The invention claimed is:
1. A communication system comprising:
a first transceiver having a first processor and a first directional antenna;
a second transceiver having a second processor and a second antenna;
a locator coupled to the first transceiver for determining the physical location of the second antenna relative to the first antenna;
a spatially multiplexed communication link formed between the first and second transceivers, the link including a wireless beam from the first antenna to the second antenna; and
a first beamformer in the first transceiver for shaping the wireless beam to be directed between the first antenna and the second antenna.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second antennas are movable relative to one another and the first beamformer updates the direction of the wireless beam in response to the relative motion.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless beam is a radio frequency beam.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first transceiver is in a base station and the second transceiver is in a mobile unit.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first transceiver is in a mobile unit and the second transceiver is in a base station.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the locator is responsive to location data from a satellite positioning system.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the locator is responsive to location data from a ground-based positioning system.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the beamformer includes a nulling circuit for suppressing signals outside of the direction of the second antenna.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the beamformer includes an adaptive processing module to alter the shape of the wireless beam over time.
10. A cellular communication system comprising:
a base transceiver having a directional base antenna, the base antenna having a fixed geographical position within the cell;
a mobile transceiver having a mobile antenna, the mobile antenna being movable relative to the base antenna;
a communication link between the base and mobile transceivers formed by a wireless signal between the antennas;
a positioning system for detecting the geographical position of the mobile antenna, the position of the mobile antenna being communicated from the mobile transceiver to the base transceiver over the communication link;
a beamformer in the base transceiver for modifying the signal in response to the relative motion of the antennas; and
a nulling module coupled to the beamformer for suppressing interference to the signal.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the beamformer updates the shape of the signal over time.
12. The system of claim 10 wherein the signal is a radio frequency beam.
13. The system of claim 10 wherein the positioning system is responsive to position data from a satellite positioning system.
14. The system of claim 10 wherein the positioning system is responsive to position data from a ground-based positioning system.
15. The system of claim 10 wherein the beamformer includes a plurality of programmable filter arrays.
16. The system of claim 10 further comprising a table of stored antenna weights stored in memory, the table accessed by the nulling module to modify the signal.
17. The system of claim 10 further comprising an adaptive processing module to alter the shape of the beam over time.
18. The system of claim 10 wherein the mobile antenna is a directional antenna.
19. The system of claim 10 wherein the communication link is spatially multiplexed.
20. A method for operating a communication system comprising:
operating a first transceiver having a first processor and a first directional antenna;
operating a second transceiver having a second processor and a second antenna;
determining the physical location of the second antenna relative to the first antenna;
forming a spatially multiplexed communication link between the first and second transceivers, the link including a wireless beam between the first antenna and the second antenna; and
in a first beamformer in the first transceiver, responding to the physical location of the second antenna and shaping the wireless beam to be directed between the first antenna and the second antenna.
21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of:
moving the first and second antennas relative to one another; and
in the beamformer, updating the direction of the signal over time in response to the relative movement.
22. The method of claim 20 wherein the first wireless beam is a radio frequency beam.
23. The method of claim 20 wherein the first transceiver is in a base station and the second transceiver is in a mobile unit.
24. The method of claim 20 wherein the first transceiver is in a mobile unit and the second transceiver is in a base station.
25. The method of claim 20 wherein the locator is responsive to position data from a satellite positioning system.
26. The method of claim 20 wherein the locator is responsive to position data from a ground-based positioning system.
27. The method of claim 20 wherein the beamformer includes a nulling circuit to suppress signals outside the direction of the second antenna.
28. The method of claim 20 wherein the beamformer includes an adaptive processing module for altering the shape of the wireless beam over time.
29. A method of operating a cellular communication system comprising:
operating a base transceiver having a directional base antenna, the base antenna having a fixed geographical position within a cell;
operating a mobile transceiver having a mobile antenna, the mobile antenna being movable relative to the base transceiver;
forming a communication link between the base and mobile transceivers by a wireless signal between the antennas;
in a positioning system, detecting the geographical position of the mobile antenna, the position of the mobile antenna being communicated to the base transceiver over the communication link;
in a beamformer in the base transceiver, modifying the signal in response to the relative motion of the antennas; and
in a nulling module coupled to the beamformer, suppressing interference with the signal.
30. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of modifying the signal comprises updating the direction of the signal over time in response to relative motion between the antennas.
31. The method of claim 29 wherein the signal is a radio frequency beam.
32. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of detecting comprises receiving position data from a satellite positioning system.
33. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of detecting comprises receiving position data from a ground-based positioning system.
34. The method of claim 29 wherein the beamformer includes a plurality of programmable filter arrays.
35. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of modifying the signal comprises providing antenna weights from a table stored in memory.
36. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of modifying includes adaptively altering the shape of the signal over time.
37. The method of claim 29 wherein the mobile antenna is a directional antenna.
38. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of forming a communication link comprises spatially multiplexing the signal within the cell.
39. A cellular communication system comprising:
a base transceiver having a directional base antenna, the base antenna having a fixed geographical position;
a mobile transceiver having a directional mobile antenna, the mobile antenna being movable relative to the base transceiver;
a communication link between the base and mobile transceivers formed by a wireless signal between the antennas;
a positioning system for detecting the geographical position of the mobile antenna, the position of the mobile antenna being communicated to the base transceiver over the communication link; and
a first beamformer in the base transceiver and a second beamformer in the mobile transceiver for modifying the signal in response to the relative motion of the antennas.
40. The system of claim 39 wherein the beamformers update the direction of the signal over time in response to the relative movement between the antennas.
41. The system of claim 39 wherein the beamformers modify the signal to be omnidirectional when the antennas are separated by less than a specific range.
42. The system of claim 39 wherein the signal is a radio frequency beam.
43. The system of claim 39 wherein the positioning system is responsive to position data from a satellite positioning system.
44. The system of claim 39 wherein the positioning system is responsive to position data from a ground-based positioning system.
45. The system of claim 39 wherein the beamformers include a plurality of programmable filter arrays.
46. The system of claim 39 further comprising a table stored in memory for providing antenna weights to the beamformer to modify the signal.
47. The system of claim 39 further comprising an adaptive processing module coupled to the beamformer to alter the shape of the signal over time.
48. The system of claim 39 further comprising a nulling module coupled to the beamformer to suppress interference with the signal.
49. The system of claim 39 wherein the communication link includes a spatially multiplexed signal.
50. A method of operating a cellular communication system comprising:
operating a base transceiver having a directional base antenna, the base antenna having a fixed geographical position within a cell;
operating a mobile transceiver having a directional mobile antenna, the mobile antenna being movable relative to the base antenna;
forming a communication link between the base and mobile transceivers by a wireless signal between the antennas;
in a positioning system, detecting the geographical position of the mobile antenna, the position of the mobile antenna being communicated to the base transceiver over the communication link; and
in a first beamformer in the base transceiver and a second beamformer in the mobile transceiver, modifying the signal in response to the relative motion of the antennas.
51. The method of claim 50 wherein the step of modifying the signal comprises updating the direction of the signal over time in response to the relative movement of the antennas.
52. The method of claim 50 wherein the step of modifying comprises determining the range between the base antenna and the mobile antenna and, when the range is less than a specific range, modifying the signal to be omnidirectional.
53. The method of claim 50 wherein the signal is a radio frequency beam.
54. The method of claim 50 wherein the step of detecting comprises receiving position data from a satellite positioning system.
55. The method of claim 50 wherein the step of detecting comprises receiving position data from a ground-based positioning system.
56. The method of claim 50 wherein the beamformers include a plurality of programmable filter arrays.
57. The method of claim 50 wherein the step of modifying the signal comprises providing antenna weights from a table stored in memory.
58. The method of claim 50 wherein the step of modifying the signal comprises performing adaptive processing to alter the shape of the signal over time.
59. The method of claim 50 wherein the step of modifying the signal comprises suppressing interference with the signal in a nulling module.
60. The method of claim 50 wherein the step of forming the communication link comprises a spatially multiplex signal.
61. A beamforming circuit for a communication system comprising:
a plurality of sampling circuits for receiving communication signals;
a plurality of programmable finite impulse response (FIR) filters, each FIR filter being connected to a sampling circuit;
a summing circuit that sums filtered signals from the plurality of FIR filters; and
a directional wireless signal formed from the summed signals.
62. The circuit of claim 61 wherein the sampling circuits, the plurality of programmable FIR filters and the summing circuit are formed on a single integrated circuit.
63. The circuit of claim 61 further comprising a multiplier connected to each sampling circuit to generate an in-phase channel and a quadrature channel, each channel being connected to a filter, a converter and one of the FIR filters.
64. The circuit of claim 61 wherein the communication system comprises a cellular network including a plurality of transceivers that communicate by wireless link with mobile transceiver units, and further including a base station having an adaptive array processor providing weighting signals to the FIR filters.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A sanitizing system for condensate from at least one condensate-producing system that collects, treats, and diverts the condensate for constructive applications, said system comprising:
a source of sanitizing vapor adapted to release vapors to sanitize condensate containing algae and disease causing elements;
a basket configured to house said source of sanitizing vapor and having a bottom surface with at least one aperture formed therethrough and said at least one aperture dimensioned sufficiently small so as to retain said source of sanitizing vapor within said basket;
a hollow chamber configured to house said basket and said source of sanitizing vapor, said hollow chamber having a side wall with an inlet opening and a discharge opening formed therethrough;
condensate discharge tubing coupled to the condensate-producing system;
a fluid flow control operatively coupled between said condensate discharge tubing and said inlet opening that is configured to create one-directional flow of condensate from the condensate-producing system and through said condensate discharge tubing to said inlet opening, and thereafter into said hollow chamber; and
said fluid flow control comprising at least one float ball valve adapted to prevent the sanitizing vapors from back flowing to the condensate-producing system whereby the condensate is sanitized by the vapors as the condensate moves through said hollow chamber toward said discharge opening.
2. The sanitizing system of claim 1 wherein said bottom surface comprises an inclined bottom surface.
3. The sanitizing system of claim 1 wherein said fluid flow control comprises a p-trap.
4. The sanitizing system of claim 3 wherein said fluid flow control further comprises a plurality of p-traps.
5. The sanitizing system of claim 4 wherein said at least one float ball valve further comprises a float ball and a plurality of fastening ridges adapted for creating an area within which said float ball can move from a position blocking fluid communication between adjacent ones of said p-traps to a position that temporarily allows for free flow of fluid between said p-traps.
6. The sanitizing system of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of wings within said float ball movement area, said wings being configured and positioned to center said float ball within said movement area.
7. The sanitizing system of claim 1 wherein said bottom surface comprises an inclined bottom surface and said fluid flow control comprises a p-trap.
8. The sanitizing system of claim 7 wherein said fluid flow control further comprises a plurality of p-traps.
9. A sanitizing system for condensate from a condensate-producing system that collects, treats, and diverts the condensate for constructive applications, said system comprising:
a source of sanitizing vapor adapted to release vapors to sanitize condensate containing algae and disease causing elements;
a hollow chamber having a bottom surface with at least one aperture formed therethrough to house said source of sanitizing vapor, said hollow chamber including a side wall having an inlet opening and a discharge opening formed therethrough;
condensate discharge tubing coupled to the condensate-producing system;
a fluid flow control operatively coupled between said condensate discharge tubing and said inlet opening that is configured to create one-directional flow of condensate from the condensate-producing system and through said condensate discharge tubing to said inlet opening, and thereafter into said hollow chamber; and
said fluid flow control comprising at least one float ball valve adapted to prevent the sanitizing vapors from back flowing to the condensate-producing system whereby the condensate is sanitized by the vapors as the condensate moves through said hollow chamber toward said discharge opening.
10. The sanitizing system of claim 9 wherein said bottom surface comprises an inclined bottom surface.
11. The sanitizing system of claim 9 wherein said fluid flow control comprises a p-trap.
12. The sanitizing system of claim 11 wherein said fluid flow control further comprises a plurality of p-traps.
13. The sanitizing system of claim 12 wherein said at least one float ball valve further comprises a float ball and a plurality of fastening ridges adapted for creating an area within which said float ball can move from a position blocking fluid communication between adjacent ones of said p-traps to a position that temporarily allows for free flow of fluid between said p-traps.
14 The sanitizing system of claim 13 further comprising a plurality of wings within said float ball movement area, said wings being configured and positioned to center said float ball within said movement area.
15. The sanitizing system of claim 9 wherein said bottom surface comprises an inclined bottom surface and said fluid flow control comprises a p-trap.
16. The sanitizing system of claim 15 wherein said fluid flow control further comprises a plurality of p-traps.
17. A sanitizing system for condensate from a condensate-producing system that collects, treats, and diverts the condensate for constructive applications, said system comprising:
a source of sanitizing vapor adapted to release vapors to sanitize condensate containing algae and disease causing elements;
a basket configured to house said source of sanitizing vapor and having a bottom surface with at least one aperture formed therethrough and said at least one aperture dimensioned sufficiently small so as to retain said source of sanitizing vapor within said basket, and wherein said bottom surface includes at least one upwardly projecting protrusion;
a hollow chamber configured to house said basket and said source of sanitizing vapor, said hollow chamber including a side wall having an inlet opening and a discharge opening formed therethrough;
condensate discharge tubing coupled to the condensate-producing system;
a fluid flow control operatively coupled between said condensate discharge tubing and said inlet opening that is configured to create one-directional flow of condensate from the condensate-producing system and through said condensate discharge tubing to said inlet opening, and thereafter into said hollow chamber; and
said fluid flow control adapted to prevent the sanitizing vapors from back flowing to the air conditioning system from which the condensate was derived whereby the condensate is sanitized by the vapors as the condensate moves through said hollow chamber to said discharge opening.
18. The sanitizing system of claim 17 wherein said at least one upwardly projecting protrusion comprises a continuous ridge to form a flow pattern for the condensate on said inclined bottom surface.
19. A sanitizing system for condensate from a condensate-producing system that collects, treats, and diverts the condensate for constructive applications, said system comprising:
a source of sanitizing vapor adapted to release vapors to sanitize condensate containing algae and disease causing elements;
a hollow chamber having a bottom surface with at least one aperture formed therethrough to house said source of sanitizing vapor, said hollow chamber including a side wall having an inlet opening and a discharge opening formed therethrough, and wherein said bottom surface includes at least one upwardly projecting protrusion;
condensate discharge tubing coupled to the air conditioning system;
a fluid flow control operatively coupled between said condensate discharge tubing and said inlet opening that is configured to create one-directional flow of condensate from the condensate-producing system and through said condensate discharge tubing to said inlet opening, and thereafter into said hollow chamber; and
said fluid flow control adapted to prevent said sanitizing vapors from back flowing to the system from which the condensate was derived whereby the condensate is sanitized by the vapors as the condensate moves through said hollow chamber to said discharge opening.
20. The sanitizing system of claim 19 wherein said at least one upwardly projecting protrusion comprises a continuous ridge to form a flow pattern for the condensate on said inclined bottom surface.
21. A sanitizing system for air conditioning condensate from a condensate-producing system that collects, treats, and diverts the condensate for constructive applications, said system comprising:
a source of sanitizing vapor adapted to release vapors to sanitize condensate containing algae and disease causing elements;
a hollow chamber having a bottom surface with at least one aperture formed therethrough to house the source of sanitizing vapor, said hollow chamber including a side wall having an inlet opening and a discharge opening formed therethrough, and wherein said bottom surface includes at least one upwardly projecting protrusion;
condensate discharge tubing coupled to the condensate-producing system;
a fluid flow control operatively coupled between said condensate discharge tubing and said inlet opening that is configured to create one-directional flow of condensate from the condensate-producing system and through said condensate discharge tubing to said inlet opening, and thereafter into said hollow chamber; and
said fluid flow control comprising a plurality of p-traps adapted to prevent the sanitizing vapors from back flowing to the system from which the condensate was derived whereby the condensate is sanitized by the vapors as the condensate moves through said hollow chamber to said discharge opening.