EP0777400A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Personal beam cellular communication system
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corp
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Filing: 1996-08-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-08-20
Abstract
Abstract A cellular communication system is provided for transmitting a large number of highly directive personalized communication beams throughout an original geographic cell of the cellular communication system. The system advantageously utilizes a phased array antenna positioned at a center location of the cell in conjunction with a spread spectrum communications method which includes code division multiple access techniques for increasing user capacity. Each of the communication beams represents user signals assigned to specific users located within the original geographic cell and are adjustable in the user's directions. The total number of the communication beams may equal the number of users within the cell. An omnidirectional antenna is positioned in close proximity to the center location of the cell for transmitting and receiving an omnidirectional communication beam for communication with users located within approximately one half of a mile of the center location. A plurality of digital beam forming networks are employed for feeding the phased array antenna with the user signals forming the personalized communication beams.
Inventors
- 👤 Barry Dunbridge
- 👤 Robert Y. Huang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:16
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/26; H01Q3/30; H04; H04W; H04W16/00; H04W16/24; H04W16/28; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/02; H04B7/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A cellular communication system for transmitting adjustable personalized communication beams in individual directions of a plurality of users located within a geographical cell of the cellular communication system, each of the adjustable personalized communication beams representing user signals assigned to specific users within the geographical cell, comprising: phased array antenna means, positioned within the geographical cell, for transmitting and receiving the adjustable personalized communication beams; digital beam forming means for feeding the phased array antenna means with the user signals forming the adjustable personalized communication beams for transmission in the individual directions of the plurality of users and for receiving the user signals received by the phased array antenna means; and user tracking means for providing the digital beam forming means with user tracking information such that the digital beam forming means adjusts each of the user signals so that each of the adjustable personalized communication beams is substantially centered about one of the users.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
24 words
The cellular communication system of Claim 1, wherein the phased array antenna means is located substantially at a center location of the geographical cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The cellular communication system of Claim 1, further comprising: omnidirectional antenna means, positioned in close proximity to a center location of the geographical cell, for transmitting and receiving an omnidirectional communication beam in directions of users within a predetermined range of the center location.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
172 words
The cellular communication system of Claim 1, wherein the digital beam forming means includes: a transmitting network for transmitting the user signals represented by the adjustable personalized communication beams in directions of the plurality of users including: (a) a plurality of signal modulators corresponding to at least the number of the users for modulating the user signals assigned to each of the users, and (b) a plurality of transmitting digital beam forming networks for feeding the modulated user signals to the phased array antenna means such that each of the adjustable personalized communication beams is transmitted in a direction of a particular user; and a receiving network for receiving the user signals received by the phased array antenna means including: (a) a plurality of receiving digital beam forming networks for synthesizing the user signals, and (b) a plurality of signal demodulators corresponding to at least the number of the users each coupled to outputs of the receiving digital beam forming networks for demodulating the user signals assigned to each of the users.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The cellular communication system of Claim 1, wherein the user tracking means includes a plurality of amplitude comparator networks each for comparing relative amplitudes of a particular user signal represented by a first adjustable personalized communication beam and at least two other adjustable personalized communication beams adjacent to the first adjustable personalized communication beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
98 words
The cellular communication system of Claim 4, wherein the user tracking means includes: a plurality of amplitude comparator networks, coupled to outputs of the demodulators, each for comparing relative amplitudes of a particular user signal represented by a first adjustable personalized communication beam and at least two other adjustable personalized communication beams adjacent to the first adjustable personalized communication beam; and switching means for providing the user signals represented by the first adjustable personalized communication beam and the at least two other adjacent adjustable personalized communication beams to a demodulator assigned to the first adjustable personalized communication beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The cellular communication system of Claim 4, wherein the signal modulators modulate the user signals using code division multiple access coded spread spectrum signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cellular communication system of Claim 4, wherein the phased array antenna means includes a plurality of radiating elements for transmitting and receiving the adjustable personalized communication beams.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
The cellular communication system of Claim 8, wherein each of the receiving digital beam forming networks includes variable amplitude and phase control elements corresponding to the number of radiating elements, and wherein each of the transmitting digital beam forming networks includes variable amplitude and phase control elements corresponding to at least the number of the users.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
199 words
A cellular communication system for transmitting a fixed number of personalized communication beams in fixed directions covering a geographical cell of the cellular communication system, each of the personalized communication beams representing user signals assigned to specific users within the geographical cell, comprising: phased array antenna means, positioned within the geographical cell, for transmitting and receiving the fixed personalized communication beams; a plurality of digital beam forming networks for feeding the phased array antenna means with the user signals forming the fixed personalized communication beams and for receiving the user signals represented by the fixed personalized communication beams; a plurality of modulating/demodulating networks corresponding to at least the number of the users for modulating and demodulating the user signals assigned to each of the users; switching means for switching the plurality of modulating/demodulating networks between the plurality of digital beam forming networks such that each of the users is assigned to a fixed personalized communication beam providing maximum signal coverage; and user tracking means for tracking each of the users and for providing the switching means with user tracking information such that the switching means switches the plurality of modulating/demodulating networks between the plurality of digital beam forming networks.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The cellular communication system of Claim 10, wherein the phased array antenna means is located substantially at a center location of the geographical cell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The cellular communication system of Claim 10, further comprising: omnidirectional antenna means, positioned in close proximity to the center location of the geographical cell, for transmitting and receiving an omnidirectional communication beam in directions of users within a predetermined range of the center location of the geographical cell.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The cellular communication system of Claim 10, wherein the user tracking means includes a plurality of amplitude comparator networks each for comparing relative amplitudes of a particular user signal represented by a first fixed personalized communication beam and at least two other fixed personalized communication beams adjacent to the first fixed personalized communication beam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The cellular communication system of Claim 10, wherein the modulating/demodulating networks modulate the user signals using code division multiple access coded spread spectrum signals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cellular communication system of Claim 10, wherein each of the digital beam forming networks include fixed amplitude and phase control elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The cellular communication system of Claim 10, wherein the phased array antenna means includes a number of radiating elements corresponding the number of digital beam forming networks for transmitting and receiving the fixed personalized communication beams.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cellular communication system of Claim 10, wherein the phased array antenna means includes a plurality of radiating elements each transmitting the fixed personalized communication beams such that adjacent beams have overlapping signal coverage areas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The cellular communication system of Claim 17, wherein the radiating elements transmit substantially two hundred and forty of the fixed personalized communication beams, each the fixed personalized communication beams having a three degree signal coverage area and overlapping adjacent beams by approximately one and a half degrees.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
95 words
A phase array antenna for use in a cellular communication system positioned substantially at a center location of a geographical cell of the cellular communication system, comprising: a plurality of radiating elements for transmitting personalized communication beams, each of the radiating elements being positioned about a circumference of a circle having substantially a ten foot radius, each of the radiating elements being separated by a constant distance and receiving user signals from a plurality of digital beam forming networks for shaping the personalized communication beams such that signal coverage is provide throughout the geographical cell.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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