Multi-channel transceiver having an adaptive antenna array and method
AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorsPaul Fielding Smith, Robert Mark Harrison
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A receiver (100), transmitter (200) and transceiver (400) in accordance with the present invention overcome the disadvantages of applying adaptive antenna array technology to multi-channel communication systems. Multi-channel radio frequency (RF) signals received via an adaptive antenna array (102) are converted from an analog form to a digital form prior to splitting and processing to recover communication channels contained therein. A number of digital communication signals are digitally combined into a multi-channel digital signal and converted from the digital form to an analog radio frequency form prior to transmission from the adaptive antenna array.
Claims9
A multi-channel receiver comprising:
- a plurality of radio frequency processing elements, each radio frequency processing element comprising:
- a radio frequency down converter having an input coupled to radio frequency signals received at one of a plurality of antenna elements of an antenna array and having an intermediate frequency signal output;
- an analog-to-digital converter having an input coupled to the intermediate frequency signal output and a digital intermediate frequency signal output;
- a digital splitter having an input coupled to the digital intermediate frequency output and a plurality of outputs;
- a plurality of digital down-converters, each digital down-converter having an input coupled to one of the digital splitter outputs and a digital baseband frequency signal output;
- and
- a channel processing element comprising:
- a plurality of phase selectors, each phase selector having an input coupled to one of the digital baseband frequency signal outputs and a phase selected output;
- a summer having a plurality of inputs each coupled to the phase selected output of the phase selectors and a summed signal output;
- and
- a channel processor, the channel processor having an input coupled to the summed signal output and a communication signal output.
An apparatus for receiving radio frequency communications comprising:
- an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements each for receiving radio frequency signals;
- radio frequency processor means associated with each antenna element:
- for converting each of the radio frequency signals to a digital intermediate frequency signal;
- for digitally down converting the digital intermediate frequency signal to a baseband intermediate frequency signal;
- and
- for splitting the baseband intermediate frequency signal into a plurality of substantially identical baseband intermediate frequency signals;
- and
- channel processing means, coupled to receive for each antenna element one of the substantially identical baseband intermediate frequency signals:
- for phase selecting each of the baseband intermediate frequency signals;
- for summing the phase selected baseband intermediate frequency signals;
- and
- for processing the summed signal to recover a communication signal contained therein.
A method of receiving radio frequency communications comprising:
- receiving radio frequency signals at a plurality of elements of an antenna array;
- for each element of the antenna array:
- converting each of the radio frequency signals to a digital intermediate frequency signal;
- digitally down converting the digital intermediate frequency signal to a baseband intermediate frequency signal;
- and
- splitting the baseband intermediate frequency signal into a plurality of substantially identical baseband intermediate frequency signals;
- and one of the substantially identical baseband intermediate frequency signals of each of the antenna elements:
- phase selecting the baseband intermediate frequency signals;
- summing the phase selected baseband intermediate frequency signals;
- and
- processing the summed signal to recover a communication signal contained therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.