Method and apparatus for producing diversity gain of a received signal
First Claim
1. In a receiver that includes an antenna, the antenna being characterized by a predetermined antenna pattern oriented at a first orientation angle and being used to receive signals that are subject to a time-variant fading condition, the antenna including a first antenna element and a second antenna element, the first antenna element being characterized by a first antenna pattern and the second antenna element being characterized by a second antenna pattern, the first antenna pattern and the second antenna pattern together producing the predetermined antenna pattern, a method for producing diversity gain of a signal received by the antenna, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) determining a signal quality metric of the signal;
b) comparing the signal quality metric to a quality threshold;
when the signal quality metric is below the quality threshold;
c) adjusting an amplitude of the signal received by the first antenna element based on a rotation angle to produce a first signal;
d) adjusting an amplitude of the signal received by the second antenna element based on the rotation angle to produce a second signal; and
e) combining the first signal and the second signal to produce a combined signal, such that the predetermined antenna pattern is effectively rotated from the first orientation angle by the rotation angle.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A receiver (100) that includes an antenna (101) employs a method and apparatus for producing diversity gain of a signal (106) received by the antenna (101), wherein the signal (106) is subject to a time-variant fading condition. Upon receiving the signal (106), the receiver (100) determines a signal quality metric of the signal (106) and compares the signal quality metric to a quality threshold. When the signal quality metric is below the quality threshold, the receiver (100) orients a predetermined antenna pattern (304) of the antenna (101) to improve the signal quality metric, thereby producing the diversity gain.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. In a receiver that includes an antenna, the antenna being characterized by a predetermined antenna pattern oriented at a first orientation angle and being used to receive signals that are subject to a time-variant fading condition, the antenna including a first antenna element and a second antenna element, the first antenna element being characterized by a first antenna pattern and the second antenna element being characterized by a second antenna pattern, the first antenna pattern and the second antenna pattern together producing the predetermined antenna pattern, a method for producing diversity gain of a signal received by the antenna, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) determining a signal quality metric of the signal; b) comparing the signal quality metric to a quality threshold;
when the signal quality metric is below the quality threshold;c) adjusting an amplitude of the signal received by the first antenna element based on a rotation angle to produce a first signal; d) adjusting an amplitude of the signal received by the second antenna element based on the rotation angle to produce a second signal; and e) combining the first signal and the second signal to produce a combined signal, such that the predetermined antenna pattern is effectively rotated from the first orientation angle by the rotation angle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a receiver that includes only one antenna, the antenna being characterized by a predetermined antenna pattern oriented at a first orientation angle and being used to receive signals that are subject to a time-variant fading condition, the antenna including a first antenna element and a second antenna element, the first antenna element being characterized by a first antenna pattern and the second antenna element being characterized by a second antenna pattern, the first antenna pattern and the second antenna pattern together producing the predetermined antenna pattern, a method for producing diversity gain of a signal received by the antenna, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) determining a signal quality metric of the signal; b) comparing the signal quality metric to at least two quality thresholds; when the signal quality metric is below at least one of the at least two quality thresholds; c) adjusting an amplitude of the signal received by the first antenna element based on a rotation angle to produce a first signal; d) adjusting an amplitude of the signal received by the second antenna element based on the rotation angle to produce a second signal; and e) combining the first signal and the second signal to produce a combined signal, such that the predetermined antenna pattern is effectively rotated from the first orientation angle by the rotation angle. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. In a receiver that includes an antenna, wherein the antenna is characterized by a predetermined antenna pattern and is used to receive signals that are subject to a time-variant fading condition, a method for producing diversity gain of a signal received by the antenna, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) measuring a word error probability of the signal; b) comparing the word error probability to a first threshold that is based on a transmission rate of the signal; c) comparing the word error probability to a second threshold that is based on a fading tolerance of the signal; d) when the word error probability is below the first threshold, rotating the predetermined antenna pattern by at least one first rotation angle increment until the word error probability is improved, thereby producing the diversity gain; and e) when the word error probability is below the second threshold, rotating the predetermined antenna pattern by at least one second rotation angle increment until the word error probability is improved, thereby producing the diversity gain. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A receiver that includes an antenna and a signal receiver, wherein the antenna is characterized by a predetermined antenna pattern and is used to receive signals that are subject to a time-variant fading condition, wherein the receiver provides diversity gain of a signal received by the antenna, and wherein the antenna comprises:
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a first antenna element that receives the signal, wherein the first antenna element is characterized by a first antenna pattern; a second antenna element, positioned substantially orthogonal to the first antenna element, that receives the signal, wherein the second antenna element is characterized by a second antenna pattern and wherein the first antenna pattern and the second antenna pattern together produce the predetermined antenna pattern; a first signal amplitude controller, operably coupled to the first antenna element, that adjusts an amplitude of the signal received by the first antenna element; a second signal amplitude controller, operably coupled to the second antenna element, that adjusts an amplitude of the signal received by the second antenna element; and a combiner, operably coupled to the first signal amplitude controller, the second signal amplitude controller, and the signal receiver, that combines an output of the first signal amplitude controller and an output of the second signal amplitude controller to produce a combined output, and provides the combined output to the signal receiver. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification