APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING RELATIVE DIRECTION OF A WIRELESS PEER DEVICE FROM ANOTHER DEVICE

• US 20120238288A1
• Filed: 03/15/2012
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jawbone Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: AliphCom, Inc. (AliphCom Corp.)
• Inventors: Donaldson, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,166,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/20 derived by sampling signal received by an antenna system having periodically-varied orientation of directivity characteristic
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2611 Means for null steering; Adaptive interference nulling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, devices, and methods for wireless communications. An antenna in which nulls or directions of reduced performance can be selectively introduced is provided, and the performance of a communication link to a wireless communication device is monitored. By correlating the selectively reduced sensitivity of the antenna with reductions in the communication link performance, the direction of the wireless communication device may be estimated. Embodiments of the present invention may be used in numerous applications, such as cell phones, PDA'"'"'s, and laptops.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an antenna having an associated radiation pattern;

a means for selectively introducing a null or other reduction in sensitivity into the radiation pattern in a desired direction;

a means for monitoring the performance of a wireless communication link between a first device associated with the antenna and a second device, the first device and the second device communicating with each other using the wireless communication link; and

a means for correlating a reduction in the performance of the wireless communication link with the selectively introduced null or other reduction in sensitivity, thereby providing an estimate of the direction of the second device relative to the first device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a plurality of monopole elements.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a plurality of dipole elements.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for selectively introducing a null or other reduction in sensitivity into the radiation pattern in a desired direction includes a switching device operable to connect or disconnect an element of the antenna to a ground plane.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the switching device is a transistor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device is a mobile phone and the second device is a headset.

7. A method of determining a direction of a second device relative to a first device, comprising:

operating the first device so as to receive signals using an antenna having a radiation pattern;

selectively introducing a null or other form of reduced sensitivity into the radiation pattern in a desired direction;

monitoring the performance of a wireless communication link between the first device and the second device, the first device and the second device communicating with each other using the wireless communication link; and

correlating a reduction in the performance of the wireless communication link with the selectively introduced null or other form of reduced sensitivity, thereby providing an estimate of the direction of the second device relative to the first device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the antenna includes a plurality of monopole elements.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the antenna includes a plurality of dipole elements.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein selectively introducing a null or other form of reduced sensitivity into the radiation pattern in a desired direction further comprises operating a switching device to connect or disconnect an element of the antenna to a ground plane.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the switching device is a transistor.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the transistor is operated by a clock signal.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the first device is a mobile phone and the second device is a headset.

14. A mobile device operable to communicate with a second device using a wireless communications technology, comprising:

an antenna having an associated radiation pattern for receiving signals provided to the mobile device using the wireless communications technology;

a receiver coupled to the antenna for detecting the received signals;

an antenna configuration module for selectively altering an aspect of the associated radiation pattern of the antenna to cause a reduction in the performance of the antenna;

a communications link monitoring module for monitoring a signal characteristic of a signal exchanged between the second device and the mobile device; and

a correlation module for determining a correlation between a change in the signal characteristic and the selectively altered aspect of the radiation pattern of the antenna, thereby providing an estimate of the direction of the second device relative to the mobile device.

15. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the antenna configuration module operates to introduce a null or region of substantially reduced sensitivity into the radiation pattern.

16. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the antenna includes a plurality of monopole elements.

17. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the antenna includes a plurality of dipole elements.

18. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the antenna configuration module operates a switching device to connect or disconnect an element of the antenna to a ground plane.

19. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the switching device is a transistor.

20. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the second device is a headset.