Directive beam selectivity for high speed wireless communication networks
First Claim
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1. A multilayered streamlined antenna array for forming a steerable antenna beam, comprising:
- a first layer having a selectively controllable switch matrix formed thereon, said switch matrix operable to switch an RF signal between an input port thereof and any one of a plurality of output ports thereof;
a second layer displaced from said first layer, said second layer having a first array of Butler Matrices, each having a plurality of first input ports and a plurality of first output ports, wherein each of said plurality of first input ports is connected to a corresponding one of said plurality of switch matrix output ports, said first array of Butler matrices being configured to arrange the phase of said RF signal along a first axis;
a third layer displaced from said second layer, said third layer having a second array of Butler matrices, each having a plurality of second input ports and a plurality of second output ports, wherein each of said plurality of second input ports is coupled to at least one of said first output ports, said second array of Butler matrices being configured to arrange the phase of the input signal along a second axis orthogonal to said first axis;
said second output ports being connectable to a plurality of antenna elements arranged in at least a two-dimensional array to form said steerable antenna beam in a direction that is dependent on a switch position of said switch matrix.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a wireless communication system which employs Butler matrix combiners and circuit switching at transmitter and receiver antenna arrays to provide directive beamwidth capabilities. Such narrow beamwidths permit the communication system to determine and select the transmission path having an optimum signal quality. The antenna arrays are integrated in a multilayer construction which reduces power consumption, increases the coverage range, improves the efficiency of the antenna array, and which has lower fabrication costs.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A multilayered streamlined antenna array for forming a steerable antenna beam, comprising:
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a first layer having a selectively controllable switch matrix formed thereon, said switch matrix operable to switch an RF signal between an input port thereof and any one of a plurality of output ports thereof; a second layer displaced from said first layer, said second layer having a first array of Butler Matrices, each having a plurality of first input ports and a plurality of first output ports, wherein each of said plurality of first input ports is connected to a corresponding one of said plurality of switch matrix output ports, said first array of Butler matrices being configured to arrange the phase of said RF signal along a first axis; a third layer displaced from said second layer, said third layer having a second array of Butler matrices, each having a plurality of second input ports and a plurality of second output ports, wherein each of said plurality of second input ports is coupled to at least one of said first output ports, said second array of Butler matrices being configured to arrange the phase of the input signal along a second axis orthogonal to said first axis; said second output ports being connectable to a plurality of antenna elements arranged in at least a two-dimensional array to form said steerable antenna beam in a direction that is dependent on a switch position of said switch matrix. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A communication system for high speed wireless data transmission, which comprises:
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at least one multilayered antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements positioned on a first layer coupled to a first array of Butler matrices positioned on a second layer, said first array of Butler matrices having a plurality of first outputs wherein one said first output is coupled to one of said plurality of antenna elements, and said first array of Butler matrices having a plurality of first inputs, said antenna array further including a third layer having a second array of Butler matrices having a plurality of second inputs and a plurality of second outputs, said second outputs being coupled to said first inputs, wherein data transmission signals are selectively applied to said second inputs; a transmitter network having an output port selectively connectable to one of said second inputs, said transmitter network being configured to generate the data transmission signal; and a processor coupled to said transmitter network and means for selectively connecting said output port of said transmitter network with at least one of said plurality of second inputs. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for determining the optimum transmission path in narrow beam wireless transmission networks, comprising:
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determining a signal-to-noise ratio for received data transmissions and comparing said signal-to-noise ratio to a predefined threshold level; determining a multipath distortion parameter for said received data transmissions and comparing said multipath distortion parameter to a predefined threshold level; and selecting a transmission path when said signal-to-noise ratio and said multipath distortion parameter satisfy said predetermined threshold levels.
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17. A method for determining the optimum transmission path in narrow beam wireless transmission networks, comprising:
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providing at least one multilayered antenna array at a transmitting location and at a receiving location, said at least one antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements positioned on a first layer coupled to at least one Butler matrix array positioned on a second layer, said Butler matrix array having a plurality of outputs wherein one output of said plurality of outputs is coupled to one of said plurality of antenna elements, and said Butler matrix array having a plurality of inputs selectively coupled to data transmission signals; coupling a transmitter network to said antenna array at the transmitting location, said transmitter network having an output port selectively connectable to one of said plurality of inputs of said at least one Butler matrix array, said transmitter network being configured to generate the data transmission signal; coupling a receiver network to said antenna array at the receiving location, said receiver network being configured to receive data transmission signals; determining a signal-to-noise ratio for received data transmissions and comparing said signal-to-noise ratio to a predefined threshold level; determining a multipath distortion parameter for said received data transmissions and comparing said multipath distortion parameter to a predefined threshold level; and selecting a transmission path between the transmitter and receiver locations when said signal-to-noise ratio and said multipath distortion parameter satisfy said predetermined threshold levels.
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18. A multilayered antenna feed network for forming a steerable antenna beam, comprising:
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a first layer having a first array of Butler matrices, each having a plurality of first input ports for selectively receiving or providing an RF signal, said first array of Butler matrixes further having a plurality of first output ports and being operable to arrange the phase of said RF signal along a first axis to thereby steer said antenna beam along said first axis; a second layer facing said first layer, said second layer having a second array of Butler matrices, each having a plurality of second input ports and a plurality of second output ports, each of said second input ports being coupled to at least one of said first output ports such that said second array of Butler matrices is configured to arrange the phase of said RF signal along a second axis orthogonal to said first axis to thereby steer said antenna beam along said second axis, said second output ports being connectable to a plurality of antenna elements arranged in at least a two dimensional array to form said steerable antenna beam. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification