System and Method Capable of Implicit Feedback for the Devices with An Unequal Number of Transmitter and Receiver Chains in a Wireless Local Area Network

• US 20110053545A1
• Filed: 11/05/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qinghua Li, Xintian Eddie Lin
• Original Assignee: Qinghua Li, Xintian Eddie Lin
• Inventors: Lin, Xintian Eddie, Li, Qinghua
• Granted Patent: US 8,279,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/269
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0421 utilizing implicit feedback, e.g. steered pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0675 characterised by the signaling

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides a wireless station (STA) capable of implicit feedback in a wireless local area network, comprising at least one power amplifier, a plurality of antennas capable of being connected with said at least one power amplifier, and a switch capable of switching the connection between said plurality of antennas and said at least one power amplifier thereby enabling said wireless station to sound a complete channel matrix for an access point (AP) in communication with said wireless station (STA).

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one power amplifier;

a plurality of antennas, the plurality of antennas including at least one antenna to receive wireless data signals and to not transmit wireless data signals, wherein the at least one antenna is capable of being connected with said at least one power amplifier; and

a switch to switch a connection with the at least one power amplifier, said switching between the at least one antenna and at least one other of the plurality of antennas, wherein said switching is to occur when the wireless station is sounding a complete channel matrix for a remote device;

wherein said plurality of antennas are three antennas and said at least one power amplifier are two power amplifiers; and

wherein a first of said two power amplifiers is non-switchably connected to a first antenna of said three antennas and a second of said two power amplifiers is switchably connected to a second and third of said three antennas.

2. The wireless station of claim 1, wherein said at least one power amplifier includes a plurality of power amplifiers and all of said plurality of power amplifiers are switchably connected to said plurality of antennas.

3. The wireless station of claim 1, wherein both said power amplifiers are switchably connected to all three said antennas.

4. A method, comprising:

providing a plurality of antennas in a wireless station, the plurality of antennas including at least one antenna to receive wireless data signals and to not transmit wireless data signals, wherein the at least one antenna is capable of being connected with at least one power amplifier;

associating at least one power amplifier with the at least one antenna and at least one other of the plurality of antennas via a switch;

switching a connection with the at least one power amplifier, said switching between the at least one antenna and the at least one other antenna of said plurality of antennas, said switching to occur when the wireless station is sounding a complete channel matrix for a remote device;

associating three antennas with two power amplifiers;

connecting non-switchably a first of said two power amplifiers to a first antenna of said three antennas; and

switchably connecting a second of said two power amplifiers to a second and third of said three antennas.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising connecting switchably all of said power amplifiers to all of said antennas.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising connecting switchably both of said power amplifiers to all three said antennas.