MULTI-ANTENNA RECEPTION SCHEME

• US 20120058738A1
• Filed: 03/27/2009
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Lagnado, Isaac, Gerten, Leo J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,467,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0802 using antenna selection H04B7/0868 takes precedence; antenna beam directivity switching H01Q3/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0825 with main and with auxiliary or diversity antennas

Abstract

A device comprises a first antenna and a second antenna. During data transmission, only the first antenna transmits data. During data reception, the second antenna is the main reception antenna and the first antenna operates as a diversity antenna.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a first antenna; and

a second antenna;

wherein, during data transmission, only the first antenna transmits data;

wherein, during data reception, the second antenna is the main reception antenna and the first antenna operates as a diversity antenna.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the second antenna does not transmit data.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first antenna is the only antenna in said device that performs diversity reception.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the second antenna is the only antenna in said device that performs non-diversity reception.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a mobile communication device.

6. A system, comprising:

processing logic;

switching logic coupled to the processing logic; and

a first antenna and a second antenna, each of said antennas coupled to the switching logic;

wherein, as a result of determining that outgoing data is ready for transmission, the processing logic adjusts the switching logic so that said outgoing data is provided from a transmitter to the first antenna;

wherein, as a result of determining that incoming data has been received or is being received, the processing logic adjusts the switching logic so that the first antenna operates to receive said incoming data as a diversity antenna and said second antenna operates to receive said incoming data as a non-diversity antenna.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein, as a result of said determination that said incoming data has been received or is being received, the processing logic adjusts the switching logic so that the first antenna does not perform non-diversity data reception functions.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein, as a result of said determination that said incoming data has been received or is being received, the processing logic adjusts the switching logic so that the second antenna does not perform diversity reception functions.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein, as a result of said determination that said outgoing data is ready for transmission, the processing logic adjusts the switching logic so that the second antenna does not perform transmission functions.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the system comprises a mobile communication device selected from the group consisting of a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant and a cellular telephone.

11. A method, comprising:

in a multi-antenna system, transmitting data with a first antenna;

operating said first antenna as a diversity reception antenna; and

operating said second antenna as a main reception antenna, but not operating the second antenna as a diversity reception antenna.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising not operating the first antenna as a main reception antenna.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising not transmitting data with the second antenna.

13. (canceled)