Direction-agile antenna controller
Method and apparatus for retrofitting wireless devices to control a direction-agile antenna. Alternative solutions include pulse code modulating either the RF signal or a DC bias applied to the RF signal or by applying a PCM signal to the existing LED indicator light which is sensed at an optical receiver.
1 . A method of retrofitting an RF signal wireless communications device having an antenna with a fixed gain characteristic to instead employ a direction-agile antenna responsive to an antenna-pointing signal to steer the direction-agile antenna to generate its antenna gain in a selected direction; the method comprising the steps of:
a) replacing the fixed gain antenna with said direction-agile antenna;
b) generating an antenna-pointing signal;
c) modulating the RF signal of said wireless communications device with said antenna-pointing signal;
d) detecting said antenna-pointing signal modulating said RF signal; and
e) applying said detected antenna-pointing signal to said direction-agile antenna.
2 . The method recited in claim 1 wherein step b) comprises the step of configuring said antenna-pointing signal as a serial pulse code modulated data stream.
3 . The method recited in claim 2 further comprising the step of converting said detected antenna-pointing signal from said serial pulse code modulated data stream to a parallel format before performing step e).
4 . A method of retrofitting an RF signal wireless communications device having an antenna with a fixed gain characteristic to instead employ a direction-agile antenna responsive to an antenna-pointing signal to steer the direction-agile antenna to generate its antenna gain in a selected direction; the method comprising the steps of:
a) replacing the fixed gain antenna with said direction-agile antenna;
b) generating an antenna-pointing signal;
c) superimposing a DC level on the RF signal of said wireless communications device;
d) modulating said DC level with said antenna-pointing signal;
e) employing a baseband digital decoder circuit to decode said modulated DC level to regenerate said antenna-pointing signal; and
f) applying said regenerated antenna-pointing signal to said direction-agile antenna.
5 . The method recited in claim 4 wherein step b) comprises the step of configuring said antenna-pointing signal as a serial pulse code modulated data stream.
6 . The method recited in claim 5 further comprising the step of converting said decoded antenna-pointing signal from said serial pulse code modulated data stream to a parallel format before performing step f).
7 . A method of retrofitting a wireless communications device having an antenna with a fixed gain characteristic to instead employ a direction-agile antenna responsive to an antenna-pointing signal to steer the direction-agile antenna to generate its antenna gain in a selected direction; the method comprising the steps of:
a) replacing the fixed gain antenna with said direction-agile antenna;
b) generating an antenna-pointing signal;
c) modulating an LED activity light of said wireless communications device with said antenna-pointing signal;
d) employing an optical detector to detect said antenna-pointing signal modulating said LED activity light; and
e) applying said detected antenna-pointing signal to said direction-agile antenna.
8 . The method recited in claim 7 wherein step b) comprises the step of configuring said antenna-pointing signal as a serial pulse code modulated data stream.
9 . The method recited in claim 8 further comprising the step of converting said detected antenna-pointing signal from said serial pulse code modulated data stream to a parallel format before performing step e).
10 . A method of retrofitting a wireless communications device having an antenna with a fixed gain characteristic to instead employ a direction-agile antenna responsive to an antenna-pointing signal to steer the direction-agile antenna to generate its antenna gain in a selected direction; the method comprising the steps of:
a) replacing the fixed gain antenna with said direction-agile antenna;
b) generating an antenna-pointing signal;
c) selecting a signal available in said wireless communications device and modulating said selected signal with said antenna-pointing signal;
d) detecting said modulating antenna-pointing signal at a location between said wireless communications device and said direction-agile antenna; and
e) applying said detected antenna-pointing signal to said direction-agile antenna.
11 . The method recited in claim 10 wherein step b) comprises the step of configuring said antenna-pointing signal as a serial pulse code modulated data stream.
12 . The method recited in claim 11 further comprising the step of converting said detected antenna-pointing signal from said serial pulse code modulated data stream to a parallel format before performing step e).
13 . A method of providing a wireless communications device having a direction-agile antenna responsive to an antenna-pointing signal to steer the direction-agile antenna to generate its antenna gain in a selected direction; the method comprising the steps of:
a) generating an antenna-pointing signal;
b) selecting a signal available in said wireless communications device and modulating said selected signal with said antenna-pointing signal;
c) detecting said modulating antenna-pointing signal at a location between said wireless communications device and said direction-agile antenna; and
d) applying said detected antenna-pointing signal to said direction-agile antenna.
14 . The method recited in claim 13 wherein step a) comprises the step of configuring said antenna-pointing signal as a serial pulse code modulated data stream.
15 . The method recited in claim 14 further comprising the step of converting said detected antenna-pointing signal from said serial pulse code modulated data stream to a parallel format before performing step d).