Multiple frequency antenna array for use with an RF transmitter or receiver

• US 8,010,062 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANIDU, GANIYU A
• Application Number:
  US12/613,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20100053009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 455/273, 455/504, 455/456.1, 455/33, 455/59, 455/101, 455/103, 343/700, 343/795, 343/702, 343/882, 342/359, 342/361, 342/367, 342/357.02, 342/450, 342/457
• US Class Current: 455/101
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2258 used with computer equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/241 used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM H01Q1/247, H01Q1/248 take precedence
• 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 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/00 Arrangements for simultaneous operation of antennas on two or more different wavebands, e.g. dual-band or multi-band arrangements combinations of separate active antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system H01Q21/30

Abstract

A multiple frequency antenna array includes a first antenna circuit and a second antenna circuit. The first antenna circuit has a first radiation pattern and is tuned to a first carrier frequency. The first antenna circuit transmits a first representation of a radio frequency (RF) signal at the first carrier frequency, where the first carrier frequency corresponds to a carrier frequency of the RF signal and a first frequency offset. The second antenna circuit has a second radiation pattern and is tuned to a second carrier frequency. The second antenna circuit transmits a second representation of the RF signal at the second carrier frequency, where the second carrier frequency corresponds to the carrier frequency of the RF signal and a second frequency offset.

Claims

1. A multiple frequency antenna array comprises:

a first antenna circuit tuned to a first carrier frequency to produce a first radiation pattern, wherein the first antenna circuit transmits a first representation of a radio frequency (RF) signal at the first carrier frequency, and wherein the first carrier frequency corresponds to a carrier frequency of the RF signal with a first frequency offset;

a second antenna circuit tuned to a second carrier frequency to produce a second radiation pattern, wherein the second antenna circuit transmits a second representation of the RF signal at the second carrier frequency, and wherein the second carrier frequency corresponds to the carrier frequency of the RF signal with a second frequency offset;

a third antenna circuit tuned to a third carrier frequency to produce a third radiation pattern, wherein the third antenna circuit transmits a third representation of the RF signal at the third carrier frequency, and wherein the third carrier frequency corresponds to the carrier frequency of the RF signal with a third frequency offset; and

a fourth antenna circuit tuned to a fourth carrier frequency to produce a fourth radiation pattern, wherein the fourth antenna circuit transmits a fourth representation of the RF signal at the fourth carrier frequency, and wherein the fourth carrier frequency corresponds to the carrier frequency of the RF signal with a fourth frequency offset, in which the first, second third and fourth radiation patterns are different from each other and in which at least the first frequency offset and the second frequency offset have different frequency offset values and still maintain the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency within a bandwidth of the RF signal, but have sufficient frequency separation to inhibit nulling of the first and second radiation patterns.

2. The multiple frequency antenna array of claim 1, wherein each of the antenna circuits comprises:

an antenna having a resistive component, an inductive component, and a capacitive component, wherein the resistive component, the inductive component, and the capacitive component have a value to provide a resonant frequency corresponding to a respective one of the carrier frequencies and to provide a quality factor for a predetermined level of frequency spectrum overlap among the carrier frequencies.

3. The multiple frequency antenna array of claim 2, wherein each of the antenna circuits comprises at least one of:

a resistor coupled to a respective antenna to provide, in combination with the resistive component of the antenna, a resistance of a respective one of the antenna circuits;

a capacitor coupled to a respective antenna to provide, in combination with the capacitive component of the antenna, a capacitance of a respective one of the antenna circuits; and

an inductor coupled to a respective antenna to provide, in combination with the inductive component of the antenna, an inductance of the a respective one of the antenna circuits, wherein at least one of the resistor, the capacitor, and the inductor, in combination with, the resistive component, the inductive component, and the capacitive component provide the resonant frequency corresponding to a respective one of the carrier frequencies and provide the quality factor for the predetermined level of frequency spectrum overlap among the carrier frequencies.

4. The multiple frequency antenna array of claim 2, wherein each of the antenna circuits comprises at least one of:

an adjustable resistor coupled to a respective antenna to provide, in combination with the resistive component of the antenna, a resistance of a respective one of the antenna circuits;

an adjustable capacitor coupled to a respective antenna to provide, in combination with the capacitive component of the antenna, a capacitance of a respective one of the antenna circuits; and

an adjustable inductor coupled to a respective antenna to provide, in combination with the inductive component of the antenna, an inductance of the a respective one of the antenna circuits, wherein at least one of the adjustable resistor, the adjustable capacitor, and the adjustable inductor, in combination with, the resistive component, the inductive component, and the capacitive component provide the resonant frequency corresponding to the a respective one of the carrier frequencies and provide the quality factor for the predetermined level of frequency spectrum overlap among the carrier frequencies.

5. The multiple frequency antenna array of claim 2, wherein each of the antenna circuits comprises:

an impedance matching circuit coupled to a respective antenna, wherein the impedance matching circuit is tuned to provide a desired impedance at a respective one of the carrier frequencies.

6. The multiple frequency antenna array of claim 2 comprises:

the antenna of the first antenna circuit being a distance of approximately one-half wavelength of the carrier frequency of the RF signal from the antenna of the second antenna circuit.

7. The multiple frequency antenna array of claim 2, wherein each of the antennas of the antenna circuits comprises least one of:

a monopole antenna;

a dipole antenna;

a Yagi antenna; and

a helical antenna.

8. A multiple frequency antenna array comprises:

a first antenna circuit tuned to a first carrier frequency to produce a first radiation pattern, wherein the first antenna circuit transmits a first representation of a radio frequency (RF) signal at the first carrier frequency, and wherein the first carrier frequency corresponds to a carrier frequency of the RF signal with a first frequency offset;

a second antenna circuit tuned to a second carrier frequency to produce a second radiation pattern, wherein the second antenna circuit transmits a second representation of the RF signal at the second carrier frequency, and wherein the second carrier frequency corresponds to the carrier frequency of the RF signal with a second frequency offset;

a third antenna circuit tuned to the first carrier frequency to produce a third radiation pattern, wherein the third antenna circuit transmits a third representation of the RF signal at the first carrier frequency; and

a fourth antenna circuit tuned to the second carrier frequency to produce a fourth radiation pattern, wherein the fourth antenna circuit transmits a fourth representation of the RF signal at the second carrier frequency, in which the first, second third and fourth radiation patterns are different from each other and in which the first frequency offset and the second frequency offset have different frequency offset values and still maintain the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency within a bandwidth of the RF signal, but have sufficient frequency separation to inhibit nulling of the first, second, third and fourth radiation patterns.

9. The multiple frequency antenna array of claim 8, wherein each of the antenna circuits comprises:

an antenna having a resistive component, an inductive component, and a capacitive component, wherein the resistive component, the inductive component, and the capacitive component have a value to provide a resonant frequency corresponding to a respective one of the carrier frequencies and to provide a quality factor for a predetermined level of frequency spectrum overlap among the carrier frequencies.

10. The multiple frequency antenna array of claim 9, wherein each of the antenna circuits comprises at least one of:

a resistor coupled to a respective antenna to provide, in combination with the resistive component of the antenna, a resistance of a respective one of the antenna circuits;

a capacitor coupled to a respective antenna to provide, in combination with the capacitive component of the antenna, a capacitance of a respective one of the antenna circuits; and

an inductor coupled to a respective antenna to provide, in combination with the inductive component of the antenna, an inductance of the a respective one of the antenna circuits, wherein at least one of the resistor, the capacitor, and the inductor, in combination with, the resistive component, the inductive component, and the capacitive component provide the resonant frequency corresponding to a respective one of the carrier frequencies and provide the quality factor for the predetermined level of frequency spectrum overlap among the carrier frequencies.

11. The multiple frequency antenna array of claim 9, wherein each of the antenna circuits comprises at least one of:

an adjustable resistor coupled to a respective antenna to provide, in combination with the resistive component of the antenna, a resistance of a respective one of the antenna circuits;

an adjustable capacitor coupled to a respective antenna to provide, in combination with the capacitive component of the antenna, a capacitance of a respective one of the antenna circuits; and

an adjustable inductor coupled to a respective antenna to provide, in combination with the inductive component of the antenna, an inductance of the a respective one of the antenna circuits, wherein at least one of the adjustable resistor, the adjustable capacitor, and the adjustable inductor, in combination with, the resistive component, the inductive component, and the capacitive component provide the resonant frequency corresponding to the a respective one of the carrier frequencies and provide the quality factor for the predetermined level of frequency spectrum overlap among the carrier frequencies.

12. The multiple frequency antenna array of claim 9, wherein each of the antenna circuits comprises:

an impedance matching circuit coupled to a respective antenna, wherein the impedance matching circuit is tuned to provide a desired impedance at a respective one of the carrier frequencies.

13. The multiple frequency antenna array of claim 9 comprises:

the antenna of the first antenna circuit being a distance of approximately one-half wavelength of the carrier frequency of the RF signal from the antenna of the second antenna circuit.

14. The multiple frequency antenna array of claim 9, wherein each of the antennas of the antenna circuits comprises least one of:

a monopole antenna;

a dipole antenna;

a Yagi antenna; and

a helical antenna.