Telecommunications system using directional antennas
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device in a communication system capable of determining the optimum direction for receiving and transmitting a signal, comprising:
- a receiver for receiving a carrier signal being a time divided signal;
at least one directional antenna being an array of phase delay antennas coupled to the receiver;
scanning means for sweeping the directional antenna in different directions within a TDMA time frame;
signal quality measuring means for determining an optimum antenna direction within the TDMA time frame;
steering means for selecting an optimum antenna direction; and
transmitting means coupled to said steering means for transmitting on said directional antenna according to said selected optimum antenna direction.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system 100 for determining the optimum direction (206) for transmitting and receiving a signal in a radio comprises a receiver for receiving a carrier signal being a time divided signal having an instruction signal, a transmitter for transmitting a time divided signal, a directional antenna (10) coupled to said receiver and transmitter, and a steering device (28) for changing the phase of the carrier signal in accordance with the instruction signal.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A device in a communication system capable of determining the optimum direction for receiving and transmitting a signal, comprising:
-
a receiver for receiving a carrier signal being a time divided signal; at least one directional antenna being an array of phase delay antennas coupled to the receiver; scanning means for sweeping the directional antenna in different directions within a TDMA time frame; signal quality measuring means for determining an optimum antenna direction within the TDMA time frame; steering means for selecting an optimum antenna direction; and transmitting means coupled to said steering means for transmitting on said directional antenna according to said selected optimum antenna direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A device in a communication system capable of determining the optimum direction for receiving and transmitting a signal, comprising:
-
a receiver for receiving a carrier signal being a time divided signal; at least one directional antenna coupled to the receiver; scanning means comprising a microprocessor and an array of phase delay antennas for sweeping the directional antenna in different directions within a TDMA time frame; signal quality measuring means for determining an optimum antenna direction within the TDMA time frame; steering means for selecting an optimum antenna direction; and transmitting means coupled to said steering means for transmitting on said directional antenna according to said selected optimum antenna direction.
-
-
5. A portable radio used in a communication system capable of determining the optimum direction for transmitting and receiving a signal, comprising:
-
a receiver for receiving a carrier signal being a time divided signal; a transmitter for transmitting a time divided signal; at least one directional antenna being an array of phase delay antennas coupled to the receiver and the transmitter; scanning means for sweeping the directional antenna in different directions within a TDMA time frame; signal quality measuring means for determining an optimum antenna direction within the TDMA time frame; and steering means for selecting an optimum antenna direction. - View Dependent Claims (6)
-
-
7. A radio used in a communication system capable of determining the optimum direction for transmitting and receiving a signal, comprising:
-
a receiver for receiving a carrier signal being a time divided signal; a transmitter for transmitting a time divided signal; at least one directional antenna coupled to the receiver and the transmitter; scanning means comprising a microprocessor and an array of phase delay antennas for sweeping the directional antenna in different directions within a TDMA time frame; signal quality measuring means for determining an optimum antenna direction within the TDMA time frame; and steering means for selecting an optimum antenna direction.
-
-
8. A communication system capable of determing the optimum direction for transmitting and receiving a signal in a radio, comprising:
-
a receiver for receiving a carrier signal being a time divided signal; a transmitter for transmitting a time divided signal; at least one directional antenna coupled to the receiver and the transmitter; scanning means for sweeping the directional antenna in different directions within a TDMA time frame; signal quality measuring means for determining an optimum antenna direction within the TDMA time frame; and steering means for selecting an optimum antenna direction wherein the steering means comprises the change in phase of the carrier signal in accordance with the time divided signal having a training signal.
-
-
9. A communication system capable of determining the optimum direction for transmitting and receiving a signal in a radio, comprising:
-
a receiver for receiving a carrier signal being a time divided signal; a transmitter for transmitting a time divided signal; at least one directional antenna having an array of phase delay antennas coupled to the receiver and the transmitter; scanning means for sweeping the directional antenna in different directions within a TDMA time frame; signal quality measuring means for determining an optimum antenna direction within the TDMA time frame; and steering means for selecting an optimum antenna direction. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
-
-
12. A communication system capable of determining the optimum direction for transmitting and receiving a signal in a radio, comprising:
-
a receiver for receiving a carrier signal being a time divided signal; a transmitter for transmitting a time divided signal; at least one directional antenna coupled to the receiver and the transmitter; scanning means for sweeping the directional antenna in different directions within a TDMA time frame; signal quality measuring means for determining an optimum antenna direction within the TDMA time frame; and steering means for selecting an optimum antenna direction wherein the steering means comprises a microprocessor and an array of phase delay antennas.
-
-
13. A communication system capable of determining the optimum direction for transmitting and receiving a signal in a radio, comprising:
-
a receiver for receiving a carrier signal being a time divided signal; a transmitter for transmitting a time divided signal; at least one directional antenna coupled to the receiver and the transmitter; scanning means for sweeping the directional antenna in different directions within a TDMA time frame and wherein the scanning means comprises a microprocessor and an array of phase delay antennas; signal quality measuring means for determining an optimum antenna direction within the TDMA time frame; steering means for selecting an optimum antenna direction.
-
-
14. In a radio-frequency communications system, a method for improving telecommunications using a directional antenna, comprising the steps of:
-
at a first communication unit; transmitting an information signal having a training signal; at a second communication unit having an array of phase delay antennas with a plurality of antenna settings; receiving said information signal by said array of antennas; steering said array of antennas in a setting in accordance with said training signal within a TDMA time frame; transmitting by said array of antennas in accordance with said training signal within the TDMA time frame; wherein said training signal comprises a portion of a time slot within said TDMA time slot arrangement.
-
-
15. In a radio-frequency communications system, a method for improving telecommunications using a directional antenna, comprising the steps of:
-
at a first communication unit; transmitting in an omni pattern an information signal having a training signal; at a second communication unit having an array of phase delay antennas with a plurality of antenna settings; receiving said information signal by said array of antennas; steering said array of antennas in a setting in accordance with said training signal within a TDMA time frame; and transmitting by said array of antennas in accordance with said training signal within the TDMA time frame; wherein said omni pattern allows for the steering of said directional antenna and for a handoff controlled by said second communication unit.
-
-
16. In a communication system, a method of aiming an antenna primarily based on signal quality received during directional scanning, comprising the steps of:
-
at a base station; (a) transmitting a TDMA information signal on a given frequency wherein said TDMA information signal includes a training signal comprising a portion of a time slot within a TDMA frame; at a portable communication unit; (a) receiving said TDMA information signal; (b) scanning for the information signal having the best signal quality from all possible antenna directions within a TDMA time frame; (c) measuring the signal quality of each information signal within the TDMA time frame; and (d) assigning a given antenna direction based on the optimum signal quality received. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
Specification