CN100438641C - External antenna for a wireless local loop system - Google Patents

External antenna for a wireless local loop system Download PDF

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Publication number
CN100438641C
CN100438641C CNB028078993A CN02807899A CN100438641C CN 100438641 C CN100438641 C CN 100438641C CN B028078993 A CNB028078993 A CN B028078993A CN 02807899 A CN02807899 A CN 02807899A CN 100438641 C CN100438641 C CN 100438641C
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CN
China
Prior art keywords
antenna
subscriber station
radio link
transmitting
link
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CNB028078993A
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Chinese (zh)
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CN1554198A (en
Inventor
弗雷德·J·海因茨曼
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Tetuo partner Co.
Quarterhill Inc
Original Assignee
Soma Networks Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US09/775,510 external-priority patent/US7031652B2/en
Application filed by Soma Networks Inc filed Critical Soma Networks Inc
Publication of CN1554198A publication Critical patent/CN1554198A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CN100438641C publication Critical patent/CN100438641C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W84/00—Network topologies
    • H04W84/02—Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
    • H04W84/10—Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
    • H04W84/14—WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
    • H01Q1/22—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
    • H01Q1/22—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
    • H01Q1/24—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set
    • H01Q1/241—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/06—Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart
    • H01Q21/061—Two dimensional planar arrays
    • H01Q21/065—Patch antenna array
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/06—Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart
    • H01Q21/20—Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart the units being spaced along or adjacent to a curvilinear path
    • H01Q21/205—Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart the units being spaced along or adjacent to a curvilinear path providing an omnidirectional coverage
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/28—Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems
    • 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
    • H01Q9/0407—Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W16/00—Network planning, e.g. coverage or traffic planning tools; Network deployment, e.g. resource partitioning or cells structures
    • H04W16/24—Cell structures

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

A wireless local loop system (fig. 1) is provided that includes a wireless base station (24) that communicates with a subscriber (44) station via a wireless link. The wireless link can carry a voice service, such as telephone calls, or a data service, such as internet browsing. The subscriber station is attached to an externally mounted steerable antenna. The antenna can be oriented in a desired direction during the transception of a voice or data service. A method of transceiving between a wireless local loop subscriber station and a wireless local loop base station is also provided.

Description

The exterior antenna of wireless local loop system
Technical field
The present invention relates to telecommunication system, relate to be used for the steerable subscriber station antenna of wireless local loop system more specifically, this antenna is installed in the outside of ustomer premises access equipment usually.
Background technology
Known have various forms of wireless communication systems.For example, the cellular radio voice service has obtained development widely now, and people's expectation has technological progress to strengthen and expansion cellular radio service and capacity.
For the wired local loop telephone service that is provided by the existing local exchange carrier that spreads all over North America and other place, wireless local loop system (WLL) system also is the feasible selection that becomes that is supposed to.The WLL system generally includes the network of wireless base station, and each base station all provides service by radio for a plurality of users.Otherwise each user has a subscriber station, and this subscriber station utilizes the service of radio communication support voice (for example, phone) and/or the data, services (for example, the Internet) with one or more base stations.
Trial has been done in the enforcement of WLL system.In a word, these systems or failure or do not obtain main breakthrough.A kind of system of failure is the IONICA that implements in Britain TMSystem.This IONICA TMIt is outside and be connected to the directional antenna of the subscriber station in the ustomer premises access equipment by cable that system's (in No. the 5952966th, the United States Patent (USP) of Smith detailed explanation being arranged) need be installed in ustomer premises access equipment.These exterior antennas need be installed by the installation personnel of specialty, and ordinary disbursements is very high, and this is towards the base station orientation that is suitable for most service-user because of IONICA system requirements user antenna.
The exterior antenna of this orientation has some extra problems, when new base station is added to network so that extra capacity to be provided, existing user need allow the installation personnel of specialty reorientate its antenna, so that the base station that user's antenna direction is new, this just makes the expense of operating system increase, and causes owing to the user will wait for the installation personnel adjustment of specialty that the user's is invalid.IONICA has been proposed TMTo the failure of small part because with the relevant problem of exterior antenna widely not.
Generally speaking, nearest WLL system still depends on directed exterior antenna.For example, by AT﹠amp; So-called " projection angle " system that T company announces just utilizes directed exterior antenna.Though these nearest systems have overcome IONICA TMSome other limitation, have the right to use those users of WLL service to be still an obstacle to the demand of the careful orientation of exterior antenna to wanting.
Steerable antenna also is known.For example, the United States Patent (USP) 4700197 of Milne has been instructed a kind of adaptive array antenna, in the portable terminal that this antenna is suitable for being used in satellite communication system is communicated by letter.A problem of the patent of Milne is that it has instructed use to need complicated control to come the parasitic antenna that surpasses a dozen of steering antenna, on the whole portable terminal has been increased extra-pay and/or complexity, made it not be suitable for usually like this and be used in the WLL system.
The United States Patent (USP) 6037905 of Koscica has been instructed a kind of steerable antenna with a plurality of radiated elements, and this radiated element is owing to have one group of diode formation that the conductor polyphone of a fraction of length of design frequency connects.In Koscica basic hypothesis behind is that radiated element (active or passive) is divided into the length of the length that is far smaller than wavelength, is that electricity sees through so that make it.Yet, if this design is used in the ordinary cellular telephones application or in the WLL system, can be because the loss that a plurality of diodes produce cause the poor performance of this antenna.
The United States Patent (USP) 6034683 of Thiel has been instructed a kind of steerable antenna that is used for mobile phone.Concrete is that Thiel has instructed the antenna of the equal unipolar component of four spacings in a kind of symmetrical matrix that has on the outer surface that is installed in the solid cylinder member.This cylinder has the high electric insulation constant, and extends from the ground level of conduction.This unipolar component can be by the switch element switch so that one or more unipolar component is effectively, other then be connected to ground as the controller F reflector of parasitism, or be left in the circuit of effective permeable opening.A problem of the patent of Thiel is that the antenna that the installation unipolar component produces in the solid cylinder member may be physically firm in the infraction of regulations operation that mobile phone can be subjected to, but is unnecessary and/or very expensive when being used for the WLL subscriber station.In addition, Thiel has instructed the switch of element, reduces the user when being placed near user's the head with convenient cell phone and is exposed to electromagnetic radiation, and this is inessential restriction in the WLL system.And Thiel has instructed the switch of driving element, but it is believed that the switch that carries out by this way in the WLL system can cause unacceptable performance loss.In a word, the arrangement of antennas in the Thiel patent and the method for switch are used for mobile application purpose, therefore are not suitable for fixing wireless application.
Be entitled as " wireless local loop antenna ", application number that the applicant submitted in United States Patent (USP) trademark office February 5 calendar year 2001 are that 09/775510 common pending application alleviates or eliminated to small part the problems referred to above, its content is comprised in this as a reference, and the application requires its priority.According to determining at specific situation row, the extra transmitting-receiving quality for the transmitting-receiving quality that can expect to obtain to provide with respect to inside antenna.Therefore need be for the WLL system provide a kind of antenna, this antenna provides improved transmitting-receiving quality, simultaneously less qualified installation person's to antenna demand.
Summary of the invention
An object of the present invention is to provide the antenna of the novelty of a kind of WLL of being used for system, this antenna is eliminated or is alleviated in the above-mentioned shortcoming of prior art at least one.
In a first aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of and between a network and a user terminal, transmitted the wireless local loop system that at least a user serves by Radio Link, described system comprises:
A base station, interconnect described network and described Radio Link, the described service of transmitting-receiving on the described Radio Link that is used in can be operated in described base station; And
A subscriber station; And
A steerable antenna, this antenna is installed to described subscriber station outside and is connected to described subscriber station by a wire link, wherein said subscriber station and described steerable antenna interconnect described user terminal and described Radio Link, and wherein said subscriber station is configured to the directed described steerable antenna of direction with the required transmitting-receiving quality with the described service on the described Radio Link, and
Wherein said steerable antenna comprises a plurality of antennas that are oriented in the sensing type of discrete fixed-direction separately, and the antenna of each described sensing type relative to each other is convertible, so that the described radio link of described antenna receiving-sending.
This user serves normally voice service (for example call) and/or data, services (for example website browsing or Email), but the service of other type also within the scope of the invention.By the same token, this network is the network corresponding to COS, for example PSTN, private switched telephone network network and/or packet data network.
This user terminal can be any terminal of operating this user's service of transmission, for example phone, computer, intelligent apparatus, personal digital assistant or similar device.
This antenna is normally electric steerable and be installed on the outside of subscriber station shell, for example is installed in the outside of ustomer premises access equipment, and comprises a plurality of antennas that are oriented at the sensing type in the sector that differs from one another.The antenna of each sensing type all be convertible in case antenna with required direction transmitting/receiving wireless current source road.
The transmitting-receiving quality can utilize any suitable tolerance to measure, for example the frame rate of signal to noise ratio, bit error rate, frame error ratio, bit rate, power level and Radio Link.Required transmitting-receiving quality can be based on need be from the orientation of the minimum emissive power level of this subscriber station.
In another aspect of this invention, provide a kind of orientation to be connected to the method for the steerable antenna at radio local loop user station, may further comprise the steps:
Whether the appropriate time of determining directed described steerable antenna arrives;
If appropriate time arrives, so at the described steerable antenna of given direct scan and in the transmitting-receiving quality of Radio Link of described given orientation survey to the base station;
Store the transmitting-receiving quality of described measurement for use subsequently;
Repeat described scanning and measuring process and described storing step, up to the discrete orientation that has scanned requirement, described Radio Link is measured and store and be used for each orientation to the transmitting-receiving quality of base station;
The transmitting-receiving quality that described storage is measured is used a choice criteria, and at least one has the orientation of required transmitting-receiving quality for user's services selection of receiving and dispatching on described Radio Link;
Come directed described antenna towards described at least one selected orientation; And
If system requirements need be changed, need not to repeat described previous steps towards another selected orientation, directed more described antenna.
According to a further aspect in the invention, the subscriber station that is used for wireless local loop system is provided, this wireless local loop system is transmitted at least a user's service between a network and the user terminal, described system comprises the base station of a described network of interconnection and described Radio Link, described base station is operable in the described service of transmitting-receiving on the described link, and described subscriber station comprises:
A microprocessor assembly, interconnect described user terminal and an adjustment demodulator, described microprocessor assembly are used to handle described user's service, and described modulator-demodulator is used for the described service of modulation and demodulation;
A wireless device is connected to described modulator-demodulator and is used to change described service and is used for receiving and dispatching on described Radio Link; And
A jockey is used for a steerable antenna is connected to described wireless device,
Wherein arrive by the reasonable time that determines whether directed described steerable antenna, described subscriber station is configured on the described Radio Link directed described steerable antenna on the direction of the required transmitting-receiving quality that obtains described service, if reasonable time arrives, then start described steerable antenna at assigned direction, and measurement is in the transmitting-receiving quality of described assigned direction Radio Link, store the transmitting-receiving quality of described measurement for use subsequently, repeating described startup and described storage is activated up to the discrete direction of requirement, the described Radio Link of each direction is measured and storage to the transmitting-receiving quality of base station, the transmitting-receiving quality that this storage is measured is used a choice criteria, and at least one has the direction of required transmitting-receiving quality for user's services selection of transmitting on Radio Link, the directed described steerable antenna of direction towards described selection, thereafter towards another selected direction, if desired by the requirement of change system, directed more described steerable antenna.
According to another aspect of the invention, provide the antenna that is used for the radio local loop user station, having comprised:
An erecting device is used for described steerable antenna is installed to the outside of ustomer premises access equipment;
A jockey, be used for described steerable antenna is connected to the wireless device of described subscriber station, described jockey transmission of control signals and wireless link signals and through-put power between described subscriber station and described antenna are used to operate the described antenna from described subscriber station;
The antenna of a plurality of sensing types, each all is that described antenna is determined a different covering fan
Select the antenna of one or more described sensing types to be used to receive and dispatch the switch of a radio link signal;
Amplification is by the low noise amplifier of the radio link signal of the antenna reception of described one or more sensing types;
The power amplifier that amplification is launched on described radio link by the antenna of described one or more sensing types from the radio signal of described subscriber station;
Adjustable attenuator of the radio link signal that decay is transmitted on described jockey;
A signal power level detector; And
A control element, can operate and be used for:
(a) between described antenna and described subscriber station, exchange the control letter by jockey
(b) separate described radio link signal from described control signal;
(c) separate described power from described antenna;
(d) in a control signal, report the power level that described signal power level detector detects and the adjusting of described scalable attenuator to described subscriber station;
(e) response is disposed described switch from the control signal that described subscriber station receives, to select one or more described sensing type antennas; And
(f) control signal that receives from described subscriber station of response is to regulate described adjustable attenuator to required level.
The invention provides a kind of antenna general, that have superperformance, this antenna can be by common user installation under the situation of the installation personnel that does not need specialty.In one embodiment, cable length and quality are compensated automatically, and independent cable transmits the radio signal between control signal, the electric power that is used for antenna and subscriber station and the antenna.In another embodiment, radio signal is by the signal of jockey transmission as intermediate frequency, and this has reduced the cable loss of signal.Uplink signal is modulated into the RF frequency that is used to launch and the RF of reception at the antenna place, down link signal sends as the IF frequency signal by demodulation and by jockey at the antenna place.
Description of drawings
A mode with example describes the preferred embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings now, wherein:
Fig. 1 has shown the schematic diagram of wireless local loop system;
Fig. 2 has shown the schematic diagram of the base station in the system among Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 has shown the schematic diagram of the subscriber station in the system among Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 has shown the perspective view of the antenna in the subscriber station among Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 has shown the front view of the antenna among Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 has shown the vertical view of the antenna among Fig. 4;
Fig. 7 has shown the schematic top plan view of the antenna among Fig. 4 between the base station of Fig. 1 and multipath object;
Fig. 8 has shown the flow chart of the antenna of application drawing 4;
Fig. 9 has shown the schematic diagram of Fig. 7, and wherein first sector in four of antenna sectors is scanned;
Figure 10 has shown the schematic diagram of Fig. 7, and wherein second sector in four of antenna sectors is scanned;
Figure 11 has shown the schematic diagram of Fig. 7, and wherein the 3rd sector in four of antenna sectors is scanned;
Figure 12 has shown the schematic diagram of Fig. 7, and wherein the 4th sector in four of antenna sectors is scanned;
Figure 13 has shown the schematic diagram of Fig. 7, and wherein two sectors in four of antenna sectors are scanned;
Figure 14 has shown the block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention; And
Figure 15 has shown the block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.
Embodiment
With reference to Fig. 1, wireless local loop system is indicated as 20.System 20 comprises a radio base station 24, and this base station is connected to communication network 28 by suitable gateway (not shown) via one or more backhauls 32.The example of network 28 comprises PSTN (PSTN) and/or packet data network, for example the Internet.Backhaul 32 can be the back haul link of any known type between radio base station 24 and network 28, for example T1, T3, OC1 or microwave link.
As below will describing in detail, system 20 can have other base station 24 as required, and the communication between a plurality of base station 24 and the subscriber station 36 can utilize known handoff technique to be managed.In addition, base station 24 can be many sectors, and each sector is determined by the antenna of sensing type, and is such as is known to persons skilled in the art.
The Radio Link 40 that is made of the different communication channel can be established between base station 24 and one or more subscriber station 36.Utilize one or more communication channels, Radio Link 40 permission information are transmitted according to required between base station 24 and subscriber station separately 36.In the present embodiment, the radio communication multiple access technology that adopts on Radio Link 40 is CDMA, yet, the technology of other type and/or agreement, for example GSM, FDMA, OFDM or TDMA are also within the scope of the invention.In the present embodiment, the data of emission are formed bag on Radio Link 40, and the enforcement/type of the packet communication that is adopted does not have specific limitation, can comprise IP (with TCP or UDP together) and/or wherein modification or any enforcement that other those skilled in the art will find apparent that.Though present embodiment is the radio communication that is used for based on numeral, be understandable that the present invention can be modified to adapt to the radio communication based on simulation, for example communication of available discovery in the analog cellular telephone network.
In this preferred embodiment, each subscriber station 36 all is installed in the ustomer premises access equipment.Yet, expect that also the present invention is moving and/or nomadic subscriber station through also being used for after the suitable modification.Each subscriber station 36 can be operationally connected to one or more voice terminals 44 (for example phone) and be used to provide voice service and be connected to one or more data terminals 48 (for example computer) so that general data, services to be provided.Therefore voice terminal 44 and its corresponding data terminal 48 can be devices separately clearly, perhaps can be to be combined into a single intelligent apparatus, the phone or any other that for example have the embedded with network browser can be operated the intelligent apparatus that is used for processed voice and data.Usually, but the voice telephone calls that the PSTN of each voice terminal 44 operational processes by network 28 partly transmits, and data terminal 48 can be operated and handled the general data that the packet switched data network by network 28 partly transmits and use.Be understandable that in other embodiments of the invention subscriber station 36 and system 20 can be modified the dissimilar service that is used to provide, voice or data, services perhaps only are provided.
Fig. 2 shows base station 24 in greater detail.Base station 24 comprises that one is used for receiving and transmitting radio communication antenna 100 by Radio Link 40.Successively, antenna 100 is connected to wireless device 104 and modulator-demodulator 108 by any suitable jockey.Modulator-demodulator 108 is connected to microprocessor-router component 112.A kind of suitable processor is the SPARC microprocessor system that Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Sun Microsystem) produces.Be appreciated that assembly 112 can comprise a plurality of microprocessors according to need.Router in microprocessor-router component 112 is connected to backhaul 32 in any suitable manner, and this backhaul is connected to network 28 with base station 24 successively by suitable gateway (not shown).Other suitable configuration of base station 24 those skilled in the art will find apparent that.
With reference to Fig. 3, shown subscriber station 36 in more detail.Subscriber station 36 is connected to steerable antenna 200 and is used for receiving and/or emission (" transmitting-receiving ") radio communication by Radio Link 40.Stand and 36 be connected the signal of this wire link transmission power supply signal, Control on Communication signal and transmitting-receiving on the Radio Link 40 between subscriber station 36 and the antenna 200 by wired link 202 with antenna 200.
Successively, wire link 202 is connected to the wireless device 204 in the subscriber station 36 and is connected to the antenna Controlling Source, and for example microprocessor-router component 212, and a power supply (not shown).Wireless device 204 is connected to modulator-demodulator 208 then, and this modulator-demodulator is connected to microprocessor-router component 212.
As will be discussed in detail below, common antenna 200 is installed in the position away from subscriber station 36.For applications, antenna 200 can be substantially perpendicular to the outside of ustomer premises access equipment, is directly installed on this equipment or is installed to the near-end of this equipment.Though do not illustrate herein, also comprise the radome of protectiveness, for example the cylinder of plastics so that protection antenna 200 is avoided the influence of weather conditions, still allows to receive and dispatch by Radio Link 40 simultaneously.Expect that also antenna 200 can be installed within the ustomer premises access equipment, for example can be installed in attic if desired.
Antenna 200 is installed any suitable mechanical hardware that those skilled in the art will find apparent that, although the part of a cover mechanical hardware preferably is provided, allows the user oneself to install under the situation that does not need the qualified installation person.
Though be not a key feature of the present invention, to install in order more to simplify, the two-conductor cable that wire link 202 is preferably independent for example is used for the coaxial cable that CATV installs.In this case, subscriber station 36 and antenna 200 be designed to power supply signal, antenna control signal and from/to the transmitting-receiving of Radio Link 40 to signal all in this coaxial cable, be transmitted with different frequencies, have suitable circuit at an end of each wire link 202 and distinguish each signal that on link 202, transmits.Yet, expect that also wire link 202 can comprise the cable that separates that is used for one or more signals.
Other element of subscriber station 36 all is housed in the chassis.For the reason of safety, this shell can be configured to these elements of restricting user access subscriber station 36.
Can comprise that for example the microprocessor assembly 212 of the StrongARM microprocessor of Intel company's production is carried out multiple function, comprise and implement the A/D-D/A conversion, speech coding decoder, filter, encoder are used to wrap the data compressor and/or the decompressor of compilation/dis-assembling.As shown in Figure 3, microprocessor assembly 212 interconnection modulator-demodulator 208 and a pair of ports 214,216.Therefore, microprocessor assembly 212 can be operated and be voice terminal 44 (being connected to port 214) processed voice service to be data terminal 48 (being connected to port 216) deal with data service.
The type that is used for the steerable antenna 200 of relevant subscriber station 36 is not particularly limited, and the antenna that is used for subscriber station 36 of present embodiment 200 is illustrated at Fig. 4-Fig. 6.Antenna 200 comprises a plurality of element 258a, 258b, 258c, and 258d.In this preferred embodiment, antenna 200 is used for the spectral range interior (being called as " PCS frequency band " herein) from about 1850 megahertzes (" MHz ") to about 1990MHz.Each element 258 is arranged by size, and is configured to respond in the PCS frequency band.More particularly, the frequency range from about 1850 megahertzes (" MHz ") to about 1910MHz is reserved and is used for being transmitted into base station 24 (that is, " up link " or " forward link ") from subscriber station 36 on link 40.Equally, frequency range from about 1930MHz to about 1990MHz is reserved as receiving from the base station 24 by link 40 to subscriber station 36 (promptly, " down link " or " anti-phase link ") emission, and remaining frequency range from about 1910MHz to about 1930MHz is as the guard band up link and the down link.Yet, be appreciated that antenna 200 can be designed to can be used for any frequency band as required, for example antenna 200 also can be constructed as and be used for operating in MMDS and/or WCS frequency band.
In the present embodiment, each element 258 is effective sensing type antennas, is directed with different directions from each other.In the embodiment of Fig. 4-6, each element 258 is directed with the direction with the 258 one-tenth an angle of 90 degrees of element that close on antenna 200, the four direction or the sector of potential covering are provided thus, and can utilize the combination of two or more a plurality of element 258 to obtain the possibility of extra mulching method.Therefore, the pedestal of each element 258 is definite by one of four limits of substrate 262 that substantially be last square tubular.Substrate 262 is hollow preferably, enough supports the aluminium of the thin dimensions of each element 258 to make with intensity, but enough gently to reduce the overall weight of antenna 200, this is to consider for example to reduce material cost, assembling is easily installed easily, and/or transportation easily.
Each element 258 is characterised in that first sub-element 264 1With second sub-element 264 2Shown in Fig. 4-6, element 258a, 258b, 258c, and 258d each all have the first sub-element 264a respectively 1, 264b 1, 264c 1, 264d 1, and the second sub-element 264a 2, 264b 2, 264c 2, 264d 2
Each sub-element 264 is characterised in that the interior inserted sheet (patch) 270 near substrate 262, and an outer inserted sheet (patch) 274.Each inserted sheet 270,274 is same octagon basically and is same size basically.Fixture and gasket assembly 276 are used to mechanically inserted sheet in each 270 and outer inserted sheet 274 are fastened to substrate 262.As shown in the figure, the first sub-element 264a 1, 264b 1, 264c 1, 264d 1Each has an interior inserted sheet 270a respectively 1, 270b 1, 270c 1, 270d 1, and an outer inserted sheet 274a 1, 274b 1, 274c 1, 274d 1Equally, the second sub-element 264a 2, 264b 2, 264c 2, 264d 2Each has an interior inserted sheet 270a respectively 2, 270b 2, 270c 2, 270d 2, and an outer inserted sheet 274a 2, 274b 2, 274c 2, 274d 2
Each element 258 also comprises and at one end track 278 is connected to the switching device 282 that is positioned at the bottom of the pipe of closing tubular substrate 262 on 286, can be best from Fig. 6 find out.Each track 278 extends to its periphery along the surface at the pipe end 286, and each track 278 extended perpendicular to the pipe end 286 herein, so that track 278 parallel extending along its element 258 separately.Can be best from Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 find out, each track 278 extends along its element 258 separately, along two interior inserted sheets 270 of the path interconnection element 258 separately of track 278.Track 278 and sub-element 264 preferably all are made of aluminum, but can use any suitable electric conducting material that is used for antenna, and for example, track 278 also can be become by the copper of suitable specification with sub-element 264.
In the present embodiment, the interior inserted sheet 270 of each track 278 and its interconnection is that impression is made or cuts down from a slice aluminium, manufacture process is simplified.The part that is parallel to the part of the track 278 that extends at the pipe end 286 and is parallel to the track 278 that its element 258 separately extends with and joint all be impedance matching, so that make the track 278 can be, and the cost and/or the complexity of antenna 200 have been reduced thus by the manufacturing of a slice aluminium.
With reference to Fig. 4 and Fig. 6, switching device 282 each track 278a of interconnection, 278b, 278c, and 278d.In the present embodiment, switching device 282 comprises four PIN diode, corresponding each track 278 of one of them PIN diode.Switching device 282 also comprises a controller component of 202 that is connected to wire link.Though (do not illustrate in the drawings, wire link 202 enters by the hollow open of tubular substrate 262 in the present embodiment, and the inside of passing substrate 262 is to terminate in the switching device 282 of pipe at the end 286.) controller components in the switching device 282 can operate the power supply of absorption by wire link 202 supplies, and can be received in control signals transmitted on the wire link 202.Controller component in the switching device 282 can be operated and be used to activate suitable substance P IN diode or diode, and activates corresponding one or more element 258 thus according to the control signal that is extracted.In addition, controller components in the switching device 282 can be operated a given element or a plurality of element 258 are transmitted into subscriber station 36 by the signal that wire link 202 receives by Radio Link 40, and the signal that receives from subscriber station 36 can be sent to a given element or a plurality of element 258 is used in Radio Link 40 emissions.
With reference to Fig. 7, show the antenna 200 between base station 24 and the multipath object 300.As shown in Figure 7, base station 24 is just at transmitting/receiving wireless link 40.(meaning of term transmitting-receiving as used herein is emission and/or receives.Yet), compared to Figure 1, because multipath object 300, Radio Link 40 is in fact with two Radio Links 40 LOSWith 40 MPAnd exist.Therefore, Radio Link 40 LOSBe the example of line (line-of-site) of a website of the Radio Link 40 between base station 24 and the antenna 200, and Radio Link 40 MPIt is the example of a multipath of the Radio Link 40 between base station 24 and the antenna 200.Multipath object 300 can be to make the multipath interference signal be present in any object between base station 24 and the antenna 200, for example tree, rock, building, wall and/or can be the object that moves, for example truck or other vehicles.
Multipath object 300 can move, and is understandable that Radio Link 40 MPCan change according to the position of object 300.In addition, be understandable that Fig. 7 is a link 40 LOSWith 40 MPThe example of simplification, can have more complicated, a plurality of multipath links 40 between base station 24 and the steerable antenna 200 MPIn addition, it will also be appreciated that subscriber station 36 can locate with respect to base station 24, so that there is not sight line (line-of-site) link 40 LOSExample be that subscriber station 36 can be used, in this case, have only one or more multipath links 40 MPBe that subscriber station 36 can be used.At last, link 40 may be subjected to producing its Transceiver Features the influence of the Rayleigh of great change (Rayleigh) decay and other phenomenon in time.Such as will be described in detail, antenna 200 can be operated to have for example two kinds of links 40 as shown in Figure 7 LOSWith 40 MPThe direction of the required transmitting-receiving quality of the service on such link 40 and being directed.
The method that is used to operate steerable antenna now with reference to the flow chart discussion shown in Fig. 8, for example antenna 200 in the WLL system.In order to help to explain this method, also with reference to aforesaid Fig. 1-7 with to the discussion of antenna 200.Start from step 400, subscriber station 36 is by normal running.Normal running can comprise any amount of state.For example, normal running can be that subscriber station 36 is started shooting, carry out the initialization sequence of installing operating system software and carry out self diagnosis, prepare to attempt utilizing from the base station 24 pilot channel or other signaling channels that are transmitted into subscriber station 36 to communicate by letter with base station 24 foundation by Radio Link 40.
Another example of normal running is that subscriber station 36 has been set up with base station 24 by Radio Link 40 and communicated by letter, subscriber station 36 may positive transmission voice terminals 44 and base station 24 between one or more voice telephone calls.Equally, subscriber station 36 may transmit one or more data, services (that is, network browsing, Email) between data terminal 48 and the base station 24.
To be subscriber station 36 set up and the communicating by letter of base station 24 by Radio Link 40 another example of normal running, but be in the idle condition that does not transmit any service.
In the example of back three kinds of normal runnings, be understandable that antenna 200 will be to be directed with a specific direction towards subscriber station 24.Those skilled in the art will find apparent that the example of other normal running of subscriber station 36.
This method advances to step 410 then, wherein it determined whether should orientation (perhaps redirecting) antenna 200 reasonable time.Can make based on any amount of standard and thisly determine that before this method advanced to step 410, these standards can reflect the state of subscriber station 36 in the normal running of step 400 usually.For example, in step 400, subscriber station 36 is just attempting to set up the initial communication with base station 24; then during this initialization; one of step 410 pre-determines that point can determine ' being ' usually, is the reasonable time of directional antenna 200 now, so that allow subscriber station 36 24 to gather desired signals from the base station.
On the contrary, when when step 400 subscriber station 36 just is being busy with utilizing the voice telephone calls of voice terminal 44, it has been generally acknowledged that this is the unsuitable time that redirects antenna from existing orientation, this is because the danger of " losing " audio call is arranged.Though (not preferred at present, being understandable that to need to redirect antenna 200 during audio call.)
In step 400, when the data, services between subscriber station 36 positive transmission data terminals 48 and the base station 24,, then may need to redirect antenna 200 in step 410 if bit rate (or tolerance of other transmitting-receiving quality) has dropped under certain threshold value.For example, when the data terminal 48 of transmitting the front and the data, services between the base station 24, subscriber station 36 can obtain higher bit rate, when yet this bit rate has dropped to the amount that is positioned at significantly under this higher bit rate when this method arrives step 410, can redirect antenna 200 to attempt to increase bit rate.It is believed that in the process of deal with data service the reasonable time that redirects antenna 200 can be arranged, this is to allow the stand-by period because of many data, services, for example network browsing and mail transfer, therefore, service can be by the brief interruption of safety, redirects the higher bit rate of acquisition so that attempt by antenna.
Equally, in step 400, when subscriber station 36 is in idle condition (, it is effective being established but not serving with communicating by letter of base station 24), subscriber station 36 can be attempted at interval redirecting himself with respect to Radio Link 40 with preset time so, with the signal of attempting to guarantee to communicate by letter and more want, especially when subscriber station 36 is noticed for Radio Link 40 in the upstream or downstream link decline of bit rate, signal to noise ratio or other transmitting-receiving quality metric with base station 24.
In step 410, other other standard that is used to determine whether to arrive the appropriate time that is used to redirect antenna 200 is that those skilled in the art expect easily and within the scope of the present invention.
Referring again to Fig. 8, in step 410, when determining not to be the reasonable time of directed (perhaps redirecting) antenna 200, then this method turns back to the step 400 that the wherein normal running of subscriber station 36 is proceeded.Yet if determine to arrive the appropriate time of directional antenna 200, this method advances to step 415.
When this method advanced to step 415 for the first time, the initial sector that antenna 200 can be directed was scanned and receives and dispatches the measurement of quality.This initial sector can be selected arbitrarily, can adopt the sector that will be scanned of solid form, can select before to provide the sector of best transmitting-receiving, perhaps can utilize any other choice criteria.When subscriber station 36 was just moving, being expected at first sector 310 that step 410 is scanned was subscriber station 36 current sectors of just using 310.
In order to explain this step and subsequent step, explain that in conjunction with the example that shows among Fig. 9-12 this method is very useful.As shown in Figure 9, suppose that first sector that is scanned is the sector 310a of counter element 258a.Configuration according to aforementioned antenna 200, by a control signal being sent to the switching device 282 that the PIN diode corresponding to element 258a is converted to effective status along wire link 202, make sector 310a be scanned, catch thus and anyly enter the signal of sector 310a and/or any uplink signal from subscriber station 36 is transmitted into sector 310a.Equally, remaining element 258b, 258c, and 252d is converted into disarmed state so that they are invalid.
After having scanned sector 310a, transmitting-receiving quality and this measurement result of measuring the Radio Link 40 among the 310a of sector are stored so that use later on.Can use any tolerance of transmitting-receiving quality.For example, can use power level, bit error rate, frame error ratio or its combination of the up link of Radio Link 40 and/or the signal to noise ratio in the down link, reception.Otherwise it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that base station 24 also can or to the suitable tolerance of subscriber station 36 report, indicate it receive a emission passing through sector 310 emissions from subscriber station 36 have how good.Like this, the measurement of transmitting-receiving above-mentioned can be carried out by subscriber station 36, base station 24 or both.
In example shown in Figure 9, the measurement of the transmitting-receiving quality in the 310a of sector will non-constant, because Radio Link 40 LOSPerhaps Radio Link 40 MPAll do not appear among the 310a of sector.Then this method advances to step 420, determines whether that in this step all sectors all have been scanned.On this aspect of this example, all sectors that are not antenna 200 all have been scanned, and this method advances to step 425 and antenna 200 advances to next sector.This advances and shows in Figure 10, and what wherein show is that sector 310d is scanned.To sector 310d scanning with 310a identical mode in sector is finished, promptly, make sector 310d be scanned by a control signal being sent to the switching device 282 that the PIN diode corresponding to element 258d is converted to effective status along wire link 202.Equally, remaining element 258a, 258c, and 252d is converted into disarmed state so that they are invalid.Like this, if any signal that enters sector 310d is hunted down and/or any uplink signal from subscriber station 36 of emission in the 310d of sector.
Then this method turns back to step 415, and the transmitting-receiving quality of sector 310d is measured and store so that use later on therein.Again, in example shown in Figure 10, the measurement of the transmitting-receiving quality in the 310d of sector will non-constant, because Radio Link 40 LOSPerhaps Radio Link 40 MPAll do not appear among the 310d of sector.
Then this method advances to step 420 once more, determines whether that all sectors all have been scanned.On this aspect of this example, two the sector 310b and the 310c of antenna 200 also are not scanned, so this method advances to step 425 and next sector is selected.This selection is shown in Figure 11, and wherein sector 310c is shown as and is scanned.To the scanning of sector 310c with the above-mentioned sector 310a mode identical with 310d finished.Then this method turns back to step 415, and is measured and store so that use later in the transmitting-receiving quality of this sector 310c.As shown in figure 11, the measurement to the transmitting-receiving quality will detect Radio Link 40 in the 310c of sector MPAppearance in the 310c of sector.Be understandable that when Radio Link 40 MPWhen being the multipath example of Radio Link 40, be unknown for subscriber station 36 these facts, this subscriber station only utilizes suitable tolerance to link 40 MPMeasure.
Then this method turns back to step 420 once more, determines whether that all sectors all have been scanned.Because the sector 310b of antenna 200 also is not scanned, so this method advances to step 425 and antenna 200 advances to this sector, as shown in figure 12, wherein sector 310b is shown as and is scanned.Scanning and the same being done of above-mentioned scanning to sector 310b to other three sectors 310.
This method turns back to step 415 now again, and is measured and store so that use later in the transmitting-receiving quality of this sector 310b.Continue with the example that is presented among Figure 12, the measurement to the transmitting-receiving quality in the 310b of sector will detect Radio Link 40 LOSAppearance in the 310b of sector.Be understandable that when Radio Link 40 LOSWhen being the example of sight line of Radio Link 40, be unknown for subscriber station 36 these facts, this subscriber station only utilizes required tolerance to link 40 MPMeasure.
Then this method turns back to step 420 once more, determines whether that all sectors all have been scanned.Specifically, determine all sector 310a, 310b, 310c and 310d have been scanned, and corresponding, this method advances to step 430.
In step 430, antenna 200 is directed with required direction.Orientation is utilized and to be considered that the standard of the transmitting-receiving mass measurement of carrying out in step 415 carries out.The simplest choice criteria only selects to have the sector 310 of best transmitting-receiving quality, for example, measures according to signal to noise ratio (snr) when the transmitting-receiving quality, then selects to have the sector of the highest SNR.According at the example shown in Fig. 9-12, (that is, Radio Link 40 because sector 310b has caught Radio Link 40 LOS) sight line (line-of-sight) example, can have the highest SNR so it has been generally acknowledged that sector 310b shown in Figure 12.
Yet, can use any choice criteria, and as other multipath object 300, when not having line-of-sight link to exist, and/or when having a plurality of base stations 24 and extra subscriber station 36 all to attempt transferring voice and/or data, services, it is more complicated that this standard can become.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that the up link of link 40 and the transmitting-receiving quality between the down link can change under complicated situation more.For example, in cdma system, a kind of choice criteria that is used for up link can be to select any one to allow subscriber station 36 with the sector 310 of minimum possible transmitting power operation (perhaps, in other words, orientation), reduces thus and the interference that closes on subscriber station 36.For example at subscriber station 36 by 40 of the links base station 24 that uploads data, and when not utilizing the down link of link 40, this standard is effective, yet, when the down link of link 40 and up link all are utilized, can select more complicated standard to come the action required function of acquisition system 20.
After having selected required sector 310 for antenna 200, by sending a control signal to switching device 282 along wire link 202, suitable sector 310b is scanned, wherein this switching device is transformed into effective status with the PIN diode of counter element 258b, catches thus anyly to enter the signal of sector 310b and/or launch any uplink signal from sector 310b.Equally, remaining element 258a, 258c, and 252d is converted into disarmed state, thus make it invalid.
In this, this method turns back to step 400, and wherein the normal running of subscriber station 36 is proceeded.Step 400-430 is repeated, so that antenna 200 is repositioned onto the direction that the required operation of optimum and/or subscriber station 36 is provided, perhaps be interrupted, cause the multipath object 300 that link 40 interrupts to stop by subscriber station 36, base station 24 or some up to link 40.
Though the embodiment that discuss in this place is a particular implementation of the present invention, be understandable that the combination of these enforcements, subclass and variation are all within the scope of the present invention.For example, the embodiment of expection Fig. 4-6 can be changed, so that one or more element 258 can be activated simultaneously.Under the situation of subsidiary antenna 400 in the point of link 40 between two elements 258, this can become very favourable, needs to activate two elements that close on 258 in this case and catches link 40.This situation is described in Figure 13, and wherein sector 310ab is shown as by active element 258a and element 258b and is scanned.
In addition, though the embodiment shown in Fig. 4-6 is the radio communication that is used for the PCS frequency band, be understandable that the embodiment that discusses in this place also can be modified and be used for other bandwidth, and this modification within the scope of the present invention.
In addition, though each element 258 of the antenna 200 among the embodiment that discuss in this place with a PIN diode by switch, this switch also can otherwise be realized, for example by using GaAs FETs.
Though the foregoing description relates to a present embodiment that is used for the steerable antenna at radio local loop user station 36, but but the steerable antenna combining wireless local loop user station 36 that is understandable that other type is used, and these other types also within the scope of the invention.
Expection the present invention can comprise a plurality of steerable antennas that are connected to subscriber station 36.For example, a steerable antenna is used in uplink transmit, and another antenna is used in the down link reception, and each antenna can be directed with different directions according to the launch mass of up link and the quality of reception of down link thus.In addition, utilize the variation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4-6, under the situation of provable the most suitable each link of different directions, an element 258 can be activated for up link, and another is activated for down link.For example, this can occur in the system with a plurality of base stations, and 258 towards base stations 24 of one of them element are directed, and another element is directed towards another base station 24.In this case, utilize two base stations 24 can finish transmitting-receiving.
In addition, be understandable that and work as subscriber station 36 under the situation within the scope of two or more base stations that then the present invention can be used to allow subscriber station 36 to handle its antennas to the available signal that needs most from one of these base stations.Above-mentioned aspect of the present invention can be utilized with the handoff technique of soft handover or other type.
Expect that also the present invention can provide the one or more steerable antennas that can handle on a plurality of planes with being modified to the radio local loop user station: for example, in horizontal plane and vertical plane, can handle, so that allow antenna to be directed to obtain required transmitting-receiving quality at horizontal plane and vertical plane.
The configuration of each element 258 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4-6 can be described to two coupling patch antennas.Yet, be understandable that each element 258 can dispose difference according to antenna 200 required characteristics.For example, in the present embodiment, each outer inserted sheet 274 is as parasitic antenna with respect to the interior inserted sheet 270 of correspondence, the whole thus overall performance that has improved on the PCS frequency band.Yet, be understandable that whether use this parasitic antenna to select.In addition, with respect to using a sub-element 264, the rise surface of using two sub-elements 264 that particular element 258 is operated therein in vertical plane narrows down.Therefore, can select the extra or less sub-element 264 in level or vertical plane no matter to provide each element 258 required aperture.For example, another embodiment of antenna 200 can be that each element 258 has an independent sub-element 264, so that reduce the vertical dimension of antenna 500, though may be cost with the performance of antenna 200.
In addition, though the embodiment shown in Fig. 4-6 has four elements 258, antenna 200 can have more or less element 258 according to need.Will also be appreciated that the element 258 that also can utilize other type.For example, element 258 among the embodiment that discuss in this place is actually four independent sensing type antennas, but also can be to have only an effective antenna element in other embodiments, have a plurality of parasitic antennas that are switched on or disconnect, so that the influence radio signal relevant with this active component.
In addition, the present invention is except the radio local loop user station with outside steerable antenna in expection, can also be as complete equipment, as instructing in the above-mentioned common pending application.In this case, the connection that in subscriber station 36, will provide extra circuit to adapt to the exterior antenna 200 shown in Fig. 4-6, thus allow subscriber station 36 use it self, switch between the similar outside steerable antenna 200 inner or that discuss in this place.
Figure 14 has shown the block diagram according to another embodiment of antenna 500 of the present invention.This embodiment purpose is an option that is used for Standard User station 36.In this case, if subscriber station 36 can not utilize the antenna acceptable operation in its housing, then can adopt antenna 500.For the ease of installing and improving installation flexibility, the wire link 202 that antenna 500 is installed by the such user's shell of for example RG6 coaxial cable is connected to subscriber station 36.In order to adapt to a series of possible installation configurations, the length of wire link 202 is variable, and the length of wire link 202 can reach 45 meters in the present embodiment.Unfortunately, the such reasonable price of RG6 and/or be used for the cable that user oneself installs easily and have serious line loss (being expressed as 504) at Figure 14.For example, for RG6 cable, can experience the loss of 15db through the signal of 45 meters long RG6 cables at the PCS frequency band of frequency from about 1.8GHz to about 2.0GHz.The purpose of antenna 500 is losses of the signal in the compensation wire link 202.
Particularly, antenna 500 comprises an above-mentioned switching device 282, and a controller component 508.As controller component in the above-described embodiments, controller component 508 is operable in and extracts and/or insert control signal and radio signal on the wire link 202, and draws the power supply 512 that is fed to antenna 500 from wire link 202.Power supply 512 is conditioned and is set to the required proper level of various elements of antenna 500, for example low noise amplifier (LNA) 516 and power amplifier 520.
Radio signal path from wire link 202 two-way extend through controller component 508, staged attenuator 524, power level detector 528 and one first antenna multicoupler 532.First antenna multicoupler 532 offers power amplifier 520 with two-way being sent on the radio path and with uplink signal of downlink radio signal that LNA 516 amplifies.From switching device 282 two-way LNA of being sent to 516 and the two-way switching device 282 that is sent to of output uplink signal that power amplifier 520 is amplified, this switching device is connected at least one element 258 again to finish radio path to second antenna multicoupler 536 with down link signal.
Controller component 508 provides control signal 540 to offer switching device 282 to staged attenuator 540 and with a control signal 544.Controller component 508 responses are passed through the control signal of wire link 202 from subscriber station 36 by the control signal 548 and the response of 528 outputs of power level detector.
The gain of the output of LNA 516 and power amplifier 520 is selected, supposes that the cable loss 504 of wire link 202 is in the maximum loss that allows.In current enforcement of the present invention, the loss that this maximum allows is 15db.Such as described in more detail below, controller component 508 control staged attenuators 524 are total up to 15db with the combining of decay of guaranteeing actual cable loss 504 and staged attenuator 524.Like this, if the length that the length that adopts better (less loss) cable to be used for the cable extension of wire link 202 and/or wire link 202 allows less than maximum, staged attenuator 524 will be set to provide the decay except cable loss 504, so that enter the specification that signal that the amplitude of the signal of subscriber station 36 is no more than the desired value of design and is applied to power amplifier 520 also is no more than design.
The configuration and the operation of antenna 500 are described now.When subscriber station 36 starts, it determines whether to be connected to antenna 500, and antenna 500 is selected to be used for radio adaptation by subscriber station 36 in this case.If do not detect antenna 500, then subscriber station 36 will be given tacit consent to its inside antenna of use.
The appearance of exploring antenna 500 is carried out by subscriber station 36, supposes that antenna 500 is connected to it and sends a request signal to it by wire link 202.If antenna 500 is connected to subscriber station 36, controller component 508 will extract this request signal, this request signal is the control signal of determining that it can be discerned, and will send an answer signal to subscriber station 36 by wire link 202, this answer signal comprises for example model or other identifier.If subscriber station 36 does not receive a suitable answer message in the maximum time period of a definition, for example because wire link 202 and antenna 500 do not occur, it will give tacit consent to its inside antenna of use.
Yet if subscriber station 36 has received required answer in the relevant time period, next it can continue to carry out cable loss and measure.Particularly, send a control signal and 508 receptions of this control signal controlled device element by wire link 202, this controller component converts the amplifiers (that is, LNA 516 and power amplifier 520) in the antenna 500 to the OFF state.Next, a signal is sent to controller component 508 so that staged attenuator 524 is set to the maximum attenuation amount by subscriber station 36.In present embodiment of the present invention, staged attenuator 524 can provide 0 to 15db decay, and its ladder is 1db.
Next, subscriber station 36 sends the signal of a known power to antenna 500 by wire link 202.As conspicuous to those skilled in the art, this signal should carefully be selected, and consider the RMS transmit power level of homophase and orthogonal signalling, and also will consider the temperature of radio component usually to a certain extent.It is desirable to, this signal is launched by the mid point of wire link 202 with the frequency range of predetermined up link and down link, so that the feature of its performance cable loss 504 under relevant operating condition.
At antenna 500 places, the signal of being launched by subscriber station 36 is received.Controller component 508 is noted the control signal 548 of being exported to it by power level detector 528, the power level of the signal of this detector after performance cable loss 504 and the 524 combination decay of staged attenuator.This power level that is detected is sent back to subscriber station 36 with the Set For Current of staged attenuator 524 by wire link 202, if and the power level that detects is within the tolerance of selecting for the complete attenuation of cable loss 504 and staged attenuator 524, then as described below, process finishes.If the power level that detects is lower than required level, subscriber station 36 signaling controller components 508, so that staged attenuator 524 is set to ensuing low Reduction Level, and this process repetition, up to detecting required power level at power detector 528 places.
In case required power level is detected at power detector 528 places and to subscriber station 36 reports, subscriber station 36 just can begin normal operation.Send a signal to controller component 508 by wire link 202 from subscriber station 36, controller 508 with the amplifier in the antenna 500 (for example passes through, LNA 516 and power amplifier 520) place the ON state, comprise that then the normal running of above-mentioned manipulation process has just begun.
The above-mentioned particular design and the element that it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiment that is used for Figure 14 have been selected for reduction manufacturing cost and/or complexity, and rational performance level is provided simultaneously.Yet under the situation that does not depart from essence of the present invention, in the range of balance of obvious cost and performance, expection also can be adopted other configuration and element.
In some cases, especially when higher frequency of operation, be difficult to the compensating cable loss.In this case, expection with send by wire link 202 RF (radio frequency) signals opposite be, will send IF (intermediate frequency) signal, this is will be much smaller and can ignore to a great extent because of the decay of sort signal by cable loss 504.Figure 15 has shown another embodiment of antenna 600, with top corresponding to Figure 14 discuss similar.In Figure 15, represent with identical label with the embodiment components identical of Figure 14.
As shown in the figure, when the IF frequency signal is sent out by wire link 202, antenna 600 comprises a modulator 576 (be used for and will be modulated to required RF frequency from the IF signal that subscriber station 36 receives) and a demodulator 580 (being used for being transferred to the IF frequency that will send to subscriber station 36 by wire link 202 with separating at the RF signal of element 258 places reception).Local reference oscillator signal 584 of expection will be provided for antenna 500 from subscriber station 36 by wire link 202 at present, and will offer modulator and demodulator from its frequency separately of using reference signal 584 local oscillators 590.Because it is very low to be used for the cable loss 504 of this IF frequency signal, do not need attenuator among this embodiment, this is because minimum cable loss has been adopted in this design.For antenna 600, when subscriber station 36 is started working, antenna 600 sends the response of the interrogation signal that subscriber station 36 is sent identification aerial 600 is adopted the IF frequency on wire link 202, so subscriber station 36 is not carried out signal power level assessment and its attenuator settings step to antenna 500 execution.
Though discussion herein is primarily aimed at the fixing subscriber station in the wireless local loop system, but be appreciated that, by provide with these dynamically or mobile subscriber station be connected to device in the steerable exterior antenna, the present invention also can be applied to the dynamic or mobile subscriber station in more traditional radio telephone and/or the internet system, as above-mentioned exemplary embodiment instructs.
The invention provides a kind of antenna that is used for the novelty of wireless local loop system.The invention provides and a kind of the space diversity is increased to the base station in the wireless local loop and the steerable antenna of the radio link between the subscriber station.Preferably, this antenna is in the outside of the ustomer premises access equipment of subscriber station, but the steerable characteristic of this antenna can reduce or eliminate the requirement that specialty is installed, and it is desired that this specialty is installed the exterior antenna of the prior art in the existing wireless local loop system.In addition, when new base station was added in the wireless local loop system, perhaps when occurring producing the new construction of unacceptable multipath interference, the present invention need not reinstalling the specialty of this antenna.In addition, because the direction of antenna can change dynamically, the present invention allows according to the system requirements that changes antenna to be redirected.For example, when providing the bit rate emission, the first direction of antenna is higher than second direction, when this second direction provided the bit rate that is higher than this first direction to receive, then antenna can change between this both direction, and this will mainly be busy with uplink transmit according to subscriber station still is that down link receives.In addition, when the use of omnidirectional antenna can be placed in the place that is subjected to from the destructive interference of multipath, the present invention allowed antenna to be redirected, so that the influence of this destructive interference is minimized.In addition, as instructing in the specific embodiment of the present invention, use two steerable antennas, one is used to launch one and is used for receiving, and can allow each antenna to be directed with different directions, so that obtain the required launch mass and the quality of reception respectively.
At last, the invention provides the system and method that antenna with superperformance can be mounted, this installation does not need the installation personnel of specialty, and will with subscriber station 36 self-configurings himself.Avoided requirement by automatic compensating cable loss to the cable of costliness and/or fixing cable length.
The above embodiment of the present invention is an example of the present invention, by those skilled in the art it is changed under the situation that does not depart from the scope of the present invention that claims determine and revises.

Claims (29)

1. wireless local loop system by at least a user's service of Radio Link transmission between a network and user terminal, described system comprises:
A base station, interconnect described network and described Radio Link, described base station is operable in the described service of transmitting-receiving on the described Radio Link; And
A subscriber station; And
A steerable antenna, this antenna is installed to described subscriber station outside and is connected to described subscriber station by a wire link, wherein said subscriber station and described steerable antenna interconnect described user terminal and described Radio Link, and wherein said subscriber station is configured to the directed described steerable antenna of direction with the required transmitting-receiving quality with the described service on the described Radio Link, and
Wherein said steerable antenna comprises a plurality of antennas that are oriented in the sensing type of discrete fixed-direction separately, and the antenna of each described sensing type relative to each other is convertible, so that the described radio link of described antenna receiving-sending.
2. wireless local loop system according to claim 1, wherein said user's service comprises that voice service, described user terminal are that voice terminal and described network comprise PSTN.
3. wireless local loop system according to claim 1, wherein said user's service comprises that data, services, described user terminal are that data terminal and described network comprise the Internet.
4. wireless local loop system according to claim 1, wherein said Radio Link adopt CDMA as the multiple access technology.
5. wireless local loop system according to claim 1, wherein said steerable antenna are can be motoroperated.
6. wireless local loop system according to claim 1, wherein said steerable antenna comprises the antenna of four described sensing types, the antenna of each sensing type is positioned at the position of an angle of 90 degrees of other sensing type antenna relatively.
7. wireless local loop system according to claim 6, wherein said sensing type antenna have the inserted sheet configuration of coupling.
8. wireless local loop system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting-receiving quality utilize at least a tolerance in signal to noise ratio, bit error rate, frame error ratio, bit rate, power level and the frame rate of described link and are measured.
9. wireless local loop system according to claim 1, wherein said required transmitting-receiving quality is based on need be from the orientation of the described antenna of the lowest transmit power level of described antenna.
10. wireless local loop system according to claim 1, a uplink portion that is selected for described link in the antenna of wherein said sensing type, in the antenna of described sensing type another is selected for the down link of described link, and each in the antenna of described sensing type all is to select according to the required launch mass of described up link and the required quality of reception of described down link.
11. wireless local loop system according to claim 1, wherein said subscriber station comprise at least one orientable steerable antenna in level and vertical plane.
12. wireless local loop system according to claim 7, in the wherein said sensing type antenna each comprise one be basically octagonal outer inserted sheet and one be basically octagonal in inserted sheet, described outer inserted sheet is as the parasitic antenna of the described interior inserted sheet of its correspondence.
13. wireless local loop system according to claim 1, wherein said Radio Link also transmit the power of the described antenna of arrival and the control signal between described antenna and the described subscriber station.
14. an orientation is connected to the method for the steerable antenna at the radio local loop user station in the wireless local loop system, comprises step:
Whether the appropriate time of determining directed described steerable antenna arrives;
If appropriate time arrives, so at the described steerable antenna of given direct scan and in the transmitting-receiving quality of Radio Link of described given orientation survey to the base station;
Store the transmitting-receiving quality of described measurement for use subsequently;
Repeat described scanning and measuring process and described storing step, up to the discrete orientation that has scanned requirement, described Radio Link is measured and store and be used for each orientation to the transmitting-receiving quality of base station;
The transmitting-receiving quality that described storage is measured is used a choice criteria, and at least one has the orientation of required transmitting-receiving quality for user's services selection of receiving and dispatching on described Radio Link;
Come directed described antenna towards described at least one selected orientation; And
If system requirements need be changed, need not to repeat described previous steps towards another selected orientation, directed more described antenna.
15. according to the described method of claim 14, wherein each described orientation is the sector of a circle.
The quantity of whole orientations that 16. method according to claim 14, the orientation of wherein said requirement are described steerable antennas can be directed.
17. method according to claim 14 wherein on the predetermined point in the communication initialization process on the described Radio Link between described subscriber station and base station, arrives described reasonable time.
18. method according to claim 14 determines whether that wherein a standard that described reasonable time has arrived is the type of the service transmitted on described Radio Link.
19. method according to claim 18 if the transmitting-receiving quality that data, services that wherein described service is the tolerable time lag and subscriber station are known Radio Link is reduced to predetermined threshold value, has just arrived described reasonable time.
20. method according to claim 17, wherein determine whether a standard that described reasonable time arrived whether described subscriber station be in that idle condition and subscriber station know that the transmitting-receiving quality of Radio Link descends or be over and done with at interval by last directed back preset time from described steerable antenna.
21. method according to claim 14, wherein said transmitting-receiving quality are utilized at least a tolerance in signal to noise ratio, bit error rate, frame error ratio, bit rate, power level and the frame rate of described link and are measured.
22. method according to claim 14, wherein said link adopt CDMA as the multiple access technology, described required transmitting-receiving quality is based on need be from an orientation in the described orientation of the lowest transmit power of described subscriber station.
23. be used for the subscriber station of wireless local loop system, this wireless local loop system is transmitted at least a user's service between a network and the user terminal, described system comprises the base station of a described network of interconnection and described Radio Link, described base station is operable in the described service of transmitting-receiving on the described link, and described subscriber station comprises:
A microprocessor assembly, interconnect described user terminal and a modulator-demodulator, described microprocessor assembly are used to handle described user's service, and described modulator-demodulator is used for the described service of modulation and demodulation;
A wireless device is connected to described modulator-demodulator and is used to change be used for the described service of receiving and dispatching on described Radio Link; And
A jockey is used for a steerable antenna is connected to described wireless device,
Wherein arrive by the reasonable time that determines whether directed described steerable antenna, described subscriber station is configured on the described Radio Link directed described steerable antenna on the direction of the required transmitting-receiving quality that obtains described service, if reasonable time arrives, then start described steerable antenna at assigned direction, and measurement is in the transmitting-receiving quality of described assigned direction Radio Link, store the transmitting-receiving quality of described measurement for use subsequently, repeating described startup and described storage is activated up to the discrete direction of requirement, the described Radio Link of each direction is measured and storage to the transmitting-receiving quality of base station, the transmitting-receiving quality that this storage is measured is used a choice criteria, and at least one has the direction of required transmitting-receiving quality for user's services selection of transmitting on Radio Link, the directed described steerable antenna of direction towards described selection, thereafter towards another selected direction, if desired by the requirement of change system, directed more described steerable antenna.
24. subscriber station according to claim 23, wherein said user's service comprises voice service, and described user terminal is a voice terminal, and described network comprises PSTN.
25. subscriber station according to claim 23, wherein said user's service comprises that data, services, described user terminal are that data terminal and described network comprise the Internet.
26. subscriber station according to claim 23, wherein said Radio Link adopt CDMA as the multiple access technology.
27. subscriber station according to claim 23, wherein said steerable antenna are electric steerable.
28. be used for the steerable antenna at radio local loop user station, comprise:
An erecting device is used for described steerable antenna is installed to the outside of ustomer premises access equipment;
A jockey, be used for described steerable antenna is connected to the wireless device of described subscriber station, described jockey transmission of control signals and radio link signal and through-put power between described subscriber station and described steerable antenna are used to operate the described steerable antenna from described subscriber station;
A plurality of sensing type antennas, each all is that described steerable antenna is determined a different coverage sector;
Select one or more described sensing type antennas to be used for the conversion equipment of transmitting/receiving wireless current source road signal;
Amplification is by the low noise amplifier of the radio link signal of described one or more sensing type antennas receptions;
The power amplifier that amplification is launched on described radio link by described one or more sensing type antennas from the radio signal of described subscriber station wireless device;
Adjustable attenuator of the radio link signal that on described jockey, transmits of being used to decay;
A signal power level detector; And
A control element, can operate and be used for:
(a) between described antenna and described subscriber station, exchange control signal by described jockey;
(b) separate described radio link signal from described control signal;
(c) separate described power for described antenna;
(d) in a control signal, report the power level that described signal power level detector detects and the adjusting of described scalable attenuator to described subscriber station;
(e) response is disposed described conversion equipment to select one or more described sensing type antennas from the control signal that described subscriber station receives; And
(f) control signal that receives from described subscriber station of response is to be adjusted to a required level with described adjustable attenuator.
29. antenna according to claim 28, the described radio link signal that wherein transmits on described electrical connector also comprises with the frequency transmission of centre:
A modulator is used for the described radio link signal from described electrical connector is modulated to the required radio frequency that is used for from described antenna emission; And
A demodulator is used for the radio link signal that is received by described antenna separated and is transferred to a required intermediate frequency is used for being transmitted into described subscriber station on described jockey.
CNB028078993A 2001-02-05 2002-02-01 External antenna for a wireless local loop system Expired - Fee Related CN100438641C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/775,510 2001-02-05
US09/775,510 US7031652B2 (en) 2001-02-05 2001-02-05 Wireless local loop antenna
US29068201P 2001-03-15 2001-03-15
US60/290,682 2001-03-15
US88992701A 2001-07-09 2001-07-09
US09/889,927 2001-07-09

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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CA2471303A1 (en) * 2001-02-05 2002-08-15 Soma Networks, Inc. External antenna for a wireless local loop system
US20030214438A1 (en) * 2002-05-20 2003-11-20 Hatch Robert Jason Broadband I-slot microstrip patch antenna

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CA2471303A1 (en) 2002-08-15
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EP1362488A4 (en) 2004-06-23

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