Patent Application
20140134958
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Advances in wireless communication have revolutionized the way we communicate and access information, and have birthed a variety of wireless capable consumer devices. In modern wireless communication systems, a variety of input/output (I/O) components and user interfaces are used in a wide variety of electronic devices. Portable wireless communication devices such as a smartphone increasingly integrate a number of functionalities (e.g., global positioning system (GPS), wireless local area networks (WLAN or Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, cellular communication, near field communication (NFC), etc.).
An antenna can be used to transmit or receive radio frequency (RF) signals in the range of about 3 kilohertz (KHz) to 300 gigahertz (GHz). Cellular communications within the United States generally use a frequency range between 698 and 5000 megahertz (MHz). Modem wireless communication devices use numerous types of antennas, including dipole antennas (e.g., short dipole, half-wave dipole, folded dipole, broadband dipoles), monopole antennas, small loop antennas, rectangular microstrip (or patch) antennas, planar inverted-F antennas (PIFA), helical antennas, spiral antennas slot antennas, cavity-backed slot antennas, inverted-F antennas (IFA), slotted waveguide antennas, and near field communications (NFC) antennas, including various combinations thereof.
In one embodiment, the disclosure includes an apparatus for use in a wireless communication device comprising a plurality of antennas, and a selection switch coupled to the plurality of antennas, wherein the selection switch is configured to select a first antenna for use when the wireless communication device is in use in a first physical orientation with respect to a user, and select a second antenna for use when the wireless communication device is in use in a second physical orientation with respect to a user, and wherein the first physical orientation is different from the second physical orientation.
In another embodiment, the disclosure includes an apparatus comprising a common ground line, a first loop antenna coupled to the common ground line with a feed port, wherein the first loop antenna is configured to communicate using a first frequency, a second loop antenna coupled to the common ground line with a feed port, wherein the second loop antenna is configured to communicate using the first frequency, and a selection switch coupled to the common ground line, wherein the selection switch is configured to select between use of the first loop antenna or second loop antenna.
In a third embodiment, the disclosure includes a method of communicating on a wireless communication device comprising configuring a wireless communication device to communicate using a first antenna on a first frequency, receiving input from a sensor, wherein the sensor provides indication of a physical orientation of the wireless communication device with respect to a user, and reconfiguring the wireless communication device to communicate using a second antenna on the first frequency based on the input from the sensor.
These and other features will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.
For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts.
It should be understood at the outset that although an illustrative implementation of one or more embodiments are provided below, the disclosed systems and/or methods may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or in existence. The disclosure should in no way be limited to the illustrative implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated below, including the exemplary designs and implementations illustrated and described herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.
Signal obstruction degrades wireless communication device transmission efficiency. This disclosure includes systems and methods for switching between opposing antennas sharing an overlapping frequency band to minimize obstruction, e.g., hand and/or head obstruction, of the relevant communications signals. Systems and methods disclosed herein include an antenna configuration comprising two symmetrical antennas having a common ground which, based on external parameters, e.g., orientation of the device with respect to a user, are selectively employed for optimal transmission and/or receipt of data signals. For example, a cell phone may include two loop antennas with two distinct feed points and one common ground arranged in symmetrical configuration with respect to the length centerline of a mobile phone. When the phone is in use, the head-relative location of the device is determined and a high-side antenna is used for transmission to minimize biological occlusion of the transmitted signal. One method to estimate the head relative location of a handset is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/673,835, which is incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, the dual feed antenna system occupies the same volume typically occupied by only one antenna.
The system and method may be implemented in a wireless communication device used to transmit and receive radio frequency (RF) signals. The wireless communication device may be a handheld device, such as a cellular phone. The wireless communication device may be equipped with multiple-axis (multiple-dimension) input systems, such as a display, a keypad, a touch screen, an accelerometer, a gyroscopic sensor, a Global Positioning System (GPS), a microphone, and/or a wireless interface (e.g., a Wi-Fi connection and/or a telecommunications interface).
This disclosure discusses various obstruction of a wireless communication device transmission, e.g., obstruction due to a user's body, in the context of head-relative positions and cellular telephones by way of example and not of limitation. For example, the wireless communication device may comprise various types of handheld or personal devices, such as portable two-way radio transceivers (e.g., a “walkie-talkie”), cellular telephones, tablet computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), dictaphones, global positioning system units, garage door openers, wireless computer mice, wireless keyboards, wireless computer accessories, television remote controls, wireless keys, and cordless telephones. Similarly, while references to the “head” and “hand” are used for convenience, any body part, e.g., arm, leg, etc., may be substituted as needed for a base of reference. A person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that implementing the disclosed method in any other type of wireless communication device and using another anatomical or wireless communication device-external frame of reference is within the scope of this disclosure.
The shape of the housing 101 may vary according to the different designs, e.g., for different device types and/or manufacturers. The shape may be any three-dimensional shape, but is generally rectangular or cuboid. In one embodiment, the housing 101 may have a generally rectangular cuboid shape with rounded corners. The dimensions of the housing 101 may also vary. In one embodiment, the generally cuboid shape may have a thickness (t) of about 10 millimeters, length (1) of about 110 millimeters, and width (w) of about 60 millimeters. In other embodiments, the dimensions of the housing 101 may have different values but with similar ratios as above or with different ratios. For instance, the shape of the housing 101 may be longer, wider, or thicker in comparison to the dimensions above for t, l, and w. The housing 101 may be made out of various materials, which may include plastic, fiber glass, rubber, and/or other suitable materials. For portable electronics, high-strength glass, polymers, and/or optionally light-weight metals (such as aluminum) may be used as part of the housing 101 to reduce the overall weight of the device. If the front panel 114 is a touch screen panel, a polymer (such as poly(methyl methacrylate)) or high-strength glass with conductive coating may be used in the housing 101. One or more antennas may be located around the edges 102 and may be made of conductive material suitable for RF signal radiation, such as metallic material, as described in more detail below.
The antenna subsystem 210 may comprise an antenna 212 and an antenna 214, and may further comprise a switch (not depicted) for selecting between antennas 212 and 214. Antennas 212 and 214 may share a common ground (not depicted). Antennas 212 and 214 may comprise any type of antennas that convert radio waves to electrical signals when in receive mode and/or that convert electrical signals to radio waves when in transmit mode, e.g., the antenna around edges 102 of
The transceiver subsystem 220 may be a system that transmits digital information to and receives digital information from antenna subsystem 210 via electrical signals. The electrical signals may be centered at a specific RF, such as 1700 MHz or 2200 MHz. The transceiver subsystem 220 may comprise components for extracting digital data from an analog signal, such as a local oscillator, a modulator, and channel coder for transmission and a local oscillator, a demodulator, and channel decoder for reception. Some of these components may be implemented in a baseband processor within the transceiver subsystem 220. The transceiver subsystem 220 may compute received signal quality information, such as received signal strength indication (RSSI), and provide this information to the processing unit 240.
The processing unit 240 may be configured to receive inputs from transceiver subsystem 220, sensors 230, and I/O 290, and control a configuration of the antenna system 210, such as selecting between the antennas 212 and 214 therein. The processing unit 240 may be a separate unit from a baseband processor or may be a baseband processor itself. The processing unit 240 may include a processor 250 (which may be referred to as a central processor unit or CPU) that is in communication with memory devices including secondary storage 280, ROM 260, and RAM 270. Processor 250 may implement one or more steps similar to those in method 800 for estimating a head-relative handset location. The processor 250 may be implemented as one or more central processing unit (CPU) chips, or may be part of one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and/or digital signal processors (DSPs). The processor 250 may access ROM 260, RAM 270, and/or secondary storage 280, which may store head-relative handset location information for a wireless communication device, to determine a desired executional configuration based on information received from n sensors, such as sensors 230.
One or more sensors 230 may be configured for determining an orientation and/or an environment of the wireless communication device 200. The orientation may be a tilt or rotation relative to a vertical direction, and the environment may be an indoor or outdoor environment, as examples. The sensors 230 may include one or more accelerometers, magnetometers, gyroscopes, tilt sensors, other suitable sensors for measuring angular orientation, a proximity sensor, or any combination or permutation thereof. Proximity sensors are well known and include optical, capacitive, ultrasonic or other proximity sensors. Sensors 230 may include one or more sensors for measuring received signal quality, e.g., RS SI.
Returning to 802, if the wireless communication device is in use, the method 800 may proceed to 808. At 808, the wireless communication device may determine whether the wireless communication device is in a natural use position, e.g., by verifying that the proximity sensor is on, and that the speakerphone, headset and handsfree devices are off. If the wireless communication device is in a natural use position, the antenna default configuration may be entered at 804. If the wireless communication device is in a natural use position, the tilt angle may be read from a sensor, e.g., sensor 230 of
At least one embodiment is disclosed and variations, combinations, and/or modifications of the embodiment(s) and/or features of the embodiment(s) made by a person having ordinary skill in the art are within the scope of the disclosure. Alternative embodiments that result from combining, integrating, and/or omitting features of the embodiment(s) are also within the scope of the disclosure. Where numerical ranges or limitations are expressly stated, such express ranges or limitations should be understood to include iterative ranges or limitations of like magnitude falling within the expressly stated ranges or limitations (e.g., from about 1 to about 10 includes, 2, 3, 4, etc.; greater than 0.10 includes 0.11, 0.12, 0.13, etc.). For example, whenever a numerical range with a lower limit, R1, and an upper limit, Ru, is disclosed, any number falling within the range is specifically disclosed. In particular, the following numbers within the range are specifically disclosed: R=R1+k*(Ru−R1), wherein k is a variable ranging from 1 percent to 100 percent with a 1 percent increment, i.e., k is 1 percent, 2 percent, 3 percent, 4 percent, 5 percent, . . . , 50 percent, 51 percent, 52 percent, . . . , 95 percent, 96 percent, 97 percent, 98 percent, 99 percent, or 100 percent. Moreover, any numerical range defined by two R numbers as defined in the above is also specifically disclosed. The use of the term about means ±10% of the subsequent number, unless otherwise stated. Use of the term “optionally” with respect to any element of a claim means that the element is required, or alternatively, the element is not required, both alternatives being within the scope of the claim. Use of broader terms such as comprises, includes, and having should be understood to provide support for narrower terms such as consisting of, consisting essentially of, and comprised substantially of. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited by the description set out above but is defined by the claims that follow, that scope including all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims. Each and every claim is incorporated as further disclosure into the specification and the claims are embodiment(s) of the present disclosure. The discussion of a reference in the disclosure is not an admission that it is prior art, especially any reference that has a publication date after the priority date of this application. The disclosure of all patents, patent applications, and publications cited in the disclosure are hereby incorporated by reference, to the extent that they provide exemplary, procedural, or other details supplementary to the disclosure.
While several embodiments have been provided in the present disclosure, it should be understood that the disclosed systems and methods might be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. The present examples are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is not to be limited to the details given herein. For example, the various elements or components may be combined or integrated in another system or certain features may be omitted, or not implemented.
In addition, techniques, systems, subsystems, and methods described and illustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may be combined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, or methods without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Other items shown or discussed as coupled or directly coupled or communicating with each other may be indirectly coupled or communicating through some interface, device, or intermediate component whether electrically, mechanically, or otherwise. Other examples of changes, substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in the art and could be made without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed herein.
