Sectorized multi-function communication system

• US 5,771,449 A
• Filed: 08/25/1995
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Endwave (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Endlink Corporation
• Inventors: Lockie, Douglas G., Blasing, Raymond R., Keible, Edward A., Mohwinkel, Clifford A., Likins, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BHATTACHARYA, SAM
• Application Number:
  US08/519,476
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 455/33.1, 455/33.3, 455/54.1, 455/56.1, 455/422, 455/429, 455/449, 455/561, 455/562, 455/517, 455/524, 343/824, 380/20
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2605 Array of radiating elements provided with a feedback control over the element weights, e.g. adaptive arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/06 among broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/72 of terrestrial networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/49 for identifying locations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2383 Channel coding or modulation of digital bit-stream, e.g. QPSK modulation arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by adapting the channel coding H04L1/0009; analogue front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a communications apparatus which includes a first transmitting antenna array (15A) having a transmitting antenna (16) which is dedicated to serves only a first sector (12). Similarly, a second transmitting antenna array (17A) having a transmitting antenna (18) is dedicated to serve only a second sector (14). Each of the transmitting antenna arrays (15A, 17A) have a beamwidth (19) of generally less than fifteen degrees. Both the first and the second transmitting antenna arrays (15A, 17A) emanate shaped beams which are alternately polarized to ensure the isolation of beams that serve adjacent sectors.

Claims

1. A high-bandwidth communications apparatus for offering communications to fixed sites comprising:

a cell (11);

said cell (11) including a first sector (12) and a second sector (14);

a first transmitting antenna array (15A);

said first transmitting antenna array (15A) including a first transmitting antenna (16);

said first transmitting antenna array (15A) being dedicated to serve only said first sector (12);

a second transmitting antenna array (17A);

said second transmitting antenna array (17A) including a second transmitting antenna (18);

said second transmitting antenna array (17A) being dedicated to serve only said second sector (14);

said first and said second transmitting antenna arrays (15A, 17A) each having a beamwidth (19) of a maximum of fifteen degrees;

a first receiver (20);

said first receiver (20) being located within said first sector (12);

said first receiver (20) being capable of receiving a first signal from said first transmitting antenna array (15A);

a second receiver (22);

said second receiver (22) being located within said second sector (14);

said second receiver (22) being capable of receiving a second signal from said second transmitting antenna array (17A);

said first and said second signals being capable of being different;

said first receiver (20) being capable of receiving only from said first transmitting antenna array (15A) which is dedicated to serve only said first sector (12);

said second receiver (22) being capable of receiving only from said second transmitting antenna array (17A) which is dedicated to serve only said second sector (14);

both of said first and said second transmitting antenna arrays (15A, 17A) for forming shaped beams which are alternately polarized to ensure the isolation of beams that serve adjacent sectors; and

both of said first and said second transmitting antenna (16,

     18) being low sidelobe antennas to reduce the sidelobe in adjacent sectors.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which:

said first and said second transmitting antenna arrays (15A, 17A) are planar antenna arrays (47,

     50).

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which:

power is distributed to said planar antenna arrays (47,

     50) so that the centermost elements in said planar antenna arrays (47,

     50) radiate more power than elements at the periphery of said planar antenna arrays (47,

     50) so that the first sidelobe exposed to the one over adjacent sector is substantially lower resulting in a lower level of unwanted energy in the one over adjacent sector.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a controller (32);

said controller (32) being coupled to said transmitting antenna arrays (15A, 17A);

a first customer interface unit (44) being coupled to said first receiver (20); and

a second customer interface unit (44) being coupled to said second receiver (22);

both said first and said second customer interface units (44) for receiving a code from said transmitting antenna array which informs said first and said second customer interface units (44) about a scrambling pattern that will be issued by said controller (32) which enables encryption and decryption.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said first and said second receivers (20, 22) are used to process orthogonally polarized signals in which one polarity is predominant to perform active cancellation.

6. A high-bandwidth communications apparatus for offering communications to fixed sites comprising:

a cell (11);

said cell (11) including a plurality of sectors (12,

     14);

a first transmitting antenna array (15A);

said first transmitting antenna array (15A) including a transmitting antenna (16);

said first transmitting antenna array (15A) being dedicated to serve only one of said sectors (12,

     14);

a second transmitting antenna array (17A);

said second transmitting antenna array (17A) including a transmitting antenna (18);

each of said transmitting antenna arrays (15A, 17A) each having a beamwidth (19) of a maximum of fifteen degrees;

a plurality of receivers (20,

     22);

each of said plurality of receivers (20,

     22) being located within one of said plurality of sectors (12,

     14);

each of said plurality of receivers (20,

     22) for receiving only from one of said transmitting antenna arrays (15A, 17A); and

both of said first and said second transmitting antenna arrays (15A, 17A) for forming shaped beams which are alternately polarized to ensure the isolation of beams that serve adjacent sectors; and

both of said first and said second transmitting antennas (16,

     18) being low sidelobe antennas to reduce the sidelobe in adjacent sectors.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which:

said first and said second transmitting antenna arrays (15A, 17A) are planar antenna arrays (47,

     50).

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which:

power is distributed to said planar antenna arrays (47,

     50) so that the centermost elements in said planar antenna arrays (47,

     50) radiate more power than elements at the periphery of said planar antenna arrays (47,

     50) so that the first sidelobe exposed to the one over adjacent sector is substantially lower resulting in a lower level of unwanted energy in the one over adjacent sector.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

a controller (32);

said controller (32) being coupled to said transmitting antenna arrays (15A, 17A);

a first customer interface unit (44) being coupled to said first receiver (20); and

a second customer interface unit (44) being coupled to said second receiver (22);

both said first and said second customer interface units (44) for receiving a code from said transmitting antenna array which informs said first and said second customer interface units (44) about a scrambling pattern that will be issued by said controller (32) which enables encryption and decryption.

10. A high-bandwidth communications apparatus for offering communications to fixed sites comprising:

a cell (11);

said cell (11) including a first sector (12) and a second sector (14);

a first transmitting and receiving antenna array (15B);

said first transmitting and receiving antenna array (15B) including a first transmitting antenna (24T) and a first receiving antenna (24R);

said first transmitting antenna (24T) and said first receiving antenna (24R) being dedicated to serve only said first sector (12);

a second transmitting and receiving antenna array (17B);

said second transmitting and receiving antenna array (17B) including a second transmitting antenna (26T) and a second receiving antenna (26R);

said second transmitting antenna (26T) and said second receiving antenna (26R) being dedicated to serve only said second sector (14);

said first and said second transmitting and receiving antenna arrays (15B, 17B) each having a beamwidth (19) of a maximum of fifteen degrees;

a first transceiver (28);

said first transceiver (28) being located within said first sector (12);

a second receiver (22);

said second receiver (22) being located within said second sector (14);

said first receiver (20) for receiving only from said first transmitting and receiving antenna array (15B) which is dedicated to serve only said first sector (12);

said second receiver (22) for receiving only from said second transmitting and receiving antenna array (17B) which is dedicated to serve only said second sector (14);

both of said first and said second transmitting and receiving antenna arrays (15B, 17B) for forming shaped beams which are alternately polarized to ensure the isolation of beams that serve adjacent sectors; and

both of said first and said second transmitting antennas (16,

     18) being low sidelobe antennas to reduce the sidelobe in adjacent sectors.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which:

said first and said second transmitting antenna arrays (15A, 17A) are planar antenna arrays (47,

     50).

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in which:

power is distributed to said planar antenna arrays (47,

     50) so that the centermost elements in said planar antenna arrays (47,

     50) radiate more power than elements at the periphery of said planar antenna arrays (47,

     50) so hat the first sidelobe exposed to the one over adjacent sector is substantially lower resulting in a lower level of unwanted energy in the one over adjacent sector.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

a controller (32);

said controller (32) being coupled to said transmitting antenna arrays (15A, 17A);

a first customer interface unit (44) being coupled to said first receiver (20); and

a second customer interface unit (44) being coupled to said second receiver (22);

both said first and said second customer interface units (44) for receiving a code from said transmitting antenna array which informs said first and said second customer interface units (44) about a scrambling pattern that will be issued by said controller (32) which enables encryption and decryption.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which said first and said second receivers (20, 22) are used to process orthogonally polarized signals in which one polarity is predominant to perform active cancellation.