Including A Steerable Array Patents (Class 342/368)
  • Publication number: 20130021203
    Abstract: According one embodiment, a millimeter-wave radiation imaging array includes a plurality of antenna elements configured to receive millimeter-wave radiative input. Each lenslet of a plurality of lenslets are coupled to one of the plurality of antenna elements such that no air exists between each lenslet and the one of the plurality of antenna elements. Each lenslet has a spherical portion being operable to direct the radiative input towards the one of the plurality of antenna elements. An energy detector is coupled to the plurality of antenna elements opposite the plurality of lenslets and operable to measure the radiative input received by the plurality of antenna elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Gritz, Robert F. Burkholder, Stephen H. Black, Borys Pawel Kolasa
  • Publication number: 20130017836
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus for beamforming includes a detector for measuring at least one change of movement and rotation of an apparatus; and a calculator for determining a beamforming parameter for aligning a beam direction with another apparatus by compensating for the change of the beam direction according to at least one of the movement and the rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young-Bin Chang, Rakesh Taori
  • Patent number: 8354973
    Abstract: A phased array antenna is disclosed where the transmit/receive modules are replaced by a series of separately packaged components. The components include, for example, a vector control component, a high power amplifier component, a low noise amplifier component, a transmit/receive duplexing component and ancillary supporting components. An advantage of this arrangement is that cheaper antenna arrays can be constructed without limiting the capability and/or performance of a system incorporating such an array when compared to known solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Selex Galileo Ltd
    Inventors: Anthony Kinghorn, Ronald Lyon, Angus David McLachlan, Graeme Dick Morrison
  • Publication number: 20130009820
    Abstract: An antenna apparatus for determining the position of a radio-frequency transponder is provided, comprising a phased array of antennas enabled to transmit and receive power at a given frequency for communicating with a radio frequency (RF) transponder, the phased array being movable; and a phase shifter for providing a phase shift to at least one antenna of the phased array to provide a minima in a main radiated lobe of the phased array, such that when the phased array is moved from a first position, for detecting the RF transponder via the main radiated lobe, to a second position, where a signal from the RF transponder is minimized, a position of the RF transponder determined to be along an axis of the minima in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: PSION INC.
    Inventors: Pierre Bonnefoy, Benjamin Limongi
  • Publication number: 20130002488
    Abstract: A beam forming device and method as well as to a beam steering device and method are described. The imaging beam forming device comprises a wideband transmit unit comprising at least one transmit antenna, a receiver unit comprising at least two receive antennas and at least one receive element that receive radiation from said scene and that generate receive signals from said received radiation, and a beam forming unit that performs beam forming to form a receive beam and obtain beam formed output signals from said receive signals by use of beam forming weights. For different samples or groups of subsequent samples of a receive signal, a sample representing said receive signal at a different frequency, a frequency-dependent weight is used for beam forming, which frequency-dependent weights are adapted to result in a predetermined shape of said receive beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Qi WANG, Richard Stirling-Gallacher, Ralf Boehnke
  • Patent number: 8340619
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a local oscillator (LO) is configured to generate an LO signal. A transmission line receives the LO signal from the local oscillator and transmits the LO signal. A first set of taps and a second set of taps tap the transmission line to receive the LO signal. A plurality of transceiver blocks are configured to receive and transmit a plurality of phase-shifted radio frequency signals. Each transceiver block is coupled to a first tap and a second tap. Each LO signal received for a transceiver block is received with a different phase. However, the same reference phase may be calculated from a first LO signal received from the first tap and a second LO signal received from a second tap. Each transceiver block receives the reference LO signal having the reference phase determined from the first LO signal and the second LO signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Alireza Shirvani-Mahdavi, Saeed Chehrazi
  • Patent number: 8340612
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an active antenna array for a mobile communication system which comprises a plurality of receive paths, a control unit for generating a sounding signal, and a coupler for coupling the sounding signal into at least one of a plurality of receive paths. A switch is used to switch the output of one the plurality of receive paths between one of a receiver and a calibration unit. The disclosure also provides a method for the calibration of the active antenna array which comprises generating an initial sounding signal, coupling the initial sounding signal into at least one of a plurality of receive paths to generate an adjusted sounding signal, comparing the adjusted sounding signal with an initial sounding signal and then generating calibration parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ubidyne, Inc.
    Inventor: Johannes Schlee
  • Publication number: 20120319900
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an antenna comprising multiple array elements with a first and second feeding point, each associated with orthogonal polarizations, each array element has a first and second phase centre each associated with the orthogonal polarizations, the first and second phase centres of said array elements are arranged in at least two columns, and one antenna port connected to the first and second feeding points of at least two array elements with first phase centre and second phase centre arranged in the at least two columns via a respective feeding network. The feeding network comprises a beam forming network having a primary connection, connected to the antenna port, and at least four secondary connections. The beam forming network divides power between the first feeding point and the second feeding point and controls phase shift differences between the respective feeding points with phase centre arranged in different columns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson(publ)
    Inventors: Stefan Johansson, Martin Johansson, Sven Oscar Petersson
  • Patent number: 8335170
    Abstract: Embodiments provide techniques for the transmission of broadcasts. For instance, an apparatus may include a sequence selection module, and multiple radiating elements. The sequence selection module selects sequences of directional transmission patterns, where each selected sequence corresponds to a time period. The multiple radiating elements wirelessly transmit a broadcast at the time periods in accordance with the selected sequences. The broadcast may include, for example, beacons, and/or a data broadcast, and/or a control broadcast and/or a management broadcast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Carlos Cordeiro
  • Patent number: 8331297
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe a method for antenna selection (AS) in a wireless communication network, the network comprising user equipment (UE), wherein the UE comprises a plurality of subsets of antennas including a first subset of antennas and a second subset of antennas, and wherein the UE is configured to transmit a sounding reference signal (SRS) from a subset of antennas at a time. The method transmits a first SRS from the first subset of antennas, transmits a second SRS from the second subset of antennas, receives, in response to the transmitting the first SRS and the second SRS, information identifying an optimal subset of antennas from the first subset of antennas and the second subset of antennas, and transmits user data from the optimal subset of antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Koon Hoo Teo, Neelesh B. Mehta, Jinyun Zhang
  • Patent number: 8331943
    Abstract: Measurement opportunities are provided to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) operating with a switched beam antenna in a CDMA wireless communication system. The switched beam antenna is a smart antenna generating a plurality of directional beams and an omni-directional beam. The bursty nature of packet data transmission generates periods of inactivity or low traffic during a call. The WTRU switches to antenna beams other than the selected antenna beam for receiving and measuring signals during these periods of inactivity or low traffic. Moreover, if the network has knowledge of the fact the WTRU is operating using a switched beam antenna, the network can use this information when making decisions on channel allocations, thus providing frequent measurement opportunities to the WTRU in order to support the switched beam antenna operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Ana Lucia Iacono
  • Publication number: 20120306697
    Abstract: The precision of phase correction is improved. Provided are a detection unit (40) that detects a phase of arrival of a pilot signal at each of antenna panel on the basis of the pilot signal and a reference signal commonly transmitted to each antenna panel; a position specifying unit (51) that specifies a position of each of the antenna panels relative to a reference panel defined as an antenna panel for reference among the plurality of the antenna panels, on the basis of the phase of arrival and an angle of arrival formed between the direction of arrival of the pilot signal and the antenna panel; and a phase-shift setting unit (52) that sets respective phase shifts for the signals radiated from individual antenna elements on the basis of information about the positions of the antenna panels specified by the position specifying unit (51).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Tomohisa Kimura, Kenichi Amma, Nobuhiko Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20120299773
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a beam forming device, comprising a transmit unit comprising at least two transmit elements that transmit radiation towards a scene, a receiver unit comprising at least two receive elements that receive radiation from said scene and that generate receive signals from said received radiation, and a beam forming unit that performs beam forming to obtain beam formed output signals from said receive signals by use of beam forming weights, wherein said beam forming weights are adapted to a distance between the scene and one or more transmit elements and/or receive elements, said distance being indicated by a distance indicator, and wherein said beam forming weights are changed if said distance changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Coropration
    Inventors: Richard STIRLING-GALLACHER, Qi Wang, Ralf Boehnke
  • Patent number: 8320903
    Abstract: A method of calibrating multiple types of base stations is provided. The method includes selecting one of a plurality of technology types for the wireless base station. The wireless base station has an adaptive antenna array. A calibration is performed for the wireless base station based on the selected technology type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yinong Ding, Cornelius van Rensburg, Akshaya A. Trivedi
  • Patent number: 8314742
    Abstract: An antenna device has a divider producing first and second signals, and amplifiers amplifying the signals at a changeable amplitude ratio of the first signal to the second signal. A Rotman lens gives first phase differences to first high frequency waves, produced from the first amplified signal at an input port and transmitted to output ports, and gives second phase differences to second high frequency waves produced from the second amplified signal at another input port and transmitted to the output ports. An antenna forms a beam composed of electromagnetic waves, having the first phase differences and electric power corresponding to the first amplified signal on an antenna surface, and electromagnetic waves, having the second phase differences and electric power corresponding to the second amplified signal on the antenna surface, and radiates the beam in a particular direction corresponding to the phase differences and the amplitude ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujita
  • Patent number: 8315669
    Abstract: A femto cell base station and a method are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: a) monitoring data transmission antenna weights used during wireless data transmissions over a femto cell data channel between a femto cell base station and user equipment; b) deriving broadcast channel antenna weights from the data transmission antenna weights; and c) forming the femto cell broadcast channel beam using the broadcast channel antenna weights. The femto cell broadcast channel beam is adapted to minimize interference. The femto cell broadcast channel beam may then be formed using those broadcast channel antenna weights in order to direct and restrict the size of the broadcast channel beam and reduce the likely interference caused by the femto cell to other femto cells and to a macro cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Huiyu Tao, Hai Zhou
  • Publication number: 20120286996
    Abstract: System and method for calculating a transmitter beamforming vector related to a channel vector h under per-antenna power constraints combined with total power constraint, under per-antenna power constraints combined with overall line of site (LOS) effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) and under all three constraints. Calculating a transmitter beamforming vector may be done in the transmitter, in the receiver and feedback to the transmitter or in both. The method may be adapted to perform with a multi-antenna receiver and with multi-carrier systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Yaron SHANY, Nir Shapira
  • Patent number: 8310947
    Abstract: Techniques described herein generally relate to systems, devices and methods for determining a wireless access point for a communications device in a wireless network. In some examples, the communications device may be assigned to a default wireless access unit in response to a request from the communications device for wireless access, where the default wireless access unit may provide the communications device with wireless access. A default wireless access unit may be arranged to monitor the network activity of the communications device to determine if the network activity satisfies a pre-determined condition, where the communications device may be re-assigned to an adaptive wireless access unit when the pre-determined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Timothy H. Hwang
  • Publication number: 20120280861
    Abstract: In a phased array antenna radio communication apparatus including a plurality of antennas, a radio communication apparatus is provided which can reduce an influence of the local leak signals on the radiation direction of transmission signals. Local signal phase shifters 11-1 to 11-h are used to control phases of local signals to be input to quadrature modulators 13-1 to 13-h, and baseband signal phase shifters 12-1 to 12-h are used to control phases of baseband signals to be input to the quadrature modulators 13-1 to 13-h. The radiation direction of the local leak signals to be sent from transmission antennas 15-1 to 15-h can be controlled by the local signal phase shifters 11-1 to 11-h, and the radiation direction of the transmission signals can be controlled by both of the local signal phase shifters 11-1 to 11-h and the baseband signal phase shifters 12-1 to 12-h.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Shuya Kishimoto, Kenichi Maruhashi, Kenichi Hosoya
  • Publication number: 20120280860
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a die with through-silicon vias and radio frequency integrated circuit capabilities and it is vertically integrated with a phased-array antenna substrate. The through-silicon via and a radio frequency integrated circuit is coupled to a plurality of antenna elements disposed on the phased-array antenna substrate where each of the plurality of antenna elements is coupled to the through-silicon vias and radio frequency integrated circuit through a plurality of through-silicon vias. A process of assembling the through-silicon vias and radio frequency integrated circuit to the phased-array antenna substrate includes testing the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Telesphor Kamgaing, Valluri R. Rao, Yorgos Palaskas
  • Patent number: 8305255
    Abstract: The radar includes a PCB having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a processor mounted on the bottom surface of the PCB. The radar includes a second liquid crystal polymer layer formed on the top surface of the printed circuit board, a second microstrip array printed on the second liquid crystal polymer layer, the second microstrip array having a patch, a first liquid crystal polymer layer formed on the second liquid crystal polymer layer, a first microstrip array printed on the first liquid crystal polymer layer, the first microstrip array having a perforated patch, an antenna positioned underneath the patch and connected to the second microstrip array, and a transmit/receive module connected to a bottom surface of the second liquid crystal polymer layer and configured to transmit a first frequency signal to the first microstrip array and a second frequency signal to the second microstrip array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexandros Margomenos
  • Patent number: 8305259
    Abstract: The radar includes a PCB having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a processor mounted on the bottom surface of the PCB. The radar includes a second liquid crystal polymer layer formed on the top surface of the printed circuit board, a second microstrip array printed on the second liquid crystal polymer layer, the second microstrip array having a patch, a first liquid crystal polymer layer formed on the second liquid crystal polymer layer, a first microstrip array printed on the first liquid crystal polymer layer, the first microstrip array having a perforated patch, an antenna positioned underneath the patch and connected to the second microstrip array, and a transmit/receive module connected to a bottom surface of the second liquid crystal polymer layer and configured to transmit a first frequency signal to the first microstrip array and a second frequency signal to the second microstrip array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexandros Margomenos
  • Publication number: 20120274499
    Abstract: The proposed MIMO radar imaging method takes advantages of measurement techniques of spatial frequency components of an RF area image from radar returns. To minimize size, weight and power (SW&P), minimum redundancy arrays (MRAs) for both Tx and Rx with unique geometries are proposed. MIMO waveforms are utilized to index the radiated illuminations to a targeted area in the forms of 1-D spatial frequency components. Consequently, the corresponding radar returns from the targeted field of view (FOV) are captured by the Rx MRA. With the knowledge of uniquely designed MRA array geometries, virtual beams are synthesized in Rx processor; usually one Tx and many contiguous Rx fan beams. These virtual beams may be dynamically “moved” to different beam positions. The elongated beam direction for Tx fan beam and that for Rx fan beams are perpendicular to one another. Thus intersections of the Tx fan-beam and many Rx fan-beams are the very areas of radar returns. We refer those areas as virtual beam crosses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: SPATIAL DIGITAL SYSTEMS
    Inventor: Donald C. D. Chang
  • Publication number: 20120274513
    Abstract: A method of configuring a beam forming antenna in a communication network that comprises a first node where the beam forming antenna is located, second nodes and at least one destination node, communication links being established between said first node and said at least one destination node through at least some of said second nodes. The method comprises: emitting a signal by the beam forming antenna configured with a first set of antenna parameters; the same signal being sent from the first node to several second nodes; obtaining, for a plurality of communication links through which the signal has been sent, at least one physical magnitude representing the distortion caused by each communication link to the signal; aggregating said physical magnitudes of said plurality of communication links; and obtaining a second set of antenna parameters for configuring the beam forming antenna in accordance with said aggregated physical magnitudes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Philippe Le Bars, Alain Caillerie, Mounir Achir
  • Patent number: 8299963
    Abstract: The antenna with shared feeds for generating multiple beams includes a plurality of identical individual feeds spaced apart by a constant pitch, wherein the individual feeds are associated in identical subnetworks around a central individual feed, each subnetwork being intended to synthesize a beam, the individual feeds of each subnetwork being phase-coupled together by electromagnetic coupling, and two successive subnetworks include at least one individual feed in common and are offset by a distance corresponding to a predetermined number of pitches greater than or equal to one, being applicable in particular to the field of satellite telecommunications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventor: Gérard Raguenet
  • Publication number: 20120268324
    Abstract: A low loss beam forming method and antenna structure are disclosed. The method and structure may preferably be used in forming two narrow beams within a cellular sector. This method allows an increase in the overall network capacity by using a three-column non-planar array and a compact, low-cost, low-loss 3-to-2 Beam-Forming Network (BFN). This structure produces two symmetrical beams with respect to the azimuth boresight. Radiation patterns of the two beams are designed to cover the entire azimuth coverage angle of a cellular sector with minimum beam-split loss and cross-over losses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: BILL VASSILAKIS, SENGLEE FOO
  • Patent number: 8294615
    Abstract: A transmit and/or receive array antenna comprises an array (R) of sub-arrays (SR) of at least one radiating element (ER) and control means charged with controlling the amplitude and/or the phase of the radiofrequency signals to be transmitted or received in the form of waves by each of the sub-arrays (SR) so that they transmit or receive signals according to a chosen pattern. The sub-arrays (SR) comprise a mean number of radiating elements (ER) which increases from the center of the array (R) to its periphery, and are arranged with respect to one another so as to constitute an irregular mesh offering pattern sidelobes of low intensity and a high gain in a favored direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Gérard Caille, Philippe Voisin, Yann Cailloce, Cécile Guiraud
  • Publication number: 20120262328
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an active array antenna device includes: M (M?2) bandpass filters to filter signals received by M antenna elements; M low noise amplifiers to amplify the filtered received signals; M distributors to distribute respective of the M amplified signals into N (N?2) distributed signals; M sets of N phase shifters provided for respective of the M distributors to shift phases of the N distributed signals; M sets of N attenuators to attenuate N phase-shift signals; N beam synthesis circuits provided for N sets of the M attenuators to synthesize a beam by summing attenuator outputs from the M attenuators corresponding to the M distributors; a heat insulating container accommodating the low noise amplifiers and the receiving filters and formed of a superconductor material; and a cooler to cool the receiving filters and the low noise amplifiers to make the receiving filters in a superconducting state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi SHINONAGA, Hiroyuki KAYANO
  • Patent number: 8289902
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device to be used in a wireless communication system with CSMA-based MAC, comprising transmitting circuitry for transmitting at least a first and a second RTS message and at least a first and a second data packet on a transmission medium, and a spatially selective antenna. It is further proposed that the device uses a distributed antenna that combines the antenna elements of several devices and that the device observes the transmissions of other devices, analyzes the observed transmissions for transmission patterns and adapts its own transmissions to the detected transmission patterns. The invention further relates to a system, a method and a computer program to be used in a wireless communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Go Net Systems Ltd
    Inventors: Yaron Fein, Yaron Peleg
  • Publication number: 20120249370
    Abstract: Communication systems and methods are disclosed. A number of interference sources are obtained based on received signals. A communication is performed using a plurality of antennas and a transmission directivity of the antennas is controlled when transmitting signals. At least null-steering from among null-steering and beam-forming is performed in relation to the transmission directivity of the antennas, when the number of interference sources is less than a first threshold value. Only the beam-forming is performed from among the null-steering and the beam-forming in relation to the transmission directivity of the antennas, when the number of interference sources is greater than the first threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuo OKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 8264406
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining stream weights is provided herein. During operation, an uplink direction of arrival (DOA) and a downlink direction of departure (DOD) calibration procedure is implemented using uplink signals and GPS information from a subset of mobiles without the need of calibration circuitry at the base. Because the presented calibration procedure needs no new hardware it can be deployed in existing deployments with only a soft-ware upgrade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. Thomas, Frederick W. Vook
  • Publication number: 20120218149
    Abstract: A light-weight, air-cooled transmit/receive unit is provided, including a first external cover member, an opposed second external cover member, and a central housing unit, including thermal management means, interposed between the first and second external cover members. A transmit/receive circuit board, including components and an integrated and common radiating element for at least one channel, is interposed between a first surface of the central housing unit and the first external cover member, and a controller circuit board and a power converter circuit board are interposed between an opposed second surface of the central housing unit and the second external cover member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Saab Sensis Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. EDWARD, Peter J. RUZICKA, Neil C. SMITH, Carl E. DeWIRE
  • Patent number: 8253625
    Abstract: An array antenna system in a BS has a horizontal-beam-radiation-pattern-forming module for receiving/outputting a plurality of transmission/reception signals from/to a BTS via the input/output ports at the one end of the horizontal-beam-radiation-pattern-former, and receiving/outputting a plurality of transmission/reception signals from/to a plurality of antennas via the input/output ports at the other end of the horizontal-beam-radiation-pattern-former, and a plurality of vertical-beam-radiation-pattern-forming modules installed on the plurality of antennas, respectively, to form a vertical beam radiation pattern for the transmission/reception signals, each for receiving a transmission signal from the horizontal-beam-radiation-pattern-forming module, dividing the transmission signal, providing the divided signal to antenna elements, filtering and amplifying signals received from the antenna elements according to a predetermined reception band, combining the amplified signals, and providing the combined signa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: KMW Inc.
    Inventor: Duk-Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20120212371
    Abstract: A receive only smart antenna with a command pointing option for communicating with geostationary satellites that autonomously detects the directions from which desired signal are received, and steer the multiple beams accordingly. An array feed is used to illuminate a parabolic reflector. Each feed element of the receive only smart antenna is associated with a unique beam pointing direction. As a receiver is switched to different feed elements, the far-field beam is scanned, making it possible to track a geostationary satellite in a slightly inclined orbit. This eliminates the need for mechanical tracking and maintains high antenna gain in the direction of the geostationary satellite. The receive only smart antenna also features capabilities to form multiple simultaneous beams supporting operations of multiple geo-satellites in closely spaced slightly inclined orbits. The designs can support orthogonal beams for enhanced bandwidth capacity via multiple beams with excellent spatial isolation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Spatial Digital Systems
    Inventor: Donald C. D. Chang
  • Publication number: 20120202430
    Abstract: A method for ground to air communication includes receiving a first pilot signal on a first wide beam from a first ground base station by a first antenna element covering a first range of azimuth angles from an aircraft. Data is received on a directed data beam from the first ground base station by the first antenna element. A second pilot signal is received on a second wide beam from a second ground base station by a second antenna element covering a second range of azimuth angles different than the first range of azimuth angles. A signal strength of the second pilot signal is compared with a signal strength of the first pilot signal. Data reception is switched from the first antenna element to the second antenna element if the signal strength of the second pilot signal is greater than the signal strength of the first pilot signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ahmad Jalali, Mohammad A. Tassoudji, Ernest T. Ozaki, William G. Ames, Leonard N. Schiff
  • Publication number: 20120194385
    Abstract: The present invention refers to an active antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements comprising: at least one first subset of the plurality of antenna elements, the at least one first subset relaying a first radio signal having a first antenna beam pattern; and at least one second subset of the plurality of antenna elements, the at least one second subset relaying a second radio signal having a second antenna beam pattern, wherein at least one of the plurality of antenna elements is a common antenna element belonging to both the first subset and the second subset. A method for operating the active antenna array is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: George Schmidt, Martin Weckerle
  • Publication number: 20120194377
    Abstract: An antenna apparatus includes a substrate, a first antenna, and a second antenna. The substrate includes two or more pattern-forming layers which are layered via at least one insulating layer. The two or more pattern-forming layers include a first pattern-forming layer and a second pattern-forming layer which are different from each other. The first pattern-forming layer forms one of both outer layers located at both surfaces of the substrate. The first antenna is formed on the first pattern-forming layer, includes a plurality of antenna elements arrayed in a row, and radiates electromagnetic waves in a layer direction of the plurality of layers. The second antenna is formed on the second pattern-forming layer, is arranged on at least one side of both sides of the antenna array direction of the plurality of antenna elements of the first antenna section, and radiates electromagnetic waves in the antenna array direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanobu Yukumatsu, Asahi Kondou, Yasuyuki Miyake
  • Publication number: 20120196545
    Abstract: An antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements is disclosed. The antenna array comprises: a plurality of transceiver modules; an active antenna element subset of the plurality of antenna elements, wherein the active antenna element subset comprises at least one active antenna element being actively coupled to an associated transceiver module of the plurality of transceiver modules; and at least one passively combined sub-array of at least two antenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements. A method for generating antenna patterns with the antenna array is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Georg Schmidt, Martin Weckerle
  • Patent number: 8232918
    Abstract: An advanced multiple-beam GPS receiving system is achieved that is capable of simultaneously tracking multiple GPS satellites independently, detecting multiple interference signals individually, and suppressing directional gain in the antenna pattern of each beam in the interference directions. The GPS receiving system can be used for both planar and non-planar receiving arrays, including arrays that are conformally applied to the surface of a platform such as an aircraft. The GPS receiver combines spatial filtering and acquisition code correlation for enhanced rejection of interfering sources. Enhanced gain in the direction of GPS satellites and the ability to shape the beam patterns to suppress gain in the direction of interfering sources make the GPS receiving system largely insensitive to interfering and jamming signals that plague conventional GPS receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Spatial Digital Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Chin-Dong Chang
  • Patent number: 8229506
    Abstract: An array antenna is utilized to enhance the adaptive acquisition capability of a communication connection with one or more wireless subscribers. Subscribers who are located outside the omnidirectional range of the array antenna are acquired by using adaptive beamforming techniques to create an acquisition beam dedicated to acquiring new connections with wireless subscribers. The acquisition beam may sweep through the coverage of the array antenna seeking subscribers who lie beyond the omni range of the array antenna, but fall within the acquisition range using adaptive beamforming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Douglas Duet, Yuang Lou
  • Publication number: 20120182184
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the location of the phase center of an antenna are provided. For the transverse location of the phase center, the system may include radio frequency (RF) probes symmetrically surrounding the antenna's geometrical center to define RF probe pairs, a plurality of phase detectors for determining a phase difference between the signals detected by each pair and a processor for determining the transverse location of the phase center based upon probe position and the phase differences. For the longitudinal location of the phase center, the system may include first and second RF probes having a common transverse position, but being longitudinally separated, a phase detector for determining a phase difference between the signals detected by the probes and a processor for determining the longitudinal location of the phase center based upon the longitudinal separation and the phase difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Armando Benavides
  • Patent number: 8223080
    Abstract: A transmission and reception module according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an antenna, a transmission circuit, a wave detection circuit, a high-frequency switch, a small-signal high-frequency diode limiter circuit, and a first power amplifier. The antenna transmits a transmission wave, or receives a reception wave. The transmission circuit is connected to the antenna via a circulator and supplies the transmission wave to the antenna. The wave detection circuit is connected to the antenna via the circulator and branches the reception wave received by the antenna to generate a control signal based on one branched reception wave. The high-frequency switch is connected to the wave detection circuit and suppresses a power of the other branched reception wave when the control signal is input thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Haruo Kojima
  • Patent number: 8219057
    Abstract: The application relates to a method for operation of an active antenna array and to an active antenna system. The active antenna system has a signal processing unit and an active antenna array adapted to be operated with a main antenna pattern correlated to a main receive beam and with at least one test antenna pattern correlated to a test receive beam having an orientation different from the main receive beam. A main radio frequency signal is received based on the main antenna pattern and a test radio frequency signal is received based on the test antenna pattern. The main radio frequency signal comprises communications traffic. Performance of the main receive beam is assessed based on the main radio frequency signal and performance of the test receive beam is assessed based on the test radio frequency signal. The main antenna pattern is adjusted based on a comparison of the performance of the main receive beam and test receive beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ubidyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Kenington, Martin Weckerle, Jonathan Moore
  • Publication number: 20120162010
    Abstract: The reflectarray includes a plurality of cells integrated in a PCB and externally illuminated by an input signal from a feeding source at a frequency fi, and an output signal is reflected, where each cell of the reflectarray is an AIA formed by a passive radiating element connected to an active circuit, which can be either an oscillator, or a push-push oscillator or a SOM, where the passive radiating circuit is placed on a reflective surface forming a side of the reflectarray and the active circuit is placed on the reverse side, the active circuit producing an output signal with a frequency related to the input frequency fi and the oscillation frequency fosc of said active circuit. This phase relationship is determined by an output phase variation, which is controlled by electronic means integrated in the reflectarray system, which allows an output phase variation interval even higher than 180°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: FUNDACIO CENTRE TECNOLOGIC DE TELECOMUNICACIONS DE CATALUNYA
    Inventors: Apostolos Georgiadis, Ana Collado Garrido
  • Patent number: 8207891
    Abstract: A man-portable phased array ISR system includes a multilayer panel. A first panel layer includes a subarray layer having a plurality of sensors for detecting and receiving radiofrequency information. A second panel layer includes a digital data storage system to digitize, record and store the radiofrequency information. A third panel layer includes a command and communication link. A fourth panel layer includes a nanoparticle ultra-capacitor energy storage system adapted to provide power to the subarray, to the digital data storage system and to the command and communication link. The plurality of sensors may be receive-only sensors for radio-frequency data collection. The first panel layer may include integral beamforming systems having a predetermined frequency range for transmit an receive radar signal formation and data collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence K. Lam, James C. Beffa, Hilary S. Lackritz
  • Patent number: 8203483
    Abstract: A method and system for beamforming a multi-element array using time delays is provided. The array includes transmit array elements and receive array elements. Each of the array elements includes a processor. Modulation and demodulation functions are performed at the processors of each array element. The modulation and demodulation functions utilize receive time offsets and phase shifts, and transmit time offsets and phase shifts, respectively. The receive time offsets and phase shifts, and the transmit time offsets and phase shifts are determined by a central processing unit in order to beamform received signals and transmitted signals, respectively. The array elements are arranged in a daisy chain fashion in order to facilitate communication of control parameters, communication of bits to be transmitted and distributed combining of demodulated baseband samples from one array element to another and communicating the combined samples to the central processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Cubic Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne Edward Richards
  • Patent number: 8203978
    Abstract: A user terminal supports multiple spatial multiplexing (SM) modes such as a steered mode and a non-steered mode. For data transmission, multiple data streams are coded and modulated in accordance with their selected rates to obtain multiple data symbol streams. These streams are then spatially processed in accordance with a selected SM mode (e.g., with a matrix of steering vectors for the steered mode and with the identity matrix for the non-steered mode) to obtain multiple transmit symbol streams for transmission from multiple antennas. For data reception, multiple received symbol streams are spatially processed in accordance with the selected SM mode (e.g., with a matrix of eigenvectors for the steered mode and with a spatial filter matrix for the non-steered mode) to obtain multiple recovered data symbol streams. These streams are demodulated and decoded in accordance with their selected rates to obtain multiple decoded data streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: J. Rodney Walton, John W. Ketchum, Mark S. Wallace, Steven J. Howard
  • Publication number: 20120139786
    Abstract: Described is a mobile radar system which provides both persistent surveillance and tracking of objects with adaptive measurement rates for both maneuvering and non-maneuvering objects. The mobile radar system includes a vehicle having mounted therein an active, electronically-steerable, phased array radar system movable between a stowed position and a deployed position and wherein the phased array radar system is operational in both the deployed and stored positions and also while the vehicle is either stationary or moving. Thus, the mobile radar system described herein provides for longer time on target and longer integration times, increased radar sensitivity and improved Doppler resolution and clutter rejection. This results in a highly mobile radar system appropriate for use in a battlefield environment and which supports single-integrated-air-picture metrics including but not limited to track purity, track completeness, and track continuity and thus improved radar performance in a battlefield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Angelo M. Puzella, Steven T. Cummings, Joseph A. Licciardello, Jerome H. Pozgay, Stephen J. Pereira, Michael G. Sarcione, Peter D. Morico, James A. Roche, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120139787
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for electromagnetic beam steering and manipulating employ narrow beams in close proximity. The beam width and distance between neighboring beams are around or smaller than the wavelength. A strong beam is steered by a much weaker beam. A strong beam is also focused by a relatively small group of much weaker beams. The resulting device is compact and has better power efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventor: Chian Chiu Li
  • Patent number: 8193971
    Abstract: A method and a system for calibrating at least one antenna (1,1-1,3. 1,j). At least a first antenna (1,4) within a first antenna array (102) can be selected as a primary reference antenna. At least one antenna (4,3) that is not within the first antenna array can be selected as a secondary reference antenna. At least a first signal propagation characteristic (122) can be measured based on at least one signal wirelessly communicated between the primary reference antenna and the secondary reference antenna. At least a second signal propagation characteristic (118) can be measured based on at least one signal wirelessly communicated between the secondary reference antenna and at least a second antenna (1,2) within the first antenna array. At least a first calibration coefficient can be determined for the second antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick W. Vook, Nicholas E. Buris, Bruce D. Mueller