A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless transceiver with N transmit and receive chains and a bandwidth evaluation circuit, a chain partitioning circuit and a switchable radio frequency RF filter bank. The bandwidth evaluation circuit evaluates both the utilization of the WLAN(s) and any remaining communications channels and determines whether to operate the MIMO chains synchronously as a single radio or asynchronously as multiple radios. The chain partitioning circuit either partitions subsets of the MIMO chains for asynchronous operation as distinct radios or combines all MIMO chains for synchronous operation as a single radio. The switchable RF filter bank is responsive to a partitioning of subsets of the chains into distinct radios to add RF filters to a RF portion of the chains to isolate each radio from one another, and responsive to a combining of all MIMO chains into a single radio to remove all RF filters.

Apparatus and methods for multi-antenna communications are provided. In certain embodiments, a communication system includes an antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements, and a plurality of RF circuit channels each coupled to a corresponding one of the antenna elements. The plurality of RF circuit channels generate two or more analog baseband signals in response to the antenna array receiving a radio wave. The communication system further includes a controllable amplification and combining circuit that generates two or more amplified analog baseband signals based on amplifying each of the two or more analog baseband signals with a separately controllable gain, and that combines the two or more amplified analog baseband signals to generate a combined analog baseband signal.

An access point for use in a point to multipoint wireless network comprises a sector antenna and an antenna array of antenna elements, the antenna elements not including the sector antenna, and the antenna elements being arranged to receive signals from the same sector as the sector antenna. A first beamformer is configurable to form a first beam from signals received at the antenna array and a selector switch is switchable to at least a first state in which signals received at the sector antenna are connected to a first receiver, and a second state in which signals received from the first beamformer are connected to the first receiver. A scheduler is configured to set the selector switch to the first state for at least a first receive timeslot and to the second state for at least a second receive timeslot.

A method and apparatus are provided in which a set of reference signals is received (2102), and a set of channel signatures for a multiple antenna communication channel is estimated (2104). Channel state information including a set of quality metrics is calculated (2106). In response to the set of quality metrics satisfying a criterion, the baseline receiver for the multiple antenna communication channel is selected (2108). In response to the set of quality metrics not satisfying the criterion, the alternative receiver for the multiple antenna communication channel is selected (2110). The selectable alternative receiver for the multiple antenna communication channel at the user equipment is based on a set of integer linear combinations, where each integer linear combination is based on at least a pair of channel signatures from the estimated set of channel signatures (2112).

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for adaptive antenna mode switching. An example method performed by a wireless device includes reporting first capability information indicating that the wireless device supports a first antenna mode associated with a first number of receive antennas, detecting radio conditions that favor a second antenna mode associated with a second number of receive antennas, and performing one or more actions to cause a switch to the second antenna mode based on the detected radio conditions.

A technique for improving wireless communication characteristics involving matching transmitter antenna patterns to receiver antenna patterns. In a specific implementation, the transmitter antenna pattern adapts to changing parameters, such as when a smartphone is initially held in a first orientation and is later held in a second orientation. Because the transmitter antenna pattern matches receiver antenna patterns, signal quality between stations improves. In some implementations, antennas are organized and mounted to maximize spatial diversity to cause peak gains in different directions.

An antenna measurement method and a terminal, where the method includes determining, by a first antenna selection circuit in a terminal, at least two measured antennas, setting the at least two measured antennas as a first measurement antenna, adding the first measurement antenna to an occupied antenna set, determining measurement duration of the first measurement antenna, performing a measurement operation on the first measurement antenna, determining, by a second antenna selection circuit, a second measurement antenna and measurement duration of the second measurement antenna based on the occupied antenna set and the measurement duration of the first measurement antenna, adding the second measurement antenna to the occupied antenna set, performing a measurement operation on the second measurement antenna, and determining a measurement result of the first measurement antenna and a measurement result of the second measurement antenna.

A technique for improving wireless communication characteristics involving matching transmitter antenna patterns to receiver antenna patterns. In a specific implementation, the transmitter antenna pattern adapts to changing parameters, such as when a smartphone is initially held in a first orientation and is later held in a second orientation. Because the transmitter antenna patterns match the receiver antenna patterns, signal quality between stations improves. In some implementations, antennas are organized and mounted to maximize spatial diversity to cause peak gains in different directions.

Provided is a frame configuration usable for both SISO transmission and MISO and/or MIMO transmission. A frame configurator of a transmission device configures a frame by gathering data for SISO and configures a frame by gathering data for MISO and/or MIMO data, thereby to improve the reception performance (detection performance) of a reception device.

A communication device may comprise a plurality of distributed transceivers and one or more corresponding antenna arrays. A processor may configure a first distributed transceiver to receive signals comprising one or more first data streams via one or more first communication links. The processor may configure a second distributed transceiver to receive signals comprising one or more second data streams via one or more second communication links. The processor may determine a channel response matrix associated with communication of the one or more first data streams via the one or more first communication links and/or the one or more second data streams via the one or more second communication links. The processor may optimize one or both of link capacity and/or link reliability of the one or more first communication links and/or the one or more second communication links based on the determined channel response matrix.