Increased wireless coverage patterns
DCFirst Claim
1. An antenna array for increasing wireless coverage, comprising:
- a radio frequency (RF) signal modulator configured to generate a modulated RF signal;
a plurality of modulated RF signal emission points arranged in a substantially circular pattern around the periphery of the antenna array; and
a switching network configured to control a modulated RF signal radiation pattern emitted by each of the plurality of modulated RF signal emission points, wherein each of the plurality of modulated RF signal emission points emits a directional radiation pattern offset from the directional radiation pattern of each of the other modulated RF signal emission points, the directional radiation patterns emitted by the plurality of modulated RF signal emission points collectively generating a substantially 360-degree coverage pattern.
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Abstract
A circuit board for wireless communications includes communication circuitry for modulating and/or demodulating a radio frequency (RF) signal and an antenna apparatus for transmitting and receiving the RF signal, the antenna apparatus having selectable antenna elements located near one or more peripheries of the circuit board. A first antenna element produces a first directional radiation pattern; a second antenna element produces a second directional radiation pattern offset from the first radiation pattern. The antenna elements may include one or more reflectors configured to provide gain and broaden the frequency response of the antenna element. A switching network couples one or more of the selectable elements to the communication circuitry and provides impedance matching regardless of which or how many of the antenna elements are selected. Selecting different combinations of antenna elements results in a configurable radiation pattern; alternatively, selecting several elements may result in an omnidirectional radiation pattern.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An antenna array for increasing wireless coverage, comprising:
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a radio frequency (RF) signal modulator configured to generate a modulated RF signal; a plurality of modulated RF signal emission points arranged in a substantially circular pattern around the periphery of the antenna array; and a switching network configured to control a modulated RF signal radiation pattern emitted by each of the plurality of modulated RF signal emission points, wherein each of the plurality of modulated RF signal emission points emits a directional radiation pattern offset from the directional radiation pattern of each of the other modulated RF signal emission points, the directional radiation patterns emitted by the plurality of modulated RF signal emission points collectively generating a substantially 360-degree coverage pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for reducing interference in a wirelessly-linked communications network, comprising:
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providing a plurality of antenna elements at a local wireless device, wherein the local wireless device is communicatively coupled to the wirelessly-linked communications network and the plurality of antenna elements are selectively coupled to a radio frequency (RF) signal modulator by a switching network; receiving a first RF-modulated signal at one of the plurality of antenna elements provided at the local wireless device, the first RF-modulated signal having been received from a desired remote wireless device over the wirelessly-linked communications network; receiving a second RF-modulated signal at a second of the plurality of antenna elements provided at the local wireless device, the second RF-modulated signal having been received from an undesired wireless source over the wirelessly-linked communications network, wherein the second RF-modulated signal interferes with the receipt of the first RF-modulated signal; and decoupling the second of the plurality of antenna elements from the RF-signal modulator via the switching network, wherein the decoupling of the second of the plurality of antenna elements from the RF-signal modulator prevents the local wireless device from receiving the interfering second RF-modulated signal from the undesired wireless source. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for creating a 360-degree wireless coverage pattern, comprising:
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generating a radio frequency (RF) modulated signal at a radio modulator; routing the RF modulated signal from the radio modulator to a distribution point at a wireless device; selectively coupling a plurality of antenna elements to the distribution point, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements emit a directional radiation pattern and wherein the selective coupling of the plurality of antenna elements collectively generates a substantially 360-degree coverage pattern, each of the plurality of antenna elements being configured in a circular pattern around the periphery of a circuit board in the wireless device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An antenna system, comprising:
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communication circuitry located in an interior area of a circuit board, the communication circuitry configured to generate an RF signal; a plurality of antenna elements, wherein one or more of the plurality of antenna elements are arranged proximate the edges of the circuit board, each of the one or more of the plurality of antenna elements configured to form a radiation pattern when coupled to the communication circuitry; and a switching network configured to selectively couple one or more of the plurality of antenna elements to the communication circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification