CONTROLLING A BEAMFORMING ANTENNA USING RECONFIGURABLE PARASITIC ELEMENTS

• US 20110309980A1
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: ALI, Shirook, WARDEN, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,446,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/368
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1257 using the received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/245 with means for shaping the antenna pattern, e.g. in order to protect user against rf exposure
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/27 Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies H01Q1/08, H01Q1/12, H01Q1/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/52 Means for reducing coupling between antennas; Means for reducing coupling between an antenna and another structure absorbing means H01Q17/00
• 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 3/267 Phased-array testing or checking devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/446 the radiating element being at the centre of one or more rings of auxiliary elements

Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems for controlling a beamforming antenna with reconfigurable parasitic elements is provided. In one embodiment, a method of controlling a beamforming antenna in a wireless device comprises calculating the input impedance of the beamforming antenna using an adaptive matching network, wherein said beamforming antenna includes a primary radiating element and one or more reconfigurable parasitic elements, and said primary radiating element and said reconfigurable parasitic elements cooperatively receive, transmit, or both a radio frequency signal; determining the input impedance of the beamforming antenna is outside a tolerance; recognizing the environment of the wireless device; selecting a portion of said reconfigurable parasitic elements using the input impedance of the beamforming antenna, a predetermined input impedance observation table, said recognized environment, or any combination thereof; and updating the beamforming antenna by electrically connecting, electrically coupling, or both said selected portion of said reconfigurable parasitic elements to said primary radiating element.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a beamforming antenna in a wireless device, comprising:

calculating the input impedance of the beamforming antenna using an adaptive matching network, wherein said beamforming antenna includes a primary radiating element and one or more reconfigurable parasitic elements, and said primary radiating element and said reconfigurable parasitic elements cooperatively receive, transmit, or both a radio frequency signal;

determining the input impedance of the beamforming antenna is outside a tolerance;

recognizing the environment of the wireless device;

selecting a portion of said reconfigurable parasitic elements using the input impedance of the beamforming antenna, a predetermined input impedance observation table, said recognized environment, or any combination thereof; and

updating the beamforming antenna by electrically connecting, electrically coupling, or both said selected portion of said reconfigurable parasitic elements to said primary radiating element.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating the input impedance of the beamforming antenna for said primary radiating element with each reconfigurable parasitic element of said portion using the adaptive matching network;

determining a subset of said portion of reconfigurable parasitic elements having about the same input impedance;

calculating the received signal strength of the beamforming antenna for said primary radiating element with each reconfigurable parasitic element in said subset; and

selecting one or more reconfigurable parasitic elements of said subset having the largest received signal strength.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

re-calculating the input impedance of said updated beamforming antenna using said adaptive matching circuit; and

adjusting said adaptive matching circuit to match about the input impedance of said updated beamforming antenna.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said primary radiating element and said reconfigurable parasitic elements are monopoles or dipoles.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said primary radiating element is a patch antenna and said reconfigurable parasitic elements are one or more radiating strip elements, wherein said patch antenna is electrically connected, electrically coupled, or both to said radiating strip elements.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said recognizing the environment of the wireless device, further comprising:

identifying a change in the received signal strength of the beamforming antenna, the directional alignment of the wireless device, the propagation characteristics of a received signal via the beamforming antenna, the input impedance of the beamforming antenna, or any combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining to update the beamforming antenna.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said determining to update the beamforming antenna, further comprising:

determining a change in the received signal strength of the beamforming antenna, the directional alignment of the wireless device, the propagation characteristics of a received signal via the beamforming antenna, the input impedance of the beamforming antenna, or any combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said determining to update the beamforming antenna, further comprising:

measuring a plurality of received signal strengths for the beamforming antenna, wherein each measurement corresponds to said primary radiating element with one or more different reconfigurable parasitic elements;

determining one of said plurality of received signal strengths is greater than the received signal strength for the beamforming antenna.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary radiating element is used to provide an omnidirectional antenna-pattern beam.

11. An antenna system for a wireless device, comprising:

a beamforming antenna for generating an antenna-pattern beam, said beamforming antenna comprising;

a primary radiating element electrically connected to an adaptive matching network, wherein said adaptive matching network is used for matching the input impedance of said beamforming antenna;

one or more reconfigurable parasitic elements electrically connected, electrically coupled, or both to said primary radiating element and electrically connected to a switching circuit, wherein said switching circuit is used to select one or more of said reconfigurable parasitic elements, and said primary radiating element and said selected parasitic elements cooperatively receive, transmit, or both a radio frequency signal;

a transceiver electrically connected to said beamforming antenna for transmitting a signal, receiving a signal, or both;

a usage detector electrically connected to said beamforming antenna and said transceiver for recognizing the environment of the wireless device; and

a controller electrically connected to said beamforming antenna, said usage detector, said transceiver, said switching circuit, and said adaptive matching network to adapt the antenna-pattern beam of said beamforming antenna, wherein said controller is configured to;

determine the input impedance of the beamforming antenna using said adaptive matching network is outside a tolerance;

recognize the environment of the wireless device using said usage detector;

select a portion of said reconfigurable parasitic elements using the input impedance of the beamforming antenna, a predetermined observation table, said recognized environment, or any combination thereof; and

update the beamforming antenna by electrically connecting, electrically coupling, or both said selected portion of reconfigurable parasitic elements with said primary radiating element using said switching circuit.

12. The antenna system of claim 11, wherein said usage detector further comprises:

a sensor for determining the directional alignment of the wireless device, the speed of the wireless device, the acceleration of the wireless device, or any combination thereof.

13. The antenna system of claim 11, wherein said controller is further configured to:

calculate the input impedance of the beamforming antenna for said primary radiating element with each reconfigurable parasitic element of said portion using the adaptive matching network;

determine a subset of said portion of reconfigurable parasitic elements having about the same input impedance;

calculate the received signal strength of the beamforming antenna for said primary radiating element with any combination of reconfigurable parasitic elements in said subset; and

select one or more reconfigurable parasitic elements of said subset having the largest received signal strength.

14. The antenna system of claim 11, wherein said controller is further configured to:

re-calculate the input impedance of said updated beamforming antenna using said adaptive matching network; and

update said adaptive matching network to about the input impedance of said updated beamforming antenna.

15. The antenna system of claim 11, wherein said primary radiating element and said reconfigurable parasitic elements are monopoles or dipoles.

16. The antenna system of claim 11, wherein said primary radiating element is a patch antenna and said reconfigurable parasitic elements are radiating strip elements.

17. The antenna system of claim 11, wherein said usage detector is further configured to:

identify a change in the received signal strength of the beamforming antenna, the directional alignment of the wireless device, the propagation characteristics of a received signal via the beamforming antenna, the input impedance of the beamforming antenna, or any combination thereof.

18. The antenna system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine to update the beamforming antenna by using a change in the received signal strength of the beamforming antenna, the directional alignment of the wireless device, the propagation characteristics of a received signal via the beamforming antenna, the input impedance of the beamforming antenna, or any combination thereof.

19. The antenna system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine to update the beamforming antenna by measuring a plurality of received signal strengths for the beamforming antenna, wherein each measurement corresponds to said primary radiating element with one or more different reconfigurable parasitic elements, and determining one of said plurality of received signal strengths is greater than the received signal strength for the beamforming antenna.

20. The antenna system of claim 11, wherein the primary radiating element is used to provide an omnidirectional antenna-pattern beam.

21. The antenna system of claim 11, wherein said controller operates in real time.

22. An antenna system for a wireless device, comprising:

a beamforming antenna for generating an antenna-pattern beam, said beamforming antenna comprising;

a primary radiating element electrically connected to an adaptive matching network, wherein said adaptive matching network is used for matching the input impedance of said beamforming antenna;

one or more reconfigurable parasitic elements electrically connected, electrically coupled, or both to said primary radiating element and electrically connected to a switching circuit, wherein said switching circuit is used to select one or more of said reconfigurable parasitic elements, and said primary radiating element and said selected parasitic elements cooperatively receive, transmit, or both a radio frequency signal;

a transceiver electrically connected to said beamforming antenna for transmitting a signal, receiving a signal, or both;

a sensor to detect the directional alignment of the wireless device, the speed of the wireless device, the acceleration of the wireless device, or any combination thereof; and

a controller electrically connected to said beamforming antenna, said transceiver, said switching circuit, said adaptive matching network, and said sensor to adapt the antenna-pattern beam of said beamforming antenna, wherein said controller is configured to;

determine the input impedance of the beamforming antenna using said adaptive matching network is outside a tolerance;

recognize the environment of the wireless device using said beamforming antenna, said transceiver, said switching circuit, said adaptive matching network, said sensor, or any combination thereof;

select a portion of said reconfigurable parasitic elements using the input impedance of the beamforming antenna, a predetermined observation table, said recognized environment, or any combination thereof; and

update the beamforming antenna by electrically connecting, electrically coupling, or both said selected portion of reconfigurable parasitic elements with said primary radiating element using said switching circuit.

23. The antenna system of claim 22, wherein said sensor is an accelerometer.

24. The antenna system of claim 22, wherein said sensor is a camera lens.