Antennae system

• US 8,437,766 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2011
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Gale, Simon, Urquhart, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, PHUOC HUU
• Application Number:
  US13/116,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20110223925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 455/450, 370/342, 375/295
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0064 with separate antennas for the more than one band H04B1/0053 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to wireless communications networks, and more specifically to an antenna apparatus for cellular wireless systems. Increasing data capacity of cellular wireless systems places increasing demands on the capacity of the two way connection, known as backhaul, between a cellular base station and a telecommunications network such as the PSTN backhaul, since this is the connection that has to convey the wireless-originating traffic to its destination, often in an entirely different network. Known backhaul links include leased lines, microwave links, optical fibre links or radio resources for relaying backhaul traffic between base stations. The fixed line solutions are expensive to implement and maintain, while the radio solutions antenna configurations that are not ideal for relaying data between base stations. In embodiments of the invention, communication between base stations occurs in a first timeslot by use of a first antenna system and communication between a given base station and a user equipment occurs in a second timeslot using a second antenna system. The benefit of this method is that the first antenna system can be optimised for use in communication between base stations, whereas the second antenna system can be optimised for communication with user equipment which preferably occurs within the area of cellular wireless coverage of the sector served by the second antenna system.

Claims

1. A base station for transceiving signals in a wireless communications network, the base station comprising:

a first antenna sub-system of a first type;

a second antenna sub-system of a second type; and

a transceiver sub-system configured to transceive signals in a wireless communications network, wherein the transceiver sub-system transmits a first signal from the base station to another base station in a first time slot and in a first frequency band via the first antenna sub-system, and transmits a second signal to a user equipment in a second time slot via the second antenna sub-system, the second time slot being different from the first time slot, and wherein the second frequency band at least partially overlaps the first frequency band.

2. The base station of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is operable to:

receive a message apportioning timeslots for transmission to the other base station and for transmission to the user equipment;

allocate the first time slot to transmissions to the other base station in response to the received message; and

allocate the second time slot to transmissions to the user equipment in response to the receive message.

3. The base station of claim 1, wherein the transceiver sub-system comprises:

a transceiver; and

a switch coupling the transceiver to the first antenna sub-system and the second antenna sub-system, the switch being operable to;

couple the transceiver to the first antenna sub-system and to decouple the antenna from the second antenna sub-system during the first time slot; and

couple the transceiver to the second antenna sub-system and to decouple the antenna from the first antenna sub-system during the second time slot.

4. The base station of claim 1, wherein the transceiver sub-system comprises:

a first transceiver coupled to the first antenna sub-system; and

a second transceiver coupled to the second antenna sub-system.

5. The base station of claim 1, wherein the first antenna sub-system has a first radiation pattern, and the second antenna sub-system has a second radiation pattern, wherein the first radiation pattern is narrower in azimuth than the second radiation pattern.

6. The base station of claim 1, wherein the first antenna sub-system has a first radiation pattern, and the second antenna sub-system has a second radiation pattern, wherein the first radiation pattern has less downtilt than the second radiation pattern.

7. The base station of claim 1, wherein the second antenna system has a substantially omni-directional radiation pattern.

8. The base station of claim 1, wherein the transceiver sub-system is operable to:

move signals received on the first antenna sub-system from the first time slot to the second time slot for transmission on the second antenna; and

move signals received on the second antenna sub-system from the second time slot to the first time slot for transmission on the first antenna such that the base station is operable as a relay between the other base station and the user equipment.

9. The base station of claim 1, wherein the transceiver sub-system comprises a frequency switching component operable to:

switch the transceiver sub-system to operation in the first frequency band for operation with the first antenna sub-system; and

switch the transceiver sub-system to operation in the second frequency band for operation with the second antenna sub-system.

10. The base station of claim 1, wherein the signals comply with an air interface standard selected from the group consisting of WiMAX and LTE.

11. A method of operating a base station to transceive signals in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:

transmitting a first signal to another base station in a first time slot via a first antenna sub-system;

transmitting a second signal to a user equipment in a second time slot via a second antenna sub-system, the second time slot being different from the first time slot;

operating a transceiver sub-system to transmit the first signal in a first frequency band; and

operating the transceiver sub-system to transmit the second signal in a second frequency band, wherein the second frequency band at least partially overlaps the first frequency band, and wherein transmission of the first and second signals are in at least a portion of the wireless communications network.

13. A method of claim 11, wherein a transceiver sub-system of the base station comprises a transceiver and a switch coupling the transceiver to the first antenna sub-system and the second antenna sub-system, the method further comprising:

operating the switch to couple the transceiver to the first antenna sub-system and to decouple the antenna from the second antenna sub-system during the first time slot; and

operating the switch to couple the transceiver to the second antenna sub-system and to decouple the antenna from the first antenna sub-system during the second time slot.

14. A method of claim 11, wherein a transceiver sub-system of the base station comprises a first transceiver coupled to the first antenna sub-system and a second transceiver coupled to the second antenna sub-system, the method further comprising:

operating the first transceiver to transmit to the other base station in the first time slot; and

operating the second transceiver to transmit to the user equipment in the second time slot.

15. A method of claim 11, further comprising:

operating the first antenna sub-system to radiate in a first radiation pattern; and

operating the second antenna sub-system to radiate in a second radiation pattern, wherein the first radiation pattern is narrower in azimuth than the second radiation pattern.

16. A method of claim 11, further comprising:

operating the first antenna sub-system to radiate a first radiation pattern; and

operating the second antenna sub-system to radiate in a second radiation pattern, wherein the first radiation pattern has less downtilt than the second radiation pattern.

17. A method of claim 11, further comprising operating the second antenna system to radiate in a substantially omni-directional radiation pattern.

18. A method of claim 11, further comprising:

operating a transceiver sub-system to move signals received on the first antenna sub-system from the first time slot to the second time slot for transmission on the second antenna; and

operating a transceiver sub-system to move signals received on the second antenna sub-system from the second time slot to the first time slot for transmission on the first antenna so as to operate the base station as a relay between the other base station and the user equipment.

19. A method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting signals complying with an air interface standard selected from the group consisting of WiMAX and LTE.

20. A method of claim 11, further comprising:

switching a transceiver sub-system to operation in the first frequency band for operation with the first antenna sub-system; and

switching the transceiver sub-system to operation in the second frequency band for operation with the second antenna sub-system.

12. A method of 11, further comprising:

receiving a message apportioning timeslots for transmission to the other base station and for transmission to the user equipment;

allocating the first time slot to transmissions to the other base station in response to the received message; and

allocating the second time slot to transmissions to the user equipment in response to the receive message.

21. A base station for transceiving signals in a wireless communications network, the base station comprising:

a first antenna sub-system of a first type;

a second antenna sub-system of a second type; and

a transceiver sub-system comprising one or more transceivers and a switch coupling at least one of the transceivers the first antenna sub-system to the second antenna sub-system, wherein the transceiver sub-system is configured to;

transmit a first signal to another base station in a first time slot via the first antenna sub-system,

transmit a second signal to a user equipment in a second time slot via the second antenna sub-system, the second time slot being different from the first time slot; and

wherein the switch is configured to;

couple the transceiver to the first antenna sub-system and to decouple the antenna from the second antenna sub-system during the first time slot; and

to couple the transceiver to the second antenna sub-system and to decouple the antenna from the first antenna sub-system during the second time slot, wherein the first and second transmission are in a portion of the wireless communications network.

22. The base station of claim 21, wherein the one or more transceivers comprise a first transceiver coupled to the first antenna sub-system, and a second transceiver coupled to the second antenna sub-system.

23. The base station of claim 21, wherein the first antenna sub-system has a first radiation pattern, and the second antenna sub-system has a second radiation pattern, wherein the first radiation pattern is narrower in azimuth than the second radiation pattern.

24. The base station of claim 21, wherein the first antenna sub-system has a first radiation pattern, and the second antenna sub-system has a second radiation pattern, wherein the first radiation pattern has less downtilt than the second radiation pattern.

25. The base station of claim 21, wherein the second antenna system has a substantially omni-directional radiation pattern.

26. The base station of claim 21, wherein the transceiver sub-system comprises a frequency switching component operable to:

switch the transceiver sub-system to operation in the first frequency band for operation with the first antenna sub-system; and

switch the transceiver sub-system to operation in the second frequency band for operation with the second antenna sub-system.

27. The base station of claim 21, wherein the signals comply with an air interface standard selected from the group consisting of WiMAX and LTE.

28. A method of operating a base station to transceive signals in a wireless communications network, the method, comprising:

transmitting, in a wireless communications network, a first signal from the base station to another base station in a first time slot via a first antenna sub-system;

transmitting a second signal to a user equipment in a second time slot via a second antenna sub-system, the second time slot being different from the first time slot;

coupling at least one transceiver of the base station to the first antenna sub-system and decoupling the antenna from the second antenna of the base station during the first time slot; and

coupling at least one transceiver of the base station to the second antenna sub-system and decouple the antenna from the first antenna sub-system during the second time slot.

29. A base station for transceiving signals in a wireless communications network, the base station, comprising:

a first antenna sub-system of a first type, the first antenna sub-system having a first radiation pattern;

a second antenna sub-system of a second type, the second antenna sub-system having a second radiation pattern, wherein the first radiation pattern is narrower in azimuth than the second radiation pattern; and

a transceiver sub-system operable to;

transmit a first signal to another base station in a first time slot via the first antenna sub-system,

transmit a second signal to user equipment in a second time slot via the second antenna sub-system, the second time slot being different from the first time slot, wherein the transmissions of the first and second signals are in a wireless communications network.

30. The base station of claim 29, wherein the transceiver sub-system comprises a transceiver and a switch, wherein the switch couples the transceiver to the first antenna sub-system and the second antenna sub-system, and wherein the switch is operable to:

couple the transceiver to the first antenna sub-system and to decouple the antenna from the second antenna sub-system during the first time slot, and

couple the transceiver to the second antenna sub-system and to decouple the antenna from the first antenna sub-system during the second time slot.

31. The base station of claim 29, wherein the transceiver sub-system comprises a first transceiver coupled to the first antenna sub-system, and a second transceiver coupled to the second antenna sub-system.

32. The base station of claim 29, wherein the first antenna sub-system has a first radiation pattern and the second antenna sub-system has a second radiation pattern, wherein the first radiation pattern has less downtilt than the second radiation pattern.

33. The base station of claim 29, wherein the second antenna system has a substantially omni-directional radiation pattern.

34. The base station of claim 29, wherein the transceiver sub-system comprises a frequency switching component operable to:

switch the transceiver sub-system to operation in the first frequency band for operation with the first antenna sub-system; and

switch the transceiver sub-system to operation in the second frequency band for operation with the second antenna sub-system.

35. The base station of claim 29, wherein the signals comply with an air interface standard selected from the group consisting of WiMAX and LTE.

36. A method of operating a base station for transceiving signals in a wireless communications network, the method, comprising:

transmitting, in at least a portion of the wireless communications network, a first signal from the base station to another base station in a first time slot via a first antenna sub-system;

transmitting a second signal to a user equipment in a second time slot via a second antenna sub-system, the second time slot being different from the first time slot;

operating the first antenna sub-system to radiate in a first radiation pattern; and

operating the second antenna sub-system to radiate in a second radiation pattern, wherein the first radiation pattern is narrower in azimuth than the second radiation pattern.

37. A base station for transceiving signals in a wireless communications network, the base station, comprising:

a first antenna sub-system of a first type, wherein the first antenna sub-system has a first radiation pattern;

a second antenna sub-system of a second type, the second antenna sub-system having a second radiation pattern, wherein the first radiation pattern has less downtilt than the second radiation pattern; and

a transceiver sub-system operable to;

transmit a first signal to another base station in a first time slot via the first antenna sub-system; and

transmit a second signal to user equipment in a second time slot via the second antenna sub-system, the second time slot being different from the first time slot, wherein the transmissions of the first and second signals is in at least a portion of the wireless communications network.

38. The base station of claim 37, wherein the transceiver sub-system comprises a transceiver and a switch, wherein the switch couples the transceiver to the first antenna sub-system and the second antenna sub-system, and wherein the switch is operable to:

couple the transceiver to the first antenna sub-system and to decouple the antenna from the second antenna sub-system during the first time slot; and

couple the transceiver to the second antenna sub-system and to decouple the antenna from the first antenna sub-system during the second time slot.

39. The base station of claim 37, wherein the transceiver sub-system comprises a first transceiver coupled to the first antenna sub-system, wherein a second transceiver coupled to the second antenna sub-system.

40. The base station of claim 37, wherein the first antenna sub-system has a first radiation pattern, and the second antenna sub-system has a second radiation pattern, wherein the first radiation pattern is narrower in azimuth than the second radiation pattern.

41. The base station of claim 37, wherein the second antenna system has a substantially omni-directional radiation pattern.

42. The base station of claim 37, wherein the transceiver sub-system comprises a frequency switching component operable to:

switch the transceiver sub-system to operation in the first frequency band for operation with the first antenna sub-system, and

switch the transceiver sub-system to operation in the second frequency band for operation with the second antenna sub-system.

43. The base station of claim 37, wherein the signals comply with an air interface standard selected from the group consisting of WiMAX and LTE.

44. A method of operating a base station of transceiving signals in a wireless communications network, comprising:

transmitting a first signal from the base station to another base station in a first time slot via a first antenna sub-system;

transmitting a second signal to a user equipment in a second time slot via a second antenna sub-system, the second time slot being different from the first time slot;

operating the first antenna sub-system to radiate a first radiation pattern; and

operating the second antenna sub-system to radiate in a second radiation pattern, wherein the first radiation pattern has less downtilt than the second radiation pattern, and wherein the transmissions of the first and second signals are in at least a portion of the wireless communications network.

45. A base station for transceiving signals in a wireless communications network, the base station, comprising:

a first antenna sub-system of a first type;

a second antenna sub-system of a second type;

a transceiver sub-system operable to;

transmit, in at least a portion of the wireless communications network, a first signal from the base station of the wireless communications network to another base station in a first time slot via the first antenna sub-system; and

transmit a second signal to a user equipment in a second time slot via the second antenna sub-system, the second time slot being different from the first time slot; and

a frequency switching component operable to;

switch the transceiver sub-system to operation in the first frequency band for operation with the first antenna sub-system; and

switch the transceiver sub-system to operation in the second frequency band for operation with the second antenna sub-system.

46. The base station of claim 45, wherein the transceiver sub-system comprises a transceiver and a switch, wherein the switch couples the transceiver to the first antenna sub-system and the second antenna sub-system, and wherein the switch is operable to:

couple the transceiver to the first antenna sub-system and to decouple the antenna from the second antenna sub-system during the first time slot, and

couple the transceiver to the second antenna sub-system and to decouple the antenna from the first antenna sub-system during the second time slot.

47. The base station of claim 45, wherein the transceiver sub-system comprises a first transceiver coupled to the first antenna sub-system, and a second transceiver coupled to the second antenna sub-system.

48. The base station of claim 45, wherein the first antenna sub-system has a first radiation pattern, and the second antenna sub-system has a second radiation pattern, wherein the first radiation pattern is narrower in azimuth than the second radiation pattern.

49. The base station of claim 45, wherein the first antenna sub-system has a first radiation pattern, and the second antenna sub-system has a second radiation pattern, wherein the first radiation pattern has less downtilt than the second radiation pattern.

50. The base station of claim 45, wherein the second antenna system has a substantially omni-directional radiation pattern.

51. The base station of claim 45, wherein the signals comply with an air interface standard selected from the group consisting of WiMAX and LTE.

52. A method of operating a base station to transceive signals in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:

transmitting a first signal from the base station to another base station in a first time slot via a first antenna sub-system;

transmitting a second signal to a user equipment in a second time slot via a second antenna sub-system, the second time slot being different from the first time slot; and

switching a transceiver sub-system to operate in the first frequency band for operation with the first antenna sub-system; and

switching the transceiver sub-system to operation in the second frequency band for operation with the second antenna sub-system, wherein the transmissions of the first and second signals are in at least a portion of the wireless communications network.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

operating a first transceiver of the base station to transmit to the other base station in the first time slot; and

operating a second transceiver of the base station to transmit to the user equipment in the second time slot.

54. The method of claim 52, further comprising operating the second antenna system to radiate in a substantially omni-directional radiation pattern.

55. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

operating a transceiver sub-system to transmit the first signal in a first frequency band; and

operating the transceiver sub-system to transmit the second signal in a second frequency band, wherein the second frequency band at least partially overlaps the first frequency band.

56. The method of claim 52, further comprising transmitting signals complying with an air interface standard selected from the group consisting of WiMAX and LTE.

57. A method of operating a base station to transceive signals in a wireless communications network, comprising:

transmitting a first signal from the base station to another base station in a first time slot via a first antenna sub-system;

transmitting a second signal to a user equipment in a second time slot via a second antenna sub-system, the second time slot being different from the first time slot;

receiving a message apportioning timeslots for transmission to the other base station and for transmission to the user equipment;

allocating the first time slot to transmissions to the other base station in response to the received message; and

allocating the second time slot to transmissions to the user equipment in response to the receive message, wherein the transmissions of the first and second signals are in at least a portion of the wireless communications network.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

operating a first transceiver of the base station to transmit to the other base station in the first time slot; and

operating a second transceiver of the base station to transmit to the user equipment in the second time slot.

59. The method of claim 57, further comprising operating the second antenna system to radiate in a substantially omni-directional radiation pattern.

60. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

operating a transceiver sub-system to transmit the first signal in a first frequency band; and

operating the transceiver sub-system to transmit the second signal in a second frequency band, wherein the second frequency band at least partially overlaps the first frequency band.

61. The method of claim 57, comprising transmitting signals complying with an air interface standard selected from the group consisting of WiMAX and LTE.

62. A method of operating a base station to transceive signals in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:

transmitting a first signal from the base station to another base station in a first time slot via a first antenna sub-system;

transmitting a second signal to a user equipment in a second time slot via a second antenna sub-system, the second time slot being different from the first time slot;

moving signals received on the first antenna sub-system from the first time slot to the second time slot for transmission on the second antenna; and

moving signals received on the second antenna sub-system from the second time slot to the first time slot for transmission on the first antenna so as to operate the base station as a relay between the other base station and the user equipment, wherein the transmission of the first and second signals are in at least a portion of the wireless communications network.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising:

operating a first transceiver of the base station to transmit to the other base station in the first time slot; and

operating a second transceiver of the base station to transmit to the user equipment in the second time slot.

64. The method of claim 62, further comprising operating the second antenna system to radiate in a substantially omni-directional radiation pattern.

65. The method of claim 62, further comprising:

operating a transceiver sub-system to transmit the first signal in a first frequency band; and

operating the transceiver sub-system to transmit the second signal in a second frequency band, wherein the second frequency band at least partially overlaps the first frequency band.

66. The method of claim 62, further comprising transmitting signals complying with an air interface standard selected from the group consisting of WiMAX and LTE.