System and method for a GPS enabled antenna

• US 20050191967A1
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timothy David Forrester
• Original Assignee: Timothy David Forrester
• Inventors: Forrester, Timothy David
• Granted Patent: US 7,542,727 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/73
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/44 Transmit/receive switching

Abstract

A system and method for providing a global positioning system (GPS) enabled antenna system are provided. The GPS enabled antenna may be used, for example, on a wireless communications device such as a wireless handset. The wireless communications device includes a GPS switching module coupled to a conventional communications antenna, including its associated circuitry. The GPS switching module is adapted to selectively couple the communications antenna to GPS matching circuitry. In this arrangement, the GPS matching circuitry adjusts impedance at approximately 1575 MHz to more closely match the communications antenna to GPS circuitry in the wireless device.

Claims

1-35. -35. (canceled)

36. A method for providing a global positioning system (GPS) enabled antenna, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a wireless communications signal from at least one communications band;

(b) coupling the wireless communications signal to a diplexer;

(c) separating GPS band signals of the wireless communications signal utilizing the diplexer;

(d) separating first band signals of the wireless communications signal utilizing the diplexer;

(e) separating second band signals of the wireless communications signal utilizing the diplexer;

(f) coupling the separated GPS band signals to a GPS module through a switch;

(g) coupling the separated first band signals to a first band duplexer; and

(h) coupling the separated second band signals to a second band duplexer through the switch.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of coupling the separated first band signals comprises the step of:

coupling personal communications service (PCS) band signals of the separated first band signals to a PCS band duplexer.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of coupling the separated second band signals comprises the step of:

coupling cellular band signals of the separated second band signals to a cellular band duplexer through the switch.

39. A method for receiving incoming signals from at least one of three signal bands on a single antenna of a wireless handheld communications device, the method comprising the steps of:

filtering first band signals from the incoming signals utilizing a diplexer;

coupling the filtered first band signals to a first band duplexer;

filtering at least one of second band signals and third band signals from the incoming signals utilizing the diplexer;

coupling the at least one of the second band signals and the third band signals to a switching module; and

if the second band signals are coupled to the switching module, then coupling the second band signals to a second band duplexer; and

if the third band signals are coupled to the switching module, then coupling the third band signals to a third band module.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the first band signals are cellular band signals having a center frequency of approximately 800 MHz.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the second band signals are PCS band signals having a center frequency of approximately 1900 MHz.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the third band signals are GPS band signals having a center frequency of approximately 1575 MHz.\

43. A method of wireless communication in a wireless communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal on a dual band antenna;

coupling the signal to a diplexer;

filtering the signal into one of a high pass band signal and a low pass band signal using the diplexer;

coupling the filtered high pass band signal to a high pass band duplexer;

coupling the filtered low pass band signal to a switch;

if the filtered low pass band signal is a GPS band signal, then switching the GPS band signal to a GPS module; and

if the filtered low pass band signal is a first low band signal, then switching the filtered low pass band signal to a first low pass band duplexer.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the high pass band signal has a center frequency greater than 1600 Mhz.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the low pass band signal has a center frequency less than 1600 Hz.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein the first low band signal is a cellular band signal having a center frequency of 800 Mhz.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein the filtered high pass band signal is a PCS band signal having a center frequency of 1900 Mhz.