Multi-function interactive communications system with circularly/elliptically polarized signal transmission and reception

• US 6,006,070 A
• Filed: 10/14/1997
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telecommunications Equipment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Telecommunications Equipment Corporation
• Inventors: Wong, Thomas T. Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US08/949,478
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 455/209, 455/314, 455/303, 455/304, 455/63, 455/65, 455/273, 455/101, 455/137, 455/60, 455/69, 455/139, 455/138, 455/67.1, 455/67.3, 455/67.5, 455/305, 455/275, 455/276. 1, 342/361, 342/362, 342/363, 342/364, 342/365, 342/366, 342/380, 342/383, 342/381, 342/384, 364/514 R
• US Class Current: 455/63.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3272 using an audio code
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/245 provided with means for varying the polarisation polarising devices H01Q15/24; tracking by comparing linear polarisation compounds G01S3/146; reducing depolarisation effects H04B7/00; polarisation diversity H04B7/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/002 Reducing depolarization effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/275 implemented by means of portable electronic directories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2755 by optical scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/675 the user being required to insert a coded card, e.g. a smart card carrying an integrated circuit chip
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/00 Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal

Abstract

A communications system that uses electromagnetic waves. The communications system preferably operates in the millimeter-wave frequencies, and provides relatively high signal restoration and isolation. The communications system can use polarization diversity to increase the capacity of a channel. Isolation and restoration features in the transceivers eliminate or reduce the effects of precipitation and/or reflection and diffraction from objects, and thus is well-suited for an urban environment.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first rotating wave;

receiving said first rotating wave, wherein components of said first rotating wave enter a first channel and a second channel;

isolating said first rotating wave from at least one of said first channel and said second channel, wherein said first channel is divided into a first channel primary path and a first channel secondary path, said second channel is divided into a second channel primary path and a second channel secondary path; and

shifting a first phase of said first channel secondary path and combining said shifted first phase with said second channel primary path, and shifting a second phase of said second channel secondary path and combining said shifted second phase with said first channel primary path.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a second rotating wave is transmitted simultaneously with said first rotating wave, said second rotating wave rotates counter to said first rotating wave, reception means receives said second rotating wave, components of said second rotating wave enter said first channel and said second channel, and said second wave is isolated from at least one of said first channel and said second channel.

3. A system comprising:

transmission means for transmitting a first rotating wave;

reception means for receiving said first rotating wave, wherein components of said first rotating wave enter a first channel and a second channel, said first channel divided into a first channel primary path and a first channel secondary path, said second channel divided into a second channel primary path and a second channel secondary path;

isolation means for isolating said first rotating wave from at least one of said first channel and said second channel;

a first shifter shifting a first phase of said first channel secondary path, a first combiner combining said shifted first phase with said second channel primary path; and

a second shifter shifting a second phase of said second channel secondary path, and a second combiner combining said shifted second phase with said first channel primary path.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said transmission means transmits a second rotating wave simultaneously with said first rotating wave, said second rotating wave rotates counter to said first rotating wave, said reception means receives said second rotating wave, components of said second rotating wave enter said first channel and said second channel, and said isolation means isolates said second wave from at least one of said first channel and said second channel.

5. A system according to claim 3, further comprising a plurality of automatic gain control amps equalizing a first magnitude of said first channel and a second magnitude of said second channel.

6. A system according to claim 3, wherein a phase difference value between said first phase and said second phase is calculated, and a phase difference signal is emitted as a function of said phase difference value.

7. A system according to claim 6, further comprising an antenna feed which is adjusted as a function of said phase difference signal.

8. A system according to claim 3, wherein said first phase is detected and said second phase is detected and one of said first phase and said second phase is adjusted to ensure a predetermined phase difference between said first phase and said second phase.

9. A system according to claim 8, further comprising an electronic phase shifter adjusting one of said first phase and said second phase to ensure a predetermined phase difference between said first phase and said second phase.

10. A system according to claim 3, wherein a phase difference value is calculated between said first phase and said second phase, and at least one of a plurality of antenna feeds is selected as a function of said phase difference value.

11. A system according to claim 3, further comprising a plurality of antenna feeds selected as a function of a first magnitude of said first channel and a second magnitude of said second channel.

12. A system according to claim 3, further comprising an interactive transmission station transmitting said first rotating wave and a plurality of interactive receiving stations receiving said first rotating wave.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said interactive receiving stations transmits a first signal to said interactive transmission station as a function of said first rotating wave.