Antenna system and method thereof

• US 6,108,526 A
• Filed: 05/07/1997
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: van der Plas, Jaap
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Armstrong, Darnell R.
• Application Number:
  US08/852,715
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 455/82, 455/83, 455/88, 455/101, 455/102, 455/103, 455/105, 455/121, 455/127, 455/129, 455/700, 455/504, 455/506, 455/572, 455/277.1, 455/132, 455/78
• US Class Current: 455/78
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/005 using remotely controlled antenna positioning or scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0802 using antenna selection H04B7/0868 takes precedence; antenna beam directivity switching H01Q3/24

Abstract

The improved antenna system provides significant cost reduction and improves the modularity of the antenna system by combining the power supply lines and the control lines on a single line. Control circuitry is responsive to a power supply signal which acts as the power supply for the antenna system to control the operation of the antenna system. In certain embodiments, the improved antenna system is connected to a single line which carries communication signals and the power supply signal. As such, the antenna system combines the communication lines, the power supply lines and control lines to provide a modular antenna system at a reduced cost. In controlling the antenna system, the control circuitry can control the operation of signal circuitry, which handles the communication signals, in response to the control information provided by the power supply signal. The control circuitry can control other features of the antenna system, such as antenna diversity circuitry, in response to the power supply signal. The control information can be provided by the power supply signal in a variety of forms, such as power supply bias voltage levels and/or interruptions in the power supply signal. The control circuitry responds to the control information to control the operation of the antenna system in a desired manner.

Claims

1. An active diversity antenna system connected to a line carrying a power supply bias voltage and communication signals, said antenna system comprises:

a plurality of antennas;

signal circuitry coupled between said line and at least one selected antenna of said plurality of antennas; and

control circuitry responsive to said bias voltage on said line, said control circuitry provides control signals to said signal circuitry in response to said bias voltage, said control circuitry further provides antenna selection signals to select said selected antenna of said plurality of antennas in response to said bias voltage;

wherein said control circuitry includes a toggle flip-flop coupled to antenna selection switches, said toggle flip-flop being responsive to interruptions in said bias voltage to produce antenna selection signals;

wherein said flip-flop is responsive to a reset signal from said voltage level detector to set said antenna selection signals to a default antenna of said plurality of antennas.

2. An antenna system connected to a line carrying a power supply bias voltage and communication signals, said antenna system comprises:

a plurality of antennas;

transmit circuitry coupled to said line and at least one of said plurality of antennas, said transmit circuitry transmits said communication signals using at least said one antenna when said transmit circuitry is enabled;

receive circuitry coupled between said line and said plurality of antennas, said receive circuitry receives said antenna signals from a selected antenna of said plurality of antennas when said receive circuitry is enabled; and

control circuitry responsive to said bias voltage on said line, said control circuitry provides a transmit enable signal to said transmit circuitry when said bias voltage is at a first level and provides a receive enable signal to said receive circuitry when said bias voltage is at a second level, said control circuitry further provides antenna selection signals to select said selected antenna of said plurality of antennas in response to said bias voltage;

wherein said control circuitry includes;

a voltage level detector responsive to said bias voltage and coupled to said transmit circuitry, said voltage level detector provides a transmit enable signal to said transmit circuitry when said bias voltage is at a first level, and

a toggle flip-flop provides antenna selection signals to select said selected antenna of at least said first and second antennas in response to said bias voltage.

3. An antenna system connected to a line carrying a power supply signal providing power to said antenna system, said antenna system comprising:

control circuitry configured to switch said antenna system between at least a transmit mode and a receive mode in response to said power supply signal; and

signal circuitry including transmit circuitry for providing communication signals to at least one antenna when said transmit circuitry is enabled and receive circuitry for receiving communication signals from said at least one antenna when said receive circuitry is enabled, said signal circuitry being responsive to said control circuitry by enabling said transmit circuitry and disabling said receive circuitry when said antenna system is in said transmit mode and by disabling said transmit circuitry and enabling said receive circuitry when said antenna system is in said receive mode,

wherein said control circuitry includes a toggle flip-flop responsive to interruptions in said power supply signal to produce antenna selection signals.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a plurality of antennas;

wherein

said signal circuitry receives communication signals from a selected antenna of said plurality of antennas when in said receive mode; and

said control circuitry provides antenna selection signals in response to said power supply signal to select said selected antenna of said plurality of antennas.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a plurality of antennas;

wherein

said signal circuitry provides communication signals to a selected antenna of said plurality of antennas when in said transmit mode; and

said control circuitry provides antenna selection signals in response to said power supply signal to select said selected antenna of said plurality of antennas.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein said control circuitry includes a voltage level detector coupled to said signal circuitry to produce control signals to said signal circuitry depending on the voltage level of said bias voltage.

7. A method of controlling an antenna system connected to a line carrying a power supply signal providing power to said antenna system, comprising:

switching between a receive mode for receiving communication signals from at least one antenna and a transmit mode for transmitting communication signals over an antenna in response to said power supply signal; and

providing antenna selection signals in response to interruptions in said power supply signal to select one of a plurality of antennas for providing connection between signal circuitry and said one of a plurality of antennas.

8. A method of controlling an antenna system connected to a line carrying a power supply signal providing power to said antenna system, comprising:

switching between a receive mode for receiving communication signals from at least one antenna and a transmit mode for transmitting communication signals over an antenna in response to said power supply signal; and

detecting the level of said power supply signal on said line; and

producing control signals in response to said level of said power supply signal to switch between said transmit mode and said receive mode.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

producing output signals on said line using at least said power supply signal;

determining the output power level of said output signals; and

responding to said output power level to maintain said output signals at a constant power level.