US 10,411,356 B2Granted

Apparatus and methods for selectively targeting communication devices with an antenna array

AssigneeAT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.

InventorsShikik Johnson, David M. Britz, Paul Shala Henry, Robert Bennett, Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Donald J. Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, detecting a communication device in transit, determining a trajectory of the communication device, selecting a section from a plurality of sections of an array of dielectric antennas according to the trajectory of the communication device, where the section corresponds to a set of one more dielectric antennas from the array of dielectric antennas coupled to a set of launchers, and directing the set of launchers to launch electromagnetic waves directed to the set of one more dielectric antennas to generate a beam pattern directed to the communication device while in transit. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A device, comprising:

an array of dielectric antennas;
a plurality of dielectric cores coupled to the array of dielectric antennas;
a processing system including a processor;
and
a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
organizing the array of dielectric antennas into a plurality of sections, each section comprising one more dielectric antennas that differs from other dielectric antennas in other sections of the array of dielectric antennas, wherein the plurality of sections are angularly displaced;
detecting a first location of a first communication device;
selecting a first section from the plurality of sections according to the first location of the first communication device, wherein the first section corresponds to a first set of one more dielectric antennas from the array of dielectric antennas coupled to a first set of one or more dielectric cores from the plurality of dielectric cores;
and
launching first electromagnetic waves along the first set of one or more dielectric cores that cause the first set of one or more dielectric antennas to generate a first beam pattern directed to the first location of the first communication device, wherein a feedpoint of the first set of one or more dielectric antennas comprises a structure that reduces a reflection of the first electromagnetic waves received from the first set of one or more dielectric cores.

7 more elements

A method, comprising:

detecting, by a processing system including a processor, a first location of a first communication device;
selecting, by the processing system, a first section from a plurality of sections of an array of dielectric antennas according to the first location of the first communication device, wherein the first section corresponds to a first set of one more dielectric antennas from the array of dielectric antennas coupled to a first set of launchers;
and
directing, by the processing system, the first set of launchers to launch first electromagnetic waves directed to the first set of one more dielectric antennas to generate a first beam pattern directed to the first location of the first communication device, wherein a feedpoint of the first set of one or more dielectric antennas comprises a structure that reduces a reflection of the first electromagnetic waves received from the first set of launchers.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/372,448Filed 8 Dec 2016
Published: US 2018/0166784 A114 Jun 2018
Granted: 10 Sep 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

H01Q 9/0485
Resonant antennas: dielectric resonator antennas
H01Q 1/246
Used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM: specially adapted for base stations
H01Q 1/38
Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewith: formed by a conductive layer on an…
H01Q 3/24
Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna…