Antenna beam steering responsive to receiver and broadcast tower coordinates

• US 6,470,186 B1
• Filed: 02/17/2000
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Whikehart, J. William, Hadley, Darby Edward, Whitecar, John Elliott
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Nguyen T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC M
• Application Number:
  US09/506,294
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456, 455/457, 455/440, 455/441, 455/13.3, 455/562, 455/273, 455/276.1, 455/277.1, 455/277.2, 455/137, 342/140, 342/357.09, 342/359, 342/398, 342/449, 342/75, 342/357-1-3, 342/450, 701/301, 343/711-713, 343/767, 364/444-460
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method of controlling an antenna signal combiner in a vehicle having a navigational system, a broadcast receiver, and multiple antenna elements. The method comprises the steps of the broadcast receiver receiving broadcast signals from a broadcast tower. Then, determine first position coordinates of the vehicle using the navigation system. Next, determine second position coordinates of the broadcast tower and then combining signals from the multiple antennas to steer an antenna beam from the first position coordinates towards the second position coordinates. This method allows for accurate and timely tracking of a broadcast signal.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an antenna signal combiner in a vehicle having a navigational system, a broadcast receiver, and multiple antenna elements, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving broadcast signals from a broadcast tower;

adaptively steering an antenna beam in response to said broadcast signals;

determining first position coordinates of said vehicle and a first direction toward which said antenna beam is steered using said navigation system;

moving said vehicle to a second location;

adaptively steering said antenna beam in response to said broadcast signals;

determining second position coordinates of said vehicle and a second direction toward which said antenna beam is steered using said navigation system;

determining third position coordinates of said broadcast tower by triangulating said first position coordinates and said first direction with said second position coordinates and said second direction; and

combining signals from said multiple antenna elements to steer an antenna beam from said vehicle towards said third position coordinates.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein first and second position coordinates are derived from a vehicle localizer comprising a tire rotation monitor and a vehicle turn indicator.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first and second position coordinates are derived from a GPS receiver.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

storing said third position coordinates in a database according to said broadcast tower.