PCB Beam-Forming Antenna

• US 20160093951A1
• Filed: 09/25/2014
• Published: 03/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Schmid, Rea Richard
• Granted Patent: US 10,211,526 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/48 Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/32 the primary active element being end-fed and elongated
• 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 two-dimensional antenna includes a ground plane, a primary radiator element, and at least one switchable radiator element. The ground plane comprises an electrically conductive material and is electrically coupled to an electrical ground. The primary radiator element is disposed in a coplanar relationship to said ground plane and is electrically coupled to a signal path of a transceiver. The at least one switchable radiator element is disposed in a coplanar relationship to the ground plane and the primary radiator element and is selectably electrically couplable to one of the signal path of the transceiver and the electrical ground.

Claims

1. A two-dimensional antenna comprising:

a ground plane comprising an electrically conductive material and electrically coupled to an electrical ground;

a primary radiator element disposed in a coplanar relationship to said ground plane and electrically coupled to a signal path of a transceiver; and

at least one switchable radiator element disposed in a coplanar relationship to the ground plane and the primary radiator element and that is selectably electrically couplable to one of the signal path of the transceiver and the electrical ground.

2. The two-dimensional antenna of claim 1 wherein the ground plane, the primary radiator element and the at least one switchable radiator element are disposed on a common flat surface.

3. The two-dimensional antenna of claim 1 wherein the ground plane, the primary radiator element and the at least one switchable radiator element are disposed on a printed circuit board.

4. The two-dimensional antenna of claim 1 wherein the ground plane comprises a straight edge and wherein the primary radiator element is a linear radiator element disposed in a perpendicular relationship to said straight edge of the ground plane.

5. The two-dimensional antenna of claim 4 wherein each of the at least one switchable radiator elements are linear antenna elements and are disposed in an angular relationship to the primary radiator element.

6. The two-dimensional antenna of claim 1 wherein each of the at least one switchable radiator elements is coupled to an associated switch that is operable to selectably couple the switchable radiator element to one of the signal path of the transceiver and the electrical ground.

7. The two-dimensional antenna of claim 1 wherein the at least one switchable radiator element comprises a plurality of switchable radiator elements, each disposed in a coplanar relationship to the ground plane and the primary radiator element, and each being selectably electrically couplable to one of the signal path of the transceiver and the electrical ground.

8. The two-dimensional antenna of claim 1 wherein the selective coupling of the at least one switchable radiator elements to one of the signal path of the transceiver and the electrical ground facilitates adjusting a coverage pattern of a communication beam of the two-dimensional antenna.

9. An electronic assembly comprising:

a printed circuit board; and

a two-dimensional antenna comprising;

a ground plane disposed on said printed circuit board, the ground plane comprising an electrically conductive material and being electrically coupled to an electrical ground;

a primary radiator element disposed on said printed circuit board in a coplanar relationship to said ground plane and electrically coupled to a signal path of a transceiver; and

at least one switchable radiator element disposed on said printed circuit board in a coplanar relationship to the ground plane and the primary radiator element and that is selectably electrically couplable to one of the signal path of the transceiver and the electrical ground.

10. The electronic assembly of claim 9 wherein the ground plane comprises a straight edge and wherein the primary radiator element is a linear radiator element disposed in a perpendicular relationship to said straight edge of the ground plane.

11. The electronic assembly of claim 10 wherein each of the at least one switchable radiator elements are linear antenna elements and are disposed in an angular relationship to the primary radiator element.

12. The electronic assembly of claim 9 wherein each of the at least one switchable radiator elements is coupled to an associated switch that is operable to selectably couple the switchable radiator element to one of the signal path of the transceiver and the electrical ground.

13. The electronic assembly of claim 9 wherein the at least one switchable radiator element comprises a plurality of switchable radiator elements, each disposed in a coplanar relationship to the ground plane and the primary radiator element, and each being selectably electrically couplable to one of the signal path of the transceiver and the electrical ground.

14. The electronic assembly of claim 9 wherein the selective coupling of the at least one switchable radiator elements to one of the signal path of the transceiver and the electrical ground facilitates adjusting a coverage pattern of a communication beam of the two-dimensional antenna.

15. A method of operating a two-dimensional antenna, comprising:

providing a ground plane comprising an electrically conductive material and electrically coupled to an electrical ground;

providing a primary radiator element disposed in a coplanar relationship to said ground plane and electrically coupled to a signal path of a transceiver;

providing at least one switchable radiator element disposed in a coplanar relationship to the ground plane and the primary radiator element; and

selectively electrically coupling at least one of the switchable radiator elements to one of the signal path of the transceiver and the electrical ground.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein selectively electrically coupling at least one of the switchable radiator elements to one of the transceiver and the electrical ground comprises:

receiving a selection signal indicative of which of the at least one switchable radiator elements are to be coupled to the signal path of the transceiver and which are to be coupled to electrical ground; and

coupling each of the at least one switchable radiator elements to either the signal path of the transceiver or electrical ground in response to said selection signal.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the ground plane, the primary radiator element and the at least one switchable radiator element are disposed on a printed circuit board.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein each of the at least one switchable radiator elements is coupled to an associated switch that is selectively couplable to one of the signal path of the transceiver and electrical ground, and wherein selectively electrically coupling at least one of the switchable radiator elements to one of the signal path of the transceiver and the electrical ground comprises selectively coupling each of the associated switches to either the signal path of the transceiver or electrical ground.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one switchable radiator element comprises a plurality of switchable radiator elements and wherein selectively electrically coupling at least one of the switchable radiator elements to one of the signal path of the transceiver and the electrical ground comprises selectively electrically coupling each of the plurality of switchable radiator elements to one of the signal path of the transceiver and the electrical ground.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the selective coupling of the at least one switchable radiator elements to one of the signal path of the transceiver and the electrical ground facilitates adjusting a coverage pattern of a communication beam of the two-dimensional antenna.