Mobile wireless communications device having diversity antenna system and related methods

• US 9,007,267 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2012
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Man, Ying Tong, Cooke, Adrian Matthew, Qi, Yihong, Wong, Joshua Kwan Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Levi, Dameon E
• Assistant Examiner(s): ISLAM, HASAN Z
• Application Number:
  US13/610,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20130002498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/853, 343/861, 343/876, 455272-275, 455/101, 455/575.7
• US Class Current: 343/745
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• 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: H01Q 5/20 characterised by the operating wavebands

Abstract

A mobile wireless communications device has a portable handheld housing. A circuit board is carried by the portable handheld housing. RF circuitry is carried by the circuit board. A diversity antenna and main antenna are carried by the portable handheld housing and coupled to the RF circuitry and operative together. The RF circuitry tunes the diversity antenna into a diversity communications frequency band to achieve a diversity mode of operation with the main antenna and tunes the diversity antenna into a non-diversity communications frequency band when cross-coupling has occurred from the diversity antenna to the main antenna when operating in the diversity communications frequency band. A switch is carried by the portable handheld housing and connected to the RF circuitry and coupled between the diversity and main antennae and disconnects the diversity antenna when operating in the non-diversity band to prevent cross-coupling from the diversity antenna to the main antenna.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a diversity antenna and a main antenna; and

RF circuitry configured to

tune the diversity antenna into a diversity communications frequency band for a diversity mode of operation with the main antenna, and

place the diversity antenna in an open circuit condition based upon cross-coupling between the diversity antenna and the main antenna when operating in the diversity communications frequency band, said RF circuitry comprising at least one switch coupled to said diversity antenna for placing said diversity antenna in the open circuit condition.

2. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, and further comprising a housing having upper and lower portions;

and wherein the diversity antenna is located at the upper portion of the housing and the main antenna is located at the lower portion of the housing.

3. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein the diversity antenna comprises an array antenna comprising a plurality of antenna elements.

4. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one switch comprises a respective switch coupled to each antenna element to change a combined radiation pattern of the array antenna.

5. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 4, wherein each switch comprises a microelectromechanical (MEMS) switch.

6. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, further comprising a circuit board carrying the RF circuitry.

7. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 6, further comprising a cable coupled to the diversity antenna and circuit board and operative with the main antenna.

8. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one load switchable to the RF circuitry.

9. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein the main antenna is operative at frequencies in the Global System for Mobile (GSM) frequency communications band.

10. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a housing;

a diversity antenna and a main antenna carried by said housing in spaced apart relation; and

RF circuitry carried by the housing and configured to

tune the diversity antenna into a diversity communications frequency band for a diversity mode of operation with the main antenna, and

place the diversity antenna in an open circuit condition based upon cross-coupling between the diversity antenna and the main antenna when operating in the diversity communications frequency band, said RF circuitry comprising at least one switch coupled to said diversity antenna for placing said diversity antenna in the open circuit condition.

11. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 10, wherein the housing has upper and lower portions;

and wherein the diversity antenna is located at the upper portion of the housing and the main antenna is located at the lower portion of the housing.

12. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 10, wherein the diversity antenna comprises an array antenna comprising a plurality of antenna elements.

13. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one switch comprises a respective switch coupled to each antenna element to change a combined radiation pattern of the array antenna.

14. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 13, wherein each switch comprises a microelectromechanical (MEMS) switch.

15. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 10, further comprising a circuit board carrying the RF circuitry.

16. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 15, further comprising a cable coupled to the diversity antenna and circuit board and operative with the main antenna.

17. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 10, further comprising at least one load switchable to the RF circuitry.

18. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 10, wherein the main antenna is operative at frequencies in the Global System for Mobile (GSM) frequency communications band.

19. A method of operating a mobile wireless communications device comprising a diversity antenna, a main antenna, and RF circuitry coupled to the diversity and main antennas, the method comprising:

tune the diversity antenna into a diversity communications frequency band for a diversity mode of operation with the main antenna; and

place the diversity antenna in an open circuit condition based upon cross-coupling between the diversity antenna and the main antenna when operating in the diversity communications frequency band, the RF circuitry comprising at least one switch coupled to the diversity antenna for placing the diversity antenna in the open circuit condition.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the mobile wireless communications device comprises a housing having upper and lower portions;

and wherein the diversity antenna is located at the upper portion of the housing and the main antenna is located at the lower portion of the housing.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the diversity antenna comprises an array antenna comprising a plurality of antenna elements;

and further comprising operating the RF circuitry to change a combined radiation pattern of the array antenna.

22. The method according to claim 19, further comprising switching at least one load to the RF circuitry.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein the main antenna is operative at frequencies in the Global System for Mobile (GSM) frequency communications band.