Patent US6788268B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6788268B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for frequency selective beam forming
Assignee: IPR Licensing Inc
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Filing: 2002-08-30
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Granted: 2004-09-07
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Expires: 2022-08-30
Abstract
Abstract A directive antenna having plural antenna elements is arranged in a parasitic antenna array. Frequency selective components are connected to a first subset of the antenna elements. Weighting structures are connected to a second subset of the antenna elements. The first and second subsets of antenna elements may be connected by a space-fed power distribution system to produce independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Bing Chiang
- 👤 Kenneth M. Gainey
- 👤 James A. Proctor, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q21/00; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/12; H01Q1/22; H01Q1/24; H01Q1/241; H01Q1/246; H01Q1/50; H01Q21/0006; H01Q21/0018; H01Q21/30; H01Q25/00; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/26; H01Q3/30; H01Q3/34; H01Q3/36; H01Q3/44; H01Q3/46; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/02; H04B7/04; H04B7/06; H04B7/0613; H04B7/0615; H04B7/0617; H04B7/08; H04B7/0837; H04B7/0842; H04B7/086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 63
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A directive antenna, comprising: plural antenna elements arranged in an antenna array; frequency selective components coupled to a first subset of the antenna elements, the first subset being active antenna elements; and weighting structures coupled to a second subset of the antenna elements, the second subset being passive antenna elements, the first and second subsets of antenna elements coupled by a space-fed power distribution system to produce independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A directive antenna, comprising: plural antenna elements arranged in an antenna array; frequency selective components coupled to a first subset of the antenna elements, the first subset being active antenna elements; and weighting structures coupled to a second subset of the antenna elements, the second subset being passive antenna elements, the first and second subsets of antenna elements coupled by a space-fed power distribution system to produce independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 wherein the first and second subsets of antenna elements are parasitically coupled.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 wherein the second subset of antenna elements is a phased array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 wherein the weighting structure is electronically, mechanically, or electro-mechanically selectable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 wherein the weighting structures include at least one of the following elements: shorts, opens, lumped impedance, or delay line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 wherein the weighting structures are selected to cause respective reradiated phases for each of the spectrally separated signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 wherein the second subset reradiates the spectrally separated signals as a function of the weighting structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 wherein the space fed power distribution system is a power divider in a transmit direction and power combiner in a receive direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 wherein the frequency selective components separate transmit and receive signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 wherein the frequency selective components separate same direction signals having different frequencies, wherein the same direction signals include at least two signals in the transmit direction or at least two signals in the receive direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 wherein the frequency selective components are printed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 wherein the frequency selective components are non-printed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 wherein the weighting structures include phase shifting elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The directive antenna according to claim 13 wherein the phase shifting elements receive independent control signals to set-up respective phase shifts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the weighting structures includes at least one variable gain amplifying component.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The directive antenna as claimed in claim 15 wherein the number of variable gain amplifying components associated with each antenna element corresponds to the number of spectrally separated beams being independently optimized in shape.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 further including a combiner associated with each beam being produced to combine signals transmitted or received by the antenna elements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 simultaneously producing the beams.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 used in a multi-path environment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 used in one of the following networks: same frequency network, spread spectrum network, code division multiple access (CDMA) network, or orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) network.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 wherein one of the weighting structures coupled to the second subset of antenna elements is adjusted to optimize a receive beam pattern based on a received pilot signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 wherein one of the weighting structures coupled to the second subset of antenna elements is adjusted to optimize a transmit beam pattern based on a received signal quality of a given signal via a feedback metric over a forward link.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
82 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 wherein one of the weighting structures coupled to the second subset of antenna elements is adjusted to steer a transmit beam in the direction of maximum received power of a signal from a given base station, while another one of the weighting structures coupled to the frequency selective components is adjusted to optimize a receive beam based on a metric selected from the group consisting of a best signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and carrier-to-interference (C/I) level.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for directing an antenna beam, comprising: providing plural antenna elements arranged in an antenna array; selectively coupling signals at a first subset of the antenna elements, the first subset being active antenna elements; and weighting the signals at a second subset of the antenna elements, the second subset being passive antenna elements, the first and second subsets of antenna elements coupled by a space fed power distribution system to produce independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for directing an antenna beam, comprising: providing plural antenna elements arranged in an antenna array; selectively coupling signals at a first subset of the antenna elements, the first subset being active antenna elements; and weighting the signals at a second subset of the antenna elements, the second subset being passive antenna elements, the first and second subsets of antenna elements coupled by a space fed power distribution system to produce independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 24 wherein the first and second subsets of antenna elements are parasitically coupled.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 24 wherein weighting the signals at the second subset of antenna elements causes the second subset of antenna elements to behave as a phased array.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 24 wherein weighting the signals includes changing the state of electronic, mechanical, or electro-mechanical switching elements.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 24 wherein weighting the signals includes selecting a weighting using at least one of the following techniques: shorting, opening, changing a lumped impedance, or choosing delay line of the respective antenna elements to an associated ground plane.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 24 wherein weighting the signal includes selecting weightings to cause respective reradiated phases for each of the spectrally separated signals.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 24 wherein weighting the signal causes the second subset to reradiate the spectrally separated signals as a function of the weighting.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 24 using the space fed power distribution system to cause power dividing in a transmit direction and power combining in a receive direction.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 24 wherein selectively coupling the signals at the first subset of antenna elements includes separating transmit and receive signals.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 24 wherein selectively coupling the signals at the first subset of antenna elements includes separating same direction signals having different frequencies, wherein the same direction signals include at least two signals in the transmit direction or at least two signals in the receive direction.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 24 wherein selectively coupling the signals at the first subset of antenna elements includes channeling the signal through printed frequency selective components.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 24 wherein selectively coupling the signals at the first subset of antenna elements includes channeling the signal through non-printed frequency selective components.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 24 wherein weighting the signals at the second subset of antenna elements includes adjusting phase shifting elements.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 36 wherein adjusting phase shifting elements includes sending independent control signals to the phase shifting elements to set-up respective phase shifts.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 24 wherein weighting the signal includes selectively amplifying the signal.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as claimed in claim 38 wherein selectively amplifying the signal is done as a function of the number of spectrally separated beams being independently optimized in shape.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 24 further including employing a combiner associated with each beam being produced to combine signals transmitted or received by the antenna elements.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method according to claim 24 simultaneously producing the beams.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method according to claim 24 used in a multi-path environment.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 24 , used in one of the following networks: same frequency network, spread spectrum network, code division multiple access (CDMA) network, or orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) network.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 24 wherein weighting the signal includes adjusting the weighting to optimize a receive beam pattern based on a received pilot signal.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 24 wherein weighting the signal includes optimizing a transmit beam pattern based on a received signal quality of a given signal via a feedback metric over a forward link.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method according to claim 24 wherein weighting the signal includes steering a transmit beam in the direction of maximum received power of a signal from a given base station while optimizing a receive beam based on a metric selected from the group consisting of a best signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and carrier-to-interference (C/I) level.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
79 words
A directive antenna, comprising: plural antenna elements arranged in an antenna array; means for selectively coupling signals at a first subset of the antenna elements, the first subset being active antenna elements; and means for weighting the signals at a second subset of the antenna elements, the second subset being passive antenna elements, the first and second subsets of the antenna elements coupled by a space fed power distribution system to produce independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
79 words
A directive antenna, comprising: plural antenna elements arranged in an antenna array; means for selectively coupling signals at a first subset of the antenna elements, the first subset being active antenna elements; and means for weighting the signals at a second subset of the antenna elements, the second subset being passive antenna elements, the first and second subsets of the antenna elements coupled by a space fed power distribution system to produce independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
105 words
A directive antenna, comprising: plural antenna elements arranged in an antenna array; frequency selective components each coupled to a respective antenna element in a first subset of antenna elements, the first subset being active antenna elements; at least two first weighting structures coupled to each of the frequency selective components to produce independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals; and second weighting structures coupled to a second subset of the antenna elements, the second subset being passive antenna elements, the first and second subsets of antenna elements coupled by a space-fed power distribution system to further steer the independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
105 words
A directive antenna, comprising: plural antenna elements arranged in an antenna array; frequency selective components each coupled to a respective antenna element in a first subset of antenna elements, the first subset being active antenna elements; at least two first weighting structures coupled to each of the frequency selective components to produce independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals; and second weighting structures coupled to a second subset of the antenna elements, the second subset being passive antenna elements, the first and second subsets of antenna elements coupled by a space-fed power distribution system to further steer the independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
17 words
The directive antenna according to claim 48 wherein the frequency selective components separate transmit and receive signals.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for producing independently steerable beams, comprising: weighting a first signal at a first frequency received by or to be transmitted by plural first elements arranged in a first antenna array having frequency selective components each coupled to a respective antenna element to produce a first steerable beam, the first elements being active elements; weighting a second signal spectrally separated from the first signal to produce a second and independently steerable beam received by or to be transmitted by the first antenna array; and weighting plural second elements arranged in a second antenna array, the second elements being passive elements, the first and second elements being coupled by a space-fed power distribution system to steer further the independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for producing independently steerable beams, comprising: weighting a first signal at a first frequency received by or to be transmitted by plural first elements arranged in a first antenna array having frequency selective components each coupled to a respective antenna element to produce a first steerable beam, the first elements being active elements; weighting a second signal spectrally separated from the first signal to produce a second and independently steerable beam received by or to be transmitted by the first antenna array; and weighting plural second elements arranged in a second antenna array, the second elements being passive elements, the first and second elements being coupled by a space-fed power distribution system to steer further the independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 50 further including steering a transmitted beam and steering a received beam.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for beam forming, comprising: means for phase shifting a first signal at a first frequency received by or to be transmitted by plural first antenna elements arranged in a first antenna array, having frequency selective components each coupled to a respective antenna element, to produce a first steerable beam, the first antenna elements being active antenna elements; means for phase shifting a second signal spectrally separated from the first signal to produce a second and independently steerable beam received by or to be transmitted by the same first antenna array; and means for further phase shifting the first and second signals by second antenna elements, being passive antenna elements, coupled to the first antenna elements via a space-fed power distribution system to steer further the independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals.
Claim 58
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for beam forming, comprising: means for phase shifting a first signal at a first frequency received by or to be transmitted by plural first antenna elements arranged in a first antenna array, having frequency selective components each coupled to a respective antenna element, to produce a first steerable beam, the first antenna elements being active antenna elements; means for phase shifting a second signal spectrally separated from the first signal to produce a second and independently steerable beam received by or to be transmitted by the same first antenna array; and means for further phase shifting the first and second signals by second antenna elements, being passive antenna elements, coupled to the first antenna elements via a space-fed power distribution system to steer further the independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
18 words
The directive antenna according to claim 1 wherein the frequency selective components simultaneously pass multiple, spectrally separated signals.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
91 words
A directive antenna, comprising: plural antenna elements arranged in an antenna array; frequency selective components coupled to a first subset of the antenna elements; and weighting structures coupled to a second subset of the antenna elements, the first and second subsets of antenna elements coupled by a space-fed power distribution system to produce independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals, at least one of the weighting structures including at least one variable gain amplifying component associated antenna element corresponding to the number of spectrally separated beams being independently optimized in shape.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
91 words
A directive antenna, comprising: plural antenna elements arranged in an antenna array; frequency selective components coupled to a first subset of the antenna elements; and weighting structures coupled to a second subset of the antenna elements, the first and second subsets of antenna elements coupled by a space-fed power distribution system to produce independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals, at least one of the weighting structures including at least one variable gain amplifying component associated antenna element corresponding to the number of spectrally separated beams being independently optimized in shape.
Claim 62
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for directing an antenna beam, comprising: providing plural antenna elements arranged in an antenna array; selectively coupling signals at a first subset of the antenna elements; and weighting the signals at a second subset of the antenna elements, the first and second subsets of antenna elements coupled by a space-fed power distribution system to produce independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals, weighting the signal including selectively amplifying the signal as a function of the number of spectrally separated beams being independently optimized in shape.
Claim 63
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for directing an antenna beam, comprising: providing plural antenna elements arranged in an antenna array; selectively coupling signals at a first subset of the antenna elements; and weighting the signals at a second subset of the antenna elements, the first and second subsets of antenna elements coupled by a space-fed power distribution system to produce independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals, weighting the signal including selectively amplifying the signal as a function of the number of spectrally separated beams being independently optimized in shape.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-09-07 | 2008-03-08 | 2008-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-09-07 | 2012-03-08 | 2012-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-09-07 | 2016-03-08 | 2016-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |