Down link beam forming architecture for heavily overlapped beam configuration
First Claim
1. An antenna arrangement for a cellular wireless communication system, said arrangement comprising:
- an antenna array for forming a multiplicity of separate overlapping radio frequency radiation beams, said array having a plurality of individual radiating antenna elements each having a wide angle coverage;
a beam forming means producing a beam formed output signal, each said beam comprising a number of separate channels; and
a plurality of power amplifiers positioned between said beam forming means and said antenna array, each said power amplifier receiving an input from said beam forming means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An antenna beam forming for generating a plurality of broad overlapping radiation beams for a cellular radio application comprises an antenna array having a plurality of individual antenna elements, each individual antenna element connected by a cable to a respective diplexor, each diplexor fed by a multi-channel power amplifier receiving an input from an output port of an eight way Butler matrix. Transmission signals are input to seven input ports of the Butler matrix, and output transmission signals are produced at four of the output ports of the Butler matrix. A remaining four output ports are each terminated with a respective matched load. A 3 dB power loss incurred in the Butler matrix is compensated by provision of a plurality of pre-amplifiers prior to the input ports of the Butler matrix, with the power amplification stage being carried out on the outputs of the Butler matrix. Side lobe suppression is maintained by ensuring phase and amplitude integrity across the output channels. A set of phase and amplitude adjusters operate on the output transmission signals from the Butler matrix output ports. The phase and amplitude adjusters may be electronically controlled.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An antenna arrangement for a cellular wireless communication system, said arrangement comprising:
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an antenna array for forming a multiplicity of separate overlapping radio frequency radiation beams, said array having a plurality of individual radiating antenna elements each having a wide angle coverage; a beam forming means producing a beam formed output signal, each said beam comprising a number of separate channels; and a plurality of power amplifiers positioned between said beam forming means and said antenna array, each said power amplifier receiving an input from said beam forming means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 28, 29)
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14. A method of forming a multiplicity of overlapping beams using a multi-element antenna array, each said element having a wide angle coverage and each said beam comprising a number of separate channels, said method comprising the steps of:
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inputting a first plurality of transmission signals into a beam forming means; outputting a second plurality of transmission signals from said beam forming means; inputting said second plurality of transmission signals to a plurality of power amplifiers; amplifying said second plurality of transmission signals to produce a plurality of power amplified transmission signals; and energizing said antenna array with said power amplified transmission signals to produce said multiplicity of overlapping beams. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 30)
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21. A beam forming apparatus for a cellular wireless communications system, said apparatus being for forming a multiplicity of overlapping beams wherein each said beam comprises a number of separate channels, said apparatus comprising:
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an antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements, each said element having a wide angle coverage; a beam forming matrix having a first plurality of input ports each receiving a corresponding respective input transmission signal, a second plurality of output ports each outputting a corresponding respective output transmission signal; and a plurality of power amplifiers feeding said input transmission signals into said input ports, wherein each said power amplifier feeds a corresponding respective said input port, and each said output port feeds a corresponding antenna element, there being one said power amplifier per each said input port and one antenna element per each said output port, and said first plurality is greater than said second plurality. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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22. In a cellular wireless communications apparatus, a method of communicating with a mobile station, said method comprising the steps of:
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forming a plurality of directional wide angle coverage up-link beams, said up-link beams distinguishable from each-other in azimuth and each comprising a number of separate channels; forming a plurality of directional down-link beams, said down-link beams distinguishable from each-other in azimuth, wherein a said down-link beam occupies an in-fill region in azimuth between adjacent first and second said up-link beams and individual ones of said plurality of down-link beams overlap-spatially regions occupied by individual ones of said up-link beams; receiving from said mobile station first and second mobile signals on said respective first and second said up-link beams; analyzing said first and second mobile signals received on said first and second up-link beams; and depending on a result of said analysis, communicating with said mobile station on said down-link beam occupying said in-fill region. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 32)
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Specification