Intelligent interface for controlling an adaptive antenna array

• US 20040033817A1
• Filed: 03/03/2003
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IPR Licensing Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tantivy Communications Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Proctor, James A. Jr., Gorsuch, Thomas E., Hoffmann, John E., Nelson, George Rodney Jr., Regnier, John A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,580,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/562.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2258 used with computer equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2275 associated to expansion card or bus, e.g. in PCMCIA, PC cards, Wireless USB
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/32 the primary active element being end-fed and elongated
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2605 Array of radiating elements provided with a feedback control over the element weights, e.g. adaptive arrays

Abstract

An antenna control interface is integrated with common integrated circuit components, such as radio transceiver or baseband modem signal processing control logic. The antenna control interface controls the operation of an adaptive antenna array used with wireless communication system devices.

Claims

1. A wireless data network device, comprising:

an antenna control interface integrated with other functional circuits of the data network device, the antenna control interface providing one or more control signals to control an adaptive antenna array by modifying a state of the control signals.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein the control signals provide state information to determine a type of the adaptive antenna array.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein the antenna control interface includes a set of parallel bi-directional digital signal lines.

4. A device as in claim 1 wherein the antenna control interface includes at least one serial input/output signal line.

5. A device as in claim 1 wherein the antenna control interface includes a set of parallel analog input/output control signal lines.

6. A device as in claim 5 wherein the analog control signals control phase parameters of elements of the adaptive antenna array.

7. A device as in claim 5 wherein the analog control signals control amplitude parameters of elements of the antenna array.

8. A device as in claim 5 wherein the analog control signals control impedance parameters of elements of the antenna array.

9. A device as in claim 1 wherein the wireless data network is a Wireless Local Area Network.

10. A device as in claim 1 wherein the wireless data network is a cellular wireless network.

11. A device as in claim 1 wherein the antenna control interface is integrated on a circuit substrate with other wireless data access circuits.

12. A device as in claim 11 wherein the other wireless data access circuits comprise wireless radio transmitter/receiver circuits.

13. A device as in claim 11 wherein the other wireless data access circuits comprise wireless data modem circuits.

14. A device as in claim 1 wherein the wireless data network device is an Access Point in a Wireless Local Area Network.

15. A device as in claim 1 wherein the wireless data network device is a Station device.

16. A device as in claim 1 wherein the control interface and other wireless data components are implemented in a PCMCIA card.

17. A device as in claim 1 wherein the control interface is implemented as one of an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Programmable Logic Array (PLA), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD).

18. A device as in claim 3 wherein the control lines are connected to biasing resistors to indicate the presence or absence of an antenna array.

19. A device as in claim 18 wherein the biasing resistors indicate antenna array configuration information.

20. A method for controlling an adaptive antenna array, comprising:

controlling an adaptive antenna array by modifying a state of control signals in a manner integrated with performing other functions associated with the adaptive antenna array; and

outputting the control signals in a form receivable by the adaptive antenna array.

21. A method as in claim 20 further including determining a type of the adaptive antenna array based on the control signals.

22. A method as in claim 20 further including communicating with the adaptive antenna array using parallel bi-directional digital signals.

23. A method as in claim 20 further including communicating with the adaptive antenna array using at least one serial input/output signal.

24. A method as in claim 20 further including communicating with the adaptive antenna array using parallel analog input/output control signals.

25. A method as in claim 24 wherein the analog control signals control phase parameters of elements of the adaptive antenna array.

26. A method as in claim 24 wherein the analog control signals control amplitude parameters of elements of the adaptive antenna array.

27. A method as in claim 24 wherein the analog control signals control impedance parameters of elements of the adaptive antenna array.

28. A method as in claim 20 used in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).

29. A method as in claim 20 used in a cellular wireless network.

30. A method as in claim 20 wherein modifying the state of control signals is performed on a circuit substrate executing other wireless data access functions.

31. A method as in claim 30 wherein the other wireless data access functions include wireless radio transmitting/receiving functions.

32. A method as in claim 30 wherein the other wireless data access functions include wireless data modem functions.

33. A method as in claim 20 used in an Access Point in a Wireless Local Area Network.

34. A method as in claim 20 wherein the wireless data network device is a Station device.

35. A method as in claim 20 implemented in a PCMCIA card with other wireless data functions.

36. A method as in claim 20 implemented in at least one of the following devices:

an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Programmable Logic Array (PLA), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD).

37. A method as in claim 22 further including observing the control signals to determine the presence or absence of an antenna array.

38. A method as in claim 37 wherein the observed state of the control signals indicate antenna array configuration information.

39. A wireless data network device, comprising:

antenna control interface means integrated with other functional circuits of the data network device, the antenna control interface means providing one or more control signals to control an adaptive antenna array; and

means for modifying a state of the control signals.