ANTENNA PATTERN MATCHING AND MOUNTING

• US 20140146902A1
• Filed: 11/12/2013
• Published: 05/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aerohive Networks Incorporated (Extreme Networks, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Changming, Lin, Hai, Chen, George Gang, Zhang, Liangfu
• Granted Patent: US 10,014,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/260
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/001 Crossed polarisation dual antennas orthomode horns H01Q13/0258; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; orthomode transducers H01P1/161
• 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 5/40 Imbricated or interleaved structures; Combined or electromagnetically coupled arrangements, e.g. comprising two or more non-connected fed radiating elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0689 using different transmission schemes, at least one of them being a diversity transmission scheme
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0871 using different reception schemes, at least one of them being a diversity reception scheme
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity

Abstract

A technique for improving wireless communication characteristics involving matching transmitter antenna patterns to receiver antenna patterns. In a specific implementation, the transmitter antenna pattern adapts to changing parameters, such as when a smartphone is initially held in a first orientation and is later held in a second orientation. Because the transmitter antenna pattern matches receiver antenna patterns, signal quality between stations improves. In some implementations, antennas are organized and mounted to maximize spatial diversity to cause peak gains in different directions.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

grouping discrete antenna patterns into station antenna pattern profiles, wherein a station type is associated with a station antenna pattern profile of the station antenna pattern profiles;

determining a station is of the station type;

selecting an antenna pattern group corresponding to the station type;

conducting an optimal antenna pattern search for the station using the antenna pattern group corresponding to the station type.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a finite plurality of discrete polarization values, wherein each discrete antenna pattern of the discrete antenna patterns includes one or more of the discrete polarization values.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a finite plurality of discrete polarization values, wherein each discrete antenna pattern of the discrete antenna patterns includes a non-null, non-redundant combination of the discrete polarization values.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the station type is associated with a spatial stream characteristic.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the station type is associated with one or more antenna polarization values.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising profiling the station, wherein determining the station is of the station type includes using a result of the profiling.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an antenna pattern predisposition indicator from the station, wherein determining the station is of the station type includes using the antenna pattern predisposition indicator.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising following a subplurality of the antenna pattern group to do the optimal antenna pattern search.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein optimal is defined as having an estimated highest gain of any of the other discrete antenna patterns from either or both polarization matches and summation of signals.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a second station is of a second station type, wherein the second station type is associated with a second station antenna pattern profile of the station antenna pattern profiles;

selecting a second antenna pattern group corresponding to the second station type;

conducting an optimal antenna pattern search for the second station using the second antenna pattern group corresponding to the second station type.

11. A system comprising:

a dynamic antenna device configured to communicate with a station;

an antenna pattern group assignment engine coupled to the dynamic antenna device, wherein, in operation, the antenna pattern group assignment engine is configured to;

group discrete antenna patterns into station antenna pattern profiles, wherein a station type is associated with a station antenna pattern profile of the station antenna pattern profiles;

determine that the station is of the station type;

an antenna pattern group search engine coupled to the dynamic antenna device, wherein, in operation, the antenna pattern group search engine is configured to;

select an antenna pattern group corresponding to the station type;

conduct an optimal antenna pattern search for the station using the antenna pattern group corresponding to the station type.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a wireless network access engine coupled to the dynamic antenna device, wherein, in operation, the wireless network access engine establishes a finite plurality of discrete polarization values, wherein each discrete antenna pattern of the discrete antenna patterns includes one or more of the discrete polarization values.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a wireless network access engine coupled to the dynamic antenna device, wherein, in operation, the wireless network access engine establishes a finite plurality of discrete polarization values, wherein each discrete antenna pattern of the discrete antenna patterns includes a non-null, non-redundant combination of the discrete polarization values.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the station type is associated with a spatial stream characteristic.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the station type is associated with one or more antenna polarization values.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein, in operation, the antenna pattern group assignment engine profiles the station and uses a result of the profiling to determine that the station is of the station type.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein, in operation, the antenna pattern group assignment engine receives an antenna pattern predisposition indicator from the station and uses the antenna pattern predisposition indicator to determine that the station is of the station type.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein, in operation, the antenna pattern group search engine follows a subplurality of the antenna pattern group to do the optimal antenna pattern search.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein optimal is defined as having an estimated highest gain of any of the other discrete antenna patterns from either or both polarization matches and summation of signals.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the dynamic antenna device is further configured to communicate with a second station;

the fast antenna pattern group assignment engine, in operation, is further configured to determine that a second station is of a second station type, wherein the second station type is associated with a second station antenna pattern profile of the station antenna pattern profiles;

the antenna pattern group search engine, in operation, is further configured to;

select a second antenna pattern group corresponding to the second station type;

conduct an optimal antenna pattern search for the second station using the second antenna pattern group corresponding to the second station type.

21. A system comprising:

a means for grouping discrete antenna patterns into station antenna pattern profiles, wherein a station type is associated with a station antenna pattern profile of the station antenna pattern profiles;

a means for determining a station is of the station type;

a means for selecting an antenna pattern group corresponding to the station type;

a means for conducting an optimal antenna pattern search for the station using the antenna pattern group corresponding to the station type.