Antenna Arrangement

• US 20090167627A1
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Inventors: Breiter, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,072,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/852
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/328 between a radiating element and ground
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/392 the parasitic elements having dual-band or multi-band characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/40 Imbricated or interleaved structures; Combined or electromagnetically coupled arrangements, e.g. comprising two or more non-connected fed radiating elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0442 with particular tuning means

Abstract

An antenna arrangement comprising: a first antenna element; a second antenna element; a coupling element for electromagnetically coupling to the first antenna element and the second antenna element; and a switching mechanism, connected to the coupling element, for switching between a first electrical configuration and a second electrical configuration, wherein when the switching mechanism is in the first electrical configuration, the coupling element has a first impedance and when the switching mechanism is in the second electrical configuration, the coupling element has a second impedance.

Claims

1. An antenna arrangement comprising:

a first antenna element;

a second antenna element;

a coupling element for electromagnetically coupling to the first antenna element and the second antenna element; and

a switching mechanism, connected to the coupling element, configured to switch between a first electrical configuration and a second electrical configuration, wherein when the switching mechanism is in the first electrical configuration, the coupling element has a first impedance and when the switching mechanism is in the second electrical configuration, the coupling element has a second impedance.

2. An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the switching mechanism is in the first electrical configuration, the first antenna element operates in a first operational frequency band and the second antenna element operates in a second operational frequency band.

3. An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the switching mechanism is in the second electrical configuration, the first antenna element operates in a third operational frequency band and the second antenna element operates in a fourth operational frequency band.

4. An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switching mechanism comprises a first impedance matching circuit, a second impedance matching circuit and a switch configured to connect the coupling element to the first impedance matching circuit or the second impedance matching circuit.

5. An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the switching mechanism is in the first electrical configuration when the switch connects the first impedance matching circuit to the coupling element.

6. An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the switching mechanism is in the second electrical configuration when the switch connects the second impedance matching circuit to the coupling element.

7. An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling element comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is configured to electromagnetically couple with the first antenna element and the second portion is configured to electromagnetically couple with the second antenna element.

8. An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of antenna elements, wherein the coupling element is configured to electromagnetically couple to each of the plurality of antennas.

9. An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein when the switching mechanism is in the first electrical configuration, the plurality of antenna elements operate in a first set of operational frequency bands.

10. An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein when the switching mechanism is in the second electrical configuration, the plurality of antenna elements operate in a second set of operational frequency bands.

11. An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein each antenna element is connected to a feed via a feed point and to a ground plane via a ground point.

13. A module comprising an antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 1.

15. A portable electronic device comprising an antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 1.

12. A tuning arrangement for tuning the operational frequency bands of at least two antennas, comprising:

a coupling element configured to electromagnetically couple to a first antenna element and a second antenna element; and

a switching mechanism, connected to the coupling element, configured to switch between a first electrical configuration and a second electrical configuration, wherein when the switching mechanism is in the first electrical configuration, the coupling element has a first impedance and when the switching mechanism is in the second electrical configuration, the coupling element has a second impedance.

14. A module comprising a tuning arrangement as claimed in claim 12.

16. A portable electronic device comprising a tuning arrangement as claimed in claim 12.

17. An antenna arrangement comprising:

a first antenna element;

a second antenna element;

means for electromagnetically coupling to the first antenna element and the second antenna element; and

means for switching between a first electrical configuration and a second electrical configuration, wherein when said means for switching is in the first electrical configuration, the means for electromagnetically coupling has a first impedance and when said means for switching is in the second electrical configuration, the means for electromagnetically coupling has a second impedance.