GPS equipped mobile phone with single shared antenna

• US 20030100333A1
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Standke, Randolph, Peterzell, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 6,816,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/127 Strip line switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/50 Feeding or matching arrangements for broad-band or multi-band operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/14 Length of element or elements adjustable telescopic elements H01Q1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/005 adapting radio receivers, transmitters andtransceivers for operation on two or more bands, i.e. frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers

Abstract

An antenna sharing system and method. In the illustrative embodiment, the inventive system includes a first matching network coupled to a first circuit; a second matching network coupled to a second circuit; and a switch having a first throw coupled to the first network, a second throw coupled to the second network, and a pole coupled to the antenna. In the specific implementation, the first circuit is a cellular subsystem and the second circuit is a Global Positioning System subsystem. The system further includes a controller for selectively actuating the switch whereby the first network is coupled to the antenna in a first operational mode and the second network is coupled to the antenna in a second operational mode. In the illustrative implementation, the first network provides an impedance match to the switch and the antenna with respect to the first circuit. The second network provides an impedance match to the switch and the antenna with respect to the second circuit. In the preferred embodiment, the invention includes a first diplexer network coupled to a first circuit; a second diplexer network coupled to a second circuit; and an antenna match which incorporates a shunt SPST switch to shift the matching frequency between the cellular (or PCS) and GPS bands.

Claims

1. An antenna sharing system for use with an antenna comprising:

a first matching network coupled to a first circuit;

a second matching network coupled to a second circuit; and

a switch having a first throw coupled to said first network, a second throw coupled to said second network, and a pole coupled to said antenna.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first network provides an impedance match to said switch and said antenna with respect to said first circuit.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said second network provides an impedance match to said switch and said antenna with respect to said second circuit.

4. The invention of claim 1 further including means for selectively actuating said switch whereby said first network is coupled to said antenna in a first operational mode and said second network is coupled to said antenna in a second operational mode.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said means for selectively actuating includes a central processing unit.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said means for selectively actuating further includes a switch driver.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first circuit is a cellular or PCS subsystem.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said first network is an inductive/capacitive network.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said first network includes a first inductor connected between said first circuit and ground, a second inductor connected between said first throw and ground and a capacitor between said first throw and said first circuit.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein said second circuit is a Global Positioning System subsystem.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said second network includes a first inductor connected between said second throw and ground and a second inductor connected between said second throw and said second circuit.

12. The invention of claim 1 further including a user interface.

13. A GPS equipped cellular or PCS telephone system comprising:

an antenna;

a first matching network coupled to a cellular or PCS subsystem;

a second matching network coupled to a GPS subsystem;

a switch having a first throw coupled to said first network, a second throw coupled to said second network, and a pole coupled to said antenna;

a central processing unit for selectively actuating said switch whereby said first network is coupled to said antenna in a first operational mode and said second network is coupled to said antenna in a second operational mode; and

a user interface coupled to said central processing unit.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said first network provides an impedance match to said switch and said antenna with respect to said cellular or PCS subsystem.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein said second network provides an impedance match to said switch and said antenna with respect to said Global Positioning System subsystem.

16. The invention of claim 15 wherein said first network includes a first inductor connected between said cellular subsystem and ground, a second inductor connected between said first throw and ground and a capacitor between said first throw and said cellular or PCS subsystem.

17. The invention of claim 15 wherein said second network includes a first inductor connected between said second throw and ground and a second inductor connected between said second throw and said Global Positioning System subsystem.

18. An antenna sharing system for use with an antenna comprising:

a first matching network coupled to said antenna, said first matching network including first and second reactive elements and a switch connected to said first element;

a second matching network coupled between said first matching network and a first circuit;

a third matching network coupled between said first matching network and a second circuit and

means for activating said switch.

19. An antenna sharing system for use with an antenna comprising:

a switchable matching network coupled to said antenna;

a first diplexer coupled between said first matching network and a first circuit;

a second diplexer coupled between said first matching network and a second circuit and

means for activating said switch matching network.

20. The invention of claim 19 wherein said matching network includes first and second reactive circuits and a switch.

21. The invention of claim 19 wherein said first diplexer is a cellular or PCS diplexer.

22. The invention of claim 21 wherein said second diplexer is a GPS diplexer.

23. An antenna sharing method including the steps of:

providing an antenna;

coupling a first matching network to a first circuit;

coupling a second matching network to a second circuit;

coupling a first throw of a switch to said first network, a second throw of said switch to said second network, and a pole of said switch to said antenna and

selectively actuating said pole of said switch whereby said first network is coupled to said antenna in a first operational mode and said second network is coupled to said antenna in a second operational mode.