MIMO communications device comprising an angularly sectorised array of directional antenna elements

摘要

A multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communications device, e.g. base station 110, comprises an antenna including an angularly sectorised array of directional antenna elements (see fig.6-8). The antenna elements (142, fig.6-8) are preferably angularly equispaced and radiate from a single point. Transmission and reception gains of the antenna elements (142, fig.6-8) may be independently controllable so that isolated communication with one of a plurality of other devices 115 may be scheduled. Antenna elements (142, fig.6-8) may be allocated into groups, preferably groups of two adjacent or diametrically opposed elements, for simultaneous operation of the antenna elements (142, fig.6-8) within a group. For a given device 110, preferred directions of communication with other devices 115 in a MIMO system 100 are determined and communication with the other devices 115 is scheduled in directions corresponding to the preferred directions of communication. If there is more than one other device MS-2, MS-S with which it is preferred to communicate in a given direction, communication may be scheduled in the time or frequency domains.