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

• US 6,233,435 B1
• Filed: 12/20/1999
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telecommunications Equipment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Telecommunications Equipment Corporation
• Inventors: Wong, Thomas T. Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woldetatios, Yemane
• Application Number:
  US09/466,951
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 455/272, 455/273, 455/276.1, 455/504, 455/508, 455/60, 455/63, 455/69, 455/137, 455/303, 375/347
• US Class Current: 455/103
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity

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.

The transceiver will select the proper antenna and signal path for optimal information throughput as the conditions in the propagation medium of the network vary.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

transmission means for transmitting a first rotating wave;

transceiver means having 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;

the transceiver means further having transmission means for output of a signal having information contained in said first rotating wave;

a plurality of antennae connected to said transmission means; and

a controller for allocation of signal path, the controller connected to said reception means and to said transmission means, the controller having means for selecting among said plurality of antennae.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller has decision criteria therein for selecting among said plurality of antennae.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the decision criteria is based on the needs of at least one of said transceiving stations.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said criteria include whether the message needs retransmitting.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the decision criteria includes conditions in the propagation media through which the first wave travels.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the conditions include obstruction of said first rotating wave through a particular transmission path.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the obstruction is at least one of weather interference or reflectance.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein adaptive portions of the transceiver are used for antenna allocation to optimize retransmission of the received message.

9. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of interactive transceiving stations transmitting said first rotating wave and receiving said first rotating wave.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller has decision criteria therein for selecting among said plurality of antennae.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the decision criteria is based on the needs of at least one of said transceiving stations.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said criteria include whether the message needs retransmitting.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the decision criteria includes conditions in the propagation media through which the first wave travels.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising the conditions including obstruction of said first rotating wave through a particular transmission path.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the obstruction is at least one of weather interference or reflectance.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein adaptive portions of the transceiver are used for antenna allocation to optimize retransmission of the received message.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the location of the interactive transceiving stations is determined by at least one of signal strength and polarization degradation specific to a given environment.

18. A system according to claim 1, 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.

19. The system according to claim 18, 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 first channel secondary path,

a first phase of said first channel second path is shifted and combined with said second channel primary path, and

a second phase of said second channel secondary path is shifted and combined with said second channel primary path.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said first phase is shifted about 90°

.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein said second phase is shifted about 90°

.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller has decision criteria therein for selecting among said plurality of antennae.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the decision criteria is based on the needs of at least one of said transceiving stations.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said criteria include whether the message needs retransmitting.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the decision criteria includes conditions in the propagation media through which the first and second waves travel.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising the conditions including obstruction of said first and second rotating waves through a particular transmission path.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the obstruction is at least one of weather interference or reflectance.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein adaptive portions of the transceiver are used for antenna allocation to optimize retransmission of the received message.

29. A system according to claim 18, further comprising a plurality of interactive transceiving stations transmitting said first rotating wave and receiving said first and second rotating waves.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the controller has decision criteria therein for selecting among said plurality of antennae.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the decision criteria is based on the needs of at least one of said transceiving stations.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein said criteria include whether the message needs retransmitting.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the decision criteria includes conditions in the propagation media through which the first and second waves travel.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising the conditions including obstruction of said first and second rotating waves through a particular transmission path.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the obstruction is at least one of weather interference or reflectance.

36. The system of claim 29, wherein adaptive portions of the transceiver are used for antenna allocation to optimize retransmission of the received message.

37. The system of claim 29, wherein the location of the interactive transceiving stations is determined by at least one of signal strength and polarization degradation specific to a given environment.