Base stations for use in cellular communications systems
US6463301B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 17, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 8, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 17, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01Q3/40
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A base station of a cellular communications system forms a plurality of adjacent overlapping beams in azimuth across a coverage area, and the position of the plurality of beams is varied in unison about a rest position whereby to provide a mean antenna gain in all azimuthal directions across the coverage area and to minimise cusping loss. The position of the beams can be varied by a movement in azimuth over one half, or multiples of one half, of the angular separation of the formed beams. Preferably there are a plurality of base stations in the system, each of whose plurality of beams are varied in position independently of the other base stations. The beams can be varied at a rate which is substantially equal to the rate of variation of one of the effects normally experienced by a terminal, and which the system operator incorporates a margin to accommodate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.