Apparatus for automatically matching frequency of antenna in wireless terminal and method of using the same

Abstract

An apparatus and method for automatically matching a frequency of an antenna in a wireless terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a duplexer for classifying frequencies transmitted/received through the antenna of the wireless terminal, transmitting the reception frequency received in the antenna to an automatic matching module, and transmitting a transmission frequency, which is received from the automatic matching module, to the antenna; the automatic matching module for automatically matching impedance for the reception frequency received from the duplexer, transmitting the impedance-matched reception frequency to an amplifier, automatically matching impedance for the transmission frequency received from the amplifier, and transmitting the impedance-matched transmission frequency to the duplexer; and a controller for controlling the automatic matching module to automatically match the impedance for the transmission/reception frequencies.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other exemplary objects, features and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for automatically matching the frequency of an antenna in a wireless terminal according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for automatically matching impedance for a frequency of an antenna in a wireless terminal for receiving at least two communication services according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for automatically matching the frequency of an antenna in a wireless terminal according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for automatically performing impedance matching for an antenna frequency in a wireless terminal receiving at least two communication services according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating the structure of a capacitor bank in an automatic matching module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 6 a to 6c are diagrams explaining automatic impedance matching for an antenna frequency in a wireless terminal according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatically matching a frequency of an antenna in a wireless terminal, the apparatus comprising: a duplexer for classifying frequencies transmitted/received through the antenna of the wireless terminal, transmitting a reception frequency received in the antenna to an automatic matching module, and transmitting a transmission frequency, which is received from the automatic matching module, to the antenna;the automatic matching module for automatically matching impedance for the reception frequency received from the duplexer, transmitting the impedance-matched reception frequency to an amplifier, automatically matching impedance for the transmission frequency received from the amplifier, and transmitting the impedance-matched transmission frequency to the duplexer; anda controller for controlling the automatic matching module to automatically match the impedance for the transmission/reception frequencies.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller controls the automatic matching module to automatically match the impedance for the transmission/reception frequencies according to an antenna frequency signal value.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the automatic matching module comprises: a first automatic matching module for automatically matching the impedance for the reception frequency; anda second automatic matching module for automatically matching the impedance for the transmission frequency.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the automatic matching module comprises a fixed inductor and a variable capacitor.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the amplifier comprises: a first amplifier for amplifying and for outputting a signal comprising the reception frequency received from the automatic matching module; anda second amplifier for amplifying a signal comprising the transmission frequency and transmitting the amplified signal to the automatic matching module.

6. An apparatus for automatically matching a frequency of an antenna in a wireless terminal receiving at least two communication services, the apparatus comprising: a switching module that is switched to one of at least two communication service modules according to a signal received in the antenna of the wireless terminal; andsaid at least two communication service modules for automatically matching impedance for a reception frequency received through the antenna, outputting the impedance-matched reception frequency, and automatically matching impedance for a transmission frequency, and transmitting the impedance-matched transmission frequency to the antenna, if the communication service modules are linked with the antenna through switching of the switching module.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said at least two communication service modules comprises: a duplexer for classifying frequencies transmitted/received through the antenna, transmitting the reception frequency received in the antenna to an automatic matching module, and transmitting a transmission frequency, which is received from the automatic matching module, to the antenna;the automatic matching module for automatically matching impedance for the reception frequency received from the duplexer, transmitting the impedance-matched reception frequency to an amplifier, automatically matching impedance for the transmission frequency received from the amplifier, and transmitting the impedance-matched transmission frequency to the duplexer; anda controller for controlling the automatic matching module to automatically match the impedance for the transmission/reception frequencies.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the controller controls the automatic matching module to automatically match the impedance for the transmission/reception frequencies according to an antenna frequency signal value.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the automatic matching module comprises: a first automatic matching module for automatically matching the impedance for the reception frequency; anda second automatic matching module for automatically matching the impedance for the transmission frequency.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the automatic matching module comprises a fixed inductor and a variable capacitor.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the amplifier comprises: a first amplifier for amplifying and for outputting a signal comprising the reception frequency received from the automatic matching module; anda second amplifier for amplifying a signal comprising the transmission frequency to transmit the amplified signal to the automatic matching module.

12. An apparatus for automatically matching a frequency of an antenna in a wireless terminal, the apparatus comprising: a controller for determining operation states of the wireless terminal and controlling an automatic matching module to automatically match impedance for transmission/reception frequencies of the antenna;the automatic matching module for automatically matching impedance for the reception frequency received from the antenna, transmitting the impedance-matched reception frequency to a duplexer, automatically matching impedance for a transmission frequency received from the duplexer, and transmitting the impedance-matched transmission frequency to the antenna; andthe duplexer for classifying the frequencies transmitted/received through the automatic matching module, at least one of transmitting the reception frequency, which is received from the automatic matching module, to the amplifier, and transmitting the transmission frequency, which is received from the amplifier, to the automatic matching module.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a signal detection unit for determining a first operation state of the wireless terminal between the operation states of the wireless terminal, and the controller for determining the first operation state of the wireless terminal through a signal output from the signal detection unit.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the signal detection unit detects a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) signal comprising a magnitude signal and a phase signal received from the antenna.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the controller determines a second operation state of the wireless terminal between the operation states of the wireless terminal through a function operation of the wireless terminal for communication performance.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the second operation state comprises at least one of folder opening/closing, a hands free connection, a Bluetooth headset connection, key input and setup for automatic communication connection.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a memory for storing an automatic matching table, and the automatic matching table stores an optimum antenna frequency signal value for automatic matching according to the operation states of the wireless terminal.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the controller determines the first operation state of the wireless terminal corresponding to the signal output from the signal detection unit through the automatic matching table, and controls the automatic matching module to automatically match the impedance for the transmission/reception frequencies of the antenna according to the first operation state of the wireless terminal.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the controller determines the second operation state of the wireless terminal through the automatic matching table, and controls the automatic matching module to automatically match the impedance for the transmission/reception frequencies of the antenna according to the second operation state of the wireless terminal.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the automatic matching module comprises a fixed inductor and a variable capacitor.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the amplifier comprises: a first amplifier for amplifying and outputting a signal comprising the reception frequency received from the automatic matching module; anda second amplifier for amplifying a signal comprising the transmission frequency and for transmitting the amplified signal to the automatic matching module.

22. An apparatus for automatically matching a frequency of an antenna in a wireless terminal receiving at least two communication services, the apparatus comprising: a controller for determining states of the wireless terminal and for controlling an automatic matching module to automatically match impedance for transmission/reception frequencies of the antenna;the automatic matching module for automatically matching impedance for the reception frequency received from the antenna, for transmitting the impedance-matched reception frequency to a switching module, for automatically matching impedance for a transmission frequency received from the switching module, and for transmitting the impedance-matched transmission frequency to the antenna;the switching module for being switched to one of at least two communication service modules according to a type of a reception signal received in the antenna; andsaid at least two communication service modules for transmitting/receiving a frequency of the antenna through the automatic matching module if said at least two communication service modules are linked with the automatic matching module through switching of the switching module.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, further comprising a signal detection unit for determining a first operation state of the wireless terminal between the operation states of the wireless terminal, and the controller for determining the first operation state of the wireless terminal through a signal output from the signal detection unit.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the signal detection unit detects a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) signal comprising a magnitude signal and a phase signal received from the antenna.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the controller determines a second operation state of the wireless terminal between the operation states of the wireless terminal through a function operation of the wireless terminal for communication performance.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the second operation state comprises at least one of folder opening/closing, a hands free connection, a Bluetooth headset connection, key input and setup for automatic communication connection.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, further comprising a memory for storing an automatic matching table, and the automatic matching table stores an optimum antenna frequency signal value for automatic matching according to the operation states of the wireless terminal.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the controller determines the first operation state of the wireless terminal corresponding to the signal output from the signal detection unit through the automatic matching table, and controls the automatic matching module to automatically match the impedance for the transmission/reception frequencies of the antenna according to the first operation state of the wireless terminal.

29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the controller determines the second operation state of the wireless terminal through the automatic matching table, and controls the automatic matching module to automatically match the impedance for the transmission/reception frequencies of the antenna according to the second operation state of the wireless terminal.

30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the automatic matching module comprises a fixed inductor and a variable capacitor.

31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the controller controls the switching module to be switched to one of said at least two communication service modules according to the type of the reception signal received in the antenna.

32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein each of said at least two communication service modules comprises: a duplexer for classifying the frequencies transmitted/received through the automatic matching module, transmitting the reception frequency, which is received from the automatic matching module, to the amplifier, and transmitting a transmission frequency, which is received from the amplifier, to the automatic matching module; andthe amplifier for amplifying and for outputting a signal comprising the reception frequency received from the duplexer, and amplifying a signal comprising the transmission frequency so as to transmit the amplified signal to the duplexer.

33. The apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein the amplifier comprises: a first amplifier for amplifying and for outputting a signal comprising the reception frequency received from the automatic matching module; anda second amplifier for amplifying a signal comprising the transmission frequency and for transmitting the amplified signal to the automatic matching module.

34. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the controller determines the first operation state of the wireless terminal corresponding to the signal output from the signal detection unit through the automatic matching table, and controls the automatic matching module to automatically match the impedance for the transmission/reception frequencies of the antenna according to the first operation state of the wireless terminal.

35. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the controller determines the second operation state of the wireless terminal through the automatic matching table, and controls the automatic matching module to automatically match the impedance for the transmission/reception frequencies of the antenna according to the second operation state of the wireless terminal.

36. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the controller determines the first operation state of the wireless terminal corresponding to the signal output from the signal detection unit through the automatic matching table, and controls the automatic matching module to automatically match the impedance for the transmission/reception frequencies of the antenna according to the first operation state of the wireless terminal.

37. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the controller determines the second operation state of the wireless terminal through the automatic matching table, and controls the automatic matching module to automatically match the impedance for the transmission/reception frequencies of the antenna according to the second operation state of the wireless terminal.

38. A method for automatically matching a frequency of an antenna in a wireless terminal, the method comprising: classifying frequencies transmitted/received through the antenna of the wireless terminal;transmitting a reception frequency received in the antenna to an automatic matching module and a transmission frequency, which is received from the automatic matching module, to the antenna;matching impedance for the reception frequency received from the duplexer;transmitting the impedance-matched reception frequency to an amplifier;matching impedance for the transmission frequency received from the amplifier;transmitting the impedance-matched transmission frequency to the duplexer; andcontrolling the automatic matching module to automatically match the impedance for the transmission/reception frequencies.

39. A method for automatically matching a frequency of an antenna in a wireless terminal, the method comprising: determining operation states of the wireless terminal and controlling an automatic matching module to automatically match impedance for transmission/reception frequencies of the antenna;matching impedance for a reception frequency received from the antenna, transmitting the impedance-matched reception frequency to a duplexer, automatically matching impedance for a transmission frequency received from the duplexer, and transmitting the impedance-matched transmission frequency to the antenna; andclassifying the frequencies transmitted/received through the automatic matching module, and at least one of transmitting the reception frequency, which is received from the automatic matching module, to the amplifier, and transmitting the transmission frequency, which is received from the amplifier, to the automatic matching module.