882 results about "Active antenna" patented technology

A distributed active antenna includes a power module having a parallel combination of power amplifiers for driving each antenna element of the distributed active antenna. A predistortion linearization circuit may be coupled to each power module to linearize the output of each antenna element of the distributed active antenna.

Various antenna arrangements are provided with active transmit and receive antenna elements for transmitting and receiving signals within a cellular communication system. Also presented are specific base station antenna systems and methods, and portions thereof, which improve and control specific characteristics and features of antenna systems including antenna beam patterns. In addition, method for the optimization of a cellular communications network is provided which exploits reverse-link, forward-link, and pilot signal information to optimize network operations.

A tunable duplexer circuit is described, wherein the frequency response as well as bandwidth and transmission loss characteristics can be dynamically altered, providing improved performance for transceiver front-end applications. The rate of roll-off of the frequency response can be adjusted to improve performance when used in duplexer applications. A method is described where the duplexer circuit characteristics are optimized in conjunction with a specific antenna frequency response to provide additional out-of-band rejection in a communication system. Dynamic optimization of both the duplexer circuit and an active antenna system is described to provide improved out-of-band rejection when implemented in RF front-end circuits of communication systems. Other features and embodiments are described in the following detailed descriptions.

Wireless devices, and particularly mobile devices such as cellphones, PDAs, computers, navigation devices, etc., as well as other devices which transmit or receive data or other signals at multiple frequency bands utilize at least one antenna to transmit and receive and a plurality of different bands (e.g., GSM cellular communication band; Bluetooth short range communication band; ultrawideband (UWB) communications, etc.). These wireless devices can simultaneously transmit or receive at a plurality of different bands, or simultaneously transmit and receive at different bands. The wireless devices have the ability to use a single physical structure (e.g., an antenna) for transmission and reception of many different bands. The antenna can be either actively tuned or passively tuned using one or more elements.

The present invention refers to an active antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements comprising: at least one first subset of the plurality of antenna elements, the at least one first subset relaying a first radio signal having a first antenna beam pattern; and at least one second subset of the plurality of antenna elements, the at least one second subset relaying a second radio signal having a second antenna beam pattern, wherein at least one of the plurality of antenna elements is a common antenna element belonging to both the first subset and the second subset. A method for operating the active antenna array is also disclosed.

An antenna assembly includes at least two active or main radiating omni-directional antenna elements arranged with at least one beam control or passive antenna element used as a reflector. The beam control antenna element(s) may have multiple reactance elements that can electrically terminate it to adjust the input or output beam pattern(s) produced by the combination of the active antenna elements and the beam control antenna element(s). More specifically, the beam control antenna element(s) may be coupled to different terminating reactances to change beam characteristics, such as the directivity and angular beam width. Processing may be employed to select which terminating reactance to use. Consequently, the radiator pattern of the antenna can be more easily directed towards a specific target receiver / transmitter, reduce signal-to-noise interference levels, and / or increase gain. A Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MIMO) processing technique may be employed to operate the antenna assembly with simultaneous beam patterns.

A group of technologies related to RFID reader and tag are described, including: redundant networked multimedia RFID reader, auto-ranging RFID reader, auto-planning RFID reader, smart active antenna RFID reader and novel RFID tags. These enabling technologies bring RFID reader operations into a new level of automation, capability and ease of implementation.

The embodiment of the invention discloses an active antenna, a base station, a method for refreshing amplitude and phases and a signal processing method, which are invented for solving the problems of complex structure and less unreliability of a phase shifting network. The active antenna or the base station comprises an antenna oscillator array, a transceiver unit array, a digital processing unit and a transceiving calibration unit. When receiving signals, a transceiver unit modulates radio frequency signals of an antenna oscillator into IQ analog signals by down-conversion, and outputs the IQ analog signals to the digital processing unit; and the digital processing unit converts the IQ analog signals after down-conversion modulation into IQ digital signals, and forms digital beams of the IQ digital signals according to the transceiving calibration unit. When transmitting the signals, the transceiver unit modulates the IQ analog signals of the digital processing unit into the radio frequency signals by up-conversion, and outputs the radio frequency signals to the antenna oscillator; and the digital processing unit converts signals of a base band unit into IQ digital signals by serial / parallel conversion, and forms digital beams of the IQ digital signals according to the transceiving calibration unit.

A particular portable radio frequency identification (RFID) reader includes an active antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements to receive RFID signals from RFID devices. The antenna elements include control circuitry to control a beam pattern generated by the active antenna array. The portable RFID reader further includes sum circuitry and difference circuitry. The sum circuitry is operable to determine a sum signal by summing the RFID signals received by at least two of the plurality of antenna elements. The difference circuitry is operable to determine a difference signal between the RFID signals received by at least two of the plurality of antenna elements. The portable RFID reader also includes a controller to electronically steer the beam pattern and to determine a direction from the RFID reader to a particular RFID device.

An active antenna array comprises a plurality of transmission paths, a predistortion modulation signal generator, and a predistortion modulation signal distribution structure. At least two of the plurality of transmission paths comprise a predistortion modulator for modulating a transmission path signal with a predistortion modulation signal generated by the predistortion modulation signal generator and distributed by predistortion modulation signal distribution structure to the at least two of the plurality of transmission paths. A method for predistorting at least two of a plurality of transmission path signals in an active antenna array and computer program products for manufacture and method execution are also claimed.

A wireless information device (30) receives and processes a message (32) within a wireless information communication system (10). The wireless information device (30) includes an antenna system (62), a radio frequency switch (80), a controller (84) and a display (60). The antenna system has a plurality of antennas for receiving the message (32). The radio frequency switch (80) activates a first antenna (64) of the plurality of antennas as an active antenna (116) in response to an antenna control signal (98) sent from the controller (84). The antenna control signal (98) is generated by the controller (84) in response to the determination of the display orientation of the display (60).

A system and a method for switching antenna fields without waiting until data packets containing errors are detected. This is accomplished by monitoring the signal power for each antenna field immediately after receipt of data packets via the currently active antenna field and then switching to another antenna field having greater signal power. A communications channel is provided which has a capacity greater than that required by the data to be transmitted. This extra capacity is used to introduce time periods when no data is being transmitted. During these time periods, known bit patterns are transmitted, and the signal power during receipt of each of these blank packets is estimated for each antenna field. The receiver then switches to the most appropriate antenna field based on highest signal power (e.g., based on a weighted average for the N-th most recent sample periods) and continues to receive the transmitted data without interruption.

A smart antenna includes a ground plane, an active antenna element adjacent the ground plane and having a radio frequency (RF) input associated therewith, and passive antenna elements adjacent the ground plane. Impedance elements are connected to the ground plane and are selectively connectable to the passive antenna elements for antenna beam steering. Tuning elements are adjacent the passive antenna elements for tuning thereof so that an input impedance of the RF input of the active antenna element remains relatively constant during the antenna beam steering.

An antenna system is integrated into a cover or accessory and adapted to couple to an antenna in a host device to improve transmission and reception of signals. The antenna system can be passive or active, with the active antenna system designed to amplify coupled signals on the integrated antenna elements in the cover or accessory. Single or multiple frequency bands can be improved with the integrated antenna system, and multiple antennas in the host device can be coupled to and improved. The antenna system can couple to the existing antennas in the host device by capacitive coupling, i.e. no physical contact required, or a connector can be designed into the cover or accessory containing the integrated antenna system that makes contact to electrical ground of the host device or power supply signals or other control signals.

A Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) communication system and method. The MIMO communication system includes: an antenna number determination unit to determine a number of active antennas among a plurality of transmitting antennas based on a power of a transmission signal wherein the number of active antennas is at least one and the at least one active antenna transmits the transmission signal; and a beam generator to generate the transmission signal corresponding to the number of active antennas by using channel information wherein the channel information is fed back from each of a plurality of user terminals.

An apparatus operable to disable operation of wireless communications devices, for use within a vehicle, includes a drive circuit coupled to at least one active antenna element to produce interference within at least one wireless communications band of frequencies in response to the wireless communications device transmitting at a transmission power above a defined power threshold for a defined amount of time. The interference may take the form of a bare carrier wave, or may take the form of noise, and is transmitted at sufficient power to interfere with communication between the wireless communications device and a destination device.

An active antenna, a base station, a method for refreshing the amplitude and phase, and a signal processing method are disclosed to simplify the structure of a phase shifter and guarantee the reliability of the phase shifter. The active antenna or the base station includes an antenna dipole array, a transceiver array, a digital processing unit (DPU), and a transceiving calibration unit. During signal reception, the transceiver demodulates a radio frequency (RF) signal of the antenna dipole into an IQ analog signal, and outputs the IQ analog signal to the DPU; the DPU converts the demodulated IQ analog signal into an IQ digital signal, and performs digital beam forming (DBF) on the IQ digital signal according to the transceiving calibration unit; during signal transmission, the transceiver modulates the IQ analog signal of the DPU into an RF signal, and outputs the RF signal to the antenna dipole; the DPU converts a signal of a base band unit (BBU) into an IQ digital signal in serial / parallel (S / P) mode, and performs DBF on the IQ digital signal according to the transceiving calibration unit.

An active antenna array comprises a plurality of transmission paths, a plurality of variable power supply units, and an envelope detection system. The transmission paths are adapted to carry a plurality of similar transmission path signals, and the plurality of transmission paths comprises an amplifier having a power input and a signal input for one of the plurality of similar transmission path signals. The plurality of variable power supply units is connected to the power input of the amplifier for supplying power to the amplifiers. Each of the plurality of variable power supply units comprises an envelope signal input. The envelope detection system is connected to the envelope inputs of the plurality of variable power supply units and adapted to provide a common envelope signal for the plurality of similar transmission path signals to the plurality of variable power supply units. A method for envelope tracking and computer program products for manufacture and method execution are also claimed.

An antenna assembly includes at least two active or main radiating omni-directional antenna elements arranged with at least one beam control or passive antenna element used as a reflector. The beam control antenna element(s) may have multiple reactance elements that can electrically terminate it to adjust the input or output beam pattern(s) produced by the combination of the active antenna elements and the beam control antenna element(s). More specifically, the beam control antenna element(s) may be coupled to different terminating reactances to change beam characteristics, such as the directivity and angular beamwidth. Processing may be employed to select which terminating reactance to use. Consequently, the radiator pattern of the antenna can be more easily directed towards a specific target receiver / transmitter, reduce signal-to-noise interference levels, and / or increase gain by using Radio Frequency (RF), Intermediate Frequency (IF), or baseband processing. A Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MIMO) processing technique may be employed to operate the antenna assembly with simultaneous beam patterns.

A mobile communication handset includes at least one passive antenna element and an active antenna element adjacent to the passive antenna elements protruding from a housing. The active element is coupled to electronic radio communication circuits and the passive antenna elements are coupled to circuit elements that affect the directivity of communication signals coupled to the antenna elements.

Various antenna arrangements are provided with active transmit and receive antenna elements for transmitting and receiving signals within a cellular communication system. Also presented are specific base station antenna systems and methods, and portions thereof, which improve and control specific characteristics and features of antenna systems including antenna beam patterns. In addition, method for the optimization of a cellular communications network is provided which exploits reverse-link, forward-link, and pilot signal information to optimize network operations.

In one embodiment, an antenna system has a plurality of antenna paths and a calibration circuit. Each of the antenna paths has a transceiver and an antenna element. The calibration circuit has (i) a calibration transceiver and a different coupler coupled to each antenna path. The couplers are connected in series with one another and with the calibration transceiver. Connecting the couplers in series, rather than in parallel, reduces the amount of cabling needed and the need for a combiner / splitter or switch matrix between the couplers and the calibration transceiver, thereby reducing the cost, volume, and / or weight associated with the calibration circuit.

The invention discloses a test method and a device for wireless indexes of an active antenna system. An over the air (OTA) test is used for testing spatial characters of the active antenna system and a near field coupling mode is used for testing radio frequency indexes of the active antenna system. The invention also provides a near field coupling test device which is a radio frequency testing cover. By the aid of the near field coupling test device, the radio frequency index test can be conducted to the active antenna system which is an integral device of an antenna and a multi-channel transceiver under the condition that any extra test interfaces are not required to be added. According to the comprehensive test method, the advantages of the OTA test and the near field coupling mode are combined fully, the defects and the problems of the OTA test and the near field coupling mode are overcome, and the test efficiency and the test cost are optimized.

The invention is directed to a method and system for equalizing the signal losses over cable runs in a Distributed Antenna System (DAS). In a DAS, two or more antennae are connected to the system by cable runs that can vary widely in length. As a result, the signal loss over a given cable run can also vary widely which can impact the design and deployment of the DAS and reduce antenna spacing. In addition, for a broadband DAS that supports many frequency bands or ranges using a common antenna unit, the signal losses vary with respect to frequency further making it difficult to equalize the cable losses. According to one embodiment of the invention, the method and system provide for measuring and adjusting the signal losses of each cable run to be a predefined value. According to another embodiment of the invention, the DAS can include a hybrid passive-active antenna unit for use in a DAS which includes a frequency multiplexer that separates the signal into frequency bands or ranges that are connected to an antenna element associated with a particular frequency band or range. Where a single frequency band needs to be amplified (or attenuated), a single band amplification block (SBAB) can be inserted in the connection between the frequency multiplexer and the antenna element to amplify (or attenuate) the desired frequency band. Where more than one frequency band need to be amplified (or attenuated), a multiband amplification block (MBAB) can be inserted in the connection between the frequency multiplexer and the appropriate antenna element to amplify (or attenuate) the desired frequency bands.

The invention is directed to a method and system for equalizing the signal losses over cable runs in a Distributed Antenna System (DAS). In a DAS, two or more antennae are connected to the system by cable runs that can vary widely in length. As a result, the signal loss over a given cable run can also vary widely which can impact the design and deployment of the DAS and reduce antenna spacing. In addition, for a broadband DAS that supports many frequency bands or ranges using a common antenna unit, the signal losses vary with respect to frequency further making it difficult to equalize the cable losses. According to one embodiment of the invention, the method and system provide for measuring and adjusting the signal losses of each cable run to be a predefined value. According to another embodiment of the invention, the DAS can include a hybrid passive-active antenna unit which includes a frequency multiplexer that separates the signal into frequency bands or ranges that are connected to an antenna element associated with a particular frequency band or range. Where a single frequency band needs to be amplified (or attenuated), a single band amplification block (SBAB) can be inserted in the connection between the frequency multiplexer and the antenna element to amplify (or attenuate) the desired frequency band. Where more than one frequency band need to be amplified (or attenuated), a multiband amplification block (MBAB) can be inserted in the connection between the frequency multiplexer and the appropriate antenna element to amplify (or attenuate) the desired frequency bands.

An active antenna test system is described. The active antenna test system comprises an active antenna unit comprising: a plurality of antenna elements; at least one processor; a plurality of transceiver modules operably coupled to the at least one processor and arranged to receive at least one first baseband signal for transmission via at least one of the plurality of antenna elements and arranged to pass at least one second baseband signal thereto received and down-converted from at least one of the plurality of antenna elements; and at least one switching module operably coupling the plurality of antenna modules to the plurality of transceiver modules. The active antenna test system also comprises at least one communication test equipment, such as a radio frequency, RF, test module and at least one baseband processor. The active antenna unit further comprises at least one externally connectable radio frequency, RF, test port operably coupled to the at least one switching module and arranged to externally couple the at least one communication test equipment to at least one of the plurality of transceiver modules for conductive testing.

The present disclosure teaches an active antenna array for a mobile communications network. The active antenna array comprises a plurality of antenna elements, a first port, a first DC voltage supply and at least one DC voltage extractor. The plurality of antenna elements relays at least first protocol radio signals. The first port is connected to at least one individual first protocol relay path. The first port relays a general first protocol receive signal to a first protocol link. The first DC voltage supply provides a first DC voltage to at least a portion of the first protocol link. The at least one DC voltage extractor, is located in the at least one individual first protocol relay path. The DC voltage extractor extracts at least one individual DC voltage to supply an at least one amplifier.