BEAM SWITCHING ANTENNA SYSTEM AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME

• US 20080030400A1
• Filed: 08/22/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation), LG Telecom Incorporated (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Telecom Incorporated (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Hyo
• Granted Patent: US 7,973,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/155
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/10 using reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/30 the primary active element being centre-fed and substantially straight, e.g. Yagi antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/32 the primary active element being end-fed and elongated
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/44 varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of reflecting, refracting, or diffracting devices associated with the radiating element

Abstract

A beam switching antenna method and apparatus for controlling a beam switching antenna system including an antenna element for forming a beam, at least one conductive reflector for reflecting the beam, and a ground switch for applying a reference voltage to the at least one conductive reflector, the method includes forming the beam of the antenna element, and imparting the formed beam with a predetermined beam pattern by controlling the ground switch to apply the reference voltage to at least one conductive reflector.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a beam switching antenna system including an antenna element for forming a beam, at least one conductive reflector for reflecting the beam, and a ground switch for applying a reference voltage to the at least one conductive reflector, the method comprising steps of:

forming the beam of the antenna element; and

imparting the formed beam with a predetermined beam pattern by controlling the ground switch to apply the reference voltage to the at least one conductive reflector.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said beam pattern imparting step is performed by selectively closing the ground switch.

3. An apparatus for controlling a beam switching antenna system including an antenna element for forming a beam, at least one conductive reflector for reflecting the beam, and a ground switch for applying a reference voltage to the at least one conductive reflector, the apparatus comprising:

a signal source for supplying the antenna element with a signal to form the beam; and

a controller for controlling the ground switch to apply the reference voltage to the at least one conductive reflector, thereby imparting the formed beam with a predetermined beam pattern.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said controller selectively closes the ground switch.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the beam switching antenna system is installed in a mobile communication terminal.