EP2568529B1

EP2568529B1 - Mobile device having reconfigurable antenna and associated methods

Info

Publication number: EP2568529B1
Application number: EP11180638.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mina Ayatollahi
Original assignee: BlackBerry Ltd
Current assignee: BlackBerry Ltd
Priority date: 2011-09-08
Filing date: 2011-09-08
Publication date: 2014-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 2031-09-08
Also published as: EP2568529A1; CA2788823A1; CA2788823C

Description

Technical Field

The present disclosure related to the field of mobile wireless communications devices, and, more particularly, to mobile wireless communications devices with reconfigurable antennas.

Background

Wireless communication technology, which has become a fundamental part of modern communications infrastructures, is evolving at an ever growing pace in order to meet the demanding performance characteristics of new mobile wireless communication devices. The continued increase in demand for various wireless services such as voice, data, and multimedia is also fueling the desire for higher data rates. Given that the wireless bandwidth can be expensive, technologies that improve spectrum efficiency in wireless systems are becoming desirable.
Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems can multiply data throughput, with increases also in range and reliability, without consuming extra bandwidth, thereby resulting in an improved spectral efficiency. To take full advantage of the benefits of MIMO systems, however, a design that is able to respond to the wireless channel is useful. The goal is to maximize the resources available in multiple antenna channels by using optimal schemes at all possible times.
In a typical adaptive MIMO system, some of the adjustable parameters are the modulation level, coding rate, and the transmission signaling schemes such. The performance of such an adaptive system can be superior compared to that of a non-adaptive one. However, when an inter-disciplinary analysis is performed on the interrelationships of transmission signaling schemes, antenna properties and propagation conditions, it becomes apparent that there is an additional room for further exploitation of gains of the MIMO systems. In current adaptive MIMO systems the antenna properties are fixed by the initial design and cannot be changed. It is therefore desirable to introduce an additional degree of freedom by to adaptive MIMO systems treating the antenna element properties as an additional component in the joint optimization of the adaptive system parameters. Therefore, the design of reconfigurable antennas for MIMO systems is desirable.
One use for reconfigurable antennas is in cognitive radio systems. Cognitive radio is a system in which either a network or a wireless node changes its transmission or reception parameters to communicate efficiently while avoiding interference with other users. This alteration of parameters is based on the active monitoring of several factors in the external and internal radio environment, such as radio frequency spectrum, user behavior and network state. Since the the operating frequency of the a mobile wireless communications device changes frequently in cognitive radio based on detected empty spectrum, adaptive and reconfigurable antennas for these systems that are able to change their resonance frequency dynamically are desirable.
JP 2001 326514 describes an antenna with which portable radio equipment can obtain a satisfactory polarisation characteristic in either use state of a voice communication mode (actual speech communication mode in which a user holds the portable radio equipment near the head and performs communication) or a data communication mode.
JP 2000 269724 describes antenna equipment which switches a desired frequency with a simple and small-sized structure, without using a matching circuit.
JP 2008 294748 describes radio equipment capable of improving an antenna characteristic more when switching and using a loop antenna and a monopole antenna.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the various embodiments described herein and to show more clearly how they may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings which show example embodiment and in which:

FIG. 1 is schematic block diagram of an example embodiment of a mobile wireless communications device in accordance with the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of another example embodiment of a mobile wireless communications device in accordance with the present disclosure.
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a further embodiment of a mobile wireless communications device in accordance with the present disclosure.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method of making a mobile wireless communications device in accordance with the present disclosure.
FIG. 5 shows S-parameter plots of each antenna loop, in turn, radiating while being coupled between the wireless transceiver and ground.
FIG. 6 shows an S-parameter plot of the first antenna loop radiating while being coupled between the wireless transceiver and ground, and also while operating as a monopole antenna.
FIG. 7 shows an S-parameter plot of the second antenna loop radiating while being coupled between the wireless transceiver and ground, and also while operating as a monopole antenna.
FIG. 8 shows an S-parameter plot of the third antenna loop radiating while being coupled between the wireless transceiver and ground, and also while operating as a monopole antenna.
FIG. 9 shows an S-parameter plot of the reconfigurable antenna radiating when all antenna loops are coupled between the wireless transceiver and ground.
FIG. 10 shows a three dimensional radiation pattern of the first antenna loop of the reconfigurable antenna radiating while coupled to the wireless transceiver and ground.
FIG. 11 shows a three dimensional radiation pattern of the first antenna loop of the reconfigurable antenna radiating while coupled to the wireless transceiver and operating as a monopole antenna.
FIG. 12 shows a two dimensional radiation pattern of the first antenna loop of the reconfigurable antenna in the XY plane radiating while coupled to the wireless transceiver and operating as a monopole antenna.
FIG. 13 shows a two dimensional radiation pattern of the first antenna loop of the reconfigurable antenna in the XZ plane radiating while coupled to the wireless transceiver and operating as a monopole antenna.
FIG. 14 shows a two dimensional radiation pattern of the first antenna loop of the reconfigurable antenna in the YZ plane radiating while coupled to the wireless transceiver and operating as a monopole antenna.
FIG. 15 shows an S-parameter plot of the first antenna loop of the reconfigurable antenna of Figure 3 alone, and the first and second antenna loops both coupled to the wireless transceiver and the ground plane.
FIG. 16 shows a three dimensional radiation pattern of the antenna structure of Figure 3, while the first and second antenna loops are coupled to the wireless transceiver and the ground plane.
FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram illustrating example components of a mobile wireless communications device that may include the reconfigurable antenna in FIGS. 1-3.

Summary

Aspects of the present disclosure are set forth in the accompanying independent claims.

Detailed Description

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein.
Generally speaking, a mobile wireless communications device includes a wireless transceiver, a ground plane and a reconfigurable antenna coupled to the wireless transceiver. The reconfigurable antenna includes a dielectric substrate. The reconfigurable antenna further comprises a plurality of electrical conductors on the dielectric substrate arranged in a series of spaced apart antenna loops with each successive outer antenna loop surrounding an adjacent inner loop, and each antenna loop having a pair of endpoints. The reconfigurable antenna comprises a plurality of feed switches, each feed switch coupled to a first endpoint of a respective antenna loop and configured to selectively couple the respective antenna loop to the wireless transceiver. The reconfigurable antenna comprises a plurality of ground switches, each ground switch coupled to a second endpoint of a respective antenna loop and configured to selectively couple the respective antenna loop to the ground plane. In addition, a processor is adapted to reconfigure the reconfigurable antenna to operate as a monopole antenna by causing the plurality of feed switches to couple at least one of the antenna loops to the wireless transceiver, and by causing the plurality of ground switches to decouple the at least one of the antenna loops from the ground plane. The processor is further adapted to reconfigure the reconfigurable antenna by connecting at least two antenna loops to each other in series or in parallel and coupling the at least two antenna loops to the wireless transceiver. This system advantageously allows reconfiguring of the antenna so as to provide optimal performance in a variety of operating conditions. The performance is evaluated by parameters including, but not limited to operating frequency, specific absorption rate, gain, efficiency, and bandwidth.
The reconfigurable antenna may also include an electrically conductive layer on the dielectric substrate defining the ground plane. In this embodiment, the plurality of electrical conductors may be laterally adjacent the ground plane. The processor may be adapted to reconfigure the reconfigurable antenna by causing the plurality of switches to couple at least one of the antenna loops to the wireless transceiver and not to the ground plane.
Additionally or alternatively, the mobile wireless communications device may have a printed circuit board having an electrically conductive layer thereon defining the ground plane. In this embodiment, the processor may be adapted to reconfigure the reconfigurable antenna and couple the wireless transceiver and the ground plane thereto via the plurality of switches. The processor may be adapted to reconfigure the reconfigurable antenna by causing the plurality of switches to couple at least one of the antenna loops to the wireless transceiver and not to the ground plane.
The processor may be adapted to reconfigure the reconfigurable antenna by coupling at least two antenna loops to each other and to the wireless transceiver. The processor may also be adapted to reconfigure the reconfigurable antenna by causing the plurality of switches to couple a selected one of the antenna loops to the wireless transceiver, while disconnecting or decoupling the other antenna loops from the transceiver.
The antenna loops may be equally spaced apart from each other. In addition, the antenna loops may share a common axis. Furthermore, each of the antenna loops may have a rectangular shape. Moreover, the antenna loops may be at least three in number. Each successive outer antenna loop may have a greater length than an adjacent inner loop. At least one of the antenna loops may have a rectangular shape with at least one electrically conductive path extending between a pair of transverse sides thereof.
A method aspect is directed to a method of making a mobile wireless communications device with a reconfigurable antenna, a wireless transceiver and a ground plane. The method includes forming the reconfigurable antenna by forming a plurality of electrical conductors on a dielectric substrate and arranged in a series of spaced apart antenna loops with each successive outer antenna loop surrounding an adjacent inner loop, each antenna loop having a pair of endpoints, for example a feed endpoint and a ground endpoint. The method further comprises coupling each feed switch of a plurality of feed switches to a first endpoint of a respective antenna loop to selectively couple the respective antenna loop to the wireless transceiver, and coupling each ground switch (22a, 22b, 22c) of a plurality of ground switches to a second endpoint of a respective antenna loop to selectively couple the respective antenna loop to the ground plane. The method further includes adapting a processor to reconfigure the reconfigurable antenna to operate as a monopole antenna by causing the plurality of feed switches to couple at least one of the antenna loops to the wireless transceiver, and by causing the plurality of ground switches to decouple the at least one of the antenna loops from the ground plane, and adapting the processor to reconfigure the reconfigurable antenna by connecting at least two antenna loops to each other in series or in parallel and coupling the at least two antenna loops to the wireless transceiver.
With initial reference to FIG. 1, a mobile wireless communications device 10 is now described. The mobile wireless communications device 10 includes a wireless transceiver 18 and a processor 20 coupled thereto. A reconfigurable antenna 11 is coupled to the wireless transceiver 18 and processor 20. The reconfigurable antenna 11 includes a dielectric substrate 12 with an electrically conductive ground patch formed thereon to define a ground plane 16. A plurality of electrical conductors are on the dielectric substrate laterally adjacent the ground plane 16, and are and arranged in a series of spaced apart antenna loops 14a, 14b, 14c, with each successive outer antenna loop surrounding an adjacent inner loop.
Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the electrical conductors need not be on the dielectric substrate laterally adjacent the ground plane 16. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the reconfigurable antenna 11' may be on a dielectric substrate, and the ground plane 16', wireless transceiver 18', and processor 20' may be on a separate printed circuit board 13' .
Referring again to FIG. 1, a plurality of switches 22a, 24a, 22b, 24b, 22c, 24c are associated with respective endpoints 23a, 23b, 23c, 25a, 25b, 25c of the antenna loops 14a, 14b, 14c. The processor 20 is adapted to reconfigure the reconfigurable antenna 11 and to couple the wireless transceiver 18 thereto via the switches 22a, 24a, 22b, 24b, 22c, 24c.
The switches include a respective feed switch 24a, 24b, 24c coupled to a respective endpoint 25a, 25b, 25c of each antenna loop 14a, 14b, 14c. The feed switches 24a, 24b, 24c selectively couple their respective antenna loops 14a, 14b, 14c to the wireless transceiver 18.
The switches also include a respective ground switch 22a, 22b, 22c coupled to a respective endpoint 23a, 23b, 23c of each antenna loop 14a, 14b, 14c. The ground switches 22a, 22b, 22c selectively couple their respective antenna loops 14a, 14b, 14c to the ground plane 16.
The processor 20 may reconfigure the reconfigurable antenna 11 to match operating conditions and a system operating frequency, by operating the proper switches to couple a selected one of the antenna loops to the wireless transceiver 18 and the ground plane 16. Each antenna loop 14a, 14b, 14c, when coupled to the wireless transceiver 18 and the ground plane 16, with the other antenna loops disconnected, resonates at its resonance frequencies, which include a one wavelength mode. The processor 20, based upon the system operating frequency, can select the antenna loop 14a, 14b, 14c that has a resonance frequency that matches the system operating frequency, thereby delivering robust performance. An S-parameter plot of each antenna loop 14a, 14b, 14c radiating while coupled between the wireless transceiver 18 and the ground plane 16, is shown in FIG. 5 (in FIG. 5, the first loop, second loop and third loop correspond to antenna loop 14c, 14b and 14a, respectively.) A three dimensional radiation pattern of the antenna loop 14c radiating while coupled between the wireless transceiver 18 and the ground plane 16 is shown in FIG. 10.
Additionally, in some application, the processor 20 may also reconfigure the reconfigurable antenna 11 by coupling or connecting at least two of the antenna loops 14a, 14b, 14c to each other, either in series or in parallel. FIG. 9 shows an S-parameter plot of each antenna loop 14a, 14b, 14c radiating, while their switches 22a, 22b, 22c, 24a, 24b, 24c are closed and the loops are connected to each other, with their respective feed endpoints 25a, 25b, 25c coupled to the wireless transceiver 18, and their respective ground endpoints 23a, 23b, 23c coupled to the ground plane 16.
Furthermore, in some applications, the processor 20 may reconfigure the reconfigurable antenna 11 by coupling at least one of the antenna loops 14a, 14b, 14c to the wireless transceiver 18, and decoupling the at least one antenna loop from the ground plane 16, thereby causing the reconfigurable antenna 11 to act as a monopole antenna. This is particularly advantageous because it enables reconfiguration of the reconfigurable antenna 11 as either a loop antenna or a monopole antenna, each having different features and characteristics.
FIGS.-6-8 show S-parameter plots of the first antenna loop 14c, second antenna loop 14b, and third antenna loop 14a, respectively, radiating while coupled between to wireless transceiver 18 and while acting as a monopole antenna. FIG. 11 shows a three dimensional radiation pattern of the first antenna loop 14c radiating while coupled to the wireless transceiver 18, acting as a monopole antenna. FIG. 12, FIG. 13 , and FIG. 14 show two dimension radiation patterns of the first antenna loop 14c radiating while coupled to the wireless transceiver 18, acting as a monopole antenna, in the XY, XZ, and YZ planes, respectively.
The antenna loops 14a, 14b, 14c are illustratively equally spaced apart from each other, although it should be appreciated that they need not be equally spaced apart from each other. For example, none of the antenna loops 14a, 14b, 14c may be equally spaced apart from each other, or some but not all of the antenna loops may be equally spaced apart from each other.
The antenna loops 14a, 14b, 14c illustratively share a common axis, but it should be recognized that they need not share a common axis. Indeed, none of the antenna loops 14a, 14b, 14c may share a common axis, or some but not all of the antenna loops may share a common axis.
Each of the antenna loops 14a, 14b, 14c illustratively has a rectangular shape. Those of skill in the art will recognize, though, that the antenna loops 14a, 14b, 14c need not have a rectangular shape, and each of the antenna loops may have different shapes, such as spirals, curves, and meanders. Each antenna loop 14a, 14b, 14c need not have a same shape, and, indeed, each antenna loop may have a separate and distinct shape from each other antenna loop in some applications.
Each successive outer antenna loop 14b, 14c illustratively has a greater length than an adjacent inner loop 14a, 14b. It should be appreciated that all outer antenna loops 14b, 14c need not have greater lengths than their adjacent inner loops 14a, 14b in all embodiments, and that in some embodiments, some inner loops may actually have greater lengths than their adjacent outer loops.
Three antenna loops 14a, 14b, 14c are illustratively shown, but it should be appreciated that there may be as few as two antenna loops, and that there is no upper limit on the number of antenna loops that may be on the dielectric substrate 12.
The dielectric substrate 12 may have a length of 100mm, a width of 4mm, and a permittivity of 2.2. The ground plane 16 may have a length of 80mm, and a width of 40mm. The innermost antenna loop 14a may have a total length of 64mm, the middle antenna loop 14b may have a total length of 80mm, and the outer antenna loop 14c may have a total length of 106mm. It should be appreciated that these measurements are merely illustrative, and are in no way intended to be limiting. Thus, the dielectric substrate 12, ground plane 16, and antenna loops 14a, 14b, 14c may have a variety of different suitable dimensions.
In some situations, the antenna loops may be rectangular but have angled shoulders. Such an embodiment is shown in FIG. 3. Here, there are two antenna loops 14a", 14b". The antenna loop 14a" is rectangular in shape, with the ends being thicker than the sides. The antenna loop 14b" is rectangular, but with conductive patches or shoulders extending between transverse sides. FIG. 15 shows an S-parameter plot of the antenna loop 14a" alone coupled between the wireless transceiver 18" and the ground plane 16" (dashed line) versus the antenna loops 14a", 14b" both coupled between the wireless transceiver 18" and the ground plane 16". A three dimensional antenna radiation pattern of the antenna loops 14a", 14b" both coupled between the wireless transceiver 18" and the ground plane 16" is shown in FIG. 16.
Referring again to FIG. 1, this design contains a variety of advantageous features. The use of loop antennas 14a, 14b, 14c helps to reduce the specific absorption rate (SAR) of the mobile wireless communications device 10 in use. The size and shape of these antenna loops 14a, 14b, 14c can be selected based upon the desired frequencies of operation of the mobile wireless communications device 10, such that they resonate as desired.
In addition, the reconfigurability of the reconfigurable antenna 11 provides frequency, pattern, and polarization reconfigurability. The resonance frequency of the reconfigurable antenna 11 can therefore be tuned by reconfiguration via the processor 20.
With reference to flowchart 30 of FIG. 4, a method of making the mobile wireless communications device is now described. After the start (Block 32), a reconfigurable antenna is formed. Forming the reconfigurable antenna also includes forming a plurality of electrical conductors on a dielectric substrate arranged in a series of spaced apart antenna loops with each successive outer antenna loop surrounding an adjacent inner loop, each antenna loop having a pair of endpoints (Block 346). Forming the reconfigurable antenna further includes associating a plurality of switches with respective endpoints of the antenna loops (Block 38). Then, a processor is adapted to reconfigure the reconfigurable antenna and to couple a wireless transceiver thereto via the plurality of switches, at Block 40. Block 42 indicates the end of the method.
Example components of a mobile wireless communications device 1000 that may be used in accordance with the above-described embodiments are further described below with reference to FIG. 17. The device 1000 illustratively includes a housing 1200, a keyboard or keypad 1400 and an output device 1600. The output device shown is a display 1600, which may comprise a full graphic LCD. Other types of output devices may alternatively be utilized. A processing device 1800 is contained within the housing 1200 and is coupled between the keypad 1400 and the display 1600. The processing device 1800 controls the operation of the display 1600, as well as the overall operation of the mobile device 1000, in response to actuation of keys on the keypad 1400.
The housing 1200 may be elongated vertically, or may take on other sizes and shapes (including clamshell housing structures). The keypad may include a mode selection key, or other hardware or software for switching between text entry and telephony entry.
In addition to the processing device 1800, other parts of the mobile device 1000 are shown schematically in FIG. 17. These include a communications subsystem 1001; a short-range communications subsystem 1020; the keypad 1400 and the display 1600, along with other input/ output devices 1060, 1080, 1100 and 1120; as well as memory devices 1160, 1180 and various other device subsystems 1201. The mobile device 1000 may comprise a two-way RF communications device having data and, optionally, voice communications capabilities. In addition, the mobile device 1000 may have the capability to communicate with other computer systems via the Internet.
Operating system software executed by the processing device 1800 is stored in a persistent store, such as the flash memory 1160, but may be stored in other types of memory devices, such as a read only memory (ROM) or similar storage element. In addition, system software, specific device applications, or parts thereof, may be temporarily loaded into a volatile store, such as the random access memory (RAM) 1180. Communications signals received by the mobile device may also be stored in the RAM 1180.
The processing device 1800, in addition to its operating system functions, enables execution of software applications 1300A-1300N on the device 1000. A predetermined set of applications that control basic device operations, such as data and voice communications 1300A and 1300B, may be installed on the device 1000 during manufacture. In addition, a personal information manager (PIM) application may be installed during manufacture. The PIM may be capable of organizing and managing data items, such as e-mail, calendar events, voice mails, appointments, and task items. The PIM application may also be capable of sending and receiving data items via a wireless network 1401. The PIM data items may be seamlessly integrated, synchronized and updated via the wireless network 1401 with corresponding data items stored or associated with a host computer system.
Communication functions, including data and voice communications, are performed through the communications subsystem 1001, and possibly through the short-range communications subsystem. The communications subsystem 1001 includes a receiver 1500, a transmitter 1520, and one or more antennas 1540 and 1560. In addition, the communications subsystem 1001 also includes a processing module, such as a digital signal processor (DSP) 1580, and local oscillators (LOs) 1601. The specific design and implementation of the communications subsystem 1001 is dependent upon the communications network in which the mobile device 1000 is intended to operate. For example, a mobile device 1000 may include a communications subsystem 1001 designed to operate with the Mobitex™, Data TAC™ or General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) mobile data communications networks, and also designed to operate with any of a variety of voice communications networks, such as AMPS, TDMA, CDMA, WCDMA, PCS, GSM, EDGE, etc. Other types of data and voice networks, both separate and integrated, may also be utilized with the mobile device 1000. The mobile device 1000 may also be compliant with other communications standards such as 3GSM, 3GPP, UMTS, 4G, etc.
Network access requirements vary depending upon the type of communication system. For example, in the Mobitex and DataTAC networks, mobile devices are registered on the network using a unique personal identification number or PIN associated with each device. In GPRS networks, however, network access is associated with a subscriber or user of a device. A GPRS device therefore typically involves use of a subscriber identity module, commonly referred to as a SIM card, in order to operate on a GPRS network.
When required network registration or activation procedures have been completed, the mobile device 1000 may send and receive communications signals over the communication network 1401. Signals received from the communications network 1401 by the antenna 1540 are routed to the receiver 1500, which provides for signal amplification, frequency down conversion, filtering, channel selection, etc., and may also provide analog to digital conversion. Analog-to-digital conversion of the received signal allows the DSP 1580 to perform more complex communications functions, such as demodulation and decoding. In a similar manner, signals to be transmitted to the network 1401 are processed (e.g. modulated and encoded) by the DSP 1580 and are then provided to the transmitter 1520 for digital to analog conversion, frequency up conversion, filtering, amplification and transmission to the communication network 1401 (or networks) via the antenna 1560.
In addition to processing communications signals, the DSP 1580 provides for control of the receiver 1500 and the transmitter 1520. For example, gains applied to communications signals in the receiver 1500 and transmitter 1520 may be adaptively controlled through automatic gain control algorithms implemented in the DSP 1580.
In a data communications mode, a received signal, such as a text message or web page download, is processed by the communications subsystem 1001 and is input to the processing device 1800. The received signal is then further processed by the processing device 1800 for an output to the display 1600, or alternatively to some other auxiliary I/O device 1060. A device may also be used to compose data items, such as e-mail messages, using the keypad 1400 and/or some other auxiliary I/O device 1060, such as a touchpad, a rocker switch, a thumb-wheel, or some other type of input device. The composed data items may then be transmitted over the communications network 1401 via the communications subsystem 1001.
In a voice communications mode, overall operation of the device is substantially similar to the data communications mode, except that received signals are output to a speaker 1100, and signals for transmission are generated by a microphone 1120. Alternative voice or audio I/O subsystems, such as a voice message recording subsystem, may also be implemented on the device 1000. In addition, the display 1600 may also be utilized in voice communications mode, for example to display the identity of a calling party, the duration of a voice call, or other voice call related information.

Claims

A mobile wireless communications device (10) comprising:
a wireless transceiver (18);

a ground plane (16);

a reconfigurable antenna (11) coupled to said wireless transceiver and comprising
a dielectric substrate (12),
a plurality of electrical conductors (14a, 14b, 14c) on said dielectric substrate and arranged in a series of spaced apart antenna loops with each successive outer antenna loop surrounding an adjacent inner loop, each antenna loop having a pair of endpoints (23a, 23b, 23c, 25a, 25b, 25c),
a plurality of feed switches (24a, 24b, 24c), each feed switch coupled to a first endpoint of a respective antenna loop and configured to selectively couple the respective antenna loop to the wireless transceiver,
characterized by a plurality of ground switches (22a, 22b, 22c), each ground switch coupled to a second endpoint of a respective antenna loop and configured to selectively couple the respective antenna loop to the ground plane; and
a processor (20) adapted to reconfigure said reconfigurable antenna to operate as a monopole antenna by causing said plurality of feed switches ( 24a, 24b, 24c) to couple at least one of the antenna loops (14a, 14b, 14c) to said wireless transceiver (18), and by causing the plurality of ground switches (22a, 22b, 22c) to decouple the at least one of the antenna loops from the ground plane (16, 16'), the processor further adapted to reconfigure said reconfigurable antenna (11) by connecting at least two antenna loops (14a, 14b, 14c) to each other in series or in parallel and coupling said at least two antenna loops to said wireless transceiver (18).
The mobile wireless communications device (10) of Claim 1, wherein said reconfigurable antenna (11) further comprises an electrically conductive layer on said dielectric substrate (12) defining said ground plane (16); and wherein said plurality of electrical conductors (14a, 14b, 14c) are laterally adjacent said ground plane.
The mobile wireless communications device (10') of Claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board (13') having an electrically conductive layer thereon defining said ground plane (16').
The mobile wireless communications device (10) of Claim 1, wherein said processor (20) is adapted to reconfigure said reconfigurable antenna (11) by causing said plurality of feed switches (24a, 24b, 24c) to couple a selected one of the antenna loops (14a, 14b, 14c) to said wireless transceiver (18).
The mobile wireless communications device (10) of Claim 1, wherein said antenna loops (14a, 14b, 14c) are equally spaced apart from each other.
The mobile wireless communications device (10) of Claim 1, wherein said antenna loops (14a, 14b, 14c) share a common axis.
A method of making a mobile wireless communications device (10) with a reconfigurable antenna (11), a wireless transceiver (18) and a ground plane (16), the method comprising:
forming the reconfigurable antenna by
forming a plurality of electrical conductors (14a, 14b, 14c) on a dielectric substrate (12) arranged in a series of spaced apart antenna loops with each successive outer antenna loop surrounding an adjacent inner loop, each antenna loop having a pair of endpoints,
coupling each feed switch (24a, 24b, 24c) of a plurality of feed switches (24a, 24b, 24c) to a first endpoint of a respective antenna loop to selectively couple the respective antenna loop to the wireless transceiver,
characterized by coupling each ground switch (22a, 22b, 22c) of a plurality of ground switches to a second endpoint of a respective antenna loop to selectively couple the respective antenna loop to the ground plane;

adapting a processor (20) to reconfigure the reconfigurable antenna to operate as a monopole antenna by causing the plurality of feed switches (24a, 24b, 24c) to couple at least one of the antenna loops (14a, 14b, 14c) to said wireless transceiver (18), and by causing the plurality of ground switches (22a, 22b, 22c) to decouple the at least one of the antenna loops from the ground plane (16); and

adapting the processor to reconfigure the reconfigurable antenna (11) by connecting at least two antenna loops (14a, 14b, 14c) to each other in series or in parallel and coupling said at least two antenna loops to said wireless transceiver (18).
The method of Claim 7, wherein the reconfigurable antenna (11) is reconfigured by the processor (22) by causing the plurality of feed switches (24a, 24b, 24c) to couple a selected one of the antenna loops (14a, 14b, 14c) to the wireless transceiver (18).