Transmitter for transmitting a high-rate data transmission through direct excitation

• US 10,218,540 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)
• Original Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)
• Inventors: Salehi, Mohsen, Manteghi, Majid
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Blane
• Application Number:
  US15/106,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20160315790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,531 Days
• Field of Search: 375219, 375220, 375222, 375257, 375354, 375356, 375362, 375364, 375369
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 15/04 Apparatus or circuits at the transmitting end

Abstract

One aspect is a circuit for tuning a resonance frequency of an electrically small antenna and directly exciting the electrically small antenna. The circuit includes a first source configured for providing a constant voltage. The circuit also includes an antenna and a switched capacitor configured for being alternatively alternately coupled to the first source to be charged thereby and to the antenna for exciting the antenna. Another aspect is a transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal using an antenna without using a variable voltage source to excite the antenna. The transmitter includes a first source configured for providing a constant voltage. The transmitter further includes an antenna and a switched capacitor configured for being alternately coupled to the first source to be charged thereby and to the antenna for exciting the antenna and for tuning a resonance frequency of the antenna.

Claims

1. A circuit for tuning a resonance frequency of an electrically small antenna and directly exciting the electrically small antenna, the circuit comprising:

a first source configured for providing a constant voltage;

an antenna; and

a switched capacitor configured for being alternately coupled to the first source to be charged thereby and to the antenna for exciting the antenna.

2. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a second source configured for providing a switching signal, wherein the switched capacitor is configured for being alternately coupled to the first source to be charged thereby and to the antenna for exciting the antenna based on the switching signal.

3. The circuit of claim 2, further comprising a switch configured for alternately coupling the switched capacitor to the first source to be charged thereby and to the antenna for exciting the antenna based on the switching signal.

4. The circuit of claim 3, wherein the second source is configured for providing the switching signal to the switch to control the switch to alternately couple the switched capacitor to the first source to be charged thereby and to the antenna for exciting the antenna based on the switching signal.

5. The circuit of claim 3, wherein a time period between switching of the switch is greater than a time required to fully charge the switched capacitor.

6. The circuit of claim 1, wherein a time period between switching of the switch is greater than a time required to fully charge the switched capacitor.

7. The circuit of claim 1, wherein a time period between switching of the switch is less than a decay time constant of an electrical field emitted by the antenna.

8. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the antenna is an electrically-coupled loop antenna.

9. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the antenna is a planar inverted-f antenna.

10. A transmitter comprising:

a first source configured for providing a constant voltage;

an antenna; and

a switched capacitor configured for being alternately coupled to the first source to be charged thereby and to the antenna for exciting the antenna and for tuning a resonance frequency of the antenna.

11. The transmitter of claim 10, further comprising a second source configured for providing a switching signal, wherein the switched capacitor is configured for being alternately coupled to the first source to be charged thereby and to the antenna for exciting the antenna based on the switching signal.

12. The transmitter of claim 11, further comprising a switch configured for alternately coupling the switched capacitor to the first source to be charged thereby and to the antenna for exciting the antenna based on the switching signal.

13. The transmitter of claim 12, wherein the second source is configured for providing the switching signal to the switch to control the switch to alternately couple the switched capacitor to the first source to be charged thereby and to the antenna for exciting the antenna based on the switching signal.

14. The transmitter of claim 12, wherein a time period between switching of the switch is greater than a time required to fully charge the switched capacitor.

15. The transmitter of claim 10, wherein a time period between switching of the switch is greater than a time required to fully charge the switched capacitor.

16. The transmitter of claim 10, wherein a time period between switching of the switch is less than a decay time constant of an electrical field emitted by the antenna.

17. The transmitter of claim 10, wherein the antenna is an electrically-coupled loop antenna.

18. The transmitter of claim 10, wherein the antenna is a planar inverted-f antenna.