Multiple signal path antenna circuit having differential attenuation between signal paths

• US 6,472,947 B1
• Filed: 07/03/2001
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Zeitz, Carsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAKAOKA, DEAN O
• Application Number:
  US09/806,643
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 333/17.1, 455/133, 455/134, 455/135, 455/136, 455/277.1, 455/277.2, 455/140
• US Class Current: 333/17.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/082 selecting best antenna path

Abstract

An antenna circuit is described which makes it possible to suppress intermodulation products. This antenna circuit includes an antenna connection device to which at least one first antenna can be connected, and the antenna connection device can be connected to an output of the antenna circuit over at least two signal paths. An antenna signal can be transmitted over each signal path. Transmission of a second antenna signal over a second signal path is attenuated by a predetermined attenuation value in comparison with a transmission of a first antenna signal over a first signal path. An analyzer unit is provided to determine the level of a weighting signal which is derived from an antenna signal transmitted to the output of the antenna circuit. An operating device is provided to connect only the first signal path to the output of the antenna circuit when the detected level is below a first predetermined level. The operating device connects only the second signal path to the output of the antenna circuit when the detected level is above the first predetermined level.

Claims

1. An antenna circuit, comprising:

at least two signal paths;

an antenna connection device connected to an output via the at least two signal paths and to which at least one first antenna is capable of being attached, wherein;

a second antenna signal that has been received and then conveyed via a second one of the at least two signal paths is attenuated by a predetermined attenuation value in comparison with a first antenna signal that has been received and then conveyed via a first one of the at least two signal paths;

an analyzer unit for determining a level of a weighting signal derived from magnitudes of at least one of the first antenna signal and the second antenna signal provided to the output; and

an operating device for connecting only the first one of the at least two signal paths to the output when the determined level of the weighting signal is below a first predetermined level, and for connecting only the second one of the at least two signal paths to the output when the determined level of the weighting signal is above the first predetermined level.

2. The antenna circuit according to claim 1, wherein:

when the second one of the at least two signal paths is connected to the output, the operating device disconnects the second one of the at least two signal paths from the output and connects the first one of the at least two signal paths to the output when the analyzer unit detects the level of the weighting signal as being below a second predetermined level, the second predetermined level being lower than the first predetermined level by more than the predetermined attenuation value.

3. The antenna circuit according to claim 1, wherein:

the operating device includes at least one relay over which one of the at least two signal paths is capable of being connected to the output.

4. The antenna circuit according to claim 3, wherein:

the at least one relay includes at least one mechanical relay.

5. The antenna circuit according to claim 1, wherein:

the second one of the at least two signal paths is diverted from the first one of the at least two signal paths, and

the second one of the at least two signal paths has an attenuation that is higher by the predetermined attenuation value in comparison with that of the first one of the at least two signal paths.

6. The antenna circuit according to claim 5, further comprising:

a resistance network over which the second one of the at least two signal paths is diverted from the first one of the at least two signal paths.

7. The antenna circuit according to claim 1, wherein:

the weighting signal corresponds to the at least one of the first antenna signal and the second antenna signal transmitted to the output.

8. The antenna circuit according to claim 1, wherein:

the operating device includes at least one first switch and at least one second switch,

the first one of the at least two signal paths is connectable to the output via the at least one first switch, and

the second one of the at least two signal paths is connectable to the output via the at least one second switch.

9. The antenna circuit according to claim 8, further comprising:

a matching network, wherein;

one of the at least one first switch and the at least one second switch includes an electronic switch and is arranged between the matching network and the output.

10. The antenna circuit according to claim 9, wherein:

the electronic switch includes a PIN diode.

11. The antenna circuit according to claim 8, further comprising:

an attenuation element connected upstream from at least the at least one first switch.

12. The antenna circuit according to claim 8, wherein:

one of the at least one first switch and the at least one second switch includes multiple stages.

13. The antenna circuit according to claim 12, wherein:

the multiple stages include two successive PIN diodes.

14. The antenna circuit according to claim 1, wherein:

a second antenna is capable of being connected to the antenna connection device,

the second antenna includes a reception sensitivity that is lower than that of the first antenna by the predetermined attenuation value,

the first antenna is connectable to the output over the first one of the at least two signal paths, and

the second antenna is connectable to the output over the second one of the at least two signal paths.

15. An antenna circuit, comprising:

at least two signal paths;

an antenna connection device connected to an output via the at least two signal paths and to which at least one first antenna is capable of being attached, wherein;

a transmission of a second antenna signal via a second one of the at least two signal paths is attenuated by a predetermined attenuation value in comparison with a transmission of a first antenna signal via a first one of the at least two signal paths;

an analyzer unit for determining a level of a weighting signal derived from at least one of the first antenna signal and the second antenna signal transmitted to the output;

an operating device for connecting only the first one of the at least two signal paths to the output when the determined level of the weighting signal is below a first predetermined level, and for connecting only the second one of the at least two signal paths to the output when the determined level of the weighting signal is above the first predetermined level, wherein;

the second one of the at least two signal paths is diverted from the first one of the at least two signal paths, and

the second one of the at least two signal paths has an attenuation that is higher by the predetermined attenuation value in comparison with that of the first one of the at least two signal paths; and

a transformer, wherein;

the second one of the at least two signal paths is diverted from the first one of the at least two signal paths in accordance with an operation of the transformer.

16. An antenna circuit, comprising:

at least two signal paths;

an antenna connection device connected to an output via the at least two signal paths and to which at least one first antenna is capable of being attached, wherein;

a transmission of a second antenna signal via a second one of the at least two signal paths is attenuated by a predetermined attenuation value in comparison with a transmission of a first antenna signal via a first one of the at least two signal paths;

an analyzer unit for determining a level of a weighting signal derived from at least one of the first antenna signal and the second antenna signal transmitted to the output; and

an operating device for connecting only the first one of the at least two signal paths to the output when the determined level of the weighting signal is below a first predetermined level, and for connecting only the second one of the at least two signal paths to the output when the determined level of the weighting signal is above the first predetermined level, wherein;

the weighting signal corresponds to a control signal derived from a received antenna signal in a radio receiver connected to the output, and

a level of the control signal increases with an intermodulation interference in the received antenna signal.