Homotropic antenna system for portable radio
First Claim
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1. A homotropic antenna system for use in a portable receiver having a non-conductive housing which encloses the antenna system comprising:
- a first antenna means optimized for reception in free space;
a second multiwire antenna means optimized for reception in close proximity to a human body;
receiver means having an output for receiving an RF signal;
a plurality of electronic switch means, each coupled between a corresponding antenna means and said receiver means for selective actuation of corresponding antenna means in response to a control signal;
a signal evaluation means coupled to the output of said receiver means for providing an output signal indicating the relative signal quality of the output signal of said receiver means; and
control circuit means coupled to the output of said signal evaluation means for generating a control signal in response to the output signal of said signal evaluation means, said control circuit alternately activating said first or second antenna means if the presently connected antenna means produces a signal of unacceptable quality.
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Abstract
An adaptable homotropic antenna system for use with a portable communication transceiver is described. The antenna system can be used for reception or transmission and can be completely enclosed within the portable transceiver housing. The homotropic antenna system evaluates the quality of a received signal and if the signal is below a predetermined threshold level, an alternate antenna will be selected. The antenna system will continue to sample the available antennas until an antenna produces a signal of acceptable quality.
195 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A homotropic antenna system for use in a portable receiver having a non-conductive housing which encloses the antenna system comprising:
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a first antenna means optimized for reception in free space; a second multiwire antenna means optimized for reception in close proximity to a human body; receiver means having an output for receiving an RF signal; a plurality of electronic switch means, each coupled between a corresponding antenna means and said receiver means for selective actuation of corresponding antenna means in response to a control signal; a signal evaluation means coupled to the output of said receiver means for providing an output signal indicating the relative signal quality of the output signal of said receiver means; and control circuit means coupled to the output of said signal evaluation means for generating a control signal in response to the output signal of said signal evaluation means, said control circuit alternately activating said first or second antenna means if the presently connected antenna means produces a signal of unacceptable quality.
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2. An improved homotropic antenna system for use in a portable receiver having a non-conductive housing which encloses the antenna system comprising:
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first and second antenna means being disposed to provide uncorrelated reception, wherein said first antenna means is optimized for reception in close proximity to a human body and said second antenna means is optimized for reception in free space; first and second electronic switch means coupled to said first and second antenna means, respectively for actuating said first or second antenna means in response to one of a pair of control signals; receiver means having an output for receiving an RF signal; first and second coupling circuits each coupled between said first and second electronic switch means, and said receiver respectively, for providing means coupling between said first and second antenna means and said first and second electronic switch means and said receiver means; a signal quality evaluator coupled to said receiver means for providing an output signal having a first and second state based one the signal strength of the output of said receiver means; and a control circuit for providing said pair of control signals in response to the output signal of said signal quality evaluator, said control circuit coupled to said first and second electronic switch means and activating an alternate antenna in the system if said output signal is in said first state and keeping said first or second antenna activated if said output signal remains in said second state.
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3. An improved homotropic antenna system fo use in a portable receiver having a non-conductive housing which encloses the antenna system comprising:
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first and second antenna means for receiving a transmitted R.F. signal, wherein said first and second antenna means are optimized for operation in different electromagnetic environments; first and second electronic switch means coupled to said first antenna means and said second antenna means respectively for actuating said first of second antenna response to a first of second control signal respectively; receiver means having an output for receiving an RF signal; first coupling means coupled to said second electronic switch means and to said receiver means for providing coupling between said second antenna means and said receiver means; signal strength evaluation means coupled to said receiver means for providing an output signal indicating the quality of the output signal of said receiver means; a control circuit means coupled to said signal quality evaluator means and to said first and second electronic switch means for alternately selecting the first antenna means or second antenna means if said output signal is in said first state and keeping an antenna activated if said output signal remains in said second state. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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7. An improved homotropic antenna system, having a plurality of selectable antennas, for use in a portable FM transceiver having a transmitter and a receiver and a non-conductive housing which completely encloses the antennas, said system comprising:
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receiver means, having an output, for receiving an RF signal; first antenna means for receiving or transmitting an RF signal; a plurality of selectable alternate antenna means with each of said respective antenna means or exhibitive of distinct reception characteristics, said antenna means adapted primarily for receiving a RF signal wherein at least one of said selectable antennas is optimized for reception in close proximity to a human body or similar relatively conductive object; first electronic switch means coupled to said first antenna means for selectively coupling said antenna means to said receiver in response to a control means; transmitter means coupled to said electronic switch means having a user actuated input terminal for activating said transmitter and an output providing a modulated carrier signal for transmission; first resonant element means coupled between said first electronic switch means and said first antenna means for providing coupling and isolation between said transmitter and first antenna and the receiver and the alternate selectable antennas of the antenna system; second electronic switch means coupled to the first resonant element means for selectively applying a AC ground to one terminal of said first resonant element means; a second resonant element means coupled to said first resonant element means and said second electronic switch means for providing coupling or isolation between said first antenna means and the alternate selectable antennas of the homotropic antenna system; a plurality of electronic switch means coupled between each of said respective alternate selectable antenna means and said receiver means for activating each respective alternate selectable antenna means in response to a plurality of control signals; signal quality evaluator means coupled to the output of said receiver means for providing an output indicating the signal quality at the output of said receiver means; and a control circuit means coupled to said signal quality evaluator means and said user actuated input of said transmitter means for providing a plurality of control signals in response to the output of said signal quality evaluator means, said control circuit coupled to said electronic switch means for alternately activating an antenna for reception or isolating the receiver means when the antenna system is used for transmission as indicated by said user activated transmitter input. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A homotropic antenna system for use in a portable receiver having a non-conductive housing, wherein said antenna system provides at least one activated antenna at all times, said system comprising:
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a plurality of antenna means disposed substantially within said housing, each of said respective antenna means being disposed to provide reception characteristics which are optimized for different electromagnetic environments, wherein at least one of said electromagnetic environments is in close proximity to a relative conductive object, and at least one antenna means having a portion external to said housing; a receiver means for converting an RF signal to an IF signal; a plurality of electronic switch means, each coupled between a corresponding antenna means and said receiver means for actuating said corresponding antenna means in response to a particular control signal; a signal evaluation means coupled to said receiver means for providing an output signal having a first and second state based on signal quality of the output signal of said receiver means; and control circuit means for providing a plurality of control signals in response to the output signal of said signal evaluation means, said control circuit means activating an alternate antenna means if the presently activated antenna means produces a signal of unacceptable quality.
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13. A homotropic antenna system for use in a portable FM receiver having a non-metallic housing which encloses the antenna system, comprising:
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a plurality of FM antenna means, each of said respective antenna means being optimized for different electromagnetic environments, wherein at least one of said electromagnetic environments is in close proximity to a relative conductive object; FM receiver means having an output for receiving an RF FM signal; a plurality of electronic switch means, each coupled between a corresponding antenna means and said receiver means for actuating said corresponding antenna means in response to a particular control signal; a signal evaluation means coupled to said FM receiver means for providing an output signal having a first and second states based on signal quality of the output signal of said receiver means; and control circuit means for providing a plurality of control signals in response to the output signal of said signal evaluation means, said control circuit means coupled to said electronic switch means and activating an alternate antenna means if the presently activated antenna means produces a signal of unacceptable quality.
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Specification