METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ANTENNA DIVERSITY WITH GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEMS (GNSS)

• US 20110021166A1
• Filed: 08/31/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Abraham, Charles, Walley, John
• Application Number:
  US12/551,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20110021166A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/132
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/16 using amplitude comparison of signals derived sequentially from receiving antennas or antenna systems having differently-oriented directivity characteristics or from an antenna system having periodically-varied orientation of directivity characteristic
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/062 using dipole aerials; H01Q21/067, H01Q21/068 take precedence
• 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 wireless device including one or more receivers may selectively couple one or more antennas to one or more receivers based on a directionality of the antennas and an orientation of the antennas with respect to sources of the received wireless signals, which may include global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals. The orientation may be determined utilizing orientation sensors integrated in the wireless device, and may include a MEMS sensor and/or a magnetic compass. The antennas may be selectively coupled to the receivers based on a location of the wireless sources and the orientation of the directionality with respect to sources of the received wireless signals. A received signal strength indicator (RSSI) may be measured for each configuration. The antennas may be coupled sequentially to the receivers to determine a maximum of the RSSI. The antennas may include patch antennas and/or dipole antennas.

Claims

1. A method for enabling wireless communication, the method comprising:

performing by one or more processors and/or circuits in a wireless communication device, said one or more processors and/or circuits comprising one or more receivers;

selectively coupling one or more of a plurality of antennas in said wireless communication device to said one or more receivers based on a directionality of each of said plurality of antennas and an orientation of each of said plurality of antennas with respect to one or more sources of said received wireless signals.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said wireless signals comprise global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals.

3. The method according to claim 2, comprising determining said orientation utilizing one or more orientation sensors integrated in said wireless device.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said one or more orientation sensors comprise a MEMS sensor.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein said one or more orientation sensors comprise an electromagnetic or magnetic sensor.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising selectively coupling said one or more of said plurality of antennas to said one or more receivers based on a location of said wireless sources and said orientation with respect to said one or more sources of said received wireless signals.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising measuring an RSSI for each selectively coupled configuration of said one or more of said plurality of antennas.

8. The method according to claim 7, comprising selectively coupling said one or more of said plurality of antennas sequentially to said one or more receivers to determine which of said selectively coupled one or more of said plurality of antennas provides a maximum RSSI.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more of said plurality of antennas comprise patch antennas.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more of said plurality of antennas comprise dipole antennas.

11. The method according to claim 1, comprising reducing a number of assessed selectively coupled antenna configurations utilizing a known location of said wireless device and a constellation of signal sources determined based on said location.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising determining an orientation of said wireless device utilizing said known location and measuring signal strengths from said determined constellation of signal sources.

13. A system for enabling wireless communication, the system comprising:

one or more processors and/or circuits for use in a wireless communication device, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits comprise one or more receivers, and said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to;

selectively couple one or more of a plurality of antennas in said wireless communication device to said one or more receivers based on a directionality of each of said plurality of antennas and an orientation each of said plurality of antennas with respect to one or more sources of said received wireless signals.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said wireless signals comprise global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said one or more circuits in said wireless device are operable to determine said orientation utilizing one or more orientation sensors integrated in said wireless device.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said one or more orientation sensors comprise a MEMS sensor.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein said one or more orientation sensors comprise an electromagnetic or magnetic sensor.

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein said one or more circuits in said wireless device are operable to selectively couple said one or more of said plurality of antennas to said one or more receivers based on a location of said wireless sources and said orientation with respect to said one or more sources of said received wireless signals.

19. The system according to claim 13, wherein said one or more circuits in said wireless device are operable to measure an RSSI for each selectively coupled configuration of said one or more of said plurality of antennas.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said one or more circuits in said wireless device are operable to selectively couple said one or more of said plurality of antennas sequentially to said one or more receivers to determine which of said selectively coupled one or more of said plurality of antennas provides a maximum RSSI.

21. The system according to claim 13, wherein said one or more of said plurality of antennas comprise patch antennas.

22. The system according to claim 13, wherein said one or more of said plurality of antennas comprise dipole antennas.

23. The system according to claim 13, wherein said one or more circuits in said wireless device are operable to reduce a number of assessed selectively coupled antenna configurations utilizing a known location of said wireless device and a constellation of signal sources determined based on said location.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said one or more circuits in said wireless device are operable to determine an orientation of said wireless device utilizing said known location and measuring signal strengths from said determined constellation of signal sources.