TWI625892B - Electronic device having multiple antennas - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic device having multiple antennas includes a plurality of antenna units, an antenna selection unit, a wireless module, and a processing unit. The antenna selection unit is electrically connected to the antenna unit, and the wireless module is electrically connected to the antenna selection unit, and the processing unit is electrically connected to the antenna selection unit and the wireless module. One of the antenna units serves as a receiving antenna or a designated receiving antenna. The wireless module obtains a received signal strength indication (RSSI) and a number of received packets per unit time based on the radio frequency signal from the antenna unit. When the wireless connection state is a high quality state, the antenna unit having the maximum received signal strength indication is selected as the designated receiving antenna. When in the low quality state, the antenna unit that receives the maximum number of packets per unit time is selected as the designated receiving antenna.

Description

Electronic device with multiple antennas

The present invention relates to a wireless communication technology, and more particularly to an electronic device having multiple antennas.

The signal transceiving capability of an electronic device having wireless communication functions depends on the performance of the antenna and the wireless module. The development and manufacture of wireless modules is expensive and an important cost factor in wireless devices. To change or improve wireless modules in order to improve wireless data throughput requires considerable cost. On the other hand, in order to improve the performance of the wireless module, the design of the antenna is not negligible. It is common to implement antenna diversity or array antenna design using multiple antennas to improve transmission performance.

However, in order to optimize the optimal communication performance for various electronic devices with wireless communication capabilities, it is common to change the firmware control of the wireless module itself for the product characteristics, even for the number of antennas used and the type of product application. Hardware circuit design. For different products, the change of the wireless module has a high cost, and it is difficult for the manufacturer to reduce the cost.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an electronic device having multiple antennas, which enhances wireless signal receiving capabilities of different communication quality states, thereby improving the throughput of wireless communication and the stability of maintaining throughput.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an electronic device having multiple antennas, including a plurality of antenna units, an antenna selection unit, a wireless module, and a processing unit. The antenna selection unit is electrically connected to the plurality of antenna units, and the wireless module is electrically connected to the antenna selection unit, and the processing unit is electrically connected to the antenna selection unit and the wireless module. The plurality of antenna elements each have different directivity or polarization characteristics. The antenna selection unit sequentially selects one of the plurality of antenna units as the receiving antenna according to the switching signal, and selects one of the plurality of antenna units as the designated receiving antenna of the electronic device according to the switching signal. The wireless module obtains a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and a number of received packets per unit time according to the radio frequency signal from the antenna unit selected as the receiving antenna. The processing unit determines whether the wireless connection state of the electronic device is a high quality state or a low quality state, and transmits a switching signal to the antenna selection unit. When the wireless connection state of the electronic device is a high quality state, the processing unit compares the size of the received signal strength indication of the plurality of antenna units, and the processing unit controls the antenna selection unit to select the antenna unit corresponding to the received signal strength indication having the maximum value. As the designated receiving antenna of the electronic device. When the wireless connection state of the electronic device is a low quality state, the processing unit compares the size of the number of received packets per unit time of the plurality of antenna units, and the processing unit controls the antenna selection unit to select the antenna unit corresponding to the maximum number of received packets per unit time. As the designated receiving antenna of the electronic device.

In summary, the embodiments of the present invention provide an electronic device having multiple antennas, which can select a preferred receiving antenna whether in a high quality state with low signal attenuation or a low quality state with high signal attenuation. Improve the throughput of wireless communications and maintain throughput stability. The electronic device with multiple antennas of the embodiments of the present invention can be optimized for different electronic device products of diverse applications. The flexibility of product design reduces product costs.

For a better understanding of the features and technical aspects of the present invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings The scope is subject to any restrictions.

11‧‧‧Antenna unit

12‧‧‧Antenna selection unit

13‧‧‧Wireless Module

14‧‧‧Processing unit

15‧‧‧ screen

100‧‧‧Control Module

SW‧‧‧Switching signal

S100, S200, S200, S400, S510, S520, S530, S540, S550, S560, S570‧‧‧ steps

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an electronic device having multiple antennas according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic diagram of an antenna unit of an electronic device having multiple antennas according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a wireless module and a control module integrated according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a control flow chart of an electronic device with multiple antennas according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of control executed by a processing unit of an electronic device having multiple antennas by using a driver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The electronic device of the embodiment of the present invention is an electronic device having wireless communication capability, and has a plurality of antenna units (two or more antenna units), for example, applied to a wireless wide area wide area network (WWAN), long term evolution technology. (LTE) frequency band, and applications for wireless local area network (WLAN) or WiFi (including 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), but the invention is not limited thereby. The electronic device is, for example, an integrated computer, A smart TV or a notebook computer, but the invention is not limited thereby. Referring to FIG. 1, in an embodiment of the present invention, an electronic device having multiple antennas includes a plurality of antenna units 11, an antenna selection unit 12, a wireless module 13, and a processing unit 14.

The antenna selection unit 12 is electrically connected to the plurality of antenna units 11, and the wireless module 13 is electrically connected to the antenna selection unit 12. The processing unit 14 is electrically connected to the antenna selection unit 12 and the wireless module 13. The plurality of antenna units 11, the antenna selection unit 12, and the processing unit 14 are integrated independently of the wireless module 13 to be an independent control module 100.

The plurality of antenna elements 11 each have different directivity or polarization characteristics. The plurality of antenna elements 11 are at different locations provided on the electronic device. Referring to FIG. 2, the electronic device takes a smart TV as an example. The plurality of antenna units 11 are respectively disposed around the screen 15 of the smart TV, whereby each antenna unit 11 can provide different signal transceiving characteristics. However, the present invention does not limit the arrangement and position of the antenna unit 11. Depending on the characteristics of the antenna unit 11 and the attenuation, reflection or multiple path effects of the external signal source (for example, a wireless access point) depending on the environmental conditions, the plurality of antenna units 11 can each receive different strengths as receiving antennas. The signal, for example, the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) represents the strength of the reception.

The antenna selection unit 12 includes, for example, a radio frequency switch controlled by a switching signal generated by the processing unit 14. The RF switch can also be replaced by a semiconductor switch such as a diode or a transistor, but the invention is not limited thereto. The antenna selection unit 12 sequentially selects one of the plurality of antenna units 11 as a receiving antenna according to the switching signal SW, and selects one of the plurality of antenna units 11 as the designated receiving antenna of the electronic device according to the switching signal SW.

The antenna selection unit 12 periodically and sequentially selects a plurality of antennas One of the elements 11 is used as a receiving antenna. When each antenna unit 11 is used as a receiving antenna, the wireless module 13 can obtain a corresponding received signal strength indication (RSSI), thereby obtaining the quality of the connected state in a timely manner. News. In the process in which the antenna selecting unit 12 sequentially selects one of the plurality of antenna elements 11 as the receiving antenna, each antenna unit as a receiving antenna to obtain a received signal strength indication (RSSI) is at least one time length of receiving a packet. . For example, for the wireless module 13, receiving a packet can obtain a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) corresponding to the packet. When the antenna unit 11 is sequentially switched to the receiving antenna, the faster the frequency, the faster the change of the receiving strength of each antenna unit 11 can be obtained.

The wireless module 13 obtains a received signal strength indication (RSSI) and a number of received packets per unit time based on the radio frequency signal from the antenna unit 11 selected as the receiving antenna. The number of received packets per unit time is, for example, the number of packets received every 200 milliseconds (ms), or the number of packets received every 300 milliseconds (ms), but the present invention does not limit the length of the unit time. The wireless module 13 has a signal strength detecting unit and a modulation and demodulation unit, and can transmit the signal strength and the number of received packets (referred to as the number of received packets) to the processing unit 14. Currently commercialized wireless modules such as WIFI modules can achieve the above functions.

The processing unit 14 determines whether the wireless connection state of the electronic device is a high quality state or a low quality state, and transmits the switching signal SW to the antenna selection unit 12. When the wireless connection state of the electronic device is a high quality state, the processing unit 14 compares the magnitude of the received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the plurality of antenna elements 11, and the processing unit 14 controls the antenna selection unit 12 to select the received signal having the maximum value. The antenna unit 11 corresponding to the intensity indication (RSSI) serves as a designated receiving antenna of the electronic device. When the wireless connection state of the electronic device is a low quality state, the processing unit 14 compares the size of the number of packets received by the plurality of antenna units 11 per unit time, and the processing unit 14 controls the antenna selection. The antenna unit 11 corresponding to the number of packets received by the unit 12 at the maximum unit time serves as a designated receiving antenna of the electronic device.

The processing unit 14, the antenna selection unit 12 and the plurality of antenna units 11 of the embodiment of the present invention are independent of the wireless module 13, and can be integrated into an independent control module 100, for example, independent of the wireless module 13. The control circuit board is connected to a plurality of antenna units 11, the control circuit board includes at least a processing unit 14, and the antenna selection unit 12 can be disposed on the control circuit board. The antenna selection unit 12 may also be a plurality of switches independent of the control circuit board, each switch corresponding to, for example, one antenna unit 11, each of which may be integrated with a corresponding antenna unit 11. Based on the above, the control module 100 of the embodiment of the present invention can be integrated into any existing wireless module 13 and can select a better receiving antenna according to the receiving situation without modifying the setting of the wireless module 13. Improve the purpose of the reception. Moreover, based on the case where the costly wireless module 13 is not required to be modified, when applied to various electronic devices, only a low-cost control module 100 is required, and the control module 100 and the wireless module are used. 13 integration, without modifying the original function of the wireless module 13, can achieve the purpose of improving the receiving effect of the wireless module 13.

The following is an example of improving the receiving effect of the wireless module 13 without changing the function of the wireless module 13. Referring to FIG. 3, the wireless module 13 is designed to use, for example, a main antenna and a secondary antenna, and the main antenna is connected to the main antenna. The communication unit MA and the sub-antenna are connected to the sub-communication unit AUX. It is assumed that one antenna is fixed as the main antenna, and the plurality of antenna units 11 are selected as the sub-antenna. The control module 100 including the plurality of antenna units 11, the antenna selection unit 12 and the processing unit 14 operates independently of the wireless module 13, and the control module 100 determines the connection quality of the wireless module 13 in the secondary communication 埠AUX. One of the plurality of antenna elements 11 serves as a preferred receiving antenna (secondary antenna). Therefore, the communication quality (e.g., throughput) of the wireless module 13 can be optimized without modifying the wireless module 13.

The logical decision flow of the processing unit 14 can be explained, for example, as the flowchart of FIG. In step S100, the known wireless module 13 obtains a received signal strength indication (RSSI) and a unit time receiving packet number based on the radio frequency signal from the antenna unit 11 selected as the receiving antenna. The processing unit 14 obtains the received signal strength indication (RSSI) and the number of received packets per unit time by the wireless module 13. Next, in step S200, it is determined whether the wireless connection state of the electronic device is a high quality state or a low quality state, and the switching signal SW is transmitted to the antenna selection unit 12. In step S200, when the received signal strength indication (RSSI) is greater than or equal to the preset value, the processing unit 14 determines that the wireless connection state of the electronic device is a high quality state. When the received signal strength indication (RSSI) is less than the preset value, the processing unit 14 determines that the wireless connection state of the electronic device is a low quality state. The preset value is, for example, -65 dBm, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in a wireless local area network application environment conforming to the WIFI specification, the preset value is preferably in the range of -65 dBm to -70 dBm. As a preset value for judging the quality of the connection state, it is used to distinguish whether the received wireless signal is in high attenuation or low attenuation, the received signal strength indication (RSSI) is a negative value, and the received signal strength indication (RSSI) is larger ( The closer to zero, the smaller the attenuation. When it is in a low attenuation condition, for example, greater than -65dBm, since the received wireless signal is significantly stronger, the received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the signal received by each antenna unit 11 can directly reflect the actual signal throughput (throughput). The difference between the embodiments of the present invention is therefore selected in this case by using the size of the received signal strength indication (RSSI) to select a preferred receiving antenna. In contrast, when in high attenuation situations, such as Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) is less than -65 dBm, it is not easy to use the Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) to distinguish between actual signal throughput differences, especially In the case where the attenuation is large, the received signal strength indications (RSSI) of the different antenna elements 11 tend to be the same (or saturated) at a very low value, so the embodiment of the present invention uses the judgment unit time to receive in this case. The number of packets is compared to compare the strength of the reception of each antenna unit 11. Therefore, after step S200, steps S300 and S400 are performed in accordance with the quality of the wireless connection state.

When the wireless connection state of the electronic device is a high quality state, proceeding to step S300, the processing unit 14 compares the received signal strength indication (RSSI) of each of the plurality of antenna elements 11, and the processing unit 14 controls the antenna selection unit 12 to select having The antenna unit 11 corresponding to the received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the maximum value serves as a designated receiving antenna of the electronic device. When the wireless connection state of the electronic device is a low quality state, proceeding to step S400, the processing unit 14 compares the size of the number of packets received per unit time of the plurality of antenna elements 11, and the processing unit 14 controls the antenna selection unit 12 to select the largest unit. The antenna unit 11 corresponding to the number of time receiving packets is used as a designated receiving antenna of the electronic device. After the end of step S300 or S400, the process returns to step S100 again. That is to say, in the case of actual application, when the electronic device performs the operation function of the wireless communication, the processing unit 14 can periodically determine whether the wireless connection state of the electronic device is in a high quality state or a low quality state, and Select and switch.

In one embodiment, the processing unit 14 includes a microprocessor that executes a driver of the operating system and drives the antenna selection unit 12 to select one of the plurality of antenna elements 11 as a receiving antenna of the electronic device. Or specify the receiving antenna. The driver is installed on the operating system of the electronic device, for example, in a firmware or software manner, and can be turned on by itself when the electronic device is activated. However, the implementation of the processing unit 14 described above is only for example, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 5, based on the flowchart of FIG. 4, the processing unit 14 is in the electronic The program content executed by the driver of the operating system of the device is as shown in FIG. First, in step S500, the connection state determiner is executed to determine whether the connection state quality is a high quality state or a low quality state, and step S500 corresponds to step S200 of FIG. Next, in step S510, a status flag is output, the status flag indicates the connection status quality, and the status thread is updated according to the status flag. The low packet update status thread (step S520) corresponds to a low-attenuation low-quality state, and the number of packets received per unit time is small. The high packet update status thread (step S530) corresponds to a low-attenuation high-quality state, and the number of packets received per unit time is large. When the connection state determiner determines that the low quality state, the status flag is set to, for example, the low packet status flag LOW, enters the low packet update status thread (step S520), and each time the low packet update status thread is entered (step S520) , again determine whether it is a low packet status flag (step S540), if the status flag has not changed (the connection status quality is still a low quality status of low packet number), the result is YES (True), performing low packet calculation The method (step S550), the low packet algorithm (step S550) corresponds to the logical operation of step S400 of Fig. 4. If the status flag has changed, the process returns to step S500. After the low packet algorithm (step S550) ends, the current designated receiving antenna cannot be determined immediately, because the connection state after the operation time of the algorithm may have changed, so it is necessary to return to the low packet update state thread (step S520). Reconfirm whether the status flag has changed. If the result of the determination in step S540 is not the low quality state of the low packet number (state flag change), the result is no (False), and the connection state judger is returned (step S500), and the connection state is re-determined. If the result of the determination in step S540 is YES, the representative connection state quality is still in the low quality state, and the preferred receiving antenna can be selected according to the result of the low packet algorithm (step S550).

On the other hand, for the high quality state, step S510 outputs a status flag HIGH representing a high packet status flag. Enter high packet update status thread (step After S530), it is determined whether it is a high packet status flag (step S560). If the status flag (HIGH) is not changed, and the status is still a high quality state of high packet number, the result is (True), and a high packet algorithm is executed. (Step S570), the content of the high packet algorithm corresponds to the logical operation of step S300 of Fig. 4 . After the high packet algorithm (step S570) ends, it returns to the high packet update state thread (step S530), and before deciding to designate the receiving antenna, it is determined again whether it is still a high packet status flag (step S560). If the result of the determination in step S560 is still a high quality state of the high number of packets, the result is YES, and the designated receiving antenna is selected in accordance with the result of the high packet algorithm (step S570). If the result of the determination in step S560 is not the high quality state of the high number of packets, the result is no (False) and returns to the connection state determiner (step S500).

Furthermore, the application frequency band of the antenna unit in the embodiment of the present invention is, for example, a wireless network application frequency band corresponding to 2.4 GHz, or a frequency band corresponding to LTE 700 (698 MHz-787 MHz), or GSM 850, GSM 900. The frequency band (the frequency range is 824-960MHz and 880-960MHz, respectively). Alternatively, the application frequency band of the antenna unit may be a frequency band corresponding to the GSM 1800/1900/UMTS (1710-2170 MHz) band, or an LTE 2300/2500 (2300-2690 MHz) band, or a 5 GHz wireless network application band. However, the above-mentioned frequency bands are only for exemplification, and the present invention does not thus limit the application frequency band of the antenna unit.

In summary, the electronic device with multiple antennas provided by the embodiments of the present invention can select a better receiving antenna whether in a high quality state with low signal attenuation or a low quality state with high signal attenuation. Improve the throughput of wireless communications and maintain throughput stability. Moreover, the antenna selection unit and the processing unit can be independent of the wireless module, and the antennas independent of the wireless module can be obtained for different electronic device products of diverse applications without modifying the wireless module. Selecting controls significantly reduces product development costs and simplifies product design, as well as increases product design flexibility. Moreover, the antenna design provided by the embodiment of the present invention can be applied to at least LTE 700 (698 MHz-787 MHz), GSM 850 (824-960 MHz), GSM 900 (880-960 MHz), GSM 1800/1900 of the wireless wide area network (WWAN). Applications such as /UMTS (1710-2170MHz), LTE 2300/2500 (2300-2690MHz), 2.4GHz wireless local area network (WLAN), and 5GHz WiFi wireless LAN.

The above description is only an embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

An electronic device having multiple antennas, comprising: a plurality of antenna units each having different directivity or polarization characteristics; an antenna selection unit electrically connecting the antenna units, and sequentially selecting the antenna units according to a switching signal One of the antennas is used as a receiving antenna, or one of the antenna units is selected as a designated receiving antenna according to the switching signal; a wireless module is electrically connected to the antenna selecting unit, and is selected according to Receiving a radio frequency signal of the antenna unit of the antenna to obtain a received signal strength indication (RSSI) and a number of receiving packets per unit time; and a processing unit electrically connecting the antenna selection unit and the wireless module to determine the electronic device Whether the wireless connection state is a high quality state or a low quality state, and transmitting the switching signal to the antenna selection unit; wherein, when the wireless connection state of the electronic device is the high quality state, the processing unit compares the The received signal strength indication sizes of the antenna units, and the processing unit controls the antenna selection unit selection The receiving signal strength having a maximum value indicates that the corresponding antenna unit is the designated receiving antenna of the electronic device; wherein, when the wireless connection state of the electronic device is the low quality state, the processing unit compares the The unit unit receives the number of packets in the unit time, and the processing unit controls the antenna unit to select the antenna unit corresponding to the maximum number of received packets per unit time as the designated receiving antenna of the electronic device; When in a low attenuation condition and the received signal strength indication is greater than or equal to -65 dBm, the processing unit determines that the wireless connection state of the electronic device is the high quality state, when in a high attenuation condition and the received signal strength indication is less than At -65 dBm, the processing unit determines that the wireless connection state of the electronic device is the low quality state. The electronic device having multiple antennas according to claim 1, wherein the wireless module is a WIFI module. The electronic device with multiple antennas according to claim 1, wherein the antenna selection unit comprises a radio frequency switch. The electronic device having multiple antennas according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is an integrated computer, a smart TV or a notebook computer. The electronic device having multiple antennas according to claim 4, wherein the antenna units are disposed around a screen of the electronic device. The multi-antenna electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit comprises a microprocessor that executes a driver of an operating system and drives the antenna selection unit to be selected by the driver One of the antenna units serves as the receiving antenna or the designated receiving antenna of the electronic device. The electronic device with multiple antennas according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit periodically determines whether the wireless connection state of the electronic device is the high quality state or the low quality state. The electronic device with multiple antennas according to Item 1, wherein the antenna selecting unit sequentially selects one of the antenna units as the receiving antenna, and each of the antenna units serves as the receiving antenna. The time to obtain the received signal strength indication is at least the length of time a packet is received.