Antenna system for GSM/WLAN radio operation

• US 7,239,889 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Vaisanen, Ari, Puupponen, Marko, Saari, Timo
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Lana
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUANG, WEN WU
• Application Number:
  US10/287,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20030124982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,706 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/101, 455/115.1, 455/132, 455/133, 455/140, 455/272, 455/277, 455423-425, 455 77- 78, 455 82- 83, 455/88
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0689 using different transmission schemes, at least one of them being a diversity transmission scheme
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0805 with single receiver and antenna switching H04B7/0822 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0868 Hybrid systems, i.e. switching and combining
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity

Abstract

An antenna system with two antennas provides the possibility to operate at least two different radio communication systems with one radio communication system operating on one single antenna of the antenna system and another radio communication system operating on both antennas of the antenna system wherein the antenna system serves as a diversity antenna system. This kind of antenna system is designed to be employed particularly in small devices with restricted measurements. Especially, an implementation of an antenna system for dual use of GSM/E-GSM/DCS operation and WLAN operation is presented.

Claims

1. A transceiving antenna system comprising a first antenna, a second antenna and a controlling circuit to operate a first transceiving unit and a second transceiving unit, wherein

said first antenna is operated in combination with said second antenna in a first operational mode to serve as a diversity transceiving antenna system for said first transceiving unit, and

said first antenna is operated in a second operational mode to serve as a single transceiving antenna for said second transceiving unit, wherein said controlling circuit is configured to selectively connect

said first antenna and said second antenna to said first transceiving unit operating in said first operational mode, and

only said first antenna with said second transceiving unit in said second operational mode, and the system further comprises a testing interface for operating in testing modes, wherein said controlling circuit is configured to selectively connect

said testing interface to said first transceiving unit in a first testing mode, and

said testing interface to said second transceiving unit in a second testing mode, said controlling circuit comprises a first switching unit, a second switching unit and a third switching unit,

said first switching unit is connected to said first transceiving unit, said second antenna and said second switching unit,

said second switching unit is connected to said second transceiving unit, said first switching unit and said third switching unit,

said third switching unit is connected to said second switching unit, said testing interface and said first antenna.

2. A transceiving antenna system comprising a first antenna, a second antenna and a controlling circuit to operate a first transceiving unit and a second transceiving unit, wherein

said first antenna is operated in combination with said second antenna in a first operational mode to serve as a diversity transceiving antenna system for said first transceiving unit, and

said first antenna is operated in a second operational mode to serve as a single transceiving antenna for said second transceiving unit, wherein said controlling circuit is configured to selectively connect

said first antenna and said second antenna to said first transceiving unit operating in said first operational mode, and

only said first antenna with said second transceiving unit in said second operational mode, and the system further comprises a testing interface for operating in testing modes, wherein said controlling circuit is configured to selectively connect

said testing interface to said first transceiving unit in a first testing mode, and

said testing interface to said second transceiving unit in a second testing mode, said controlling circuit comprises a first switching unit, a second switching unit and a diplex filtering unit,

said diplex filtering unit is connected to said second transceiving unit, said first switching unit and said second switching unit,

said first switching unit is connected to said first transceiving unit, said second antenna and said diplex filtering unit, and

said second switching unit is connected to said diplex filtering unit, said testing interface and said first antenna.

3. A transceiving antenna system comprising a first antenna, a second antenna and a controlling circuit to operate a first transceiving unit and a second transceiving unit, wherein

said first antenna is operated in combination with said second antenna in a first operational mode to serve as a diversity transceiving antenna system for said first transceiving unit, and

said first antenna is operated in a second operational mode to serve as a single transceiving antenna for said second transceiving unit, wherein said controlling circuit is configured to selectively connect

said first antenna and said second antenna to said first transceiving unit operating in said first operational mode, and

only said first antenna with said second transceiving unit in said second operational mode, and the system further comprises a testing interface for operating in testing modes, wherein said controlling circuit is configured to selectively connect

said testing interface to said first transceiving unit in a first testing mode, and

said testing interface to said second transceiving unit in a second testing mode, and wherein said controlling circuit comprises a first switching unit, a second switching unit, a third switching unit and a diplex filter, said first transceiving unit comprises a transmitting subunit and a receiving subunit,

said first switching unit is connected to said receiving subunit, said second switching unit and said second antenna,

said second switching unit is connected to said first switching unit, said transmitting subunit and said diplex filtering unit,

said diplex filtering unit is connected to said second switching unit, said second transceiving unit and said third switching unit, and

said third switching unit is connected to said diplex filtering unit, said testing interface and said first antenna.

4. Method for operation of an antenna system comprising a first antenna, a second antenna, a controlling circuit, a first transceiving unit, a second transceiving unit and a testing interface, comprising:

said controlling circuit selectively connecting said first antenna and said second antenna to said first transceiving unit for operating said first antenna in combination with said second antenna to serve as a diversity transceiving antenna system for said first transceiving unit in a first operational mode;

said controlling circuit selectively connecting only said first antenna with said second transceiving unit for operating said first antenna as a single transceiving antenna for said second transceiving unit in a second operational mode;

said controlling circuit selectively connecting said testing interface to said first transceiving unit for operating in a first testing mode; and

said controlling circuit selectively connecting said testing interface to said second transceiving unit in a second testing mode;

wherein said controlling circuit comprises a first switching unit, a second switching unit and a third switching unit;

said first switching unit is connected to said first transceiving unit, said second antenna and said second switching unit, said second switching unit is connected to said second transceiving unit, said first switching unit and said third switching unit, and said third switching unit is connected to said second switching unit, said testing interface and said first antenna; and

the method further comprises;

configuring the first, the second and the third switching units so that the first antenna and the second antenna are each connected to the first transceiving unit for operating said first antenna in combination with said second antenna to serve as a diversity transceiving antenna system for said first transceiving unit in the first operational mode;

configuring the first, second and the third switching units so that only said first antenna is connected with the second transceiving unit for operating said first antenna as a single transceiving antenna for said second transceiving unit in the second operational mode;

configuring the first, the second and the third switching units so that said testing interface is connected to said first transceiving unit for operating in the first testing mode; and

configuring the first, the second and the third switching units so that said testing interface is connected to said second transceiving unit in the second testing mode.

5. Method for operation of an antenna system comprising a first antenna, a second antenna, a controlling circuit, a first transceiving unit, a second transceiving unit and a testing interface, comprising:

said controlling circuit selectively connecting said first antenna and said second antenna to said first transceiving unit for operating said first antenna in combination with said second antenna to serve as a diversity transceiving antenna system for said first transceiving unit in a first operational mode;

said controlling circuit selectively connecting only said first antenna with said second transceiving unit for operating said first antenna as a single transceiving antenna for said second transceiving unit in a second operational mode;

said controlling circuit selectively connecting said testing interface to said first transceiving unit for operating in a first testing mode; and

said controlling circuit selectively connecting said testing interface to said second transceiving unit in a second testing mode;

wherein said controlling circuit comprises a diplex filtering unit interconnected between said first antenna, said first transceiving unit and said second transceiving unit;

wherein said controlling circuit comprises a first switching unit, a second switching unit and said diplex filtering unit,

said diplex filtering unit is connected to said second transceiving unit, said first switching unit and said second switching unit,

said first switching unit is connected to said first transceiving unit, said second antenna and said diplex filtering unit,

said second switching unit is connected to said diplex filtering unit, said testing interface and said first antenna; and

the method further comprises;

configuring the first and the second switching units so that the first antenna and the second antenna are each connected to the first transceiving unit for operating said first antenna in combination with said second antenna to serve as a diversity transceiving antenna system for said first transceiving unit in the first operational mode;

configuring the first and the second switching units so that only said first antenna is connected with the second transceiving unit for operating said first antenna as a single transceiving antenna for said second transceiving unit in the second operational mode;

configuring the first and the second switching units so that said testing interface is connected to said first transceiving unit for operating in the first testing mode; and

configuring the first and the second switching units so that said testing interface is connected to said second transceiving unit in the second testing mode.

6. Method for operation of an antenna system comprising a first antenna, a second antenna, a controlling circuit, a first transceiving unit, a second transceiving unit and a testing interface, comprising:

said controlling circuit selectively connecting said first antenna and said second antenna to said first transceiving unit for operating said first antenna in combination with said second antenna to serve as a diversity transceiving antenna system for said first transceiving unit in a first operational mode;

said controlling circuit selectively connecting only said first antenna with said second transceiving unit for operating said first antenna as a single transceiving antenna for said second transceiving unit in a second operational mode;

said controlling circuit selectively connecting said testing interface to said first transceiving unit for operating in a first testing mode; and

said controlling circuit selectively connecting said testing interface to said second transceiving unit in a second testing mode;

wherein said controlling circuit comprises a first switching unit, a second switching unit, a third switching unit and a diplex filtering unit, said first transceiving unit comprises a transmitting subunit and a receiving subunit,

said first switching unit is connected to said receiving subunit, said second switching unit and said second antenna,

said second switching unit is connected to said first switching unit, said transmitting subunit and said diplex filtering unit,

said diplex filtering unit is connected to said second switching unit, said second transceiving unit and said third switching unit,

said third switching unit is connected to said diplex filtering unit, said testing interface and said first antenna; and

the method further comprises;

configuring the first, the second and the third switching units so that the first antenna is connected to the transmitting subunit and the second antenna is connected to the receiving subunit for operating said first antenna in combination with said second antenna to serve as a diversity transceiving antenna system for said first transceiving unit in the first operational mode;

configuring the first, the second and the third switching units so that only said first antenna is connected with the second transceiving unit for operating said first antenna as a single transceiving antenna for said second transceiving unit in the second operational mode;

configuring the first, the second and the third switching units so that said testing interface is connected to said transmitting subunit or said receiving subunit for operating in the first testing mode; and

configuring the first, the second and the third switching units so that said testing interface is connected to said second transceiving unit in the second testing mode.