Method and apparatus for adapting antenna array using received predetermined signal

• US 7,009,559 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2004
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IPR Licensing Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IPR Licensing Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lynch, Michael J., Gorsuch, Thomas E., Regnier, John A., Proctor, James A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US10/914,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20050068231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 342/367, 342/368, 342/372, 342/373, 455/422.1, 455/426.1, 455/426.2
• US Class Current: 342/372
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• 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: H01Q 3/28 varying the amplitude
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/36 with variable phase-shifters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/086 using weights depending on external parameters, e.g. direction of arrival [DOA], predetermined weights or beamforming

Abstract

A mobile subscriber unit includes a smart antenna having antenna elements for generating a plurality of antenna beams, and adjustable weight control components connected to the antenna elements for selecting any one of the antenna beam. A transceiver is connected to the smart antenna. A beam selector controller is connected to the transceiver and operates in a coarse adjustment mode by jointly adjusting the weight control components when scanning through the antenna beams, and operates in a fine adjustment mode by independently adjusting the weight control components when one of the scanned antenna beams is selected.

Claims

1. A mobile subscriber unit comprising:

a smart antenna comprising

a plurality of antenna elements for generating a plurality of antenna beams, and

a plurality of adjustable weight control components connected to said plurality of antenna elements for selecting one of the plurality of antenna beams;

a transceiver connected to said smart antenna; and

a beam selector controller connected to said transceiver and operating

in a coarse adjustment mode by jointly adjusting said plurality of weight control components when scanning through the plurality of antenna beams, and

in a fine adjustment mode by independently adjusting said plurality of weight control components when one of the scanned antenna beams is selected.

2. A mobile subscriber unit according to claim 1 wherein each weight control component comprises a phase shifters.

3. A mobile subscriber unit according to claim 1 wherein each weight control component imparts a weight to a signal input thereto and wherein the weight is associated with an amplitude of the signal, a phase of the signal or a combination of the amplitude and the phase of the signal.

4. A mobile subscriber unit according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of antenna elements comprise at least one active element and a plurality of parasitic elements.

5. A mobile subscriber unit according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of adjustable weight control components are adjusted to increase a signal power to interference ratio.

6. A mobile subscriber unit according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of adjustable weight control components are adjusted to reduce a bit error rate.

7. A mobile subscriber unit according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of adjustable weight control components are adjusted to increase a received power.

8. A mobile subscriber unit according to claim 1 wherein the mobile subscriber unit operates in a wireless communication system with a plurality of other mobile subscriber units;

and wherein said plurality of adjustable weight control components are adjusted for a signal transmitted to a desired mobile subscriber unit operating in the wireless communication system so that interfering emissions at the other mobile subscriber units not intended to receive the signal are reduced.

9. A mobile subscriber unit according to claim 1 wherein the mobile subscriber unit operates in a wireless communication system with a base station having bi-directional communications capabilities for communicating with a plurality of other mobile subscriber units;

and wherein said plurality of adjustable weight control components are adjusted for a signal transmitted so that interfering emissions at the other mobile subscriber units not intended to receive the signal are reduced.

10. A method for operating a mobile subscriber unit comprising a smart antenna comprising a plurality of antenna elements for generating a plurality of antenna beams, and a plurality of adjustable weight control components connected to the plurality of antenna elements for selecting one of the plurality of antenna beams;

a transceiver connected to the smart antenna; and

a beam selector controller connected to the transceiver, the method comprising;

operating in a coarse adjustment mode by jointly adjusting the plurality of weight control components when scanning through the plurality of antenna beams; and

operating in a fine adjustment mode by independently adjusting the plurality of weight control components to select one of the scanned antenna beams.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein each weight control component comprises a phase shifters.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein each weight control component imparts a weight to a signal input thereto and wherein the weight is associated with an amplitude of the signal, a phase of the signal or a combination of the amplitude and the phase of the signal.

13. A method according to claim 10 wherein the plurality of antenna elements comprise at least one active element and a plurality of parasitic elements.

14. A method according to claim 10 wherein the plurality of adjustable weight control components are adjusted to increase a signal power to interference ratio.

15. A method according to claim 10 wherein the plurality of adjustable weight control components are adjusted to reduce a bit error rate.

16. A method according to claim 10 wherein the plurality of adjustable weight control components are adjusted to increase a received power.

17. A method according to claim 10 wherein the mobile subscriber unit operates in a wireless communication system with a plurality of other mobile subscriber units;

and wherein the plurality of adjustable weight control components are adjusted for a signal transmitted to a desired mobile subscriber unit operating in the wireless communication system so that interfering emissions at the other mobile subscriber units not intended to receive the signal are reduced.

18. A method according to claim 10 wherein the mobile subscriber unit operates in a wireless communication system with a base station having bi-directional communications capabilities for communicating with a plurality of other mobile subscriber units;

and wherein the plurality of adjustable weight control components are adjusted for a signal transmitted so that interfering emissions at the other mobile subscriber units not intended to receive the signal are reduced.