Mobile wireless communications device with selective load switching for antennas and related methods

• US 8,599,077 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2013
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Qi, Yihong, Man, Ying Tong, Jarmuszewski, Perry
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US13/899,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20130252665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 196 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/725, 343/876
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• 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: H04B 1/005 adapting radio receivers, transmitters andtransceivers for operation on two or more bands, i.e. frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/006 using switches for selecting the desired band H04B1/0057 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0067 with one or more circuit blocks in common for different bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3838 Arrangements for reducing RF exposure to the user, e.g. by changing the shape of the transceiver while in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components

Abstract

A mobile wireless communications device may include a plurality of antennas, a plurality of wireless transceivers, and signal processing circuitry. The device may further include a controller for selectively switching the signal processing circuitry to a desired one of the wireless transceivers, and for selectively switching a desired one of the antennas to the desired one of the wireless transceivers. Moreover, the controller may also be for selectively connecting and disconnecting the at least one other one of the antennas to an unused one of the wireless transceivers.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a portable housing;

a plurality of antennas within said portable housing, at least one of said plurality of antennas adjacent a bottom of said portable housing;

a plurality of wireless transceivers within said portable housing; and

a controller within said portable housing and configured to

switch a desired one of said antennas to a desired one of said wireless transceivers, and

switch an unused one of said antennas to an unused one of said wireless transceivers.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of loads;

and wherein said controller is configured to also switch the unused one of said antennas to at least one of said loads.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 wherein said plurality of loads comprises a plurality of impedance elements.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) carrying said wireless transceivers and said impedance elements.

5. The electronic device of claim 2 wherein said plurality of loads comprises a respective set of loads for each of said antennas.

6. The electronic device of claim 2 wherein said plurality of loads have different loading characteristics.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to connect at least one of said antennas to a signal ground.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein each of said antennas is configured to operate over a different frequency band.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said wireless transceivers comprises a cellular wireless transceiver.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a portable housing;

a plurality of antennas within said portable housing, each configured to operate over a different frequency band, and at least one of said plurality of antennas adjacent a bottom of said portable housing;

a plurality of wireless transceivers within said portable housing;

a plurality of loads within said portable housing and having different loading characteristics; and

a controller within said portable housing and configured to

switch a desired one of said antennas to a desired one of said wireless transceivers,

switch an unused one of said antennas to at least one of said loads and to an unused one of said wireless transceivers.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 wherein said plurality of loads comprises a plurality of impedance elements.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) carrying said wireless transceivers and said impedance elements.

13. The electronic device of claim 10 wherein said plurality of loads comprises a respective set of loads for each of said antennas.

14. The electronic device of claim 10 wherein said controller is configured to connect at least one of said antennas to a signal ground.

15. The electronic device of claim 10 wherein at least one of said wireless transceivers comprises a cellular wireless transceiver.

16. A method for operating a mobile wireless communications device comprising a plurality of antennas within a portable housing and with at least one antenna adjacent a bottom of the portable housing, a plurality of wireless transceivers within the housing, and a controller within the housing and coupled to the antennas and wireless transceivers, the method comprising:

operating the controller within the portable housing to switch a desired one of the antennas within the portable housing to a desired one of the wireless transceivers within the portable housing, with at least one antenna within the bottom of the portable housing, and switch an unused one of the antennas within the portable housing to an unused one of the wireless transceivers within the portable housing.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the mobile wireless communications device further comprises a plurality of loads within the portable housing;

and further comprising operating the controller within the portable housing to switch the unused one of the antennas within the portable housing to at least one of the loads.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the loads within the portable housing have different loading characteristics.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein each of the antennas within the portable housing is configured to operate over a different frequency band.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein at least one of the wireless transceivers within the portable housing comprises a cellular wireless transceiver.