Wireless communication and beam forming with passive beamformers
US6992621B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 7, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jan 31, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 7, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01Q25/00
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Wireless communication and beamforming is improved by depopulating one or more ports of a passive beamformer such as a Butler matrix and/or by increasing the order thereof. In an exemplary implementation, an access station includes: a Butler matrix having “M” antenna ports and “N” transmit and/or receive (TRX) ports; wherein at least a portion of the “M” antenna ports and/or at least a portion of the “N” TRX ports are depopulated. In another exemplary implementation, an access station includes: a Butler matrix that has multiple antenna ports and multiple TRX ports; a signal processor; and a signal selection device that is capable of coupling the signal processor to a subset of the multiple TRX ports responsive to a signal quality determination, the signal selection device adapted to switch the signal processor from a first TRX port to a second TRX port of the subset of TRX ports.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.