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The Daily Dunlop: October 2010
Posted by audrey and josh at 9:17 AM 8 comments:
You knew it was coming... that 3 minute video of Ruby eating her first "solid" food (and by solid I mean yellow liquidy rice cereal). Well, here it is. Although, she is the cutest thing ever, so maybe the 3 minutes will fly by?
You'll notice a few things. 1. We spill more on Ruby's bib than she does. 2. We doubled the bib action 1/2 way through. 3. We're giving Ruby her food out of one of Josh's scotch glasses. 4. We're basically spoon feeding her milk... we WILL thicken it up, but you gotta start somewhere, right? 5. She's so stinkin cute.
Posted by audrey and josh at 7:21 AM 6 comments:
Posted by audrey and josh at 9:05 AM 3 comments:
Fall isn't complete without a little pumpkin... pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin pie, and the pumpkin patch. Ruby was wide awake all morning, was quite the charmer at breakfast, cooing like crazy in the car rides of the day, but as soon as we make it to the pumpkin farm, she falls asleep. Of course. So this was Ruby's take on the pumpkin patch:
We got a FEW pics with her and the pumpkins, but as soon as she went back in the stroller she passed out again. Tired little thing!
...and the best godparents ever were able to join as well... lucky day!
Nonna and me...
That Nonna. She really likes me. She talks and talks and talks... wears me out! But I just love her. She's so funny...
**I apologize for the awful coloring in these pics. The lighting was off and my editing skills speak for themselves... oh wait, that's right, I have none. That's what happens when you leave picture taking to the last minute before your mom gets on a plane to AZ... curses!
Posted by audrey and josh at 9:36 PM 2 comments:
Posted by audrey and josh at 9:43 PM 3 comments:
could we BE any busier??
I apologize for the delay in posts... we have been SO busy! Last week I started bootcamp 3 days a week and Josh picked up some touch rugby twice a week so our weeknights are pretty much gone. And as of Saturday my parents are in town. We have been busy bees!!
Ruby loves having Nonna Donna and "That funny guy" in town... She laughs and laughs and laughs with Grandpa. He's so funny that Grandpa. And my mom (much like Ruby's mom) loves to talk to Ruby. All. The. Time. So now Ruby has started moving her mouth like she is mimicing talking but without any sound. She kinda looks like a fish. Precious.
In other news, today was Canadian Thanksgiving so of course we had to celebrate. My parents made us a grand feast! Croquettes (one of my favorite parts about the holidays), green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, and of course, pumpkin pie - although it was more of a pumpkin tart. We're fancy.
No new pics (we WILL get some with Nonna and Papa this trip...) so these will have to tide you over. Ruby loves her some Sophie.
Five months? Sheesh. Time flies. She's such a big girl and has a lot of firsts this past month. First cold, first foot in mouth experience, first roll over, first time wearing jeans (it's almost unbearable how cute she is in them), first festival in San Fran (and therefore first experience with the City and it's wackos... there's plenty for a baby to look at in that city. Good thing it's okay for babies to stare...). She's growing up so fast!
Posted by audrey and josh at 5:08 PM 5 comments:
gettin crazy...
That Ruby. On the eve of her 5 month birthday she went to go celebrate Uncle Dave's birthday at a German restaurant in the City... and may have gotten a little too wrapped up in the celebration...
Caught red handed! I turn my back for one minute and you're already falling to peer pressure?? Oh Ruby. That liter of beer weighs more than you do. Just say no and hold out for the milk...
(Thank you Auntie Kim for documenting this... you're the eyes in the back of my head...)
Posted by audrey and josh at 11:29 AM 1 comment:
she put her foot in her mouth...
Posted by audrey and josh at 10:01 PM 2 comments:


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Comfortable apartment with kitchen, near Checkpoint Charlie Museum
Bathroom Sink [7/32]
Living Area [18/32]
Living Area [22/32]
Mehringdamm U-Bahn - 10 min walk

type: global

value: A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a refrigerator and other kitchen facilities, upholstered chairs, a flat screen television, and en-suite bathrooms.


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Patent US20060030364 - Method and apparatus to improve channel quality for use in wireless ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA technique which improves SINR in a communication system utilizing MIMO antennas is described. Transmitter and receiver components use fixed transmit and receive beamforming matrices and variable transmit and receive beamforming vectors. A method of channel conditioning using an iterative closed loop...http://www.google.com/patents/US20060030364?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20060030364 - Method and apparatus to improve channel quality for use in wireless communications systems with multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antennasAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20060030364 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 11/167,736Publication dateFeb 9, 2006Filing dateJun 27, 2005Priority dateAug 6, 2004Also published asUS7583982, US20090316307Publication number11167736, 167736, US 2006/0030364 A1, US 2006/030364 A1, US 20060030364 A1, US 20060030364A1, US 2006030364 A1, US 2006030364A1, US-A1-20060030364, US-A1-2006030364, US2006/0030364A1, US2006/030364A1, US20060030364 A1, US20060030364A1, US2006030364 A1, US2006030364A1InventorsRobert Lind Olesen, Jaeyoung Kwak, Aykut BultanOriginal AssigneeInterdigital Technology CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (28), Classifications (20), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMethod and apparatus to improve channel quality for use in wireless communications systems with multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antennasUS 20060030364 A1Abstract A technique which improves SINR in a communication system utilizing MIMO antennas is described. Transmitter and receiver components use fixed transmit and receive beamforming matrices and variable transmit and receive beamforming vectors. A method of channel conditioning using an iterative closed loop process is also described. Images(7) Claims(28)
1. A method to improve quality of a wireless communication channel in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system, comprising: processing a signal for transmission by a transmitter having a plurality of M transmit (TX) antennas including: defining a signal path for each of the M TX antennas; applying an M-size TX beamforming vector to the signal across the M signal paths; and processing the signal with a unitary matrix; and transmitting the processed signal by the plurality of M antennas, whereby the transmitted signal is selectively adjusted in direct correlation with the corresponding TX beamforming vector; receiving the transmitted signal by a receiver having a plurality of N receive (RX) antennas including: defining a signal path for each of the N RX antennas; processing the received signal with the Hermitian of the unitary matrix; and applying an N-size RX beamforming vector whereby the received signal is selectively adjusted in direct correlation with the corresponding RX beamforming vector; and conditioning the communication processing by: determining a choice beamforming vector; and continuing the processing of communicating signals by applying the choice beamforming vector. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the unitary matrix is a Butler matrix. 3. The method of claim 1 where the transmitter has stored in a memory a predefined set of M-size TX beamforming vectors further comprising: processing a set of signals for transmission by applying a different M-size TX beamforming vector of the predefined vector set across the M signal paths to each signal, and transmitting each processed signal by the plurality of M antennas; receiving each of the transmitted signals by the receiver; and the conditioning step includes: measuring a preferred characteristic of each received signal; selecting the received signal with a best characteristic from among the received signals; and identifying the TX beamforming vector that was used to produce the received signal with a best characteristic as the choice beamforming vector; and implementing in the transmitter the choice beamforming vector. 4. The method of claim 3 further comprising: monitoring selected characteristics of signals received from said transmitter after implementation of the choice beamforming vector in the transmitter; and reconditioning the channel in response to selectively defined changes in the monitored characteristics by repeating the processing, receiving, measuring, selecting and identifying steps with respect to set of stored TX beamforming vectors to re-determine the choice beamforming vector; and implementing the re-determined choice beamforming vector in the transmitter. 5. The method of claim 3 wherein the conditioning step further includes: calculating a channel matrix after implementing in the transmitter the choice beamforming vector; using the channel matrix to calculate a choice RX beamforming vector; implementing the choice RX beamforming vector in the receiver; using the channel matrix to calculate a choice TX beamforming vector; and implementing choice TX beamforming vector in the transmitter. 6. The method of claim 3 where the set of stored TX beamforming vectors are indexed wherein: the transmitting each processed signal includes transmitting an index of the TX beamforming vector that was used to produce the signal; the receiving each of the transmitted signals includes receiving the index of the TX beamforming vector that was used to produce the signal; and the conditioning step includes sending the transmitter the index of the TX beamforming vector that was identified as the choice beamforming vector to enable implementation of the choice beamforming vector in the transmitter. 7. The method of claim 6 where the receiver has stored in a memory a predefined set of N-size RX beamforming vectors further comprising: receiving with the plurality of N antennas each of a set of signals from said transmitter and processing each signal by applying a different N-size RX beamforming vector of the predefined vector set across the N signal paths to each signal; and the conditioning step includes: measuring a preferred characteristic of each processed received signal; selecting the processed received signal with a best characteristic from among the processed received signals; and identifying the RX beamforming vector that was used to produce the processed received signal with the best characteristic as a choice RX beamforming vector; and implementing in the receiver the choice RX beamforming vector. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the receiving with the plurality of N antennas each of a set of signals from said transmitter is performed after implementation of the choice beamforming vector in the transmitter so that each received signal was produced with the choice beamforming vector. 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising: monitoring selected characteristics of signals received from said transmitter after implementation of the choice RX beamforming vector in the receiver transmitter; and reconditioning the channel in response to selectively defined changes in the monitored characteristics by: repeating the processing, receiving, measuring, selecting and identifying steps with respect to set of stored TX beamforming vectors to re-determine the choice beamforming vector; and implementing the re-determined choice beamforming vector in the transmitter; and then repeating the receiving, processing, measuring, selecting and identifying steps with respect to set of stored RX beamforming vectors to re-determine the choice RX beamforming vector and implementing the re-determined choice RX beamforming vector in the receiver. 10. The method of claim 1 where the receiver has stored in a memory a predefined set of N-size RX beamforming vectors further comprising: receiving with the plurality of N antennas each of a set of signals from said transmitter and processing each signal by applying a different N-size RX beamforming vector of the predefined vector set across the N signal paths to each signal; and the conditioning step includes: measuring a preferred characteristic of each processed received signal; selecting the processed received signal with a best characteristic from among the processed received signals; and identifying the RX beamforming vector that was used to produce the processed received signal with the best characteristic as the choice beamforming vector; and implementing in the receiver the choice beamforming vector. 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising: monitoring selected characteristics of signals received from said transmitter after implementation of the choice RX beamforming vector in the receiver; and reconditioning the channel in response to selectively defined changes in the monitored characteristics by repeating the receiving, processing, measuring, selecting and identifying steps with respect to set of stored RX beamforming vectors to re-determine the choice beamforming vector and implementing the re-determined choice beamforming vector in the receiver. 12. The method of claim 10 wherein the conditioning step further includes: calculating a channel matrix after implementing in the receiver the choice beamforming vector; using the channel matrix to calculate a choice RX beamforming vector; implementing the choice RX beamforming vector in the receiver; using the channel matrix to calculate a choice TX beamforming vector; and implementing choice TX beamforming vector in the transmitter. 13. The method of claim 1 wherein the conditioning step includes: calculating a channel matrix; using the channel matrix to calculate a choice RX beamforming vector; implementing the choice RX beamforming vector in the receiver; using the channel matrix to calculate a choice TX beamforming vector; and implementing choice TX beamforming vector in the transmitter. 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising: monitoring selected characteristics of signals received from said transmitter after respective implementation of the choice RX and TX beamforming vectors in the receiver and transmitter; and reconditioning the channel in response to selectively defined changes in the monitored characteristics by re-calculating the channel matrix, using the re-calculated channel matrix to re-calculate the choice RX and TX beamforming vectors, and implementing the re-calculated choice RX and TX beamforming vectors in the receiver and the transmitter, respectively. 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the calculating the choice RX and TX beamforming vectors includes increasing average SINR for sub-carriers using fixed unitary beamforming matrices B and BH at the transmitter and receiver, respectively, such that the choice RX beamforming vector ak is given by a k=μk(B H R n k B)−1 B H H k Bb k where bk is an initial TX beamforming vector, Hk is the channel matrix, Rnk is a covariance matrix of the system, and μk is a constant chosen such that ak HBHHkBbk=1; and the choice TX beamforming vector b′k is given by b′k=√{square root over (pk)}BHvk where pk is a TX power constraint for each sub-carrier, vk is an eigenvector that corresponds to a largest eigenvalue of a matrix Ψk, and Ψk=Hk H(Rn k)−1Hk. 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the channel matrix, choice RX beamforming vector and choice TX beamforming vector are calculated in the receiver, and the choice TX beamforming vector is identified to the transmitter before implementing. 17. The method of claim 15 further comprising: monitoring selected characteristics of signals received from said transmitter after respective implementation of the choice RX and TX beamforming vectors in the receiver and transmitter; and reconditioning the channel in response to selectively defined changes in the monitored characteristics including: re-calculating the choice RX and TX beamforming vectors, such that the re-calculated choice RX beamforming vector ak is given by a k=μk(B H R n k B)−1 B H H k Bb k where bk is the previously determined choice TX beamforming vector, Hk is the channel matrix, Rnk is a covariance matrix of the system, and μk is a constant chosen such that ak HBHHkBbk=1; and the re-calculated choice TX beamforming vector b′k is given by b′k=√{square root over (pk)}BHvk where pk is a TX power constraint for each sub-carrier, vk is an eigenvector that corresponds to a largest eigenvalue of a matrix Ψk, and Ψk=Hk H(Rn k)−1Hk; and implementing the re-calculated choice RX and TX beamforming vectors in the receiver and the transmitter, respectively. 18. The method of claim 15 further comprising: monitoring selected characteristics of signals received from said transmitter after respective implementation of the choice RX and TX beamforming vectors in the receiver and transmitter; and reconditioning the channel in response to selectively defined changes in the monitored characteristics by re-calculating the channel matrix, using the re-calculated channel matrix to re-calculate the choice RX and TX beamforming vectors, and implementing the re-calculated choice RX and TX beamforming vectors in the receiver and the transmitter, respectively. 19. A transmitting station for use in wireless communication with a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system, comprising: a plurality M of transmit (TX) antennas, each having an associated signal path; a processor configured to process a signal for transmission by the plurality of M antennas by applying a selectively determined M-size TX beamforming vector and a unitary matrix across the TX antenna signal paths whereby different weights are applied to the signals directed to each TX antenna for transmission in correlation with the applied TX beamforming vector; and a TX beamforming vector selection component associated with said processor configured to select the TX beamforming vector applied by the processor. 20. The transmitting station of claim 19 wherein the TX beamforming vector selection component is associated with a receiving component and is configured to change the selection of a TX beamforming vector based on information received from a receiving station that is responsive to signals transmitted from said plurality M of transmit (TX) antennas. 21. The transmitting station of claim 19 further comprising a memory for storing a plurality of indexed TX beamforming vectors associated with the TX beamforming vector selection component wherein the TX beamforming vector selection component is configured to successively select each indexed TX beamforming vector of a stored predefined vector set for application by the processor in connection with the determination and selection of a choice TX beamforming vector. 22. The transmitting station of claim 19 configured to transmit Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex signals. 23. A receiving station for use in wireless communication with a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system, comprising: a plurality N of receive (RX) antennas, each having a signal path, configured to receive signals from a multi-antenna transmitting station produced by applying a unitary matrix across transmit antenna signal paths; a processor configured to process the signals received by the N antennas by applying a Hermitian of the unitary matrix and a selected N-size RX beamforming vector, whereby different weights are applied to the signal across the N signal paths in direct correlation with the applied RX beamforming vector; and a beamforming vector selection component associated with said processor configured to select the RX beamforming vector applied by the processor. 24. The receiving station of claim 23, further comprising: a memory for storing a plurality of indexed RX beamforming vectors associated with the RX beamforming vector selection component wherein the RX beamforming vector selection component is configured to successively select each indexed RX beamforming vector of a stored predefined vector set for application by the processor in connection with the determination and selection of a choice RX beamforming vector. 25. The receiving station of claim 24 wherein the RX beamforming vector selection component includes: a measuring device for measuring a preferred characteristic of the received signal; and a comparator configured to compare measured values of the preferred characteristic to select a received signal with a best characteristic whereby the RX beamforming vector that produced the selected signal is selected as the choice RX beamforming vector. 26. The receiving station of claim 23 further comprising: a component configured to measure a preferred characteristic of received signals and identify a TX beamforming vector that produced each respective measured signal; and a comparator configured to compare measured values of the preferred characteristic and to select a received signal with a best characteristic; and a communication component configured to send information identifying TX beamforming vector that produced the selected signal having the best characteristic to the multi-antenna transmitting station that transmitted the signal. 27. The receiving station of claim 23 wherein the processor is configured to calculate a channel matrix based on a received signal and the beamforming vector selection component is configured to calculate choice RX and TX beamforming vectors based on the channel matrix, select the choice RX beamforming vector for use by the processor and to send information identifying the choice TX beamforming vector to the multi-antenna transmitting station that transmitted the received signal. 28. The receiving station of claim 23 configured to receive Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex signals.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/599,542, filed Aug. 6, 2004, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth.
FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to wireless communication systems with Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) antennas. Specifically, the invention relates to conditioning the spatial channel by using beamforming techniques. BACKGROUND Wireless communication systems are well known in the art. Generally, such systems comprise communication stations, which transmit and receive wireless communication signals between each other. Depending upon the type of system, communication stations typically are one of two types of wireless units: one type is the base station (BS), and the other is the wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), which may be mobile. The term base station (BS) as used herein includes, but is not limited to, a base station, access point, Node B, site controller, or other interfacing device in a wireless environment that provides WTRUs with wireless access to a network with which the access point is associated. The term wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) as used herein includes, but is not limited to, a user equipment, mobile station, fixed or mobile subscriber unit, pager, or any other type of device capable of operating in a wireless environment. Such WTRUs include personal communication devices, such as phones, video phones, and Internet ready phones that have network connections. In addition, WTRUs include portable personal computing devices, such as PDAs and notebook computers with wireless modems that have similar network capabilities. WTRUs that are portable or can otherwise change location are referred to as mobile units. Typically, a network of base stations is provided wherein each base station is capable of conducting concurrent wireless communications with appropriately configured WTRUs, as well as multiple appropriately configured base stations. Some WTRUs may alternatively be configured to conduct wireless communications directly between each other, i.e., without being relayed through a network via a base station. This is commonly called peer-to-peer wireless communications. Where a WTRU is configured to communicate directly with other WTRUs it may itself also be configured as and function as a base station. WTRUs can be configured for use in multiple networks, with both network and peer-to-peer communications capabilities. One type of wireless system, called a wireless local area network (WLAN), can be configured to conduct wireless communications with WTRUs equipped with WLAN modems that are also able to conduct peer-to-peer communications with similarly equipped WTRUs. Currently, WLAN modems are being integrated into many traditional communicating and computing devices by manufacturers. For example, cellular phones, personal digital assistants, and laptop computers are being built with one or more WLAN modems. Popular WLAN environments with one or more WLAN base stations, typically called access points (APs), are built according to the IEEE 802 family of standards. Access to these networks usually requires user authentication procedures. Protocols for such systems are presently being standardized in the WLAN technology area such as the framework of protocols provided in the IEEE 802 family of standards. FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional wireless communication environment in which WTRUs conduct wireless communications via a network station, in this case an AP of a WLAN. The AP is connected with other network infrastructure of the WLAN such as an Access Controller (AC). The AP is shown as conducting communications with five WTRUs. The communications are coordinated and synchronized through the AP. Such a configuration is also called a basic service set (BSS) within WLAN contexts. In the wireless cellular context, one current standard in widespread use is known as Global System for Mobile Telecommunications (GSM). This is considered as a so-called Second Generation mobile radio system standard (2G) and was followed by its revision (2.5G). General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE) are examples of 2.5G technologies that offer relatively high speed data service on top of (2G) GSM networks. Each one of these standards sought to improve upon the prior standard with additional features and enhancements. In January 1998, the European Telecommunications Standard Institute�Special Mobile Group (ETSI SMG) agreed on a radio access scheme for Third Generation Radio Systems called Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems (UMTS). To further implement the UMTS standard, the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) was formed in December 1998. 3GPP continues to work on a common third generational mobile radio standard. In addition to the 3GPP standards, 3GPP2 standards are being developed that use Mobile IP in a Core Network for mobility. Much of the development of wireless communication systems has been motivated by the desire to reduce communication errors, improve range and throughput, and minimize costs. Most recent advances have been made possible by exploiting diversity in the time, frequency and code dimensions of communication signals. U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,914, which issued on Mar. 25, 1997 and is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, is an example of utilizing diversity to improve wireless communications. Since the mid 1990s, the development of Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems has led to increases in throughput without increasing transmission power or bandwidth, by exploiting the spatial diversity of the wireless communication channel. Much research effort on MIMO systems has been directed towards finding methods to improve throughput or signal to noise ratio (SNR) with given wireless channel conditions. Prior research has focused on using either space time coding (STC) or so-called water-filling applications over time, frequency, and space. The present invention utilizes a different approach, improving throughput and SNR by conditioning the channel. This approach can be used independently or in combination with other methods. The improvement of spatial diversity presents a significant challenge. Increasing spatial diversity in MIMO systems may be exploited to achieve higher throughput for a given transmit power and bandwidth than Single-Input Single-Output (SISO), Single-Input Multiple-Output (SIMO) or Multiple-Input Single-Output (MISO) systems. A common technique for increasing spatial diversity is by physically relocating, moving, and/or adding antennas to the system. However this is not always possible. When it is not possible to add more antennas or adjust their positions, a typical MIMO system's ability to exploit available spatial diversity in the channel is limited to the channel condition defined by the physical configuration of the transmit and receive antennas. The inventors have recognized that is possible to improve communications in spite of such limitation and have devised the present invention for conditioning the channel. SUMMARY The present invention is characterized by method and apparatus for conditioning a MIMO communication channel by adjusting the sensitivity or individual antenna element �weight� of the antenna arrays at the transmitter and/or the receiver. In the transmitter and/or the receiver, the �weight� assigned to each antenna is determined by a �beamforming vector.� The beamforming vector allows the combined multiple antennas in each of the transmitter and the receiver to have a directional or otherwise controllable character. In the transmitter, this allows the transmit power to be directed in a preferred direction, or to be better matched to the characteristics of the channel. In the receiver, this allows the receiver sensitivity to be enhanced in a preferred direction, or enhanced for desired signals, or to be better matched to the characteristics of the channel. A transmit or receive antenna array that is better matched to the channel is one that improves the Signal Interference Noise Ratio (SINR), the Packet Error Rate (PER), or some preferred characteristic of the desired transmitted or received signals, respectively. A closed loop process is preferably used to determine and implement a choice transmit (TX) beamforming vector in the transmitter. The process can be based on a characteristic of the signal received at the receiver, such as the SINR or PER, or can be based on movement in the system. The choice TX beamforming vector can be one of a predefined set, or can be calculated in the receiver or in the transmitter using a determined channel matrix. A choice receiver (RX) beamforming vector can optionally also be implemented. The choice RX beamforming vector can be one of a predefined set, or can be calculated in the receiver or in the transmitter using the channel matrix. Also, the determination of a choice vector based on a selection of a vector from a predefined set of vectors can be implemented as an initiation set for the selection of a further choice vector calculated using the channel matrix. The determination of a choice vector can be repeated based on a selected event, such as a drop in SINR, PER or some preferred characteristic of the desired transmitted signals. As an alternative or in combination with repetition based on a preferred characteristic. The process can be repeated at a preferred rate to respond to changes in a dynamic channel, or at a rate which is adjusted according to the rate of change of the channel. Implementing the choice TX and/or RX beamforming vectors of the present invention may be combined with other techniques to improve the power efficiency of transmission, such as water filling, Minimum Mean-Square Error (MMSE), Zero Forcing (ZF) or MAXMIN techniques. It may also be combined with Adaptive Modulation Coding (AMC), whereby the modulation constellation may be adapted to the channel conditions that have been obtained by the channel conditioning method described herein. Preferably, a transmitting station is provided configured for use in wireless communication with a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system. A plurality M of transmit (TX) antennas each have an associated signal path. A processor is configured to process a signal for transmission by the plurality of M antennas by applying a selectively determined M-size TX beamforming vector and a unitary matrix across the TX antenna signal paths whereby different weights are applied to the signals directed to each TX antenna for transmission in correlation with the applied TX beamforming vector. A TX beamforming vector selection component associated with said processor is configured to select the TX beamforming vector applied by the processor. The TX beamforming vector selection component is preferably associated with a receiving component in order to change the selection of a TX beamforming vector based on information received from a receiving station that is responsive to signals transmitted from said plurality M of transmit (TX) antennas. The transmitting station may include a memory for storing a plurality of indexed TX beamforming vectors associated with the TX beamforming vector selection component. The TX beamforming vector selection component is then preferably configured to successively select each indexed TX beamforming vector of a stored predefined vector set for application by the processor in connection with the determination and selection of a choice TX beamforming vector. Preferably, a receiving station is provided configured for use in wireless communication with a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system. A plurality N of receive (RX) antennas each have a signal path. The antennas are configured to receive signals from a multi-antenna transmitting station produced by applying a unitary matrix across transmit antenna signal paths. A processor is configured to process the signals received by the N antennas by applying a Hermitian of the unitary matrix and a selected N-size RX beamforming vector, whereby different weights are applied to the signal across the N signal paths in direct correlation with the applied RX beamforming vector. A beamforming vector selection component is associated with the processor and is configured to select the RX beamforming vector applied by the processor. Preferably, the receiving station includes a memory for storing a plurality of indexed RX beamforming vectors associated with the RX beamforming vector selection component. The RX beamforming vector selection component is then configured to successively select each indexed RX beamforming vector of a stored predefined vector set for application by the processor in connection with the determination and selection of a choice RX beamforming vector. The RX beamforming vector selection component may include a measuring device and a comparator. The measuring device is preferably configured to measure a preferred characteristic of the received signal; the comparator is preferably configured to compare measured values of the preferred characteristic and to select a received signal with a best characteristic whereby the RX beamforming vector that produced the selected signal is selected as the choice RX beamforming vector. The receiving station may a component configured to measure a preferred characteristic of received signals and identify a TX beamforming vector that produced each respective measured signal as well as a comparator and a communication component. In such case the comparator is preferably configured to compare measured values of the preferred characteristic and to select a received signal with a best characteristic and the communication component is preferably configured to send information identifying TX beamforming vector that produced the selected signal having the best characteristic to the multi-antenna transmitting station that transmitted the signal. The receiving station processor can be configured to calculate a channel matrix based on a received signal. The beamforming vector selection component can then be configured to calculate choice RX and TX beamforming vectors based on the channel matrix, select the choice RX beamforming vector for use by the processor and to send information identifying choice TX beamforming vector to the multi-antenna transmitting station that transmitted the received signal. Both transmitting stations and receiving stations constructed to implement the invention can advantageously be to communicate Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex signals. Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art based upon the following description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S) FIG. 1 is a system overview diagram illustrating conventional wireless communication in a wireless local area network (WLAN). FIG. 2 is block diagram illustrating a CDMA transmitter which uses the present invention. FIG. 3 is block diagram illustrating a CDMA receiver which uses the present invention. FIGS. 4-6 are flow diagrams of channel conditioning processes according to the present invention. TABLE OF ACRONYMS AMC Adaptive Modulation Coding AP Access Point ASIC Application Specific Integrated Circuit BS Base Station DFT Discrete Fourier Transform FFT Fast Fourier Transform IFFT Inverse Fast Fourier Transform IID Independent Identically Distributed MIMO Multiple Input-Multiple Output MISO Multiple Input Single Output MMSE Minimum Mean-Square Error OFDM Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex PER Packet Error Rate QAM Quadrature Amplitude Modulation RX Receive, Receiver SIMO Single Input Multiple Output SINR Signal Interference Noise Ratio SISO Single Input Single Output SNR Signal to Noise Ratio STA Station TX Transmit, Transmitter WLAN Wireless Local Area Network WMAN Wireless Metropolitan Area Network ZF Zero Forcing DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The communication channel is conditioned through the use and improvement of an orthogonal beam space. The orthogonal beam space is obtained by preconditioning the channel with a unitary matrix, and is modified by using beamforming vectors. The unitary matrix can be a Butler matrix, equivalent to a discrete Fourier transform (DFT). Under certain circumstances a Hadamard transform may replace the Butler matrix. Referring to FIG. 1, a portion of a conventional communication system 10 is shown in which an access point (AP) 12 provides communication services to a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) 14. The AP communicates with a broader network (not shown), thereby providing additional network services to the WTRUs, such as access to the Internet or a telephone network. Referring to FIG. 2, a code division multiple access (CDMA) transmitter with multiple antennas 20 is shown, in which the present invention is used. A serial binary data stream s in the transmitter is divided into a plurality of parallel streams of data in a serial/parallel processor S/P at 21, each stream to be transmitted on a different subcarrier. Each of the parallel data streams is modulated at 22 using quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), and each sub-carrier is modified at 23 according to a transmit beamforming vector. Next, a pilot signal is inserted at 24 into the data stream, and the combined data-pilot signal is processed at 25 using an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT). A cyclic prefix is added at 26. Finally the signal is processed at 27 using a using a unitary matrix, such as a Butler matrix, to produce a number M of orthogonal carriers equal to the number of transmit antennas. Each of the carriers is then transmitted via a separate antenna at 28. The transmitted signals in the physical environment comprise a beam space (k) 29. Referring to FIG. 3, the inverse process is shown, performed at a CDMA receiver with multiple antennas 30, in which the present invention is used. Transmitted signals are received from the beam space (k) 29 via N separate receive antennas at 32. A unitary matrix such as the Hermitian of a Butler matrix is applied to the received signals at 33, and then the cyclic prefix is removed at 34. A fast Fourier transform is applied to the signals at 35, and the pilot signal is removed at 36. Each subcarrier is modified according to a receive beamforming vector at 37, and the QAM is demapped at 38 to recover the original parallel signals. Finally, the parallel signals are combined in a parallel to serial processor P/S at 39, whereby the original serial signal s is reconstructed. Referring to FIG. 4, a process 40 of improving a MIMO communication channel is illustrated, according to a first embodiment of the present invention where a choice vector is selected from a predefined set of vectors. A set of preferred beam patterns are designed for the system. Each beam pattern has a corresponding transmit (TX) beamforming vector that determines the weights applied to each of the transmitter antennas. The set of TX beamforming vectors corresponding to each beam are indexed and stored in a non-volatile memory in the transmitter. In step 42 the transmitter uses the set of indexed TX beamforming vectors to send a signal containing the beam index via each of a set of directional beams, which the receiver receives using a beam pattern which may be omnidirectional. The receiver measures the SINR of each received signal and identifies the beam index of the signal with the best SINR, step 44, as the manner to select a choice TX vector for implementation. The receiver feeds the beam index of the chosen vector back to the transmitter, step 46. The transmitter receives the index and reconfigures itself to use the selected choice TX beamforming vector, which is then used for communications. The number of TX beamforming vectors in the set can be related to the number of TX antennas used. Alternatively, a preferred number, such as five or six, can be used to provide enhanced performance without undue complexity. The first embodiment of choice vector determination can similarly be applied to the determination of a choice RX beamforming vector. For example, the transmitter can use a beam pattern, which may be omnidirectional, to transmit a signal, and the receiver can be configured with a set of RX beamforming vectors stored in a non-volatile memory. In a preferred implementation, the receiver uses each RX beamforming vector in the set to receive the signal, measures the SINR of the signal using each vector, and identifies and implements the vector giving the best SINR as a choice RX vector. The choice RX beamforming vector is then used for communications. The number of RX beamforming vectors in the set can be related to the number of RX antennas used. Alternatively, a preferred number, such as five or six, can be used to provide enhanced performance without undue complexity. The first embodiment of choice vector determination can also be implemented as a combination of the selection of both a choice TX beamforming vector and a choice RX beamforming vector. For example, both the transmitter and the receiver can be configured with sets of beamforming vectors stored in respective memories. In a preferred implementation, the receiver uses a beam pattern which may be omnidirectional while the transmitter sweeps through its beam set, the receiver identifies the TX beam index resulting in the best SINR, and feeds it back to the transmitter which implements the associated TX beamforming vector. The transmitter then sends a signal while the receiver sweeps through its beam set, and identifies and implements the RX beamforming vector giving the best SINR. Alternatively, the receiver can sweep through its set of vectors before the transmitter sweeps through its set. The number of TX and RX beamforming vectors in each set can be related to the number of TX and RX antennas used, respectively. Alternatively, a preferred number of each which results in enhanced performance without undue complexity, such as five or six, can be used. The determination of a choice vector in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention can be implemented in a recursive manner for continued conditioning of the channel. In one example, referring to FIG. 5, a process 50 of improving and maintaining a MIMO communication channel is illustrated based on utilization of the first embodiment in a repetitive manner. For example, a preferred set of indexed TX beamforming vectors are stored in the transmitter and used to send a signal which the receiver receives using an omnidirectional or other beam pattern, step 52. The receiver measures the SINR of each received signal and identifies the beam index of the signal with the best SINR, and feeds it back to the transmitter, which implements the associated vector and uses it for communications, step 54. As an alternative to steps 52 and 54, a process such as described with respect to the selection of a choice RX beamforming vector or a combination of selection of both choice TX and RX beamforming vectors such as described above may be used. Thereafter, the receiver continues to monitor the SINR or other characteristic of the received communication signals. If the SINR or other preferred characteristic drops below a desired threshold, step 56, the receiver initiates a channel reconditioning process by prompting, step 58, the transmitter to send another conditioning signal and sweep through its beamforming vectors. The TX beamforming vector resulting in the best received SINR is selected as the choice vector and implemented, step 52. If the SINR or other characteristic of the received signal changes frequently, the process can be repeated based on changes in the SINR, at a preferred rate or a combination of such triggers. Where alternatives are initially used for steps 52 and 54, such as when a combination of selection of both choice TX and RX beamforming vectors is implemented for those steps, such alternative steps are preferably triggered for reconditioning. According to a second embodiment of the present invention, a preferred TX beamforming vector which may be omnidirectional is used to send a signal, which is received by a receiver using a preferred RX beamforming vector which may be omnidirectional. The receiver calculates a channel matrix using techniques which are known in the prior art. Using the channel matrix, choice TX and/or RX beamforming vectors are determined as described in detail below. The receiver preferably implements the choice RX beamforming vector, and sends to the transmitter the choice TX beamforming vector, which the transmitter implements for further communications. This type of channel conditioning may also optionally be coupled with its own reconditioning process as explained in connection with FIG. 6. Referring to FIG. 6, a process 60 of improving and maintaining a MIMO communication channel is illustrated. A preferred TX beamforming vector is used to send a signal, step 61, which is received by a receiver using a preferred RX beamforming vector. The preferred TX beamforming vector used to send a signal in step 61 may be determined through implementation of the first embodiment as an initiation process or other desired manner. The receiver calculates a channel matrix, step 62. The receiver then determines choice TX and RX beamforming vectors which vectors are implemented, respectively in the transmitter and receiver, step 64. Thereafter, the receiver continues to monitor the SINR or other characteristic of the received communication signals. If the SINR or other preferred characteristic drops below a desired threshold, step 66, the receiver reconditions the channel by recalculating RX and TX beamforming vectors to redefine the choice vectors, the receiver implements the redefined choice RX beamforming vector, and sends to the transmitter the redefined choice TX beamforming vector, which the transmitter implements. If the SINR or other characteristic of the received signal changes frequently, the process can be repeated based on changes in the SINR, at a preferred rate or a combination of such triggers. Optionally, as indicated step 68 illustrated in phantom, a new channel matrix can be calculated before determining the new RX and TX beamforming vectors. Optional step 68 can be set up to be triggered when a lower threshold is exceeded in step 66 or if the reconditioning through the repetition of step 64 does not produce a significant improvement to the monitored characteristic. A more complete description of the calculation of choice transmit and receive beamforming vectors according to the second embodiment of the present invention is as follows. Consider a MIMO-OFDM system in which the transmitter 20 with M transmit antennas in an array, transmits to the receiver 30 with N receive antennas in an array. Preferably, the distance between antennas for both the transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) sides is very close, such as one or one half of a wavelength, and the antennas are preferably correlated. In general, a correlated MIMO system degrades the performance and the capacity. To avoid performance and capacity degradation, a beam-space (fixed) beamforming matrix, such as butler matrix or DFT beamforming matrix 27, is implemented on the TX side and its Hermitian 33 is implemented as a beamforming matrix on the RX side. To control the directionality of the beam-space beamforming matrices, beamforming vectors controlling the sub-carrier weights are applied by processing circuitry 23 on the TX side and by processing circuitry 37 on the RX sides in an effort to improve received SINR. Instead of generating only one beam direction using element space beamforming, by using beam space beamforming multiple independent beams or channels in beam space can be generated. This diagonalizes the channel matrix in the time domain, as well as the channel matrices for each carrier in the frequency domain, since the Butler matrix or DFT beamforming matrix are unitary matrices. Because of this, the invented system increases the capacity and the performance of the system, and the receiver structure is also made very simple. Assume a K sub-carrier OFDM modulation. The signal sk(n), 1≦k≦K, denotes the information symbol transmitted at the kth sub-carrier during the nth OFDM symbol. The signals sk(n) are preferably modeled as zero-mean independent identically distributed (i.i.d.) random variables belonging to a fixed finite signal constellation set with normalized energy, namely, E└|sk(n)|2┘=1, where E denotes the expectation operator. At the transmitter, the modulated symbol for each sub-carrier is multiplied by an independent M�1 transmit beamforming vector, bk=[b1 k b2 k . . . bM k]T. Next, an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) is applied to those signals, and a cyclic prefix is added for each antenna. Next, a Butler matrix B or other fixed-beamforming matrix is applied in the time domain. The Butler matrix B is a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) matrix. Then, the signal is transmitted, and passes through a multipath fading channel in space. At the receiver, the Hermitian of the Butler or other fixed-beamforming matrix, BH, is applied. Then, the cyclic prefix is removed, and a fast Fourier transform (FFT) applied. Although in the real system the fixed beamforming matrices B and BH are applied in the time domain, the matrices are common to all sub-carriers, and thus applying the matrices in the time domain is equivalent to applying the matrices for each sub-carrier in the frequency domain. Therefore, in this formulation B and BH are treated as though they were applied in the frequency domain. Thus, the received signal in each sub-carrier can be represented (dropping the time index for simplicity) as y k =B H H k Bb k s k +B H n k, 1≦k≦K, (1) where the channel matrix Hk is an M�N matrix, and the channel for each sub-carrier is a flat fading channel. The vector nk denotes the noise vector of the kth sub-carrier in the frequency domain. Next, apply the RX beamforming vector to this signal. The result is r k = a _ k H  y _ k = a _ k H  B H  H k  B  b _ k  s k + a _ k H  B H  n _ k . ( 2 ) Represent the covariance matrix of the system as Rn k. Assume that the channel matrix Hk and the covariance matrix Rn k are available in both the transmitter side TX and the receiver side RX. The TX and RX beamforming vectors can then be jointly improved to define the choice vectors as follows. The problem is to increase the average SINR for each sub-carrier, with fixed beamforming matrices at both the TX and RX sides, and can be stated mathematically as Γ k = E  [ | a _ k H  B H  H k  B  b _ k  s k  | 2 ] E  [ | a _ k H  B H  n _ k  | 2 ] = | a _ k H  B H  H k  B  b _ k  | 2 a _ k H  B H  R n k  B  a _ k . ( 3 ) where Γk is the SINR. The optimum RX beamforming vector is given by a k=μk(B H R n k B)−1 B H H k Bb k, (4) where μk is an arbitrary real constant, and does not affect the value of SINR. μk is a kind of a normalization factor used to make ak HBHHkBbk=1. With the optimal ak thus calculated, the SINR Γk can then be written as Γk =b k H B H H k H(R n k)−1 H k Bb k. (5) To find the optimum TX beamforming vector bk, define the matrix Ψk as Ψk =H k H(R n k)−1 H k. (6) Since Rn k is a Hermitian and is an invertible matrix, Ψk can be decomposed as Ψk =U kΛk U k H, (7) where Uk is an unitary matrix whose columns are the eigenvectors of Ψk, and Λk is a diagonal matrix that contains the corresponding eigenvalues, λk,m, 1≦m≦M. Then, Γ k = ( U k H  B  b _ k ) H  Λ k  ( U k H  B  b _ k ) = b _ k ′ H  Λ k  b _ k ′ = ∑ m = 1 M   λ k , m   b k , m ′  2  ,   where    b _ k ′ = U k H  B  b _ k .  ( 8 ) The TX power constraint for each sub-carrier is |bk|2=pk and it becomes, with b′k, |b′ k|2=(U k H Bb k)H(U k H Bb k)=|b k|2 =p k, (9) since Uk and B are unitary matrices. To maximize the SINR, the vector b′k can be shown to be given by b _ k ′ = p k  [ 0 ⋯ 0 1 ︸ the    lth   element 0 ⋯ 0 ] T   where     l = arg   max m = 1 , �  , M  { λ k , m } . ( 10 ) Then, the optimum TX beamforming vector bk is given by b k =B H U k b′ k =√{square root over (p k )}B H v k, (11) where vk is the eigenvector of the matrix Ψk that corresponds to the largest eigenvalue. The SINR then becomes Γ k = ( p k  B H  v _ k ) H  Ψ k  ( p k  B H  v _ k ) ,  = p k  λ k , l  ( 12 ) since B is a unitary matrix. Here, λk,l is the largest eigenvalue of the matrix Ψk. Therefore, this value is the maximum achievable SINR value with the power constraint |bk|2=pk. After the channel matrix has been found and the choice transmit and receive beamforming vectors have been determined and implemented, it is possible to further improve the power efficiency of the transmitter by using known power optimization techniques. Such power optimization techniques can include waterfilling, minimum mean-square error (MMSE), zero forcing (ZF) or so-called MAXMIN techniques, which can also be applied to the other embodiments of the invention. An example follows. First, using the known channel information, estimate the optimal transmit power within the limit of the total available transmit power, pk, for each sub-carrier. Using the Γk and the largest eigenvalue for each sub-carrier, λk,l, the estimate can be defined as maximizing the equation K ∑ k = 1 K   1 Γ k = K ∑ k = 1 K   1 λ k , l  p k   subject   to     ∑ k = 1 K   b _ k  2 = ∑ k = 1 K  p k = P , ( 13 ) where P is the total transmit power and pk is transmit power for each sub-carrier k. The solution is p k = P ∑ k = 1 K  λ k , l - 1 / 2  1 λ k , l . ( 14 ) The process of decoding the data symbols will next be described. It is assumed that the system is operating in a frequency-selective Rayleigh fading environment and that the communication channel remains constant during a packet transmission. Suppose that the channel impulse response has L resolved paths and that the correlated channel matrix for the qth path is denoted by G(q). Then, the discrete-time MIMO baseband signal model after BH can be represented by z ^ _  ( τ ) = ∑ q = 0 Q  B H   G  ( q )  B  x ^ _  ( τ - q ) + B H  n _  ( τ )  = ∑ q = 0 Q  B H   G  ( q )  B  x ^ _  ( τ - q ) + v ^ _  ( τ ) ( 15 ) where {circumflex over (x)}(T) represents a time domain OFDM symbol after applying each carrier's TX beamforming vector, and n(τ) represents additive white Gaussian noise at the τ sample, with N independently and identically distributed (i.i.d.) zero-mean complex Gaussian noise with the correlation matrix σn 2IN. Since the matrix B is a unitary matrix, the transformed noise v(τ) also has i.i.d. zero-mean complex Gaussian noise with the correlation matrix σn 2IN. To deal with the frequency selective channel, OFDM is applied, utilizing Nc subcarriers per antenna transmission. To combat Inter-Symbol Interference (ISI), a Cyclic Prefix (CP) of Ng samples is added to the OFDM symbols. When Q≦Ng+1, ISI does not occur on a MIMO OFDM symbol basis, and he ath received MIMO OFDM symbol after removal of CP is given as z(a)=Cx(a)+v(a) (16) where C is an effective channel matrix and is a KN�KM block circulant matrix with N�M block matrices. The block circulant matrix can be defined with the first block column and the first block column is defined as C 1 = [ B H  G  ( 0 )  B ⋮ B H  G  ( Q - 1 )  B 0 N  ( K - Q ) � M ] ( 17 ) where 0N(K−Q)�M is the N(K−Q)�M all zeros matrix. Let x(i, a) denote the symbol vector transmitted on the kth subcarrier of the ath MIMO OFDM symbol. Then, the transmitted block of samples in the time-domain becomes x _ ′  ( a ) = ( F - 1 ⊗ I M )  [ x _ 0  ( a ) ⋮ ⋮ x _ K - 1  ( a ) ] = ( F - 1 ⊗ I M )  x _  ( a ) ( 18 ) where {circle around (x)} denotes Kronecker product, F is the K�K Fourier matrix and In represents the n�n dimensional identity matrix. By taking FFT (fast Fourier transform) at the receiver, the frequency domain MIMO OFDM baseband signal model can be represented by y _  ( a ) = ( F ⊗ I N )  x _ ′  ( a ) = ( F ⊗ I N )  ( C  ( F - 1 ⊗ I M )  x _  ( a ) + v _  ( a ) ) = H ^  x _  ( a ) + n _ f  ( a ) ( 19 ) where nf(a) represents the frequency domain noise with i.i.d zero-mean complex Gaussian with (�)σn 2 per dimension and Ĥ is a block diagonal matrix, given by H ^ = [ H ^ 0 0 ⋰ ⋰ 0 H ^ K - 1 ] ( 20 ) where each diagonal block is given as H ^ k = ∑ q = 0 Q - 1  B H  G  ( q )  B   exp  ( - j2π  ql K ) ( 21 ) from Eq. (1). For subcarrier k, the symbol can be written as y k(a)=Ĥ k x k(a)+n k f(a) (22) This is a flat fading signal model per subcarrier. After applying the RX beamforming vector, the signal becomes r k =T k s k +n k r. (23) If we use all available beamforming vectors for all eigenvalues, λk,m, 1≦m≦M, in transmission and reception, namely use beamforming matrices for transmission and reception, the effective channel with TX and RX beamforming, Tk, becomes a diagonal matrix. Then, the data detection is easily done by the inverse matrix of this diagonal matrix. However, if the maximal SNR transmission and reception is used as described above, the effective channel, Tk, becomes just a scalar. Therefore, the data detection is simply done by a scalar equalizer. Therefore, the invention significantly reduces the complexity of the receiver structure. Although the features and elements of the present invention are described in the preferred embodiments in particular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone without the other features and elements of the preferred embodiments or in various combinations with or without other features and elements of the present invention. Preferably, the circuitry implementing the various transmitter and receiver processes and functions described above are incorporated in a single processor which may be an integrated circuit, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), with an interface component for interfacing with a source or consumer of serial data and another interface component for interfacing with multiple antennas. However, the circuitry may also be readily implemented using multiple separate integrated circuits and/or discrete components. The foregoing description makes references to specific transmitter and receiver configurations as examples only and not as limitations. Other variations and modifications consistent with the invention will be recognized by those of skill in the art. Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7469152 *Nov 22, 2005Dec 23, 2008The Regents Of The University Of CaliforniaMethod and apparatus for an adaptive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communications systemsUS7583982 *Jun 27, 2005Sep 1, 2009Interdigital Technology CorporationMethod and apparatus to improve channel quality for use in wireless communications systems with multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antennasUS7599714 *Sep 30, 2005Oct 6, 2009Alcatel-Lucent Usa Inc.Increasing the range of access point cells for a given throughput in a downlink of a wireless local area networkUS7656965Dec 29, 2005Feb 2, 2010Celeno Communications (Israel) Ltd.Method of secure WLAN communicationUS7672400Dec 29, 2005Mar 2, 2010Celeno Communications (Israel) Ltd.Method of secure WLAN communicationUS7751353Mar 23, 2006Jul 6, 2010Celeno Communications (Israel) Ltd.Device, system and method of securing wireless communicationUS7826555 *Aug 24, 2006Nov 2, 2010Panasonic CorporationMIMO-OFDM transmission device and MIMO-OFDM transmission methodUS7904117 *Aug 12, 2005Mar 8, 2011SibeamWireless communication device using adaptive beamformingUS7974359 *Dec 22, 2004Jul 5, 2011Qualcomm IncorporatedMethods and apparatus for mitigating multi-antenna correlation effect in communication systemsUS8005165Jul 20, 2010Aug 23, 2011Panasonic CorporationMIMO-OFDM transmission device, MIMO-OFDM transmission method, reception apparatus and reception methodUS8040856 *Sep 28, 2007Oct 18, 2011Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.System and method for wireless communication of uncompressed high definition video data using a beamforming acquisition protocolUS8098746 *Jun 14, 2007Jan 17, 2012Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving data in a closed-loop multi-antenna systemUS8184052 *Sep 18, 2009May 22, 2012Marvell International Ltd.Digital beamforming scheme for phased-array antennasUS8259599 *Feb 13, 2008Sep 4, 2012Qualcomm IncorporatedSystems and methods for distributed beamforming based on carrier-to-caused interferenceUS8284866Jun 28, 2011Oct 9, 2012Panasonic CorporationOFDM transmission signal generation apparatus and method, and OFDM reception data generation apparatus and methodUS8417191 *Mar 17, 2008Apr 9, 2013Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Method and system for beamforming communication in high throughput wireless communication systemsUS8446317May 17, 2012May 21, 2013Marvell International Ltd.Beamforming scheme for phased-array antennasUS8532078Apr 6, 2011Sep 10, 2013Celeno Communications Ltd.Method, apparatus and system of spatial division multiple access communication in a wireless local area networkUS8565146 *Feb 26, 2009Oct 22, 2013Qualcomm IncorporatedMethod and apparatus for supporting data transmission in a multi-carrier communication systemUS8611462Jun 22, 2007Dec 17, 2013Lg Electronics Inc.Data transfer method using phase-shift based precoding and transmitter implementing the sameUS8625718Sep 5, 2012Jan 7, 2014Panasonic CorporationTransmission apparatus, transmission method, reception apparatus, and reception methodUS8670504 *Mar 9, 2007Mar 11, 2014Qualcomm IncorporatedBeamspace-time coding based on channel quality feedbackUS20080144737 *Mar 9, 2007Jun 19, 2008Qualcomm IncorporatedBeamspace-time coding based on channel quality feedbackUS20090201903 *Feb 13, 2008Aug 13, 2009Qualcomm IncorporatedSystems and methods for distributed beamforming based on carrier-to-caused interferenceUS20090233556 *Mar 17, 2008Sep 17, 2009Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Method and system for beamforming communication in high throughput wireless communication systemsUS20100118802 *Jun 12, 2009May 13, 2010Qualcomm IncorporatedMethod and apparatus for directional association in a wireless communications systemEP2073471A1 *Dec 20, 2007Jun 24, 2009Sony CorporationImproved selection criterion for quantized precoded spatial multiplexing MIMOWO2007074453A2 *Dec 27, 2006Jul 5, 2007Celeno Comm LtdA method of secure wlan communication* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification455/562.1International ClassificationH04M1/00Cooperative ClassificationH04L25/0204, H04L25/0228, H04L2025/03414, H04L25/0248, H04L5/0023, H04B7/0617, H04L1/0026, H04L2025/03802, H04L2025/03426, H04L25/03343, H04L25/021European ClassificationH04L25/02C2, H04L1/00A9B, H04B7/06C1B, H04L25/03B9, H04L25/02C11A5, H04L25/02C1, H04L5/00A3CLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJan 30, 2013FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Sep 14, 2010CCCertificate of correctionFeb 9, 2010CCCertificate of correctionMay 24, 2006ASAssignmentOwner name: INTERDIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, DELAWAREFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:OLESEN, ROBERT LIND;KWAK, JAEYOUNG;BULTAN, AYKUT;REEL/FRAME:017668/0271Effective date: 20060414RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google

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Patent US5549249 - Fluid spinner and nozzle head assembly with controlled fluid flood path - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsThe construction of a nozzle head for a trigger sprayer apparatus and the constructions of several variant embodiments of fluid spinners that are assembled into the nozzle head facilitate the assembly of the spinners into the nozzle head with fluid swirl chambers of the spinners centered relative to...http://www.google.com/patents/US5549249?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5549249 - Fluid spinner and nozzle head assembly with controlled fluid flood pathAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5549249 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/230,494Publication dateAug 27, 1996Filing dateApr 20, 1994Priority dateDec 13, 1991Fee statusPaidAlso published asCA2188392A1, CA2188392C, DE69513283D1, DE69513283T2, EP0756524A1, EP0756524A4, EP0756524B1, EP0933137A2, EP0933137A3, US5628461, WO1995029014A1Publication number08230494, 230494, US 5549249 A, US 5549249A, US-A-5549249, US5549249 A, US5549249AInventorsDonald D. Foster, Philip L. NelsonOriginal AssigneeContico International, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (25), Referenced by (17), Classifications (17), Legal Events (24) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetFluid spinner and nozzle head assembly with controlled fluid flood pathUS 5549249 AAbstract The construction of a nozzle head for a trigger sprayer apparatus and the constructions of several variant embodiments of fluid spinners that are assembled into the nozzle head facilitate the assembly of the spinners into the nozzle head with fluid swirl chambers of the spinners centered relative to a fluid discharge orifice of the nozzle head. The swirl chamber of each spinner assembly is surrounded by an annular wall and the end face of the annular wall engages against a flat orifice wall surrounding the sprayer discharge orifice thereby sealing the swirl chamber around the orifice. Tangential grooves through the annular wall provide the only path of fluid flow into the swirl chamber.
What is claimed is: 1. A trigger sprayer comprising:a sprayer housing having a fluid channel with a cylindrical interior surface extending axially therethrough, the channel having opposite first and second ends with a fluid outlet opening at the first end and a fluid inlet opening at the second end; a nozzle head assembled to the first end of the sprayer housing, the nozzle head having an orifice wall with a fluid discharge orifice extending axially therethrough, a cylindrical conduit projecting from the orifice wall through the fluid channel outlet opening and into the fluid channel, the conduit having a cylindrical interior surface and a cylindrical exterior surface in engagement with the interior surface of the fluid channel, and a projection projecting from the orifice wall into the conduit, the orifice extending through and being centered in the projection and the projection being centered in the conduit; and, a fluid spinner assembly contained in the conduit, the spinner assembly having a spinner head with axially opposite first and second end faces and an annular wall projecting an axial distance from the first end face and forming a swirl chamber at the first end face, the annular wall having an interior surface that surrounds the swirl chamber and the projection on the orifice wall, and the annular wall having a distal end surface that engages with the orifice wall around the projection where the axial distance of the annular wall's projection from the first end face spaces the orifice wall projection from the first end face of the spinner head. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:the projection on the orifice wall has a cylindrical exterior surface with a first circumferential measure and the interior surface of the annular wall is cylindrical and has a second circumferential measure that is smaller than the first circumferential measure where the difference in the circumferences of the projection and the annular wall interior surface produce a sealing interference fit of the annular wall interior surface around the projection. 3. The sprayer apparatus of claim 1, wherein:the orifice wall projection has a first circumferential dimension and the interior surface of the spinner head annular wall has a second circumferential dimension that is slightly larger than the first circumferential dimension. 4. The sprayer apparatus of claim 3, wherein:the interior surface of the nozzle head conduit has a third circumferential dimension and the exterior surface of the spinner head annular wall has a fourth circumferential dimension smaller than the third circumferential dimension. 5. The sprayer apparatus of claim 1, wherein:at least one tangential groove extends through the annular wall of the spinner head between the exterior surface and the interior surface of the annular wall, the tangential groove bypasses the engagement of the annular wall distal end surface with the orifice wall and bypasses the orifice wall projection surrounded by the annular wall thereby providing fluid communication between the fluid channel of the sprayer housing and the swirl chamber of the spinner head through the tangential groove. 6. The sprayer apparatus of claim 1, wherein:the fluid spinner assembly includes means for interacting with the nozzle head conduit to maintain the distal end surface of the spinner head annular wall in engagement with the nozzle head orifice wall. 7. The sprayer apparatus of claim 6, wherein:the means for interacting with the nozzle head conduit includes at least a pair of radial spines on the spinner head that engage against the interior surface of the nozzle head conduit. 8. The sprayer apparatus of claim 1, wherein:the sprayer housing fluid channel has a valve seat at the second end of the channel; and the spinner assembly comprises a priming valve connected to the spinner head by a spring, the priming valve engages against the valve seat of the fluid channel to control fluid flow through the inlet and the spring biases the distal end surface of the spinner head annular wall into engagement with the nozzle head orifice wall, 9. The sprayer apparatus of claim 1, wherein:the sprayer housing fluid channel has a valve seat at the second end of the channel; and, the spinner assembly comprises a disk valve connected to the second end face of the spinner head, the disk valve engages against the valve seat of the fluid channel to control fluid flow through the inlet and holds the distal end surface of the spinner head annular wall in engagement with the nozzle head orifice wall. 10. The sprayer apparatus of claim 1, wherein:the nozzle head orifice wall is a flat surface extending radially between the orifice wall projection and the orifice wall conduit interior surface. 11. A trigger sprayer apparatus comprising:a sprayer housing having a longitudinal liquid channel extending therethrough, the channel having a liquid outlet opening; a head member on the sprayer housing, the head member having an orifice wall positioned proximate to the liquid outlet opening of the liquid channel, the orifice wall having a face surface and a fluid discharge orifice extending longitudinally through the orifice wall to the face surface, the head member has a tubular sleeve that surrounds the orifice and extends longitudinally from the orifice wall through the liquid outlet opening and into the liquid channel of the sprayer housing; and, a fluid spinner within the liquid channel, the spinner having an end wall proximate to the orifice wall and a swirl chamber adjacent the end wall, the swirl chamber is surrounded by an annular wall that projects longitudinally from the spinner end wall to an annular end face of the annular wall, the head member tubular sleeve surrounds the annular wall of the swirl chamber, and the annular wall has an interior surface that surrounds the orifice and defines a volume of the swirl chamber bounded by the spinner end wall, the interior surface of the annular wall, and the face surface of the orifice the interior volume of the swirl chamber imparting a spin to liquid passed through the swirl chamber, resulting in a spray of liquid being discharged from the discharge orifice. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:the annular end face of the annular wall engages in sealing contact with the orifice wall around the orifice. 13. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:the tubular sleeve has a tapered portion adjacent the orifice wall and the tapered portion of the sleeve engages in contact with the annular wall of the spinner centering the spinner around the orifice. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:the spinner annular wall has a minimum exterior circumference and the tapered portion of the member head sleeve has a minimum interior circumference that is larger than the minimum exterior circumference of the annular wall providing a clearance between the annular wall and the sleeve tapered portion that allows the annular end face of the annular wall to engage in sealing contact with the orifice wall around the orifice without interference from contact between the annular wall and the sleeve tapered portion. 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:at least one groove extends through the annular wall and opens through the annular wall interior surface into the swirl chamber between the orifice wall face surface and the spinner end wall. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:the one groove is a tangential groove. 17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:a spring having opposite ends and a priming valve are contained in the liquid channel, one end of the spring acts against the priming valve and biases the priming valve into engagement with a valve seat at one end of the sprayer housing channel, and the opposite end of the spring acts against the fluid spinner and biases the annular end face of the spinner annular wall in sealing contact with the orifice wall around the orifice. 18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:an incompressible stem extends longitudinally from the fluid spinner to a disk valve connected to the stem, the disk valve is engaged in a valve seat at one end of the sprayer housing liquid channel, and the stem maintains sealing contact of the spinner wall annular end face with the orifice wall around the orifice. 19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:a stem extends longitudinally from the fluid spinner through the interior of the member head sleeve, and at least one radial spine projects laterally from the stem and engages against an interior surface of the sleeve. 20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:the orifice wall has a cylindrical projection that extends longitudinally from the orifice wall to a distal end of the projection, the face surface of the orifice wall is on the distal end of the orifice wall projection, and the discharge orifice extends longitudinally through the orifice wall and through the orifice wall projection to the face surface. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein:the interior surface of the annular wall engages in sealing contact around the orifice wall projection. 22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein:the cylindrical projection on the orifice wall has a first circumference and the interior surface of the spinner annular wall has a second circumference that is slightly smaller than the first circumference where the difference in the circumferences of the projection and annular wall interior surface produce a sealing interference fit of the annular wall interior surface around the orifice wall projection. 23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:the fluid spinner is formed separately from the sprayer housing. 24. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:the trigger sprayer discharges a nonvariable liquid spray pattern. 25. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:the liquid channel has an inlet opening and a control valve at the inlet opening, the fluid spinner is operatively connected to the control valve and resists opening of the control valve except in response to liquid pressure exerted on the control valve. 26. A trigger sprayer apparatus comprising:a sprayer housing having a longitudinal liquid channel extending therethrough, the channel having longitudinally opposite first and second ends with a liquid outlet opening at the first end and a liquid inlet opening at the second end; a nozzle head on the sprayer housing, the nozzle head having an orifice wall positioned proximate to the fluid outlet opening of the liquid channel, the orifice wall having a cylindrical projection that extends longitudinally from the orifice wall to a face surface of the projection, a liquid discharge orifice having a continuous interior bore extends longitudinally through the orifice wall and through the projection to the face surface of the projection, and a tubular sleeve surrounds the projection and extends longitudinally from the orifice wall, the sleeve has an interior surface that tapers as the interior surface extends toward the orifice wall; and a fluid spinner is contained in the liquid channel and the nozzle head sleeve, the spinner has an end wall proximate to the orifice wall and a swirl chamber adjacent the end wall, the swirl chamber is surrounded by an annular wall that projects longitudinally from the spinner end wall to an annular end face of the annular wall, the annular wall has an interior surface that surrounds the orifice wall projection, and the annular wall has an exterior surface that engages with the tapered interior surface of the nozzle head sleeve whereby the tapered interior surface of the nozzle head sleeve centers the spinner annular wall around the orifice wall projection. 27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein:the fluid spinner is positioned in the nozzle head sleeve by passing the spinner through the sleeve toward the orifice wall with the sleeve tapered interior surface engaging against the spinner annular wall and centering the annular wall around the orifice wall projection. 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein:the spinner annular wall has a minimum exterior circumference and the tapered interior surface of the nozzle head sleeve has a minimum interior circumference that is larger than the minimum exterior circumference of the annular wall providing a clearance between the annular wall and the tapered interior surface that allows the interior surface of the annular wall to pass over the orifice wall projection and the annular end face of the annular wall to engage in sealing contact with the orifice wall without interference from contact between the annular wall and the tapered interior surface of the sleeve. 29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein:the cylindrical projection on the orifice wall has a first exterior circumference and the interior surface of the spinner annular wall has a second interior circumference that is slightly smaller than the first exterior circumference where the difference in the circumferences of the projection and annular wall interior surface produce a sealing interference fit of the annular wall interior surface around the orifice wall projection. 30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein:the tubular sleeve of the nozzle head extends from the orifice wall through the outlet opening and into the liquid channel of the sprayer housing. 31. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein:at least one groove extends through the annular wall and opens through the annular wall interior surface into the swirl chamber between the projection face surface and the spinner end wall. 32. A trigger sprayer comprising:a sprayer housing having a liquid channel extending axially therethrough, the channel having opposite first and second ends with a liquid outlet opening at the first end and a liquid inlet opening at the second end; a nozzle head assembled to the first end of the sprayer housing channel, the nozzle head having an orifice wall with a liquid discharge orifice extending axially therethrough and a projection projecting from the orifice wall, the orifice extending through and being centered in the projection; and, a fluid spinner contained in the liquid channel, the spinner having a spinner head with an end face and an annular wall projecting an axial distance from the end face and forming a swirl chamber at the end face, the annular wall having an interior surface that surrounds the swirl chamber and the projection on the orifice wall, and the annular wall having a distal end surface that engages with the orifice wall around the projection where the axial distance of the annular wall's projection from the end face spaces the orifice wall projection from the end face of the spinner head. 33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein:the projection on the orifice wall has a cylindrical exterior surface with a first circumference and the interior surface of the annular wall is cylindrical and has a second circumference that is smaller than the first circumference where the difference in the circumferences of the projection and the annular wall interior surface produce a sealing interference fit of the annular wall interior surface around the projection. 34. The sprayer apparatus of claim 22, wherein:the orifice wall projection has a first circumferential dimension and the interior surface of the spinner head annular wall has a second circumferential dimension that is slightly larger than the first circumferential dimension. 35. The sprayer apparatus of claim 32, wherein:at least one tangential groove extends through the annular wall of the spinner head, the tangential groove bypasses the engagement of the annular wall distal end surface with the orifice wall and bypasses the orifice wall projection surrounded by the annular wall thereby providing fluid communication between the liquid channel of the sprayer housing and the swirl chamber of the spinner head through the tangential groove. 36. The sprayer apparatus of claim 32, wherein:a tubular sleeve projects from the orifice wall through the liquid channel outlet opening and into the fluid channel, and the fluid spinner includes at least a pair of radial spines on the spinner head that engage against the sleeve to maintain the distal end surface of the spinner head annular wall in engagement with the nozzle head orifice wall. 37. The sprayer apparatus of claim 32, wherein:the sprayer housing liquid channel has a valve seat at the second end of the channel; and the spinner comprises a priming valve connected to the spinner head by a spring, the priming valve engages against the valve seat of the liquid channel to control fluid flow through the inlet and the spring biases the distal end surface of the spinner head annular wall into engagement with the nozzle head orifice wall. 38. The sprayer apparatus of claim 32 wherein:the sprayer housing liquid channel has a valve seat at the second end of the channel; and, the spinner comprises a disk valve connected to the spinner head, the disk valve engages against the valve seat of the liquid channel to control liquid flow through the inlet and holds the distal end surface of the spinner head annular wall in engagement with the nozzle head orifice wall. Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes disadvantages of prior art trigger sprayer apparatus of the type set forth above by providing a nozzle head assembly and a fluid spinner assembly that are easily assembled together with a swirl chamber of the spinner assembly sealed and centered relative to a discharge orifice of the nozzle head.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows the nozzle head 10 and fluid spinner 12 of the present invention assembled to a conventional trigger sprayer apparatus 14 of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,754, assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by referenced. Generally, the portions of the trigger sprayer apparatus 14 shown in FIG. 1 include the sprayer housing 16 having the manually operated trigger 18 attached thereto for pivoting movement, and a covering shroud 20 assembled over the housing.
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text: I hated to see this book end. It was well written, enjoyable and included a bit of history. I don't know how it would be as a written book, but it's made for listening. It may be a book club recommendation

value: Audible is an American online audiobook and podcast service owned by Amazon.com Inc. that allows users to purchase and stream audiobooks and other forms of spoken word content.