Base station antenna arrangement.

摘要

A smart antenna for a base station comprising a plurality of antenna arrays (40; Fig. 6a) each capable of forming a multiplicity of separate overlapping narrow beams in azimuth, the arrays being positioned such that the totality of beams formed by the arrays provides a substantially omni-directional coverage in azimuth. The arrangement includes switching matrix means (78, 82; Fig. 6b) for connecting each transceiver with one or other of the arrays via beamforming means. Control means (80; Fig. 6b, 64; Fig. 6a) for the switch matrix enable any transceiver to be connected to any array, via the beamforming means, to exchange r.f. signals with a remote station located in the area covered by one of the narrow overlapping beams. Means are provided for selecting (72, 80, 82; Fig. 6b) for a given call more than one of the best received signals from the multiplicity of narrow overlapping beams and for combining the selected signals to form a single receive signal input for an r.f. transceiver for the given call.