Method and system for determining direction of transmission using multi-facet antenna

• US 20060066484A1
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tadaaki Chigusa
• Original Assignee: Skipper Wireless Inc.
• Inventors: Sayers, Ian
• Granted Patent: US 7,280,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/432
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/18 derived directly from separate directional antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0491 using two or more sectors, i.e. sector diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0686 Hybrid systems, i.e. switching and simultaneous transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0868 Hybrid systems, i.e. switching and combining

Abstract

A method for determining direction of transmission using an antenna array having a number of panels is disclosed. Each panel is configured to receive signals. According to one aspect of the method, each of the panels is directed to receive signals from a transmitting node. For each panel, a first table having data representing received signal power difference between the panel and a first neighboring panel and a second table having data representing received signal power difference between the panel and a second neighboring panel are built. The panel with the maximum received power is identified. For the identified panel, a first gain table and a second gain table corresponding to its first and second neighboring panels are searched to identify a first transmission angle and a second transmission angle, if any. A transmission angle relative to the transmitting node is determined using the first and second transmission angles.

Claims

1. A method for determining direction of transmission using an antenna array having a plurality of panels, each panel configured to receive signals, comprising:

building a gain table for each of the plurality of panels, the gain table having a plurality of gain values corresponding to a plurality of angles;

directing each of the plurality of panels to receive signals from a transmitting node;

for each panel, building a first table having data representing received signal power difference between the panel and a first neighboring panel and a second table having data representing received signal power difference between the panel and a second neighboring panel;

identifying which of the plurality of panels receives signals with the maximum received power;

if two or more panels receive signals with the same maximum received power, identifying the panel from the two or more panels that has the minimum signal power difference using the first and second tables associated with the two or more panels; and

for the identified panel;

searching the gain table associated with its first neighboring panel to identify a first transmission angle, if any;

searching the gain table associated with its second neighboring panel to identify a second transmission angle, if any;

if either the first transmission angle or the second transmission angle or both are available, determining a transmission angle relative to the transmitting node using the first and second transmission angles; and

if the first and second transmission angles are null, setting direction being faced by the identified panel as the transmission angle.

2-44. -44. (canceled)