Adaptive antenna for use in wireless communication systems
First Claim
1. An antenna apparatus for use in a wireless communication system, the antenna apparatus comprising:
- at least one active antenna element;
a plurality of passive antenna elements within an electromagnetic coupling distance of said at least one active antenna element; and
a like plurality of selectable impedance components, each (i) respectively electrically coupled to one of the passive antenna elements and (ii) independently selectable (a) to affect the phase of respective, re-radiated, link signals to be communicated between an access point and a client station by said at least one active antenna element to form a composite beam that may be positionally directed between the access point and client station and (b) according to an essentially optimal impedance setting as determined (i) from parameters of a received pilot signal transmitted from the access point or (ii) based on a signal quality metric of a signal transmitted by either the access point or client station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An antenna apparatus, which can increase capacity in a cellular communication system or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), such as an 802.11 network, operates in conjunction with a mobile subscriber unit or client station. At least one antenna element is active and located within multiple passive antenna elements. The passive antenna elements are coupled to selectable impedance components for phase control of re-radiated RF signals. Various techniques for determining the phase of each antenna element are supported to enable the antenna apparatus to direct an antenna beam pattern toward a base station or access point with maximum gain, and, consequently, maximum signal-to-noise ratio. By directionally receiving and transmitting signals, multipath fading is greatly reduced as well as intercell interference.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. An antenna apparatus for use in a wireless communication system, the antenna apparatus comprising:
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at least one active antenna element;
a plurality of passive antenna elements within an electromagnetic coupling distance of said at least one active antenna element; and
a like plurality of selectable impedance components, each (i) respectively electrically coupled to one of the passive antenna elements and (ii) independently selectable (a) to affect the phase of respective, re-radiated, link signals to be communicated between an access point and a client station by said at least one active antenna element to form a composite beam that may be positionally directed between the access point and client station and (b) according to an essentially optimal impedance setting as determined (i) from parameters of a received pilot signal transmitted from the access point or (ii) based on a signal quality metric of a signal transmitted by either the access point or client station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for use in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
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providing an RF signal to or receiving one from an antenna assemblage having at least one active antenna element and multiple passive antenna elements electromagnetically coupled to said at least one active antenna element; and
selecting an impedance state of independently selectable impedance components electrically coupled to respective passive antenna elements in the antenna assemblage (a) to affect the phase of respective, re-radiated, link signals communicated between an access point and a client station by said at least one active antenna element to form a composite beam that may be communicated between the access point and the client station and (b) according to an essentially optimal impedance setting as determined (i) from parameters of a received pilot signal transmitted from the access point or (ii) based on a signal quality metric of a signal transmitted by either the access point or client station. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method for manufacturing a directive antenna, comprising:
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providing a dielectric layer;
attaching at least one active antenna element and plural passive antenna elements to the dielectric layer; and
providing for electrically coupling a subset of the passive antenna elements to respective selectable impedance components.
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45. An antenna apparatus for use in a wireless communication system, the antenna apparatus comprising:
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at least one active antenna element;
a plurality of passive antenna elements within an electromagnetic coupling distance of said at least one active antenna element;
a like plurality of selectable impedance components, each (i) respectively electrically coupled to one of the passive antenna elements and (ii) independently selectable; and
a processor coupled to the selectable impedance components (a) to affect the phase of respective, re-radiated, link signals to be communicated between a network connection unit and a field unit by said at least one active antenna element to form a composite beam that may be positionally directed between the network connection unit and the field unit and (b) to determine an essentially optimal impedance setting as determined (i) from parameters of a received pilot signal transmitted from the network connection unit or (ii) based on a signal quality metric of a signal transmitted by either the network connection unit or field unit. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
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Specification