Variable ground plane tuning compensation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11223124-B2
Application number	US-201916450424-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2019
Priority date	May 10, 2019
Publication date	Jan 11, 2022
Grant date	Jan 11, 2022

Abstract

A communications device provides variable ground plane tuning compensation. The communications device includes a radiofrequency antenna configured to generate an electromagnetic field, a ground plane assembly electrically coupled to the radiofrequency antenna, and a variable impedance compensation network electrically connected to the ground plane assembly. The ground plane assembly is configurable between a first physical configuration and a second physical configuration. Each physical configuration presents a different ground plane assembly impedance to the electromagnetic field of the radiofrequency antenna. The variable impedance compensation network provides a compensation impedance for each physical configuration of the ground plane assembly. The compensation impedance of the variable impedance compensation network and the ground plane assembly impedance of each of the physical configurations combine to tune mutual electromagnetic coupling between the ground plane assembly and the radiofrequency antenna to satisfy a predetermined operational tuning condition for the communications device in each physical configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A communications device providing variable ground plane tuning compensation, the communications device comprising:
a radiofrequency antenna configured to generate an electromagnetic field;
a ground plane assembly electrically coupled to the radiofrequency antenna, the ground plane assembly being configurable between a first physical configuration and a second physical configuration, each of the physical configurations presenting a ground plane assembly impedance to the electromagnetic field of the radiofrequency antenna; and
a variable impedance compensation network electrically connected to the ground plane assembly, the variable impedance compensation network providing a compensation impedance for each of the physical configurations of the ground plane assembly, the compensation impedance of the variable impedance compensation network and the ground plane assembly impedance of each of the physical configurations of the ground plane assembly combining to tune mutual electromagnetic coupling between the ground plane assembly and the radiofrequency antenna to satisfy a predetermined operational tuning condition for the communications device in each of the physical configurations, wherein the ground plane assembly includes a first ground plane component and a second ground plane component and wherein the satisfying the predetermined operational tuning condition includes tuning the compensation impedance based at least in part on an angle between the first ground plane component and the second ground plane component.

2. The communications device of claim 1 further comprising:
a tuning detector configured to detect whether the mutual electromagnetic coupling between the ground plane assembly and the radiofrequency antenna satisfies the predetermined operational tuning condition for the communications device; and
an impedance compensation controller coupled to the tuning detector and the variable impedance compensation network and configured to alter the compensation impedance to adjust the mutual electromagnetic coupling between the ground plane assembly and the radiofrequency antenna to satisfy the predetermined operational tuning condition for the communications device, responsive to detection that the mutual electromagnetic coupling between the ground plane assembly and the radiofrequency antenna fails to satisfy the predetermined operational tuning condition.

3. The communications device of claim 2 wherein the tuning detector is configured to detect a change in relative positions of the first ground plane component and the second ground plane component from the first physical configuration, the change causing an impedance change in the ground plane assembly impedance between the first physical configuration to the second physical configuration.

4. The communications device of claim 2 wherein the tuning detector is configured to detect a detuning of the radiofrequency antenna representing a failure to satisfy the predetermined operational tuning condition.

5. The communications device of claim 2 wherein the variable impedance compensation network includes a dynamically adjustable capacitance component and a dynamically adjustable inductance component.

6. The communications device of claim 5 wherein a capacitance value of the dynamically adjustable capacitance component and an inductance value of the dynamically adjustable inductance component in each of the physical configurations of the ground plane assembly are predetermined to satisfy the predetermined operational tuning condition for the communications device in each of the physical configurations.

7. The communications device of claim 5 wherein the dynamically adjustable capacitance component includes a variable capacitor, and the impedance compensation controller is configured to alter the compensation impedance by switching a compensation capacitance level of the variable capacitor in the variable impedance compensation network.

8. The communications device of claim 5 wherein the dynamically adjustable capacitance component includes a switched capacitor network, and the impedance compensation controller is configured to alter the compensation impedance by switching a compensation capacitance level of the switched capacitor network in the variable impedance compensation network.

9. The communications device of claim 5 wherein the dynamically adjustable capacitance component includes a switched inductor network, and the impedance compensation controller is configured to alter the compensation impedance by switching a compensation inductor level of the switched inductor network in the variable impedance compensation network.

10. The communications device of claim 1 wherein the first ground plane component being positioned relative to the second ground plane component in the first physical configuration differently than in the second physical configuration.

11. The communications device of claim 1 wherein the first ground plane component and the second ground plane component are electrically connected by the variable impedance compensation network.

12. The communications device of claim 1 wherein the first ground plane component and the second ground plane component are mechanically coupled by a hinge and electrically coupled by the variable impedance compensation network between the first ground plane component and the second ground plane component.

13. The communications device of claim 1 , wherein the satisfying the predetermined operational tuning condition includes substantially matching a resonance of the radiofrequency antenna and a resonance of the first ground plane component of the ground plane assembly.

14. A method of providing variable ground plane tuning compensation in a communications device, the method comprising:
detecting that a mutual electromagnetic coupling between a ground plane assembly and a radiofrequency antenna fails to satisfy a predetermined operational tuning condition for the communications device; and
adjusting a compensation impedance of a variable impedance compensation network to adjust the mutual electromagnetic coupling between the ground plane assembly and the radiofrequency antenna to satisfy the predetermined operational tuning condition for the communications device, wherein the ground plane assembly is electromagnetically coupled to the radiofrequency antenna in the communications device, the ground plane assembly being configurable between a first physical configuration and a second physical configuration, each of the physical configurations presenting a ground plane assembly impedance to an electromagnetic field generated by the radiofrequency antenna, the variable impedance compensation network being electrically connected to the ground plane assembly and structurally providing a different compensation impedance for each of the physical configurations of the ground plane assembly, the compensation impedance of the variable impedance compensation network and the ground plane assembly impedance of each of the physical configurations of the ground plane assembly combining to tune the mutual electromagnetic coupling between the ground plane assembly and the radiofrequency antenna to satisfy the predetermined operational tuning condition for the communications device in each of the physical configurations, wherein the ground plane assembly includes a first ground plane component, and wherein the satisfying the predetermined operational tuning condition includes substantially matching a resonance of the radiofrequency antenna and a resonance of the first ground plane component of the ground plane assembly.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Harper Marc

Classifications

• H01Q5/328 Primary

  between a radiating element and ground · CPC title

• H01Q1/48 Primary

  Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises · 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

• H01Q1/084

  Pivotable antennas · CPC title

• H01Q1/38

  formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface  H01Q15/142)} · CPC title