CalAmp Awarded Patents for Smart Antenna Technology

CalAmp Corp. was awarded two new U.S. patents titled “Calibration methods and structures in wireless communications systems” (No. 7,392,015) and Adaptive beamforming methods and systems that enhance and reduce computations (No. 7,339,979). These patents cover technology used in adaptive antenna systems.

The first patent describes a system and method for wireless transceivers that receive and transmit signals from an array of antennas connected to spatial processing channels. The patent covers calibration methods and structures that compensate for the relative gain and phase errors of transceivers utilizing frequency-domain spatial processing algorithms.

The second patent describes computational methods to increase real-time performance and reduce implementation complexity and cost by processing spatial information progressively on delay-optimized sub-arrays.

CalAmp was previously awarded three other patents related to smart antenna technology: “Wireless communications structures and methods utilizing frequency domain spatial processing” (No. 7,072,693); “Wireless communication structures and methods with enhanced range and performance” (No. 7,035,652); and “Spatial-temporal methods and systems for reception of non-line of-sight communication signals” (No. 6,947,507).

Although this technology may sound like it’s too complex for consumer services, CalAmp sees it being leveraged to enhance the performance of networks using WiFi, WiMAX, broadband “white space” UHF and 700 MHz mobile frequencies. It may also find use in ATSC mobile TV applications. CalAmp said the complex spatial processing cancels interference by better utilizing high multipath, non-line-of-sight channels, substantially improving data throughput and reducing “dead spots.”

More information is available at www.calamp.com.

Doug Lung

Doug Lung is one of America's foremost authorities on broadcast RF technology. As vice president of Broadcast Technology for NBCUniversal Local, H. Douglas Lung leads NBC and Telemundo-owned stations’ RF and transmission affairs, including microwave, radars, satellite uplinks, and FCC technical filings. Beginning his career in 1976 at KSCI in Los Angeles, Lung has nearly 50 years of experience in broadcast television engineering. Beginning in 1985, he led the engineering department for what was to become the Telemundo network and station group, assisting in the design, construction and installation of the company’s broadcast and cable facilities. Other projects include work on the launch of Hawaii’s first UHF TV station, the rollout and testing of the ATSC mobile-handheld standard, and software development related to the incentive auction TV spectrum repack.
A longtime columnist for TV Technology, Doug is also a regular contributor to IEEE Broadcast Technology. He is the recipient of the 2023 NAB Television Engineering Award. He also received a Tech Leadership Award from TV Tech publisher Future plc in 2021 and is a member of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society and the Society of Broadcast Engineers.