Antenna device and radio communication apparatus using the antenna device

• US 20050128155A1
• Filed: 12/08/2004
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Fukuda, Junichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,176,841 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/745
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/00 Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system means for positioning H01Q1/125
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/005 with variable reactance for tuning the antenna

Abstract

An electrical signal is fed from one terminal of an antenna element, and the other terminal thereof is terminated by a variable reactance circuit. A reactance value of the variable reactance circuit is changed according to use state of a device to optimally set its directivity. Matching conditions at an electricity feeding point are controlled to match an impedance of the electricity feeding point which fluctuates according to the value of the variable reactance circuit. With the above construction, there are provided an antenna device that is downsized, can control its directivity, and does not deteriorate a communication quality depending on a use state, and a radio communication apparatus provided with the antenna device.

Claims

1. An antenna device, comprising:

a variable reactance circuit having a reactance value variable on the basis of a control signal;

an RF circuit having a matching circuit at an output side;

an antenna element having one end to which an electrical signal is fed from the RF circuit and the other end terminated by the variable reactance circuit; and

a reactance and matching control circuit that outputs the control signal for setting the reactance value of the variable reactance circuit to a predetermined value.

2. An antenna device according to claim, 1,

wherein the antenna element comprises first, second, and third elements, and

wherein the first and third elements are arranged at a predetermined interval in the same direction, and the second element is connected perpendicularly to the first and third elements.

3. An antenna device according to claim 2, wherein the second element of the antenna element is divided into at least two pieces at a predetermined interval.

4. An antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna element is made a part or all over into a meandering line.

5. An antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the variable reactance circuit comprises:

a varactor diode having a capacitor changed according to a signal from the outside;

a strip line that is inserted between the antenna element and the varactor diode; and

a coil that is connected in parallel with the varactor diode.

6. An antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the reactance and matching control circuit conducts control to change an antenna matching constant with respect to the matching circuit in the RF circuit in synchronism with the control signal for setting the reactance value of the variable reactance circuit to the predetermined value.

7. An antenna device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a use mode judgement circuit that detects a use state of the antenna device;

a position detection circuit that detects a direction or inclination of the antenna device; and

a reception measurement section for measuring a reception quality of the antenna device,

wherein the reactance and matching control circuit makes the variable reactance circuit change the reactance value and the RF circuit change the matching constant according to a detection result that is outputted from any one of the use mode judgement circuit, the position detection circuit, and the reception measurement section.

8. An antenna device according to claim 7, further comprising a memory circuit that stores optimum reactance values corresponding to the use state, the direction, the inclination, and the reception quality of the antenna device,

wherein the reactance and matching control circuit reads the optimum reactance value stored in the memory circuit according to the detection result that is outputted from any one of the use mode judgement circuit, the position detection circuit, and the reception measurement section to make the variable reactance circuit change the reactance value, and make the RF circuit change the matching constant.

9. A radio communication apparatus, comprising a plurality of the antenna devices according to claim 1, the radio communication apparatus selecting any one from the plurality of antenna devices, or selecting and synthesizing two or more of the antenna devices to provide a reception signal.

10. A radio communication apparatus, comprising a plurality of the antenna devices according to claim 2, the radio communication apparatus selecting any one from the plurality of antenna devices, or selecting and synthesizing two or more of the antenna devices to provide a reception signal.

11. A radio communication apparatus, comprising a plurality of the antenna devices according to claim 3, the radio communication apparatus selecting any one from the plurality of antenna devices, or selecting and synthesizing two or more of the antenna devices to provide a reception signal.

12. A radio communication apparatus, comprising a plurality of the antenna devices according to claim 4, the radio communication apparatus selecting any one from the plurality of antenna devices, or selecting and synthesizing two or more of the antenna devices to provide a reception signal.

13. A radio communication apparatus, comprising a plurality of the antenna devices according to claim 5, the radio communication apparatus selecting any one from the plurality of antenna devices, or selecting and synthesizing two or more of the antenna devices to provide a reception signal.

14. A radio communication apparatus, comprising a plurality of the antenna devices according to claim 6, the radio communication apparatus selecting any one from the plurality of antenna devices, or selecting and synthesizing two or more of the antenna devices to provide a reception signal.

15. A radio communication apparatus, comprising a plurality of the antenna devices according to claim 7, the radio communication apparatus selecting any one from the plurality of antenna devices, or selecting and synthesizing two or more of the antenna devices to provide a reception signal.

16. A radio communication apparatus, comprising a plurality of the antenna devices according to claim 8, the radio communication apparatus selecting any one from the plurality of antenna devices, or selecting and synthesizing two or more of the antenna devices to provide a reception signal.