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

• US 8,742,996 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2013
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• 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:
  US14/059,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20140045560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 224 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 housing;

a plurality of internal antennas carried within said housing;

a plurality of wireless transceivers carried within said housing; and

switching circuitry carried within said housing and configured to

switch one of said internal antennas to one of said wireless transceivers, and

switch an unused one of said internal 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 switching circuitry is configured to also switch the unused one of said internal 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 internal 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 switching circuitry is configured to connect at least one of said internal antennas to a signal ground.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein each of said internal 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 housing;

a plurality of internal antennas carried within said housing and operable at different frequency bands;

a plurality of wireless transceivers carried within said housing;

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

switching circuitry carried within said housing and configured to

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

switch an unused one of said internal 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 internal antennas.

14. The electronic device of claim 10 wherein said switching circuitry is configured to connect at least one of said internal 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 internal antennas, a plurality of wireless transceivers, and switching circuitry, the method comprising:

operating the switching circuitry to switch a desired one of the internal antennas to a desired one of the wireless transceivers, and switch an unused one of the internal antennas to an unused one of the wireless transceivers.

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

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

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

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

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