Systems, apparatus, and methods for antenna selection

• US 9,344,174 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2012
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Ngai, Francis Ming-Meng, Attar, Rashid Ahmed Akbar, Filipovic, Daniel Fred, Ghosh, Donna, Lott, Christopher Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): CRUTCHFIELD, CHRISTOPHER M
• Application Number:
  US13/711,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20130308554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0053 with common antenna for more than one band
• 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 7/0604 with predefined switching scheme
• 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: H04B 7/0817 with multiple receivers and antenna path selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0822 according to predefined selection scheme
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0834 based on external parameters, e.g. subscriber speed or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00 Hand-off or reselection arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/00 Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for mobile transmit diversity. In one aspect, a wireless communication apparatus is provided. The wireless communication apparatus includes a plurality of antennas. The wireless communication apparatus further includes a plurality of transmit circuits, each transmit circuit of the plurality of transmit circuits being configured to transmit according to a different radio access technology. The wireless communication apparatus further includes a controller configured to selectively switch each of the transmit circuits of the plurality of transmit circuits to transmit wireless communications via a corresponding one of the plurality of antennas based on priority levels of data for each of the transmit circuits and a detected operating mode of the wireless communication apparatus.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of antennas;

a plurality of transmit circuits, each transmit circuit of the plurality of transmit circuits being configured to transmit according to a different radio access technology; and

a controller configured to selectively switch each of the transmit circuits of the plurality of transmit circuits to transmit wireless communications via a corresponding one of the plurality of antennas based on priority levels of data for each of the transmit circuits and a detected operating mode of the wireless communication apparatus, and further based on antenna preference of each of the transmit circuits, wherein each antenna preference is based on at least one of;

power limits of each of the plurality of transmit circuits, or a transmit power level of at least one of the plurality of transmit circuits.

2. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to selectively switch based on a predetermined mapping of the transmit circuits to the plurality of antennas for combinations of priority levels and detected operating modes.

3. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a memory configured to store the predetermined mapping.

4. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 2, wherein the predetermined mapping of transmit circuits to the plurality of antennas is fixed for each combination of operating mode, current set of active transmit circuits of the plurality of transmit circuits, priority levels of the set of active transmit circuits, and antenna preference of each of the plurality of transmit circuits.

5. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 4, wherein the antenna preference of each of the plurality of transmit circuits is based on the transmit power limits of each of the plurality of transmit circuits, and wherein the priority levels are based on voice communications or data only communications, voice communications having a higher priority than data communications.

6. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to selectively switch based on the predetermined mapping by:

mapping the detected operating mode to a determined value; and

providing the determined value to a look-up table, the look-up table configured to provide the predetermined mapping based on the determined value.

7. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to selectively switch further based on which of the plurality of transmit circuits are active.

8. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of proximity sensors configured to sense proximity of an object relative to each of the plurality of antennas, and wherein the detected operating mode is based at least in part on state information of the plurality of proximity sensors.

9. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to selectively switch each of the transmit circuits of the plurality of transmit circuits to communicate via a corresponding one of the plurality of antennas based further on a performance characteristic of the wireless communication apparatus.

10. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 9, wherein the performance characteristic comprises a transmit power level of at least one of the plurality of transmit circuits, an amount of interference between at least two antenna of the plurality of antennas, a target quality of service level for at least one of the transmit circuits, and a regulatory requirement for a transmit power level for at least one of the transmit circuits.

11. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operating mode is based on at least one of a proximity of the wireless communication apparatus to a user, an orientation of the wireless communication device, a communications mode, and information based on blocking of any of the plurality of antennas.

12. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to selectively switch in response to receiving an indication of at least one of a change in a number of active transmit circuits of the plurality of transmit circuits, a change in the priority levels of data for each of the transmit circuits, and a change in an operating mode of the wireless communication apparatus.

13. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radio access technology corresponds to at least one of a wireless wide area network, a wireless local area network, a wireless network for sending voice communications, a wireless network for sending data communications, or any combination thereof.

14. A method implemented in a wireless communication apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of at least one of priority levels of data for each one of a plurality of transmit circuits and a detected operating mode of the wireless communication apparatus, each of the plurality of transmit circuits being configured to transmit according to a different radio access technology; and

selectively switching each of the transmit circuits of the plurality of transmit circuits to transmit wireless communications via a corresponding one of a plurality of antennas based on the priority levels of data for each of the transmit circuits and the detected operating mode of the wireless communication apparatus, and further based on antenna preference of each of the transmit circuits, wherein each antenna preference is based on at least one of;

power limits of each of the plurality of transmit circuits, or a transmit power level of at least one of the plurality of transmit circuits.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein selectively switching comprises selectively switching based on a predetermined mapping of the transmit circuits to the plurality of antennas for combinations of priority levels and detected operating modes.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined mapping of transmit circuits to the plurality of antennas is fixed for each combination of operating mode, current set of active transmit circuits of the plurality of transmit circuits, priority levels of the set of active transmit circuits, and antenna preference of each of the plurality of transmit circuits.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the antenna preference of each of the plurality of transmit circuits is based on the transmit power limits of each of the plurality of transmit circuits, and wherein the priority levels are based on voice communications or data only communications, voice communications having a higher priority than data communications.

18. The method of claim 15, the method further comprising:

mapping the detected operating mode to a determined value; and

providing the determined value to a look-up table, the look-up table configured to provide the predetermined mapping based on the determined value.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein selectively switching further comprises selectively switching based on which of the plurality of transmit circuits are active.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the operating mode is based on at least in part on state information of a plurality of proximity sensors configured to sense proximity of an object relative to each of the plurality of antennas.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein selectively switching further comprises selectively switching each of the transmit circuits of the plurality of transmit circuits to communicate via a corresponding one of the plurality of antennas based further on a performance characteristic of the wireless communication apparatus.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the performance characteristic comprises a transmit power level of at least one of the plurality of transmit circuits, an amount of interference between at least two antenna of the plurality of antennas, a target quality of service level for at least one of the transmit circuits, and a regulatory requirement for a transmit power level for at least one of the transmit circuits.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the operating mode is based on at least one of a proximity of the wireless communication apparatus to a user, an orientation of the wireless communication device, a communications mode, and information based on blocking of any of the plurality of antennas.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein selectively switching comprises selectively switching in response to receiving an indication of at least one of a change in a number of active transmit circuits of the plurality of transmit circuits, a change in the priority levels of data for each of the transmit circuits, and a change in an operating mode of the wireless communication apparatus.

25. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving an indication of at least one of priority levels of data for each one of a plurality of transmit circuits and a detected operating mode of the wireless communication apparatus, each of the plurality of transmit circuits being configured to transmit according to a different radio access technology; and

means for selectively switching each of the transmit circuits of the plurality of transmit circuits to transmit wireless communications via a corresponding one of a plurality of antennas based on the priority levels of data for each of the transmit circuits and the detected operating mode of the wireless communication apparatus, and further based on antenna preference of each of the transmit circuits, wherein each antenna preference is based on at least one of;

power limits of each of the plurality of transmit circuits, or a transmit power level of at least one of the plurality of transmit circuits.

26. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 25, wherein the means for selectively switching comprises means for selectively switching based on a predetermined mapping of the transmit circuits to the plurality of antennas for combinations of priority levels and detected operating modes.

27. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 26, wherein the predetermined mapping of transmit circuits to the plurality of antennas is fixed for each combination of operating mode, current set of active transmit circuits of the plurality of transmit circuits, priority levels of the set of active transmit circuits, and antenna preference of each of the plurality of transmit circuits.

28. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

means for mapping the detected operating mode to a determined value; and

means for providing the determined value to a look-up table, the look-up table configured to provide the predetermined mapping based on the determined value.

29. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 25, wherein the means for selectively switching further comprises means for selectively switching based on which of the plurality of transmit circuits are active.

30. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 25, wherein the operating mode is based on at least in part on state information of a plurality of proximity sensors configured to sense proximity of an object relative to each of the plurality of antennas.

31. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 25, wherein the means for selectively switching further comprises means for selectively switching each of the transmit circuits of the plurality of transmit circuits to communicate via a corresponding one of the plurality of antennas based further on a performance characteristic of the wireless communication apparatus.

32. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 25, wherein the operating mode is based on at least one of a proximity of the wireless communication apparatus to a user, an orientation of the wireless communication device, a communications mode, and information based on blocking of any of the plurality of antennas.

33. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 25, wherein the means for selectively switching comprises means for selectively switching in response to receiving an indication of at least one of a change in a number of active transmit circuits of the plurality of transmit circuits, a change in the priority levels of data for each of the transmit circuits, and a change in an operating mode of the wireless communication apparatus.

34. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising;

code for receiving an indication of at least one of priority levels of data for each one of a plurality of transmit circuits and a detected operating mode of the wireless communication apparatus, each of the plurality of transmit circuits being configured to transmit according to a different radio access technology; and

code for selectively switching each of the transmit circuits of the plurality of transmit circuits to transmit wireless communications via a corresponding one of a plurality of antennas based on the priority levels of data for each of the transmit circuits and the detected operating mode of the wireless communication apparatus, and further based on antenna preference of each of the transmit circuits, wherein each antenna preference is based on at least one of;

power limits of each of the plurality of transmit circuits, or a transmit power level of at least one of the plurality of transmit circuits.

35. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the code for selectively switching comprises code for selectively switching based on a predetermined mapping of the transmit circuits to the plurality of antennas for combinations of priority levels and detected operating modes.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the predetermined mapping of transmit circuits to the plurality of antennas is fixed for each combination of operating mode, current set of active transmit circuits of the plurality of transmit circuits, priority levels of the set of active transmit circuits, and antenna preference of each of the plurality of transmit circuits.

37. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the code for selectively switching further comprises code for selectively switching based on which of the plurality of transmit circuits are active.

38. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the operating mode is based on at least in part on state information of a plurality of proximity sensors configured to sense proximity of an object relative to each of the plurality of antennas.

39. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the code for selectively switching further comprises code for selectively switching each of the transmit circuits of the plurality of transmit circuits to communicate via a corresponding one of the plurality of antennas based further on a performance characteristic of the wireless communication apparatus.

40. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the operating mode is based on at least one of a proximity of the wireless communication apparatus to a user, an orientation of the wireless communication device, a communications mode, and information based on blocking of any of the plurality of antennas.

41. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the code for selectively switching comprises code for selectively switching in response to receiving an indication of at least one of a change in a number of active transmit circuits of the plurality of transmit circuits, a change in the priority levels of data for each of the transmit circuits, and a change in an operating mode of the wireless communication apparatus.