Integrated antenna beam steering system

• US 10,033,097 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2015
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera AVX Components San Diego Inc (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ethertronics, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Desclos, Laurent, Singh, Abhishek, Shamblin, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Tho G
• Application Number:
  US14/930,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20160190685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/22 varying the orientation in accordance with variation of frequency of radiated wave
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/247 by switching different parts of a primary active element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/44 varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of reflecting, refracting, or diffracting devices associated with the radiating element
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering

Abstract

The disclosure concerns a beam steering antenna system that can be integrated into a portion of a mobile device, such as a ring conductor that encompasses the device or traverses a portion of the periphery of the mobile device. The single port antenna is capable of generating multiple radiation modes which possess different radiation pattern characteristics. An offset parasitic is implemented to couple to the main radiating element and alter the current distribution to affect a change in radiation mode. The coupling typically occurs at a coupling region designed into the conductive ring used as the antenna in a wireless device.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication device, an antenna system comprising:

two or more conductors combined to extend about a periphery of the wireless communication device, said two or more conductors comprising at least a first conductor and a second conductor;

at least a first coupling region, wherein the second conductor is spaced apart from and configured to overlap with the first conductor to form the first coupling region therebetween;

a first parasitic element disposed adjacent to the first and second conductors at the first coupling region, the first parasitic element being coupled to ground; and

an antenna feed coupled to the first conductor at a feed junction, the antenna feed being coupled to each of;

an active tunable component and a tuning loop;

wherein the active tunable component is adjustable to vary a frequency response of the antenna.

2. The antenna system of claim 1, further comprising a second coupling region, wherein the second conductor is configured to overlap with and be spaced apart from the first conductor to form the second coupling region.

3. The antenna system of claim 2, wherein said first coupling region is disposed at a first side of the wireless communication device, and wherein said second coupling region is disposed at a second side of the wireless communication device opposite the first side.

4. In a wireless communication device, an antenna system comprising:

two or more conductors combined to extend about a periphery of the wireless communication device, said two or more conductors comprising at least a first conductor and a second conductor;

at least a first coupling region, wherein a first end of the second conductor is spaced apart from and configured to overlap with the first conductor to form the first coupling region therebetween;

a ground plane positioned within the periphery of the wireless communication device;

a first parasitic element disposed adjacent to the first and second conductors at the first coupling region; and

an antenna feed coupled to the first conductor at a feed junction, wherein the first conductor is fed with a signal source at the antenna feed;

characterized in that;

the antenna system is configured to connect and disconnect the first parasitic element with the ground plane.

5. The antenna system of claim 4, wherein the first parasitic element is positioned above the ground plane and adjacent to the first coupling region.

6. The antenna system of claim 4, wherein a second end of the second conductor is coupled to the ground plane.

7. The antenna system of claim 4, further comprising a third conductor, wherein the first through third conductors combine to extend about the periphery of the wireless communication device.

8. The antenna system of claim 7, further comprising a second coupling region, wherein the second conductor is spaced apart from and configured to overlap with the third conductor to form the second coupling region therebetween.

9. The antenna system of claim 8, wherein a terminal end of the third conductor is positioned adjacent to a terminal end of the first conductor to form a gap therebetween.

10. The antenna system of claim 8, further comprising a first switch, wherein a first port of the first switch is coupled the first parasitic element and a second port of the first switch is coupled to the ground plane, the first switch configured to connect and disconnect the first parasitic element with the ground plane.

11. The antenna system of claim 10, further comprising a tunable component connected in shunt to the antenna feed;

wherein the tunable component is configured to adjust a frequency response of the antenna system.

12. The antenna system of claim 11, wherein the first parasitic element is configured to produce a split resonance frequency response of the antenna system, rotate an antenna radiation pattern associated with the antenna system, or a combination thereof.

13. The antenna system of claim 11, wherein a state of the first switch, the tunable component, or a combination of the first switch and the tunable component, is configured via control signals received from a processor within the wireless communication device.

14. The antenna system of claim 10, further comprising a tunable component connected to the second conductor at the second coupling region;

wherein the tunable component is configured to adjust a frequency response of the antenna system.

15. The antenna system of claim 14, wherein the first parasitic element comprises an L-shape conductor extending about a length and a depth, wherein each of the length and depth of the L-shape conductor is positioned adjacent to one or more conductors about the periphery of the wireless communication device.

16. The antenna system of claim 8, further comprising a fourth conductor, wherein the first through fourth conductors combine to extend about the periphery of the wireless communication device.

17. The antenna system of claim 16, wherein the third conductor is coupled to the ground plane at an end opposite the second coupling region.

18. The antenna system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first and second parasitic elements comprises a planar conductor configured parallel with at least one of the first through fourth conductors extending about the periphery of the wireless communication device.

19. The antenna system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first and second parasitic elements comprises a parasitic conductor including a length, wherein a portion of the parasitic conductor is bent in a u-shape and configured within said length for increasing the physical length of the parasitic conductor within a confined area.

20. The antenna system of claim 4, further comprising a second parasitic element and a second switch associated therewith, wherein a first port of the second switch is coupled the second parasitic element and a second port of the second switch is coupled to the ground plane, the second switch configured to connect and disconnect the second parasitic element with the ground plane.

21. The antenna system of claim 20, wherein the first parasitic element is dimensioned and positioned about the antenna system such that the first parasitic element is configured to vary a first resonant frequency of the antenna, and wherein the second parasitic element is dimensioned and positioned about the antenna system such that the second parasitic element is configured to vary a second resonant frequency of the antenna.

22. The antenna system of claim 20, wherein a state of the second switch is configured via control signals received from a processor within the wireless communication device.

23. The antenna system of claim 4, wherein the first and second conductors, and the first coupling region, are each confined within a common plane disposed about the periphery of the wireless communication device.

24. The antenna system of claim 4, further comprising two or more stacked conductors combined to extend about the periphery of the wireless communication device, wherein the two or more stacked conductors are positioned above the first and second conductors, and wherein the two or more stacked conductors are selectively coupled to the ground plane via a third switch disposed therebetween.

25. The antenna system of claim 24, further comprising three or more conductor rings stacked above the ground plane, wherein each of the three or more conductor rings is configured to extend about the periphery of the wireless communication device.

26. The antenna system of claim 24, wherein a state of the third switch is configured via control signals received from a processor within the wireless communication device.