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US 6,320,540 B1Granted
Establishing remote beam forming reference line
AssigneeMetawave Communications Corporation
InventorSheldon K. Meredith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for establishing a beam forming phase reference line remote from an antenna system is taught. By providing a phase reference line at a selected position in the signal path the present invention allows for a beam forming matrix to be utilized in providing distributed amplification without requiring additional power sharing matrix arrangements. Moreover, disposing of the phase reference line at a selected point in the signal path according to the present invention allows for multi-mode communications wherein both switched beam and adaptive beam forming may be utilized.
Claims48
A system providing phase reference line at a point in a signal path remote from an antenna utilized in forming desired antenna patterns, said system comprising:
- a plurality of signal manipulators, each signal manipulator of said plurality disposed in a signal path coupled to said antenna, wherein a point of said signal path each of said signal manipulators is disposed is between said antenna and circuitry adapted to define said desired antenna patterns;
- a controller coupled to said plurality of signal manipulators adapted to provide control signals thereto to selectively manipulate signal attributes of signals communicated through said signal paths to provide a beam forming phase reference line at said point of said signal path said signal manipulators are disposed;
- and
- a signal attribute monitoring circuit, wherein signal attributes which may be manipulated by said signal manipulators under control of said controller are monitored for intelligent control of said signal manipulators by said controller, wherein said signal attribute monitoring circuit comprises a first coupler introducing a calibration signal into each said signal path and a second coupler receiving said calibration signal introduced into each said signal path.
1 more element
A method for providing a beam forming phase reference line at a point in a signal path remote from a plurality of antennas utilized in forming a plurality of antenna beams, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of signal paths wherein each signal path of said plurality of signal paths is associated with one of said plurality of antennas;
- disposing a plurality of signal manipulators in said plurality of signal paths, wherein a point of said signal path each of said signal manipulators is disposed is between said associated antenna and circuitry adapted to define ones of said plurality of antenna beams;
- coupling a controller to each signal manipulator of said plurality of signal manipulators;
- coupling a signal attribute monitoring circuit to said controller and to each signal path of said plurality of signal paths;
- monitoring signal attributes of signals communicated by ones of said plurality of signal paths, wherein monitoring said signal attributes comprises:
- introducing a calibration signal into ones of said signal paths;
- and
- receiving said calibration signal introduced into said signal paths at a point in said signal paths remote from the introduction of said calibration signal;
- and
- manipulating signal attributes of selected ones of said signals communicated by ones of said plurality of signal paths under control of control signals provided by said controller to provide a beam forming phase reference line at said point of said signal path said signal manipulators are disposed.
7 more elements
A system comprising:
- an antenna having a plurality of antenna interfaces to provide communication of signals provided thereto within multiple antenna beams;
- a beam forming matrix having a plurality of matrix interfaces coupled to said plurality of antenna interfaces;
- means for adjusting a phase of signals communicated between said beam forming matrix and said antenna, wherein said phase adjusting means provides independent phase adjustment of signals provided between ones of said plurality of matrix interfaces and corresponding ones of said antenna interfaces;
- means for dynamically controlling said phase adjusting means comprising;
- means for monitoring signal attributes of signals communicated between said beam forming matrix and said antenna;
- and
- means for determining a phase adjustment amount at said phase adjusting means suitable for providing a desired phase relationship at said signal attribute monitoring means;
- and
- means for combining signals which are not communicated through said beam forming matrix with signals which are communicated through said beam forming matrix, wherein said combining means is disposed in signal paths between ones of said plurality of matrix interfaces and corresponding ones of said antenna interfaces.
6 more elements
A multiple mode communication system adapted to provide both predefined antenna beams and antenna patterns independent of said predefined antenna beams, said system comprising:
- an antenna array having a plurality of antenna interfaces;
- a first signal source providing first signals to be radiated in said antenna patterns;
- a second signal source providing second signals to be radiated in said antenna beams;
- a first beam forming matrix having a plurality of inputs associated with said predefined antenna beams coupled to said second signal source and having a plurality of outputs coupled to corresponding antenna interfaces of said plurality of antenna interfaces thereby providing a first plurality of signal paths between said plurality of outputs and said plurality of antenna interfaces;
- a signal combiner apparatus coupled to said first signal source and to said plurality of outputs;
- first phase adjustment apparatus disposed in said first plurality of signal paths adapted to provide independent phase adjustment of combined signals communicated through ones of said first plurality of signal paths;
- and
- signal amplitude adjustment apparatus disposed in said first plurality of signal paths adapted to provide independent amplitude adjustment of combined signals communicated through ones of said first plurality of signal paths.
5 more elements
A system providing phase reference line at a point in a signal path remote from an antenna utilized in forming desired antenna patterns, said system comprising:
- a plurality of signal manipulators, each signal manipulator of said plurality disposed in a signal path coupled to said antenna, wherein a point of said signal path each of said signal manipulators is disposed is between said antenna and circuitry adapted to define said desired antenna patterns;
- a controller coupled to said plurality of signal manipulators adapted to provide control signals thereto to selectively manipulate signal attributes of signals communicated through said signal paths to provide a beam forming phase reference line at said point of said signal path said signal manipulators are disposed;
- a signal attribute monitoring circuit, wherein signal attributes which may be manipulated by said signal manipulators under control of said controller are monitored for intelligent control of said signal manipulators by said controller;
- and
- signal combining circuitry disposed in the signal path between each output of a plurality of outputs of said circuitry adapted to define said desired antenna patterns and a corresponding signal manipulator of said plurality of signal manipulators, wherein said signal combining circuitry is coupled to signals not communicated through said circuitry adapted to define said desired antenna patterns to thereby establish a multiple mode communication system.
2 more elements
A method for providing a beam forming phase reference line at a point in a signal path remote from a plurality of antennas utilized in forming a plurality of antenna beams, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of signal paths each associated with one of said plurality of antennas;
- disposing a plurality of signal manipulators in said plurality of signal paths, wherein a point of said signal path each of said signal manipulators is disposed is between said associated antenna and circuitry adapted to define ones of said plurality of antenna beams;
- coupling a controller to each said plurality of signal manipulators;
- coupling a signal attribute monitoring circuit to said controller and to each signal path of said plurality of signal paths;
- monitoring signal attributes of signals communicated by ones of said plurality of signal paths;
- manipulating signal attributes of selected ones of said signals communicated by ones of said plurality of signal paths under control of control signals provided by said controller to provide a beam forming phase reference line at said point of said signal path said signal manipulators are disposed;
- disposing signal combining circuitry in the signal path between each output of a plurality of outputs of said circuitry adapted to define ones of said plurality of antenna beams and a corresponding signal manipulator of said plurality of signal manipulators;
- and
- coupling said signal combining circuitry to signals not communicated through said circuitry adapted to define ones of said plurality of antenna beams to thereby establish a multiple mode communication system.
6 more elements
A method for providing a beam forming phase reference line at a point in a signal path remote from a plurality of antennas utilized in forming a plurality of antenna beams, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of signal paths, wherein each signal path of said plurality of signal paths is associated with one of said plurality of antennas;
- disposing a plurality of signal manipulators in said plurality of signal paths, wherein a point of said signal path each of said signal manipulators is disposed is between said associated antenna and circuitry adapted to define ones of said plurality of antenna beams, wherein said circuitry adapted to define ones of said plurality of antenna beams includes a beam forming matrix, and wherein said beam forming matrix includes a plurality of inputs each associated with a particular antenna beam of said plurality of antenna beams and a plurality of outputs each coupled to a signal manipulator of said plurality of signal manipulators;
- coupling a controller to each signal manipulator of said plurality of signal manipulators;
- coupling a signal attribute monitoring circuit to said controller and to each signal path of said plurality of signal paths;
- monitoring signal attributes of signals communicated by ones of said plurality of signal paths;
- manipulating signal attributes of selected ones of said signals communicated by ones of said plurality of signal paths under control of control signals provided by said controller to provide a beam forming phase reference line at said point of said signal path said signal manipulators are disposed;
- disposing a plurality of amplifiers in a plurality of said signal paths at a point of said signal path between said signal manipulators and said a corresponding one of said antennas, wherein said signal amplification circuitry provides higher power amplifiers in particular signal paths coupled to said antenna and lower power amplifiers in other signal paths coupled to said antennas;
- amplifying signals communicated through ones of the signal paths;
- and
- selecting a higher power amplifier of said signal amplification circuitry for use with signals to be radiated in a radiation pattern co-extensive with multiple ones of the desired antenna patterns.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.