Smart antenna arrays
First Claim
1. A smart antenna base station arrangement comprising a 2-dimensional array of omni-directional antenna elements wherein:
- stored beamforming weight sets optimised for specific beam directions are operable to enable the array to generate directional downlink beams.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a beamforming method for smart antenna arrays, and in particular relates to a beamforming method for smart two-dimensional antennas. Smart antennas employ arrays of low gain antennas connected to a combining/beamforming network. Smart antennas can provide enhanced coverage through range extension, hole filling and improved building penetration. By improving transmission and reception at the base station, the tolerable path losses can be increased whereby the range of the base station can be improved. A first aspect of the invention thus provides a method of generating low sidelobe beampatterns for 2-dimensional arrays. A further aspect addresses the feedback signalling techniques which are presently being considered by standard bodies for four antennas in large arrays. The invention is suitable for CDMA wireless cellular systems, as presently determined for third generation cellular wireless networks, and other wireless systems such as TDMA systems and wireless LANs.
26 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A smart antenna base station arrangement comprising a 2-dimensional array of omni-directional antenna elements wherein:
stored beamforming weight sets optimised for specific beam directions are operable to enable the array to generate directional downlink beams. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18)
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15. A method of operating a smart antenna basestation arrangement comprising a 2-dimensional array of omni-directional antennas comprising the step of:
storing beamforming weight sets optimised for specific beam directions whereby to enable the array to generate directional downlink beams.
Specification