Wideband digitization systems and methods for cellular radiotelephones
First Claim
1. A cellular base station for communicating with a mobile station in a cellular communications system over one of a plurality of cellular communications channels, said base station comprising:
- a plurality of receive antennas for receiving signals from the mobile station over the cellular communications channel wherein each receive antenna is oriented to define a respective receive coverage area;
a support structure for supporting said plurality of receive antennas so that a first receive antenna defines a first receive coverage area and a second receive antenna defines a second receive coverage area overlapping a portion of said first receive coverage area;
a first wideband receiver operatively connected to said first receive antenna, wherein said first wideband receiver receives a first plurality of receive cellular communications channels from said first receive coverage area;
a second wideband receiver operatively connected to said second receive antenna, wherein said second wideband receiver receives a second plurality of receive cellular communications channels from said second receive coverage area and wherein said first and second pluralities of receive channels include the one common receive cellular communications channel from the mobile station;
first and second channel splitters operatively connected to said respective first and second wideband receivers for separating said first and second pluralities of receive cellular communications channels; and
a diversity combiner operatively connected to said first and second channel splitters for combining said common receive cellular communications channel from said first and second channel splitters to produce an enhanced quality output receive channel from the mobile station;
wherein each of said receive cellular communications channel operates on a predetermined cellular frequency and said first and second pluralities of receive cellular communications channels each comprise receive channels operating on consecutive predetermined cellular frequencies.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A base station for communicating with at least one mobile station in a cellular communications system includes a plurality of receive antennas wherein each receive antenna is oriented to define a respective receive coverage area. The antennas are supported by a support structure so that a first receive antenna defines a first receive coverage area and a second receive antenna defines a second receive coverage area overlapping a portion of the first receive coverage area. First and second wideband receivers are operatively connected to respective first and second antennas. The first wideband receiver receives a first plurality of receive channels from the first receive coverage area, and the second wideband receiver receives a second plurality of receive channels from the second receive coverage area. The first and second pluralities of receive channels include at least one common receive channel. The base station also includes first and second channel splitters operatively connected to the respective first and second wideband receivers for separating the first and second pluralities of receive channels. A diversity combiner is operatively connected to the first and second channel splitters for combining the common receive channel from the first and second channel splitters. Accordingly, an enhanced quality output receive channel is produced.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A cellular base station for communicating with a mobile station in a cellular communications system over one of a plurality of cellular communications channels, said base station comprising:
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a plurality of receive antennas for receiving signals from the mobile station over the cellular communications channel wherein each receive antenna is oriented to define a respective receive coverage area; a support structure for supporting said plurality of receive antennas so that a first receive antenna defines a first receive coverage area and a second receive antenna defines a second receive coverage area overlapping a portion of said first receive coverage area; a first wideband receiver operatively connected to said first receive antenna, wherein said first wideband receiver receives a first plurality of receive cellular communications channels from said first receive coverage area; a second wideband receiver operatively connected to said second receive antenna, wherein said second wideband receiver receives a second plurality of receive cellular communications channels from said second receive coverage area and wherein said first and second pluralities of receive channels include the one common receive cellular communications channel from the mobile station; first and second channel splitters operatively connected to said respective first and second wideband receivers for separating said first and second pluralities of receive cellular communications channels; and a diversity combiner operatively connected to said first and second channel splitters for combining said common receive cellular communications channel from said first and second channel splitters to produce an enhanced quality output receive channel from the mobile station; wherein each of said receive cellular communications channel operates on a predetermined cellular frequency and said first and second pluralities of receive cellular communications channels each comprise receive channels operating on consecutive predetermined cellular frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A cellular base station for communicating with a mobile station in a cellular communications system over one of a plurality of cellular communications channels, said base station comprising:
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a plurality of receive antennas for receiving signals from the mobile station over the cellular communications channel wherein each receive antenna is oriented to define a respective receive coverage area; a support structure for supporting said plurality of receive antennas so that a first receive antenna defines a first receive coverage area and a second receive antenna defines a second receive coverage area overlapping a portion of said first receive coverage area; a first wideband receiver operatively connected to said first receive antenna, wherein said first wideband receiver receives a first plurality of receive cellular communications channels from said first receive coverage area; a second wideband receiver operatively connected to said second receive antenna, wherein said second wideband receiver receives a second plurality of receive cellular communications channels from said second receive coverage area and wherein said first and second pluralities of receive channels include the one common receive cellular communications channel from the mobile station; first and second channel splitters operatively connected to said respective first and second wideband receivers for separating said first and second pluralities of receive cellular communications channels; and a diversity combiner operatively connected to said first and second channel splitters for combining said common receive cellular communications channel from said first and second channel splitters to produce an enhanced quality output receive channel from the mobile station; wherein said first receive antenna receives signals having a first polarization and said second receive antenna receives signals having a second polarization different from said first polarization, and wherein said diversity combiner comprises a polarization diversity combiner; and wherein said first antenna defines a first transmit coverage area and transmits signals having said second polarization, and wherein said second antenna defines a second transmit coverage area and transmits signals having said first polarization.
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8. A cellular base station for communicating with a mobile station in a cellular communications system over one of a plurality of cellular communications channels, said base station comprising:
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a plurality of receive antennas for receiving signals from the mobile station over the cellular communications channel wherein each receive antenna is oriented to define a respective receive coverage area; a support structure for supporting said plurality of receive antennas so that a first receive antenna defines a first receive coverage area, a second receive antenna adjacent said first receive antenna defines a second receive coverage area overlapping a portion of said first receive coverage area, and a third receive antenna adjacent said second receive antenna defines a third receive coverage area overlapping portions of said first and second receive coverage areas; a first wideband receiver operatively connected to said first receive antenna, wherein said first wideband receiver receives a first plurality of receive cellular communications channels from said first receive coverage area; a second wideband receiver operatively connected to said second receive antenna, wherein said second wideband receiver receives a second plurality of receive cellular communications channels from said second receive coverage area; a third wideband receiver operatively connected to said third receive antenna, wherein said third wideband receiver receives a third plurality of receive cellular communications channels from said third receive coverage area and wherein said first, second, and third pluralities of receive channels include the common receive cellular communications channel from the mobile station; first, second, and third channel splitters operatively connected to said respective first, second, and third wideband receivers for separating said first, second, and third pluralities of receive channels; and a diversity combiner operatively connected to said first, second, and third channel splitters for combining said common receive cellular communications channel from said first, second, and third channel splitters to produce an enhanced quality output receive channel from the mobile station; wherein said first and third receive antennas receive signals having a first polarization and said second receive antenna receives signals having a second polarization different from said first polarization, and wherein said diversity combiner comprises a polarization diversity combiner; wherein said first and third antennas define respective first and third transmit coverage areas and transmit signals having said second polarization, and wherein said second antenna defines a second transmit coverage area and transmits signals having said first polarization.
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9. A cellular base station for communicating with a mobile station in a cellular communications system over one of a plurality of cellular communications channels, said base station comprising:
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a plurality of receive antennas for receiving signals from the mobile station over the cellular communications channel wherein each receive antenna is oriented to define a respective receive coverage area; a support structure for supporting said plurality of receive antennas so that a first receive antenna defines a first receive coverage area, a second receive antenna adjacent said first receive antenna defines a second receive coverage area overlapping a portion of said first receive coverage area, and a third receive antenna adjacent said second receive antenna defines a third receive coverage area overlapping portions of said first and second receive coverage areas; a first wideband receiver operatively connected to said first receive antenna, wherein said first wideband receiver receives a first plurality of receive cellular communications channels from said first receive coverage area; a second wideband receiver operatively connected to said second receive antenna, wherein said second wideband receiver receives a second plurality of receive cellular communications channels from said second receive coverage area; a third wideband receiver operatively connected to said third receive antenna, wherein said third wideband receiver receives a third plurality of receive cellular communications channels from said third receive coverage area and wherein said first, second, and third pluralities of receive channels include the common receive cellular communications channel from the mobile station; first, second, and third channel splitters operatively connected to said respective first, second, and third wideband receivers for separating said first, second, and third pluralities of receive channels; and a diversity combiner operatively connected to said first, second, and third channel splitters for combining said common receive cellular communications channel from said first, second, and third channel splitters to produce an enhanced quality output receive channel from the mobile station; wherein each of said receive channels operates on a predetermined frequency and said first, second, and third pluralities of receive channels each comprise receive channels operating on consecutive frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for communicating with a mobile station over one of a plurality of cellular communications channels, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first plurality of receive cellular communications channels from a first receive coverage area; receiving a second plurality of receive cellular communications channels from a second receive coverage area which overlaps a portion of said first receive coverage area, wherein said first and second pluralities of receive cellular communications channels include the common receive cellular communications channel from the mobile station; separating said common receive channel from each of said first and second pluralities of receive cellular communications channels; combining said common receive cellular communications channel from said first and second receive coverage areas to produce an enhanced quality output receive channel from the mobile station, wherein said step of receiving said first plurality of receive channels comprises receiving said first plurality of receive channels having a first polarization, and wherein said step of receiving said second plurality of receive channels comprises receiving said second plurality of receive channels having a second polarization different from said first polarization; transmitting signals having said second polarization into said first receive coverage area; and transmitting signals having said first polarization into said second receive coverage area.
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14. A method for communicating with a mobile station over one of a plurality of cellular communications channels, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first plurality of receive cellular communications channels from a first receive coverage area; receiving a second plurality of receive cellular communications channels from a second receive coverage area which overlaps a portion of said first receive coverage area, wherein said first and second pluralities of receive cellular communications channels include the common receive cellular communications channel from the mobile station; separating said common receive channel from each of said first and second pluralities of receive cellular communications channels; and combining said common receive cellular communications channel from said first and second receive coverage areas to produce an enhanced quality output receive channel from the mobile station; wherein each of said receive cellular communications channels operates on a predetermined frequency and said first and second pluralities of receive cellular communications channels each comprise receive cellular communications channels operating on consecutive predetermined frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification