Base station antenna arrangement
US5596329A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 12, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jan 21, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 12, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W52/367
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A smart antenna for a base station comprises a plurality of antenna arrays each capable of forming a multiplicity of separate overlapping narrow beams in azimuth, the arrays being positioned such that the totality of beams formed by the arrays provides a substantially omni-directional coverage in azimuth A plurality of r.f. transceivers is provided each for transmitting and receiving r.f. signals for one or more calls, with switching matrix means for connecting each transceiver with one or other of the arrays via beamformers. Each transceiver is connected by a switch matrix to a particular array to exchange r.f. signals with a remote station located in the area covered by one of the narrow overlapping beams. Means are provided for selecting for a given call more than one of the best received signals from the multiplicity of narrow overlapping beams and the selected signals are combined to form a single receive signal input for the r.f. transceiver for the given call.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.