Abstract: A system and method for a wireless link to a remote receiver includes a communication device for generating RF and a planar antenna apparatus for transmitting the RF. The planar antenna apparatus includes selectable antenna elements, each of which has gain and a directional radiation pattern. The directional radiation pattern is substantially in the plane of the antenna apparatus. Switching different antenna elements results in a configurable radiation pattern. Alternatively, selecting all or substantially all elements results in an omnidirectional radiation pattern. One or more directors and/or one or more reflectors may be included to constrict the directional radiation pattern. The antenna apparatus may be conformally mounted to a housing containing the communication device and the antenna apparatus.

Abstract: A PIN diode network includes a parallel inductor. In the off state of the PIN diode, the inductor forms a resonant tank circuit in parallel with the PIN diode. The inductor is selected based on the stray capacitance of the PIN diode so that the self resonant frequency (SRF) of the tank circuit is at or near the desired operating frequency. At the operating frequency, the impedance of the tank circuit is essentially infinite. At the operating frequency, isolation is improved for the PIN diode network as compared to a PIN diode alone. The PIN diode network allows a lower specification PIN diode to operate with higher isolation. The PIN diode network allows a lower specification PIN diode to operate at a higher frequency than would otherwise be possible due to intrinsic stray capacitance of the PIN diode.

Abstract: An antenna array may include an antenna element configured to receive an RF signal. A PIN diode may selectively couple the antenna element to an RF source. Biasing the PIN diode may cancel the received RF signal at a stub coupled to the diode thereby reducing stray capacitance of the PIN diode. A method for switching antenna elements is also disclosed. A PIN diode coupled to an antenna element is biased thereby reflecting the received RF signal out-of-phase within a stub such that the signal is cancelling and stray capacitance of the PIN diode is reduced.

Abstract: A circuit board for wireless communications includes communication circuitry for modulating and/or demodulating a radio frequency (RF) signal and an antenna apparatus for transmitting and receiving the RF signal, the antenna apparatus having selectable antenna elements located near one or more peripheries of the circuit board. A first antenna element produces a first directional radiation pattern; a second antenna element produces a second directional radiation pattern offset from the first radiation pattern. The antenna elements may include one or more reflectors configured to provide gain and broaden the frequency response of the antenna element. A switching network couples one or more of the selectable elements to the communication circuitry and provides impedance matching regardless of which or how many of the antenna elements are selected.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing transmission parameter control at a transmitting station is described. The exemplary system and method comprises querying a transmission parameter control module for a transmission schedule. The transmission schedule comprises at least one schedule entry defining a set of transmission parameter controls as they pertain to a destination address. At least one packet of data is then transmitted to the destination address according to the transmission parameters controls of at least one schedule entry from the transmission schedule. A system and method for selecting an antenna configuration corresponding to a next transmission of packet data is also disclosed.

Abstract: A circuit board for wireless communications includes communication circuitry for modulating and/or demodulating a radio frequency (RF) signal and an antenna apparatus for transmitting and receiving the RF signal, the antenna apparatus having selectable antenna elements located near one or more peripheries of the circuit board. A first antenna element produces a first directional radiation pattern; a second antenna element produces a second directional radiation pattern offset from the first radiation pattern. The antenna elements may include one or more reflectors configured to provide gain and broaden the frequency response of the antenna element. A switching network couples one or more of the selectable elements to the communication circuitry and provides impedance matching regardless of which or how many of the antenna elements are selected.

Abstract: The invention includes a MIMO channel emulator that includes a channel emulator matrix. The channel emulator matrix receives N inputs and generating M outputs. The channel emulator matrix includes a plurality of splitters. Each splitter receives at least one of the N inputs, and each splitter generates a plurality of signal paths. The channel emulator matrix further includes at least one phase shifter. Each phase shifter adjustably shifts a phase of at least one signal path. The channel emulator matrix further includes a plurality of combiners. Each combiner receives more than one of the plurality of signal paths. At least one of the combiners receives a phase adjusted signal path, and each combiner generates at least one of the M outputs. The invention can also include a plurality of fading emulators. Each fading emulator receives at least one emulator input. The plurality of emulators generate the N splitter inputs. The fading emulators can include fading delay lines.

Abstract: A system and method for a wireless link to a remote receiver includes a multiband communication device for generating RF and a multiband planar antenna apparatus for transmitting the RF. The multiband planar antenna apparatus includes selectable antenna elements, each of which has gain and a directional radiation pattern. Switching different antenna elements results in a configurable radiation pattern. One or more directors and/or one or more reflectors may be included to constrict the directional radiation pattern. A multiband coupling network selectively couples the multiband communication device and the multiband planar antenna apparatus.

Abstract: A circuit board for wireless communications includes communication circuitry for modulating and/or demodulating a radio frequency (RF) signal and an antenna apparatus for transmitting and receiving the RF signal, the antenna apparatus having selectable antenna elements located near one or more peripheries of the circuit board and selectable phase shifting. A switching network couples one or more of the selectable elements to the communication circuitry and provides impedance matching regardless of which or how many of the antenna elements are selected, and includes a selectable phase shifter to allow the phase of the antenna elements to be shifted by 180 degrees. The phase shifter includes a first RF switch and two ¼-wavelength delay lines of PCB traces or delay elements and a second RF switch. The phase shifter selectively provides a straight-through path, a 180 degree phase shift, a high impedance state, or a notch filter.

Abstract: A circuit board for wireless communications includes communication circuitry for modulating and/or demodulating a radio frequency (RF) signal and an antenna apparatus for transmitting and receiving the RF signal, the antenna apparatus having selectable antenna elements located near one or more peripheries of the circuit board. A first antenna element produces a first directional radiation pattern; a second antenna element produces a second directional radiation pattern offset from the first radiation pattern. The antenna elements may include one or more reflectors configured to provide gain and broaden the frequency response of the antenna element. A switching network couples one or more of the selectable elements to the communication circuitry and provides impedance matching regardless of which or how many of the antenna elements are selected.

Abstract: A system and method for a wireless link to a remote receiver includes a communication device for generating RF and an antenna apparatus for transmitting the RF. The antenna apparatus comprises a plurality of substantially coplanar modified dipoles. Each modified dipole provides gain with respect to isotropic and a horizontally polarized directional radiation pattern. Further, each modified dipole has one or more loading structures configured to decrease the footprint (i.e., the physical dimension) of the modified dipole and minimize the size of the antenna apparatus. The modified dipoles may be electrically switched to result in various radiation patterns. With multiple of the plurality of modified dipoles active, the antenna apparatus may form an omnidirectional horizontally polarized radiation pattern. One or more directors may be included to concentrate the radiation pattern. The antenna apparatus may be conformally mounted to a housing containing the communication device and the antenna apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method for a wireless link to a remote receiver includes a communication device for generating RF and a planar antenna apparatus for transmitting the RF. The planar antenna apparatus includes selectable antenna elements, each of which has gain and a directional radiation pattern. The directional radiation pattern is substantially in the plane of the antenna apparatus. Switching different antenna elements results in a configurable radiation pattern. Alternatively, selecting all or substantially all elements results in an omnidirectional radiation pattern. One or more directors and/or one or more reflectors may be included to constrict the directional radiation pattern. The antenna apparatus may be conformally mounted to a housing containing the communication device and the antenna apparatus.

Abstract: A wireless system includes a circuit that couples one or more of a plurality of antenna elements to one or more of a plurality of radios. The plurality of antenna elements may comprise a plurality of modified dipoles or omnidirectional antennas coupled to one or more radios by a plurality of PIN diodes. The antenna elements may be configured by a controller of the wireless system to generate a pattern agile radiation pattern or a substantially omnidirectional radiation pattern. The plurality of antenna elements may be contained within a housing of the wireless system or may be conformal to the housing.

Abstract: The present invention includes a wireless communication system. The wireless communication system includes a plurality of transceiver antennae. Each transceiver is spatially separate from at least one other transceiver antenna. Each transceiver antenna includes a transceiver antenna polarization. At least one transceiver antenna has a polarization that is different than at least one other transceiver antenna. Each transceiver antenna transmits a corresponding data stream. The wireless communication system further includes a plurality of receiver antennae. The receiver antennae receive at least one data stream. The transceiver antenna polarization of each transceiver antenna is pre-set to optimize separability of the received data streams. A transmission channel between the transceiver antennae and the receiver antennae can be estimated with a channel matrix. The pre-set transceiver antenna polarization of each transceiver antenna can be determined by minimizing a singular value spread of the channel matrix.

Abstract: The invention includes a MIMO channel emulator that includes a channel emulator matrix. The channel emulator matrix receives N inputs and generating M outputs. The channel emulator matrix includes a plurality of splitters. Each splitter receives at least one of the N inputs, and each splitter generates a plurality of signal paths. The channel emulator matrix further includes at least one phase shifter. Each phase shifter adjustably shifts a phase of at least one signal path. The channel emulator matrix further includes a plurality of combiners. Each combiner receives more than one of the plurality of signal paths. At least one of the combiners receives a phase adjusted signal path, and each combiner generates at least one of the M outputs. The invention can also include a plurality of fading emulators. Each fading emulator receives at least one emulator input. The plurality of emulators generate the N splitter inputs. The fading emulators can include fading delay lines.