US Patent 7532590 Cell search apparatus and method in a mobile communication system

A cell search apparatus and method in a mobile communication system. After a UE acquires slot boundary timing and frame boundary timing to a Node B, it acquires its scrambling code number and scrambling code timing. After the initial cell search, the UE performs multi-path search by searching a first area with respect to the scrambling code timing. During reacquisition in a sleep state, the UE searches a second area wider than the first area with respect to a scrambling code timing acquired before the sleep state. The UE performs neighbor cell search by selectively using the initial cell search and the multi-path search according to whether the Node B provides information or what information it provides.