Method and system for dynamic tracking utilizing leaky wave antennas

• US 8,242,957 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2010
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza, Rofougaran, Maryam
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith, Jack W
• Assistant Examiner(s): McGue, Frank J
• Application Number:
  US12/797,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20100309052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 342/432, 342/386
• US Class Current: 342/432
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/06 Systems determining position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/16225 the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/32225 the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/73204 the bump connector being embedded into the layer connector
• 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 2924/13091 Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor [MOSFET]
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2283 mounted in or on the surface of a semiconductor substrate as a chip-type antenna or integrated with other components into an IC package
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/20 Non-resonant leaky-waveguide or transmission-line antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/22 Longitudinal slot in boundary wall of waveguide or transmission line H01Q13/203 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/006 Selective devices having photonic band gap materials or materials of which the material properties are frequency dependent, e.g. perforated substrates, high-impedance surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/0066 said selective devices being reconfigurable, tunable or controllable, e.g. using switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/23 Combinations of reflecting surfaces with refracting or diffracting devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/06 using refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens radome H01Q1/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0458 Arrangements for matching and coupling between power amplifier and antenna or between amplifying stages matching circuits in general H03H
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/24 for communication between two or more posts wireless communication networks H04W

Abstract

Methods and systems for dynamic tracking utilizing leaky wave antennas (LWAs) are disclosed and may include configuring a transmitting angle of a plurality of leaky wave antennas in a wireless device at a desired starting angle. A RF signal strength may be measured at the sweeping transmitting angles for each of the leaky wave antennas, and a location of one or more objects may be tracked from the measured RF signal strength and a corresponding angle of reception of the LWAs. A resonant frequency of the LWAs may be configured utilizing micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) deflection. The LWAs may be situated along a plurality of axes in the wireless device. The LWAs may comprise microstrip or coplanar waveguides, where a cavity height of the LWAs is dependent on spacing between conductive lines in the waveguides. The LWAs may be integrated in integrated circuits, integrated circuit packages, and/or printed circuit boards.

Claims

1. A method for communication, the method comprising:

configuring a transmitting angle of a plurality of leaky wave antennas, that are located in a wireless device, to a desired starting angle, each of said leaky wave antennas comprising one or more feed points and a resonant cavity defined by a reflective surface and a partially reflective surface;

sweeping said transmitting angle of said plurality of leaky wave antennas by adjusting a height of said one or more feed points;

measuring a RF signal strength of received RF signals at said sweeping transmitting angles for each of said leaky wave antennas; and

tracking a location of one or more objects based on said measured RF signal strength and a corresponding angle of reception of said plurality of leaky wave antennas.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising configuring a resonant frequency of said plurality of leaky wave antennas utilizing micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) deflection.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of leaky wave antennas are situated along a plurality of axes in said wireless device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of leaky wave antennas comprise microstrip waveguides.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein a cavity height of said plurality of leaky wave antennas is dependent on spacing between conductive lines in said microstrip waveguides.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of leaky wave antennas comprise coplanar waveguides.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein a cavity height of said plurality of leaky wave antennas is dependent on spacing between conductive lines in said coplanar waveguides.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of leaky wave antennas are integrated in one or more integrated circuits flip-chip bonded to one or more integrated circuit packages.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of leaky wave antennas are integrated in one or more integrated circuit packages flip-chip bonded to one or more printed circuit boards.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of leaky wave antennas are integrated in one or more printed circuit boards.

11. A system for enabling communication, the system comprising:

a wireless device comprising a plurality of leaky wave antennas each comprising one or more feed points and a resonance cavity defined by a reflective surface and a partially reflective surface, said wireless device being operable to;

configure a transmitting angle of said plurality of leaky wave antennas in a wireless device at a desired starting angle;

sweep said transmitting angle of said plurality of leaky wave antennas by adjusting a height of said one or more feed points;

measure a RF signal strength of received RF signals at said swept transmitting angles for each of said leaky wave antennas; and

track a location of one or more objects based on said measured RF signal strength and a corresponding angle of reception of said plurality of leaky wave antennas.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said wireless device is operable to configure a resonant frequency of said plurality of leaky wave antennas utilizing micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) deflection.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of leaky wave antennas are situated along a plurality of axes in said wireless device.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of leaky wave antennas comprise microstrip waveguides.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein a cavity height of said plurality of leaky wave antennas is dependent on spacing between conductive lines in said microstrip waveguides.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of leaky wave antennas comprise coplanar waveguides.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein a cavity height of said plurality of leaky wave antennas is dependent on spacing between conductive lines in said coplanar waveguides.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of leaky wave antennas are integrated in one or more integrated circuits flip-chip bonded to one or more integrated circuit packages.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of leaky wave antennas are integrated in one or more integrated circuit packages flip-chip bonded to one or more printed circuit boards.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of leaky wave antennas are integrated in one or more printed circuit boards.