Methods and apparatus for overlapping MIMO antenna physical sectors
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system for communicating with a provided wireless device, the MIMO system comprising:
- at least four directional antennas; and
a quantity of radios comprising at least three radios, each radio transmits and receives signals using a same channel;
wherein;
each antenna is physically oriented in a fixed position such that a physical sector of each antenna partially overlaps a physical sector of a quantity of other antennas equal to at least the quantity of radios minus one thereby forming respective areas of overlap;
a center of each area of overlap is oriented in a unique direction with respect to the MIMO system;
each radio selectively couples to one respective antenna, each antenna coupled to a radio transmits and receives using a same channel as the radio to which the antenna is coupled;
the physical sectors of the antennas coupled to the radios overlap;
the quantity of radios communicate with the wireless device using the respective antennas coupled to each radio; and
the antennas coupled to the radios operate as a MIMO antenna.
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Abstract
MIMO systems communicate with wireless devices. MIMO systems include directional antennas that are oriented so that the physical sectors of the antennas overlap to form areas of overlap. The areas of overlap are oriented in unique directions. Radios are selectively coupled to the portion of the antennas to communicate with the wireless devices. The physical sectors of the antennas that are selectively coupled to the radios overlap. The radios use the antennas to communicate with the wireless devices. The antennas operate as a MIMO antenna.
131 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system for communicating with a provided wireless device, the MIMO system comprising:
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at least four directional antennas; and a quantity of radios comprising at least three radios, each radio transmits and receives signals using a same channel;
wherein;each antenna is physically oriented in a fixed position such that a physical sector of each antenna partially overlaps a physical sector of a quantity of other antennas equal to at least the quantity of radios minus one thereby forming respective areas of overlap; a center of each area of overlap is oriented in a unique direction with respect to the MIMO system; each radio selectively couples to one respective antenna, each antenna coupled to a radio transmits and receives using a same channel as the radio to which the antenna is coupled; the physical sectors of the antennas coupled to the radios overlap; the quantity of radios communicate with the wireless device using the respective antennas coupled to each radio; and the antennas coupled to the radios operate as a MIMO antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A wireless cell for communicating with a provided wireless device, the wireless cell comprising:
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a quantity of radios, each radio transmits and receives signals using a same channel, the quantity of radios comprises at least two radios; a quantity of directional antennas, the quantity of directional antennas is greater than the quantity of radios, each directional antenna physically positioned in a fixed position; a switch; and a processor, the processor coupled to the quantity of radios;
wherein;in accordance with a criteria, the processor identifies from the quantity of directional antennas a quantity of selected antennas; the switch couples each selected antenna to one radio of the quantity of radios, no selected antenna is coupled to more than one radio of the quantity of radios; each selected antenna is physically positioned such that a physical sector of each selected antenna is oriented to substantially overlap the physical sector of a quantity of other antennas equal to at least the quantity of radios minus one; each selected antenna transmits and receives signals using the same channel as the radio to which the selected antenna is coupled; and the selected antennas operate as a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna so that the quantity of radios communicate with the wireless device. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method performed by a wireless cell for multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication with a wireless device, the wireless cell comprising a quantity of radios and a quantity of directional antennas, the method comprising:
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in accordance with a criteria, identifying from the quantity of directional antennas a quantity of selected antennas; coupling each selected antenna to one radio of the quantity of radios, no selected antenna is coupled to more than one radio of the quantity of radios; and operating the selected antennas as a MIMO antenna so that the quantity of radios communicate with the wireless device;
wherein;the quantity of radios comprises at least two radios; each radio of the quantity of radios transmits and receives signals using a same channel; the quantity of directional antennas is greater than the quantity of radios; each directional antenna of the quantity of directional antennas is physically positioned in a fixed position; each selected antenna transmits and receives signals using the same channel as the radio to which the selected antenna is coupled; each selected antenna is physically positioned such that a physical sector of each selected antenna is oriented to substantially overlap the physical sector of a quantity of other antennas equal to at least the quantity of radios minus one. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification