Beam steering techniques for external antenna configurations
First Claim
1. A wireless communication device, comprising:
- at least one external antenna module;
the external antenna module comprising two or more multi-mode antennas enclosed therein;
each multi-mode antennas comprising;
a radiating antenna element,a parasitic element positioned adjacent to the radiating antenna element,a radio frequency (RF) integrated circuit coupled to the parasitic element,a reference ground, wherein each of the radiating antenna element and the parasitic element are coupled to the reference ground,an RF transmission line coupled to the radiating antenna element and configured to receive RF signals from a transceiver, anda control transmission line coupled to the RF integrated circuit and configured to receive control signals from an application processor;
wherein the application processor is configured to sample a signal metric and to determine a selected mode from a set of modes for configuring each of the multi-mode antennas of the external antenna module, wherein each mode in the set of modes is associated with a different radiation pattern for the multi-mode antenna;
wherein the application processor is configured to eliminate at least one mode of the set of modes in determining the selected mode based at least in part on an orientation of the external antenna module, wherein the at least one mode is eliminated by removing the at least one mode from the set of modes that are considered in determining the selected mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A beam steering antenna system for external antenna configurations for fixed and mobile communication devices is described where one or multiple beam steering antennas are integrated into a single external enclosure and where multiple enclosures containing beam steering antennas are used with a single communication device. Where multiple external enclosures are used with a single communication system such as a WLAN access point the beam steering antenna system provides an electrical means of optimizing antenna system and communication link performance as compared to mechanical means such as antenna enclosure positioning or orientation. Radiation mode selection for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz antennas integrated into an external enclosure on a WLAN access point allows for independent optimization of the antenna systems for the two frequency bands without requiring antenna movement or positioning. If the antenna enclosures are movable or capable of rotation the beam steering antennas can be optimized for enclosure orientation.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A wireless communication device, comprising:
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at least one external antenna module; the external antenna module comprising two or more multi-mode antennas enclosed therein; each multi-mode antennas comprising; a radiating antenna element, a parasitic element positioned adjacent to the radiating antenna element, a radio frequency (RF) integrated circuit coupled to the parasitic element, a reference ground, wherein each of the radiating antenna element and the parasitic element are coupled to the reference ground, an RF transmission line coupled to the radiating antenna element and configured to receive RF signals from a transceiver, and a control transmission line coupled to the RF integrated circuit and configured to receive control signals from an application processor; wherein the application processor is configured to sample a signal metric and to determine a selected mode from a set of modes for configuring each of the multi-mode antennas of the external antenna module, wherein each mode in the set of modes is associated with a different radiation pattern for the multi-mode antenna; wherein the application processor is configured to eliminate at least one mode of the set of modes in determining the selected mode based at least in part on an orientation of the external antenna module, wherein the at least one mode is eliminated by removing the at least one mode from the set of modes that are considered in determining the selected mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification