Self-structuring antenna with addressable switch controller

• US 20070060201A1
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Nagy, Louis
• Granted Patent: US 8,380,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/562.100
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/14 for wire or other non-rigid radiating elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching

Abstract

A self-structuring antenna system comprises a plurality of antenna elements, a plurality of switch elements arranged with the antenna elements to, when selectively closed, electrically couple ones of the antenna elements to one another, and a switch controller for opening and closing the switch elements. The switch controller is operatively associated with the plurality of switch elements via a plurality of addressable switch controllers.

Claims

1. A self-structuring antenna system comprising:

a plurality of antenna elements;

a plurality of switch elements arranged with the antenna elements to, when selectively closed, electrically couple ones of the antenna elements to one another; and

a switch controller for opening and closing the switch elements that is operatively associated with the plurality of switch elements without a plurality of cables leading from the switch controller to respective ones of the switch elements.

2. The self-structuring antenna system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of switch elements are operated by a plurality of addressable switch controllers.

3. The self-structuring antenna system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of addressable switch controllers are modules.

4. The self-structuring antenna system of claim 2 wherein the switch controller is operatively associated with the plurality of addressable switch controllers by wireless communication.

5. The self-structuring antenna system of claim 3 wherein the switch controller has a transmitter and each one of the plurality of addressable switch controllers has an associated receiver.

6. The self-structuring antenna system of claim 2 wherein the switch controller is coupled to one of the antenna elements and communicates with the plurality of addressable switch controllers via the antenna elements.

7. The self-structuring antenna system of claim 4, 5 or 6 including a plurality of switch modules containing the respective switch elements and the respective addressable switch controllers.

8. The self-structuring antenna system of claim 7 wherein the plurality of switch modules contain the respective associated receivers.