DYNAMICALLY OPTIMIZED SMART ANTENNA SYSTEM

• US 20060292991A1
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airgain Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Airgain Incorporated
• Inventors: Abramov, Oleg Y., Kirdin, Alexander N., Kashkarov, Alexander G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,627,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/63.4
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/04 for varying one co-ordinate of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40

Abstract

A wireless communications network includes a plurality of wireless devices equipped with direction- agile antenna systems to allow the wireless devices to establish and maintain wireless data links with each other.

Claims

1. A method of improving a wireless communication link using an antenna system with the capability to transmit and receive signals in more than one pattern, the method comprising:

receiving one or more signals that expect a response at the antenna system from a device when the antenna system is configured in at least two different selected patterns;

determining a pattern of the antenna system based on the received signals; and

transmitting a response to the one or more signals that request a response in the determined pattern.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more signals that expect a response are requests for a data link.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a direction for the gain of the antenna system comprises:

detecting a beam pattern of the one or more signals that expect a response.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a pattern of the antenna system comprises:

comparing characteristics of the one or more signals that expect a response which were received when the antenna system was configured in at least two different selected patterns.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

monitoring characteristics of a signal received by the antenna system.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

monitoring characteristics of a signal received by the antenna system as the pattern of the antenna beam is changed.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the antenna system has a plurality of antenna elements and configuring the antenna system in at least two different selected patterns comprises activating and switching off different antenna elements of the antenna system.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the antenna system has a plurality of antenna elements and configuring the antenna system in at least two different selected patterns comprises shifting the phases of signals received by different antenna elements of the antenna system.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising recording the determined direction for later use in communicating with the device.

10. A system for use in establishing and maintaining wireless data links, the system comprising:

an antenna system capable of being selectively configured to transmit or receive electromagnetic signals in a plurality of selected patterns; and

a controller coupled to the antenna system and configured to transmit a plurality of polling signals through the antenna system while the antenna system is configured in at least two different selected patterns,

detect a response to the plurality of polling signals from a selected slave device,

determine a selected pattern for the antenna system based on the response from the selected slave device and

transmit a signal to the antenna system indicating the selected pattern for the antenna system for use in communicating with the selected slave device.

11. A method of improving a wireless communication link using an antenna system having multiple patterns, the method comprising:

transmitting a plurality of signals from the antenna system while the antenna system is configured in at least two different selected patterns;

detecting a response to the transmitted signals;

determining a pattern of the antenna system of the antenna system based on the detected response; and

transmitting or receiving a signal from the antenna system in the determined pattern.