Antenna optimum beamforming for multiple protocol co-existence on a wireless device

• US 8,880,000 B1
• Filed: 09/30/2013
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Zhou, Cuifeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US14/042,298
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 455/63.4, 455/41.2, 455/552.1, 455/67.11, 455/562.1, 455/575.7, 455/63.1, 455/67.132, 455/101, 455/67.13, 375/346, 375/348
• US Class Current: 455/63.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0897 using beamforming per multi-path, e.g. to cope with different directions of arrival [DOA] at different multi-paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 Error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A first angle of arrival of a first signal from a second communication device to a first communication device is determined. A second angle of arrival of a second signal from a third communication device to the first communication device is determined. First coefficients to control an antenna array according to a first beam pattern is determined using (i) the first angle of arrival of the first signal and (ii) the second angle of arrival of the second signal. The first coefficients are for communicating with the second communication device. Second coefficients to control the antenna array according to a second beam pattern is determined using (i) the first angle of arrival of the first signal and (ii) the second angle of arrival of the second signal. The second coefficients are for communicating with the third communication device.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating communication between a first communication device and a second communication device, and between the first communication device a third communication device, the first communication device having an antenna array, the method comprising:

determining, at one or more hardware devices, a first angle of arrival of a first signal wirelessly communicated from the second communication device to the first communication device, wherein the first signal wirelessly communicated from the second communication device is compliant with a first wireless communication protocol;

determining, at one or more hardware devices, a second angle of arrival of a second signal wirelessly communicated from the third communication device to the first communication device, wherein the second signal wirelessly communicated from the third communication device is compliant with a second wireless communication protocol that is different than the first wireless communication protocol, and wherein the first angle of arrival of the first signal wirelessly communicated from the second communication device is different than the second angle of arrival of the second signal wirelessly communicated from the third communication device;

determining, at one or more hardware devices, first coefficients to control the antenna array according to a first beam pattern for communicating with the second communication device in accordance with the first wireless communication protocol, wherein determining the first coefficients uses (i) the first angle and (ii) the second angle, and wherein the first beam pattern includes a primary gain along the first angle and a suppressed gain along the second angle to reduce interference with communications with the third communication device in accordance with the second wireless communication protocol;

determining, at one or more hardware devices, second coefficients to control the antenna array according to a second beam pattern for communicating with the third communication device in accordance with the second wireless communication protocol, wherein determining the second coefficients uses (i) the first angle and (ii) the second angle, and wherein the second beam pattern includes a primary gain along the second angle and a suppressed gain along the first angle to reduce interference with communications with the second communication device in accordance with the first wireless communication protocol;

controlling, with one or more hardware devices, the antenna array with the first coefficients when wirelessly communicating with the second communication device in accordance with the first wireless communication protocol; and

controlling, with one or more hardware devices, the antenna array with the second coefficients when wirelessly communicating with the third communication device in accordance with the second wireless communication protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining the first angle of arrival of the first signal wirelessly communicated from the second communication device to the first communication device comprises utilizing, at one or more hardware devices, a multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm; and

determining the second angle of arrival of the second signal wirelessly communicated from the third communication device to the first communication device comprises utilizing, at one or more hardware devices, the MUSIC algorithm.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first coefficients comprise a first set of complex weighting coefficients; and

the second coefficients comprise a second set of complex weighting coefficients.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

controlling the antenna array with the first coefficients comprises applying the first set of complex weighting coefficients with a beamform controller; and

controlling the antenna array with the second coefficients comprises applying the second set of complex weighting coefficients with the beamform controller.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

a difference between the primary gain along the first angle and the suppressed gain along the second angle for the first beam pattern is at least 30 dB; and

a difference between the primary gain along the second angle and the suppressed gain along the first angle for the second beam pattern is at least 30 dB.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein (i) controlling the antenna array with the first coefficients when wirelessly communicating with the second communication device in accordance with the first wireless communication protocol, and (ii) controlling the antenna array with the second coefficients when wirelessly communicating with the third communication device in accordance with the second wireless communication protocol are performed at the same time.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising periodically re-performing the following acts to account for changes in position over time of one or more of (i) the first communication device, (ii) the second communication device, and (iii) the third communication device:

determining the first angle of arrival;

determining the second angle of arrival;

determining the first coefficients;

determining the second coefficients;

controlling the antenna array with the first coefficients when wirelessly communicating with the second communication device in accordance with the first wireless communication protocol; and

controlling the antenna array with the second coefficients when wirelessly communicating with the third communication device in accordance with the second wireless communication protocol.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first wireless communication protocol is a wireless local area network communication protocol; and

the second wireless communication protocol is a personal area network communication protocol.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first coefficients comprise a first set of complex weighting coefficients; and

the second coefficients comprise a second set of complex weighting coefficients.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the beamforming device comprises a plurality of multipliers to

multiply respective antenna signals by respective complex weighting coefficients in the first set, and

multiply respective antenna signals by respective complex weighting coefficients in the second set.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the beamforming device further comprises a summer coupled to the plurality of multipliers to sum antenna signals.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the beamforming device is configured to:

apply the first set of complex weighting coefficients when the first communication device wirelessly communicates with the second communication device in accordance with the first wireless communication protocol, and

apply the second set of complex weighting coefficients when the first communication device wirelessly communicates with the third communication device in accordance with the second wireless communication protocol.

13. An apparatus for facilitating communication between a first communication device and a second communication device, and between the first communication device a third communication device, the first communication device having an antenna array, the apparatus comprising:

a control device configured to

determine a first angle of arrival of a first signal wirelessly communicated from the second communication device to the first communication device, wherein the first signal wirelessly communicated from the second communication device is compliant with a first wireless communication protocol,

determine a second angle of arrival of a second signal wirelessly communicated from the third communication device to the first communication device, wherein the second signal wirelessly communicated from the third communication device is compliant with a second wireless communication protocol that is different than the first wireless communication protocol, and wherein the first angle of arrival of the first signal wirelessly communicated from the second communication device is different than the second angle of arrival of the second signal wirelessly communicated from the third communication device,

determine first coefficients to control the antenna array according to a first beam pattern for communicating with the second communication device in accordance with the first wireless communication protocol, wherein determining the first coefficients uses (i) the first angle and (ii) the second angle, and wherein the first beam pattern includes a primary gain along the first angle and a suppressed gain along the second angle to reduce interference with communications with the third communication device in accordance with the second wireless communication protocol, and

determine second coefficients to control the antenna array according to a second beam pattern for communicating with the third communication device in accordance with the second wireless communication protocol, wherein determining the second coefficients uses (i) the first angle and (ii) the second angle, wherein the second beam pattern includes a primary gain along the second angle and a suppressed gain along the first angle to reduce interference with communications with the second communication device in accordance with the first wireless communication protocol; and

a beamforming device configured to

control the antenna array with the first coefficients when the first communication device wirelessly communicates with the second communication device in accordance with the first wireless communication protocol, and

control the antenna array with the second coefficients when the first communication device wirelessly communicates with the third communication device in accordance with the second wireless communication protocol.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the control device is configured to:

determine the first angle of arrival of the first signal wirelessly communicated from the second communication device to the first communication device at least by utilizing a multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm, and

determine the second angle of arrival of the second signal wirelessly communicated from the third communication device to the first communication device at least by utilizing the MUSIC algorithm.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

a difference between the primary gain along the first angle and the suppressed gain along the second angle for the first beam pattern is at least 30 dB; and

a difference between the primary gain along the second angle and the suppressed gain along the first angle for the second beam pattern is at least 30 dB.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the beamforming device is configured to control the antenna array with the first coefficients when the first communication device wirelessly communicates with the second communication device, while simultaneously controlling the antenna array with the second coefficients when the second communication device wirelessly communicates with the third communication device.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

in order to account for changes in position over time of one or more of (i) the first communication device, (ii) the second communication device, and (iii) the third communication device, the control device is configured to (a) periodically re-determine the first angle of arrival, and (b) periodically re-determine the second angle of arrival; and

the control device is configured to (i) re-determine the first coefficients, and (ii) re-determine the second coefficients when the first angle of arrival is re-determined and the second angle of arrival is re-determined.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

the first wireless communication protocol is a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication protocol; and

the second wireless communication protocol is a personal area network (PAN) communication protocol.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the second communication device is a WLAN access point; and

the third communication device is a headset device.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the PAN communication protocol is the Bluetooth communication protocol; and

the PAN network interface is configured to communicate according to the Bluetooth communication protocol.

21. A tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium or media storing machine readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

determine a first angle of arrival of a first signal wirelessly communicated from a first communication device to a second communication device, wherein the first signal wirelessly communicated from the first communication device is compliant with a first wireless communication protocol;

determine a second angle of arrival of a second signal wirelessly communicated from a third communication device to the second communication device, wherein the second signal wirelessly communicated from the third communication device is compliant with a second wireless communication protocol that is different than the first wireless communication protocol, and wherein the first angle of arrival of the first signal wirelessly communicated from the first communication device is different than the second angle of arrival of the second signal wirelessly communicated from the third communication device;

determine first coefficients to control an antenna array of the second communication device according to a first beam pattern for communicating with the first communication device in accordance with the first wireless communication protocol, wherein determining the first coefficients uses (i) the first angle and (ii) the second angle, and wherein the first beam pattern includes a primary gain along the first angle and a suppressed gain along the second angle to reduce interference with communications with the third communication device in accordance with the second wireless communication protocol;

determining, at one or more hardware devices, second coefficients to control the antenna array according to a second beam pattern for communicating with the third communication device in accordance with the second wireless communication protocol, wherein determining the second coefficients uses (i) the first angle and (ii) the second angle, and wherein the second beam pattern includes a primary gain along the second angle and a suppressed gain along the first angle to reduce interference with communications with the first communication device in accordance with the first wireless communication protocol;

control the antenna array with the first coefficients when wirelessly communicating with the first communication device in accordance with the first wireless communication protocol; and

control the antenna array with the second coefficients when wirelessly communicating with the third communication device in accordance with the second wireless communication protocol.

22. The computer readable medium or media of claim 21, wherein:

a difference between the primary gain along the first angle and the suppressed gain along the second angle for the first beam pattern is at least 30 dB; and

a difference between the primary gain along the second angle and the suppressed gain along the first angle for the second beam pattern is at least 30 dB.

23. The computer readable medium or media of claim 21, wherein:

the first wireless communication protocol is a wireless local area network communication protocol; and

the second wireless communication protocol is a personal area network communication protocol.