Wireless local loop antenna

• US 8,121,533 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2008
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Inventors: Blodgett, James R., Heinzman, Fred J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US12/134,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20080261511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.01, 455/550.1, 455/403, 455/422.1, 455/557, 455/517, 455/500, 455423-425, 455/67.11, 455/561, 455/562.1, 455/575.1, 455/466, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/575.7, 4554141-4144, 343/757, 343/761, 343/766, 343/763, 343/758, 343/753, 343/702
• US Class Current: 455/3.01
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/20 Macromolecular compounds having nitrogen in the main chain according to C08L75/00 - C08L79/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 63/00 Compositions of epoxy resins; Compositions of derivatives of epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 79/04 Polycondensates having nitrogen-containing heterocyclic rings in the main chain; Polyhydrazides; Polyamide acids or similar polyimide precursors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/293 Organic, e.g. plastic
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 Impedance
• 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 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/446 the radiating element being at the centre of one or more rings of auxiliary elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

A wireless local loop system is provided that includes a wireless base station that communicates with a subscriber station via a wireless link. The wireless link can carry a voice service, such as telephone calls, or a data service, such as internet browsing. The subscriber station includes a steerable antenna. A presently preferred steerable antenna for use with the subscriber station includes a driven element mounted on a base plane that is surrounded by a plurality of parasitic elements also mounted to the base plane. The parasitic elements can be optionally grounded or floated in order to reflect the wireless link towards the driven element. The antenna can be oriented in a desired direction during the transception of a voice or data service. A method of transceiving between a wireless local loop subscriber station and a wireless local loop base station is also provided.

Claims

1. A wireless telephone operable to transmit and receive both voice and data communications with a wireless network, the wireless telephone including a steerable antenna comprising:

at least one driven element connected to a radio transceiver and operable to transmit and receive radio signals;

a plurality of peripheral elements, each peripheral element spaced from the at least one driven element and each peripheral element being switchable to steer the antenna; and

a microprocessor operable to switch the plurality of peripheral elements to steer the steerable antenna in response to variations in a pre-selected transception metric.

2. The wireless telephone of claim 1 wherein the plurality of peripheral elements are switchable, between a grounded state and a floating state relative to the driven element to steer the antenna.

3. The wireless telephone of claim 1 wherein the plurality of peripheral elements are switchable to electrically include or exclude at least one inductive element to alter the effective length of the peripheral elements to steer the antenna.

4. The wireless telephone of claim 1 wherein at least two of the plurality of peripheral elements are switchable, between a grounded state and a floating state relative to the driven element and are switchable to electrically include or exclude at least one inductive element respectively to alter the effective length of the peripheral elements, to steer the antenna.

5. The wireless telephone of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is operable to switch the plurality of peripheral elements to steer the steerable antenna in response to variations in a pre-selected transception metric at selected intervals.

6. The wireless telephone of claim 1 wherein the pre-selected transception metric is based upon the quality of radio transmissions from the wireless telephone to the wireless network.

7. The wireless telephone of claim 1 wherein the data communications comprise web browsing data.

8. The wireless telephone of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor also switches the plurality of peripheral elements to steer the steerable antenna when the wireless network and wireless telephone perform a soft hand off.