Devices for transmitter path weights and methods therefor

Details Devices for transmitter path weights and methods therefor Devices for transmitter path weights and methods therefor

1999-10-08

2001-02-20

Eisenzopf, Reinhard J. (Department: 2745)

Telecommunications

Transmitter and receiver at same station

Radiotelephone equipment detail

C455S069000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06192256

ABSTRACT:

FILED OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to antenna arrays.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Antenna arrays have a plurality of antennas used to communicate radio frequency (RF) signals through wireless communication links. Antenna arrays provide improved performance relative to a single antenna by providing a better antenna pattern for a coverage area.
Even with an antenna array to provide an improved antenna pattern, signals communicated between communication devices are subject to interference. Buildings, bills and other objects produce multipath wave propagation, and communication devices and energy sources introduce noise, resulting in errors in the signals communicated between communication devices.
To reduce these errors, techniques have been developed to optimise the receive path of a communication device employing an antenna array. By varying the weight of the signals detected by each of the individual antennas in the array, it is possible to vary the antenna pattern to better detect signals from a particular direction or to arrange for non-destructive combination of multipath signals. These techniques adjust the weights of the antenna array signals to maximise the receive path gain by measuring the output of a receiver. However, the weights derived for the receive path does not provide optimum weights for the transmit path.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide improved antenna array weights for a transmitter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A communication device includes weight circuits connected between antennas of an antenna array and a transmitter. A controller is coupled to the weight circuits and controls the transmitter to transmit a reference signal through at least one of the antennas and adjusts the weight associated with the at least one of the antennas according to weight information received from another communication device whereby the transmit path can be varied according to reference signal transmitted through the at least one antenna.
Another embodiment of the invention includes a receiving communication device receiving a signal transmitted through each of a plurality of antennas in a transmitting communication device. Circuitry calculates at least one weight for the transmitter path of the other communication device from the reference signal received from each antenna. The at least one weight is communicated to the other communication device.
A method of operating the transmitting communication device is also disclosed. A method of operating the receiving communication device is also disclosed.


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