Including A Steerable Array Patents (Class 342/368)
  • Patent number: 7800539
    Abstract: A wide-angle null-fill antenna with no null in the depression angle range, an omni antenna using the same, and radio communication equipment. A null-fill antenna comprises a first antenna array including antenna elements arranged with a prescribed point as the center, and a second antenna array having amplitude characteristics substantially equal to those of the antenna elements forming the first antenna array. The first antenna array is excited so that the excitation amplitude distribution is to have symmetry with respect to the prescribed point, while the excitation phase distribution is to have point symmetry with respect to the prescribed point. The phase center of the first antenna array is substantially coincident with that of the second antenna array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Norihiko Oomuro
  • Publication number: 20100231453
    Abstract: A steerable antenna includes an radiating antenna element and parasitic antenna elements. Each of the parasitic antenna elements is provided with a pair of PIN diodes. On each of control lines connecting the PIN diodes to a controller, inductors are provided at predetermined intervals on portions of the control line electromagnetically coupled to another steerable antenna. The intervals for providing the inductors is set to such a length that substantially no resonance occurs in a section of the control line between the inductors at an operating frequency of the steerable antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Sotaro Shinkai, Wataru Noguchi, Hiroyuki Yurugi, Masahiko Nagoshi, Akihiko Shiotsuki
  • Publication number: 20100231452
    Abstract: A phased array mm-wave device includes a substrate, a mm-wave transmitter integrated onto the substrate configured to transmit a mm-wave signal and/or a mm-wave receiver integrated onto the substrate and configured to receive a mm-wave signal. The mm-wave device also includes a phased array antenna system integrated onto the substrate and including two or more antenna elements. The phased array mm-wave device also includes one or more dielectric lenses. A distributed mm-wave distributed combining tree circuit includes at least two pairs of differential transconductors with regenerative degeneration and accepts at least two differential input signals. Two mm-wave loopback methods measure the phased array antenna patterns and the performance of an integrated receiver transmitter system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Aydin Babakhani, Xiang Guan, Seyed Ali Hajimiri, Abbas Komijani, Arun Natarajan
  • Publication number: 20100225528
    Abstract: An antenna device includes subarray antennas including antenna elements, feeding lines and feeding interfaces. At least one of the feeding lines includes a phase shifter which shifts phases of the signals feeding to corresponding antenna elements. The feeding lines feed signals to the antenna elements. Each feeding interface is connected to each of subarray antennas. The subarray antennas are arranged parallel to each other with an interval on a plane to be symmetrical about a central axis. The interval is less or equal than a free-space wavelength. The central axis is along with the center of two adjacent subarray antennas arranged at middle of the subarray antennas when the number of the subarray antennas is even. Moreover, the central axis is along with one subarray antenna arranged at the middle of the subarray antennas when the number of the subarray antennas is odd.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tetsu SHIJO, Takayoshi Ito, Shuichi Obayashi
  • Patent number: 7792207
    Abstract: A mobile communication device may transmit a signal using a plurality of antenna elements, the signals differing by a transmit diversity parameter, e.g., a phase difference. The mobile communication device may receive a quality-indication signal from a basestation, e.g., a power control bit or signal. A sequence of the power control bits or signals may be used to provide feedback to the mobile communication device to determine a change in a transmit diversity parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Magnolia Broadband Inc.
    Inventors: Haim Harel, Yingxue Li, Alexander Segalovitz
  • Patent number: 7791536
    Abstract: Embodiments of a switchable high-power transmit module to selectively provide a high-power microwave signal in excess of one kilowatt to one of first and second output paths are disclosed herein. The module includes a switch to receive a lower-power microwave signal from a source, a first ninety-degree coupler for directing power from the switch to first and second paths, a first high-power amplifier disposed in the first path, a second high-power amplifier disposed in the second path, and a second ninety-degree coupler to receive output signals of the first and second amplifiers. The switch is configured to selectively couple the lower-power microwave signal between first and second input ports of the first ninety-degree coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Brown, Frederick Ahrens
  • Patent number: 7786933
    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: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Spatial Digital Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Chin-Dong Chang
  • Publication number: 20100214169
    Abstract: A system for configuring antenna systems for selecting directional communication signals corresponding to other apparatuses. A directional communication signal may be selected as the result of a beamforming training operation coordinated between an initiating apparatus and a responder apparatus. Particular modes and/or features may be requested by initiating apparatuses that, for example, may be functionally-limited. The responder may take these requested modes and/or features into account when formulating a beamforming training set for transmission to the initiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Padam Lal Kafle
  • Publication number: 20100207738
    Abstract: A system for and method of tracking and locating RFID tags, including where at least one steerable phase array antenna may locate the tags associated with items in three dimensions in real time, through the use of a beam steering unit and controller therewith to control the direction of a beam launched by the at least one steerable phase array antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: RF CONTROLS, LLC
    Inventor: Graham P. Bloy
  • Patent number: 7777674
    Abstract: A mobile distributed antenna array can include a plurality of mobile platforms, each platform having at least one antenna element and radio equipment coupled to the at least one antenna element. The radio equipment can be capable of transmission, reception, or both of propagated radio signals. A control platform can be capable of communication with the mobile platforms to control movement of the mobile platforms to position the mobile platforms relative to each other to provide a desired array pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: L-3 Communications, Corp.
    Inventors: Osama S. Haddadin, Aurora Taylor-Rojas, Timothy D. Jones
  • Patent number: 7777670
    Abstract: An improved millimeter wave illumination system includes at least one primary source of millimeter wave radiation, a reflecting surface and a baffle comprising a plurality of exit apertures arranged such that at least some of the radiation from the source is reflected from the reflective surface before proceeding to the baffle, characterized in that means are incorporated for generating a plurality of radiation field states within a pre-determined time interval. The baffle, source and reflector are preferably packaged into a container with the exit apertures providing an illumination output. The generation of the plurality of radiation field states provides an illumination at the illuminator output that is less spatially variable when integrated over the pre-determined time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: QinetiQ Limited
    Inventors: Peter R Coward, Neil A Salmon
  • Patent number: 7768453
    Abstract: Adjusting a calibrated phased array includes receiving conditions data describing conditions at a phased array. The phased array comprises antenna element sets, where an antenna element set comprises antenna elements and is associated with a calibration value. The following is performed for each antenna element set. A temperature value is established for an antenna element set according to the conditions data. A temperature-dependent correction value corresponding to the temperature value is established. A correction value is determined for the antenna element set according to the temperature-dependent correction value and the calibration value associated with the each antenna element set. At least one antenna element of the antenna element set is adjusted according to the correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: James S. Mason, James S. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20100188289
    Abstract: The subject matter discloses a wireless communication system comprising: at least one active phased array antenna unit for transmission and reception of electronic radiation and a phased array circuit for driving and controlling said at least one phased array antenna unit, wherein said at least one phased array antenna unit comprises at least four one dimensional arrays of radiations. The subject matter also discloses a method for utilizing the described system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Beam Networks Ltd.
    Inventors: Alberto Milano, Hillel Weinstein
  • Patent number: 7764729
    Abstract: A channelized amplification system and method for mitigating non-linear amplification effects and controlling spectral re-growth is disclosed. A system includes an input frequency divider for converting a first signal into a plurality of frequency band signals and a plurality of channelized high-efficiency non-linear power amplifiers coupled to the frequency divider. Each of the plurality of frequency band signals occupies a frequency band that is different from one another. The plurality of channelized high-efficiency non-linear power amplifiers receive and amplify the plurality of frequency band signals and produce a plurality of non-linearly amplified signals. The system further includes a frequency combiner coupled to the plurality of channelized high-efficiency non-linear power amplifiers. The frequency combiner combines the plurality of amplified signals and produce a second signal. The system further includes an output band-pass filter coupled to the frequency combiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence K. Lam, Albert T. Ngo
  • Patent number: 7761116
    Abstract: A radio device includes an array antenna including a plurality of antennas; an adaptive array processing unit multiplying signals provided from the respective antennas of the array antenna by receive weights, and thereby extracting a signal received from desired another radio device; a switch circuit provided corresponding to at least one of the plurality of antennas for providing the signal received from the corresponding antenna to the reception signal processing unit in a receive operation; and a transmission amplifier amplifying and providing a modulated transmission signal to the first switch circuit corresponding to the one of the plurality of antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Doi, Akira Ishida
  • Publication number: 20100164802
    Abstract: In some embodiments a beamforming method is disclosed. The method can include transmitting a beam having a channel defined by a maximum ration transmission vector (MRT) and receiving a first response from a receiver, where the first response has first information such as parameters related to the transmitted beam. Using the parameters and the initial MRT another directional transmission can be made. A similar process can determine a maximum combining ratio for a receiver. Set up communications between the transmitter and the receiver can be reduced by omitting data from transmission that can be acquired by other means such as from memory or calculations. Additional embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Qinghua Li, Huaning Niu
  • Publication number: 20100141527
    Abstract: A radar system having orthogonal antenna apertures is disclosed. The invention further relates to an antenna system wherein the orthogonal apertures comprise at least one transmit aperture and at least one receive aperture. The cross-product of the transmit and receive apertures provides a narrow spot beam and resulting high resolution image. An embodiment of the invention discloses orthogonal linear arrays, comprising at least one electronically scanned transmit linear array and at least one electronically scanned receive linear array. The design of this orthogonal linear array system produces comparable performance, clutter and sidelobe structure at a fraction of the cost of conventional 2D filled array antenna systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: FARZIN LALEZARI
  • Publication number: 20100141528
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for determining at least one relative characteristic of a transmit diversity transmitter based on at least one quality indicator based on signals received on the plurality of antennas. In some embodiments of the invention, the relative characteristic may be a relative power or amplitude ratio and/or a phase difference between the signals transmitted on the different antennas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Haim HAREL, Kenneth Kludt, Yair Karmi
  • Patent number: 7733288
    Abstract: A tunable passive anti-jamming antenna array system and method for minimizing the effects of electromagnetic interference in radio frequency antenna systems. The system and method utilize an external array of passive open circuited antennas strategically arranged between an intended receiving antenna unit and interfering signals to disrupt the interference signals and reduce the electromagnetic energy, interference, and noise reaching the intended receiving antenna unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Microwave Mitigation and Detection (“MMAD”)
    Inventor: Stanley F. Williams
  • Patent number: 7733265
    Abstract: The invention is a low-cost, compact radar for adaptively forming beams and independently steering the beams to improve the noise and sensitivity of the radar. The radar includes a printed circuit board, a low-cost multi-layer organic substrate, and a three dimensional (3D) radio frequency (RF) front end that is flood mounted on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandros Margomenos, Serdar Hakki Yönak
  • Patent number: 7728771
    Abstract: A multi-channel, dual-band, radio frequency (RF) transmit/receive (T/R) module, for an active electronically scanned array, is provided. The module includes a compact, RF manifold connector and at least four T/R channels. Each of the T/R channels includes a notch radiator, a diplexer coupled to the notch radiator, a power amplifier, including at least one dual-band gain stage, coupled to the notch radiator, a low noise amplifier, including at least one lower-band gain stage and at least one upper-band gain stage, coupled to the diplexer, and a T/R cell, including a phase shifter, a signal attenuator and at least one dual-band gain stage, coupled to the power amplifier, the low noise amplifier and the manifold connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Lee, Eric V. Miller, Joseph A. Faulkner, Cynthia W. Berry, Gene A. Digennaro, Kerron R. Duncan, Ronald G. Freitag, Tapan K. Gupta, Harry V. Guy, III, Vincent G. Karasack, Dave M. Krafcsik, Brian T. McMonagle, Robert B. Middleton, Benjamin R. Myers, Mike L. Salib, John P. Vitamvas, Thomas M. Walsh, Eric D. Zirofsky, John W. Gipprich
  • Patent number: 7728770
    Abstract: This invention relates to reducing the complexity and cost of antenna arrays and is more specifically concerned with reducing the complexity of an antenna apparatus (10). It provides an antenna array (62) made up of a vertical stack of horizontal linear structures (74) each having several groups of neighboring array antenna elements (78), the groups (74) having variable numbers of the antenna elements (78) each connected to a transmit/receive module (66). The advantage of this configuration is that less communication modules (66), such as transmit/receive modules, are required to operate the antenna array (62), reducing the weight, power consumption and cost of an antenna apparatus (10) incorporating such an antenna array (62) without significantly limiting the capability and/or performance of a system compared to a conventional solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Selex Galileo Ltd.
    Inventors: Anthony Miles Kinghorn, Robert Longmuir Sinclair, John Stephen Tanner
  • Patent number: 7724179
    Abstract: A receiver, such as a miniaturized microwave-photonic coherent receiver (MMPR) is disclosed. The receiver includes an antenna to output an electrical RF signal received on a section of the antenna, a laser to produce an optical signal, a photonic modulator to receive the optical signal and the electrical RF signal and produce an EO-RF signal and to receive the optical signal and an electrical LO signal and produce an EO-LO signal, a signal combiner to provide a combined EO-RF and EO-LO signal and a photodiode to receive the combined signal and produce an IF signal. A method of detecting an object using the MMPR includes receiving an electrical RF signal corresponding to the object, outputting the electrical RF signal to a photonic modulator, modulating the electrical RF signal onto an optical carrier, demodulating the electrical RF signal to produce an IF signal and processing the IF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Brett A. Williams, Mark A. Turner
  • Patent number: 7724176
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an antenna array includes a plurality of racks that are each configured with a plurality of antenna elements. Each rack may be rotated relative to the other racks through an axis that is generally parallel to the axis of other racks. Each antenna element within each rack has an axial orientation that is generally similar to and has an elevational orientation that is individually adjustable relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: James A. Pruett, Timothy E. Adams, Christopher T. Moshenrose, Jerry M. Grimm
  • Patent number: 7720437
    Abstract: The invention is a new device that will improve the radio link quality for low power wireless devices. An example application is for low power, miniaturized wireless sensor nodes that are statically deployed in a slowly varying environment or that have limited mobility. The device is a reconfigurable antenna that is novel in that it operates with very low (zero-order) energy in contrast to existing system that required both significant computational and DC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignees: University of South Florida, University of Vermont
    Inventors: Thomas Weller, Jeff Frolik
  • Publication number: 20100117893
    Abstract: A reflector antenna, in particular for the reception and/or transmission of signals from and/or to satellites. The reflector antenna according to the invention comprises a reflector arrangement for focusing antenna radiation in a focal plane together with an antenna array arranged in the focal plane, or in the vicinity of the focal plane, with a plurality of antenna elements. A control device is provided with a beamforming means. Through the control device, sub-arrays, comprising one or a plurality of antenna elements of the antenna array for the reception and/or transmission of antenna radiation, can be activated and deactivated. In the operation of the reflector antenna, a radiation lobe pattern is formed by means of the beamforming means for the reception and/or transmission of antenna radiation for a particular activated sub-array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: DLR DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FUR LUFT- UND RAUMFAHRT E.V.
    Inventors: Achim Dreher, Christoph Gunther
  • Publication number: 20100117902
    Abstract: The invention relates to a slot antenna, more particularly to a transmitting antenna for RFID, comprising an antenna contour board having a plurality of antenna slots and at least one control circuit for enabling the antenna contour board to transmit and/or receive electromagnetic radiation. The slot antenna is characterized in that in at least one antenna slot of the antenna contour board there is inserted a circuit board carrying a control circuit. The invention further relates to an RFID method involving the use of the slot antenna of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: PEPPERL + FUCHS GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Albrecht
  • Patent number: 7714783
    Abstract: A method and system for analog beamforming for wireless communication is provided. Such analog beamforming involves performing channel sounding to obtain channel sounding information, determining statistical channel information based on the channel sounding information, and determining analog beamforming coefficients based on the statistical channel information, for analog beamforming communication over multiple antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huaning Niu, Pengfei Xia, Chiu Ngo
  • Patent number: 7710346
    Abstract: An antenna system includes a heptagonal antenna array having one center antenna element and seven circumferentially surrounding antenna elements offering improved near and far sidelobe rejection, which is well suited for mechanically-gimbaled and time delayed electrical steering antenna applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Walter L. Bloss, Eric K. Hall, II, David A. Ksienski, James P. McKay
  • Publication number: 20100103043
    Abstract: This invention describes new and improved phased shifted injection oscillator, a phased shifted injection locked push-push oscillator and a phased array antennas (PAA). The PAAs in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention are low cost, and therefore can be used in various commercial applications, such as wireless communication or satellite mobile television.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventor: Alberto Milano
  • Patent number: 7706842
    Abstract: A mote network having and/or using one or more directional antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Searete, LLC
    Inventor: Clarence T. Tegreene
  • Patent number: 7692585
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an RFID reader and active tag (RAT) includes: a first antenna; a second antenna orthogonally aligned with the first antenna; an RFID interface operable to generate RF transmissions to the interrogate RFID tags; a fixed phase variable gain beam forming interface coupled to the first and second antennas and to the RFID interface, the variable gain beam forming interface being operable to independently adjust a set of gains for the RF transmissions from the RFID interface to the antennas so as to steer an interrogating RF transmission throughout the space to obtain RFID data from the RFID tags within the space; a third antenna; and a wireless interface configured to communicate through the third antenna with an access point, the wireless interface being operable to transmit the RFID data to the access point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Inventor: Farrokh Mohamadi
  • Publication number: 20100079341
    Abstract: The present application relates to an antenna array that comprises a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of amplifiers feeding the plurality of antenna elements. A first group of the plurality of antenna elements is arranged in a first column and a second group of the antenna elements is arranged in a second column. A first amplifier of the plurality of amplifiers has a first power rating and a second amplifier of the plurality of amplifiers has a second power rating, the first power rating being different than the second power rating. The first column is arranged symmetrical to the second column about an axis. Amplifiers feeding the first column have a substantially similar power rating to corresponding amplifiers feeding the second column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventor: Peter Kenington
  • Patent number: 7679559
    Abstract: A wide-angle null-fill antenna with no null in the depression angle range, an omni antenna using the same, and radio communication equipment. A null-fill antenna comprises a first antenna array including antenna elements arranged with a prescribed point as the center, and a second antenna array having amplitude characteristics substantially equal to those of the antenna elements forming the first antenna array. The first antenna array is excited so that the excitation amplitude distribution is to have symmetry with respect to the prescribed point, while the excitation phase distribution is to have point symmetry with respect to the prescribed point. The phase center of the first antenna array is substantially coincident with that of the second antenna array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Norihiko Oomuro
  • Publication number: 20100060521
    Abstract: A displaced feed antenna, operating at UHF, microwave, millimetre wave and tetrahertz frequencies, of mostly spaced conducting plate construction that incorporates electronically selectable feed points with associated antenna beam positions, which displaced feed antenna comprises: (i) a set of one or more beamforming configurations means (6) composed of layered, interlinking spaced conducting plates (1) and conducting boundaries that are separated by cavities containing dielectric material or free space; (ii) a set of one or more internal focusing means for each beamforming configuration to route radio frequency energy to or from the displaced feed points on receive and transmit respectively; (iii) a linear or curved array of displaced feed means for each beamforming configuration for coupling radio frequency energy into, or from, the cavity between the plates (2); (iv) a selection means (4) to allow definable overlapping regions of the focussing means to be illuminated for each beamforming configuration, by
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: David Hayes, Richard Brooke Keeton
  • Publication number: 20100060517
    Abstract: A partitioned aperture array antenna. The novel antenna includes a first subarray having a first number of antenna elements equipped with transmit functionality and a second subarray having a second number of antenna elements equipped with receive functionality, wherein the first and second numbers are not equal and the first and second subarrays have at least one common antenna element. In an illustrative embodiment, the first subarray includes a transmit circuit coupled to each antenna element in the first subarray for controlling a relative transmit phase of the antenna element to steer an overall antenna transmit beam, and the second subarray includes a receive circuit coupled to each antenna element in the second subarray for controlling a relative receive phase of the antenna element to steer an overall antenna receive beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Richard W. Nichols, James S. Mason, Gilbert M. Shows, Joel C. Roper, Raymond D. Eppich, Gustavo A. Burnum
  • Publication number: 20100052975
    Abstract: A radar system, including: a compact, active phased array antenna for transmission and reception of a focused radiation beam, circuits for providing signals to produce or detect a radiation beam by the phased array antenna and to control or detect the direction of the radiation beam, and wherein the radar is adapted to be mounted on a missile and scan a selected area proceeding the direction of motion of the missile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: BEAM NETWORKS LTD.
    Inventors: Alberto MILANO, Hillel WEINSTEIN
  • Patent number: 7671798
    Abstract: A method and system for optimally combining noisy measurements of attributes to obtain a composite statistically useful attribute result is disclosed. The method includes measuring a signal to noise ratio for each carrier in a pair, computing a signal to noise ratio power which is derived from said signal to noise ratio of each carrier in the pair and adding said signal to noise ratio powers that have been received within a predetermined period of time until the sum of said signal to noise ratio powers reaches a first threshold. The method continues with computing a weight based on the percentage of each measurements signal to noise ratio power in relation to said sum of said signal to noise ratio powers and deriving a statistically useful attribute result based at least in part on said weight of each signal to noise ratio power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventor: Eric David Leonard
  • Patent number: 7671799
    Abstract: A phased array antenna system includes an RF front end, a radome, and an optical calibrator embedded in the radome for enabling in-situ calibration of the RF front end. The optical calibrator employs an optical timing signal generator (OTSG), a Variable Optical Amplitude and Delay Generator array (VOADGA) for receiving the modulated optical output signal and generating a plurality of VOADGA timing signals, and an optical timing signal distributor (OTSD). The in-situ optical calibrator allows for reduced calibration time and makes it feasible to perform calibration whenever necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Eung Gi Paek, Mark G Parent, Joon Y Choe
  • Publication number: 20100039346
    Abstract: An antenna assembly comprises a plurality of antenna elements arranged in an array, and a radome for protecting the antenna elements, wherein the radome has a thickness that changes across a field of view to normalize insertion phase delay differences in an incoming signal passing through the radome and received by the antenna elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Peter, Peter M. Corcoran
  • Patent number: 7664533
    Abstract: An antenna array in a radio node includes multiple antenna elements for transmitting a wider beam covering a majority of a sector cell that includes a common signal and a narrower beam covering only a part of the sector cell that includes a mobile user-specific signal. Transmitting circuitry is coupled to the antenna array, and processing circuitry is coupled to the transmitting circuitry. The processing circuitry ensures the user-specific signal and the common signal in a mixed beam embodiment are in-phase and time-aligned at the antenna array. In a steered beam embodiment, the processing circuitry ensures the user-specific signal and the common signal are time-aligned and have a controlled phase difference when received at mobile stations in the sector cell. In both embodiments, distortions in the common signal and the user-specific signal associated with their conversion from baseband frequency to radio frequency are also compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Andrew Logothetis, David Astely
  • Patent number: 7663545
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for determining at least one relative characteristic of a transmit diversity transmitter based on at least one quality indicator based on signals received on the plurality of antennas. In some embodiments of the invention, the relative characteristic may be a relative power or amplitude ratio and/or a phase difference between the signals transmitted on the different antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Magnolia Broadband Inc.
    Inventors: Haim Harel, Kenneth Kludt, Yair Karmi
  • Publication number: 20100033374
    Abstract: A system and method for synchronized and coordinated beam switching and scheduling in a wireless communications system is provided. A method for controller operation includes determining a beam cycle pattern, sharing the beam cycle pattern with neighboring controllers, receiving beam information from a communications device, generating scheduling information from the beam cycle pattern and beam cycle patterns from other controllers, receiving a transmission intended for the communications device, and causing the transmission to be transmitted to the communications device. The beam cycle pattern includes a list of beam patterns transmitted by the controller, and the transmission is transmitted using the scheduling information and the received beam information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: FutureWei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Cornelius van Rensburg, Patrick Hosein, Anthony C.K. Soong
  • Publication number: 20100026573
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus having a display screen, a first antenna among a plurality of antennas provided adjacent to the first side and closer to the third side, a second antenna among the plurality of antennas provided adjacent to the second side and closer to the first side, a third antenna among the plurality of antennas provided adjacent to the fourth side and closer to the second side. A control part of the electronic apparatus selects the first antenna and the second antenna as the antennas to be used for radio communication when the first side is an upper side of the display screen, and selects the second antenna and the third antenna when the second side is the upper side of the display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi UCHIHARA
  • Patent number: 7656345
    Abstract: A low-profile lens element for steering a beam is provided. Specifically, the low-profile lens element is mechanically rotatable such that a beam can be steered in any direction within three-dimensional space. The lens element may include a number of discrete portions for differentially delaying adjacent discrete portions of a beam in order to effect beam steering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Ball Aerospace & Technoloiges Corp.
    Inventors: Dean Alan Paschen, Kiersten Carinne Kerby
  • Publication number: 20100001917
    Abstract: A waveguide includes a dielectric substrate having first and second opposed surfaces defining a longitudinal wave propagation path therebetween; and a conductive grid on the first surface of the substrate and comprising a plurality of substantially parallel metal strips, each defining an axis. The grid renders the first surface of the substrate opaque to a longitudinal electromagnetic wave propagating along the longitudinal wave propagation path and polarized in a direction substantially parallel to the axes of the strips. The grid allows the first surface of the substrate to be transparent to a transverse electromagnetic wave having a transverse propagation path that intersects the first and second surfaces of the substrate and having a polarization in a direction substantially normal to the plurality of metal strips. A diffraction grating on the second surface allows the waveguide to function as an antenna element that may be employed in a beam-steering antenna system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Vladimir Manasson, Victor Khodos, Lev Sadovnik, Aramais Avakian, Vladimir Litvinov, Dexin Jia, Mikhail Felman, Mark Aretskin
  • Publication number: 20090322608
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are concerned with improvements to antenna systems, in particular beamforming antenna systems. Embodiments provide an improved beamformer arrangement for receiving and transmitting of signals by antenna elements. Embodiments are particularly well suited to use for transceiving of radio signals by base stations, such as are commonly found in cellular networks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED
    Inventors: David Neil Adams, Peter Deane, Steven Raymond Hall
  • Publication number: 20090322609
    Abstract: A beamformer includes a number (T) of consecutive combining stages. A Tth combining stage includes a converging unit. Each of first to (T?1)th combining stages includes a plurality of converging units. The number of the converging units in a preceding combining stage is greater than that of a succeeding combining stage. Each converging unit in the first combining stage combines three arrival signals from an antenna array in accordance with corresponding weights so as to form an output signal. Each converging unit in each of second to (T?1)th combining stages combines output signals of three corresponding converging units in an immediately preceding combining stage in accordance with corresponding weights so as to form an output signal. The converging unit of the Tth combining stage combines the output signals from the converging units in the (T?1)th combining stage in accordance with corresponding weights so as to form an output signal that serves as an array pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: I SHOU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Rong-Ching Wu, Ching-Tai Chiang
  • Publication number: 20090315760
    Abstract: A hybrid control algorithm for low profile phased-array antennas, consisting of a gyro control and electronic beam-forming, operates to track the satellite. The antenna arrangements form a spatial phased-array capable of being rotated mechanically both in azimuth and elevation planes by the aid of step motors. An RF detector monitors the received RF power and provides a feedback signal to the control algorithm. Based on the monitored signals, provided by RF detector and gyros, the processing unit operates, under suitable algorithms, to home on and track the desired satellite. The arrangements can be mounted on a vehicle to provide TV and broadband internet signal to the user on the move.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Seyed Pedram Mousavi Bafrooei, Seyed Hamidreza Jamali, Mohammad Fakharzadeh Jahromi, Kiarash Narimani, Mircea Hossu, Hamidreza Bolandhemmat, Safieldin Safavi-Naieni
  • Patent number: 7633851
    Abstract: A circuit for generating a cyclic prefix of a symbol comprised of a sequence of time samples, the prefix being the reproduction of the last samples of the symbol at the beginning of the symbol, the symbol being obtained by inverse Fourier transform of complex coefficients corresponding to respective frequencies. The circuit includes a multiplier that shifts the phase of each complex coefficient by a value proportional to its frequency, a memory for storing the samples at the beginning of the symbol, and a multiplexer that copies at the end of the symbol the stored samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Simone Mazzoni, Joel Cambonie