Programmable antenna with programmable impedance matching and methods for use therewith

• US 7,893,888 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2009
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, TRINH VO
• Application Number:
  US12/614,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20100053018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 343/860
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/145 by varying the electrical length

Abstract

A programmable antenna includes a fixed antenna element and a programmable antenna element that is tunable to one of a plurality of resonant frequencies in response to at least one antenna control signal. A programmable impedance matching network is tunable in response to at least one matching network control signal, to provide, for instance, a substantially constant load impedance. A control module generates the antenna control signals and the matching network control signals, in response to a frequency selection signal.

Claims

1. A programmable antenna comprising:

an antenna that has an antenna current includes;

a fixed antenna element; and

a programmable antenna element, coupled to the fixed antenna element, that is tunable to one of a plurality of resonant frequencies in response to at least one antenna control signal; and

a programmable impedance matching network, coupled to the antenna, that is tunable in response in response to at least one matching network control signal, to provide a substantially constant load impedance, wherein the programmable impedance matching network includes a plurality of reactive network elements, and wherein the plurality of reactive network elements each include a plurality of fixed reactive network elements and a switching network for selectively coupling the plurality of fixed reactive network elements in response to the at least one matching network control signal; and

a control module, coupled to the programmable antenna element and the programmable impedance matching network, that generates the at least one antenna control signal based on the at least one matching network control signal, in response to a frequency selection signal.

2. The programmable antenna of claim 1 wherein the control module is further operable to generate the at least one matching network control signal in response to a selected magnitude of the antenna current and a selected phase of the antenna current.

3. The programmable antenna of claim 1 wherein the programmable impedance matching network includes an adjustable balun transformer.

4. The programmable antenna of claim 1 wherein the plurality of reactive network elements are arranged in a pi-network configuration.

5. The programmable antenna of claim 1 wherein the plurality of reactive network elements are arranged in a t-network configuration.

6. The programmable antenna of claim 1 wherein the switching network selects at least one of the plurality of fixed reactive network elements and that deselects the remaining ones of the plurality of fixed reactive network elements in response to the at least one matching network control signal.

7. A method comprising:

receiving a frequency selection signal;

generating an antenna control signal to tune a programmable antenna element to a selected frequency, based on the frequency selection signal;

controlling a programmable matching network based on the frequency selection signal, to provide a substantially constant load impedance for a programmable antenna that includes the programmable antenna element wherein the programmable matching network selects at least one of the plurality of fixed reactive network elements and deselects the remaining ones of the plurality of fixed reactive network elements.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the programmable matching network includes an adjustable balun transformer.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the programmable matching network includes at least one adjustable reactive network element.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the programmable matching network includes a switching network for selectively coupling a plurality of fixed reactive network elements.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the programmable matching network tunes a plurality of adjustable reactive network elements.