US 6,486,830 B1 · Directional antenna apparatus

Abstract

Signals received by antenna elements are respectively converted to lower frequency signals by the frequency converters. The lower frequency signals are then converted to the digital signals by A/D converters and supplied to a digital signal processing unit. The digital signal processing unit weights the digitized signals on the amplitude and the phase for each signal for optimally controlling the directivity. The weighted signals from the digital signal processing unit are converted to the analog signals by D/A converters and added by an adder. The added signal is then converted by a frequency converter to an original frequency of the received signals by the antenna elements.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims33

Dependent claims

A directional antenna apparatus having a plurality of antenna elements for controlling directivity, comprising:

first receiving frequency converting means for converting frequencies of signals received by the plurality of antenna elements;
weighting means for weighting an amplitude and a phase of the converted signals converted by the first receiving frequency converting means;
adding means for adding the signals weighted by the weighting means;
and
second receiving frequency converting means for converting a frequency of the signal added by the adding means to an original frequency of the received signals.

2 more elements

A directional antenna apparatus having a plurality of antenna elements for controlling directivity, comprising:

a receiver;
a transmitter;
a directional coupler for sharing the plurality of antenna elements with the receiver and the transmitter;
switching means for switching between reception and transmission;
and
digital signal processing means for digital processing to weight each signal on an amplitude and a phase, wherein
the receiver comprises:
first receiving frequency converting means for converting frequencies of signals received by the plurality of antenna elements;
first analog/digital converting means for converting the signals converted by the first receiving frequency converting means into digital signals to supply the digital signals to the digital signal processing means;
first digital/analog converting means for converting the digital signals weighted by the digital signal processing means into analog signals;
adding means for adding the analog signals converted by the first digital/analog converting means;
and
second receiving frequency converting means for converting back a frequency of the added signal to an original frequency of the received signals, and wherein
the transmitter comprises:
first transmitting frequency converting means for converting a frequency of a transmitting signal;
in-phase dividing means for in-phase dividing the transmitting signal converted by the first transmitting frequency converting means for the plurality of antenna elements;
second analog/digital converting means for converting the signals in-phase divided by the in-phase dividing means into digital signals to supply the digital signals to the digital signal processing means;
second digital/analog converting means for converting the digital signals weighted by the digital signal processing means into analog signals;
and
second transmitting frequency converting means for converting each frequency of the analog signals to an original frequency of the transmitting signal and supplying the converted analog signals to the plurality of antenna elements.

17 more elements

A directional antenna apparatus having a plurality of antenna elements for controlling directivity, comprising:

a receiver;
a transmitter;
a directional coupler for sharing the antenna elements with the receiver and the transmitter;
switching means for switching between reception and transmission;
and
digital signal processing means for digital processing, when reception, to weight each signal on amplitude and phase and add the weighted signals and when transmitting, to in-phase divide a signal for the antenna elements and weight for the split divided the signals on the amplitude and the phase, wherein
the receiver comprises:
first receiving frequency converting means for converting frequencies of signals received by the plurality of antenna elements;
first analog/digital converting means for converting the signals converted by the first receiving frequency converting means into digital signals to supply the digital signals to the digital signal processing means;
first digital/analog converting means for converting the digital signal added by the digital signal processing means into an analog signal;
and
second receiving frequency converting means for converting a frequency of the analog signal converted by the first digital/analog converting means to an original frequency of the received signals, and
the transmitter comprises:
first transmitting frequency converting means for converting a frequency of a transmitting signal;
second analog/digital converting means for converting the signal converted by the first transmitting frequency converting means into a digital signal to supply the signal to the digital signal processing means;
second digital/analog converting means for converting the digital signals weighted by the digital signal processing means into analog signals;
and
second transmitting frequency converting means for converting each frequency of the analog signals converted by the second digital/analog converting means to an original frequency of the transmitting signal and supplying the signals to the plurality of antenna elements.

15 more elements

A directional antenna apparatus having a plurality of antenna elements for controlling the directivity, comprising:

a receiver;
a transmitter;
a directional coupler for sharing the antenna elements with the receiver and the transmitter;
and
digital signal processing means for digital processing to weight signals on the amplitude and the phase, wherein
the receiver comprises:
first receiving frequency converting means for converting the signals received by the plurality of antenna elements;
first analog/digital converting means for converting the signals weighted by the first receiving frequency converting means into digital signals and supplying the signals to the digital signal processing means;
first digital/analog converting means for converting the signals weighted by the digital signal processing means into analog signals;
adding means for adding the analog signals converted by the first digital/analog converting means;
and
second receiving frequency converting means for converting a frequency of the signal added by the adding means with the use of a local oscillator of a variable frequency type, and wherein
the transmitter comprises:
first transmitting frequency converting means for converting a predetermined frequency of a signal at an optional position in the transmitter with the use of a local oscillator which variably sets a frequency;
in-phase dividing means for in-phase dividing the signal converted by the first transmitting frequency converting means for the plurality of antenna elements;
second analog/digital converting means for converting the signals in-phase divided by the in-phase dividing means into digital signals and supplying the digital signals to the digital signal processing means;
second digital/analog converting means for converting the digital signals weighted by the digital signal processing means into analog signals;
and
second transmitting frequency converting means for converting each frequency of the analog signals to an original frequency of a transmitting signal and supplying the signals to the plurality of antenna elements.

16 more elements

A directional antenna apparatus having a plurality of antenna elements for controlling directivity, comprising:

a receiver;
a transmitter;
a directional coupler for sharing the antenna elements with the receiver and the transmitter;
and
digital signal processing means for digital processing, when reception, to weight signals on an amplitude and a phase and add the weighted signals and when transmission, to in-phase divide a transmitting signal for the plurality of antenna elements and weight each of the divided signals on the amplitude and the phase, wherein
the receiver comprises:
first receiving frequency converting means for converting the frequency of signals received by the plurality of antenna elements;
first analog/digital converting means for converting the signals converted by the first receiving frequency converting means into digital signals and supplying the digital signals to the digital signal processing means;
first digital/analog converting means for converting the digital signal added by the digital signal processing means into an analog signal;
and
second receiving frequency converting means for converting a frequency of the analog signal converted by the first digital/analog converting means with the use of a local oscillator which variably sets a frequency, and wherein
the transmitter comprises:
first transmitting frequency converting means for converting a predetermined frequency of a signal at an optional position in the transmitter with the use of a local oscillator which variably sets a frequency;
second analog/digital converting means for converting a signal converted by the first transmitting frequency converting means into a digital signal and supplying the digital signal to the digital signal processing means;
second digital/analog converting means for converting the digital signals weighted by the digital signal processing means into analog signals;
and
second transmitting frequency converting means for converting each frequency of the analog signals to an original frequency of transmitting and supplying the analog signals to the plurality of antenna elements.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description12,798 words

Summary659 words

#The present invention relates to a directional antenna apparatus used in, for example, a base station of a radio communications system for data communications between the base station and a plurality of terminal stations.

#In a radio communications system for e.g. mobile communications or indoor radio communications, adaptive array antennas are commonly provided for effective use of the limited frequencies, suppression of the multipath phasing, or elimination of interference waves over a single channel. For example, as disclosed in Jpn. Pat Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 9-219615, an adaptive array transmitting/receiving apparatus equipped with an adaptive array antenna is provided in the base station in a radio communications system for communications between the base station and the terminal stations.

#That is, the device disclosed in the publication is structured in the following manner. Amplitudes and phases of transmitted/received signals from a plurality of antenna elements are weighted by a weighting apparatus 2, and transmitting signals from a transmitting/receiving unit 3 for performing modulating/demodulation on signals are split at a divider/adder and amplitudes and phases thereof are weighted at the weighting apparatus 2 so that they are output to the antenna elements 1. Also, an adaptive array transmitting/receiving apparatus for weighting amplitudes and phases of received signals from the antenna elements 1 at the weighting apparatus 2 and combining the weighted signals at the divider/adder 4 to output them to the transmitting/receiving unit 3 is provided at a base station. At a time of providing the base station, reference signals are transmitted to the adaptive array transmitting/receiving apparatus from a direction of desired wave and a direction of undesired wave, a coefficient of weight is calculated at an external calculating device 5 on the basis of the received signals of the reference signals of the adaptive array transmitting/receiving apparatus, and the coefficient of weight is set to the weighting apparatus 2 via an interface 6, so that directional control is performed.

Brief description of the drawings29 figures

#The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an application of a directional antenna apparatus according to the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention;

Detailed description11,657 words

#Embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail referring to the drawings.

#In an application of a directional antenna apparatus according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, when a directional antenna apparatus 11 is connected to a radio apparatus 12 which has been provided in a base station or a terminal station, an antenna 121 of the radio apparatus 12 is removed from an antenna terminal 122, instead, is connected to.

#Generally in the radio apparatus 12, a signal received at the antenna 121 is amplified by a low-noise amplifier (LNA) 123, frequency-converted by a frequency converter 124, amplified by an IF (intermediate frequency) amplifier 125, and detected by a detector (DET) 126 to demodulate a received data from a received signal.

Directional antenna apparatus

Life of this patent

Directional antenna apparatus

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims33

Description12,798 words

Drawings

Classification7 codes

Life of this patent

Description12,798 words