Patent US5714957A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5714957A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Base station antenna arrangement
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 1995-05-16
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Granted: 1998-02-03
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Expires: 2015-05-16
Abstract
Abstract An antenna for a base station comprising a plurality of antenna arrays (40; FIG. 6a) each capable of forming a multiplicity of separate overlapping narrow beams in azimuth, the arrays being positioned such that the beams formed by the arrays provide a coverage in azimuth wider than each array. Means are provided for splitting (58; FIGS. 14b,14c) the transmission output of a given transceiver into two signals prior to transmission power amplification and transmitting said signals in two adjacent narrow overlapping beams.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey Graham Searle
- 👤 Stuart James Dean
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W16/00; H04W16/24; H04W16/28; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/12; H01Q1/22; H01Q1/24; H01Q1/241; H01Q1/246; H01Q25/00; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/02; H04B7/04; H04B7/0408
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A non-sectorised telecommunications base station antenna arrangement comprising: a plurality of layered antenna arrays each capable of forming a multiplicity of separate overlapping narrow beams in azimuth, the arrays being positioned such that the beams provide a coverage in azimuth wider than each array; and in which the antenna arrangement includes means for splitting the transmission output of a given transceiver into two signals prior to transmission power amplification and transmitting said signals in two adjacent narrow overlapping means, the split signals being transmitted in quadrature in the two adjacent beams.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
A non-sectorised telecommunications base station antenna arrangement comprising: a plurality of layered antenna arrays each capable of forming a multiplicity of separate overlapping narrow beams in azimuth, the arrays being positioned such that the beams provide a coverage in azimuth wider than each array; and in which the antenna arrangement includes means for splitting the transmission output of a given transceiver into two signals prior to transmission power amplification and transmitting said signals in two adjacent narrow overlapping means, the split signals being transmitted in quadrature in the two adjacent beams.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
156 words
A non-sectorised telecommunications base station antenna arrangement comprising: a plurality of layered antenna arrays each capable of forming a multiplicity of separate overlapping narrow beams in azimuth, the arrays being positioned such that the beams provide a coverage in azimuth wider than each array; azimuth beamforming means for each array; a plurality of r.f. transceivers each for transmitting and receiving r.f. signals for one or more calls; switching matrix means for connecting each transceiver with one or other of the arrays via the beamforming means; and control means for controlling the switch matrix means whereby a particular transceiver is connected to a particular array, via the beamforming means, to exchange r.f. signals with a remote station located in the area covered by the antenna wherein the antenna includes means for splitting the transmission output of a given transceiver into two signals prior to transmission power amplification and transmitting said signals in two adjacent narrow overlapping beams.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
156 words
A non-sectorised telecommunications base station antenna arrangement comprising: a plurality of layered antenna arrays each capable of forming a multiplicity of separate overlapping narrow beams in azimuth, the arrays being positioned such that the beams provide a coverage in azimuth wider than each array; azimuth beamforming means for each array; a plurality of r.f. transceivers each for transmitting and receiving r.f. signals for one or more calls; switching matrix means for connecting each transceiver with one or other of the arrays via the beamforming means; and control means for controlling the switch matrix means whereby a particular transceiver is connected to a particular array, via the beamforming means, to exchange r.f. signals with a remote station located in the area covered by the antenna wherein the antenna includes means for splitting the transmission output of a given transceiver into two signals prior to transmission power amplification and transmitting said signals in two adjacent narrow overlapping beams.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the split signals are transmitted in quadrature in the two adjacent beams.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of operating a non-sectorized telecommunications base station antenna arrangement in a transmission mode, the arrangement comprising: a plurality of layered antenna arrays each capable of forming a multiplicity of separate overlapping narrow beams in azimuth, a plurality of r.f. transceivers each for transmitting and receiving r.f. signals for one or more calls, switching matrix means, and control means; the arrays being positioned such that the beams provide a coverage in azimuth wider than each array; the method comprising the following steps: splitting the transmission out put of a given transceiver into two signals prior to transmission power amplification; and transmitting said signals in two adjacent narrow overlapping beams, whereby cusping between two adjacent beams is reduced.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of operating a non-sectorized telecommunications base station antenna arrangement in a transmission mode, the arrangement comprising: a plurality of layered antenna arrays each capable of forming a multiplicity of separate overlapping narrow beams in azimuth, a plurality of r.f. transceivers each for transmitting and receiving r.f. signals for one or more calls, switching matrix means, and control means; the arrays being positioned such that the beams provide a coverage in azimuth wider than each array; the method comprising the following steps: splitting the transmission out put of a given transceiver into two signals prior to transmission power amplification; and transmitting said signals in two adjacent narrow overlapping beams, whereby cusping between two adjacent beams is reduced.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein, for a given signal received from a mobile, including the further steps of determining the best beams to be selected on the uplink by measuring the quality of of the received signal strength from the mobile; and selecting the antennas which would provide the best adjacent beams for a given channel on the downlink.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the split signals are transmitted in quadrature in the two adjacent beams.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of operating a non-sectorized telecommunications base station antenna arrangement in a receive mode, the arrangement comprising: a plurality of layered antenna arrays each capable of forming a multiplicity of separate overlapping narrow beams in azimuth, a plurality of r.f. transceivers each for transmitting and receiving r.f. signals for one or more calls, switching matrix means, and control means; the arrays being positioned such that the beams provide a coverage in azimuth wider than each array; the method comprising the following steps: selecting the two strongest signals, regardless of in which beam they appear; and routing these received signals to main and diverse ports of any maximal ratio combiner to maximize receive power whereby to provide diversity gain to a cellular communication system.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of operating a non-sectorized telecommunications base station antenna arrangement in a receive mode, the arrangement comprising: a plurality of layered antenna arrays each capable of forming a multiplicity of separate overlapping narrow beams in azimuth, a plurality of r.f. transceivers each for transmitting and receiving r.f. signals for one or more calls, switching matrix means, and control means; the arrays being positioned such that the beams provide a coverage in azimuth wider than each array; the method comprising the following steps: selecting the two strongest signals, regardless of in which beam they appear; and routing these received signals to main and diverse ports of any maximal ratio combiner to maximize receive power whereby to provide diversity gain to a cellular communication system.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of operating a non-sectorized base station arrangement in a receive mode, the arrangement comprising: a plurality of layered antenna arrays each capable of forming a multiplicity of separate overlapping narrow beams in azimuth, a plurality of r.f. transceivers each for transmitting and receiving r.f. signals for one or more calls, switching matrix means, and control means; the arrays being positioned such that the beams provide a coverage in azimuth wider than each array; the method comprising the following steps: selecting the two strongest signals from two adjacent beams; and routing these received signals to main and diverse ports of any maximal ratio combiner to maximize receive power whereby to provide diversity gain to a cellular communication system and effect fill in of a cusp between the two beams.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of operating a non-sectorized base station arrangement in a receive mode, the arrangement comprising: a plurality of layered antenna arrays each capable of forming a multiplicity of separate overlapping narrow beams in azimuth, a plurality of r.f. transceivers each for transmitting and receiving r.f. signals for one or more calls, switching matrix means, and control means; the arrays being positioned such that the beams provide a coverage in azimuth wider than each array; the method comprising the following steps: selecting the two strongest signals from two adjacent beams; and routing these received signals to main and diverse ports of any maximal ratio combiner to maximize receive power whereby to provide diversity gain to a cellular communication system and effect fill in of a cusp between the two beams.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-02-02 | 2001-08-04 | 2002-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-02-02 | 2005-08-04 | 2006-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-02-02 | 2009-08-04 | 2010-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |