Apparatus and Method for Combining Reverse Link in Softer Handoff Mobile Communication System

PURPOSE: A device and a method for combining reverse links in a mobile communication system supporting a softer handoff are provided to combine signals having more than a threshold value by being received from mobile stations within all sectors of a cell including a sector of an active set, without searching for a hard-to-detect signal, thereby improving a reverse link rate. CONSTITUTION: A receiving unit(400) receives/demodulates signals transmitted to a path within an alpha sector, and comprises as follows. A directional alpha antenna(401) receives signals from the alpha sector. An RF processor(402) converts analog signals outputted from the directional alpha antenna(401) into baseband digital signals. A searcher(410) checks an intensity of the signals outputted from the RF processor(402) while detecting available paths where signals having more than a certain intensity are received, and allocates the paths to plural fingers(411-41N). The plural fingers(411-41N) demodulate signals received through the allocated paths to output the demodulated signals. A combiner(450) combines signals outputted from a signal checker(440), and estimates original signals received from plural receiving paths.