With A Switch Patents (Class 342/374)
  • Publication number: 20090081965
    Abstract: A configurable antenna structure includes a plurality of switches, a plurality of antenna components, and a configuration module. The configuration module is operable to configure the plurality of switches and the plurality of antenna components into a first antenna for receiving a MFBMS signal. The configuration module continues processing by identify a signal component of interest of a plurality of signal components of interest within the MFBMS signal. The configuration module continues processing by configuring the plurality of switches and the plurality of antenna components into a second antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: VINKO ERCEG, ARYA REZA BEHZAD, BRIMA B. IBRAHIM, DAVID ROSMANN, JOHN WALLEY, JEYHAN KARAOGUZ, AHMADREZA (REZA) ROFOUGARAN
  • Patent number: 7508343
    Abstract: A switched beam forming network is disclosed having an antenna array and an integral beam forming network configured to selectively provide directional and omnidirectional antenna radiation patterns. Four 90-degree hybrids are serially interconnected to form a 4×4 hybrid matrix. The hybrid matrix receives and transmits signals through antenna monopoles and is configured to selectively switch between directional and omnidirectional operation. At least four antenna terminals connect the hybrid matrix to the antenna monopoles. Four input/output ports connect the hybrid matrix to a transmit/receive network through connecting lines. A plurality of switches are selectively actuatable to form the beam forming network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Leo G. Maloratsky, Andrew M. Vesel
  • Publication number: 20090046010
    Abstract: A system and method of training antennas for two devices having heterogeneous antenna configurations in a wireless network is disclosed. The method includes communicating one or more estimation training sequences between two devices via a phased array antenna and a switched array antenna, wherein a beamforming vector of the phased array antenna is switched between phase vectors within a set of weight vectors while the switched array antenna is switched within a plurality of antenna sectors. The method further includes tuning at least one of the phase array and switched array antennas with an antenna parameter selected based at least in part on the one or more estimation training sequences. The method further includes communicating data messages via at least one of the phase array and switched array antennas so tuned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huaning Niu, Pengfei Xia, Chiu Ngo
  • Publication number: 20090033556
    Abstract: A perimeter antenna array for a radar, in particular a slope monitoring radar, formed from a pair of parallel linear arrays of receiver elements and a pair of parallel linear arrays of receiver elements, together forming a rectangle of receiver and transmitter elements. Signals are switched to the transmitter elements and received by the receiving elements. The signals are processed to obtain signals for virtual elements located equidistant between transmitting and receiving elements. The signals from the virtual elements are analysed to produce a radar image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Glen Stickley, Dennis Longstaff
  • Publication number: 20090021429
    Abstract: A low cost radar system that employs monopulse beamforming to detect objects in the road-way both in elevation and azimuth. In one non-limiting embodiment, a beamforming receiver architecture includes a first beamforming device and a plurality of antennas coupled to the first beamforming device, and a second beamforming device and a plurality of antennas coupled to the second beamforming device. The first and second beamforming devices are oriented 90° relative to each other so that the receive beams provided by the first beamforming device detect objects in azimuth and the receive beams provided by the second beamforming device detect objects in elevation. A first switch is provided to selectively couple the sum pattern signal from the first and second beamforming devices to one output line, and a second switch is provided to selectively couple the difference pattern signals from the first and second beamforming devices to another output line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph S. Colburn, Hui-Pin Hsu, Osman D. Altan
  • Publication number: 20090015477
    Abstract: The number of driving circuits in signal transmission using plural antennas can be reduced. When a first antenna is driven, a CPU makes an LF driving circuit to output driving current, and sets a first switch to ON while setting a second switch and a third switch to OFF. By setting the first switch to ON, a connector terminal and GND are connected. Therefore, a closed circuit containing the LF driving circuit and the first antenna is constructed, and the first antenna is driven, whereby the signal of LF waves is output. The second switch and the third switch are set to OFF, so that a closed circuit containing the LF driving circuit and a second antenna is not constructed, and also a closed circuit containing a third antenna is not constructed. The second antenna and the third antenna are not driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Suzuki, Noriaki Kamei
  • Publication number: 20090015476
    Abstract: A variable directivity antenna apparatus (1) includes an output terminal (40) at which reception signals transmitted through a coaxial cable (42) are outputted. The directivity pattern of the antenna apparatus (1) is varied in response to a directivity control signal supplied to the output terminal (40) through the coaxial cable (42). The variable directivity antenna apparatus (1) further includes changeover switches (8, 12, 14, 22, 32, 34, 38) operated to fix the orientation of directivity in a predetermined direction in response to the coupling of a power supply adapter (64).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: DX ANTENNA COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Eiji Shibuya, Kiyotaka Tatekawa, Takayuki Yoshii
  • Patent number: 7477192
    Abstract: In a direction finding system, pluralities of signals provided by different sets of less than all of a plurality of arrayed antennas are code division multiplexed, downconverted by a single receiver, A/D converted and separated to derive signals that are processed to estimate the directions of arrival of the signals received by the different sets of antennas at different frequencies. The signals from different antennas are coded with different codes that have a common M-sequence and different phases for the different antennas. The derived signals are processed to detect the presence of signals and simultaneously demodulate and estimate the directions of arrival of signals by the antennas at the different frequencies. The different sets of antennas from which the received signals are provided for coding and multiplexing are selectively varied in accordance with the estimated directions of arrival and estimated magnitudes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Titan Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Haff, Nicholas Cianos, Scott Ensign Marks
  • Publication number: 20090009392
    Abstract: A shared beamformer flexibly allocates beams among clusters of beams produced by phased array antenna apertures that are deployed on a satellite (or other type of platform). By sharing the beamformer among the beam clusters, if one beam cluster is not providing useful coverage, the beams may be reallocated to one or more other beam clusters that are providing useful coverage. To share the beamformer among the beam clusters, a selector network is used to select which particular beam cluster (or clusters) is used for producing one or more narrow beams that are constrained to the coverage area of the beam cluster (or clusters).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony W. Jacomb-Hood, Lawrence K. Lam
  • Patent number: 7474263
    Abstract: An electronically scanned antenna may include a plurality of space-fed, contiguous subarrays arranged in an annular region, each subarray including an inner set of radiating elements facing inwardly, an outer-facing set of radiating elements, and a feed system for illuminating the inner set of radiating elements. A plurality of RF amplifiers are coupled through a commutation switch matrix to selected ones of the subarray feed horn systems to illuminate a desired sector with RF energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Garfinkle, Joseph E. Wheeler, Donald R. Wells, Jar J. Lee, Richard P. Ritch
  • Patent number: 7474262
    Abstract: Digital beamforming is provided for use with electronically scanned radar. In an aspect, the present invention provides enhanced sensitivity, wide angle or field of view (FOV) coverage with narrow beams, minimized number of receivers, reduced sidelobes, eliminated grating lobes and beam compensation for target motion. In an aspect, the present invention employs a uniform overlapped subarray feed network, a time multiplexed switch matrix, and a restructured digital signal processor. Antenna channels share a receiver, rather than maintain a dedicated receiver for each antenna element, as in conventional systems. In an aspect, Doppler/frequency filtering is performed on each antenna element or subarray output prior to digital beamforming. Further, Doppler compensation is employed following Doppler/frequency filtering, followed by digital beamforming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen W. Alland
  • Publication number: 20080316100
    Abstract: Signal reception apparatus comprising at least two antennas, receiver means having a first mode of operation for assessing the quality of received signals and a second mode of operation for processing received signals for identifying data carried therein, at least two signal paths connectable between the antennas and the receiver means and each capable of demodulating signals received by the antennas and switch means connected between the antennas and the signal paths, the apparatus having an assessment mode of operation in which each antenna is connected by the switch means to the receiver means via a single respective one of the signal paths and in which the receiver means operates in its first mode of operation to assess the quality of received signals from each antenna, and a normal mode of operation in which a single antenna is connected by the switch means to the receiver means via all of the signal paths and in which the receiver means operates in its second mode of operation for processing received si
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: CAMBRIDGE SILICON RADIO LIMITED
    Inventor: Jens Tingleff
  • Publication number: 20080316101
    Abstract: A module having a first coupler for directing power from a source to first and second paths; a first amplifier disposed in the first path; a second amplifier disposed in the second path; and a second coupler for combining the outputs of the first and second amplifiers. In a more specific implementation, the module further includes a switch connected to the first coupler. The switch is a single-pole double throw switch. Each coupler is a 90-degree coupler that provides the combined energy output by each amplifier to a first or a second output port based on the position of the switch. The first coupler has first and second inputs, each input connected to a throw of the switch. The inclusion of a variable phase shifter allows for the module to be used to drive an element of a phased array antenna. For high power applications, multiple such inventive modules may be used to drive the elements of one or more phased arrays, pointed in different directions, to provide a desired coverage pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Brown, Frederick Ahrens
  • Patent number: 7463192
    Abstract: A novel phased array antenna assembly is hereto presented. This antenna is adapted for reducing severe radiation hazards to the human body, and is useful for transmitting and receiving signals while taking into account the indoor electromagnetic field strength. The antenna comprising a micro-strip small-size antenna; a switching device, having a communicating means with said antenna to select between receiving or transmitting modes, further having a selecting means for phase shift and the receiving/transmitting frequencies; a controller adapted to receive inputs from said switching device comprising; a coordinating means, adapted to interconnect said switching device with an algorithm-based software; and a memory queue. This antenna assembly is cost effective in the manner it is adapted for an indoor mass-utilization consisting of low cost materials and components, and further wherein said assembly radiates a limited electromagnetic field in a minimal measure required for communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignees: Wavextend Ltd., Detection and Protection Electronic Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Mordechai Gazit, Shay Wasser, Nathan Blaunshtein
  • Publication number: 20080291088
    Abstract: An array antenna includes a first end portion that has a first plurality of antennas arranged with a spacing d therebetween and a second end portion that has a second plurality of antennas arranged with the spacing d therebetween. In the array antenna, a spacing between respective antennas in both the first and second end portions and are closest to a central portion is set to 2d, which is a value obtained from multiplying 2, which is the number of the antennas constituting each of both end portions, by the spacing d for both end portions. The antennas in the antenna array are continuously selected as a transmitting antenna by switching, and continuously emit transmission signals. The antennas in the antenna array are also successively selected as a receiving antenna by switching. In this way, by switching between transmission and reception of the antennas of the antenna array, nine reception channels CH1 through CH9 that are arranged with a uniform phase difference therebetween are obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventor: Tomohiro Nagai
  • Publication number: 20080272962
    Abstract: A wireless area network communication system comprising at least one phased array antenna frame, a phased array antenna circuit connected to the at least one phased array antenna frame wherein said phased array circuit and said at least one phased array antenna frame are adapted to transmit and receive wireless area network compliant signals from or to wireless area network devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: BEAM NETWORKS LTD
    Inventors: Alberto MILANO, Hillel WEINSTEIN
  • Publication number: 20080258972
    Abstract: Disclosed is an antenna system, including: an antenna which can switch directivity thereof when receiving an analog television broadcasting signal; a switching section to switch the directivity of the antenna; a measurement section to measure radio wave quality of the analog television broadcasting signal received by the antenna by analyzing the analog television broadcasting signal when the directivity of the antenna is switched by the switching section; a storage section to store data of radio wave quality in different directions measured by the measurement section for each channel; and a control section to control the switching section to switch the directivity of the antenna to one direction having a highest radio wave quality among the different directions corresponding to a desired channel when the desired channel is designated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicants: The University of Electro-Communications, Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo NAKAJIMA, Koichi Gyoda, Takehiro Onomatsu, Hideto Yoshimura, Eiji Shibuya
  • Publication number: 20080252523
    Abstract: The antenna apparatus includes first to fourth antenna elements successively arranged at regular angular intervals around the central point on the same plane and respectively having first to fourth feed points, and a phase shifter delaying the phase of the received electric wave approximately by 90 degrees. The unidirectivity of the antenna apparatus is controlled in four directions of 0 degree, 90 degrees, 180 degrees and 270 degrees by selectively connecting the first to fourth feed points, the phase shifter and a television receiver. Therefore, multipath interference in these directions can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Eiji Shibuya, Toshio Fujita
  • Patent number: 7432857
    Abstract: An adaptive antenna apparatus is provided with a total of four or more, even number N of antennas including a plurality of pairs of antennas each having a bidirectional characteristic. The N antennas are provided respectively at vertexes of a polygon of the same number as the number N of the antennas, so that each pair of antennas of the plurality of pairs of antennas opposes to each other. An adaptive control circuit takes an adaptive control over radio signals using one pair of antennas opposing to each other among the N antennas. In the adaptive antenna apparatus, the each pair of antennas is provided to oppose to each other so that axes of directions of main beams of the directional characteristics of the each pair of antennas substantially coincide with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yamamoto, Koichi Ogawa, Hirotaka Ishihara
  • Patent number: 7427953
    Abstract: A wireless communication method and antenna system for determining the direction of arrival (DOA) of received signals in azimuth and elevation, (i.e., in three dimensions), to form a beam for transmitting and receiving signals. The system includes two antenna arrays, each having a plurality of antenna elements, two first stage multi-mode-port matrices, at least one second stage multi-mode-port matrix, an azimuth phase detector, an elevation amplitude detector, a plurality of phase shifters and a transceiver. The antenna arrays and the first stage multi-mode-port matrices form a plurality of orthogonal omni-directional modes. Each of the modes has a characteristic phase set. Two of the modes' phases are used to determine DOA in azimuth. The second stage multi-mode-port matrix forms a sum-mode and a difference-mode used to determine the DOA of the received signals in elevation. A beam is formed in the direction of the received signals by adjusting the phase shifters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Bing A. Chiang, Steven Jeffrey Goldberg, Michael James Lynch
  • Patent number: 7423586
    Abstract: In a radio communications system, a plurality of transceivers are each connected to one element of an array of antenna elements. In addition, at least one of the transceivers is additionally connected to a calibration antenna for transmitting or receiving test signals via the antenna elements. At least one calibration processor is provided for determining variations of the test signals in the transceivers. A beamforming processor is provided for taking into account the determined variations for beamforming or determination of direction of arrival of respectively transmitted and received radio signals by the antenna elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christian Schieblich
  • Patent number: 7405695
    Abstract: A switching circuit is used for switching a plurality of antennas of an antenna module so that the antenna module has a plurality of modes of use. Each mode of use uses two antennas for radiating a transmitting signal generating by a signal processing unit or sending a received signal to the signal processing unit. The switching circuit includes a plurality of power dividing modules, a plurality of switches and a control unit for controlling on/off of the switches. A mode of use is selected so as to pass the signal, through the switches and the power dividing modules, to the antennas for being radiated. The signal received by the antennas is transmitted to the signal processing unit also through the power dividing modules and switches. The control method determines the mode of use of the antenna module. At first, select a mode of use of the antenna module and switch to the selected mode. Next monitor signal throughput of the switched mode. Then compare the throughput value with a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Accton Technology Corporation
    Inventor: I-Ru Liu
  • Patent number: 7397425
    Abstract: An electronically steerable antenna system includes a plurality of panels that are coupled together to form an N-sided polygon. Each panel includes a plurality of microstrip conductor patches forming a phased array antenna. In a first embodiment that includes beam steering, each panel can selectively transmit or receive in a direction that is either perpendicular to the panel, or to the left or right of perpendicular, depending upon relative delay line lengths applied to the left and right antennas. A second embodiment omits the beam steering capability for each panel and simply enables only one of the N different panels to be employed for transmitting or receiving a radiofrequency signal in a direction perpendicular to the panel. PIN diodes are preferably used for selecting the panel that is active, and in the first embodiment, for selecting the delay lines used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Steven Ranta, Qin-Ye Yin, Yan-Sheng Jiang, Wayne King
  • Patent number: 7397420
    Abstract: On/off timing of an amplifier and timing of antenna selection are accurately adjusted. When adjusting the on/off timing of the amplifier, modulation of a transmit signal is stopped, and a switch is set so as not to select any one of the antennas, thereby totally reflecting the transmit signal; in this condition, the timing is controlled so that the average value of the output level of a mixer becomes a minimum. When adjusting the antenna selection timing, modulation of the transmit signal is stopped, and a reflective object is placed in close proximity to the antenna; in this condition, the timing is adjusted so that the average value of the output level of the mixer becomes a maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventor: Nobukazu Shima
  • Publication number: 20080158054
    Abstract: An array antenna system is provided. The array antenna system includes a plurality of antenna elements which are arranged at intervals in rows and in columns; and a control means which selectively operates at least two antenna elements of the plurality of the antenna elements according to a direction of received radio signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Su-Khiong YONG, Young-hwan KIM
  • Publication number: 20080143602
    Abstract: A system for providing multiple antenna patterns comprises a first antenna element, a second antenna element, wherein the first and second antenna elements are coplanar and arranged orthogonally with respect to each other in the plane, and a feed circuit in communication with a signal feed line alternately connecting the signal feed line to each of the first and second antenna elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi Lun Mak, Corbett R. Rowell
  • Patent number: 7382314
    Abstract: A handheld GPS device has a device body. A base band processor is installed in the device body. Three antennas with high directivity are respectively installed perpendicular to three surfaces of the device body for receiving GPS signals. A control device is coupled to the base band processor and the antennas with high directivity. At least two switches are respectively coupled to the control device and each of the three switches corresponds to one of the three antennas with high directivity. One of the switches enables the control device to permit the base band processor receiving GPS signal from the corresponding antenna with high directivity when the frame triggers one of the switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Asustek Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chu Liao, Ching-Chung Tang, Che-Ying Su
  • Patent number: 7380455
    Abstract: System and method for resolving phase ambiguities of various transducer arrays, including non-coplanar interferometer antennas on an aircraft skin, in order to determine the direction of arrival of a signal received by the array and emitted by a source remote from the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Wayne C. Workman
  • Patent number: 7369085
    Abstract: A shared beamformer flexibly allocates beams among phased array antenna apertures of a satellite (or other type of platform). By sharing the beamformer among the apertures, if one aperture is not providing useful coverage (due to orientation, traffic volume, signal frequency, signal polarization, etc.), the beams may be reallocated to one or more other apertures that are providing useful coverage. To share the beamformer among the phased array antenna apertures, a selector network (e.g., one or more switches) is used to select which particular apertures are to send or receive signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony W. Jacomb-Hood
  • Patent number: 7366473
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for diversity switching control are generally described herein. According to one embodiment, a diversity control network is introduced which effectively reduces the number of coaxial cables required to interface with N antennas from the conventional N cables, to N/2 thereby providing significant cost saving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Xintian E. Lin, Qinghua Li, Allen W. Bettner
  • Patent number: 7345632
    Abstract: The invention provides a multiple beam antenna and a method of fabricating such an antenna. The multiple beam antenna comprises: a flexible substrate having a conductive layer; a plurality of directional antennas; and a plurality of electrical connections being routed from each of the plurality of directional antennas to at least one area of the substrate. The plurality of directional antennas and the plurality of electrical connections are formed in the conductive layer, and the flexible substrate is shaped so that the plurality of directional antennas point in prescribed directions. This provides a low cost, high functionality multiple beam antenna. The multiple beam antenna can be shaped such that the directional antennas cover a full 360° or alternatively cover any range of other angles, (e.g. 270° or 180°).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Martin Smith, Andrew Urquhart, Ian Abraham
  • Patent number: 7340281
    Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for enhancing reception of wireless communication signals. A beam pattern including at least one set of beams is generated. Where the beam pattern includes at least two sets of beams, the beam sets may be offset with respect to each other and alternated to enhance reception. Beams may be selected for data processing based on a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and may be maximal-ratio combined where signals from a single WTRU are detected within more than one beam and are used for data processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Eldad Zeira, Donald M. Grieco, Robert Lind Olesen, Ariela Zeira, Jung-Lin Pan, Aykut Bultan
  • Patent number: 7324047
    Abstract: An adaptive antenna apparatus includes two antenna elements and a parasitic element to which a variable reactance element is connected, and selects an adaptive control process according to detected signal quality. A controller executes a first adaptive control process for adaptively controlling respective signals received by the respective antenna elements and outputting the respective signals after the adaptive control as a combined received signal, and executes a second adaptive control process for reactance controlling an element value of the variable reactance element. The controller executes the first adaptive control process. The controller executes a communication process when the detected signal quality is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold. The controller executes the second adaptive control process when the detected signal quality is not equal to or larger than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yamamoto, Koichi Ogawa, Hiroshi Iwai, Yoshio Koyanagi, Akira Kato
  • Patent number: 7321332
    Abstract: In a device for measuring angular positions by using radar pulses and mutually overlapping beam characteristics of at least two antenna elements, a switchable phase shifter is provided in the signal path of at least one antenna element which is switchable in the time-division multiplexing between different phase states. For the radar received signals, an evaluation device is provided for the joint and especially simultaneous evaluation of signals of two antenna elements with the participation of antenna element, in whose signal path a switchable phase shifter is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Focke, Thomas Hansen, Martin Schneider, Joerg Schoebel, Volker Gross, Oliver Brueggemann
  • Patent number: 7315279
    Abstract: An antenna system has multiple antenna feed elements combined in a number of element sets independently controlled to provide a beam of a variable size. Multiple input power dividers are provided for dividing an input signal, and multiple phase controllers are respectively connected to outputs of the power dividers for producing a plurality of phase-shifted signals having prescribed phases. The phase-shifted signals are supplied to respective inputs of a hybrid matrix. Predetermined outputs of the hybrid matrix are connected to summation circuitry for providing in-phase power summation of signals produced at these outputs. The antenna elements in at least one of the element sets are controlled by a sum signal produced by the summation circuitry. The other element sets may be controlled by respective output signals of the hybrid matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas H. Milbourne
  • Patent number: 7313417
    Abstract: Disclosed is a transceiver for a base station with a smart antenna having a plurality of antennas. The transceiver comprises: a multipath searching unit for searching multipath delay information for each demodulation channel; a demodulating unit for forming an adaptive beam for each demodulation channel by using the multipath delay information for each demodulation channel for receiving signals and performing demodulation to the received signals and outputting at least one adaptive beam weight vector; a controlling unit for selecting at least one downlink beam index for each channel; and a modulating unit for selecting the downlink switched beams and forming switching beam for modulating signals of each channel and outputting the modulated signals in downlink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Il-Gyu Kim, Hye-Kyung Jwa, Seung-Chan Bang
  • Patent number: 7298326
    Abstract: A portable device, such as a handheld device (10), laptop device or other suitable portable device, employs an antenna beam selection structure that is coupled to a plurality of built-in antennas (12 and 14) of the portable device that have different beam angles with respect to each other. The plurality of built-in antennas are coupled to a satellite network positioning signal processing circuit (18) so that device positioning signals from a satellite network can be received and processed by the device. The plurality of built in antennas may be stationary or movable with respect to each other. A control circuit (20) is operative to control switching between each of the plurality of built in antennas based on detected signal strength, signal quality measurements, the number of positioning satellites detected by a satellite network positioning signal processing circuit or other suitable criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Inventors: Minh H. Duong, Alan Boorom, Yiu K. Chan
  • Patent number: 7295825
    Abstract: A diversity antenna arrangement to reduce cost and the number of switching operations between different antennas includes an antenna changeover switch for switching between antennas, and an evaluation circuit for evaluating reception quality of a signal derived from a signal received from at least one of the antennas and conveyed to a receiving device via the antenna changeover switch. The evaluation circuit emits an evaluation signal based on the determined reception quality. A control device drives the antenna changeover switch based on the evaluation signal. A weighting device, using a first coefficient, weights the signal conveyed to the receiving device via the antenna changeover switch, and using a second coefficient, weights a signal received from at least one further antenna. A summing circuit adds the weighted signals. A regulating circuit generates the coefficients to minimize the temporal amplitude fluctuations of the composite signal, which is evaluated by the evaluation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Joachim Raddant
  • Patent number: 7295157
    Abstract: Calibration signals are distributed to the respective output signals of a plurality of antenna elements, thereby multiplexing the distributed calibration signals with the respective signals of the plurality of antenna elements. The calibration signals are extracted from the respective output signals of the multiplexing means and modulated, and the SIR (Signal to Interference Ratio) values of the calibration signals are calculated. The SIR value as calculated by SIR calculating means each calibration period is compared with a SIR threshold value. Only when the SIR value exceeds the SIR threshold value, a demodulated result of the calibration signal is outputted. Further, in each reception branch, the calibration amount of amplitude/phase information is determined based on a reference demodulation result of the branch corresponding to the demodulation result of the branch corresponding to the demodulation result, and a user signal is corrected based on the calibration amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiro Azuma
  • Patent number: 7283092
    Abstract: Switched-beam antenna arrangement means use a method of controlling an antenna pattern of such antenna arrangement means. Each antenna pattern of a predetermined number of fixed antenna patterns is allocated to a predetermined time slot of a time multiplexed signal. The switched-beam antenna arrangement means is switched to generate the fixed antenna patterns during their allocated time slots. Thereby, any user can choose between distinct beam patterns by selecting an appropriate time slot, so that the risk that the user is located at the intersection area of two beams is greatly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Minghai Feng, Yuan Zhu, Wujie Hu
  • Patent number: 7274330
    Abstract: A beam switching antenna system and method and apparatus for controlling the same is provided, by which optimal antenna characteristics can be maintained according to a peripheral environment, the necessary time and power consumption of searching an optimal beam-direction can be reduced, and electromagnetic waves of a beam generated from an antenna can be minimized. The beam switching antenna system includes an antenna element for transmitting and receiving a beam; a dielectric body surrounding said antenna element; at least one conductive reflector facing a lateral outside of said dielectric body; and a ground switch circuit connected to said at least one conductive reflector. The ground switch circuit includes a reference voltage source generating a reference voltage; a ground line connected to the reference voltage source; an electrical switching device connected between the ground line and the conductive reflector; and a controller for controlling the electrical switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Hyo Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 7272372
    Abstract: A diversity antenna apparatus has N (N is 3 or more integer) elements of antennas which receive radio signals, a priority storage unit configured to store priority data of the N elements of antennas, a first antenna selector which selects two antennas from among the N elements of antennas based on the priority data, a second antenna selector which selects one of the selected two antennas based on a prescribed condition, and a priority update unit configured to update priority data of the N elements of antennas stored in the priority storage unit based on the antenna selected by the second antenna selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hideo Kasami, Kazumi Sato
  • Patent number: 7271763
    Abstract: A communication module is provided with a Transmit/Receive (T/R) element fabricated from psuedomorphic HEMT, High Electron Mobility Transistor technology (PHEMT). The T/R element drives multiple Radio Frequency MEMS switch-based phasing elements. Each of the phasing elements connects to a corresponding radiation element. A large quantity of the communication elements can be placed on a single substrate chip so as to provide for a reliable and cost effective device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Janice C. Rock
  • Patent number: 7256735
    Abstract: A satellite amplifier system 100 adapted to amplify and distribute flexibly P input transmission channels to N outputs each corresponding to one beam includes a switch 102 having at least P inputs for routing the plurality P of transmission channels to a plurality of outputs, at least one Butler matrix 103 each input of which is connected to an output of the switch, and at least one inverse Butler matrix 104, each output of the Butler matrix being connected to a corresponding input of the inverse Butler matrix by an amplifier 105. The system 100 further includes a plurality of output demultiplexers 109 for separating a plurality of transmission channels by frequency, the input of each of the output demultiplexers being connected to an output of the inverse Butler matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Matthieu Hoffmann, Philippe Voisin
  • Patent number: 7248898
    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: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Doi, Akira Ishida
  • Patent number: 7245939
    Abstract: A wireless communication system for transmitting and receiving wireless communications using at least one beam is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of WTRUs, at least one beam-forming antenna, and at least one radio network controller (RNC). The antenna is capable of beam-forming and beams emanating from the antenna may be adjusted in accordance with actual conditions in the wireless communication system. The antenna is further capable of dithering beams in the azimuth and/or elevation plane for breaking up null areas due to beam overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Jeffrey Goldberg
  • Patent number: 7245257
    Abstract: A radar system operates at various different frequencies, and routes power among various antennas by use of a hybrid arrangement. The system is precalibrated at each possible operating frequency by adjusting the phase shifts associated with the hybrid in a feedback manner to provide optimal performance, and the calibration values are stored. During normal operation, the calibration values of phase shift are selected and used for feedforward operation at each frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory S. Bruce, Timothy R. Riley, Wilbur Lew
  • Patent number: 7242937
    Abstract: A mobile communication terminal apparatus which performs radio communication with base stations using an adaptive array antenna which obtains an antenna output by multiplying output signals from the respective antenna elements of an array antenna by weighting factors using multipliers, and adding the resultant data using an adder estimates the arrival direction of radio waves from the base station, and starts adaptive control on the adaptive array antenna, at the time of handover from the one base station to the other base station, by using as initial values the weighting factors obtained in accordance with the arrival direction estimation result obtained prior to the handover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Shuichi Obayashi
  • Patent number: 7233283
    Abstract: A directional antenna control device is provided which is capable of reducing processing amount and time necessary for power detection and selection of multibeam. A beam power detecting part detects power levels of all M beams in unit time period for initial beam switching. A beam output selection combining part selects a beam having the largest power in accordance with the detected power levels, and outputs received data based on the selected beam. A detection beam selecting part notifies the beam power detecting part in unit time period for second beam switching, of beam numbers of the selected beam, m beams adjacent thereto and n beams out of all beams except for the selected beam and m beams. The beam power detecting part detects power levels of only the beams having the notified beam numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Tohru Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7218279
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for pointing the beams (63–67) of a wind profiler comprising a stationary antenna matrix (61) with several individual antenna elements (62). According to the method an input signal is fed to the antenna matrix (61), and the phase of the input signal is adjusted for the individual antenna elements (62) in order to point the beam (63–67) of the profiler. In accordance with the invention separate feeder lines for each beam are used for feeding the signals to the antenna elements (62), and the phase differences between the individual antenna elements (62) are controlled with hybrid coupler elements (3, 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Vaisala Oyj
    Inventors: Juha Salmivaara, Petri Haapanen, Pentti Karhunen