Adaptive receive and omnidirectional transmit antenna array

• US 6,873,293 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2003
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IPR Licensing Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IPR Licensing Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Proctor, Jr., James A., Chiang, Bing
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US10/386,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20040150569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/725, 343/814, 343/815, 343/833, 343/834, 343/836, 343/837, 343/853
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/245 with means for shaping the antenna pattern, e.g. in order to protect user against rf exposure
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/521 reducing the coupling between adjacent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/32 the primary active element being end-fed and elongated
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/001 Crossed polarisation dual antennas orthomode horns H01Q13/0258; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; orthomode transducers H01P1/161
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/002 providing at least two patterns of different beamwidth; Variable beamwidth antennas
• 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: H01Q 3/44 varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of reflecting, refracting, or diffracting devices associated with the radiating element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity

Abstract

An adaptive antenna used in a receive only mode with a separate omnidirectional transmit antenna. The arrangement is especially effective for small, handheld wireless devices. The transmit antenna maybe integrated with the receive array by utilizing a horizontally polarized transmit and vertically polarized receiver ray. In other embodiments, the transmit antenna may be physically separate and not integrated with the receive array. In either case there is separate receive and transmit signal port as an interface to radio transceiver equipment. The use of an adaptive antenna in the receive only direction has the potential to increase forward links capacity to levels equal to or greater than reverse link capacity. This allows for a significant increase in the overall number of users that may be active at the same time in a wireless system.

Claims

1. An adaptive antenna array intended for use in a mobile communication device comprising:

an adaptive directional receive antenna array for signal reception; and

an omnidirectional transmit antenna for signal transmission;

the adaptive directional receive antenna array and the transmit antenna being integrated into a housing of a hand portable device.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein the adaptive receive array comprises at least one parasitic element.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein the transmit antenna comprises a radiating element disposed at a different polarization with respect to at least one of a plurality of elements of the receive array.

4. A device as in claim 3 wherein the receive array is vertically polarized and the transmit antenna is horizontally polarized.

5. A device as in claim 3 wherein the transmit antenna polarization is orthogonal to receive array polarization.

6. A device as in claim 1 wherein the omnidirectional transmit antenna is physically separated from the receive array.

7. A device as in claim 1 wherein the mobile communication device is used with Time-Division Duplex system, whereby the array is used during transmit time periods be forced to operate in a directive mode during at least some of a receive time period.

8. A device as in claim 1 wherein the device uses a Code Division Multiple Access modulation.

9. A device as in claim 1 wherein an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex modulation is used.

10. A device as in claim 1 wherein the omnidirectional transmit antenna and the adaptive receive antenna array are integrated on a single dielectric substrate.

11. A device as in claim 1 wherein the omnidirectional transmit antenna is located at a base of the housing of the hand portable device and the receive array is located in a top portion of the housing.

12. A device as in claim 1 wherein the omnidirectional transmit antenna and the receive array are both located in a top portion of the housing of the handheld portable device.

13. A device as in claim 1 wherein the omnidirectional transmit antenna is bent.

14. A device as in claim 1 wherein the omnidirectional transmit antenna is attached to a rear portion of the housing.

15. A device as in claim 14 whererin the omnidirectional transmit antenna includes a hinge for extending and retracting a length of the transmit antenna.

16. A device as in claim 1 wherein the adaptive directional receive antenna array comprises an active antenna element and at least one passive antenna element.

17. A device as in claim 16 comprising a switch for coupling the at least one passive antenna element to one or more impedances in order to affect the directivity of the the adaptive directional receive antenna array.

18. A device as in claim 1 wherein a portion of the adaptive directional receive antenna array extends through the housing of the hand portable device.

19. An adaptive antenna array intended for use in a mobile communication device comprising:

an adantive directional receive antenna array for signal reception; and

an omnidirectional transmit antenna for signal transmission, the omnidirectional transmit antenna being physically separated from the receive array. the omnidirectional transmit antenna being located at the base of a handheld unit where the receive array is located in a top portion.