Adaptive antenna for use in same frequency networks

• US 6,404,386 B1
• Filed: 07/14/2000
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IPR Licensing Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tantivy Communications Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Proctor, Jr., James A., Gainey, Kenneth M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Dao
• Application Number:
  US09/616,588
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 342/154, 342/157, 342/368, 342/372
• US Class Current: 342/368
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/241 used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM H01Q1/247, H01Q1/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2605 Array of radiating elements provided with a feedback control over the element weights, e.g. adaptive arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0874 using subgroups of receive antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering

Abstract

An antenna apparatus which can increase capacity in a cellular communication system. The antenna operates in conjunction with a mobile subscriber unit and provides a plurality of antenna elements, each coupled to a respective signal control component such as a switch. The switch position of each antenna element is programmed for optimum reception during, for example, an idle mode which receives a pilot signal. The antenna array creates a beamformer for signals to be transmitted from the mobile subscriber unit, and a directional receiving array to more optimally detect and receive signals transmitted from the base station. By directionally receiving and transmitting signals, multipath fading is greatly reduced as well as intercell interference. Various techniques for determining the proper arrangement of signal control components for each antenna element are accommodated.

Claims

1. An antenna apparatus for use with a subscriber unit in a wireless communication system, the antenna apparatus comprising:

a plurality of antenna elements;

a like plurality of signal control components, each respectively coupled to one of the antenna elements;

the signal control components being independently adjustable to affect the correction of respective reverse link signals to be communicated between the subscriber unit on each of the antenna elements and a base station, to form a composite beam which may be positionally directed to maximize a received or transmitted signal to noise ratio to or from a base station; and

wherein an optimal arrangement for the state of the signal control components is determined from parameters of a received pilot signal transmitted from the base station.

2. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal control components are switches which may be placed in an open or closed position.

3. The antenna apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal control components are amplifiers having an adjustable gain control.

4. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optimal arrangement of the control components is an arrangement for each of the antenna elements such that upon transmission of reverse link signals from the subscriber unit, a directional reverse link signal beam is formed via the antenna elements to reduce emission in a direction of other receivers not intended to receive the reverse link signal.

5. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optimal arrangement for the control components is set for each of the antenna elements such that signal power to interference ratio is maximized.

6. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optimal arrangement for the control components is set for each of the antenna elements such that bit error rate is minimized.

7. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optimal arrangement for the control components is set for each of the antenna elements such that upon reception of a forward link signal at the subscriber unit, a directional receiving antenna is created from the antenna elements to detect a forward link signal pattern sent from the direction of an intended transmitter and to suppress detection of signals received from directions other than the direction of signals from the intended transmitter.

8. The antenna apparatus of claim 7, wherein the optimal arrangement for the control components is such that for each of the antenna elements such that upon reception of a forward link signal at the subscriber unit, a directional receiving antenna is created from the antenna elements to detect a forward link signal pattern sent from an intended transmitter and to suppress detection of a signal pattern received from a direction other than the direction of the signal from the intended transmitter.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further including:

first, second, third, fourth, and fifth antenna elements;

first, second, third, fourth, and fifth signal control components, each respectively coupled to the forth and fifth antenna elements to transmit and receive signals therefrom;

the fourth and fifth signal control components also being independently adjustable to correct the respective reverse link signals to be transmitted from the subscriber unit on each of the fourth and fifth antenna elements, thus allowing low transmit power to be used in the subscriber unit due to directional beamforming that occurs caused by correction of signals to be transmitted from the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth antenna elements.

10. The antenna apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth adjustable signal control components are independently adjustable to correct the respective forward link signals received at the subscriber unit on each of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth antenna elements thus providing rejection of signals that are received and that are not transmitted from a similar location as are the forward link signals intended for the subscriber unit.

11. The antenna apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth antenna elements are positioned at locations corresponding to corners of a square, and the fifth antenna element is positioned at a location corresponding to a center of the square.

12. The antenna apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control components are independently adjustable to correct the respective forward link signals received at the subscriber unit at each of the antenna elements thus providing rejection of signals that are received and that are not transmitted from the same direction as are the base station which transmits the forward link signals intended for the subscriber unit.

13. The antenna apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a summation network coupled to the control components, the summation network providing the respective reverse link signals from the subscriber unit to each of the control components for transmission from the subscriber unit, and the summation network receiving and combining the respective forward link signals from each of the control components into one received forward link signal provided to the subscriber unit.

14. The antenna apparatus of claim 1 in which multiple subscriber units transmit code division multiple access signals on a common carrier frequency.

15. The antenna apparatus of claim 14 wherein the code division multiple access signals are transmitted within a cell, each cell containing a base station and a plurality of mobile units, each mobile unit attached to an antenna apparatus.

16. The antenna apparatus of claim 1 comprising a system for providing wireless communications among a plurality of subscribers using spread spectrum signaling for transmission of a plurality of desired traffic signals from a subscriber unit to a base station unit on a common carrier frequency within a defined transmission region.

17. The antenna apparatus of claim 1 further including a single receiver coupled to the signal control components, wherein outputs of the signal control components are fed to the receiver.