Method and apparatus for spatial multiplexing and beamforming of orthogonal streams

Abstract

A method and apparatus for spatial multiplexing and beamforming of orthogonal streams are provided. In one embodiment, the method involves inputting a data stream into a transmitter device, which demultiplexes, modulates, spatially multiplexes, and transmit beamforms it into n spatial streams that are input to corresponding code-controlled, selectable polarization antennas, each of which emits a stream with an orthogonal or uncorrelated polarization relative to the other n-1 radiation streams. The method includes detecting the radiation streams at a receiver device equipped with n selectable polarization antennas correspondingly controlled by the same code. Each receive antenna performs matched polarization filtering on the aggregate incident radiation stream to recover one corresponding spatial stream. The n recovered spatial streams are then receive beamformed, spatially demultiplexed, demodulated, and recombined into the original data stream. Since n can be arbitrarily large, spatial multiplexing and beamforming of orthogonal streams provides a mechanism for arbitrarily increasing the information rate of a highly directional, fixed-frequency and bandwidth wireless channel.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 379,962, filed April 9, 2019, by the same inventors, and entitled "METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ORTHOGONAL STREAM SPATIAL MULTIPLEXING," which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62 / 812,295, filed March 1, 2019, and entitled "METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ORTHOGONAL STREAM SPATIAL MULTIPLEXING." These related applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of telecommunications, and more particularly to the operation of wireless communication networks. [Background technology]

[0003] With the rapidly growing trend for mobile and remote fixed data access over high-speed wireless communication networks, the increase in the number of users and the amount of data consumed by these users is of major importance. Long-Term Evolution (LTE) fourth-generation (4G) cellular networks, for example, currently utilize multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology. MIMO technology has significantly increased available mobile capacity over its non-MIMO predecessor. However, the projected demand for wireless bandwidth, even in the relatively near future, far exceeds what the much-touted next-generation fifth-generation (5G) technology can actually deliver.

[0004] Therefore, a mechanism that can significantly increase the data transfer capacity of wireless communication networks is highly desirable. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The following summary presents a simplified version of one or more aspects of the invention. The purpose of this summary is to present key concepts in a simplified form before the more detailed description.

[0006] In various exemplary embodiments, methods and apparatus are provided for orthogonal stream spatial multiplexing and beamforming ("OSSMBF") that can significantly increase wireless network data transfer capacity and, in many cases, communication range. In exemplary embodiments, an "outgoing data stream" requiring point-to-point wireless transmission to a remote destination is input to an OSSMBF-enabled transmitter. The digital data stream is then demultiplexed and modulated into n Tx radio streams, which are then spatially multiplexed and transmit beamformed by a MIMO transmitter into n RF_Tx spatial streams. The Tx spatial streams are then provided to n corresponding "OSSMBF_Tx devices," which uniquely enable spatial multiplexing and beamforming of the orthogonal streams at the transmit side. The "OSSMBF_Tx method" causes the n distinct OSSMBF_Tx devices to toggle the instantaneous polarization of their corresponding Tx spatial streams in distinct, time-varying manners that are mutually orthogonal or uncorrelated with respect to the instantaneous polarization of the other Tx spatial streams. The resulting n "OSSMBF streams" (each carrying distinct data, exhibiting a unique time-varying polarization, and characterized by incrementally stepped carrier phases, but otherwise exhibiting identical amplitude modulation, bandwidth, and frequency channelization) are then simultaneously transmitted over the air in the correct spatial direction to a desired destination. In this manner, the OSSMBF_Tx device and OSSMBF_Tx method are combined to demultiplex, modulate, spatially multiplex, and transmit beamform the outgoing data stream into multiple Tx spatial streams, and then separately polarize the Tx spatial streams into multiple corresponding OSSMBF streams, thereby enabling their simultaneous, co-channel, directional transmission to a common destination location without mutual interference.

[0007] The n emitted OSSMBF streams are incident on n corresponding "OSSMBF_Rx devices" (which inherently enable spatial multiplexing and beamforming of orthogonal streams at the receiver) at the destination OSSMBF-capable receiver. The "OSSMBF_Rx method" varies the instantaneous polarization of each of the n OSSMBF_Rx devices in a manner that is equivalent to the instantaneous polarization of a distinct one of the OSSMBF_Tx devices to generate n "matched polarization filters," each of which transmits only one of the n polarization-filtered OSSMBF streams unsuppressed to the MIMO receiver and suppresses the remaining n-1. This allows the destination MIMO receiver to input the n partially separated and unbundled Rx spatial streams for subsequent receive beamforming and spatial demultiplexing into fully separated and unbundled Tx radio streams, before demodulating and digitally recombining them all back into the outgoing data stream. In this aspect, the OSSMBF_Rx device and OSSMBF_Rx method are combined to separately polarization filter multiple radio-aggregated and directionally sensed OSSMBF streams into corresponding multiple Rx spatial streams, which are then receive beamformed, spatially demultiplexed, demodulated and digitally aggregated into an outgoing data stream, thereby completing simultaneous co-channel, mutually interference-free directional OSSMBF transmissions from the source location.

[0008] A key advantage of OSSMBF is its ability to wirelessly transmit an arbitrarily large number, n, of RF spatial streams (each carrying distinct data but otherwise characterized by identical amplitude, modulation, and bandwidth) to the same destination over the same frequency channel, effectively multiplying the data transfer capacity of any such fixed-frequency, modulation, and bandwidth communication link by n. Furthermore, if the streams incorporate appropriate stepped carrier phasing (i.e., phased-array beamforming), the communication range of the link can also be significantly increased.

[0009] Existing MIMO spatial multiplexing techniques (which universally rely on terrestrial multipath propagation to provide the separation and decoupling of partial radiation streams necessary for subsequent complete individual stream separation and decoupling at the MIMO receiver) can only guarantee a double data rate (and in practice can only deliver up to four times the rate under very specific circumstances), regardless of the MIMO spatial multiplexing order n employed. Moreover, this dependency on highly dissimilar stream propagation paths (and coexisting carrier phase incoherence) completely invalidates the incorporation of phased array techniques to extend the link communication range as described above.

[0010] In one embodiment, a transmitter apparatus is provided that includes a MIMO transmitter and multiple transmit antenna circuits. The MIMO transmitter inputs a data stream and outputs multiple corresponding stepped-phase coherent but otherwise equal amplitude, modulation, bandwidth, and frequency RF_Tx spatial streams, as well as multiple corresponding digital binary time-varying orthogonal or uncorrelated sequential polarization control signals. Each Tx spatial stream is associated with a corresponding polarization control signal. Each transmit antenna circuit includes first and second orthogonally polarized antenna elements and an RF switch that selectively connects its input Tx spatial stream to the first and second orthogonally polarized antenna elements based on the corresponding polarization control signal to radiate separate time-varying polarized OSSMBF streams. In the above embodiment, the transmitter apparatus includes a MIMO transmitter for converting the data stream into multiple Tx spatial streams and multiple transmit antenna circuits for separately polarizing the Tx spatial streams into radiated OSSMBF streams for simultaneous co-channel, mutually interference-free, directional transmission to a remote location.

[0011] In an embodiment, a transmitter apparatus is provided that includes a MIMO transmitter that receives a data stream and generates multiple Tx spatial streams that are spatially coded for simultaneous co-channel transmission and transmit beamformed for radiation in precise spatial directions. The apparatus also includes a code generator that generates multiple distinct polarization control signals. The apparatus also includes multiple transmit antenna circuits that receive the multiple Tx spatial streams and the multiple polarization control signals and generate multiple distinctly polarized radiation streams. Each transmit antenna circuit includes first and second orthogonally polarized transmit antenna elements and an RF switch that selectively connects the Tx spatial stream to the first and second orthogonally polarized transmit antenna elements based on the corresponding polarization control signal.

[0012] In one embodiment, a receiver device is provided that includes multiple receive antenna circuits and a MIMO receiver. Each antenna circuit directionally detects a corresponding plurality of concurrently radiated co-channel OSSMBF streams, each characterized by distinct, mutually orthogonal or uncorrelated, time-varying polarizations and stepped carrier phases, but otherwise identical amplitudes, modulations, and bandwidths. Each receive antenna circuit receives a distinct binary, time-varying polarization control signal from the MIMO receiver, the distinct signal being identical to a distinct one of the polarization control signals generated in the corresponding MIMO transmitter. Each distinct OSSMBF stream is associated with a corresponding polarization control signal. Each receive antenna circuit includes first and second orthogonally polarized antenna elements and an RF switch that selectively connects the outputs of the first and second orthogonally polarized antenna elements to the MIMO receiver based on the corresponding polarization control signal to transmit unsuppressed only one polarization-filtered OSSMBF stream associated with that particular polarization control signal while significantly suppressing all other streams. In the above embodiment, the receiver device is equipped with multiple receive antenna circuits for separately polarization filtering the multiple OSSMBF streams into corresponding multiple Rx spatial streams, and a MIMO receiver for later converting the Rx spatial streams back into the original data streams to complete their simultaneous co-channel transmissions in the correct spatial directions from the remote location without mutual interference.

[0013] In an embodiment, a receiver device is provided that includes a MIMO receiver that generates multiple polarization control signals, and multiple receive antenna circuits, each of which detects multiple concurrent co-channel stepped carrier phase coherent, separately polarized radiation streams, receives a different one of the multiple polarization control signals, and outputs an Rx spatial stream including one unsuppressed polarization-filtered radiation stream. Each receive antenna circuit includes first and second orthogonally polarized receive antenna elements and an RF switch that selectively connects the outputs of the first and second orthogonally polarized receive antenna elements to the MIMO receiver based on the corresponding polarization control signal. The MIMO receiver generates a data stream by spatial decoding and receive beamforming the multiple Rx spatial streams from the correct spatial direction to complete the concurrent co-channel transmission.

[0014] In an embodiment, a method is provided that includes MIMO converting a data stream into multiple concurrent stepped carrier-phase coherent co-channel RF_Tx spatial streams of equal amplitude, modulation, and bandwidth for input to multiple selectably polarized transmit antennas. Each transmit antenna affects its corresponding Tx spatial stream with a time-varying polarization that is mutually orthogonal or uncorrelated with respect to the other Tx spatial streams to radiate the corresponding multiple distinctly polarized concurrent co-channel OSSMBF streams in the correct spatial direction. The method also includes receiving the multiple OSSMBF streams at multiple selectably polarized receive antennas. Each receive antenna affects its detected multiple OSSMBF streams with polarization filtering to match the time-varying polarization of one selected OSSMBF stream to transmit that one stream unsuppressed to downstream receiver circuitry while significantly suppressing all others. The resulting multiple polarization-filtered Rx spatial streams are then MIMO converted into Rx data streams for subsequent conversion back to the original data stream. In the above aspect, the method employs separate transmit signal polarizations combined with corresponding receive signal polarization filtering to provide for simultaneous co-channel, mutual interference-free, highly directional point-to-point transmission of an arbitrarily large number of spatially multiplexed and beamformed spatial streams that collectively carry a correspondingly large data stream.

[0015] Additional features and benefits of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, drawings, and claims.

[0016] Exemplary aspects of the present invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of various embodiments of the invention, which should not be construed as limiting the invention to the particular embodiments but are for purposes of illustration and understanding only. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 shows a communication network comprising an exemplary embodiment of a transmitter and an exemplary embodiment of a receiver that perform both spatial multiplexing and beamforming of orthogonal streams. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary detailed embodiment of a transmit antenna circuit. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary detailed embodiment of a receive antenna circuit. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary detailed embodiment of at least a portion of the MIMO_Tx illustrated in FIG. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B illustrates an exemplary detailed embodiment of at least a portion of the TxSMX_BF shown in FIG. 4A. [Figure 5A] FIG. 5A illustrates an exemplary detailed embodiment of at least a portion of the MIMO_Rx shown in FIG. [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B illustrates an exemplary detailed embodiment of at least a portion of the RxBF_SDMX illustrated in FIG. 5A. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 illustrates a method for performing spatial multiplexing and beamforming of transmitted orthogonal streams according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 illustrates a method for performing spatial multiplexing and beamforming of received orthogonal streams according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Aspects of the present invention are described herein in the context of methods and / or apparatus for spatial multiplexing and beamforming of orthogonal streams.

[0019] The purpose of the following detailed description is to provide a thorough understanding of one or more embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the following detailed description is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting in any way. Other embodiments will readily suggest themselves to such skilled artisans having the benefit of this disclosure and / or description.

[0020] For clarity, not all of the routine configurations of the embodiments described herein are shown and described. Of course, it will be understood that in developing any such actual embodiment, numerous embodiment-specific decisions will be made to achieve the developer's particular goals, such as compliance with application- and industry-related constraints, and that these particular goals will vary from embodiment to embodiment and developer to developer. Moreover, it will be understood that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine engineering undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0021] The various embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the drawings may not be to scale. Conversely, dimensions of various features may be expanded or reduced for clarity. Additionally, some of the drawings may be simplified for clarity. Thus, the drawings may not depict all of the components of a given apparatus (i.e., device) or method. The same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and the following detailed description to refer to the same or similar parts.

[0022] 1 illustrates a wireless communication network 100 comprising an exemplary embodiment of an OSSMBF transmitter (“OSSMBF_Tx”) 102 and an exemplary embodiment of an OSSMBF receiver (“OSSMBF_Rx”) 104 that perform both spatial multiplexing and beamforming of orthogonal streams. For further details regarding stream spatial multiplexing, the reader is referred to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 379,962, filed April 9, 2019, by the same inventors, entitled “METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ORTHOGONAL STREAM SPATIAL MULTIPLEXING.”

[0023] Transmitter Description The OSSMBF_Tx 102 comprises an n-th order (e.g., n is an integer greater than 2) MIMO spatial multiplexing and beamforming capable transmitter (“MIMO_Tx”) 106 and a plurality of (n) transmitter antenna circuits 108(1-n) (also referred to herein as “TxOSSMBF devices”) comprising RF switches 110(1-n) and dual-polarized Tx antennas 112(1-n). For example, each dual-polarized Tx antenna is equipped with a horizontally polarized (HP) and a vertically polarized (VP) antenna element. In an embodiment, the MIMO_Tx 106 receives a data stream TxData 118 having a data rate of (n×R) Mbps. The MIMO_Tx 106 demultiplexes, modulates, spatially multiplexes, and beamforms the TxData 118 into n concurrent co-channel Tx spatial streams 114 (1 to n), each carrying distinct data at a rate of R Mbps, but exhibiting the same amplitude, modulation, bandwidth, and center frequency, and incremental stepped carrier phase.

[0024] The MIMO_Tx 106 provides n Tx ports (PORT1-n), each connected to an RF switch 110 of a corresponding transmitter antenna circuit 108. Each RF switch 110 receives a respective Tx spatial stream 114 at its RF input and a corresponding Tx polarity control signal 116 at its control input from the MIMO_Tx 106. The RF switches 110 feature two RF outputs selectively connected to the RF inputs in response to the control signals 116. The two outputs are respectively connected to two orthogonal polarization elements of a dual-polarized transmit antenna 112. A first output of the RF switch 110 is connected to the vertical polarization (VP) element of the transmit antenna 112. A second output of the RF switch 110 is connected to the horizontal polarization (HP) element of the transmit antenna 112. Thus, each of the RF switches 110 has an input connected to the MIMO_Tx 106 and outputs connected to the vertical and horizontal polarization elements of their respective dual-polarized Tx antenna 112.

[0025] During transmit operation, data stream TxData 118 is input to MIMO_Tx 106, where it is demultiplexed and radio modulated into n Tx radio streams of equal amplitude, modulation, and bandwidth. The n Tx radio streams are then spatially multiplexed and carrier phase adjusted (i.e., transmit beamformed) into n separate, concurrent, co-channel, stepped, carrier phase coherent Tx spatial streams 114(1-n). Each Tx spatial stream is routed to a corresponding RF switch 110 in the transmit antenna circuit 108 along with a polarization control signal 116. The polarization control signal 116 controls how the RF switch 110 connects the Tx spatial stream at its RF input to the vertical and horizontal polarization elements of the corresponding dual-polarized transmit antenna 112. The polarization control signal 116 is configured to time-vary the instantaneous polarization of a given Tx spatial stream according to either (a) distinct n-th orthogonal binary (e.g., Walsh or Gold) codes, such that the resulting radiation streams exhibit distinct, mutually orthogonal polarizations over time for every other radiation stream, or (b) one of n decorrelated codes (e.g., PN), such that the resulting radiation streams exhibit distinct, mutually uncorrelated polarizations over time for every other radiation stream. In this aspect, the OSSMBF_Tx 102 receives the TxData 118 and outputs n polarization-orthogonal or polarization-undorrelated OSSMBF streams 134 of equal amplitude, modulation, bandwidth and center frequency, and stepped carrier phase (i.e., transmit beamformed) for concurrent, co-channel, mutually interference-free, directional transmissions toward the OSSMBF_Rx 104.

[0026] Receiver Description The OSSMBF_Rx 104 includes a similar n-th order MIMO spatial demultiplexing and beamforming capable receiver ("MIMO_Rx") 120 and multiple antenna circuits 122(1-n) (also referred to herein as "Rx OSSMBF devices"), each comprising an RF switch 124(1-n) and dual-polarized Rx antennas 126(1-n). Each Rx antenna 126 detects, at its vertical and horizontal polarization elements, an RF signal comprising multiple concurrent, co-channel, stepped carrier-phase coherent OSSMBF streams 134 radiated from the OSSMBF_Tx 102. Each RF switch 124 receives, at its RF input, a corresponding polarization-filtered OSSMBF stream 134 from the vertical and horizontal antenna elements, such as from the antennas 126 in the OSSMBF_Rx device 122. Each RF switch 124 receives, at its control input, a corresponding Rx polarity control signal 130 from the MIMO_Rx 120. A first RF input to RF switch 124 is connected to the vertical polarization (VP) element of receive antenna 126. A second RF input to RF switch 124 is connected to the horizontal polarization (HP) element of receive antenna 126. The output of RF switch 124 is connected directly to the Rx ports (PORTs 1-n) of MIMO_Rx 120. Similarly, each of the RF switches in receiver antenna circuit 122(1-n) has RF inputs connected to the vertical and horizontal polarization elements of their respective dual-polarized receive antennas, and outputs connected to corresponding Rx ports of MIMO_Rx 120.

[0027] During receive operation, the MIMO_Rx 120 provides a separate polarization control signal to each of the n receiver antenna circuits 122(1-n). The polarization control signal 130 for each receiver antenna circuit as generated by the MIMO_Rx 120 is identical to the polarization control signal 116 for the corresponding transmitter antenna circuit provided by the MIMO_Tx 106. Thus, the n separate polarization control signals used in common by the TxOSSMBF unit 108 and the RxOSSMBF unit 122 effectively synthesize n pairs of "matched polarization filters" that cooperate to convey only one unsuppressed polarization-filtered OSSMBF stream to the MIMO_Rx 120 while significantly suppressing all of the other streams. The resulting n partially separated and demultiplexed Rx spatial streams 128 are then receive beamformed and spatially demultiplexed into fully separated and demultiplexed Rx radio streams, which are then demodulated and digitally aggregated by MIMO_Rx 120 to form the final RxData 132 (which corresponds equally to the original TxData 118).

[0028] 2 illustrates an exemplary detailed embodiment of a transmit antenna circuit 200. For example, the transmit antenna circuit 200 is suitable for use as any of the transmit antenna circuits 108(1-n) shown in FIG. 1. The transmit antenna circuit 200 includes an RF switch 202, a vertically polarized antenna element 204, and a horizontally polarized antenna element 206.

[0029] The RF switch 202 comprises an RF input port (IN), a digital control port (CTL), and two RF output ports (OUT1, OUT2). The RF switch 202 receives the Tx spatial stream 208 at the input port IN. A polarization control signal 210 is received at the control port CTL. The polarization control signal 210 comprises a binary stream of control bits. Each bit determines whether the input port IN is connected to the first output port OUT1 or the second output port OUT2. For example, when the polarity control bit is high or in a logic 1 state, the input port IN is connected to the first output port OUT1 and the subsequent vertically polarized antenna element 204. When the polarity control bit is low or in a logic 0 state, the input port IN is connected to the second output port OUT2 and the subsequent horizontally polarized antenna element 206. Thus, the polarity control signal 210 determines how the Tx spatial stream 208 is instantaneously polarized (i.e., toggled between horizontal and vertical polarization) for transmission as an OSSMBF stream.

[0030] Figure 3 shows an exemplary detailed embodiment of a receive antenna circuit 300. For example, the receive antenna circuit 300 is suitable for use as any of the receive antenna circuits 122(1-n) shown in Figure 1. The receive antenna circuit 300 includes an RF switch 302, a vertically polarized antenna element 304, and a horizontally polarized antenna element 306.

[0031] The RF switch 302 comprises an RF output port (OUT), a digital control port (CTL), and two RF input ports (IN1, IN2). The vertically polarized antenna element 304 detects the incident RF (e.g., the OSSMBF stream 134) and vertically polarizes and filters it for routing to the first input port IN1 of the RF switch 302. The horizontally polarized antenna element 306 detects the same RF but horizontally polarizes and filters it for routing to the second input port IN2 of the RF switch 302. A polarization control signal 310 is received at the control port CTL. The polarization control signal 310 comprises a binary stream of control bits. Each bit determines whether the first input port IN1 or the second input port IN2 is connected to the output port OUT. For example, when the polarity control bit is high or in a logic 1 state, the first input port IN1 is connected to the output port OUT, and the vertically polarized filtered OSSMBF stream is transmitted to downstream MIMO receiver circuitry. When the polarity control bit is in a low or logic 0 state, the second port IN2 is connected to the output port OUT, and the horizontally polarized filtered OSSMBF stream is conveyed to the downstream MIMO receiver circuitry.

[0032] In operation, the polarization control signal 310 selectively connects the multiple vertically polarized filtered OSSMBF streams 134 at the first input port IN1 or the multiple horizontally polarized filtered OSSMBF streams 134 at the second input port IN2 to the output port OUT. Because the polarization control signal 310 is identical to the corresponding polarization control signal 116 used in the MIMO transmitter 106, switching between vertically polarized and horizontally polarized antenna elements synthesizes matched time-varying polarization filters that transmit only one of the correctly polarized OSSMBF streams 134 unsuppressed to the MIMO_Rx 120 while significantly suppressing all of the other OSSMBF streams in response to the polarization control signal 310. Thus, the polarization control signal 310 determines how the multiple received OSSMBF streams are polarization filtered to partially separate and release only one selected Rx spatial stream 128 (corresponding to one transmit Tx spatial stream 114) to facilitate proper subsequent processing in the MIMO_Rx 120.

[0033] Figure 4A illustrates an exemplary detailed embodiment of at least a portion of the MIMO_Tx 106 shown in Figure 1. The MIMO_Tx 106 comprises a TxSMX_BF 402, a code generator 404, and code synchronization logic 406.

[0034] In operation, the n Tx spatial streams 114(1-n) generated by the TxSMX_BF 402 are output to an RF switch (not shown) of the transmit antenna circuit 108 via PORT(1-n). The code generator 404 generates n distinct orthogonal (e.g., Walsh) or uncorrelated (e.g., PN) digital binary codes 116(1-n) that are output to the RF switches of the transmit antenna circuit via PORT(1-n). For example, a Tx polarity control signal 1_116(1) and a Tx spatial stream 1_114(1) are output from the MIMO_Tx 106 PORT(1) and input to the RF switch of the first transmit antenna circuit 108(1). A Tx polarity control signal n_116(n) and a Tx spatial stream n_114(n) are similarly output from PORT(n) and input to the RF switch of the nth transmit antenna circuit 108(n). In this aspect, the RF switch of each transmit antenna circuit is supplied with a separate polarization control code that steers the corresponding Tx spatial stream through a selected vertical or horizontal antenna element of the dual polarized antenna, thereby generating a separate instantiation of one of n orthogonal or uncorrelated time-varying polarized radiated OSSMBF streams.

[0035] In an embodiment, the polarity code timing corresponds to an integer fraction of the payload symbol rate of the transmit stream. In one embodiment, the code synchronization logic 406 initializes the transmitter code generator 404 so that the polarization transitions of any and all transmit antenna circuits 108 exactly coincide with integer multiples of the Tx spatial stream symbol transitions.

[0036] Figure 4B illustrates an exemplary detailed embodiment of at least a portion of the TxSMX_BF 402 illustrated in Figure 4A. The TxSMX_BF 402 includes a serial-to-parallel converter (S / P_CNV) 452, radio modulators MOD1_454(1) through MODn_454(n), a MIMO spatial multiplexer SMX 456, a transmit beamformer TxBF 458, digital-to-analog converters D / A1_460(1) through D / An_460(n), and RF upconverters UPCNV1_462(1) through UPCNVn_462(n).

[0037] In operation, the transmit data stream TxDATA 118 is input to the S / P_CNV 452, which splits the transmit data stream (having a rate of n × RMbps) into n digital streams, each at RMbps, and conveys them to n radio modulators MOD1_454(1) through MODn_454(n). The resulting n Tx radio streams output from the modulators are then conveyed to the MIMO spatial multiplexer SMX 456 for spatial encoding for simultaneous co-channel transmission. The resulting n Tx spatial streams are then conveyed to the transmit beamformer TxBF 458 for step adjustment of their individual carrier phases for directional transmission. The resulting n beamformed spatial streams are then conveyed to individual digital-to-analog converters D / A1_460(1) through D / An_460(n) for transition to the analog domain. The resulting n analog beamformed spatial streams are then conveyed to respective RF upconverters UPCNV1_462(1) to UPCNVn_462(n) for frequency conversion to the appropriate common RF transmit center frequency, resulting in Tx spatial stream 114.

[0038] Figure 5A illustrates an exemplary detailed embodiment of at least a portion of the MIMO_Rx 120 shown in Figure 1. The MIMO_Rx 120 comprises an RxBF_SDMX 502, a code generator 504, and code synchronization logic 506.

[0039] In operation, the code generator 504 provides polarization control signals to the receiver antenna circuits 122. The polarization control signals generated by the code generator 504 correspond exactly to the polarization control signals generated in the MIMO_Tx 106 by the code generator 404. The signals output from the code generator 504 control how each of the n receiver antenna circuits 122 "matched polarization filters" the multiple OSSMBF streams it detects into partially separated and unbundled individual Rx spatial streams 128 for input to the RxBF_SDMX 502 of the MIMO_Rx 120. Each receiver antenna circuit changes its instantaneous Rx polarization according to the same code employed in its corresponding transmitter antenna circuit. In this manner, only the m detected OSSMBF stream (radiated from the m transmitter antenna circuit with a time-varying polarization according to the m binary code) will propagate unsuppressed through the m receiver antenna circuit (whose polarization also time-varying according to the m binary code) to RxBF_SDMX 502. The other m-1 detected OSSMBF streams incident on the m receive antenna circuit will be suppressed as they propagate to RxBF_SDMX 502.

[0040] In an embodiment, the code synchronization logic 506 operates to synchronize the polarization control codes between the OSSMBF_Tx 102 and the OSSMBF_Rx 104. In an embodiment, the synchronization logic 506 has a polarity code timing that corresponds to an integer fraction of the payload symbol rate of the detected OSSMBF stream. In operation, the MIMO receiver 120 accurately recovers the payload symbol rate, also referred to as “symbol synchronization.” Once the MIMO receiver achieves symbol synchronization, it also immediately achieves polarity code synchronization via the code synchronization logic 506. Thus, in one embodiment, the code synchronization logic 506 synchronizes the code generator 504 so that the Rx polarity control signal 130 closely mirrors and time-tracks the Tx polarity control signal 116, thereby ensuring that any and all receiver antenna circuit 122 polarization transitions precisely coincide with integer multiples of the symbol transitions of the received OSSMBF stream 134.

[0041] Figure 5B illustrates an exemplary detailed embodiment of at least a portion of RxBF_SDMX 502 shown in Figure 5A. RxBF_SDMX 502 includes n RF downconverters DNCNV1_552(1) through DNCNVn_552(n), n analog-to-digital converters A / D1_554(1) through A / Dn_554(n), a receive beamformer RxBF 556, a MIMO spatial demultiplexer SDMX 558, n radio demodulators DMOD1_560(1) through DMODn_560(n), and a digital data combiner parallel-to-serial converter (P / S_CNV) 562.

[0042] In operation, the n partially separated and released Rx spatial streams 128 are conveyed to n corresponding RF downconverters DNCNV(1-n) 552 within the RxBF_SDMX 502, where they are converted from their actual operating frequency channels to baseband. The resulting n baseband spatial streams are then conveyed to corresponding analog-to-digital converters A / D(1-n) 554 for conversion to the digital domain. The resulting n digital-domain Rx spatial streams are conveyed to the receive beamformer RxBF 556, where they are individually carrier-phase adjusted for maximum SNR reception from the correct spatial direction before being conveyed to the MIMO spatial demultiplexer SDMX 558. The SDMX 558 spatially decodes the receive beamformed Rx spatial streams into fully separated and released Rx radio streams by completely removing their associated suppressed polarization-filtered OSSMBF streams to maximize their individual signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) before being conveyed to the corresponding radio demodulator DMOD 550. The individual Rx radio streams, whose signal-to-noise ratio and signal-to-interference ratio have previously been maximized by receive beamforming and spatial demultiplexing, are demodulated into digital data streams and conveyed to the parallel-to-serial converter P / S_CNV562 for aggregation into the output RxData132.

[0043] 6 illustrates a method 600 for performing spatial multiplexing and beamforming of transmitted orthogonal streams in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the method 600 is suitable for use by the OSSMBF_Tx 102 shown in FIG.

[0044] In block 602, a transmit data stream with a data rate of n×R Mbps is input to an OSSMBF-enabled transmitter. For example, TxData 118 is input to MIMO_Tx 106 of OSSMBF_Tx 102.

[0045] In block 604, the transmit data stream is demultiplexed into n independent, equal-data-rate digital streams. The individual digital streams are then modulated, MIMO spatially multiplexed to enable simultaneous co-channel transmission, carrier phase adjusted (i.e., transmit beamformed) to enable directional transmission, converted from digital to analog, and RF upconverted to the operating frequency channel to produce n separate Tx spatial streams. For example, the TxSMX_BF 402 processes the TxData 118 into n separate Tx spatial streams 114 that are sequentially digitally demultiplexed by the S / P_CNV 452, radio modulated by the MOD 454, spatially multiplexed by the SMX 456, beamformed by the TxBF 458, converted to analog by the D / A 460, and then upconverted for transmission by the UPCNV 462, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

[0046] In block 606, the n Tx spatial streams are routed to corresponding Tx antenna circuits. For example, as shown in Figure 1, each Tx spatial stream 114 is routed to a corresponding TxOSSMBF device 108 that comprises an SPDT_RF switch 110 whose RF input accepts the spatial stream from the MIMO_Tx 106 and whose two RF outputs are connected to orthogonally polarized radiating elements of a selectable polarization antenna 112.

[0047] At block 608, n distinct time-varying binary codes are combined and input to each of the control ports of the Tx antenna circuits. For example, the code generator 404 generates n time-varying digital binary orthogonal or uncorrelated codes 116 that are routed to corresponding Tx antenna circuits 108. In an embodiment, the codes are synchronized to the transmit payload by the code synchronization logic 406.

[0048] In block 610, the instantaneous polarizations of the n Tx spatial streams traversing the n Tx antenna circuits 108 are toggled based on their corresponding polarization control codes 116 to generate n separate, mutually orthogonal or uncorrelated time-varying polarization OSSMBF streams 134 for concurrent, co-channel, interference-free, directional transmission to an OSSMBF-capable receiver.

[0049] Thus, method 600 operates to perform transmit orthogonal stream multiplexing and beamforming in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. It is noted that the operations of method 600 are exemplary and not exhaustive. In various embodiments, operations may be rearranged, modified, eliminated, added, or altered in other ways depending on the embodiment.

[0050] 7 illustrates a method 700 for performing spatial multiplexing and beamforming of received orthogonal streams in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the method 700 is suitable for use by the OSSMBF_Rx 104 shown in FIG.

[0051] In block 702, n separate, concurrent, co-channel, stepped carrier phase coherent, orthogonal or uncorrelated, time-varying polarization OSSMBF streams are incident on each of n Rx antenna circuits of an OSSMBF-capable receiver. For example, n OSSMBF streams 134 generated by OSSMBF_Tx 102 are received at each of n Rx antenna circuits 122 of OSSMBF_Rx 104.

[0052] In block 704, the n distinct time-varying binary codes generated in the MIMO transmitter code generator are identically reproduced in a MIMO receiver code generator and input to the n Rx antenna circuits. Furthermore, a synchronization process is performed to adjust the timing of the MIMO receiver codes to that of the MIMO transmitter. For example, the code synchronization logic 506 and code generator 504 in the MIMO_Rx 120 combine to generate n time-varying binary orthogonal or decorrelated codes 130 (identical to and synchronized with the n codes 116 generated in the code generator 404 of the MIMO_Tx 106) for input to the corresponding Rx antenna circuits 122.

[0053] In block 706, the n time-varying polarization codes from the MIMO receiver code generator toggle the instantaneous polarization of their corresponding Rx antenna circuits, thereby generating n separate “matched polarization filters,” each of which transmits only one received OSSMBF stream exhibiting the same time-varying polarization as that particular Rx antenna circuit unsuppressed to the MIMO receiver while suppressing all of the other OSSMBF streams. For example, if n received OSSMBF streams 134 are simultaneously incident on Rx antenna circuit 122(1) and Rx polarization control signal 130(1) (indicating polarization code 1) establishes the time-varying polarization filtering characteristics of Rx antenna circuit 122(1), only the OSSMBF stream transmitted from OSSMBF_Tx device 1_108(1) (which is also time-varying polarized according to polarization code 1) will traverse OSSMBF_Rx device 122(1) without suppression and propagate as partially separated and released Rx spatial stream 128(1) to MIMO_Rx 120. All of the other n−1 OSSMBF streams included in 134 will be suppressed within Rx antenna circuit 122(1).

[0054] In block 708, the n partially separated and disaggregated Rx spatial streams output from the n OSSMBF_Rx devices are downconverted to baseband and binarized for MIMO_Rx processing. MIMO_Rx processing includes individual Rx spatial stream receive beamforming (e.g., carrier phase adjustment) to maximize SNR through highly directional reception and spatial demultiplexing to maximize SIR through all remaining traces of the accompanying polarization-suppressed OSSMBF streams. The resulting n fully separated and disaggregated Rx radio streams with maximized SNR and SIR are then demodulated into digital streams and parallel-to-serial converted for aggregation into a single output RxData stream. For example, the RxBF_SDMX 502 inputs and processes the n Rx spatial streams 128 into a single RxData stream 108, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B. For example, the RxSDMX_BF 502 processes the Rx spatial stream 128 into output data via downconversion (552), A / D conversion (554), Rx beamforming (556), spatial demultiplexing (558), demodulation (560), and P / S conversion (562), as shown in Figures 5A and 5B.

[0055] In block 710, a received data stream with a data rate of n×R Mbps is output from an OSSMBF-enabled receiver. For example, RxData 132 is output from MIMO_Rx 120 in OSSMBF_Rx 104.

[0056] Thus, method 700 operates to perform spatial multiplexing and beamforming of receiver orthogonal streams in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. It is noted that the operations of method 700 are exemplary and not exhaustive. In various embodiments, operations may be rearranged, modified, eliminated, added, or otherwise altered depending on the embodiment.

[0057] In various embodiments, there are an infinite number of possible physical switchable polarization antenna element types, each with perhaps some distinct mechanism for switching between orthogonal (HV or RHCP-LHCP) polarizations, so there are an infinite number of ways to change / substitute the specific physical components without changing the basic operation as described herein. [Example]

[0058] Illustrative Examples In various exemplary embodiments, incorporating the OSSMBF methods and apparatus described herein into traditional n-th order MIMO spatial multiplexing and beamforming configured wireless links results in data rates up to n times the data rate of a single stream, and an increase in communication range that often also depends on n.

[0059] IEEE802.11ax WLAN network In embodiments, a method and apparatus for significant data rate and range improvements in emerging IEEE 802.11ax (equivalent to "WiFi 6") WLAN networks includes: A. Two WiFi 6 transceivers ("WiFiTRX8") each incorporating an 8x8 MIMO spatial multiplexer / demultiplexer and beamformer capable of processing 8x1201 = 9608 Mbps of TxData at 5 GHz between eight stepped carrier phase coherent MCS11 (i.e., 1024QAM) 160 MHz BW spatial streams, and further comprising an 8th-order Walsh code generator; B. Two 5 GHz 2H x 4W planar arrays of selectable dual-polarized (H / V) antenna elements with 0.47λ element spacing ("AA2x4") configurable as an OSSMBF_Tx / Rx device as described herein; C. The WiFi TRX8 and the AA2×4 are configured into an OSSMBF_Tx102 WLAN access point device according to FIG. 1 and cooperate according to the transmission method of FIG. 6; D. The WiFiTRX8 and AA2x4 are configured into an OSSMBF_Rx104 WLAN client device according to FIG. 1 and cooperate according to the receiving method of FIG.

[0060] As a concrete example of improved OSSMBF performance in an IEEE 802.11ax communication link, the transmitter apparatus and method may convert 9608 Mbps of TxData 108 into an 8×5 GHz OSSMBF stream 134 featuring 13 dBi of directional transmit antenna gain, while a corresponding receiver apparatus and method may convert the OSSMBF stream back into 9608 Mbps of RxData 132 while adding an additional 13 dBi of directional receive antenna gain. Such a link (i.e., the same OSSMBF apparatus but without the OSSMBF method) using the legacy WiFi 6 standard can only carry 2×1201 = 2402 Mbps of data with a total directional antenna gain of 0 dBi. Thus, OSSMBF over 8×8 WiFi 6 reduces the communication range by approximately 10 times that of the legacy 8×8 WiFi 6 by itself. 26 / 20 =) 20 times faster (9608 / 2402=) delivers 4 times the data rate.

[0061] 5GmmW mobile cellular network In an embodiment, a method and apparatus for significant data transfer rate increases in emerging 5G mmW mobile cellular networks includes: A. A 5G mmW base station transmitter ("5GgNB32x8") incorporating 32x32 MIMO spatial multiplexers and 32x8 replicator-beamformers and a 32nd-order Walsh code generator, each 5GgNB32x8 capable of processing 1848 Mbps of Tx data at 28 GHz into one 256-QAM 400 MHz spatial stream, generating 32 independent such spatial streams, replicating each stream by a factor of eight, and independently and arbitrarily coherently offsetting the carrier phase of each resulting stream to generate a total of 256 stepped-phase coherent, co-channel, equal-amplitude, modulation, and bandwidth 28 GHz MIMO_Tx streams (carrying up to 32 x 1848 = 59136 Mbps of TxData) for transmission to the UE; B. A 28 GHz 16H x 16W planar array of selectable dual-polarized (H / V) antenna elements with 0.47λ element spacing ("AA16x16") configured as an OSSMBF_Tx device as described herein; C. A 5G mmW User Equipment receiver ("5GUE32") incorporating a 32x32 MIMO beamformer and spatial demultiplexer and a 32nd-order Walsh code generator, each 5GUE32 capable of directionally receiving and demodulating 32 28 GHz 256-QAM, 400 MHz BW spatial streams for aggregation into RxData; D. A 28 GHz 4H x 8W planar array of selectable dual-polarized (H / V) antenna elements with 0.47λ element spacing ("AA4x8") configured as an OSSMBF_Rx device as described herein; The E.5GgNB32×8 and AA16×16 are configured in an OSSMBF_Tx102 cellular base station device according to FIG. 1 and cooperate according to the transmission method of FIG. 6; The F.5GUE 32 and AA 4x8 are configured in the OSSMBF_Rx 104 cellular UE device according to FIG. 1 and cooperate according to the method of FIG.

[0062] As a specific example of improved OSSMBF performance in emerging 5G mmW mobile cellular networks, the transmitter apparatus and method described above may convert 59,136 Mbps of TxData 108 into 32 eight-fold replicated and phase-shifted Tx spatial streams for orthogonal time-varying polarizations into 256 OSSMBF streams 134 transmitted as thousands of sequential individual pencil beam wavefronts at 28 GHz. Meanwhile, a corresponding collection of thousands of receiver apparatus and methods may separate each individual pencil beam wavefront into 32 Rx spatial streams (again in the collection) for recovery of 59,136 Mbps of RxData 132. Note that currently under consideration 5G spatial multiplexing technologies employing the same OSSMBF equipment but eliminating the OSSMBF methodology would only result in an aggregate data transfer of up to 2 x 1848 = 3696 Mbps, an overall reduction of 1 / 16 of this particular OSSMBF configuration.

[0063] IEEE802.11ax WAN network In an embodiment, a method and apparatus for a high-capacity WiFi 6-based wide area internet distribution network is contemplated, comprising: A. Two WiFi-6 transceivers ("WiFiTRX32") each incorporating a 32x32 MIMO spatial multiplexer and beamformer, each processing 32 x 1201 = 38432 Mbps Tx / Rx data over 32 stepped carrier phase coherent MCS11, 160 MHz spatial streams at 5 GHz, and further comprising a 32nd-order Walsh code generator; B. Two 5 GHz 4H x 8W planar arrays of selectable dual-polarized (H / V) antenna elements with 0.47λ element spacing ("AA4x8") configured as an OSSMBF_Tx / Rx device as described herein; C. One WiFiTRX32 and one AA4×8 are configured into an OSSMBF_Tx102 WAN base station device according to FIG. 1 and cooperate according to the transmission method of FIG. 6; D. The WiFiTRX32 and one AA4x8 are configured into an OSSMBF_Rx104 WAN_CPE receiving device according to FIG. 1 and operate according to the receiving method of FIG. 7.

[0064] As a concrete example of such improved OSSMBF performance in a WiFi-6 based WAN base station link to a CPE, the transmitter apparatus and method described above can combine 32 paired 1201 Mbps OSSMBF streams (38432 Mbps net data transfer) with approximately 42 dB of directional Tx+Rx antenna processing gain. Such performance is expected to be achieved over a 20 km distance at a fraction of the cost users currently pay for cable or DSL. 2 It can accommodate a metropolitan wireless network with 25Gbps base stations delivering 20Mbps internet at 60 / 60 / 24 / 7 to 2000 users within a city.

[0065] LEO satellite communication network In an embodiment, a method and apparatus for significantly increasing data transfer rates in emerging LEO satellite communications networks includes: A. A LEOSAT satellite terminal transmitter ("LEOSTX128x8") incorporating a 128x128 MIMO spatial multiplexer and a 128x8 replicator-beamformer, a 128th-order Walsh code generator, capable of processing 1440 Mbps of TxData into a single 64-APSK 250 MHz signal at 40.0 GHz, generating 128 independent such spatial streams, replicating each spatial stream by a factor of 8, and independently and coherently offsetting the carrier phase of each resulting spatial stream to generate a total of 1024 Tx spatial streams (carrying up to 128x1440 = 184.3 Gbps) for downlink up to 470 km to a user ground terminal; B. A LEOSAT ground terminal receiver ("LEOSRX1024 / 8") incorporating 1024 / 8 beamformer-combiners, a 128x128 MIMO spatial demultiplexer, and a 128th-order Walsh code generator, capable of directionally receiving 1024 40.0 GHz 64-APSK, 250 MHz spatial streams from low Earth orbit and recovering the specific RxData; C. Two 40.0 GHz 32H×32W planar arrays of selectable dual-polarized (LHCP / RHCP) antenna elements with 0.47λ element spacing (“AA32×32”) configured as OSSMBF_Tx / Rx as described herein; D. LEOSTX128x8 and one AA32x32 are configured in the OSSMBF_Tx102 satellite device according to Figure 1 and cooperate according to the transmission method of Figure 6; The E.LEOSRX1024 / 8 and one AA32x32 are configured in the OSSMBF_Rx104 ground equipment according to FIG. 1 and cooperate according to the receiving method of FIG.

[0066] As a specific example of such contemplated OSSMBF performance improvements in LEO satellite links to the ground, the above transmitter apparatus and method may enable a LEOSAT network of 7,518 orbiters, each equipped with 18 of the above LEOSTX128s, to deliver 60 / 60 / 24 / 7 20Mbps internet to 2B_LEOSRX128 ground stations located anywhere on Earth at a cost significantly lower than current cable or DSL.

[0067] Exemplary aspects of the present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description of various embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawings, which should not be construed as limiting the invention to any particular embodiment, but are for purposes of explanation and understanding only. For example, many of the embodiments described herein refer only to vertical and horizontal polarization techniques. The present invention functions equally well, without limitation, when right-hand and left-hand circular polarization (e.g., RHCP, LHCP) polarization techniques are employed instead.

[0068] A method and apparatus for orthogonal stream spatial multiplexing and beamforming ("OSSMBF") in wireless communications is disclosed. In one embodiment, the OSSMBF method includes demultiplexing, modulating, MIMO spatial multiplexing, and transmit beamforming an outgoing data stream into n Tx spatial streams and coupling them to corresponding selectable polarization antennas controlled via binary orthogonal or decorrelation codes at an OSSMBF transmitter device for concurrent, co-channel, mutually interference-free, directional transmission. Each such individual transmitted OSSMBF stream appears as time-varying polarization orthogonal or decorrelated and stepped-phase coherent with respect to the other n-1 OSSMBF streams. The method concludes with reception of the n OSSMBF streams at a destination OSSMBF receiver device using n corresponding selectable polarization antennas controlled by the same set of distinct binary codes. In this embodiment, each of the n received OSSMBF streams is polarization matched filtered and then partially separated and demultiplexed from all others upon detection at its corresponding antenna for subsequent receive beamforming and spatial demultiplexing into a fully separated and demultiplexed stream for demodulation and digital aggregation back into the outgoing data stream. The methods and apparatus described herein apply to any large value of n, meaning that n MIMO spatial streams emanating from a common source, characterized by equal amplitude, modulation, and bandwidth, but carrying distinct data, and exhibiting mutually orthogonal time-varying polarization and stepped carrier phase coherence, simultaneously propagate without mutual interference to a single destination on the same frequency channel in a common directional carrier. Additionally, the n-th order OSSMBF method and apparatus can multiply the data transfer rate of a wireless channel of fixed frequency, modulation, and bandwidth by n, and extend its communication range by an amount proportional to n.

[0069] While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, based on the teachings herein, that changes and modifications may be made without departing from these exemplary embodiments of the present invention and its broader aspects. It is therefore intended that the following claims encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. 1. A transmitter device comprising: a MIMO transmitter that receives the data stream and generates multiple Tx streams that are encoded for simultaneous co-channel point-to-point transmission and transmit beamformed for radiation in one precise spatial direction; a code generator for generating a plurality of distinct polarization control signals; a plurality of transmit antenna circuits that receive the plurality of Tx streams and the plurality of distinct polarization control signals and generate a plurality of distinct polarized radiation streams, each transmit antenna circuit comprising: first and second orthogonally polarized transmit antenna elements; an RF switch that selectively connects Tx streams to the first and second orthogonally polarized transmit antenna elements based on corresponding polarization control signals; a plurality of transmit antenna circuits, each comprising: Equipped with the code generator synthesizes a plurality of distinct digital binary orthogonal or uncorrelated sequential polarization control signals, and the MIMO transmitter further comprises synchronization logic for synchronizing the plurality of distinct polarization control signals with a symbol rate of the Tx stream.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the MIMO transmitter comprises a data splitter, a radio modulator, a MIMO multiplexer, and a transmit beamformer.

3. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the data splitter and the radio modulator combine multiple equal amplitude, modulation, and bandwidth Tx radio streams from the data stream.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the MIMO multiplexer spatially encodes multiple Tx radio streams into the multiple Tx streams for concurrent co-channel point-to-point transmission.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the transmit beamformer adjusts the carrier phase of each Tx stream to enable them to radiate in the one precise spatial direction.

6. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second orthogonally polarized transmit antenna elements of the transmit antenna circuit are configured to provide one of horizontal and vertical orthogonality or right-hand circular polarization (RHCP) and left-hand circular polarization (LHCP) orthogonality.

7. A receiver device, a plurality of receive antenna circuits, each of which detects a plurality of concurrent, co-channel, carrier-phase coherent, separately polarized radiation streams, receives a distinct one of a plurality of polarization control signals, and outputs an Rx stream comprising one unsuppressed polarization-filtered radiation stream, each receive antenna circuit comprising: first and second orthogonally polarized receive antenna elements; an RF switch that selectively connects the outputs of the first and second orthogonally polarized receive antenna elements to a MIMO receiver based on corresponding polarization control signals; a plurality of receive antenna circuits, each comprising: a code generator for generating the plurality of polarization control signals; the MIMO receiver generating data streams from multiple Rx streams that are decoded to complete simultaneous co-channel point-to-point transmissions and receive beamformed for detection from one precise spatial direction; The code generator combining a plurality of separate digital binary orthogonal or uncorrelated sequential polarization control signals, each polarization control signal associated with a corresponding received radiation stream; synchronization logic for synchronizing the plurality of polarization control signals with a symbol rate of their corresponding radiation streams; A device for demodulating and digitally combining the multiple Rx streams to produce a single output data stream identical to the data stream.

8. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first and second orthogonally polarized receive antenna elements are configured to provide one of horizontal and vertical orthogonality or RHCP and LHCP orthogonality.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the MIMO receiver comprises a receive beamformer, a MIMO demultiplexer, a radio demodulator, and a digital data combiner.

10. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the receive beamformer adjusts the carrier phase of each Rx stream so that each is detectable from the one precise spatial direction.

11. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the MIMO demultiplexer decodes the multiple Rx streams into multiple Rx radio streams for subsequent demodulation and digital aggregation into the single output data stream.

12. a transmitting operation for converting an original data stream into multiple concurrent, co-channel, carrier-phase coherent, directionally radiated streams (hereinafter "the multiple radiation streams") for concurrent, co-channel, point-to-point transmission, each radiation stream having a polarization distinct from the other radiation streams; a receive operation for directionally detecting a plurality of concurrent, co-channel, carrier-phase coherent, separately polarized radiation streams (hereinafter the detected streams are referred to as "the plurality of detected radiation streams"), the plurality of detected radiation streams being polarization filtered for conversion back to the original data stream; Equipped with the transmitting operation includes radiating the plurality of radiation streams in separate spatial directions from a corresponding plurality of transmit antennas, each transmit antenna affecting a separate binary, orthogonal or uncorrelated, sequential polarization in response to its corresponding radiation stream; The method, wherein the receiving operation includes detecting the plurality of radiation streams from distinct spatial directions at each of a plurality of receive antennas, each receive antenna affecting a distinct binary, orthogonal or uncorrelated, sequential polarization filtering that corresponds equally to the polarization of one of the plurality of detected radiation streams.

13. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of transmit antennas and the plurality of receive antennas are configured to provide selectable vertical and horizontal polarization or right-hand circular polarization (RHCP) and left-hand circular polarization (LHCP) based on a polarization control signal.

14. the transmitting operations include polarizing, at a corresponding plurality of transmit antennas, a plurality of Tx radio streams into the plurality of radiation streams based on a corresponding plurality of distinct binary orthogonal or uncorrelated sequential polarization control signals; 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the receive operation polarization filters the detected radiation streams at corresponding receive antennas using the same polarization control signal associated with the transmit operation, such that each receive antenna functions as a separate matched polarization filter outputting a partially separated and released Rx stream comprising one unsuppressed polarization filtered radiation stream and a remaining plurality of suppressed polarization filtered radiation streams.

15. The transmitting operations further include demultiplexing and modulating an input data stream into multiple digital streams, modulating, MIMO multiplexing, and transmit beamforming the streams into multiple concurrent, co-channel, carrier-phase coherent Tx streams of equal amplitude, modulation, and bandwidth; 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the receiving operations further include receive beamforming, MIMO demultiplexing, over-the-air demodulation, and digital aggregation of multiple Rx streams to generate one output data stream.

16. the MIMO multiplexing operation includes encoding multiple Tx radio streams into multiple Tx streams that can be transmitted point-to-point in the same channel concurrently without mutual interference; 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the MIMO demultiplexing operation includes decoding multiple concurrent co-channel Rx streams (each comprising one unsuppressed polarization filtered radiation stream and a plurality of remaining suppressed polarization filtered radiation streams) into multiple fully separated and released Rx radio streams for subsequent demodulation into multiple digital streams.

17. the transmit beamforming operation includes adjusting carrier phase to affect multiple Tx streams to radiate in one precise spatial direction; 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the receive beamforming operation comprises adjusting carrier phase to affect multiple Rx streams to enable detection from one precise spatial direction.

Images