Sectorized multi-function communication system

• US 6,052,582 A
• Filed: 02/12/1998
• Issued: 04/18/2000
• 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., Likins, Paul, Mohwinkel, Clifford A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US09/019,821
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/429, 455/449, 455/561, 455/562, 455/517, 455/524, 343/824, 380/20
• US Class Current: 455/562.1
• 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 serve 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 cell-based wireless communication system comprising:

at least first and second transmitting antennas, each antenna positioned for transmitting signals to an associated different sector of a cell and having a beamwidth of a maximum of fifteen degrees; and

at least one receiver located within each sector for receiving a signal from said transmitting antenna associated with the sector.

2. A communication system according to claim 1 wherein said at least first and second transmitting antennas transmit high-bandwidth communication signals.

3. A communication system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one receiver located within each sector is located at a fixed site.

4. A communication system according to claim 1 wherein said at least first and second transmitting antennas are dedicated to serve only the associated sector.

5. A communication system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one receiver located within each sector is adapted to receive only signals from the transmitting antenna associated with the sector in which the at least one receiver is located.

6. A communication system according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of each of said at least first and second transmitting antennas forming respective antenna arrays.

7. A communication system according to claim 6 further comprising means for distributing power to said antenna arrays so that the centermost antennas radiate more power than the antennas at the periphery.

8. A communication system according to claim 6 wherein the antenna arrays form beams of adjacent sectors that are alternately polarized.

9. A communication system according to claim 1 wherein both of said first and said second transmitting antennas are low sidelobe antennas for reducing the sidelobe in adjacent sectors.

10. A communication system according to claim 1 further comprising a receiving antenna associated with each sector, and a transmitter associated with each receiver for providing two-way communication in each sector.

11. A cell-based wireless communication system comprising:

at least first and second antenna arrays, each of said at least first and second antenna arrays including at least a transmitting antenna positioned for transmitting high-bandwidth communication signals only to an associated different sector of a cell and having a beamwidth of a maximum of fifteen degrees, and at least a receiving antenna positioned for receiving communication signals only from a transceiver located within the associated sector; and

at least one transceiver located at a fixed site within each sector for receiving signals from only said transmitting antenna associated with the sector and for transmitting signals only to said receiving antenna associated with the sector.