Configurable segmented antenna

• US 9,680,221 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2016
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bard, Thomas, Creigh, George, Mahn, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): AKINYEMI, AJIBOLA A
• Application Number:
  US15/380,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20170098890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 180 Days
• Field of Search: 343377
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2291 used in bluetooth or WI-FI devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN] H01Q1/241 takes precedence; WLAN in general H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0025 Modular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/22 Antenna units of the array energised non-uniformly in amplitude or phase, e.g. tapered array or binomial array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/247 by switching different parts of a primary active element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/18 Monitoring during normal operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/345 Interference values signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR] H04B17/336

Abstract

A configurable segmented antenna is described herein. A monitor component can be configured to detect at least one parameter corresponding to one or more segments of an antenna integrated with a communications device. An antenna component can be configured to select at least one segment of the one or more segments in response to the at least one parameter. A control component can be configured to modify a quality of a signal according to the at least one parameter. Further, a transmission component can be configured to transmit the signal from the at least one segment based on the quality.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining, by a system comprising a processor, a magnitude of a signal that has been transmitted from a first segment of segments of an antenna, wherein the first segment facilitates first transmissions according to a first wireless protocol, and wherein a second segment of the segments facilitates second transmissions according to a second wireless protocol that is different from the first wireless protocol; and

in response to determining that the first segment has been obstructed by an object, modifying, by the system, the magnitude of the signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the segments of the antenna are arranged in overlapping strips.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the system, a power of the signal; and

selecting, by the system, the first segment according to the power of the signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the first segment has been obstructed by the object further comprises varying the power of the signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is a first signal, and further comprising:

based on the second wireless protocol, transmitting, by the system, a second signal using the second segment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the first segment has been obstructed by the object comprises detecting the antenna has been touched by the object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first segment is included on an outer surface of an enclosure of the system.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

determining a magnitude of a signal that was transmitted from a first segment of a group of segments of an antenna of the apparatus; and

in response to detecting an obstruction of the first segment by an object, modifying the magnitude of the signal, wherein the first segment is associated with a first wireless protocol, and wherein a second segment of the group of segments is associated with a second wireless protocol different from the first wireless protocol.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the group of segments is arranged in overlapping strips.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the detecting the obstruction comprises detecting the obstruction of the first segment using a heat sensor of the apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting a first wireless signal from the first segment according to the first wireless protocol; and

transmitting a second wireless signal from the second segment according to the second wireless protocol.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting the signal using the first segment.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

modifying a power of the signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the modifying the power of the signal comprises:

in response to the detecting of the obstruction of the first segment by the object, performing the modifying of the power of the signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the detecting the obstruction comprises detecting the antenna has been touched by the object.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first segment is on an external surface of the apparatus.

17. A system, comprising:

an antenna comprising antenna segments;

a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

determining a magnitude of a signal for transmission from a first segment of the antenna segments; and

in response to determining that the first segment has been at least partially covered by an object, modifying the magnitude of the signal, wherein the first segment corresponds to a first wireless protocol, and wherein a second segment of the antenna segments corresponds to a second wireless protocol distinct from the first wireless protocol.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the antenna segments have been arranged in overlapping strips.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to determining that the first segment has been at least partially covered by the object,

increasing a power of the signal resulting in an increased power, and

transmitting the signal via the first segment according to the increased power.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the determining that the first segment has been at least partially covered by the object comprises detecting, based on an output of a heat sensor, that the antenna has been contacted by the object.