Method and system for economical beam forming in a radio communication system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for beam forming in a radio communication system, comprising:
- a first electronics assembly located distal from a plurality of elements in an antenna array used for beam forming;
a second electronics assembly, located proximal to the antenna array; and
transmission means spanning between said first and second electronics assemblies having fewer transmission paths than the number of elements in the antenna array being used in a beam-forming manner.
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Abstract
Individual RF cables span between element/transceiver pairs in traditional beam forming systems, and the number of elements in an array used for beam forming is thus restricted. To reduce the number of RF cables but maintain or increase the number of elements in an antenna array, an embodiment of the present invention includes electronics at the base of an antenna tower that apply digital multiplexing codes to signals communicated to electronics located at the top of the antenna tower. The electronics at the top demultiplex the signals and transmit them via the antenna array. Received RF signals are processed in a like manner in a reverse direction. Fewer transmission paths (e.g., RF or fiber optic cables) than the number of elements in the antenna array can be used. More antenna elements provide benefits, such as higher user capacity, more antenna beams, narrower antenna beams, and higher in-building penetration.
52 Citations
37 Claims
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1. Apparatus for beam forming in a radio communication system, comprising:
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a first electronics assembly located distal from a plurality of elements in an antenna array used for beam forming;
a second electronics assembly, located proximal to the antenna array; and
transmission means spanning between said first and second electronics assemblies having fewer transmission paths than the number of elements in the antenna array being used in a beam-forming manner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for beam forming in a radio communication system, comprising:
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transceiving at least one respective representation of at least one data signal along fewer transmission paths than the number of elements in an antenna array being used in a beam forming manner; and
using the antenna array, transceiving respective RF representations of said at least one data signal to a mobile station in a beam forming manner. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. Apparatus for beam forming in a radio communication system, comprising:
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means for transceiving at least one respective representation of at least one data signal along fewer transmission paths than the number of elements in an antenna array being used in a beam forming manner; and
using the antenna array, means for transceiving respective RF representations of said at least one data signal to a mobile station in a beam forming manner.
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Specification