Method and apparatus for tuning a communication device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10218070-B2
Application number	US-201715632021-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2017
Priority date	May 16, 2011
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a tuning system for a communication device having an antenna, where the tuning system includes at least one first tunable element connected with at least one radiating element of the antenna for tuning the antenna where the adjusting of the at least one first tunable element is based on at least one of a use case associated with the communication device and location information associated with the communication device, and a matching network having at least one second tunable element coupled at a feed point of the antenna, wherein the matching network receives control signals for adjusting the at least one second tunable element to tune the matching network. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device comprising:
a first antenna having a radiating element and a feed point;
a first tunable element connected with the radiating element for tuning the first antenna, wherein adjusting of the first tunable element comprises an open loop process and is based on frequency information;
a matching network having a second tunable element coupled to the feed point, wherein the matching network receives control signals for adjusting the second tunable element to tune the matching network; and
a transceiver coupled to the matching network, wherein the frequency information comprises a frequency band in which the transceiver operates,
wherein a second antenna, coupled to a third tunable element for tuning the second antenna, forms an antenna system with the first antenna,
wherein cross-coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna is reduced by detuning the first antenna from a first operating frequency, detuning the second antenna from a second operating frequency, or both, thereby enhancing performance of the antenna system relative to the first antenna and the second antenna being tuned to the first operating frequency and the second operating frequency respectively.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting of the second tunable element comprises a closed loop process.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the closed loop process comprises obtaining an operational parameter using a directional coupler connected between the matching network and the transceiver.

4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the closed loop process comprises obtaining an operational parameter using a detector connected between the antenna and the matching network.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the frequency information comprises a channel identifier.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the adjusting of the first tunable element and the adjusting of the second tunable element is based in part on a use case associated with the device.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein tuning parameters for the use case associated with the device are stored in a look-up table of the device.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the use case comprises an earpiece speaker status, a speakerphone status, a headset status, a hands-free operation status, an object proximity status, a surface proximity status, a slider status, or a combination thereof.

9. A method comprising: tuning, by a controller, an antenna of a device by adjusting a first tunable element that is connected with a radiating element of the antenna, wherein the adjusting of the first tunable element comprises an open loop process and is based on frequency information; and tuning, by the controller, a matching network of the device having a second tunable element coupled to a feed point of the antenna, wherein the adjusting of the second tunable element comprises a closed loop process, and wherein the matching network is coupled between the antenna and a transceiver of the device, wherein the frequency information comprises a frequency band in which the transceiver operates, and wherein the antenna of the device comprises a first antenna of an antenna system, wherein the antenna system further comprises a second antenna, and further comprising controlling, by the controller, cross-coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna, wherein the cross-coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna is reduced by detuning the first antenna from a first operating frequency, detuning the second antenna from a second operating frequency, or both, thereby enhancing performance of the antenna system relative to the first antenna and the second antenna being tuned to the first operating frequency and the second operating frequency respectively.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the adjusting of the first tunable element comprises causing rejection at the antenna of an undesired frequency, wherein the undesired frequency is a harmonic frequency or is associated with an interferer.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the closed loop process comprises obtaining an operational parameter using a directional coupler connected between the matching network and the transceiver.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the closed loop process comprises obtaining an operational parameter using at least one of a detector or a directional coupler, wherein the at least one of the detector or the directional coupler is connected between the antenna and the matching network.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the operational parameter comprises an output power, a return loss, a received power, a current drain, a transmitter linearity, or a combination thereof.

14. A device comprising: an antenna having a radiating element and a feed point; a first tunable element connected with the radiating element for tuning the antenna, wherein adjusting of the first tunable element comprises a first closed loop process and is based on first signals provided by a detector coupled to the antenna; and a matching network having a second tunable element coupled to the feed point, wherein the matching network receives control signals for adjusting the second tunable element to tune the matching network, wherein the adjusting of the second tunable element comprises a second closed loop process subsequent to the first closed loop process and is based on the first signals and on second signals provided by a directional coupler connected to the matching network, wherein the antenna comprises a first antenna of an antenna system, wherein the antenna system further comprises a second antenna, and wherein the device comprises a controller that controls cross-coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna, wherein the cross-coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna is reduced by detuning the first antenna from a first operating frequency, detuning the second antenna from a second operating frequency, or both, thereby enhancing performance of the antenna system relative to the first antenna and the second antenna being tuned to the first operating frequency and the second operating frequency respectively.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the detector is connected between the feed point and the matching network, and further comprising a transceiver coupled to the matching network, wherein the directional coupler is connected between the matching network and the transceiver.

16. The device of claim 14 , wherein the adjusting of the first tunable element is based on a desired range of voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) associated with the antenna.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the VSWR is detected at the directional coupler, and wherein the desired range of VSWR is a preset range.

18. The device of claim 16 , wherein the desired range comprises a first criterion for the tuning of the antenna, wherein the adjusting of the first tunable element provides a tuning solution for the antenna that meets the first criterion, and wherein the tuning of the antenna further comprises applying a tuning preference to bias the tuning solution to meet a second criterion.

19. The device of claim 14 , wherein the second closed loop process comprises obtaining an operational parameter using the detector.

20. The device of claim 14 , wherein the second closed loop process comprises obtaining an operational parameter comprising an output power, a return loss, a received power, a current drain, a transmitter linearity, or a combination thereof.

Assignees

• Blackberry Ltd

Inventors

• Greene Matthew Russell
• Manssen Keith Ronald
• Mendolia Gregory

Classifications

• H04B1/48

  in circuits for connecting transmitter and receiver to a common transmission path, e.g. by energy of transmitter {(H04B1/46 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• H01Q1/50

  Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors · CPC title

• H01Q5/50 Primary

  Feeding or matching arrangements for broad-band or multi-band operation · CPC title

• H04B1/18

  Input circuits, e.g. for coupling to an antenna or a transmission line (coupling networks between antennas or lines and receivers independent of the nature of the receiver H03H) · CPC title

• H04B1/0458 Primary

  Arrangements for matching and coupling between power amplifier and antenna or between amplifying stages (matching circuits in general H03H) · CPC title