Reconfigurable antenna

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015194738-A1
Application number	US-201314417481-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 12, 2013
Priority date	Jul 31, 2012
Publication date	Jul 9, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention resides in a reconfigurable antenna. The antenna comprises a balanced antenna and an unbalanced antenna mounted on a supporting substrate, with both the balanced antenna and the unbalanced antenna located at the same end of the substrate. The antenna may be configured as a chassis antenna for use in a portable device or configured for Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) applications.

First claim

1 . A reconfigurable antenna comprising:
a balanced antenna and an unbalanced antenna mounted on a supporting substrate, wherein both the balanced antenna and the unbalanced antenna are located at the same end of the substrate, and wherein each of the balanced and the unbalanced antenna is provided with at least one matching circuit including at least one variable capacitor to tune a frequency of the respective antenna over a particular frequency range to a desired operating frequency, the at least one matching circuit for the balanced antenna being coupled to a first signal port and the at least one matching circuit for the unbalanced antenna being coupled to a second signal port.

2 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the unbalanced antenna comprises a non-resonant element which is fed against a ground plane formed by or on the substrate.

3 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna is configured to cover one or more of: DVB-H, GSM710, GSM850, GSM900, GSM 1800, PCS1900, GPS1575, UMTS2100, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LTE, LTA or 4G frequency bands.

4 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein different modes of operation are available by selecting different matching circuits for at least one of the balanced antenna or and/or the unbalanced antenna, optionally switches being provided to select a desired matching circuits for a particular mode of operation.

5 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein each matching circuit comprises at least one variable capacitor to tune the frequency of the associated balanced antenna or unbalanced antenna over a particular frequency range, the at least one variable capacitor optionally being constituted by multiple fixed capacitors with switches, a varactor or a MEMs capacitor.

6 . The antenna according to claim 1 , each signal port and/or each matching circuit is associated with a different polarisation.

7 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the unbalanced antenna is located adjacent to, at least partially enclosed by, within a the footprint of, or transversely aligned with at least a portion of the balanced antenna.

8 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the balanced antenna and the unbalanced antenna are provided with substantially centrally located feed lines.

9 . The antenna according to claim 1 , any preceding claim wherein the unbalanced antenna comprises at least a portion which is etched onto the substrate and/or at least a portion which is provided on a separate structure which is attached to the substrate.

10 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the unbalanced antenna is bracket-shaped having a first element substantially parallel to the substrate and a second element substantially perpendicular to the substrate.

11 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the balanced antenna comprises two inwardly facing L-shaped arms.

12 . The antenna according to claim 11 , wherein the balanced antenna is bracket-shaped with each arm having at least one perpendicular element.

13 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the balanced antenna is constituted by a printed dipole.

14 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is substantially rectangular but with a cut-out located beneath the balanced antenna.

15 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the balanced antenna and the unbalanced antenna are provided on opposite surfaces of the substrate.

16 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate has a ground plane printed on a first surface thereof and optionally the unbalanced antenna is also provided on the first surface and is spaced from the ground plane by a gap.

17 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein a 90 degree phase difference is provided between each signal port or matching circuit at a desired operating frequency, the antenna optionally further comprising a control system which is connected to each port and which comprises a control means for selecting a desired operating mode.

18 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna is configured as a chassis antenna for use in a portable device or configured for Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) applications.

19 . A portable electronic device comprising:
a reconfigurable antenna, wherein the reconfigurable antenna comprises:
a balanced antenna and an unbalanced antenna mounted on a supporting substrate,
wherein both the balanced antenna and the unbalanced antenna are located at the same end of the substrate, and
wherein each of the balanced and the unbalanced antenna is provided with at least one matching circuit including at least one variable capacitor to tune a frequency of the respective antenna over a particular frequency range to a desired operating frequency, the at least one matching circuit for the balanced antenna being coupled to a first signal port and the at least one matching circuit for the unbalanced antenna being coupled to a second signal port.

20 . (canceled)

21 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is constituted by a printed circuit board.

22 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the balanced antenna is fed against a floating ground plane.

23 . The antenna according to claim 22 , wherein the at least one matching circuit for the balanced antenna is mounted on the floating ground plane.

24 . The antenna according to claim 11 , wherein a first arm is configured as a floating ground plane and wherein a second arm is fed against the first arm.

25 . The antenna according to claim 24 , wherein the at least one matching circuit for the balanced antenna is mounted on the floating ground plane.

Assignees

• Univ Birmingham

Inventors

• Hu zhen hua
• Hall Peter

Classifications

• H01Q21/0006 Primary

  Particular feeding systems · CPC title

• H01Q9/16

  with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole (H01Q9/44 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q9/265

  Open ring dipoles; Circular dipoles · CPC title

• H01Q21/28

  Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems {(multiple beam H01Q25/00)} · CPC title

• H01Q1/521

  reducing the coupling between adjacent antennas · CPC title