Receive diversity antenna system for use with multiple radios
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a switching matrix comprising a first antenna terminal, a second antenna terminal, a first radio terminal, a second radio terminal, and a control terminal; and
a receive diversity controller comprising an output terminal that is electrically connected to said control terminal;
wherein said receive diversity controller causes said switching matrix to;
(i) electrically connect said first antenna terminal to said first radio terminal, and (ii) electrically connect said second antenna terminal to said second radio terminal when the quality of a first signal on said first antenna terminal is stronger than the quality of a second signal on said second antenna terminal; and
wherein said receive diversity controller causes said switching matrix to;
(i) electrically connect said first antenna terminal to said second radio terminal, and (ii) electrically connect said second antenna terminal to said first radio terminal when the quality of said first signal is weaker than the quality of said second signal.
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Abstract
A technique is disclosed in which two radios share two antennas in a receive diversity antenna system without the costs associated with a low-noise amplifier. In particular, the illustrative embodiment uses a switching matrix (e.g., a double-pole, double-throw, single-break switch, etc.) to feed the stronger signal from the two antennas to one radio and the weaker signal from the two antennas to the second radio. Although this causes the second radio to always receive a weaker signal than the first radio, embodiments of the present invention are acceptable when the second of the two radios is capable of receiving weaker signals than is the first radio.
24 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a switching matrix comprising a first antenna terminal, a second antenna terminal, a first radio terminal, a second radio terminal, and a control terminal; and
a receive diversity controller comprising an output terminal that is electrically connected to said control terminal;
wherein said receive diversity controller causes said switching matrix to;
(i) electrically connect said first antenna terminal to said first radio terminal, and (ii) electrically connect said second antenna terminal to said second radio terminal when the quality of a first signal on said first antenna terminal is stronger than the quality of a second signal on said second antenna terminal; and
wherein said receive diversity controller causes said switching matrix to;
(i) electrically connect said first antenna terminal to said second radio terminal, and (ii) electrically connect said second antenna terminal to said first radio terminal when the quality of said first signal is weaker than the quality of said second signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus comprising:
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a first radio;
a second radio;
a first antenna for receiving a first signal;
a second antenna for receiving a second signal;
a receive diversity controller that feeds the stronger signal of said first signal and said second signal to said first radio and that feeds the weaker signal of said first signal and said second signal to said second radio. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus comprising:
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a double-pole, double-throw, single-break switch, having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a first output terminal, a second output terminal, a third output terminal electrically connected to said second output terminal, a fourth output terminal electrically connected to said first output terminal, and a control terminal;
a first antenna for receiving a first signal wherein said first antenna is electrically connected to said first input terminal of said switch;
a second antenna for receiving a second signal wherein said second antenna is electrically connected to said second input terminal;
a first radio that is compliant with a first protocol, wherein said first radio is electrically connected to said first output terminal of said switch;
a second radio that is compliant with a second protocol that is different than said first protocol, wherein said second radio is electrically connected to said second output terminal of said switch; and
a receive diversity controller comprising an output terminal that is electrically connected to said control terminal of said switch;
wherein said receive diversity controller causes said switching switch to;
(i) electrically connect said first input terminal to said first output terminal, and (ii) electrically connect said second input terminal to said third output terminal when the quality of said first signal on said first antenna is stronger than the quality of said second signal on said second antenna; and
wherein said receive diversity controller causes said switch to;
(i) electrically connect said first input terminal to said second output terminal, and (ii) electrically connect said second input terminal to said fourth output terminal when the quality of said first signal on said first antenna is weaker than the quality of said second signal on said second antenna. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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electrically connecting a first antenna terminal to a first radio terminal and electrically connecting a second antenna terminal to a second radio terminal when the quality of a first signal on said first antenna terminal is stronger than the quality of a second signal on said second antenna terminal; and
electrically connecting said first antenna terminal to said second radio terminal and electrically connecting said second antenna terminal to said first radio terminal when the quality of said first signal on said first antenna terminal is weaker than the quality of said second signal on said second antenna terminal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification