ANTENNA WITH PROXIMITY SENSOR FUNCTION

• US 20140071008A1
• Filed: 08/12/2013
• Published: 03/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera AVX Components San Diego Inc (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ethertronics, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Desclos, Laurent, Rowson, Sebastian, Shamblin, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 9,478,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/745
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• 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 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/021 Means for reducing undesirable effects
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/378 Combination of fed elements with parasitic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/385 Two or more parasitic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/392 the parasitic elements having dual-band or multi-band characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/14 Length of element or elements adjustable telescopic elements H01Q1/10

Abstract

An antenna with proximity sensor function is disclosed, the antenna includes at least one parasitic element coupled to a filter circuit and a proximity sensing circuit for sensing a load on the parasitic element to determine load capacitive loading characteristics for sensing user leading of the device. By sensing the user loading or mode of the device, the antenna can be reconfigured with beam steering or frequency shifting adjustments.

Claims

1. An antenna with proximity sensor function, comprising:

an antenna element coupled to a ground plane and forming an antenna volume therebetween;

a first parasitic element disposed within the antenna volume;

the first parasitic element being configured to shift the frequency response of the antenna when a change in reactance is applied to the parasitic element at one or more of;

the junction of the first parasitic element and the ground plane, or

along the parasitic element; and

a filtering circuit coupled to the parasitic element, wherein the filtering circuit further couples the first parasitic element to a proximity sensing circuit.

2. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein two or more parasitic elements are positioned beneath the antenna element.

3. The antenna of claim 2, wherein one or more of the parasitic elements are connected to a proximity sensing circuit through a filtering circuit.

4. An antenna with proximity sensor function, comprising:

an antenna element coupled to a ground plane and forming an antenna volume therebetween;

a first parasitic element disposed in proximity with the antenna volume;

the first parasitic element being configured to shift the frequency response of the antenna when a change in reactance is applied to the parasitic element at one or more of;

the junction of the first parasitic element and the ground plane, or

along the parasitic element; and

a filtering circuit coupled to the parasitic element, wherein the filtering circuit further couples the first parasitic element to a proximity sensing circuit.

5. The antenna system of claim 4, wherein two or more parasitic elements are positioned beneath the antenna element.

6. The antenna of claim 5, wherein one or more of the parasitic elements are connected to a proximity sensing circuit through a filtering circuit.

7. An antenna positioned in proximity to a ground plane wherein the antenna is not connected to the ground plane, a filtering circuit is coupled to the antenna, with the filtering circuit connecting the antenna to a proximity sensing circuit, the antenna configured for at least one of:

transmission and receiving radiofrequency signals, and at least a portion of the antenna is configured to function as a proximity sensor.

8. The antenna of claim 7, having conductors attached at multiple locations on the antenna, the conductors being coupled to a proximity sensing circuit through one or more filter circuits.