Patent Application
20070060201
This invention relates to a self-structuring antenna.
Self-structuring antenna systems are already known. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,723 B1 issued to Edward Joseph Rothwell, III, Jan. 16, 2001, discloses a self-structuring antenna system with a switchable antenna array. The antenna array comprises a plurality of antenna elements that are selectively electrically connectable to each other by a series of switch elements so that the physical shape of the antenna array can be altered. The antenna elements include wires, whereby the wires of adjacent antenna elements are connected by a mechanical or solid state switch element. One or more feed points are electrically connected to predetermined locations within the antenna array and to a receiver associated with the antenna array. A feed back signal from the receiver provides an indication of signal reception and antenna performance. The feed back signal is applied to a computer that selectively opens and closes the switch elements. An algorithm is used to program the computer so that the opening and closing of the switch elements attempts to achieve antenna optimization and performance.
A drawback of the self-structuring antenna systems disclosed in the Rothwell III '723 patent is the necessity of including several electric or optic cables to control the switch elements at the junctions of the antenna elements.
The invention provides a self-structuring antenna system that does not require several electric or optic cables to control switch elements at the junctions of the antenna elements.
In one preferred embodiment, the switch elements are operated by wireless communication to addressable switch controllers associated with the respective switch elements.
In another preferred embodiment, the switch elements are operated by communication via the antenna to addressable switch controllers associated with the respective switch elements.
Referring now to
The self-structuring antenna system 10 further comprises a switch controller 16, a processor 18 and a receiver 20. Receiver 20 receives a radiated electromagnetic signal, for example, a radio frequency signal via antenna 11. Receiver 20 feeds the appropriate received signal information, for example, the receiver Automatic Gain Control (AGC) voltage level, to the processor 18 which uses an algorithm to determine appropriate configurations for antenna 11. Processor 18 then communicates the required control signals to switch controller 16 which opens or closes various ones of the switch elements 14 to form the antenna configurations as determine by the algorithm. This process continues until acceptable reception is achieved.
The self-structuring antenna system as thus far described is already known, more or less from U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,723 B1 entitled, “Self-structuring Antenna System with a Switchable Antenna Array and an Optimizing Controller” issued to Edward Joseph Rothwell, III, Jan. 16, 2001, and my co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/818,559 entitled “Self-Structuring Hybrid Antenna System” filed Apr. 5, 2004.
However, as pointed out above, particularly with regard to the Rothwell, III '723 patent, control of the switch elements 14 has been a long standing problem because of the need for several electric or optic cables leading from the switch controller 16 to each of the respective switch elements 14. The self-structuring antenna system 10 of the invention overcomes the multiple cable need problem by wireless communication incorporating a transmitter 22 in switch controller 16 and receivers associated with the respective switch elements in miniature wireless switch controller modules 24.
A typical wireless switch controller module 24 which replaces each switch element 14 is shown in
The use of a transmitter 22 by switch controller 16 and the use of wireless switch controller modules 24 with addressable switch element controllers 28 and receivers 29 for operating switch elements 26 eliminates the need for the several cables of the prior art by using wireless communication techniques. One example of a possible wireless communication from switch element controller 16 to switch controller modules 24 is a “low data rate” radio frequency (RF) communication signal that is broadcast thru the air to the switch controller modules 24 by the local RF transmitter 22 in the switch controller 16 as indicated by antenna 30.
Switch modules 24 preferably contain electronics for module addressing purposes, switch element state changing capability, miniature energy storage devices and circuitry for converting the same or other independent RF signals into an energy form suitable for charging the miniature energy storage device. In this example of the invention, the frequency of operation could range from MHz to GHz, and be of low power. For example, the frequency of operation may be within the RF bands associated with Bluetooth, 802.11b, 802.11a, ZigBee, etc. Therefore, switch controller modules 24 can be self-contained “battery less” switch element modules that can be placed on various antenna elements while not requiring physical switch element control interconnections, such as control and/or power wires.
Switch modules 24 are preferably as small as possible, i.e. tiny, nano, or micro in size, to avoid any possibility of interfering with the operation of antenna 11. For example, (CMOS) switches are available in a die form package (1.2 mm×1.2 mm), (GaAs) switches are in a six-pin package (1.2 mm×1.2 mm), and (MEMS) switches in a six-pin package (3 mm×4 mm) with much smaller dimensions (0.1 mm×0.1 mm) in development.
Referring now to
The self-structuring antenna system 100 further comprises a switch controller 116, a processor 118 and a receiver 120. Receiver 120 receives a radiated electromagnetic signal, for example, a radio frequency signal via antenna 111. Receiver 120 feeds the appropriate received signal information, for example, the receiver Automatic Gain Control (AGC) voltage level, to the processor 118 which uses an algorithm to determine appropriate configurations for antenna 111. Processor 118 then communicates the required control signals to controller 116 which opens or closes various ones of the switch elements 114 to form the antenna configurations as determine by the algorithm. This process continues until acceptable reception is achieved.
The self-structuring antenna system 110 as thus far described is already known, more or less from U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,723 B1 entitled, “issued to Edward Joseph Rothwell, III, Jan. 16, 2001, and my co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/818,559 entitled “Self-Structuring Hybrid Antenna System” filed Apr. 5, 2004.
However, as pointed out above, particularly with regard to the Rothwell, III '723 patent, control of the switch elements 114 has been a long standing problem because of the need for several electric or optic cables. The alternative self-structuring antenna system 100 of the invention overcomes the multiple cable need problem by coupling switch controller 116 to antenna 111 by a single conductor 121 and using antenna 111 to communicate with respective switch elements in a miniature switch controller module 124.
A typical switch controller module 124 is shown in
The coupling of the switch controller 116 to the antenna 111 and the use of addressable switch controllers 128 in switch controller modules 124 for operating switch elements 126 eliminates the need for several electric or optic cables by using multiplexing communication techniques.
The “wireless” connection and communication techniques of the respective embodiments reduce weight by eliminating control cables and connectors, improve ease of installation by eliminating the control cable bundle and connectors, and increase reliability by reducing the number of cables and connectors. The use of a RF wireless battery charging system eliminates the need for a “wired-in” charging system or battery replacement. In addition, the ability to frequently use the RF charging technique allows the switch modules to use a much smaller energy storage device or battery.
Another possibility for the switch controller modules 24 or 124 is the use of miniature electromechanical system (MEMS) switch element modules that use low voltage power supply (e.g. 3-10 volts) with a charge pump to generate its required low power switching voltage (e.g., 70 volts). This same charge pump could be used with a RF wireless battery charging system to obtain this same low power switching voltage.
In other words, it will be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those described above, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing description, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the following claims and the equivalents thereof.
