Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) spread-spectrum system and method

A multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) system for receiving data having symbols, with the data having symbols demultiplexed into a plurality of subchannels of data, with the plurality of subchannels of data spread-spectrum processed with a plurality of chip-sequence signals, respectively, with each chip-sequence signal different from other chip-sequence signals in the plurality of chip-sequence signals, thereby generating a plurality of spread-spectrum-subchannel signals, respectively, with the plurality of spread-spectrum-subchannel signals radiated, using radio waves, from a plurality of antennas as a plurality of spread-spectrum signals, respectively, with the plurality of spread-spectrum signals passing through a communications channel having multipath, thereby generating, from the plurality of spread-spectrum signals, at least a first spread-spectrum signal having a first channel of data arriving from a first path of the multipath, and a second spread-spectrum signal having a second channel of data arriving from a second path of the multipath, comprising:

• a plurality of receiver antennas for receiving the first spread-spectrum signal and the second spread-spectrum signal;
• a plurality of despreading devices for detecting, at each receiver antenna of the plurality of receiver antennas, the first spread-spectrum signal and the second spread-spectrum signal, as a first plurality of detected spread-spectrum signals and a second plurality of detected spread-spectrum signals, respectively;
• and
• a plurality of combiners for combining, from each receiver antenna of the plurality of receiver antennas, each of the first plurality of detected spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating a first combined signal, and for combining, from each receiver antenna of the plurality of receiver antennas, each of the second plurality of detected spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating a second combined signal.

A MIMO system for receiving data having symbols, with the data having symbols demultiplexed into a plurality of subchannels of data, with the plurality of subchannels of data spread-spectrum processed with a plurality of chip-sequence signals, respectively, with each chip-sequence signal different from other chip-sequence signals in the plurality of chip-sequence signals, thereby generating a plurality of spread-spectrum-subchannel signals, respectively, with the plurality of spread-spectrum-subchannel signals radiated, using radio waves, from a plurality of antennas as a plurality of spread-spectrum signals, respectively, with the plurality of spread-spectrum signals passing through a communications channel having multipath, thereby generating, from the plurality of spread-spectrum signals, at least a first spread-spectrum signal having a first channel of data arriving from a first path of the multipath, and a second spread-spectrum signal having a second channel of data arriving from a second path of the multipath, comprising:

• receiver-antenna means for receiving the first spread-spectrum signal and the second spread-spectrum signal;
• despreading means, coupled to said receiver-antenna means, for detecting, at each receiver antenna of the plurality of receiver antennas, the first spread-spectrum signal and the second spread-spectrum signal, as a first plurality of detected spread-spectrum signals and a second plurality of detected spread-spectrum signals, respectively;
• and
• combiner means, coupled to said despreading means, for combining, from each receiver antenna of the plurality of receiver antennas, each of the first plurality of detected spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating a first combined signal, and for combining, from each receiver antenna of the plurality of receiver antennas, each of the second plurality of detected spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating a second combined signal.

A multiple input multiple output (MIMO) method improvement, for transmitting data having symbols, over a communications channel, comprising the steps of:

• demultiplexing the data into a plurality of subchannels of data;
• spread-spectrum processing the plurality of subchannels of data, with the plurality of subchannels of data spread-spectrum processed with a plurality of chip-sequence signals, respectively, with each chip-sequence signal different from other chip-sequence signals in the plurality of chip-sequence signals, thereby generating a plurality of spread-spectrum-subchannel signals, respectively;
• radiating from a plurality of antennas, using radio waves, the plurality of spread-spectrum-subchannel signals, over the communications channel, as a plurality of spread-spectrum signals, respectively;
• imparting, from the communications channel, multipath on the plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating at least a first spread-spectrum signal having a first channel of data arriving from a first path of the multipath, and a second spread-spectrum signal having a second channel of data arriving from a second path of the multipath;
• receiving the first spread-spectrum signal and the second spread-spectrum signal with a plurality of receiver antennas;
• detecting, at each receiver antenna of the plurality of receiver antennas, the first spread-spectrum signal and the second spread-spectrum signal, as a first plurality of detected spread-spectrum signals and a second plurality of detected spread-spectrum signals, respectively;
• combining, from each receiver antenna of the plurality of receiver antennas, each of the first plurality of detected spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating a first combined signal;
• and
• combining, from each receiver antenna of the plurality of receiver antennas, each of the second plurality of detected spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating a second combined signal.

A multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system, for transmitting data having symbols, over a communications channel, comprising:

• a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the data into a plurality of subchannels of data;
• a plurality of spread-spectrum devices for spread-spectrum processing the plurality of subchannels of data, with the plurality of subchannels of data spread-spectrum processed with a plurality of chip-sequence signals, respectively, with each chip-sequence signal different from other chip-sequence signals in the plurality of chip-sequence signals, thereby generating a plurality of spread-spectrum-subchannel signals, respectively;
• a plurality of transmitter antennas for radiating, using radio waves, the plurality of spread-spectrum-subchannel signals, over the communications channel, as a plurality of spread-spectrum signals, respectively;
• said communications channel for imparting multipath on the plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating at least a first spread-spectrum signal having a first channel of data arriving from a first path of the multipath, and a second spread-spectrum signal having a second channel of data arriving from a second path of the multipath;
• a plurality of receiver antennas for receiving the first spread-spectrum signal and the second spread-spectrum signal;
• a plurality of despreading devices for detecting, at each receiver antenna of the plurality of receiver antennas, the first spread-spectrum signal and the second spread-spectrum signal, as a first plurality of detected spread-spectrum signals and a second plurality of detected spread-spectrum signals, respectively;
• and
• a plurality of combiners for combining, from each receiver antenna of the plurality of receiver antennas, each of the first plurality of detected spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating a first combined signal, and for combining, from each receiver antenna of the plurality of receiver antennas, each of the second plurality of detected spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating a second combined signal.

A multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system, for transmitting data having symbols, over a communications channel, comprising:

• demultiplexer means for demultiplexing the data into a plurality of subchannels of data;
• spread-spectrum processing means for spread-spectrum processing the plurality of subchannels of data, with the plurality of subchannels of data spread-spectrum processed with a plurality of chip-sequence signals, respectively, with each chip-sequence signal different from other chip-sequence signals in the plurality of chip-sequence signals, thereby generating a plurality of spread-spectrum-subchannel signals, respectively;
• a plurality of transmitter-antenna means for radiating, using radio waves, the plurality of spread-spectrum-subchannel signals, over the communications channel, as a plurality of spread-spectrum signals, respectively;
• said communications channel for imparting multipath on the plurality of spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating at least a first spread-spectrum signal having a first channel of data arriving from a first path of the multipath, and a second spread-spectrum signal having a second channel of data arriving from a second path of the multipath;
• receiver-antenna means for receiving the first spread-spectrum signal and the second spread-spectrum signal;
• despreading means, coupled to said receiver-antenna means, for detecting, at each receiver antenna of the plurality of receiver antennas, the first spread-spectrum signal and the second spread-spectrum signal, as a first plurality of detected spread-spectrum signals and a second plurality of detected spread-spectrum signals, respectively;
• and
• combiner means, coupled to said despreading means, for combining, from each receiver antenna of the plurality of receiver antennas, each of the first plurality of detected spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating a first combined signal, and for combining, from each receiver antenna of the plurality of receiver antennas, each of the second plurality of detected spread-spectrum signals, thereby generating a second combined signal.