Method and apparatus for shaped antenna radiation patterns

• US 7,616,959 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2008
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Woodbury Wireless LLC
• Original Assignee: Rotani, Inc.
• Inventors: Woodbury, Brian, Lastinger, Roc, Funke, Nicholas, Spenik, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US12/021,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20080150827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 455/25, 455/63.4, 455/446, 455/447, 455/562.1, 343/767, 343/770
• US Class Current: 455/446
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/521 reducing the coupling between adjacent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/526 Electromagnetic shields
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/12 Longitudinally slotted cylinder antennas; Equivalent structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/102 wherein the surfaces are of convex toroïdal shape biconical horns H01Q13/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/20 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a curvilinear path slotted waveguide arrays H01Q21/005; circularly or helically slotted waveguides H01Q21/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/00 Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system means for positioning H01Q1/125
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0495 using overlapping sectors in the same base station to implement MIMO for antennas

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for antennas, wireless cells and networks are described. Antennas may use a shield to provide a shape of coverage, area of coverage, and channel assignment pattern configured for high throughput wireless cells and networks. Antenna combining devices may be used to form wireless cells configured for high throughput wireless cells and networks.

Claims

1. A method that facilitates wireless communication, the method comprising:

providing at least two shields each one shield having at least one opening and at least two antennas positioned in such a manner that a coverage lobe extends from each antenna through the at least one opening, wherein each antenna is assigned a channel and the coverage lobe of each antenna uses the channel assigned to its associated antenna;

stacking each of the shields; and

,

rotating each of the shields, whereby at least one coverage lobe from each shield at least partially overlaps at least one coverage lobe from another shield.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each antenna of each shield is assigned a different channel.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein each antenna is assigned a different channel.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein stacking comprises positioning at least one shield substantially above at least one other shield.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least two shields comprise two shields, wherein substantially adjacent and partially overlapping coverage lobes are assigned different channels.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein rotating comprises turning a first shield with respect to a second shield.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein rotating positions the at least one coverage lobe of a first shield in a different orientation with respect to the at least one coverage lobe of a second shield.

8. A method that facilitates wireless communication, the method comprising:

stacking at least two shields, wherein each one shield comprises at least one opening and at least two antennas positioned in such a manner that a coverage lobe extends from each antenna through the at least one opening, wherein each antenna is assigned a channel and the coverage lobe of each antenna uses the channel assigned to its associated antenna; and

rotating each of the shields, whereby at least one coverage lobe from each shield at least partially overlaps at least one coverage lobe from another shield.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein each antenna of each shield is assigned a different channel.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein stacking comprises positioning at least one shield substantially above at least one other shield.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the at least two shields comprise two shields, wherein substantially adjacent and partially overlapping coverage lobes are assigned different channels.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein rotating comprises turning a first shield with respect to a second shield.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein rotating positions the at least one coverage lobe of a first shield in a different orientation with respect to the at least one coverage lobe of a second shield.

14. A method that facilitates wireless communication, the method comprising:

rotating at least two shields, wherein each one shield comprises at least one opening and at least two antennas positioned in such a manner that a coverage lobe extends from each antenna through the at least one opening, wherein each antenna is assigned a channel and the coverage lobe of each antenna uses the channel assigned to its associated antenna, whereby at least one coverage lobe from each shield at least partially overlaps at least one coverage lobe from another shield.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein each antenna of each shield is assigned a different channel.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein stacking comprises positioning at least one shield substantially above at least one other shield.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the at least two shields comprise two shields, wherein substantially adjacent and partially overlapping coverage lobes are assigned different channels.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein rotating comprises turning a first shield with respect to a second shield.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein rotating positions the at least one coverage lobe of a first shield in a different orientation with respect to the at least one coverage lobe of a second shield.