Direction-agile antenna system for wireless communications

• US 6,486,832 B1
• Filed: 11/10/2000
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Airgain Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AM Group Corporation
• Inventors: Abramov, Oleg Y., Kirdin, Alexander N., Kashkarov, Alexander G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US09/710,724
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/765, 343/766, 343/754, 343/757, 343/853, 343/872, 342/359, 342/375
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2258 used with computer equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2275 associated to expansion card or bus, e.g. in PCMCIA, PC cards, Wireless USB
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/02 using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A direction-agile antenna system is implemented in a wireless network to allow wireless communication devices to establish and maintain wireless data links with each other.

Claims

1. A direction-agile antenna system for communication in a wireless network, comprising:

an antenna capable of transmitting an electromagnetic signal in a direction having an antenna gain; and

a controller connected to the antenna, the controller capable of generating a direction-selection signal to steer the electromagnetic signal to a selected direction corresponding to a high gain position in response to detecting an expected signal transmitted within the network,

wherein the antenna comprises a plurality of antenna elements capable of electronically steering the electromagnetic signal to the selected direction in response to the direction-selection signal, and

wherein the antenna elements are arranged in a plurality of arrays disposed on different planes.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna elements are disposed on at least three planes to form an electronically steered radiation pattern.

3. A direction-agile antenna system for communication in a wireless network, comprising:

an antenna capable of transmitting an electromagnetic signal in a direction having an antenna gain;

a transceiver connected to the antenna, the transceiver capable of detecting an expected signal transmitted within the network and in response generating an antenna gain signal; and

an antenna control unit connected to the transceiver, the antenna control unit capable of generating a direction-selection signal to steer the electromagnetic signal to a selected direction corresponding to a high gain position in response to the antenna gain signal,

wherein the antenna comprises a plurality of antenna elements capable of electronically steering the electromagnetic signal to the selected direction in response to the direction-selection signal, and

wherein the antenna elements are arranged in a plurality of arrays disposed on different planes.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the antenna elements are disposed on at least three planes to form an electronically steered radiation pattern.

5. A direction-agile antenna system for communication in a wireless network, comprising:

an antenna comprising a plurality of antenna elements capable of transmitting an electromagnetic signal in a selected direction;

a transceiver connected to the antenna, the transceiver capable of detecting an expected signal transmitted within the network and in response generating an antenna gain signal; and

an antenna control unit connected to the transceiver, the antenna control unit capable of generating a direction-selection signal to steer the electromagnetic signal electronically to the selected direction in response to the antenna gain signal,

wherein the antenna elements are arranged in a plurality of arrays disposed on different planes.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the antenna elements are disposed on at least three planes to form an electronically steered radiation pattern.