DYNAMICALLY ALLOCATED BROADBAND MULTI-TAP ANTENNA
First Claim
1. An antenna, comprising:
- a plurality of conductors, wherein the conductors are sub-wavelength conductors used for transmitting or receiving radio frequency (RF) signals;
a plurality of antenna taps, wherein each of the antenna taps is connected to one or more of the conductors;
a plurality of radio frequency (RF) switches, wherein each of the RF switches is connected to one of the antenna taps; and
a plurality of combiners, wherein each of the combiners is connected to one or more of the RF switches;
wherein one or more of the RF switches are controlled to dynamically allocate one or more of the antenna taps to a selected one of the combiners, by interconnecting the one or more of the antenna taps with the selected one of the combiners, to communicate the RF signals between the conductors connected to the one or more of the antenna taps and the selected one of the combiners.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dynamically allocated broadband multi-tap antenna comprises a plurality of sub-wavelength conductors used for transmitting and/or receiving radio frequency (RF) signals; a plurality of antenna taps, each of which is connected to one or more of the conductors; a plurality of RF switches, each of which is connected to one of the antenna taps; and a plurality of combiners (which also function as splitters), each of which is connected to one or more of the RF switches. The RF switches are controlled to dynamically allocate and interconnect the antenna taps with a selected combiner, to communicate the RF signals between the conductors connected to the antenna taps and the selected combiner. The RF signals received by the conductors are combined into an output signal at the selected combiner, while an input signal at the selected combiner is split for transmission as the RF signals by the conductors.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An antenna, comprising:
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a plurality of conductors, wherein the conductors are sub-wavelength conductors used for transmitting or receiving radio frequency (RF) signals; a plurality of antenna taps, wherein each of the antenna taps is connected to one or more of the conductors; a plurality of radio frequency (RF) switches, wherein each of the RF switches is connected to one of the antenna taps; and a plurality of combiners, wherein each of the combiners is connected to one or more of the RF switches; wherein one or more of the RF switches are controlled to dynamically allocate one or more of the antenna taps to a selected one of the combiners, by interconnecting the one or more of the antenna taps with the selected one of the combiners, to communicate the RF signals between the conductors connected to the one or more of the antenna taps and the selected one of the combiners. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of transmitting or receiving radio frequency signals, comprising:
transmitting or receiving one or more radio frequency (RF) signals at an antenna, wherein the antenna comprises; a plurality of conductors, wherein the conductors are sub-wavelength conductors used for transmitting or receiving the RF signals; a plurality of antenna taps, wherein each of the antenna taps is connected to one or more of the conductors; a plurality of radio frequency (RF) switches, wherein each of the RF switches is connected to one of the antenna taps; and a plurality of combiners, wherein each of the combiners is connected to one or more of the RF switches; and controlling one or more of the RF switches to dynamically allocate one or more of the antenna taps to a selected one of the combiners, by interconnecting the one or more of the antenna taps with the selected one of the combiners, to communicate the RF signals between the conductors connected to the one or more of the antenna taps and the selected one of the combiners. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of fabricating an antenna, comprising:
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providing a plurality of conductors, wherein the conductors are sub-wavelength conductors used for transmitting or receiving radio frequency (RF) signals; connecting a plurality of antenna taps to the conductors, wherein each of the antenna taps is connected to one or more of the conductors; connecting a plurality of radio frequency (RF) switches to the antenna taps, wherein each of the RF switches is connected to one of the antenna taps; and connecting a plurality of combiners to the RF switches, wherein each of the combiners is connected to one or more of the RF switches; such that, when one or more of the RF switches are controlled to dynamically allocate one or more of the antenna taps to a selected one of the combiners, by interconnecting the one or more of the antenna taps with the selected one of the combiners, the RF signals are communicated between the conductors connected to the one or more of the antenna taps and the selected one of the combiners.
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Specification