Method and system for controlling a direction of a receive beam produced by an antenna connected to at least two base stations

• US 8,185,161 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quintel Cayman Limited
• Original Assignee: Quintel Technology Limited (Cirtek Holdings Philippines Corp.)
• Inventors: Haskell, Philip Edward, Hickling, Paul Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D
• Application Number:
  US12/201,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20090075701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: 455/52.1, 455/562.1
• US Class Current: 455/562.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/30 varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array H01Q3/2605, H01Q3/2658, H01Q3/2682, H01Q3/44 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile-radio base station for a telecommunications system includes vector modulator means for independently controlling the phase and/or amplitude of a plurality of component signals representative of the signal to be transmitted or received, such that when these signals pass through a plurality of antenna elements, a beam is formed in a direction according to the phase relationship of the component signals. The invention also includes interface means allowing other base stations to be coupled to the same antenna, with each base station having independent control of its beam direction. Provision is includes for phase compensation of the signals to correct for errors introduced by unequal and variable component signal path lengths between the base station and the antenna. The vector modulator means is arranged to operate at low power levels, where it can operate more efficiently.

Claims

1. A system for communicating signals between an operator and one or more mobile units via an antenna system having a plurality of radiating elements, the system comprising:

a processor adapted to process the signals as a plurality of component signals, each component signal being associated with at least one radiating element within the antenna system, and

a modulator adapted to apply complex weights to the component signals such that a summation of the component signals results in a production of an antenna beam direction dependent on a value of each of the complex weights;

wherein a splitter, a combiner, and a component signal amplifier are provided between the modulator and the plurality of radiating elements, the splitter being in a receive signal path, and the combiner being in a transmit path wherein the splitter and combiner are configured to connect component signals from a first base station with component signals from a second base station, simultaneously to the antenna system.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the modulator is arranged to apply the complex weights to the component signals at a component signal frequency lower than a component signal frequency of the component signals that are passed to the antenna system.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the modulator is arranged to apply the complex weights to the component signals at a component signal frequency substantially the same as a component signal frequency of the component signals that are passed to the antenna system.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the modulator comprises vector controllers.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the vector controllers are arranged to control a relative phase of each component signal.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the vector controllers are arranged to control an amplitude of each component signal.

7. A method of controlling a direction of a transmit beam produced by an antenna connected to at least two base stations, the method comprising:

in a first base station, splitting a first signal to be transmitted into a plurality of component signals;

applying at least one complex weight to at least one of the plurality of component signals, thereby changing at least one of a phase or an amplitude of the at least one of the plurality of component signals relative to at least one other of the plurality of component signals;

passing the plurality of component signals to amplifying means wherein the plurality of component signals are brought to a power level for transmission;

combining the plurality of component signals from the first base station with component signals from a second base station using a combining means to produce combined component signals;

passing the combined component signals to antenna elements of the antenna, such that a transmission by the antenna elements causes a beam of energy representative of the first signal to be formed in a direction governed by the at least one complex weight.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the component signals from the second base station are independent from the component signals from the first base station.

9. A method of controlling a direction of a receive beam produced by an antenna connected to at least two base stations, the method comprising:

i) receiving in the antenna a plurality of component signals, each of the plurality of component signals relating to a receiving element, and passing the plurality of component signals to splitting and filter means via a plurality of feeder cables;

ii) separating using the splitting and filter means a subset of the plurality of component signals intended for a first base station from the plurality of components signals, and amplifying the subset of the plurality of component signals using amplification means;

iii) applying at least one complex weight to at least one of the subset of the plurality of component signals in the first base station, for changing at least one of a phase or an amplitude of the at least one of the subset of the plurality of component signals relative to at least one other of the subset of the plurality of component signals;

iv) combining the subset of the plurality of component signals in the first base station to produce a receive beam formed in a direction governed by the at least one complex weight;

v) repeating steps ii to iv in a second base station independently of the first base station.

10. A system for communicating signals between an operator and one or more mobile units via an antenna system having a plurality of radiating elements, the system comprising:

a processor adapted to process the signals as a plurality of component signals, each component signal being associated with at least one radiating element of a plurality of radiating elements within the antenna system, and

a modulator adapted to apply complex weights to the component signals such that a summation of the component signals results in a production of an antenna beam direction dependent on a value of each of the complex weights;

wherein a splitter, a combiner, and a component signal amplifier are provided between the modulator and the plurality of radiating elements, the splitter being in a receive signal path, and the combiner being in a transmit path wherein the splitter and combiner are configured to connect a plurality of base stations simultaneously to the antenna system.