Abstract:
Wireless communication systems (100, 800) comprise mobile units (118, 802) provided with a directional coupler (206) and circuit (220) for measuring the complex reflectance (phase and magnitude) of antenna (202) of the mobile units (118, 802). The system (100, 800) has, either in the mobile unit (118, 802) or elsewhere, a processor (238, 808) programmed to perform pattern recognition of the near field environments of the mobile units (118, 802) by using the complex reflectance measurements as feature vectors. Information as to the near field environment at the time of wireless connection drops is suitably accumulated and is used in network upgrade planning and/or mobile unit design evaluation. The complex reflectance is alternatively used to discriminate antenna faults. Alternatively, near field environments that tend to degrade wireless communication performance are detected by the mobile unit using the complex reflectance and the mobile unit then alerts the user.
Abstract:
A method, apparatus and system for performing over-the-air calibration routines in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system. An antenna array (116) of a transceiver (118), (e.g., transceiver of a base station) (110) comprises a reconf igurable antenna (230 REF) having two switchable configuration states. The antenna exhibits different degrees of electromagnetic coupling to other antennas (230 1,..., 230 M) of the array in a first state than in a second state. The reference antennna (230 REF) is switched to the first state for performing uplink/downlink calibrating transmissions and switched to the second state during uplink and downlink communications or channel sounding calibrating transmissions.
Abstract:
A method and a system for calibrating at least one antenna (1,1-1,3. 1,j). At least a first antenna (1,4) within a first antenna array (102) can be selected as a primary reference antenna. At least one antenna (4,3) that is not within the first antenna array can be selected as a secondary reference antenna. At least a first signal propagation characteristic (122) can be measured based on at least one signal wirelessly communicated between the primary reference antenna and the secondary reference antenna. At least a second signal propagation characteristic (118) can be measured based on at least one signal wirelessly communicated between the secondary reference antenna and at least a second antenna (1,2) within the first antenna array. At least a first calibration coefficient can be determined for the second antenna.
Abstract:
A multiple band antenna has an RF coupling structure (110) and a resonant RF structure (102). The RF coupling structure (110) has an RF connection (116, 118) and an RF coupling end (112, 114). The resonant RF structure (102) is reactively coupled to the RF coupling end (112, 114). The resonant RF structure (102) has a first end (106) and a second end (108) and has a conductive perimeter (102) enclosing at least one slot area (104) configured to induce an additional resonant RF band for the resonant RF structure (102). The first end (106) and the second end (108) are reactively coupled to a ground plane (124, 120) to facilitate longer wavelength operation. Cellular phones (800) and wireless communications sections incorporating such antennas are also provided.
Abstract:
A method and a system for calibrating at least one antenna (1,1-1,3. 1,j). At least a first antenna (1,4) within a first antenna array (102) can be selected as a primary reference antenna. At least one antenna (4,3) that is not within the first antenna array can be selected as a secondary reference antenna. At least a first signal propagation characteristic (122) can be measured based on at least one signal wirelessly communicated between the primary reference antenna and the secondary reference antenna. At least a second signal propagation characteristic (118) can be measured based on at least one signal wirelessly communicated between the secondary reference antenna and at least a second antenna (1,2) within the first antenna array. At least a first calibration coefficient can be determined for the second antenna.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for performing beamforming are provided herein. During operation, a mobile device will notify a base station of the situation in which one or more of its antennas has become unusable. Using this technique, the Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) algorithms employed at the base station will be adjusted accordingly.
Abstract:
A multiple band antenna has an RF coupling structure (110) and a resonant RF structure (102). The RF coupling structure (110) has an RF connection (116, 118) and an RF coupling end (112, 114). The resonant RF structure (102) is reactively coupled to the RF coupling end (112, 114). The resonant RF structure (102) has a first end (106) and a second end (108) and has a conductive perimeter (102) enclosing at least one slot area (104) configured to induce an additional resonant RF band for the resonant RF structure (102). The first end (106) and the second end (108) are reactively coupled to a ground plane (124, 120) to facilitate longer wavelength operation. Cellular phones (800) and wireless communications sections incorporating such antennas are also provided.
Abstract:
A method and a system for calibrating at least one antenna (1,1-1,3. 1,j). At least a first antenna (1,4) within a first antenna array (102) can be selected as a primary reference antenna. At least one antenna (4,3) that is not within the first antenna array can be selected as a secondary reference antenna. At least a first signal propagation characteristic (122) can be measured based on at least one signal wirelessly communicated between the primary reference antenna and the secondary reference antenna. At least a second signal propagation characteristic (118) can be measured based on at least one signal wirelessly communicated between the secondary reference antenna and at least a second antenna (1,2) within the first antenna array. At least a first calibration coefficient can be determined for the second antenna.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for recovering from cognitive radio errors are disclosed. The method may include receiving stamp data relating to a cognitive radio from the cognitive radio's database, the stamp data including time, location and sensor information, comparing the received stamp data with information stored in a master database, determining, based on the comparison, whether the cognitive radio's database is corrupt, wherein if the cognitive radio's database is corrupt, downloading a copy of the master database to the cognitive radio.
Abstract:
Wireless communication systems (100, 800) comprise mobile units (118, 802) provided with a directional coupler (206) and circuit (220) for measuring the complex reflectance (phase and magnitude) of antenna (202) of the mobile units (118, 802). The system (100, 800) has, either in the mobile unit (118, 802) or elsewhere, a processor (238, 808) programmed to perform pattern recognition of the near field environments of the mobile units (118, 802) by using the complex reflectance measurements as feature vectors. Information as to the near field environment at the time of wireless connection drops is suitably accumulated and is used in network upgrade planning and/or mobile unit design evaluation. The complex reflectance is alternatively used to discriminate antenna faults. Alternatively, near field environments that tend to degrade wireless communication performance are detected by the mobile unit using the complex reflectance and the mobile unit then alerts the user.