WO2003038949A1 - Antennes radio adaptatives - Google Patents

Antennes radio adaptatives Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2003038949A1
WO2003038949A1 PCT/GB2002/004949 GB0204949W WO03038949A1 WO 2003038949 A1 WO2003038949 A1 WO 2003038949A1 GB 0204949 W GB0204949 W GB 0204949W WO 03038949 A1 WO03038949 A1 WO 03038949A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
antenna
elements
control circuitry
selectively
directional
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2002/004949
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Colin Nigel Ribton
Original Assignee
Antenova Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Antenova Limited filed Critical Antenova Limited
Publication of WO2003038949A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003038949A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
    • H01Q3/24—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q9/00—Electrically-short antennas having dimensions not more than twice the operating wavelength and consisting of conductive active radiating elements
    • H01Q9/04—Resonant antennas
    • H01Q9/0485—Dielectric resonator antennas

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to modes of operation and control of a number of small directional antennas, including but not limited to dielectric resonator antennas, used at a radio terminal (for example a mobile telephone).
  • the direction of arrival of radio signals varies depending upon the environment surrounding the terminal. This effect has been examined by a large number of workers in the field of microwave propagation, in particular for mobile telephony and similar applications. This work has shown that the angular spread of direction of arrival is greatest in urban areas and least in rural areas. As a radio terminal moves from one radio environment to another the optimum form ofthe antenna will change.
  • a high gain antenna is desirable for spatially filtering radio signals (e.g. looking towards the optimum direction and away from interferers).
  • passive gain is achieved by making antennas directional, and such directionality necessitates pointing the antenna correctly in order to obtain improved performance.
  • a number of directional antennas arranged in an array pointing in different directions can be combined to form an antenna with a near omni-directional pattern
  • An antenna may consist of 2 polarisations - these polarisations may be combined to increase the gain ofthe antenna
  • null in the combined antenna gain pattern can be made deeper and more effective by shifting the relative phase between the antenna elements
  • a compound radio antenna comprising a plurality of directional antenna elements and provided with control circuitry adapted selectively to enable one or more of the elements in direct response to detected characteristics of received radio signals.
  • a method of controlling a compound radio antenna comprising a plurality of directional antenna elements, wherein a control algorithm is used selectively to enable one or more ofthe elements in direct response to detected characteristics of received radio signals.
  • DRAs dielectric resonator antennas
  • the control circuitry preferably includes electronic control means adapted selectively to activate one or more antenna elements individually and/or in various combinations.
  • electronic control means adapted selectively to activate one or more antenna elements individually and/or in various combinations.
  • steering control means a protocol stack and RF switching/combining circuitry as described in more detail hereinbelow. Control to adapt form of antenna gain pattern
  • a number of antenna elements may be selectively combined so that the antenna gain pattern can change its form to optimise signal reception and transmission for the environment.
  • a number of small directional antennas (for example a cluster of DRA segments as described in the present applicant's International patent application WO 01/69721, the full disclosure of which is hereby incorporated into the present application by reference) can each be connected independently to a receiver and/or a transmitter.
  • each element can be switched to a combining circuit through independent selection switches.
  • This circuit can combine the signals from the selected antennas and route them to the receiver. It can also equally distribute the signal to each ofthe selected antennas from the transmitter amplifier.
  • the antenna elements may be combined to form a substantially omnirdirectional pattern, see Fig 1(a). This enables the system to receive signals from all directions.
  • the form ofthe antenna gain pattern can be automatically and progressively changed from an omnidirectional pattern to one where the pattern has a null in the direction of unwanted signals.
  • the antenna gain pattern can then be progressively adapted further by the control system to produce a more directed antenna gain pattern that gives the maximum signal gain and rejection of unwanted signals.
  • Such adaptation may be effected by switching in of appropriate antenna elements; alternatively or in addition, this maybe effected by changing the effective phase path length to each of the elements (for example by switching in or our predetermined lengths of transmission cable or the like).
  • the antenna may be required to point in two directions simultaneously, see Fig; 1(c). This can be achieved by selecting two :segments which point in the correct directions. In this case each segment may be controlled independently to optimise gain for one of the two radio paths.
  • This manner of control can be extended to multiple radio channels being independently optimised by selecting antenna elements pointing in the optimum direction.
  • Mobile user equipment can be enabled with a number of small directional antennas, a control algorithm and RF switching and/or combining networks to steer a null in the combined antenna gain pattern towards a. source of interference, and thereby to reduce the level of the received interference. This may be achieved by a number of means.
  • the phase length ofthe path to each ofthe antenna elements can be varied to steer a null in the antenna pattern.
  • individual elements may be de-energised to create a null in the antenna pattern. The null can be directed towards a source of interference.
  • the null can also be directed such that signals transmitted by the antenna do not interfere with equipment nearby and, or alternatively, the gain pattern ofthe antenna can be appropriately directed for good or substantially optimal propagation of the signal from the terminal to the receiving station.
  • the control system operates by receiving information from either the equipment being interfered with or by receiving information from the receiving station.
  • Two or more small directional antennas in a radio terminal can be controlled so as intelligently to steer toward a desired signal as described hereinbefore, but alternatively may be controlled to switch from one antenna element to another. Such switching may be carried out at set intervals rather than being determined by the strength or other characteristics of the received signals.
  • This method will increase the average amplitude ofthe received signal, and provides a method of avoiding fast fades in high multipath environments. For particular protocols, where data is interleaved over several radio blocks for example, this method will increase the diversity of the antenna and may thereby improve the radio link.
  • the control system may switch from one antenna element to another when the radio link integrity falls below a preset or predetermined level and thereby switch the direction ofthe gain ofthe antenna system from one direction to another.
  • the control system may select the antenna element giving the best signal in such an array, or may combine antenna elements to produce an optimum or a best-available signal, or may introduce a relative phase shift between the signals from the elements to optimise or at least improve the signal and reduce interference caused by multipath effects.
  • the antennas may be arranged so as to provide
  • the antennas may be sited at sufficient distances from each other so as to avoid all being obstructed by a user, for example by being covered by a user's hand.
  • Table 1 shows a comparison ofthe benefits provided by different modes of an antenna of embodiments ofthe present invention.
  • FIGURE 1 shows various modes of operation of a compound antenna embodying the present invention
  • FIGURE 2 shows a control system for an antenna embodying the present invention
  • FIGURE 3 shows a control circuit configuration for an antenna embodying the present invention.
  • Figure 1(a) shows a compound antenna 1 formed of six sectored DRA elements a, b, c, d, e and f, which is this case are all excited so as to provide an omni-directional mode of operation.
  • FIG. 2 shows a sectored DRA 1 ofthe type shown in Figure 1.
  • Each element a, b, c, d, e and f is connected by way of RF switching/combining circuitry 2 and a steering control unit 3 to a protocol stack 4, which may form part of an integrated circuit or computer device (not shown).
  • the control system depicted in Figure 2 is able to provide selective activation of the various antenna elements a to e, either individually or in combination, in response to detected signal strengths and or other signal characteristics so as to enable intelligent steering and other control of the compound antenna.
  • the control system may include a control algorithm which may consist of a process where the direction of arrival of the incoming signal is determined by measuring the signal strength on each of the antenna elements a to f. Using this information, the control algorithm will set up an RF switch network that will determine the direction of transmission of the radio signal. In protocols where the radio link is reciprocal (i.e. where the uplink and downlink propagation paths are identical or can be approximated to be identical) it may be assumed that within a short period of time the optimum uplink direction will be the direction of arrival ofthe downlink direction.
  • the network basestation may provide feedback information to the handset on the received signal strength.
  • the terminal will select the optimum direction of transmission by sampling a number of directions of transmission.
  • the basestation will provide a metric to the terminal of the relative efficiency of each direction of transmission and this information can be used to select the antenna elements to be used for the transmission from the terminal. These elements may be different from the elements used for the reception of the signal.
  • the optimisation routine may be a continuous process -with an update period commensurate with the duration of a typical multipath channel lifetime.
  • the RF switching control circuitry 2,3 is designed such that the elements selected for the transmission and reception of the signal may be selected individually as necessary. In TDMA systems this can be effected by rapid switching between the optimum uplink and downlink configurations. In CDMA systems the configuration difference between the uplink and the downlink configurations is effected by the use of biased diode elements to make the signal forward and reverse paths different.
  • control algorithm processing is performed in the lower layers of the protocol stack, and most Hkely as part of a digital signal processing operation.
  • the control algorithms may be executed at higher layers ofthe protocol stack 4 and will be less time critical.
  • the diagram shown in Figure 3 illustrates a possible configuration of the control circuit.
  • the antenna elements are each connected to a diplexer and this is used to separate the transmit and receive parts.
  • Each transmit and receive of each element may be individually or severally selected to allow the appropriate antenna segments to be selected. This is achieved by connection of a configuration of elements 11 each with a different gain pattern (either directional ⁇ y different, of different polarisation or spatially dispersed) to diplexers 12 and then to separate receive and transmit selection switches, 13 and 14, respectively.
  • the receive channel signal 15 may then be single or a combination of elements and therefore correspond to a signal arriving within a certain angle and/or polarisation and with an optimum or at least improved fade profile relative to the handset.
  • the receive and transmit selection switches are controlled by a control system 17.

Landscapes

  • Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)
  • Radio Transmission System (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une antenne radio composite, comprenant une pluralité d'éléments antennes directives et pourvue d'un circuit de commande conçu de manière sélective pour autoriser le fonctionnement d'un ou de plusieurs éléments en réaction directe à des caractéristiques détectées de signaux radio reçus. Cette antenne peut utiliser la diversité angulaire et/ou la diversité de polarisation et peut passer, de manière intelligente, d'un mode de fonctionnement sensiblement équidirectif à un mode hautement directif en réaction aux signaux radio reçus, ce qui permet d'améliorer la sensibilité et le gain tout en réduisant les interférences.
PCT/GB2002/004949 2001-11-01 2002-11-01 Antennes radio adaptatives WO2003038949A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0126256.7 2001-11-01
GB0126256A GB0126256D0 (en) 2001-11-01 2001-11-01 Adaptive radio antennas

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2003038949A1 true WO2003038949A1 (fr) 2003-05-08

Family

ID=9924964

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2002/004949 WO2003038949A1 (fr) 2001-11-01 2002-11-01 Antennes radio adaptatives

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (2) GB0126256D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2003038949A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2402553A (en) * 2003-06-06 2004-12-08 Westerngeco Seismic Holdings Segmented antenna system for offshore radio networks and method of using the same

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB0211076D0 (en) * 2002-05-15 2002-06-26 Antenova Ltd Radio frequency switch for multi-sectored antennas
GB2465404A (en) * 2008-11-18 2010-05-19 Iti Scotland Ltd Plural antenna elements with a switching arrangement and method
US8478335B2 (en) 2011-03-23 2013-07-02 United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy System and method for radio communication
GB201522722D0 (en) 2015-12-23 2016-02-03 Sofant Technologies Ltd Method and steerable antenna apparatus

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5303240A (en) * 1991-07-08 1994-04-12 Motorola, Inc. Telecommunications system using directional antennas
EP0847209A2 (fr) * 1996-12-06 1998-06-10 Nortel Networks Corporation Système de communication multipoint fixe, sans fil, à fréquence ultra-haute
US6229486B1 (en) * 1998-09-10 2001-05-08 David James Krile Subscriber based smart antenna
WO2001069722A1 (fr) * 2000-03-11 2001-09-20 Antenova Limited Reseau d'antenne a resonateur dielectrique ayant des elements orientables
WO2001069721A1 (fr) * 2000-03-11 2001-09-20 Antenova Limited Antenne a resonateur dielectrique a segments multiples

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS61253903A (ja) * 1985-05-07 1986-11-11 Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> アレ−アンテナビ−ム切り換え方式
GB2281176B (en) * 1993-08-12 1998-04-08 Northern Telecom Ltd Base station antenna arrangement
JPH09200115A (ja) * 1996-01-23 1997-07-31 Toshiba Corp 無線通信システムにおける無線基地局のアンテナ指向性制御方法および可変指向性アンテナ
KR100468820B1 (ko) * 1997-08-04 2005-03-16 삼성전자주식회사 가중치기억장치를이용한적응위상배열안테나
US6449469B1 (en) * 1999-03-01 2002-09-10 Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. Switched directional antenna for automotive radio receivers
US6801790B2 (en) * 2001-01-17 2004-10-05 Lucent Technologies Inc. Structure for multiple antenna configurations

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5303240A (en) * 1991-07-08 1994-04-12 Motorola, Inc. Telecommunications system using directional antennas
EP0847209A2 (fr) * 1996-12-06 1998-06-10 Nortel Networks Corporation Système de communication multipoint fixe, sans fil, à fréquence ultra-haute
US6229486B1 (en) * 1998-09-10 2001-05-08 David James Krile Subscriber based smart antenna
WO2001069722A1 (fr) * 2000-03-11 2001-09-20 Antenova Limited Reseau d'antenne a resonateur dielectrique ayant des elements orientables
WO2001069721A1 (fr) * 2000-03-11 2001-09-20 Antenova Limited Antenne a resonateur dielectrique a segments multiples

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2402553A (en) * 2003-06-06 2004-12-08 Westerngeco Seismic Holdings Segmented antenna system for offshore radio networks and method of using the same
GB2402553B (en) * 2003-06-06 2007-06-20 Westerngeco Seismic Holdings A segmented antenna system for offshore radio networks and method of using the same
US7383151B2 (en) 2003-06-06 2008-06-03 Western Geco L.L.C. Segmented antenna system for offshore radio networks and method of using same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2382927B (en) 2004-02-04
GB2382927A (en) 2003-06-11
GB0225487D0 (en) 2002-12-11
GB0126256D0 (en) 2002-01-02

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