JP2012222553A - Wireless device, antenna switching method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable use of a plurality of antennas with more excellent antenna characteristic among a plurality of antennas, with a simple circuit structure.SOLUTION: A wireless device comprises L antennas, a detection part which detects the degree of approximation of an object to each of the L antennas, a storage part which stores a priority of each of a plurality of combinations comprising M antennas among the L antennas (M<L), a controlling unit which selects any one of the plurality of combinations based on the detection results in the detection part and the priority stored in the storage part, and a switching part which operates the M antennas with the combination selected by the controlling unit among the L antennas.

Description

  The present invention relates to a radio apparatus including a plurality of antennas, an antenna switching method, and a program.

  In a wireless device with a built-in antenna, antenna characteristics deteriorate when a position corresponding to the portion with the built-in antenna is covered with an object such as a hand. For this reason, for example, in a folding mobile phone, an antenna is provided at the hinge portion to reduce deterioration of antenna characteristics.

  Here, in order to make it easy to see the screen, a user of a smartphone or a tablet-type mobile terminal that has a screen close to the size of the casing itself by a touch panel method may change the direction in which they are held. Therefore, in a smartphone or a tablet-type mobile terminal, it is difficult to provide an antenna at a position that is not likely to be covered with a hand.

  In such a case, it is conceivable to use a diversity method that can be used while switching a plurality of antennas.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a wireless device that can be used while switching between a plurality of antennas.

  A wireless device 100 illustrated in FIG. 6 includes antennas 101-1 and 101-2, a control unit 102, a switching unit 103 having a switch, and a wireless unit 104.

  The radio unit 104 transmits and receives radio signals to and from the outside via the antenna that is in an operating state when the switching unit 103 switches between the antennas 101-1 and 101-2. Radio section 104 measures the quality of radio waves such as the intensity of radio waves received by antennas 101-1 and 101-2.

  The control unit 102 selects one of the antennas 101-1 and 101-2 based on the measurement result in the wireless unit 104.

  The switching unit 103 switches the switch according to the selection result in the control unit 102. As a result, an antenna having better antenna characteristics is used among the antennas 101-1, 101-2.

  As described above, in order to use an antenna having better antenna characteristics among a plurality of antennas, a complicated circuit for measuring the quality of received radio waves and determining the antenna to be used based on the measurement result. Or a program is required.

  Therefore, it is required to use an antenna having better antenna characteristics among a plurality of antennas with a simple circuit configuration, and for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that enables this.

  In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, a wireless terminal device has a plurality of antennas and a plurality of light detection means installed in the vicinity of each of the plurality of antennas. Then, the wireless terminal device selects, from among the plurality of antennas, an antenna in the vicinity of the light detection means having the maximum output signal among the plurality of light detection means.

JP 2002-94317 A

  If the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above is used, use of an antenna having better antenna characteristics among a plurality of antennas can be realized with a simple circuit configuration.

  Here, in MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output), a plurality of antennas are used in combination in order to widen a data transmission / reception band. However, even if the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used, there is a problem in that only one antenna having better antenna characteristics can be used.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless device, an antenna switching method, and a program capable of realizing the use of a plurality of antennas having better antenna characteristics among a plurality of antennas with a simple circuit configuration.

In order to achieve the above object, the wireless device of the present invention includes L antennas,
A detection unit for detecting the degree of proximity of an object to each of the L antennas;
A storage unit for storing the priority of each of a plurality of combinations of M (M <L) antennas among the L antennas;
A control unit that selects one of the plurality of combinations based on a detection result in the detection unit and a priority stored in the storage unit;
A switching unit that operates M antennas of the combination selected by the control unit among the L antennas.

In order to achieve the above object, an antenna switching method of the present invention is an antenna switching method in a radio apparatus having L antennas,
Processing for detecting the degree of proximity of an object to each of the L antennas;
Selection process for selecting one of the plurality of combinations based on the priority of each of a plurality of combinations of M (M <L) antennas among the L antennas and the detection result When,
A process of operating the M antennas of the selected combination among the L antennas.

In order to achieve the above object, the program of the present invention can be applied to a wireless device having L antennas.
A function of detecting the degree of proximity of an object to each of the L antennas;
A selection function for selecting one of the plurality of combinations based on the priority of each of a plurality of combinations of M (M <L) antennas out of the L antennas and the detection result. When,
A function of operating the M antennas of the selected combination among the L antennas is realized.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, use of a plurality of antennas having better antenna characteristics among a plurality of antennas can be realized with a simple circuit configuration.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of 1st Embodiment of the portable terminal to which the radio | wireless apparatus of this invention is applied. It is an external view of the portable terminal shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the priority information table with which the memory | storage part shown in FIG. 1 is provided. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the portable terminal shown in FIGS. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of 2nd Embodiment of the portable terminal to which the radio | wireless apparatus of this invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the radio | wireless apparatus which can be used switching a some antenna.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of a mobile terminal to which a wireless device of the present invention is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile terminal 10 of the present embodiment includes antennas 11-1 to 11-4, illuminance sensors 12-1 to 12-4 that are detection units, a switching unit 13, a wireless unit 14, A storage unit 15, a control unit 16, and a display unit 17 are provided. Note that there are L (L is a natural number) antennas and illuminance sensors, and FIG. 1 shows an example of L = 4.

  Each of the illuminance sensors 12-1 to 12-4 is associated with each of the antennas 11-1 to 11-4. Here, the antenna 11-1 and the illuminance sensor 12-1 are associated with each other, the antenna 11-2 and the illuminance sensor 12-2 are associated with each other, and the antenna 11-3 and the illuminance sensor 12-3 are associated with each other. Are associated with each other, and the antenna 11-4 and the illuminance sensor 12-4 are associated with each other.

  FIG. 2 is an external view of the mobile terminal 10 shown in FIG.

  The display unit 17 includes a screen as shown in FIG.

  Each of the antennas 11-1 to 11-4 is an antenna for transmitting and receiving a radio signal, and is built in the mobile terminal 10.

  Each of the illuminance sensors 12-1 to 12-4 senses brightness and outputs a signal indicating a value corresponding to the sensed brightness to the control unit 16. Here, it is assumed that the value indicated by the signal becomes higher as the sensed brightness becomes brighter. In addition, the identification information which identifies the antenna corresponding to the illuminance sensor of the output source of the signal is given to the signal output from each of the illuminance sensors 12-1 to 12-4. Moreover, each of the illuminance sensors 12-1 to 12-4 is provided in the vicinity of the antenna corresponding to the illuminance sensor among the antennas 11-1 to 11-4, as shown in FIG. Specifically, the associated antenna and the illuminance sensor are sensed by the illuminance sensor according to the degree of proximity when an object such as a hand approaches the position corresponding to the portion where the antenna is incorporated. It is in a positional relationship where the brightness changes.

  Of the antennas 11-1 to 11-4, the radio unit 14 is connected to the outside via two antennas that are set in an operating state by the switching unit 13 described later switching the switches 13-1 and 13-2. Transmit and receive wireless signals.

  The storage unit 15 includes a priority information table.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the priority order information table included in the storage unit 15 illustrated in FIG. 1.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the priority order information table stores combinations of identification information and priorities in association with each other. In addition, this priority order has shown the order of the combination which can obtain a more favorable antenna characteristic, when combining two antennas among the antennas 11-1 to 11-4. In other words, better antenna characteristics can be obtained by operating two antennas having a higher priority combination. In the priority information table, the combination of identification information includes M (M is a natural number smaller than L) pieces of identification information, but FIG. 3 shows an example where M = 2.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, the highest priority is a combination of identification information A and identification information C, and the second highest priority is a combination of identification information A and identification information D.

  Referring to FIG. 1 again, the control unit 16 receives four signals output from the illuminance sensors 12-1 to 12-4. And the control part 16 is based on the value which each of the received four signals shows, and the priority in the priority information table memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 15, The some identification information memorize | stored in the priority information table Select one of the combinations. Then, the control unit 16 outputs two pieces of identification information of the selected combination of identification information to the switching unit 13. Note that details of the operation in which the control unit 16 selects one of a plurality of combinations of identification information stored in the priority order information table will be described in an operation flow described later.

  The switching unit 13 includes switches 13-1 and 13-2. Each of the switches 13-1 and 13-2 is connected to a connection terminal connected to the wireless unit 14 and each of the antennas 11-1 to 11-4 and each of the antennas 11-1 to 11-4. A switching terminal associated with the identification information. The switching unit 13 receives two pieces of identification information output from the control unit 16. And the switching part 13 makes between the switching terminal corresponding to one of the received two identification information among the four switching terminals of the switch 13-1, and a connection terminal a conduction state. At the same time, the switching unit 13 brings the switching terminal and the connection terminal corresponding to the other of the received two pieces of identification information out of the four switching terminals of the switch 13-2 into a conductive state.

  Below, operation | movement of the portable terminal 10 comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the mobile terminal 10 shown in FIGS.

  First, each of the illuminance sensors 12-1 to 12-4 senses brightness (step S1). Each of the illuminance sensors 12-1 to 12-4 outputs a signal indicating a value corresponding to the sensed brightness to the control unit 16.

  The control unit 16 that has received the four signals output from the illuminance sensors 12-1 to 12-4 outputs the three signals in order from the received signal having the highest value indicated by the signal. Select (step S2). As a result, three of the antennas 11-1 to 11-4 are selected as candidate antennas that are antenna candidates to be operated. Note that the number of signals to be selected is N (N is a natural number larger than M and smaller than L). Here, a case where N = 3 is described as an example.

  Next, the control unit 16 extracts three pieces of identification information given to the selected three signals from the antennas 11-1 to 11-4 (step S3).

  Next, the control unit 16 selects a combination having the highest priority in the priority order information table from among a plurality of combinations including two identification numbers among the extracted three identification numbers (step S4). For example, when the contents of the priority information table are the contents shown in FIG. 3 and the identification information A, B, C is extracted in step S3, the combination of the identification information A, C with the priority “1”. Is selected. When the identification information B, C, D is extracted in step S3, the combination of the identification information B, D with the priority “3” is selected.

  And the control part 16 outputs two identification information of the selected combination among the antennas 11-1 to 11-4 to the switching part 13.

  The switching unit 13 that has received the two pieces of identification information output from the control unit 16 switches between the switching terminal and the connection terminal corresponding to one of the two pieces of received identification information among the four switching terminals of the switch 13-1. Make it conductive. At the same time, the switching unit 13 brings the switching terminal and the connection terminal corresponding to the other of the received two pieces of identification information out of the four switching terminals of the switch 13-2 into a conductive state. As a result, of the antennas 11-1 to 11-4, two antennas identified by the two identification information of the combination selected in step S4 operate (step S5).

  Thus, in this embodiment, the portable terminal 10 includes illuminance sensors 12-1 to 12-4 that detect the degree of proximity of an object to each of the antennas 11-1 to 11-4.

  In addition, the mobile terminal 10 includes a storage unit 15 that stores the priorities of a plurality of combinations including two antennas of the antennas 11-1 to 11-4.

  Further, the mobile terminal 10 selects one of a plurality of combinations based on the detection results of the illuminance sensors 12-1 to 12-4 and the priority order stored in the storage unit 15. It has.

  In addition, the mobile terminal 10 includes a switching unit 13 that operates two antennas of the combination selected by the control unit 16 among the antennas 11-1 to 11-4.

  Thereby, use of a plurality of antennas having better antenna characteristics among the plurality of antennas can be realized with a simple circuit configuration.

  In this embodiment, the illuminance sensor is used. However, as long as the proximity degree of an object such as a hand can be detected, not only the illuminance sensor but also a physical switch, a capacitance sensor, or the like may be used.

  In the present embodiment, the case has been described in which one combination of two antennas is selected using the priority order information table. In combination with this method, for example, out of four signals output from the illuminance sensors 12-1 to 12-4, if the values indicated by the two signals are higher than a predetermined threshold value, the two signals The two antennas corresponding to the illuminance sensor that is the output source of the signal may be operated antennas.

  Further, in the present embodiment, three antennas are selected as candidate antennas from the four antennas provided in the mobile terminal 10, and among a plurality of combinations including two antennas among the three candidate antennas. The case of selecting the combination with the highest priority has been described. However, the number of antennas included in the mobile terminal 10 and the number of candidate antennas to be selected are not limited to these. For example, the number of antennas provided in the mobile terminal 10 is five, four antennas are selected from the five antennas as candidate antennas, and three antennas out of the four candidate antennas are selected. A combination having the highest priority among the plurality of combinations may be selected.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second embodiment of a mobile terminal to which the wireless device of the present invention is applied. 5, the same components as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the mobile terminal 20 of the present embodiment includes antennas 11-1 to 11-4, illuminance sensors 12-1 to 12-4 that are detection units, a switching unit 13, a storage unit 15, And a control unit 16.

  In the present embodiment, the mobile terminal 20 includes illuminance sensors 12-1 to 12-4 that detect the degree of proximity of an object to each of the antennas 11-1 to 11-4.

  In addition, the mobile terminal 10 includes a storage unit 15 that stores the priorities of a plurality of combinations including two antennas of the antennas 11-1 to 11-4.

  Further, the mobile terminal 10 selects one of a plurality of combinations based on the detection results of the illuminance sensors 12-1 to 12-4 and the priority order stored in the storage unit 15. It has.

  In addition, the mobile terminal 10 includes a switching unit 13 that operates two antennas of the combination selected by the control unit 16 among the antennas 11-1 to 11-4.

  Thereby, use of a plurality of antennas having better antenna characteristics among the plurality of antennas can be realized with a simple circuit configuration.

  In the present invention, the processing in the wireless device is recorded on a recording medium readable by the wireless device, in addition to the processing realized by the dedicated hardware described above. The program recorded on the recording medium may be read by the wireless device and executed. The recording medium readable by the wireless device refers to an HDD or the like built in the wireless device, in addition to a removable recording medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a DVD, or a CD.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,20 Mobile terminal 11-1 to 11-4 Antenna 12-1 to 12-4 Illuminance sensor 13 Switching part 13-1, 13-2 Switch 14 Wireless part 15 Storage part 16 Control part 17 Display part

Claims (7)

L antennas,
A detection unit for detecting the degree of proximity of an object to each of the L antennas;
A storage unit for storing the priority of each of a plurality of combinations of M (M <L) antennas among the L antennas;
A control unit that selects one of the plurality of combinations based on a detection result in the detection unit and a priority stored in the storage unit;
A switching unit configured to operate a combination of M antennas selected by the control unit among the L antennas; The wireless device according to claim 1, wherein
The control unit selects N (M <N <L) antennas from the L antennas as candidate antennas based on the proximity degree of the object detected by the detection unit, and selects the selected N antennas A wireless device that selects a combination having the highest priority stored in the storage unit from among a plurality of combinations of M antennas. The wireless device according to claim 2, wherein
The detection unit is associated with each of the L antennas, and includes L illuminance sensors provided in the vicinity of the antennas.
Each of the L illuminance sensors senses brightness, and outputs a signal indicating a value corresponding to the sensed brightness,
The control unit receives L signals output from the L illuminance sensors, and based on a value indicated by each of the received L signals, N control signals from the received L signals. A radio apparatus that selects a signal and selects, from among the L antennas, N antennas corresponding to N illuminance sensors that are output sources of the selected N signals as the candidate antennas. An antenna switching method in a wireless device having L antennas,
Processing for detecting the degree of proximity of an object to each of the L antennas;
Selection process for selecting one of the plurality of combinations based on the priority of each of a plurality of combinations of M (M <L) antennas among the L antennas and the detection result When,
A method of operating the selected combination of M antennas out of the L antennas. In the antenna switching method according to claim 4,
The selection process selects N (M <N <L) antennas among the L antennas as candidate antennas based on the proximity degree of the detected object, and selects the selected N antennas. An antenna switching method, which is a process of selecting a combination having the highest priority among a plurality of combinations of M antennas. To a wireless device having L antennas,
A function of detecting the degree of proximity of an object to each of the L antennas;
A selection function for selecting one of the plurality of combinations based on the priority of each of a plurality of combinations of M (M <L) antennas out of the L antennas and the detection result. When,
A program for realizing a function of operating the M antennas of the selected combination among the L antennas. The program according to claim 6,
The selection function selects N (M <N <L) antennas among the L antennas as candidate antennas based on the proximity degree of the detected object, and selects the selected N antennas. A program that is a function for selecting a combination having the highest priority among a plurality of combinations of M antennas.

Images