Null Steering Antenna Techniques For Advanced Communication Systems

• US 20180277963A1
• Filed: 03/26/2018
• Published: 09/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera AVX Components San Diego Inc (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ethertronics, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Desclos, Laurent, Rowson, Sebastian
• Granted Patent: US 10,868,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0075 Stripline fed arrays H01Q21/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/20 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a curvilinear path slotted waveguide arrays H01Q21/005; circularly or helically slotted waveguides H01Q21/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/04 Multimode antennas corrugated horns H01Q13/0208
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/44 varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of reflecting, refracting, or diffracting devices associated with the radiating element

Abstract

Antenna systems having adaptive antenna arrays for use in wireless communication devices are provided. In one example implementation, the antenna system includes a first antenna array include a plurality of antenna elements. The antenna system includes a second antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements. The first and second antenna arrays are each disposed about the periphery of the wireless device. At least one of the first and second antenna arrays is an adaptive antenna array having an active multi-mode antenna. The active multimode antenna can be adapted for configuration in one of a plurality of possible modes. The active multi-mode antenna is associated with a distinct radiation pattern when configured in each of the plurality of possible modes.

Claims

1. An antenna system for use in a wireless device having a periphery associated therewith, the antenna system comprising:

a first antenna array including a plurality of first antennas;

a second antenna array including a plurality of second antennas;

the first and second antenna arrays each disposed about the periphery of the wireless device;

wherein at least one of the first and second antenna arrays is an adaptive antenna array comprising an active multi-mode antenna, the active multi-mode antenna having a single feed port and being adapted for configuration in one of a plurality of possible modes, wherein the active multi-mode antenna is associated with a distinct radiation pattern when configured in each of the plurality of possible modes.

2. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second antenna arrays is an adaptive antenna array comprising an active multi-mode antenna, the active multi-mode antenna having a single feed port and being adapted for configuration in one of a plurality of possible modes, wherein the active multi-mode antenna comprises a distinct radiation pattern when configured in each of the plurality of possible modes.

3. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the adaptive antenna array is coupled to one or more processors.

4. The antenna system of claim 3, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute a control routine operable to control the mode of the active multi-mode antenna to position a main beam of an array radiation pattern of the adaptive antenna array.

5. The antenna system of claim 4, wherein the control routine is operable to control the mode of the active multi-mode antenna based at least in part on one or more signal quality metrics.

6. The antenna system of claim 3, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute a control routine operable to coordinate handoff between the first antenna array and the second antenna array.

7. The antenna system of claim 3, wherein the one or more processors are in communication with one or more sensors, the one or more processors operable to determine a use case for the wireless device based at least in part on the one or more sensors.

8. The antenna system of claim 7, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute a control routine to control the adaptive antenna array based at least in part on the use case.

9. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the adaptive antenna array is configured for beam pointing within the plane of the wireless device.

10. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the adaptive antenna array is arranged on a substrate having a first side and a second side that intersect each other at a junction, wherein the active multi-mode antenna is arranged on at least one of the first side and the second side.

11. The antenna system of claim 10, wherein the adaptive antenna array comprises a first active multi-mode antenna located on the first side and a second active multi-mode antenna arranged on the second side.

12. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the adaptive antenna array is arranged in an annular structure.

13. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the antenna system comprising one or more multi-face antennas disposed on a planar surface within the periphery of the wireless device.

14. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the planar surface is a front planar surface or a rear planar surface of the wireless device.

15. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein a distance between each of the first antennas and each of the second antennas is a distance between λ

and λ

/4, wherein λ

is a wavelength associated with a frequency of operation of the first antennas and the second antennas.

16. An antenna system for use in a wireless communication device having a periphery, the antenna system comprising:

a first adaptive antenna array having a plurality of first antenna elements disposed on the periphery of the wireless communication device, the first adaptive antenna array comprising a first active multi-mode antenna being adapted for configuration in one of a plurality of possible modes, wherein the first active multi-mode antenna is associated with a distinct radiation pattern when configured in each of the plurality of possible modes, the first adaptive antenna array associated with a first array pattern;

a second adaptive antenna array having a plurality of second antenna elements disposed on the periphery of the wireless communication device, the second adaptive antenna array comprising a second active multi-mode antenna being adapted for configuration in one of a plurality of possible modes, wherein the second active multi-mode antenna is associated with a distinct radiation pattern when configured in each of the plurality of possible modes, the second adaptive antenna array associated with a second array pattern; and

one or more processors configured to execute a control routine operable to control the first adaptive antenna and the second adaptive antenna to control the first array pattern and the second array pattern.

17. The antenna system of claim 16, wherein the control routine is operable to control the first adaptive antenna and the second adaptive antenna for beam pointing about an azimuth associated with the wireless communication device.

18. The antenna system of claim 16, further comprising a third adaptive antenna array located on a planar surface of the wireless communication device, the third adaptive antenna array comprising a third active multi-mode antenna being adapted for configuration in one of a plurality of possible modes, wherein the third active multi-mode antenna is associated with a distinct radiation pattern when configured in each of the plurality of possible modes, the third adaptive antenna array associated with a third array pattern.

19. The antenna system of claim 18, wherein the control routine is operable to control the first adaptive antenna array, the second adaptive antenna array, and the third adaptive antenna array for azimuth beam control and elevation beam control for the antenna system.

20. The antenna system of claim 16, wherein the control routine is operable to control the first adaptive antenna array and the second adaptive antenna array based on a use case of the wireless communication device, the use case being determined based at least in part on one or more signals from a sensor located on the wireless communication device.