Beam forming and steering using LTE diversity antenna

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9287941-B2
Application number	US-201414451700-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2014
Priority date	Aug 5, 2013
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

An antenna system, which is coupled to one or more first transceivers for processing signals according to one or more protocols, respectively, and to a second transceiver for performing a function in conjunction with at least one of the one or more protocols, is provided. The antenna system includes a first antenna, a second antenna, a circuit coupled to the first and second antennas, and a controller configured to control the circuit for enabling beam forming and beam steering or for enabling the function in conjunction with the at least one of the one or more protocols. The circuit includes a phase shifting block configured to provide multiple phase shifts between a first radiation pattern associated with the first antenna and a second radiation pattern associated with the second antenna to generate multiple combined radiation patterns corresponding to the phase shifts, respectively, for the beam forming and beam steering purposes.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An antenna system coupled to one or more first transceivers for processing signals according to one or more protocols, respectively, and to a second transceiver for performing a function in conjunction with at least one of the one or more protocols, the antenna system comprising:
a first antenna associated with the one or more first transceivers;
a second antenna associated with the second transceiver;
a circuit coupled to each of the first antenna and the second antenna; and
a controller configured to control the circuit for enabling beam forming and beam steering or for enabling the function in conjunction with the at least one of the one or more protocols;
further characterized in that the circuit comprises:
a first switch coupled to the first antenna at a power combiner, splitter, or a combination thereof;
a second switch coupled to the second antenna;
at least one transmission line coupling the first switch and the second switch; and
a transceiver selection module coupled to the power combiner, splitter, or combination thereof;

wherein:
each of the first switch, the second switch, the transceiver selection module, and the power combiner, splitter, or a combination thereof is adapted to be individually coupled to the controller.

2. The antenna system of claim 1 , wherein
one terminal of the first switch is configured to be open, grounded, or shorted to a component or decoupling module in the system.

3. The antenna system of claim 1 , wherein
a plurality of transmission lines extend between the first switch and second switch; and
said plurality of transmission lines forming a phase shifting block.

4. The antenna system of claim 1 , wherein
a phase shifter is coupled to one of the at least one transmission line coupling the first switch and the second switch.

5. The antenna system of claim 4 , wherein
the phase shifter is further coupled to the controller.

6. In a mobile device, an antenna system coupled to one or more first transceivers for processing signals according to one or more protocols, respectively, and to a second transceiver for performing a function in conjunction with at least one of the one or more protocols, the antenna system comprising:
a first antenna associated with the one or more first transceivers;
a second antenna associated with the second transceiver;
a circuit coupled to the first antenna and the second antenna; and
a controller configured to control the circuit for enabling beam forming and beam steering or for enabling the function in conjunction with the at least one of the one or more protocols;
characterized in that the circuit further comprises:
a first switch coupled to the first antenna at a power combiner, splitter, or a combination thereof;
a second switch coupled to the second antenna;
at least one transmission line coupling the first switch and the second switch; and
a transceiver selection module coupled to the power combiner, splitter, or combination thereof;

wherein:
each of the first switch, the second switch, the transceiver selection module, and the power combiner, splitter, or a combination thereof is individually adapted for coupling with the controller.

Assignees

• Pajona Olivier
• Rowson Sebastian
• Desclos Laurent
• Ethertronics Inc

Inventors

• Pajona Olivier
• Rowson Sebastian
• Desclos Laurent

Classifications

• H04B7/0404 Primary

  the mobile station comprising multiple antennas, e.g. to provide uplink diversity · CPC title

• H04B7/043

  using best eigenmode, e.g. beam forming or beam steering · CPC title

• H04B7/0617

  for beam forming · CPC title

• H04L69/18

  Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols · CPC title