Configurable Antenna for Software Defined Radio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless devices are limited in their ability to seamlessly switch between different wireless technologies and frequency ranges, leading to inefficiencies in communication, especially when interacting with devices using various wireless standards.
Innovation Solution
A computing device equipped with a programmable antenna and a software defined radio (SDR) that can be configured under program control to support multiple wireless technologies, using a separate control plane and data plane architecture to adjust operating parameters and select appropriate antenna configurations dynamically, allowing for concurrent communication across different frequencies and bandwidths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple radios are used to support different wireless technologies, then wireless technology compatibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a single radio that can function as multiple different wireless radios by dynamically reconfiguring its operating parameters. The radio supports Wi-Fi, WiMAX, Bluetooth, and HSDPA technologies sequentially through software control, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated radio hardware components while maintaining compatibility with various wireless standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The radio is designed with dynamic reconfiguration capability that allows it to change its operating characteristics in real-time. The radio can switch between different wireless technologies and frequency ranges by adjusting its parameters under software control, making a static hardware component behave dynamically to meet different communication requirements.
2Device complexity
If a predefined radio configuration is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different wireless technologies deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The radio supports different wireless technologies by changing its operating parameters such as frequency, bandwidth, and modulation schemes. The same hardware radio can be reconfigured for Wi-Fi at 2.4 GHz, WiMAX at higher frequencies, or Bluetooth at lower powers simply by adjusting its parameters through software, without requiring different hardware for each technology.
3Reliability
If antenna elements are selectively activated, then communication effectiveness is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system dynamically selects and activates specific antenna elements based on the current wireless technology and frequency being used. The control logic automatically determines the optimal antenna configuration for each radio mode, making the antenna system adaptive to different communication requirements without requiring manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the radio configuration state to control antenna element selection. When the radio is configured for a specific wireless technology and frequency range, the control system receives this information and automatically activates the appropriate antenna elements that are optimized for those parameters, ensuring effective communication.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device with a configurable antenna. The antenna is configured through a switching circuit operating under software control. Operating characteristics of the antenna are configured based on connections between conducting segments established by the switching circuit, allowing the nominal frequency, bandwidth or other characteristics of the antenna to be configured. Because the switching is software controlled, the configurable antenna may be integrated with a software defined radio. The radio and antenna can be reconfigured to support communication according to different wireless technologies at different times or to interleave packets according to different wireless technologies to support concurrent sessions using different wireless technologies.