Patent ID: 7006040

Claim:
An antenna apparatus for use with a digital communications channel over which a multi-bit digital control signal is communicated, said antenna apparatus supporting a plurality of antenna pattern positions, different ones of said antenna pattern positions being identified by different predetermined position indicator values, the antenna apparatus comprising: control circuitry, coupled to the digital communications channel, the control circuitry including a direction control device for receiving said multi-bit digital control signal, said digital control signal including one of said predetermined position indicator values and at least one other control value, and for generating at least one antenna pattern position control signal from said digital control signal and one additional control signal; and a controllable antenna element assembly having a steerable antenna pattern including a plurality of regions including at least a first region having a first gain and a second region having a second gain which is lower than said first gain, the controllable antenna element assembly being responsive to said at least one antenna pattern position control signal.