BEAMFORMING DEVICES AND METHODS

• US 20140044208A1
• Filed: 10/14/2013
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hobbit Wave
• Original Assignee: Hobbit Wave
• Inventors: WOODSUM, Harvey C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,154,214 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/267
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/028 Spatial transmit diversity using a single antenna at the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/086 using weights depending on external parameters, e.g. direction of arrival [DOA], predetermined weights or beamforming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/088 using beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/38 Demodulator circuits; Receiver circuits

Abstract

Devices and methods are provided for directionally receiving and/or transmitting acoustic waves and/or radio waves for use in applications such as wireless communications systems and/or radar. High directional gain and spatial selectivity are achieved while employing an array of receiving antennas that is small as measured in units of the wavelength of radio waves being received or transmitted, especially in the case of spatially oversampled arrays. Frequency/wavenumber, multi-dimensional spectrum analysis, as well as one-dimensional frequency spectrum analysis can be performed.

Claims

1. A system for coupling to an array of N antennas for receiving N signals, where N is a natural number greater than or equal to three, for receiving signals from a transmitting device, the device comprising:

circuitry for deriving digital data from the N antennas;

a spatial filter for receiving digital data from the sampling circuitry;

a spatial interpolator for receiving signals derived from the spatial filter and providing M interpolated signals using a Hermetic transform, where M>

N, M representing a set of beams; and

a selector for selecting one of the beams to identify a location of the transmitting device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital data includes in-phase and quadrature data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry uses oversampling.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the interpolator applies a matrix based on a selected cost function.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the spatial filter uses pre-stored matrices.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to receive radiofrequency (RF) signals.

6. A system for coupling to an array of N antennas for receiving N signals, where N is a natural number greater than or equal to three, for receiving signals from a transmitting device, the device comprising:

circuitry for deriving digital data from the N antennas;

a spatial filter for obtaining signals from the circuitry;

a spatial interpolator for receiving signals derived from the digital data and providing M interpolated signals, where M>

N, M representing a set of beams;

a selector for selecting one of the beams to identify a location of the transmitting device; and

a second spatial filter for receiving output signals derived from the spatial interpolator, and a second spatial interpolator for receiving the filtered signals from the second spatial filter and providing P beams, where P>

M.

8. A method for receiving signals from a transmitting device, the receiving for use with an array of N antennas for receiving N signals, where N is a natural number greater than or equal to three, the method comprising:

sampling the signals to derive digital data from the N elements;

spatial filtering for filtering sampled signals;

spatially interpolating the N signals to provide M interpolated signals, where M>

N, M representing a set of beams; and

selecting one of the beams to identify a location of the transmitting device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the interpolating includes applying a matrix based on a selected cost function.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the sampling includes oversampling.

10. A method for receiving signals from a transmitting device, the receiving operable with an array of N antennas providing N signals, where N is a natural number greater than or equal to three, the method comprising:

sampling the signals to derive digital data from the N elements;

spatial filtering for obtaining signals from a desired sector;

spatially interpolating the N signals to provide M interpolated signals, where M>

N, M representing a set of beams;

selecting one of the beams to identify a location of the transmitting device; and

a second spatial filtering for receiving output signals derived from the spatial interpolating, and a second spatial interpolating for receiving the filtered signals from the second spatial filtering and providing P beams, where P>

M.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the interpolating includes applying a matrix based on a selected cost function.

13. A system for receiving signals from a transmitting device, the system for use with an array of N antennas receiving N signals, where N is a natural number greater than or equal to three, the device comprising:

a processor configured to;

sample data from the N antennas, and

use a Hermetic transform on the sampled data to form M beams, where M>

N.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to select one of the beams to identify a location of the transmitting device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the received signals are RF signals received at a base station from a mobile device.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the antennas are arranged in a cylindrical array.

16. A method for receiving signals from a transmitting device using an array of N antennas, where N is a natural number greater than or equal to three, the method comprising:

sampling the signals from the N antennas to derive digital data from the N elements; and

using a Hermetic transform on the sampled data to derive M beams, where M>

N.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising selecting one of the beams to identify a location of the transmitting device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the received signals are RF signals received at a base station from a mobile device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the antennas are arranged in a cylindrical array.