Antenna switch configuration devices, methods and systems

• US 8,934,852 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Yan, Hongbo, Filipovic, Daniel Fred
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US13/841,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20130309982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 455/25, 455/63.1, 455/63.4, 455/67.11, 455/67.13, 455/68, 455/69, 455/78, 455/79, 455/101, 455/226.1, 455/226.2, 455/226.3, 343/876
• US Class Current: 455/69
• 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 1/44 Transmit/receive switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0404 the mobile station comprising multiple antennas, e.g. to provide uplink diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0602 using antenna switching H04B7/0686 takes precedence; antenna beam directivity switching H01Q3/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0608 Antenna selection according to transmission parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0802 using antenna selection H04B7/0868 takes precedence; antenna beam directivity switching H01Q3/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0814 based on current reception conditions, e.g. switching to different antenna when signal level is below threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/18 Management of setup rejection or failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless communication apparatus is provided that includes a plurality of antennas and at least one receive or transmit circuit. The apparatus further includes a controller configured to: determine one or more performance characteristics associated with a first antenna while the circuit is connected to the first antenna; switch the circuit from the first antenna to a second antenna; determine one or more performance characteristics associated with the second antenna after the switch; compare the performance characteristics associated with the antennas; determine whether to maintain the switch to the second antenna or to switch the circuit back to the first antenna; and determine a duration of time to maintain a connection between the selected antenna and the circuit based, at least, on one or more performance characteristics. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.

Claims

1. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of antennas including a first antenna and a second antenna;

a receive or transmit circuit; and

a controller configured to;

determine one or more performance characteristics associated with the first antenna while the receive or transmit circuit is receiving or transmitting wireless communications via the first antenna;

switch the receive or transmit circuit from receiving or transmitting wireless communications via the first antenna to receiving or transmitting wireless communications via the second antenna;

determine one or more performance characteristics associated with the second antenna after the switch;

compare the performance characteristics associated with the first antenna to the performance characteristics associated with the second antenna;

determine whether to maintain the switch of the receive or transmit circuit to the second antenna or to switch the receive or transmit circuit back to the first antenna based on the comparison of the performance characteristics associated with the first antenna to the performance characteristics associated with the second antenna; and

determine a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit based, at least, on the comparison of the performance characteristics associated with the first antenna and the second antenna.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the determination of a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit is based, at least, on a dynamic time hysteresis.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the determination of a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit is based, at least, on a progressive determination.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the determination of a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit is further based, at least, on a dynamic time hysteresis.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the determination of a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit can result in at least two different lengths of time.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the determination of a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit can result in at least three different lengths of time.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the determination of a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit is based, at least, on one or more thresholds.

8. A method of wireless communication comprising:

determining one or more performance characteristics associated with a first antenna while a receive or transmit circuit is receiving or transmitting wireless communications via the first antenna;

switching a receive or transmit circuit from receiving or transmitting wireless communications via the first antenna to receiving or transmitting wireless communications via a second antenna;

determining one or more performance characteristics associated with the second antenna after the switch;

comparing the performance characteristics associated with the first antenna to the performance characteristics associated with the second antenna;

determining whether to maintain the switch of the receive or transmit circuit to the second antenna or to switch the receive or transmit circuit back to the first antenna based on the comparison of the performance characteristics associated with the first antenna to the performance characteristics associated with the second antenna; and

determining a duration of time to maintain a connection between of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit based, at least, on the comparison of the performance characteristics associated with the first antenna and the second antenna.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determination of a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit is based, at least, on a dynamic time hysteresis.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the determination of a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit is based, at least, on a progressive determination.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the determination of a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit is further based, at least, on a dynamic time hysteresis.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the determination of a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit can result in at least two different lengths of time.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the determination of a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit can result in at least three different lengths of time.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the determination of a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit is based, at least, on one or more thresholds.

15. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving or transmitting wireless communications using at least either a first antenna or a second antenna;

means for determining one or more performance characteristics associated with the first antenna;

means for switching the means for receiving or transmitting wireless communications from receiving or transmitting wireless communications via the first antenna to receiving or transmitting wireless communications via the second antenna;

means for determining one or more performance characteristics associated with the second antenna after the switch;

means for comparing one or more performance characteristics associated with the first antenna to one or more performance characteristics associated with the second antenna;

means for determining based at least in part on results obtained from the means for comparing whether to maintain a switch of the means for receiving or transmitting to receiving or transmitting via the second antenna or whether to switch the means for receiving or transmitting back to receiving or transmitting via the first antenna; and

means for determining a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the means for receiving or transmitting based, at least, on the comparison of the performance characteristics associated with the first antenna and the second antenna.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for determining a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the means for receiving or transmitting is based, at least, on a dynamic time hysteresis.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for determining a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the means for receiving or transmitting is based, at least, on a progressive determination.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for determining a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the means for receiving or transmitting is based, at least, on a dynamic time hysteresis.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for determining a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the means for receiving or transmitting can result in at least two different lengths of time.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for determining a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the means for receiving or transmitting can result in at least three different lengths of time.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for determining a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the means for receiving or transmitting is based, at least, on one or more thresholds.

22. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising;

code for determining one or more performance characteristics associated with a first antenna while a receive or transmit circuit is receiving or transmitting wireless communications via the first antenna;

code for switching the receive or transmit circuit from receiving or transmitting wireless communications via the first antenna to receiving or transmitting wireless communications via a second antenna;

code for determining one or more performance characteristics associated with the second antenna;

code for comparing one or more performance characteristics associated with the first antenna to one or more performance characteristics associated with the second antenna;

code for determining based at least in part on results obtained from the code for comparing whether to maintain a switch of the receive or transmit circuit to receiving or transmitting via the second antenna or whether to switch the receive or transmit circuit back to receiving or transmitting via the first antenna; and

code for determining a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit based, at least, on the comparison of the performance characteristics associated with the first antenna and the second antenna.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the code for determining a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit further bases its determination on, at least, a dynamic time hysteresis.

24. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the code for determining a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit further bases its determination on, at least, a progressive determination.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the code for determining a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit further bases its determination on, at least, a dynamic time hysteresis.

26. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the code for determining a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit can result in at least two different lengths of time.

27. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the code for determining a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit can result in at least three different lengths of time.

28. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the code for determining a duration of time to maintain a connection between one of the first and second antennas and the receive or transmit circuit further bases its determination on, at least, one or more thresholds.