Antenna switching arrangement

• US 8,457,697 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2007
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Johansson, Martin, Persson, Patrik, Stjernman, Anders, Fridn, Jonas, Derneryd, Sven Anders Gsta
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Jinsong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Georgewill, Opiribo
• Application Number:
  US12/742,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20100328184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,029 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.7, 455/550.1, 455/575.3, 455/107, 455/121, 455/193.1, 455/575.5, 455/101, 455/562.1, 343/702, 343/814, 343/893, 343/860, 343/861
• US Class Current: 455/575.7
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching

Abstract

An antenna arrangement comprising an input/output connection and a first and a second tuning network with different transfer functions. The arrangement additionally comprises an antenna and a switch for connecting the input/output connection of the arrangement to one of said tuning networks, with a second switch for connecting the antenna of the arrangement to the tuning network to which the input/output connection of the arrangement has been connected. The arrangement comprises a sensor for sensing a form factor of the arrangement or of an apparatus in which the arrangement is used, and said sensor can be used for influencing said first and second switches, so that a device which has been connected to the arrangement may be connected to the antenna via a tuning network optimal for the current form factor of the arrangement.

Claims

1. An antenna arrangement for transmission and/or reception of electromagnetic signal'"'"'s, the arrangement comprising a first input/output connection and at least first and second tuning networks, the first and second tuning networks have different transfer functions, each of the first and second tuning networks also comprising first and second input/output ports, the arrangement additionally comprising a first antenna and a first switch for connecting the first input/output connection of the arrangement to the first input/output port of one of the first and second tuning networks, with a second switch for connecting the first antenna of the arrangement to the second input/output port of the first and second tuning networks, the arrangement also comprising a sensor for sensing a form factor of the arrangement or of an apparatus in which the arrangement is used, and in that the sensor can be used for influencing the first and second switches, and at least one of the first and second tuning networks, so that a device which has been connected to the arrangement may be connected to the first antenna via one of the first and second tuning networks which is optimal for the form factor of the arrangement, and the one of the first and second tuning networks is adapted to the form factor of the arrangement.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, additionally comprising a second antenna, in which the second switch can also be used for connecting one of the first and second antennas of the arrangement to the second input/output port of the first and second tuning networks, so that the device which has been connected to the arrangement may be connected to one of the first and second antennas via one of the first and second tuning networks which is optimal for the form factor of the arrangement.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, additionally comprising M tuning networks, M>

2, and also comprising N antennas, N>

2 and M≧

N, in which the first and second switches can be used to connect the device which has been connected to the arrangement to one of the N antennas via one of the M tuning networks which is optimal for the form factor of the arrangement.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, additionally comprising at least a second input/output connection, in which the first switch may also be used to connect one of the first and second input/output connections of the arrangement to one of the first and second tuning networks.

5. The arrangement of claim 4, in which the first switch connects one of the first and second input/output connections of the arrangement to one of the first and second tuning networks based on an output of the sensor for sensing the form factor.

6. An antenna arrangement for transmission and/or reception of electromagnetic signals, the arrangement comprising a first input/output connection, M tuning networks, M>

2, and N antennas, N>

2 and M≧

N, each of the M tuning networks comprising first and second input/output ports, the arrangement additionally comprising a first switch for connecting the first input/output connection of the arrangement to the first input/output port of the M tuning networks, with a second switch for connecting the N antennas to the second input/output port of the M tuning networks, the arrangement also comprising a sensor for sensing a form factor of the arrangement or of an apparatus in which the arrangement is used, and in that the sensor can be used for influencing the first and second switches, so that a device which has been connected to the arrangement may be connected to one of the N antennas via one of the M tuning networks which is optimal for the form factor of the arrangement.

7. The arrangement of claim 6, additionally comprising at least a second input/output connection, in which the first switch may also be used to connect one of the first and second input/output connections of the arrangement to one of the M tuning networks.

8. The arrangement of claim 7, in which the first switch connects one of the first and second input/output connections of the arrangement to one of the M tuning networks based on an output of the sensor for sensing the form factor.

9. The arrangement of claim 6, in which the sensor is also used for influencing at least one of the M tuning networks, so that the at least one of the M tuning networks is adapted to a form factor of the arrangement.

10. A method of using an antenna arrangement for transmission and/or reception of electromagnetic signals, the arrangement comprising a first input/output connection, M tuning networks, M>

2, and N antennas, N>

2 and M≧

N, each of the M tuning networks comprising first and second input/output ports, the method comprising;

connecting the first input/output connection to the first input/output port of the M tuning networks with a first switch of the arrangement

connecting the N antennas to the second input/output port of the M tuning networks with a second switch of the arrangement;

sensing a form factor of the arrangement or of an apparatus in which the arrangement is used with a sensor of the arrangement; and

influencing the first and second switches with the sensor, so that a device which has been connected to the arrangement may be connected to the one of the N antennas via one of the M tuning networks which is optimal for the form factor of the arrangement.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the arrangement comprises at least a second input/output connection and the method further comprises connecting one of the first and second input/output connections of the arrangement to one of the M tuning networks with the first switch of the arrangement.

12. The method of claim 11, in which the first switch connects one of the first and second input/output connections of the arrangement to one of the M tuning networks based on an output of the sensor for sensing the form factor.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising influencing one of the M tuning networks with the sensor, so that the one of the M tuning networks is adapted to a form factor of the arrangement.