Diverse antenna method and system employing a case mounted antenna

• US 20050254591A1
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Weil, Garry A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,570,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/267
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0808 comparing all antennas before reception
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0842 Weighted combining

Abstract

A desktop computer case mounted antenna apparatus for providing a diverse antenna solution for wireless network communications and computing systems employing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the antenna is mounted, at least partially, within a peripheral drive bay of the case.

Claims

1. A system comprising,

a desktop computer case;

a peripheral bay adjacent to the case;

wireless communications circuitry located within the case; and

an antenna mounted, at least partially, in the bay and communicatively coupled to the wireless communication circuitry.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna lead, wherein the antenna is communicatively coupled to the wireless communication circuitry by the antenna lead.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus;

a PCI socket coupled to the PCI bus; and

a network interface card (NIC) coupled to the PCI socket, wherein the NIC includes the wireless communication circuitry.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is communicatively coupled to the PCI bus through the PCI socket.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the NIC comprises a wireless local area network (LAN) card mounted in the PCI socket.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second antenna mounted on or adjacent the case and communicatively coupled to the wireless communication circuitry.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is mounted on a computer motherboard located within the case.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a desktop computer case; and

at least two antennas mounted on or adjacent the case and spatially separated from each other.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

wireless communication circuitry located within the computer case and communicatively coupled to the antennas.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

at least one antenna lead communicatively coupling at least one of the antennas to the wireless communication circuitry.

11. A wireless network interface, comprising;

wireless communication circuitry;

a first antenna coupled to the wireless communication circuitry; and

interface circuitry for coupling a second antenna to the wireless communication circuitry.

12. The wireless network interface of claim 11, further comprising;

an antenna lead for communicatively coupling a second antenna to the interface circuitry.

13. The wireless network interface of claim 12, further comprising;

a second antenna communicatively coupled to the interface circuitry by the antenna lead.

14. A method comprising:

receiving signals through a first antenna mounted on or adjacent a desktop computer case;

receiving signals through a second antenna mounted on the case and spatially separated from the first antenna; and

providing the signals received through the first antenna and the signals received through the second antenna to wireless communication circuitry located within the computer case.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

comparing the signals received through the first antenna with the signals received through the second antenna.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein comparing the signals comprises at least comparing the strength of the signals received through the first antenna with the strength of the signals received through the second antenna.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein comparing the signals comprises at least comparing the quality of the signals received through the first antenna with the quality of the signals received through the second antenna.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein comparing the quality of the signals comprises comparing at least the signal-to-noise ratio of the signals received through the first antenna with the signal-to-noise ratio of the signals received through the second antenna.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

selecting one of the first antenna or second antenna based on comparing the signals received through the first antenna with the signals received through the second antenna.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving signals through the selected antenna.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

combining the signals received through the first antenna with the signals received through the second antenna.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein combining the signals comprises at least adding the signals received through the first antenna to the signals received through the second antenna.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein combining the signals comprises at least taking the difference between the signals received through the first antenna and the signals received through the second antenna.

24. A machine-accessible medium including instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to:

receive signals through a first antenna mounted adjacent a desktop computer case;

receive signals through a second antenna mounted on the case and spatially separated from the first antenna; and

provide the signals received through the first antenna and the signals received through the second antenna to wireless communication circuitry located within the computer case.

25. The machine-accessible medium of claim 24, further including instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to:

compare the signals received through the first antenna with the signals received through the second antenna.

26. The machine-accessible medium of claim 24, further including instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to:

combine the signals received through the first antenna with the signals received through the second antenna.