Metawave Communications Corporation

Kathrein-werke Kg

Innova Corporation

Other

Metawave Communication Corporation

Gary Allen Martek

Douglas O Reudink

J Todd Elson

Todd Elson

Shimon B Scherzer

Scot D Gordon

Martin J Feuerstein

Deepa Ramakrishna

Sheldon Kent Meredith

Mark D Reudink

Jean-Francois Grenon

Timothy Patrick Murphy

Patric McDonald

Fred E Ashbaugh

Jerome Prismantas

Blaine J Smith

Colin J Pallemaerts

Leibing Huang

F Roland Svensson

Systems and methods are disclosed which provide aggressively sculpted or shaped antenna beams, such as sector antenna beams, for use in communication networks. Preferred embodiments use passive antenna feed networks, preferably configured as personality modules, which are adapted for corresponding topological and morphological features. Preferred embodiment feed networks may be coupled to linear or curvilinear antenna arrays to provide antenna beams having a desired contour. Using the disclosed systems and methods path loss variance is minimized for improved system capacity and/or signal quality. Moreover, the disclosed systems and methods provide for reduced average transmission power levels further allowing increased capacity and/or signal quality.

Shapable antenna beams for cellular networks

Disclosed is an integrated antenna array comprising a plurality of interleaved sub-arrays separately controllable and responding to either the same or separate frequency bands. Both arrays operate with substantially the same phase center and substantially within the same effective aperture. The first sub-array of array comprises of spaced linear radiating elements such as dipoles, log-periodic, Yagi, slotted-waveguide, patch, or array consisting of the same or different elements as used in the first sub-array, either on the same or an entirely different frequency band. Independent beam shaping systems are shown for independent operation of the two arrays.

Co-located antenna array for passive beam forming

Systems and methods for providing antenna beams having reduced grating and side lobes when steered off of the antenna broadside are disclosed. According to the present invention an arrangement of antenna elements suitable for use in generating antenna beams steered at greater angles off of the antenna broadside is utilized with a beam feed network consistent with the antenna beams being steered at the greater angles and reduced antenna element spacing to provide the reduced grating and side lobes. A preferred embodiment utilizes a 2 Butler matrix coupled to 2 antenna columns spaced according to the present invention to provide 2 antenna beams. Preferred embodiments provide a dual mode antenna system in which antenna elements of a first mode are interspersed with antenna elements of a second mode.

Dual mode switched beam antenna

There is disclosed an RF synthesis system for allowing a phase signal to be created from a plurality of antennas while using a single LPA for each panel of the array. Provision is made to control the power levels between the antennas of each panel by a series of phase adjustments used in conjunction with RF hybrid circuits. Provision is made for changing the sector alignment by using cross panels and also by rearranging the signals from the various RF inputs.

RF radiation pattern synthesis using existing linear amplifiers

In one embodiment, the present invention provides an antenna array for transmitting one or more beams in a communication system. The antenna includes a cavity slot antenna array that is adapted to be operatively connected to a beam forming module (e.g., via a plurality of signal feed lines that are connected to radiating signal probes). The antenna array has one or more cavity slot columns adjacently fixed to one another with each of the one or more columns having at least one cavity slot antenna element for providing a radiating beam component. The combined cavity slot elements from the one or more columns define a cavity slot array for providing the one or more beams from the cavity slot beam components.

Cavity slot antenna

A receiving system is disclosed which includes at least one antenna providing a plurality of antenna beams providing signal diversity between communicated signals. A first processing branch is included for processing a first plurality of signals appearing within a first plurality of the antenna beams. The first processing branch includes a plurality of signal paths, some of which include delays , each receiving a one of the first plurality of signals from a corresponding one of the first plurality of antenna beams. Delays apply a predetermined amount of delay proportionate to the corresponding one of the beams. First processing branch further includes a combiner for combining the first plurality of signals after output from the plurality of signal paths. A second processing branch is provided for processing a second plurality of signals appearing within a second plurality of the antenna beams. Second processing branch includes a plurality of signal paths, some of which include delays , each receiving one of the second plurality of signals from a corresponding one of the second plurality of antenna beams. Delays applying a pre-selected amount of delay to the corresponding one of the beams. Second processing branch further includes a combiner for combining the second plurality of signals after output from the plurality of signal paths. Finally, a radio is provided having a first port coupled to an output of first processing branch and a second port coupled to a second processing branch

Polarization and angular diversity among antenna beams

Systems and methods are disclosed for illuminating multiple columns of antennas to provide a desired wave front without introducing non-coherent combining. The preferred embodiment feed network provides elevation scanning for a multiple beam antenna system on a per antenna beam basis. In a preferred embodiment columns of antenna elements are divided into phase-centers having a relative phase shift introduced there between. Phase differentials are introduced into the antenna beam signals of each phase-center of antenna elements in order to provide a phase progression which steers the antenna beam a predetermined angle from the broadside. The phase differentials are independently provided for each antenna beam signal to thereby allow independent steering of each antenna beam.

Cylindrical antenna coherent feed system and method

Systems and methods for providing antenna beams having reduced grating and side lobes when steered off of the antenna broadside are disclosed. According to the present invention an arrangement of antenna elements suitable for use in generating antenna beams steered at greater angles off of the antenna broadside is utilized with a beam feed network consistent with the antenna beams being steered at the greater angles and reduced antenna element spacing to provide the reduced grating and side lobes. A preferred embodiment utilizes a 2,Butler matrix coupled to 2,antenna columns spaced according to the present invention to provide 2,antenna beams.

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing elevation scanning for a multiple beam antenna system on a per antenna beam basis. In a preferred embodiment columns of antenna elements are divided into sub-groups each having a beam forming matrix associated therewith. Phase differentials are introduced into the antenna beam signals of each sub-group of antenna elements in order to provide a phase progression which steers the antenna beam a predetermined angle from the broadside. The phase differentials are independently provided for each antenna beam signal to thereby allow independent steering of each antenna beam. Additionally, dielectric material placed in the signal feed path may be utilized to alter radiation characteristics of certain antenna elements of the antenna system. Placing the dielectric material with outer elements of an array may be used for aperture tapering and side lobe control. Additionally, wind loading, due to the antenna system is reduced by using a gridded ground plane system.

System and method for per beam elevation scanning

An omni directional coverage multibeam antenna relief on a ground surface having simple conical shapes to provide beam steering. One advantage of such a system is that the projected area is always constant and broadside to the intended direction resulting in limited scan loss effects. In the case of a cylinder as the conical shape, z-axis symmetry provides a constant antenna aperture projection in any azimuthal direction. Using this geometry, high level, side lobes are reduced considerably because of the natural aperture tapering from dispersion effects. Coverage area and power can be controlled by changing the ground surface angle and by selectively activating different antenna beam positions around the circumference of the ground surface, and by selectively changing the phase relationship between a given set of antenna beams.

Conical omni-directional coverage multibeam antenna

An omni directional coverage multibeam antenna relief on a ground surface having simple conical shapes to provide beam steering is disclosed. One advantage of such a system is that the projected area is always constant and broadside to the intended direction resulting in limited scan loss effects. In the case of a cylinder as the conical shape, z-axis symmetry provides a constant antenna aperture projection in any azimuthal direction. Using this geometry, high level, side lobes are reduced considerably because of the natural aperture tapering from dispersion effects. Coverage area and power can be controlled by changing the ground surface angle and by selectively activating different antenna beam positions around the circumference of the ground surface, and by selectively changing the phase relationship between a given set of antenna beams. Likewise, beam down-tilt may be electrically realized by providing a phase differentiated signal to different antenna sections associated with an antenna beam. Furthermore, modular circuitry may be utilized to provide different beam widths from a single antenna structure design.

Conical omni-directional coverage multibeam antenna with parasitic

The invention provides radio communications with an up-down signal link. In accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention is directed to a method, system and computer readable medium with program instructions (hereafter collectively referred to as 'the invention'). The invention includes receiving a downstream signal in a receiver portion of an outdoor unit, producing in the receiver portion of the outdoor unit an intermediate frequency (IF) signal from the downstream signal, and processing the IF signal in the receiver portion of the outdoor unit to produce a clean line code signal. The invention further includes processing the clean line code signal in the receiver portion of the outdoor unit to produce a modulated signal, and providing the modulated signal via an interface portion of the down-link to an indoor unit, wherein the producing and processing, respectively, of the IF, clean line code and modulated signals in the outdoor unit provides a high, constant signal-to-noise ratio on the down-link, and wherein the modulated signal is converted to a binary signal in the indoor unit. The invention additionally includes providing an upstream signal over an up-link to a transmitter portion of the outdoor unit, and selecting a component of the upstream signal for transmission by the outdoor unit. One aspect of the invention also includes measuring in the receiver portion of the outdoor unit a power level of the received downstream signal, wherein the measured power level is unaffected by characteristics of the down-link. Moreover, the invention includes providing loop-back connections in the indoor and outdoor units for automated testing of the indoor and outdoor units.

System and method of radio communications with an up-down digital signal

An omni directional coverage multibeam antenna composed of facets, or antenna modules, that make up a regular polygon of n sides inscribed in a circle of radius r which defines an adjustable composite conical surface. The disclosed antenna modules are independent antenna arrays creating an independent beam. One advantage of such a system is that the radiated wave front associated with such antenna modules is always substantially broadside to the array resulting in limited scan loss effects. Furthermore, the independence of the disclosed antenna modules is important as it allows each module's beam to be either electrically or mechanically steered to affect elevation or azimuthal beam control. Additionally, by employing trapezoidal shaped antenna modules, a minimum radome diameter is achieved that covers this antenna system.

Multi-sector pivotal antenna system and method

A system and method for providing distributed amplification of a plurality of input signals is disclosed. The preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention utilizes two substantially different matrixes to dissect an input signal for amplification and subsequent recombination. The unique matrixes disclosed provide for the distributed amplification of any even number of input signals, therefore reducing the number of linear power amplifiers required where a number of input signals other than a power of two are used.

Growing community of inventors

Edgewood, WA, United States of America

Gary Allen Martek