Expandable antenna structure

• US 9,203,148 B1
• Filed: 12/28/2012
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SOFTBANK Corporation (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Teller, Eric, Biffle, Clifford L., DeVaul, Richard Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoang V
• Application Number:
  US13/729,219
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/895, 455/566, 455/575.1, 455/575.4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/244 extendable from a housing along a given path
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/01 varying the shape of the antenna or antenna system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/22 RF wavebands combined with non-RF wavebands, e.g. infrared or optical
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/30 Arrangements for providing operation on different wavebands

Abstract

This disclosure relates to the use of a mobile device in connection with a balloon network. A disclosed method includes communicating with an antenna structure coupled to the housing of a mobile device. Additionally, the antenna structure may have an omnidirectional radiation pattern when the housing in a first position. The method may also include detecting a reconfiguration the housing of the mobile device. Further, the method also includes communicating with the antenna structure with the reconfigured housing. The antenna structure may have as directional radiation pattern when the housing in a second position. When in the second position the mobile device may be configured to communicate with a balloon network and when the mobile device is in the first position the mobile device may be configured to communicate with a cellular network.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a housing configured to expand from a first position to a second position; and

an antenna structure comprising two or more antenna elements coupled to the reconfigurable housing, wherein;

when the housing is in the first position, the antenna structure has an omnidirectional radiation pattern and operates at a first frequency; and

when the housing is in the second position, the antenna structure has a directional radiation pattern and operates at a second frequency, wherein the second position is an expanded position and wherein the second frequency is greater than the first frequency.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein when the housing is in the first position, the mobile device operates in a first frequency band and when the housing is in the second position, the mobile device operates in a second frequency band.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the second frequency band comprises higher frequencies than the first frequency band.

4. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the second frequency band is an unregulated frequency band.

5. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the first frequency band is a cellular frequency band.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein when in the second position the mobile device is configured to enable communication with a balloon network.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein when in the first position the mobile device is configured to enable communication with a cellular network.

8. A method comprising:

communicating with an antenna structure coupled to the housing of a mobile device, wherein the antenna structure has an omnidirectional radiation pattern and wherein the housing in a first position and operates at a first frequency;

detecting a reconfiguration the housing of a mobile device; and

communicating with the antenna structure with the reconfigured housing, wherein the antenna structure has a directional radiation pattern and wherein the housing in a second position and operates at a second frequency, wherein the second position is an expanded position and wherein the second frequency is greater than the first frequency.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein communicating when the housing is in the first position is performed in in a first frequency band and communicating when the housing is in the second position is performed in in a second frequency band.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second frequency band comprises higher frequencies than the first frequency band.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second frequency band is an unregulated frequency band.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first frequency band is a cellular frequency band.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein communicating when the housing is in the second position comprises communicating with a balloon network.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein communicating when the housing is in the first position comprises communicating with a cellular network.

15. An antenna system comprising:

an antenna array; and

an antenna support structure located within a mobile device, wherein;

the antenna support structure is configured to extend from a first position to a second position, wherein the antenna array operates in a first frequency band when the antenna support structure is in the first position and wherein the antenna array operates in a second frequency band when the antenna support structure is in the second position and wherein the second frequency band is greater than the first frequency band.

16. The antenna system of claim 15, wherein when the antenna support structure is in the first position, the antenna array has an omnidirection radiation pattern and when the antenna support structure is in the second position, the antenna array has a directed radiation pattern.

17. The antenna system of claim 15, wherein the second frequency band is an unregulated frequency band.

18. The antenna system of claim 15, wherein the first frequency band is a cellular frequency band.

19. The antenna system of claim 17, wherein the unregulated frequency band enables communication with a balloon network.

20. The antenna system of claim 18, wherein the first frequency band enables communication with a cellular network.