the network performance. This in turn permits the selective replacement of a single sector antenna rather than the wholesale replacement of all sector antennas in a region, leading to lower transitional costs and the ability to provide a focused approach to capacity planning.

Abstract: A patch radiator for use in beamformed or steerable antenna systems which maximizes upper frequency limit and simultaneously minimizes the lower frequency limit, by providing an annular patch configuration in which a central region of the patch element is devoid of material, whereby this central region is of a different shape from the shape of the exterior perimeter of the patch element. One possible configuration of such a patch radiator comprises a square exterior shape, enclosing a central circular region of removed material. In this manner, the upper frequency limit threshold tends to rise as the interior annular perimeter is reduced. Preferably, the exterior and interior perimeters have no interior angles of more than 180°.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a patch antenna, element thereof and method of feeding therefor are described. In general, the patch antenna is configured to generate orthogonal beams and comprises an array of patch elements each contributing to the orthogonal beams and comprising one or more resonators, a base reflector, and a dual feed mechanism. The dual feed mechanism generally comprises two pairs of feeding elements, each one of which comprising substantially balanced feeds configured to drive a respective one of the orthogonal beams via substantially anti-phase capacitive coupling.

Abstract: A novel system for performing adaptive beamforming in a slow frequency hopping environment is disclosed. The presence of slow frequency hopping means that conventional mechanisms of using beamforming weights from previous time slots are inapplicable. The inventive system calculates a series of beamforming weights from an estimate of the spatial location of the mobile subscriber in the previous frame, which is impervious to slow frequency hopping and the data that precedes the training sequence data of the current frame. The beamforming weights and the spatial location of the mobile are updated with the arrival of the entirety of the current frame. The initial beamforming weight estimate is sufficient to permit processing on a real-time basis of the current frame even if the inventive system is implemented as an appliqué system interposed between the antenna array and a conventional base station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing capacity and performance of a base station for a sectorized cellular wireless network is disclosed in which one of the sector antennas is replaced or supplanted by a novel sub-sector antenna that generates a plurality of asymmetrical sub-sector coverage areas that collectively substantially cover the coverage area of the replaced sector antenna. The use of asymmetrical coverage areas permits the total coverage area to closely approximate the symmetrical sector coverage area without creating excessively large sub-sector handover zones or introducing severe degradation in the network performance. This in turn permits the selective replacement of a single sector antenna rather than the wholesale replacement of all sector antennas in a region, leading to lower transitional costs and the ability to provide a focused approach to capacity planning.

Abstract: A patch radiator for use in beamformed or steerable antenna systems which maximizes upper frequency limit and simultaneously minimizes the lower frequency limit, by providing an annular patch configuration in which a central region of the patch element is devoid of material, whereby this central region is of a different shape from the shape of the exterior perimeter of the patch element. One possible configuration of such a patch radiator comprises a square exterior shape, enclosing a central circular region of removed material. In this manner, the upper frequency limit threshold tends to rise as the interior annular perimeter is reduced. Preferably, the exterior and interior perimeters have no interior angles of more than 180°.

Abstract: A method and system for generating beamforming weights for a plurality of antenna elements is disclosed. The invention consists of generating broadened nulls in a direction of arrival corresponding to one or more co-channel interference signals. The broadened nulls permit deviations in the measurement of the direction of arrival or variations therein. The increased information content inherent in generating the broadened nulls is accommodated by postulating the existence of a virtual augmented antenna array comprising the antenna elements of the physical array and a plurality of additional virtual elements. The beamforming weights for the elements of the augmented array are truncated down prior to translation to the size of the physical array and are applied to create the desired broadened nulls and thereby improve system performance.

Abstract: A novel implementation of a planar 4×4 RF Butler matrix layout is disclosed that permits, by moving the beam ports to the interior of the layout, for combining beam ports that are not disposed on the same side of the layout without the imposition of long delay times or crossover points. The implementation admits of using microstrip and/or stripline technologies.

Abstract: A system for highly accurate radio location of a passive radio beacon coincident with an object to be tracked is disclosed. The beacon directs radio signals to an antenna array located proximate to the warehouse aisles and is positioned such that it receives signals that reflect off the aisle walls grazing angles that are generally less than a maximum, and as such act effectively as mirrors. Ray-tracing techniques may be applied to calculate the response at the antenna array. The multiplicity of reflections may be considered virtual radiating elements setting up a MIMO environment of a plurality of orthogonal modes. Because the location of the beacon is calculated, noise effects can be substantially omitted with an increase in precision of the estimate.