2552 results about "Multi beam" patented technology

The present invention provides an improved antenna system that, in one embodiment, includes an antenna array comprised of a plurality of elements, each of which is capable of providing a signal. Also included in the improved antenna system is a multi-beam beamformer for producing two spatially independent overlapping beams from the signals provided by two different subsets of the antenna array. The phase of the two beams is compared to realize an interferometer that can provide high or fine resolution data on the position of an object relative to the antenna system. The amplitude of the two beams can also be compared to obtain coarse data on the position of the object. The beamformer includes a switching network for selecting which elements of the antenna array form the two subsets. This permits, for example, the position of the beams to moved, the baseline of the two beams to be varied, and/or the beam width of the beams to be altered. To reduce adverse aerodynamic effects in certain applications, the antenna array is located conformal to the exterior surface of the body on which the array is mounted. Further, to reduce temperature related problems associated with high speed movement of the body on which the array is located, the array is located on the side of the body, as opposed to the front of the body. The side location also provides space for other types of sensors that are preferably located adjacent to the front surface of the body.

A base transceiver station operating a sectorized cell of a cellular radio system operates a plurality of narrow uplink main receive beams, and one or a plurality of uplink diversity received beams. A scanning means scans each of the uplink main receive beams to locate a communications channel on the main uplink beams. A diversity receiver receives a diverse beam signal from the diverse beam(s), which is compared with a beam signal received from a main uplink beam, and the main beam signal from the main beam, or a diverse beam signal from the diversity antenna is selected, depending on the comparative signal to noise ratio and signal strength of the main beam signal and diversity beam signal.

A method and system are disclosed that can be applied to achieve high-throughput in a WLAN. Central to the present invention is the use of an SDMA compatible multi-beam antenna system by a WLAN access point. A system based on two types of antennas-dynamic beam forming and fixed beam antennas—is described. A mechanism and protocol are described that implement simultaneous transmissions with respect to an SDMA compatible access point and thereby improve spectral efficiency, and by extension achieve higher throughput. Based on the recognition that current WLAN MAC has major limitations in throughput, certain MAC extensions (that can be applied independently of SDMA) are described. Also disclosed are power-saving and power control techniques that improve battery performance and contribute to a reduction in station size, and a means of reducing channel interference. The present invention also deals with the problem of backward compatibility with conventional devices that implement the protocol that is a subset covered by the present invention.

The invention improves the laser sculpting of a region of a material to a predetermined shape by improving the smoothness and accuracy of surfaces formed by the sculpting technique. The technique includes projecting plurality of partially overlapping beams toward the region. The invention includes blurring an edge of an ablation to smooth an internal portion of the ablation that is separate from the edge. The blurred edge may be formed by the partially overlapping beams. Using a computer controlled laser delivery system, the position and shape of the overlapping beams may be precisely controlled to sculpt the material to a desired shape according to a laser treatment table.

Previous MIMO systems have used spatially diverse antenna elements in order not to reduce the number of orthogonal channels that can be realised. The present invention recognises that this leads to large antenna sizes, as compared to multiple beam antenna systems which use closely spaced antenna elements. In order to provide a compact antenna unit, while still allowing a MIMO system to be exploited, the present invention recognizes that polarization diversity only can be used in a MIMO system without the need for spatially diverse antenna elements. Closely spaced antenna elements are used and this enables a compact MIMO antenna unit to be provided. In addition, such MIMO systems with polarization diversity but no spatial diversity can advantageously be used in line of sight situations and also combined with multi-beam antenna systems to further increase capacity.

Antenna assemblies are described herein. Any of these assemblies may include a primary feed that includes a single patterned emitting surface from which multiple different beams of RF signals are emitted corresponding to different antenna input feeds each communicating with the patterned antenna emitting surface. The antenna assembly may include a primary reflector, a secondary reflector, and a primary feed that is feed by multiple antenna input feeds so that different regions of the primary and secondary antenna correlate with different beams emitted by the primary feed. The antenna assembly is capable of emitting beams in the same direction having different polarizations using a single primary feed. Also described herein are methods of operating an antenna assembly. Access point devices that have a single primary feed configured to emit multiple beams are also described.

A security inspection system uses microwave radiation to image targets on a human subject or other item. The system includes an array of antenna elements that are programmable with a respective phase delay to direct a beam of microwave illumination toward a target on the human subject or item. The antenna elements are further capable of receiving reflected microwave illumination reflected from the target. A processor is operable to measure an intensity of the reflected microwave illumination to determine a value of a pixel within an image of the human subject or item. Multiple beams can be directed towards the human subject or item to obtain corresponding pixel values for use by the processor in constructing the image.

The invention is directed to a wireless network arrangement in which nodes comprise multi-faceted multi-beam antennas and in which wireless backhaul is provided using those multi-faceted multi-beam antennas. In particular, the invention is directed to a wireless communication node comprising: an antenna defining a first wireless coverage area and a second wireless coverage area. The first wireless coverage area extends in a first beam pattern and the second wireless coverage area extends in a second beam pattern and the second beam pattern comprises at least one directional beam having a direction which is variable. Associated apparatus, methods, programs, and subscriber services are also provided.

Methods and apparatus are presented which reduce the overall cost and increase the imaging capability for medium and long range automotive radar sensing applications through the combination of a high signal-to-noise ratio and wide dynamic range radar waveform and architecture, antenna arrangement, and a low cost packaging and interconnection method. In accordance with aspects of the present invention, one way a high signal-to-noise ratio and wide dynamic range imaging radar with reduced cost can be achieved is through the combination of a pulsed stepped-frequency-continuous-wave waveform and electrically beam-switched radar architecture, utilizing a planar package containing high-frequency integrated circuits as well as integrated high-frequency waveguide coupling ports, coupled to a multi-beam waveguide-fed twist-reflector narrow beam-width antenna. Other methods and apparatus are presented.

A structure to generate x-rays has a plurality of stationary and individually electrically addressable field emissive electron sources with a substrate composed of a field emissive material, such as carbon nanotubes. Electrically switching the field emissive electron sources at a predetermined frequency field emits electrons in a programmable sequence toward an incidence point on a target. The generated x-rays correspond in frequency and in position to that of the field emissive electron source. The large-area target and array or matrix of emitters can image objects from different positions and/or angles without moving the object or the structure and can produce a three dimensional image. The x-ray system is suitable for a variety of applications including industrial inspection/quality control, analytical instrumentation, security systems such as airport security inspection systems, and medical imaging, such as computed tomography.

A multi-column electron beam inspection system is disclosed herein. The system is designed for electron beam inspection of semiconductor wafers with throughput high enough for in-line use. The system includes field emission electron sources, electrostatic electron optical columns, a wafer stage with six degrees of freedom of movement, and image storage and processing systems capable of handling multiple simultaneous image data streams. Each electron optical column is enhanced with an electron gun with redundant field emission sources, a voltage contrast plate to allow voltage contrast imaging of wafers, and an electron optical design for high efficiency secondary electron collection.

A method includes receiving at least two space-time coded signals from an antenna system associated with a first station, determining complex channel state information based on the received space-time coded signals, and sending the complex channel state information to the first station. In an alternative embodiment, a method includes transmitting at least two space-time coded signals in respective beams of a multi-beam antenna array, measuring a channel impulse response for each space-time coded signal at a second station, and sending an indicia of a selected set of least attenuated signals from the second station to the first station. The multi-beam antenna array is associated with a first station. The beams transmit a signature code embedded in each respective space-time coded signal, and the signature codes are orthogonal so that the second station can separate and measure the channel impulse response corresponding to each space-time coded signal.

A multi-beam scanning electron beam device (100) is described. The multi-bea scanning electron beam device having a column, includes a multi-beam emitter (110) for emitting a plurality of electron beams (12,13,14), at least one common electron beam optical element (130) having a common opening for at least two of the plurality of electron beams and being adapted for commonly influencing at least two of the plurality of electron beams, at least one individual electron beam optical element (140) for individually influencing the plurality of electron beams, a common objective lens assembly (150) for focusing the plurality of electrons beams having a common excitation for focusing at least two of the plurality of electron beams, and adapted for focusing the plurality of electron beams onto a specimen (20) for generation of a plurality of signal beams (121, 131,141), and a detection assembly (170) for individually detecting each signal beam on a corresponding detection element.

An integrated optical system and method employs an optical concentrator, a spectral splitting assembly for splitting incident light into multiple beams of light, each with a different nominal spectral bandwidth; and an array of optical detector sites wherein each of the detector sites has a nominal spectral response and wherein the detector sites are spatially arranged to provide an arrangement of said detector sites which are spatially variant relative to said nominal spectral responses. Such a system can be used for purposes such as optical detection and solar collection to provide improved efficiency. Improved efficiency of collection and manufacture are obtainable with using such devices.

A LADAR apparatus and a method for use in receiving a LADAR signal are disclosed. The apparatus includes an optical pickup capable of picking up a plurality of optical signals; a timing synchronization reference; a time domain multiplexer capable of multiplexing the optical signals into a multiplexed optical signal relative to the timing synchronization reference; and an optical detector capable of detecting the multiplexed optical signal. The method include time domain multiplexing a plurality of LADAR signals into multiplexed LADAR signal; detecting the multiplexed LADAR signal; and demultiplexing the detected LADAR signal.

Disclosed are systems and methods which provide high bandwidth data communication with respect to a large coverage area using smart antenna and/or directional antenna (referred to herein as multi-beam antenna) technology. Circuitry may be provided at a WLAN AP to provide selection of particular antenna beams used in the downlink and/or uplink, control of multicast transmission, control of unicast transmission, and to provide antenna pattern shaping techniques. Embodiments implement multi-beam antenna technology with little or no hardware modifications to AP circuitry. Other embodiments implement multi-beam technology using radio front-end and/or radio hardware modifications to AP circuitry. Various diversity techniques may be implemented, such as selection diversity, maximum ratio combining, and equal gain combing. To provide desired antenna pattern shaping, phase offsets with respect to a signal as transmitted in each antenna beam may be employed.

A beam forming apparatus and method for forming a plurality of directional beams within a sector, as well as a full sector coverage beam is disclosed, wherein uplink reception diversity is maintained, through provision of a either a single facet antenna or a pair of single facet antennas. Two implementations are disclosed: a first implementation employs orthogonal polarization diversity from a single antenna facet, whereas a second implementation employs space diversity from a pair of spaced apart antenna facets. A first implementation employing polarization diversity comprises an antenna having an array of dipole pairs, dipoles of each pair being positioned orthogonally from each other. The dipole pairs are driven on a downlink, to form a plurality of directional beams having first polarization, and a full sector coverage beam having second polarization. On an uplink, a first plurality of directional beams have first polarity and a second cospatially overlapping set of directional beams have second polarity are formed. A first full sector coverage beam having first polarity spatially overlaps a second full sector beam having second polarity.