WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH A PATCH ANTENNA SUPPORTING CROSS-POLARIZED ACTIVE ELEMENTS

• US 20080042908A1
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Rausch, Walter
• Granted Patent: US 7,522,107 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/700MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0428 radiating a circular polarised wave

Abstract

A wireless communication device comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion comprises a patch antenna that includes an antenna plate and a ground plate that are separated by a dielectric. The antenna plate has orthogonal antenna elements that are configured to transmit and receive cross-polarized wireless signals. The second portion is configured to be handheld by a user.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device comprising:

a first portion including a patch antenna that includes an antenna plate and a ground plate that are separated by a dielectric wherein the antenna plate has orthogonal antenna elements that are configured to transmit and receive cross-polarized wireless signals;

a second portion that is configured to be handheld by a user; and

communication electronics configured to transfer Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) excitation signals to the patch antenna.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the communication electronics are located in the first portion.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the communication electronics are located in the second portion.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the antenna plate has a square shape that is less than two square inches.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the antenna plate has a square shape that is less than three square inches.

6. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication device comprises a mobile communication device.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication device is configured to use diversity to transmit and receive the cross-polarized wireless signals.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the antenna plate comprises a flat metal surface.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the patch antenna has a square shape and is configured to transfer the MIMO excitation signals at adjacent corners of the square shape.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the patch antenna has a square shape and is configured to reference ground signals from adjacent corners of the square shape.

11. A method of operating a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

holding the wireless communication device by hand;

in the wireless communication device, transferring Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) excitation signals to a patch antenna that includes an antenna plate and a ground plate separated by a dielectric wherein the antenna plate has orthogonal antenna elements; and

transmitting cross-polarized wireless signals from the patch antenna in response to the MIMO excitation signals.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein transmitting the cross-polarized wireless signals comprises transmitting WiMAX signals.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein transmitting the cross-polarized wireless signals comprises transmitting WiFi signals.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the antenna plate has a square shape that is less than two square inches.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the antenna plate has a square shape that is less than three square inches.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the wireless communication device comprises a mobile communication device.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising in the wireless communication device, using diversity to transmit and receive the cross-polarized wireless signals.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the antenna plate comprises a flat metal surface.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the patch antenna has a square shape and wherein transferring the MIMO excitation signals to the patch antenna comprises transferring the MIMO excitation signals at adjacent comers of the square shape.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the patch antenna has a square shape and comprising referencing ground signals from adjacent comers of the square shape.