Base station using an antenna array for location determination

• US 7,116,701 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2004
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mesecher, David K.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHU, PHUONG M
• Application Number:
  US10/838,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20040208237A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 375/130, 375140-144, 375148-150, 375/367, 342/127, 342/457, 342/145, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.4, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/457
• US Class Current: 375/145
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0218 Multipath in signal reception
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/12 by co-ordinating position lines of different shape, e.g. hyperbolic, circular, elliptical or radial
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A base station comprises a plurality of antennas. Each of the antennas is separated by a known distance. A first spread spectrum signal is transmitted having a first code. Using the plurality of antennas, a second spread spectrum signal is received having a second code. The second spread spectrum signal is time synchronized with the first spread spectrum signal. A distance determination is made based on in part a timing difference between the second code of the received second spread spectrum signal and the first code of the base station'"'"'s transmitted first spread spectrum signal. A phase difference of a carrier signal of the second spread spectrum signal as received by each of the plurality of antennas is compared. An angle of the received second spread spectrum signal is determined using the known distance between the antennas and the phase difference. A location of a source of the second spread spectrum signal is determined using the determined angle and the distance determination.

Claims

1. A base station comprising:

a plurality of antennas, each of the antennas separated by a known distance;

means for transmitting a first spread spectrum signal having a first code;

means for receiving, using the plurality of antennas, a second spread spectrum signal having a second code, the second spread spectrum signal time synchronized with the first spread spectrum signal;

means for making a distance determination based on in part a timing difference between the second code of the received second spread spectrum signal and the first code of the base station'"'"'s transmitted first spread spectrum signal;

means for comparing a phase difference of a carrier signal of the second spread spectrum signal as received by each of the plurality of antennas; and

means for determining an angle of the received second spread spectrum signal using the known distance between the antennas and the phase difference; and

means for determining a location of a source of the second spread spectrum signal using the determined angle and the distance determination.

2. The base station of claim 1 comprising means for analyzing an impulse response of multipath components of the second spread spectrum signal to determine a first received component of the second spread spectrum signal and the determined first received component is used to make the distance determination.

3. The base station of claim 1 wherein the first spread spectrum signal is a pilot signal.