The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 29, 2003
Filed:
May. 16, 2001
Griffin K. Gothard, Satellite Beach, FL (US);
Alton S. Keel, Jr., Hellum, PA (US);
Christopher A. Snyder, Palm Bay, FL (US);
Bing Chiang, Melbourne, FL (US);
Joe T. Richeson, Melbourne, FL (US);
Douglas H. Wood, Palm Bay, FL (US);
James A. Proctor, Jr., Indialantic, FL (US);
Kenneth M. Gainey, Satellite Beach, FL (US);
Tantivy Communications, Inc., Melbourne, FL (US);
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.