Mobile wireless communications device providing pattern/frequency control features and related methods

• US 20060178116A1
• Filed: 02/09/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Qi, Yihong, Jarmuszewski, Perry, Man, Ying Tong
• Granted Patent: US 7,890,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/90.300
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/12 Frequency diversity

Abstract

A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, a wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing, and a plurality of antennas also carried by the portable housing. Each antenna may have a different gain pattern at a different respective operating frequency, and the antennas may have different shapes to define different gain patterns at a given operating frequency. The mobile wireless communications device may further include a frequency/pattern diversity controller for controlling the wireless transceiver to preferentially operate with the plurality of antennas.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a portable housing;

a wireless transceiver carried by said portable housing;

a plurality of antennas carried by said portable housing, each antenna having a different gain pattern at a different respective operating frequency, said antennas having different shapes to define different gain patterns at a given operating frequency; and

a frequency/pattern diversity controller for controlling said wireless transceiver to preferentially operate with said plurality of antennas.

2. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said frequency/pattern diversity controller controls said wireless transceiver to preferentially switch at least one antenna on and at least one antenna off for receiving signals.

3. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said frequency/pattern diversity controller controls said wireless transceiver to preferentially weight received signals.

4. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said frequency/pattern diversity controller controls said wireless transceiver to preferentially switch at least one antenna on and at least one antenna off for transmitting signals.

5. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein each antenna is designated for transmitting signals at different respective operating frequencies, and wherein said frequency/pattern diversity controller controls said wireless transceiver to preferentially switch said antennas on and off for transmitting signals based upon a given operating frequency.

6. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 where the different gain patterns comprise different gain patterns for different polarizations.

7. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein each antenna has a respective boresight aligned in a common direction.

8. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said antennas is carried within said portable housing.

9. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 further comprising a circuit board carried by said portable housing and carrying said wireless transceiver.

10. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said wireless transceiver comprises a wireless local area network (LAN) transceiver.

11. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a portable housing;

a wireless transceiver carried by said portable housing;

a plurality of antennas carried by said portable housing, each antenna having a different gain pattern at a different respective operating frequency, said antennas having different shapes to define different gain patterns at a given operating frequency, and each antenna being designated for transmitting signals at different respective operating frequencies; and

a frequency/pattern diversity controller for controlling said wireless transceiver to preferentially switch at least one antenna on and at least one antenna off for receiving signals, and to preferentially switch said antennas on and off for transmitting signals based upon a given operating frequency.

12. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 11 where the different gain patterns comprise different gain patterns for different polarizations.

13. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 11 wherein each antenna has a respective boresight aligned in a common direction.

14. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 11 herein at least one of said antennas is carried within said portable housing.

15. A method of operating a mobile wireless communications device comprising a portable housing, a wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing, and a plurality of antennas carried by the portable housing, each antenna having a different gain pattern at a different respective operating frequency, and the antennas having different shapes to define different gain patterns at a given operating frequency, the method comprising:

controlling the wireless transceiver to preferentially operate with the plurality of antennas to provide frequency/pattern diversity.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein controlling comprises controlling the wireless transceiver to preferentially switch at least one antenna on and at least one antenna off for receiving signals.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein controlling comprises controlling the wireless transceiver to preferentially weight received signals.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein controlling comprises controlling the wireless transceiver to preferentially switch at least one antenna on and at least one antenna off for transmitting signals.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein each antenna is designated for transmitting signals at different respective operating frequencies, and wherein controlling comprises controlling the wireless transceiver to preferentially switch the antennas on and off for transmitting signals based upon a given operating frequency.

20. The method of claim 15 where the different gain patterns comprise different gain patterns for different polarizations.