MULTIPLE ANTENNA MULTIPLEXERS, DEMULTIPLEXERS AND ANTENNA ASSEMBLIES

• US 20100226354A1
• Filed: 03/04/2009
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Laird Technologies Incorporated (DuPont de Nemours, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Laird Technologies Incorporated (DuPont de Nemours, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reed, Gary Keith, Combi, Joseph Michael, Duzdar, Ayman
• Granted Patent: US 8,045,592 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/339
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/213 combining or separating two or more different frequencies H01P1/215 takes precedence

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are provided of apparatus and methods relating to antenna multiplexers and demultiplexers are disclosed. In exemplary embodiments, antenna multiplexers include two or more inputs for receiving a corresponding number of signals from multiple antennas. The antennas may include world cell antennas, AM/FM antennas, SDARS antennas, GPS antennas, and/or antennas combining the preceding. Exemplary antenna multiplexers also include an output for simultaneously outputting the combined signals received by the multiplexer. Demultiplexers for receiving such combined signals and outputting each signal via a separate output are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An antenna multiplexer comprising:

a first input for receiving a communication signal from a world cell antenna operable to receive AMPS/GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, PCS/GSM1900, and UMTS/AWS communication signals;

a second input for receiving a satellite signal from a satellite antenna; and

an output for outputting a combined signal including the communication signal and the satellite signal.

2. The antenna multiplexer of claim 1, wherein the multiplexer does not separate AMPS/GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, PCS/GSM1900, and UMTS/AWS communication signals.

3. The antenna multiplexer of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of filters coupled between the first and second inputs and the output to permit the communication signal and the satellite signal to pass from the respective first and second inputs to the output and limit passage of other signals.

4. The antenna multiplexer of claim 3, wherein the plurality of filters is further configured to limit the communication signal from passing to the satellite antenna and to limit the satellite signal from passing to the world cell antenna.

5. The antenna multiplexer of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of matching circuits for limiting signal degradation.

6. The antenna multiplexer of claim 5, wherein the plurality of filters includes:

a first filter coupled to the first input to permit the communication signal to pass through the first filter and limit passage of other signals; and

a second filter coupled to the second input to permit the satellite signal to pass through the second filter and limit passage of other signals.

7. The antenna multiplexer of claim 6, wherein the plurality of matching circuits includes a first matching circuit for adjusting an output impedance of the multiplexer.

8. The antenna multiplexer of claim 7, wherein the plurality of matching circuits further includes:

a second matching circuit coupled between the second input and the second filter for matching an impedance of the satellite antenna to a filter impedance of the second filter; and

a third matching circuit coupled between the first filter and the second filter to match a second filter output to a first filter output.

9. The antenna multiplexer of claim 5, wherein:

the satellite antenna is a global positioning satellite (GPS) antenna; and

the satellite signal is a GPS signal.

10. The antenna multiplexer of claim 5, wherein:

the satellite antenna is a combined satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) and GPS antenna; and

the satellite signal includes a GPS signal and an SDARS signal.

11. The antenna multiplexer of claim 8, wherein:

the satellite antenna is a combined satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) and GPS antenna;

the satellite signal includes a GPS signal and an SDARS signal;

the plurality of filters further includes a third filter coupled between the second input and the third matching circuit to permit the SDARS signal to pass through the third filter and limit passage of other signals; and

the second filter is configured to permit the GPS signal to pass through the second filter and limit passage of other signals.

12. An antenna system comprising:

the antenna multiplexer of claim 1;

a world cell antenna operable to receive AMPS/GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, PCS/GSM1900, and UMTS/AWS communication signals coupled to the first input to provide the communication signal; and

a satellite antenna coupled to the second input to provide the satellite signal.

13. A system comprising:

the antenna multiplexer of claim 1; and

a single communication line routed from the multiplexer output for carrying the combined signal including the communication signal and the satellite signal that was outputted by the multiplexer output.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the single communication line is a single coaxial cable.

15. An antenna multiplexer comprising:

a first input for receiving a radio signal from an AM/FM antenna;

a second input for receiving a satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) signal from a SDARS antenna; and

an output for simultaneously outputting signals received by the antenna multiplexer.

16. The antenna multiplexer of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of filters coupled between the first and second inputs and the output to permit the radio signal and the SDARS signal to pass from the respective first and second inputs to the output and limit passage of other signals.

17. The antenna multiplexer of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of matching circuits for limiting signal degradation.

18. The antenna multiplexer of claim 17, wherein the plurality of filters includes:

a first filter coupled to the first input to permit the radio signal to pass through the first filter and limit passage of other signals; and

a second filter coupled to the second input to permit the SDARS signal to pass through the second filter and limit passage of other signals.

19. The antenna multiplexer of claim 18, wherein the plurality of matching circuits includes:

a first matching circuit coupled between the first input and the first filter for matching an impedance of the AM/FM antenna to an output impedance; and

a second matching circuit coupled between the second input and the second filter for matching an impedance of the SDARS antenna to the output impedance.

20. The antenna multiplexer of claim 19, further comprising:

a third input for receiving a communication signal from a world cell antenna operable to receive AMPS/GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, PCS/GSM1900, and UMTS/AWS communication signals;

a third filter coupled to the third input to permit the communication signal to pass through the third filter and limit passage of other signals; and

the output is operable for outputting a combined signal including the radio signal, the SDARS signal, and the communication signal.

21. The antenna multiplexer of claim 20, further comprising:

a fourth input for receiving a global positioning satellite (GPS) signal from a GPS antenna;

a fourth filter coupled to the fourth input to permit the GPS signal to pass through the fourth filter and limit passage of other signals; and

the output is operable for outputting a combined signal including the radio signal, the SDARS signal, the communication signal, and the GPS signal.

22. The antenna multiplexer of claim 15, further comprising a third input for receiving a communication signal from a world cell antenna operable to receive AMPS/GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, PCS/GSM1900 and UMTS/AWS communication signals.

23. The antenna multiplexer of claim 22, wherein the first and third inputs are operable for receiving the radio signal and communication signal, respectively, from a combined AM/FM/world cell antenna.

24. The antenna multiplexer of claim 22, further comprising a fourth input for receiving a global positioning satellite (GPS) signal from a GPS antenna.

25. An antenna system comprising:

the antenna multiplexer of claim 15;

an AM/FM antenna coupled to the first input to provide the radio signal; and

an SDARS antenna coupled to the second input to provide the SDARS signal.

26. A system comprising:

the antenna multiplexer of claim 15; and

a single communication line routed from the multiplexer output for carrying the signals that were simultaneously output by the multiplexer output.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the single communication line is a single coaxial cable.

28. An antenna multiplexer comprising:

a first input for receiving a radio signal from an AM/FM antenna;

a second input for receiving a communication signal from a world cell antenna operable to receive AMPS/GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, PCS/GSM1900, and UMTS/AWS communication signals;

a third input for receiving a satellite signal from a satellite antenna; and

an output for simultaneously outputting signals received by the antenna multiplexer.

29. The antenna multiplexer of claim 28, wherein:

the third input is operable for receiving a satellite signal comprising a GPS signal and an SDARS signal from a combined SDARS/GPS antenna; and

the output is operable for outputting a combined signal including the radio signal, the communication signal, the GPS signal, and the SDARS signal.

30. The antenna multiplexer of claim 28, further comprising a plurality of filters coupled between the first, second, and third inputs and the output to permit the radio signal, the communication signal, and the satellite signal to pass to the output and limit passage of other signals.

31. The antenna multiplexer of claim 30, further comprising a plurality of matching circuits for limiting signal degradation.

32. The antenna multiplexer of claim 31, wherein the plurality of filters includes:

a first filter coupled to the first input to permit the radio signal to pass through the first filter and limit passage of other signals;

a second filter coupled to the second input to permit the communication signal to pass through the second filter and limit passage of other signals; and

a third filter coupled to the third input to permit the SDARS signal to pass through the third filter and limit passage of other signals.

33. The antenna multiplexer of claim 28, wherein:

the third input is operable for receiving a satellite signal comprising a GPS signal and an SDARS signal from a combined SDARS/GPS antenna;

the plurality of filters includes;

a first filter coupled to the first input to permit the radio signal to pass through the first filter and limit passage of other signals;

a second filter coupled to the second input to permit the communication signal to pass through the second filter and limit passage of other signals;

a third filter coupled to the third input to permit the SDARS signal to pass through the third filter and limit passage of other signals; and

a fourth filter coupled to the third input to permit the GPS signal to pass through the fourth filter and limit passage of other signals.

34. An antenna system comprising:

the antenna multiplexer of claim 28;

an AM/FM antenna coupled to the first input to provide the radio signal;

a world cell antenna coupled to the second input to provide the communication signal; and

a satellite antenna coupled to the third input to provide the satellite signal.

35. A system comprising:

the antenna multiplexer of claim 28; and

a single communication line routed from the multiplexer output for carrying the signals that were simultaneously output by the multiplexer output.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the single communication line is a single coaxial cable.

37. An antenna demultiplexer comprising:

an input capable of simultaneously receiving a communication signal from a world cell antenna operable to receive AMPS/GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, PCS/GSM1900, and UMTS/AWS communication signals, and a satellite signal from a satellite antenna;

a first output for outputting the communication signal; and

a second output for outputting the satellite signal.

38. An antenna demultiplexer comprising:

an input capable of simultaneously receiving a radio signal from an AM/FM antenna, and a satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) signal from a SDARS antenna;

a first output for outputting the radio signal; and

a second output for outputting the SDARS signal.

39. The antenna demultiplexer of claim 38, wherein:

the input is further capable of simultaneously receiving a communication signal from a world cell antenna operable to receive AMPS/GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, PCS/GSM1900, and UMTS/AWS communication signals; and

the antenna demultiplexer further comprises a third output for outputting the communication signal.

40. The antenna demultiplexer of claim 39, wherein:

the input is further capable of simultaneously receiving a global positioning satellite (GPS) signal from a GPS antenna; and

the antenna demultiplexer further comprises a fourth output for outputting the GPS signal.

41. An antenna demultiplexer comprising:

an input capable of simultaneously receiving;

a radio signal from an AM/FM antenna;

a communication signal from a world cell antenna operable to receive AMPS/GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, PCS/GSM1900, and UMTS/AWS communication signals; and

a satellite signal from a satellite antenna;

a first output for outputting the radio signal;

a second output for outputting the communication signal; and

a third output for outputting the satellite signal.

42. The antenna demultiplexer of claim 41, wherein:

the satellite signal includes a GPS signal and a satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) signal;

the third output is configured for outputting the GPS signal; and

the demultiplexer further comprises a fourth output for outputting the SDARS signal.