US 6,600,456 B2 · Adaptive antenna for use in wireless communication systems

Abstract

An antenna apparatus which can increase capacity in a cellular communication system. The antenna operates in conjunction with a mobile subscriber unit and provides a plurality of antenna elements. At least one active antenna element is active and essentially centrally located within multiple passive antenna elements. The passive antenna elements are coupled to selectable impedance components. Through proper control of the passive antenna elements, the cellular communication system directs an antenna beam pattern toward an antenna tower of a base station to maximize gain, and, consequently, signal-to-noise ratio. Thus, optimum reception is achieved during, for example, an idle mode which receives a pilot signal. The antenna array creates a beamformer for signals to be transmitted from the mobile subscriber unit, and a directional receiving array to more optimally detect and receive signals transmitted from the base station. By directionally receiving and transmitting signals, multipath fading is greatly reduced as well as intercell interference. Various techniques for determining the proper phase of each antenna element are accommodated.

Claims50

Dependent claims

An antenna apparatus for use with a subscriber unit in a wireless communication system, the antenna apparatus comprising:

at least one active antenna element;
a plurality of passive antenna elements within an electromagnetic coupling distance of said at least one active antenna element;
a like plurality of selectable impedance components, each (i) respectively electrically coupled to one of the passive antenna elements and (ii) independently selectable;
and
a processor coupled to the selectable impedance components (a) to affect the phase of respective, re-radiated, link signals to be communicated between a base station and the subscriber unit by said at least one active antenna element to form a composite beam that may be positionally directed between the base station and subscriber unit and (b) to determine an essentially optimal impedance setting during an idle time based on a signal sent to the subscriber unit received during the idle time.

2 more elements

A method for use with a subscriber unit in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

providing an RF signal to or receiving one from an antenna assemblage having at least one active antenna element and multiple passive antenna elements electromagnetically coupled to said at least one active antenna element;
selecting an impedance state of independently selectable impedance components electrically coupled to respective passive antenna elements in the antenna assemblage
affecting the phase of respective, re-radiated, link signals communicated between a base station and the subscriber unit by said at least one active antenna element to form a composite beam that may be communicated between the base station and the subscriber unit;
and
determining an essentially optimal impedance setting during an idle time based on a signal sent to the subscriber unit received during the idle time.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Adaptive antenna for use in wireless communication systems

Life of this patent

Adaptive antenna for use in wireless communication systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims50