KR100669484B1 - Antenna device and method for transmitting and receiving radio waves - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention includes an antenna device (1) including a transmitter section (2) and a receiver section (3) for transmitting and receiving radio waves connectable to a radio communication device. The receiver unit is capable of switching between a plurality of antenna configuration states each distinguished by a set of radiation related parameters such as resonant frequency, impedance, radiation pattern, deflection, and bandwidth; 87, 89, 91, 92, and a switching device 14, 36, 81 for selectively switching the antenna structure between the plurality of antenna configuration states. The antenna device controls the receiving means for receiving a first measurement value indicating a reflection coefficient at the transmitter section, and the switching device of the receiver section to control the switching device so that the plurality of antenna configuration states according to the first reception measurement value indicating the reflection coefficient. And a control device 22 for selectively switching the antenna structure between them.

Antenna device, radio wave, antenna configuration state, switching device, control device, reflection coefficient,

Description

An antenna device and method for transmitting and receiving radio waves, and a wireless communication device using the same {{ANTENNA DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING RADIO WAVES}

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention generally relates to the field of antennas, and more particularly, to an antenna device for transmitting and receiving radio waves, a wireless communication device including such an antenna device, and a method for transmitting and receiving radio waves.

In the modern wireless communication industry, there is an increasing demand for smaller and multifunctional portable terminals such as mobile phones. The size of the antenna is known to be crucial for its performance (see Johnson, Antenna Engineering Handbook, McGrawhill 1993, Chapter 6). The interaction between the antenna, the telephone body and the adjacent environment, such as the user himself, has become more important than ever. Until recently, there was usually a requirement that two or more frequency bands could be maintained. Therefore, it was impossible to manufacture a compact and multifunctional terminal showing good antenna performance under various conditions.

In the manufacture of portable telephones today, antennas are typically adapted to the characteristics of these particular telephones, making them suitable for default use in a default environment. This means that the antenna cannot be adapted later on under certain conditions in which certain phones will be used or which phones will be suitable for other portable phones. Thus, each model of portable telephone must typically be equipped with a specific design antenna that cannot be selectively used for any other telephone model.

Radiation properties of small structural antenna devices, such as portable wireless communication devices, depend largely on the shape and size of the phone casing and the supporting structure, such as the printed circuit board (PCB) of the device. All radiation properties are, for example, resonant frequency, input impedance, bandwidth, radiation pattern, gain, deflection and near-field patterns, the product of the antenna device itself and the interaction with the PCB and the telephone casing. Therefore, there should be all references to the radiating properties made below for the entire device into which the antenna is incorporated.

The foregoing also applies to other wireless communication devices, such as cordless telephones, remote systems, wireless data terminals, and the like. Therefore, the antenna device of the present invention is widely applied in various communication devices.

Receiving antennas adapted to various radio wave environments by having diversity functionality are known, for example, from EP-A2-0,852,407, GB-A-2,332,124 and JP-A-10,145,130. Such a multifunctional system can be used to suppress undesirable signals such as delayed signals and common channel interference signals that cause noise and / or intersymbol interference, thereby improving overall signal quality but involving complex receiver circuits. It requires a structure and a plurality of antenna input ports.

Switchable antennas are known from literature such as, for example, for achieving diversity.

WO 99/44307 discloses a communication device having antenna gain diversity. The apparatus includes a first and a second antenna element, both or only one of which may be coupled to an antenna signal node. Antenna elements not coupled to the node are electrically coupled to signal ground.

EP-A1-0,546,803 discloses a diversity antenna comprising a single antenna element. This antenna element is in the form of a quarter-wave monopole which can be selectively fed in one stage or the other stage from a common RF feed source.

US-A1-5,541, 614 discloses an antenna system comprising a set of center-fed and segmented dipole antennas embedded on top of a frequency selective photonic bandgap crystal. Some characteristics of this antenna system can be varied, for example by connecting / disconnecting segments of the dipole arm to make it longer or shorter.

However, all of these conventional devices do not disclose any switchable antenna elements that are some artificially connected or disconnected when needed, for example due to signal conditions. In the aforementioned EP-A1-0,546,803, the possibility of such AI switching is mentioned, but no method of controlling the switching is mentioned.

It is a main object of the present invention to provide an antenna device which transmits and receives radio waves and is connectable to a wireless communication device, and includes a transmitter section and a receiver section, the receiver section having a resonant frequency, input impedance, bandwidth, radiation pattern, gain, deflection. An antenna structure that is switchable between a plurality of antenna configuration states each distinguishable by a set of radiation related parameters such as, and nearfield patterns, and a plurality of antenna devices that are versatile and adaptable to various conditions and are suitable for obtaining a predetermined function And a switching device for selectively switching the antenna structure between antenna configuration states.

In this respect, it is a particular object of the present invention to provide an antenna device that exhibits improved performance compared to conventional antenna devices.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an antenna device in which predetermined characteristics such as resonant frequency, impedance, radiation pattern, deflection, bandwidth, and diversity can be controlled.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an antenna device which exhibits controllable interactions between the antenna structure and the switching devices.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple, lightweight, easy to manufacture and inexpensive antenna device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an antenna device which is efficient, easy to install and reliable, and particularly mechanically durable even after long term use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an antenna device suitable for use as an integrated part of a wireless communication device.

These and other objects according to the present invention are achieved by the antenna device, the wireless communication device, and the method as claimed in the appended claims.

In the claims, the expression “antenna structure” refers to not only active elements connected to a transmission (feed) line of a wireless communication device circuit, but also grounded or unconnected to operate, for example, as a director, reflector, impedance matching element, or the like. It includes the elements.

The invention will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention and the accompanying figures 1 to 7 which are illustrative only and not limiting the invention.

1 is a schematic block diagram showing an antenna module for transmitting and receiving radio waves according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a receiving or transmitting antenna element as part of an antenna module according to the present invention and a switching device for selectively connecting and disconnecting the receiving antenna element.

3 is a schematic diagram of a receiving or transmitting antenna structure as part of an antenna device according to the invention and a switching device for selectively grounding the receiving antenna structure at different points;

4 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of a switch-and-stay algorithm for controlling a switching device of a novel antenna device.

5 is a flowchart showing another example of an algorithm for controlling a switching device of a novel antenna device.

6 is a flowchart showing still another example of an algorithm for controlling a switching device of a novel antenna device.

7 is a schematic diagram showing a receiving or transmitting antenna element as part of an antenna module according to another embodiment of the present invention, and a switching device for selectively connecting and disconnecting the receiving antenna element.

The following description is illustrative and not restrictive, and specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments without departing from these specific details. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices and methods have been omitted so as not to obscure the description of the invention in unnecessary detail.

Antenna module of the present invention (FIG. 1)

Referring to FIG. 1, an antenna device or module 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes separate transmitter units TX 2 and receiver units RX 3.

The antenna module 1 is a high frequency (HF) portion of a wireless communication device (not shown) that transmits and receives radio waves. Thus, the antenna module 1 is preferably arranged to be electrically coupled to a digital or analog signal processor of the wireless communication device via wireless communication circuitry.

The antenna module 1 is preferably arranged on a carrier (not shown) which can be a flexible substrate, a MID (Molded Interconnection Device) or a PCB. These antenna module PCBs are mounted with the PCB of the radio communication device side by side in substantially the same plane, in particular releasably mounted, or mounted on the PCB of the radio device so as to be substantially parallel to or raised from the PCB of the radio device, for example. It can be attached to the dielectric support means. The antenna module PCB may also be substantially perpendicular to the PCB of the wireless communication device.

The transmitter unit 2 includes an input 4 for receiving a digital signal from a digital transmitter of a wireless communication device. The input 4 is connected via a transmission line 5 to a digital / analog (D / A) converter 6 which converts a digital signal into an analog signal. The converter 6 is also connected via a transmission line 5 to an up-converter 7 which upconverts the frequency of the analog signal to a predetermined RF frequency. The up-converter 7 is in turn connected via a transmission line 5 to an amplifying power amplifier (PA) 8 of the frequency-converted signal. The power amplifier 8 is also connected to a transmitter antenna device 9 which transmits an amplified RF signal and emits RF waves in accordance with the signal. A filter (not shown) is arranged in the signal path either before or after the power amplifier.

The device 10 for measuring the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) in the transmitter section is provided in the transmitter section 3, preferably as shown in FIG. 1, with a power amplifier 8 and a transmitter antenna arrangement 9 ), Or incorporated in the transmitter antenna device 9.

The transmitter antenna device 9 has a transmission antenna structure composed of a switching device 11 connected to the transmission line 5 and a plurality of transmission antenna elements, which are preferably connectable to the transmission line 5 via the switching device 11 ( 12). According to the invention, the transmitter antenna arrangement 9 can of course be identically made of a single transmit antenna which is however permanently connected.

The receiver section 3 includes a receive antenna structure 13 for receiving RF waves and thereby generating RF signals. The receive antenna structure 13 is switchable between multiple (at least two) antenna configuration states, each of which is a set of such components as resonance frequency, input impedance, bandwidth, radiation pattern, gain, deflection, and nearfield pattern. Distinguished by radiation-related parameters. The switching device 14 is arranged in close proximity to selectively switch the antenna structure 13 between the antenna configuration states. The receiving antenna structure 13 and the switching device 14 are incorporated into and arranged in the receiver antenna device 15.

The antenna structure 13 includes a plurality of elements connectable to the transmission line 16 or RF ground (not shown), and / or a plurality of spaced apart connection points each connectable to the transmission line 16 or RF ground, which will be described later. Include.

Antenna structure 13 is also connected via transmission line 16 to one or more low noise amplifiers (LANs) 17 for amplifying the received signals. RF feeding of the antenna structure 13 may be accomplished via the switching device 14 as in the illustrated example, or may be performed separately from the switching device 14.

When receive diversity is used, the signal output from the low noise amplifier 17 is combined at the combiner 18. Diversity combining may be one of the switching types or may be a weighted sum of the signals.

The transmission line 16 is also connected to a down converter or downmixer 19 for down converting the frequency of the signal and an analog / digital (A / D) converter 20 for converting the received signal into a digital signal. The digital signal is output at 21 to the digital processing circuit of the wireless communication device.

According to the invention, the control device for controlling the selective connection and disconnection of a part of the receiving antenna structure 13 in accordance with the measurement indicative of the reflection coefficient in the transmitter part 2 which in turn controls the switching device in the receiver part 3. 22 is provided. Here, the measurement may be the voltage standing wave ratio VSWR measured by the device 10. Of course the same, reflected power can be measured. However, hereinafter, only VSWR will be mentioned even if other reflection measurements are used.

By the switching device 14, connection and disconnection of a part of the antenna structure 13 can be easily controlled. By reconfiguring the antenna device 13 connected to the transmission line 16, radiation related parameters such as the resonant frequency, input impedance, bandwidth, radiation pattern, gain, deflection, and nearfield pattern of the receiver antenna device 15 are can be changed.

VSWR is measured repeatedly in use, preferably by sampling at defined time intervals or continuously.

The control device 22 is adapted to the repeatedly received measurement VSWR in the use of the antenna module 1 in the wireless communication device in order to dynamically adapt the antenna device 1 to an object such as the user himself in the immediate environment of the wireless communication device. Accordingly arranged to control the switching device to switch states. Thus, the performance of the receiver section 3 of the antenna module is continuously optimized in use.                 

The control device 22 is preferably a central processing unit (CPU) with a measuring device 10 via connections 25, 26 and a memory 24 which is connected with the switching device 14 via a line 27. And (23). The CPU 23 preferably has a suitable control algorithm, and the memory 24 is used to store various antenna configuration data for switching. The switching device 14 preferably comprises a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switching device.

The CPU 23 receives the VSWR value measured from the VSWR measuring device 10 via the lines 25 and 26 and processes each received VSWR value. If this value is appropriate (according to some implemented control algorithm), the switching indication signal is transmitted to the switching device 14 via the line 27.

Preferably, the antenna structure 12 of the transmitter section 2 includes a plurality of (at least two) antenna configuration states respectively distinguished by a set of radiation related parameters such as resonant frequency, impedance, radiation pattern, deflection and bandwidth. Switchable, the switching device 11 is arranged to selectively switch the antenna structure in accordance with a control signal transmitted from the control device 22 via the control line 28.

Moreover, the antenna module 1 includes a control port 29 for signaling via the line 29a between the CPU 23 and the circuit of the wireless communication device. By this, the power amplifier 8, the low noise amplifier 17 and the combiner 18 are controlled via the lines 30, 31 and 32 respectively. In FIG. 1, the reference numeral 33 in the end denotes a parallel-to-serial converter arranged in the transmitter section 2 for converting the parallel signaling lines 25, 28, 30 into a serial line 26. This reduces the number of wires, in turn the connection between the transmitter section 2 and the receiver section 3.

Optionally, the CPU 23, the memory 24 and the control port 29 are located in the transmitter section 2 so that the parallel-to-serial converter 33 is arranged in the receiver section 3 to obtain the same object. .

The antenna module 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 has only digital ports (input 4, output 21, and control port 29) and is therefore referred to as a digital control antenna (DCA).

However, it should be understood that the antenna module according to the present invention does not necessarily have to include A / D and D / A converters, frequency converters or amplifiers. In some of these cases, the antenna module may obviously have similar input and output ports.

Operating environment

In the following, various operating environments for achieving the performance of the antenna device or module according to the invention are described below.

Antenna parameters such as resonant frequency, input impedance, bandwidth, radiation pattern, deflection, near field pattern of a small wireless communication device are affected by objects adjacent to the device. Here, adjacent means a distance where the effect on the antenna parameters is remarkable. This distance extends about one wavelength from the device.

Small wireless communication devices, such as mobile telephones, can be used in many other adjacent environments.                 

For example, it can be held in the ear as a telephone, put in a pocket, attached to a belt at the waist, or carried in the hand. Furthermore, it can be located on a metal table. Numerous operating environments can be enumerated. Common to all environments is that there is an object adjacent to the device, which affects the antenna parameters of the device. Environments with other objects adjacent to the device have different effects on antenna parameters.

Two specific operating parameters are described below.

A free space (FS) operating environment is obtained by placing a wireless communication device in an empty space, that is, in a space free of objects adjacent to the device. The atmosphere surrounding the device is considered here as free space. Many operating environments are approximated by free space environments. In general, the case where the environment has little influence on the antenna parameters may be referred to as free space.

A call location (TP) operating environment is defined as a location where a wireless communication device is held in the ear by a user. The influence of the antenna parameters varies depending on who carries the device and how the device is located. Here, the TP environment is considered to cover the general case, ie all the individual variations described above.

Resonance Frequency (Figure 2)

In the following, various radiation related parameters controlled according to the present invention, such as resonance frequency, input impedance, and radiation pattern, are described in more detail.

Antennas for wireless communication devices are detuned due to the presence of a user. For many antenna types, the resonant frequency drops by a few percent when the user is present compared to when the device is in free space.

Adaptive tuning between free space and call location can substantially reduce this problem.

A simple way to tune the antenna is to change its electrical length to change its resonant frequency. The longer the electrical length, the lower the resonant frequency. It is also the simplest way to create band switching if the change in electrical length is large enough.

FIG. 2 shows a male antenna structure 35 arranged with a switching device 36 comprising a plurality of switches 37-49. Antenna structure 35 may be a plurality of aligned individually connectable antenna elements 50-54 connected to feed point 55 via switching device 36 in a connected state. The feed point 55 is further connected to a low noise amplifier of a receiver circuit (not shown) of the wireless communication device, so that the antenna structure 35 operates as a receiving antenna. The low noise amplifier is optionally located in the antenna module along with the antenna structure 35 and the switching device 36. Optionally, feed point 55 is connected to a power amplifier of a wireless communication transmitter that receives the RF signal, such that antenna structure 35 operates as a transmitting antenna.

An example of typical operation is as follows. Suppose that the switches 37, 46-49 are closed and the remaining switches are open and this antenna configuration is adapted to optimal performance when arranged in a portable telephone located in free space. When the telephone is moved to the call position, the influence of the user lowers the resonant frequency, and as a result, the switching 49 is opened to compensate for the presence of the user, so that the electrical length of the connected antenna structure is reduced and thus the resonant frequency Will increase. This increase due to the proper design of the antenna device 35 and the switching device 36 compensates for the reduction introduced when the telephone is moved from the free space to the call position.

The same antenna structure 35 and switching device 36 may also be used for switching between two different frequency bands, such as GSM900 and GSM1800, for example.

For example, if the antenna configuration state including antenna elements 50-53 connected to feed point 55 (switches 37, 46-48 are closed and the remaining switches are open) is adapted to suit the GSM900 frequency band Switching to the GSM1800 frequency band is achieved by simply opening the switch 47, so that the electrical length of the currently connected antenna structure (elements 50 and 51) is nearly twice that of a resonant frequency suitable for the GSM1800 frequency band. Being reduced to about half of the previous length.

Impedance (Figure 3)

Instead of tuning the untuned antenna, the resonant frequency is shifted slightly and an adaptive impedance match associated with making this untuned is compensated for by matching.

The antenna structure has feed points at other locations. Each location has a different ratio between the E and H fields resulting in different input impedances. This phenomenon can be exploited by switching feed points if feed point switching has little effect on the rest of the antenna structure. When the antenna is untuned due to the presence of a user (or other object), the antenna can be matched to the feedline impedance, for example by changing the feed point of the antenna structure. In a similar manner, RF ground points can be changed.

3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an implementation of an antenna structure 61 that can be selectively RF grounded at many different points spaced from one another. Antenna structure 61 is a Planar Inverted F Antenna (PIFA) mounted on PCB 62 of a wireless communication device in the illustrated example. Antenna 61 has a feed line 63 and N other spaced apart RF ground connections 64. By switching from one RF ground connection to another, the impedance is slightly changed.

Moreover, switching at / from parasitic antenna elements can create an impedance match because the mutual coupling from the parasitic antenna element to the active antenna element creates a mutual impedance that is added to the input impedance of the active antenna element.

Typical usage positions other than FS and TP can be defined, for example, on waist positions, pocket positions, and steel tables. Each case has typical tuning and matching, requiring a limited number of points for switching. If there is a peripheral limit to the untuning of the antenna element, the range of adaptive tuning / matching that needs to be covered by the antenna device can be estimated.

One implementation is to define many antenna configuration states that cover the tuning / impedance matching range. There may be the same or unequal impedance between each of the different antenna configuration states.                 

Radiation pattern

The radiation pattern of the wireless terminal is affected by the presence of a user or other object in the near field area. Lost incoming material not only changes the radiation pattern, but also causes a loss of radiation power due to absorption.

This problem can be reduced if the radiation pattern of the terminal is adaptively controlled. The radiation pattern (near field) can be driven away from the loss introducing object, which reduces the overall loss.

Changes in the radiation pattern require generating electromagnetic radiation for which the current will be altered. In general, small devices (eg, portable telephones) require very large changes in the antenna structure to produce altered currents, especially for low frequency bands. However, this can be done by switching to a different antenna structure at different antenna types or at different locations / sides of the PCB of the wireless communication device that produce different radiation patterns.

Another method is to switch from an antenna structure that interacts heavily with a wireless communication device's PCB (eg, a whip or patch antenna) to another antenna (eg a loop antenna) that does not do so. This will change the radiation current dramatically because the interaction with the PCB introduces a large current on the PCB (PCB is mainly used as a radiating structure).

Note that the object changes the antenna input impedance in the near field area of the device. Therefore, VSWR is a good indicator of the case where there is a small loss. A small change in VSWR compared to VSWR in free space means a small loss due to nearby objects.

The foregoing relates to antenna nearfield and loss from objects in the nearfield. However, in the general case, the main concern may be the near-field pattern in the preferred direction, which produces good signal conditions.

In a similar manner, the deflection can be changed to improve signal conditions.

Algorithm (FIGS. 4-6)

The measured VSWR is processed in several kinds of algorithms that control the states of the switches. All described algorithms will be of trial-and-error type because they have no knowledge of this until a new state is reached.

Hereinafter, some algorithms for controlling the antenna will be described with reference to FIGS. 4-6.

The simplest algorithm is perhaps the switch-and-stay algorithm shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. Here, the switching is performed between predefined states i = 1, ..., N (eg, at N = 2, one state is optimized for FS and the other state is optimized for TP). State i = 1 is initially selected and then in step 65 the VSWR is measured. The measured VSWR is compared with a predefined limit (threshold) in step 66. If this threshold is not exceeded, the algorithm returns to step 65, and if the threshold is exceeded, there is a switching to be performed with a new state i = i + 1. If i + 1 exceeds N, switching is performed in state 1. After this step the algorithm returns to step 65. There is a time delay to prevent switching during too fast time scale.

Using this algorithm, each state 1, ..., N is used until the detected VSWR exceeds a predefined limit. If this occurs at the algorithm stage through predefined states until reaching a state, both the transmitter and receiver antenna structures can be switched simultaneously. A certain number of states are defined such that switching can be performed between many states.

Another example is the more advanced switch-stay algorithm shown in the flow chart of FIG. In the same way as the previous algorithm, the N state is predefined, state i = 1 is initially selected, then VSWR is measured in step 68 and compared to the threshold in step 69. If the threshold is not exceeded, the algorithm returns to step 68, and if exceeded, proceeds to step 69, where all states are switched and VSWR is measured in each state. All VSWRs are compared and the state with the lowest VSWR is selected.

Step 70 is as follows:

for i = 1 to N (at i = 1: N)

switch to State i

measure VSWR (i) (measure VSWR (i))

store VSWR (i) (store VSWR (i))

switch to State of lowest VSWR

Eventually, the algorithm returns to step 68. Note that this algorithm requires very fast switching and measurement of VSWR since all states must be switched in step 70.

Another algorithm is suitable for an antenna structure with several predefined antenna configuration states in which two adjacent states are arranged so as to have only slightly outgoing radiation characteristics. 6 shows a flowchart of this other algorithm.

The N state is predefined, initially i = 1 is selected, the parameter VSWR is set to 0 and the variable "change" is set to +1. In a first step 71, VSWRi (VSWR of state i) is measured and stored, and then in step 72 the VSWRi is compared with VSWRold. On the other hand, if VSWRi < VSWRold, the flow advances to step 73, where " change " is set to + change (this step i is practically not necessary). In steps 74 and 75, VSWRold is set to the current VSWR, i.e., VSWRi, and the antenna configuration state is changed to i + "change", i.e. i = i + change. The algorithm then returns to step 71. On the other hand, if VSWRi> VSWRold, the process proceeds to step 76 where the variable " change " is set to + change. The algorithm then proceeds to steps 74 and 75. Note that in this case the algorithm changes the "direction".

Since the switched state changes from loop to loop, time delay is required to execute the loops 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 71, and 71, 72, 76, 74, 75, 71 respectively only in a specific time step. It is important to use At 72, the current state VSWRi is compared with the previous state VSWRold. If the VSWR is earlier than the previous state, further change of state in the same "direction" is performed. When the optimum is reached, the antenna configuration state used resonates between two adjacent states at every time step. Upon reaching final steps 1 and N, respectively, the algorithm is not further switched to states 1 and N, but preferably stays in the final state until it is switched to each of states 2 and N-1.

The algorithm assumes that the antenna configuration states are arranged such that the relatively small difference between two adjacent states and the rate of change between each state are approximately equal. This means that there is a similar variation in the resonant frequency, for example between each of the states. For example, referring to FIG. 3, a small change in the separation between feed and RF ground connections in the PIFA antenna structure makes this algorithm fully suitable.

In all the above algorithms, switching needs to be performed only at specific time intervals that are adapted to the operation of the wireless communication device.

As another alternative (not shown), the control device 22 of FIG. 1 maintains a look-up table with an absolute or relative VSWR range associated with each antenna configuration state, respectively. This provision causes the control device 22 to find a suitable antenna configuration state given the measured VSWR value and to consult a lookup table that adjusts the switching device 14 to the appropriate antenna configuration state.

It should be understood that all illustrated algorithms can be applied to control the switching of either of the receive and transmit antenna structures.

Other Antenna Configurations (FIGS. 7A-F)

Next, with reference to Figs. 7A-F, examples of various arrangements of the switching device and the receiving antenna structure for selectively connecting and disconnecting the receiving antenna structure as part of the antenna module 1 according to the present invention will be described.

First, reference is made to FIG. 7A, which shows an antenna structure pattern arranged around a switching device or unit 81. The antenna structure comprises a receiving antenna element in the form of four looped antenna elements 82. In each loop antenna element 82, a loop parasitic antenna element 83 is formed.

The switching unit 81 comprises a matrix of electrically controllable switches (not shown) arranged to connect and disconnect the antenna elements 82 and 83. These switches are PIN diode switches, or GaAs field effect transistors, FETs, but preferably microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switches.

By means of the switching unit 35, the loop antenna elements can be connected in parallel or in series with each other, or some elements can be connected in series with some elements in parallel. Moreover, one or more elements may be completely disconnected or connected to RF ground (not shown).

Next, reference is made to FIG. 7B showing another antenna structure. This antenna structure includes both the antenna elements of FIG. 7A and further includes a male antenna element 84 between a pair of looped elements 82 and 83. One or more of the male antenna elements 84 may be used in any form that separates or combines with the loop antenna elements.

FIG. 7C-E shows an antenna structure comprising two slot antenna elements 85, two male antenna elements 87, and two patch antennas 89, each connected with a switching device 81. Shows. Each antenna element 85, 87 and 89 is fed at selectively spaced feed connections 86, 88 and 90.                 

As a result, FIG. 7F shows an antenna structure comprising a whip and / or helical antenna 91 and a male antenna element 92 connected to the switching device 81.

The above-described antenna device is a Swedish patent application co-filed by the present applicant, which is incorporated by reference herein, with the same person as the present application, "antenna device for transmitting and / or receiving an RF wave," "for transmitting and receiving radio waves. Antenna apparatus and method, and "antenna apparatus and method for transmitting and / or receiving radio frequency waves" are a part of the antenna concept described in more detail.

It is apparent that the present invention can be modified in many ways. Such changes are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. All such changes apparent to those skilled in the art are included within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (34)

Transmit and receive radio waves, Connectable to a wireless communication device, and It includes a transmitter unit 2 and a receiver unit 3, Receiving antenna structures 13, wherein the receiver section is switchable between a plurality of antenna configuration states each distinguished by a set of radiation related parameters such as resonant frequency, input impedance, bandwidth, radiation pattern, gain, deflection and nearfield pattern 35, 61, 82-85, 87, 89, 91, 92 and a switching device 14, 36, 81 for selectively switching the antenna structure between the plurality of antenna configuration states ( In 1), Receiving means for receiving a first measurement indicating the reflection coefficient measured at the transmitter section 2, and Controlling the switching devices 14, 36, 81 of the receiver section so that the antenna structures 13, 35, 61, 82- between the plurality of antenna configuration states according to the first received measurement indicating the reflection coefficient; Control unit 22 controlling selective switching of 85, 87, 89, 91, 92 An antenna device comprising a. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein said receiving means is arranged to repeatedly receive a first measurement representing said reflection coefficient. The method of claim 2, During use of the antenna device in the wireless communication device, the control device 22 switches the switching device 14 to switch between the plurality of antenna configuration states in accordance with the repeatedly received first measurement representing the reflection coefficient. And 36, 81, adapted to dynamically adapt the antenna device to any object adjacent to the wireless communication device. 4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the plurality of antenna configuration states is adapted for use of the antenna device (1) in the wireless communication device in each predefined operating environment. Antenna device. The method of claim 4, wherein A first antenna configuration state of the plurality of antenna configuration states is adapted to be used by the antenna device 1 in the wireless communication device in a free space, and a second antenna configuration state of the plurality of antenna configuration states is a call. And the antenna device in the wireless communication device in position is adapted for use. 6. The antenna device of claim 5, wherein a third antenna configuration state of the plurality of antenna configuration states is adapted to be used by the antenna device in the wireless communication device in a waist position. 7. The antenna device of claim 6, wherein a fourth antenna configuration state of the plurality of antenna configuration states is adapted to be used by the antenna device in the wireless communication device in a pocket position. The antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the antenna device is arranged to switch a frequency band according to the first received measurement indicating the reflection coefficient. The antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the antenna device is arranged to connect and disconnect a reception diversity function according to the first reception measurement indicating the reflection coefficient. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The transmitter unit 2, A transmit antenna structure 12 switchable between a plurality of transmit antenna configuration states each distinguished by a set of radiation related parameters such as resonant frequency, impedance, radiation pattern, deflection and bandwidth, and A transmitter switching device 11 for selectively switching the transmit antenna structure between the plurality of transmit antenna configuration states Including; The control device 22 is arranged to control the transmitter switching device of the transmitter section to selectively switch the transmit antenna structure between the plurality of antenna configuration states according to the first received measurement value representing the reflection coefficient. An antenna device, characterized in that. 4. The control device (22) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least the switching device (14, 36, 81) of the receiver unit (3) has the reflection coefficient exceeding a threshold (66). Selectively switching the receiving antenna structures 13, 35, 61, 82-85, 87, 89, 91, 92 between the plurality of antenna configuration states in accordance with the first received measurement indicating that The antenna device, characterized in that arranged to control. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The control device 22 allows the at least one switching device 14, 36, 81 of the receiver unit 3 to receive the antenna structure 13, 35, 61, 82-85, 87 via the plurality of antenna configuration states. , 89, 91, 92 are arranged to selectively switch 70, The receiving means is arranged to receive each measurement representing the reflection coefficient for each antenna configuration state, and The control device 22 controls the switching device of the receiver unit so that the antenna configuration state having the lowest measurement representing the reflection coefficient in accordance with the first received measurement indicating that the reflection coefficient exceeds the threshold 69. And arranged to selectively switch (70) the receiving antenna structure. 4. The control device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control device 22 compares (72) the first received measurement indicative of the reflection coefficient with a previously received measurement indicative of the reflection coefficient. At least the switching device of the base selectively switches 70 the receiving antenna structures 13, 35, 61, 82-85, 87, 89, 91, 92 between the plurality of antenna configuration states according to the comparison result. The antenna device, characterized in that arranged to control. 4. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control device 22 maintains a look-up table in an absolute or relative reflection coefficient measurement range respectively associated with each antenna configuration state, and the control device comprises the receiver unit. Arranged to refer to the lookup table for controlling at least the switching device (14, 36, 81). 4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of receive antenna configuration states comprise at least a different number of connected receive antenna elements 13, 50-54, 82-85, 87, 89, 91, 92. Antenna device comprising a). 4. An antenna device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of receive antenna configuration states comprise at least differently arranged feed connections. 4. An antenna arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of receive antenna configuration states comprise at least differently arranged RF ground connections (64). 4. Antenna device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (22) is arranged in the receiver section (3). 4. Antenna device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (22) comprises a central processing unit (23) and a memory (24) for storing antenna configuration data. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna device comprises a device for measuring the reflection coefficient and for transmitting the reflection coefficient measurement to the receiving means. 4. Antenna device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switching device (14, 36, 81) comprises a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switch device. 4. The antenna structure of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the antenna structure is a mender (84, 87, 92), a loop (82), a slot (85), a patch (89), a whip (91), a helical configuration, An antenna device comprising a switchable antenna element having either a helical configuration or a dimensional fission configuration. An input (4) for receiving a first RF signal from a transmitter circuit of a wireless communication device; A power amplifier (8) for amplifying the received RF signal; And a transmitting antenna element (12) for receiving the amplified signal and for transmitting an RF wave according to the amplified signal. Differentiated by a set of radiation-related parameters such as resonant frequency, input impedance, bandwidth, radiation pattern, gain, deflection, and nearfield pattern for receiving RF waves and transmitting second RF signals in accordance with the RF waves. A switchable antenna structure 13, 35, 61, 82-85, 87, 89, 91, 92 between a plurality of antenna configuration states; A switching device (14, 36, 81) for selectively switching the antenna structure between the plurality of antenna configuration states; A low noise amplifier 17 for amplifying the received second signal; And an output 21 outputting the amplified second signal to a receiver circuit of the wireless communication device. An antenna device (1) connectable to a wireless communication device comprising: Receiving means for receiving a measurement indicating the reflection coefficient measured at the transmitter section, and A control device 22 for controlling the switching device of the receiver to selectively switch the antenna structure between the plurality of antenna configuration states according to the received measurement value representing the reflection coefficient An antenna device comprising a. A radio communication device comprising an antenna device (1) according to any of the preceding claims. Connectable to a wireless communication device, and Switchable antenna structures 13, 35, 61, 82-85, 87, 89 between a plurality of antenna configuration states each distinguished by a set of radiation related parameters such as resonant frequency, impedance, radiation pattern, deflection, and bandwidth. 91, 92, and a receiver unit 3 and a transmitter unit 2 comprising a switching device 14, 36, 81 for selectively switching the antenna structure between the plurality of antenna configuration states. In the antenna device 1, a method for transmitting and receiving radio waves, Receiving a measurement indicative of a reflection coefficient, and Controlling the switching devices 14, 36, 81 of the receiver section so that the antenna structure 13, 35, 61, 82-85, 87 between the plurality of antenna configuration states according to the received measurement indicative of the reflection coefficient; Switching selectively (89, 91, 92) Wireless wave transmission and reception method comprising a. 27. The method of claim 25, further comprising receiving a first measurement representative of the reflection coefficient. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the switching device repeatedly receives the reflection coefficient during use of the antenna device in the wireless communication device to dynamically adapt the antenna device to an object proximate the wireless communication device. And controlling to switch between the plurality of antenna configurations in accordance with the first measured value. 28. A method according to any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein each of the plurality of antenna configuration states is adapted for use of the antenna device 1 in the wireless communication device in each predefined operating environment. Wireless wave transmission and reception method. 28. The method of any one of claims 25 to 27, further comprising switching a frequency band in accordance with the first received measurement representing the reflection coefficient. 28. The method of any one of claims 25 to 27, further comprising connecting or disconnecting a reception diversity function in accordance with the first received measurement representing the reflection coefficient. 28. The first of any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the switching device (14, 36, 81) of the receiver section (3) exhibits a reflection coefficient that exceeds a threshold (66, 69, 72). Controlled to selectively switch (67, 90, 75) the receive antenna structures (13, 35, 61, 82-85, 87, 89, 91, 92) between the plurality of antenna configuration states in accordance with received measurements; Wireless wave transmitting and receiving method further comprising. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 27, In accordance with the first received measurement representing a reflection coefficient that exceeds 69 a threshold, The switching device 14, 36, 81 of the receiver 3 controls the receiving antenna structures 13, 35, 61, 82-85, 87, 89, 91, 92 between the plurality of antenna configuration states. Selectively switching 70), Receiving respective measurements indicative of reflection coefficients for each antenna configuration state, and And controlling the switching device of the receiver to selectively switch the receiving antenna structure to an antenna configuration state having a lowest measurement indicating the reflection coefficient. 28. The switching device according to any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the first received measurement representing the reflection coefficient is compared with a previously received measurement representing the reflection coefficient and according to the comparison result. And controlling, selectively switching 70 the receiving antenna structures 13, 35, 61, 82-85, 87, 89, 91, 92 between the plurality of antenna configuration states. Wireless wave transmission and reception method. 28. A device as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 27, storing a lookup table having an absolute or relative reflection coefficient measurement range associated with each antenna configuration state, respectively, wherein at least the switching device 14, 36, 81) The method for transmitting and receiving a radio wave further comprising the step of referring to the lookup table.

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