Patent Grant
7538740
The present invention relates to radio-frequency (RF) communications and, more particularly, to radio wave antennas.
Various advances in commercial wireless and networking technologies have enabled the support of voice and high-speed data services to wireless unit end users, e.g., those using mobile phones, wireless personal digital assistants (PDA's), or the like. As third generation wireless packet data networks have evolved to support a wide range of multimedia and other high-speed data services, packet data voice services have become a viable alternative or replacement for traditional circuit switched voice communications. Because of the increased demand for wireless communications generally, and especially in terms of high-speed data transfer, service providers have sought to increase network capacity. However, supporting the need for increased capacity can negatively affect quality of service, particularly if no special attempt is made to address this need. For example, signal distortion resulting from co-channel interference may increase as channel load increases.
In a simple wireless system, a transceiver for receiving and transmitting RF signals is provided with a single transmit/receive antenna element, and possibly a second antenna element to provide reception diversity. To improve quality and/or increase capacity in a wireless network, more complex antenna systems may be used instead, e.g., an antenna array. An antenna array is a group of spatially distributed antennas/RF sensors, wherein the output of the antenna array is obtained by properly combining each antenna output by way of a weighting network, a beamforming network, or the like. An antenna array can reduce signal interference, increase effective received signal energy, and/or boost the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (“SINR”) according to the signal arrival angles and/or directions of arrival. One type of antenna array is the adaptive antenna array or so-called “smart antenna.” An adaptive antenna array is an antenna array that continuously adjusts its own pattern by means of feedback control. Typical adaptive antenna arrays have the same architecture for the forward link and reverse link channels. With a limitation on the number of RF feed cables per base station, this results in a maximum of four co-polarized columns, two dual-polarized columns, or three columns of one polarization and one column of the other polarization. This leads to a suboptimal performance in suburban or light urban environments across the reverse link and/or the forward link, depending on the configuration choice.
To explain further, in modern wireless systems one of the most severe limitations imposed on adaptive antenna arrays is the number of RF feed cables per base station. Since tower top transceiver electronics are uncommon, antennas are typically connected to the base station electronics (e.g., housed at ground level in a building or cabinet) by way of large-diameter, low-loss RF feed cables. The cables impose significant weight and wind loading on the base station tower, and their maximum number is typically restricted to 4 per sector or 12 per cell. (A cell is a geographic area served by a base station, and a sector is a portion or subsection of that geographic area, e.g., a 60° or 120° “slice” of a cell.) Base station architectures are typically designed accordingly, to support a maximum of 12 cables per cell. Under this limitation, current adaptive antenna arrays typically have one of the following three architectures: a 4-column, single polarization array; a 2-column, dual polarization array; or a 4-column array with three columns at one polarization and a fourth column of orthogonal polarization. Antenna configuration remains the same for both uplink and downlink.
Each of the three array configurations has certain disadvantages in suburban or light urban environments. A 4-column, single polarization array provides the highest possible gain over the forward link (e.g., the RF channel for transmissions from base station to wireless unit), with either fixed beamforming or a per-user steered beam solution. On the reverse link, however, due to the high degree of correlation between signals received at four closely spaced antennas, only aperture gain is available. Diversity reception gain is very small or nonexistent, possibly resulting in a significantly smaller gain over the reverse link when compared to a non-adaptive antenna configuration of the typical cell site, which may have a single antenna column for transmissions and a pair of diverse antenna columns for reception. A 2-column, dual polarization array provides high gain, including both diversity (polarization) and aperture gain over the reverse link, due to uncorrelated signals received at two orthogonally polarized pairs of antennas. Over the forward link, a combination of beamforming and transmission diversity is used, however, which may result in gain values lower than in a 4-column, single polarization array as other forms of diversity exist in modern cellular systems. A 4-column, “3/1” polarization array is a compromise, providing performance similar to a 2-column, dual polarization array.
An embodiment of an antenna array system useful for “3-G” (third generation) and similar wireless communication protocols such as UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) and 1x-EVDO (Evolution Data Optimized or Evolution Data Only), among others, includes a plurality of spaced-apart antennas, e.g., antenna columns. A first group of the antennas is configured for transmission beamforming over a first bandwidth, e.g., a forward link. By “group,” it is meant two or more of the plurality of antennas. A second group of the antennas is configured for simultaneous diversity reception over a second bandwidth, e.g., a reverse link. The first and second groups are at least partly co-extensive, by which it is meant that one or more of the plurality of antennas are common to both groups. In other words, at least one of the antennas is used for both transmission and reception.
In another embodiment, the antenna array system includes four spaced-apart antennas. At least two of the antennas are dual-polarized antennas. The other antennas are configured as single-polarized antennas. The antenna array may be used for forward link beam forming (directional reception and transmission) over all four of the antennas at a first polarization, and additionally for diversity reception at the dual-polarized antennas at the first polarization and a second polarization. Thus, the antenna array system provides a four-antenna, single-polarized array for forward link beamforming and a two-antenna, dual-polarized array for reverse link 4-branch diversity reception simultaneously.
Collectively, the antennas have at least six ports, e.g., two each for the dual-polarized antennas and one active port for each of the single-polarized antennas. In another embodiment, a duplexer unit is connected to one or more of the antennas. (By “duplexer unit” it is meant one or more duplexer circuits, which may be housed together or separately.) The duplexer unit reduces the number of RF feed cable outlets of the antenna array from six to four, enabling the antenna array to be connected to a base station unit (e.g., base station controller or other electronics) by way of four RF feed cables. If the system includes more than four antennas in the first group, the duplexer unit may be used to reduce the number of feed cable outlets to no more than the number of antennas in the first group.
In another embodiment, the antenna array system comprises four closely spaced, linearly or circularly arranged, dual-polarized antennas. Spacing between neighboring antennas is about ½λ, where λ is the free space wavelength at a designated carrier frequency. Each antenna is a vertical linear array of dual-polarized radiating elements or groups of elements (sub-arrays), having two independent ports. In other words, each antenna includes a first array of radiating elements oriented at one polarization (e.g., vertical/horizontal, or +45°/−45° (“slant 45°”)) and connected to a first port, and a second array of radiating elements oriented at another polarization and connected to a second port. This makes for a total number of eight antenna ports for the array. Array ports are connected with four RF feed cables using duplexers in such a way so as to provide two different antenna configurations for forward link and reverse link frequencies, namely, a four-antenna closely spaced beam-forming array at the forward link and a two-antenna dual-polarized array at the reverse link for 4-branch diversity reception.
In another embodiment, the four antennas are linearly arranged. The two center antennas are dual-polarized antennas for both transmission and diversity reception. The outer two antennas are configured for single-polarized use in beamforming transmissions. Thus, the outer antennas may be either single-polarized antennas (e.g., an antenna column having an array of radiating elements each oriented at a selected polarization), or dual-polarized antennas where one of the arrays of radiating elements is terminated. This might be useful for mitigating signal pattern asymmetry.
In another embodiment, at least one of the antennas in the second group is spaced apart from the first group and the other antennas in the second group, by a distance adapted for spatial diversity reception of signals over the reverse link. In other words, the second group includes one or more antennas co-extensive with the first group, and one or more additional antennas spaced apart by a distance suitable for spatial diversity reception. The distance is chosen based on the environment in which the antenna system is used, for achieving acceptable diversity reception performance.
The present invention will be better understood from reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein below:
With reference to
As noted above, the antenna array 10 will typically be used for transmitting and receiving RF signals in a wireless communication network, such as a cellular network configured for carrying out wireless communications between various wireless units 40 and one or more fixed base stations 42 across a particular geographic area. The antenna array 10 may be used on different types of such networks, for example, a CDMA-based 1x-EVDO communications network. (1x-EVDO is an implementation of the CDMA2000® “3-G” mobile telecommunications protocol/specification configured for the high-speed wireless transmission of both voice and non-voice data.) The wireless units 40 may include, for example, mobile phones, wireless PDA's, wireless devices with high-speed data transfer capabilities, such as those compliant with “3-G” or “4-G” standards, “WiFi”-equipped computer terminals, and the like. The base station 42 is provided with a base station controller 44, which includes various transceivers and other electronics for radio communications with the wireless units 40. The base station 42 will typically be connected by way of a high-speed land line to a radio network controller and/or mobile switching center (not shown), which coordinates data transfer between the network's various base stations and the rest of the network. For example, the network may further include a core packet data network (e.g., a private IP network and/or the Internet) and/or connectivity to a public switched telephone network.
For conducting wireless communications between the base station 42 and the wireless units 40, the network may utilize a CDMA (code division multiple access) spread-spectrum multiplexing scheme. In CDMA-based networks, transmissions from wireless units to base stations are across a single frequency bandwidth known as the reverse link 30, e.g., a 1.25 MHz bandwidth centered at a first designated frequency. Generally, each wireless unit 40 is allocated the entire bandwidth all the time, with the signals from individual wireless units being differentiated from one another using an encoding scheme. Transmissions from base stations to wireless units are across a similar frequency bandwidth (e.g., 1.25 MHz centered at a second designated frequency) known as the forward link 28. The forward and reverse links may each comprise a number of traffic channels and signaling or control channels, the former primarily for carrying voice data, and the latter primarily for carrying the control, synchronization, and other signals required for implementing CDMA communications. The network may be geographically divided into contiguous cells, each serviced by a base station, and/or into sectors, which are portions of a cell typically serviced by different antennae/receivers supported by a single base station.
As should be appreciated, the antenna array of the present invention may be used for carrying out wireless communications in different types of communication systems, and is particularly well suited for use in FDD (frequency division duplex) communications. FDD is a technique in which one frequency or frequency band is used to transmit and another is used to receive. For example, as described above, CDMA is a type of FDD communications. Thus, the antenna array is not limited for use with one particular type or configuration of communication network or communication protocol implemented thereon, whether it be current, proposed, or developed in the future. For example, the antenna array may be used with 1x-EVDO networks, UMTS networks, OFDMA (orthogonal frequency division multiple access)-based networks, WiMAX systems, LTE systems, EVDO Rev. C, and the like.
As illustrated in
The dual-polarized antenna columns 12b, 12c radiate at two orthogonal polarizations such as vertical/horizontal or slant 45°. Each antenna column 12b, 12c includes a plurality of dual-polarized radiating elements 50 (e.g., crossed dipoles, patches, or the like) oriented appropriately for the particular orthogonal polarizations. An embodiment utilizing a slant 45° arrangement is shown in
The antenna columns can be constructed and configured in a number of different manners. Information about the construction and arrangement of radiating elements and antenna columns is widely available in the literature, and is also well known in the art generally.
Instead of single-polarized columns, the outer antenna columns 12a, 12d may be dual-polarized columns configured to operate in a single-polarized manner. In such a case, the outer antenna columns 12a, 12d would each further include a second array 22a, 22d of radiating elements connected to a port 18a, 18d, respectively, and oriented at the second polarization, but terminated, e.g., using a 50 ohm matched termination or the like 55. This provides dummy element function for the center antenna column arrays 22b, 22c oriented at the second polarization, for mitigating their radiation pattern asymmetry.
To reduce the number of RF feed cables 24a-24d required for connecting the antenna array 10 to the base station controller 44, a duplexer unit may be connected to one or more of the antenna columns 12a-12d. (By “duplexer unit” it is meant one or more duplexer circuits 26a, 26b, which may be housed together or separately.) For example, as shown in
Optionally, instead of using duplexers, the output ports 16a-16d, 18b, 18c of the antenna columns may be directly individually connected to the base station controller 44 by way of respective feed cables. Thus, for the configuration in
The antenna columns 12a-12d in the antenna array 10 may be generally linearly arranged. By this, it is meant that the antenna columns are arranged one after the other in a co-linear manner within a small percentage due to mechanical/manufacturing tolerances. Neighboring antenna columns 12a-12d will be spaced apart by a distance “D” measured axis to axis, where D is approximately equal to ½λ (see
The antenna array 10 may be used for forward link beam forming over all four of the antenna columns 12a-12d, and additionally for diversity reception at the center dual-polarized columns 12b, 12c. Thus, the antenna array system 10 provides a four-column, single-polarized antenna array 20a-20d for forward link beamforming and a two-column 12b, 12c, dual-polarized array 20b, 20c, 22b, 22c for reverse link 4-branch diversity reception simultaneously. Beamforming using the four single polarized arrays/columns 20a-20d may be done at the baseband level, as shown in
For facilitating beamforming, the antenna array system 10 may be provided with a calibration network 72. The calibration network includes six directional couplers 74 and a 6:1 combiner 76. A calibration cable 78 connects a calibration output 80 of the antenna array 10 to a calibration unit 82 of the base station. In operation, signal inputs into the antenna columns are directed onto the calibration cable 78 by way of the directional couplers 74 and combiner 76. The calibration unit 82 uses this signal to calibrate out random phase differences introduced by the antenna feed cables, in a standard manner as known in the art. This is only one possible embodiment of a calibration system suitable for the antenna array system of the present invention, using directional couplers, a combiner, and a single calibration cable feeding into the calibration unit 82. In general, a calibration system samples the signal at each of the antenna columns and provides the information about its magnitude and phase so that the beamforming system can correct for the differences in magnitude and/or phase.
The two central dual polarized columns 12b, 12c are used for four-branch receiver diversity reception, and may also be used for determining the DOA (direction of arrival) to be used in forward link beamforming in case of beam steering, or for choosing the optimal beam or beams in case of fixed forward link beamforming, in a standard manner. For these functions, the base station controller 44 is provided with an appropriately configured diversity receiver or other receiver module/electronics 84. As indicated in
As should be appreciated, although the antenna array 10 will typically have at least four antenna columns 12a-12d, more antenna columns may be used for certain applications. Accordingly, as shown in
In using the antenna array 10, at least two steps are typically carried out from the system level perspective. The first step involves carrying out a beamforming operation on or in regards to a signal to be transmitted over the forward link 28. The beamforming operation utilizes the four antenna columns at the first polarization, e.g., columns 12a-12d with the arrays 20a-20d. The second step involves diversity processing of a signal received over the reverse link 30 at the dual-polarized columns 12b, 12c with the arrays 20b, 22b, 20c, 22c.
The antenna array 10 may be housed in a radome 94 or other weatherproof enclosure, for protecting the array from the elements. Also, the antenna groups 90, 92 may be housed together in a single radome or separately in two or more radomes.
Array systems that use baseband beamforming could also be outfitted with TTLNA units, such as the one shown in
The antenna array systems described herein are shown in a schematic, more general or conceptual sense in
A more specific example of the antenna system 170 is shown in
In operation, as indicated in
The antenna columns 186a-186f in
Instead of (or in addition to) spatial diversity reception, a “single diversity column” array system (as in
Although the duplexer unit has been showing as reducing the number of feed cable outlets to four, it should be appreciated that there may be more than four feed cable outlets in situations where the first group of antennas (e.g., the beamforming array) has more than four antennas. For example, if the antenna array system is configured for use in covering a plurality of sectors, the first group could have a number of antennas, e.g., 12 antennas, arranged circularly. In such a case, duplexers could be used to reduce the number of feed cable outlets to no more than the number of antennas in the first group.
Since certain changes may be made in the above-described antenna array system, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all of the subject matter of the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted merely as examples illustrating the inventive concept herein and shall not be construed as limiting the invention.
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