Directional Coupler and Tunable Load Isolation for Co-Located Antennas

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Solution Overview

Problem

Co-located antennas in mobile communication devices experience interference due to signal coupling, degrading the signal quality at receiving transceivers.

Innovation Solution

Implementing directional couplers and tunable loads connected to multiple antennas of a transmitting transceiver to isolate and cancel interference signals, using reflection coefficients to determine the construction of tunable loads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple antennas are co-located in a mobile communication device, then the device can support multiple wireless technologies and improve functionality, but signal coupling between proximate antennas causes interference and degrades signal quality at receiving transceivers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport for multiple wireless technologiesVSAvoidsignal interference and coupling

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces directional couplers as intermediary components between the transmitting and receiving transceivers. These couplers selectively couple signals from specific antennas while isolating the receiving transceiver from interfering signals, thereby mediating the interaction between multiple antennas and the receiver to eliminate harmful coupling effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs tunable loads with variable impedance that can be adjusted to different states. By changing the impedance parameters of these loads based on which antenna is transmitting, the system dynamically controls signal coupling paths, allowing the receiving transceiver to maintain high signal quality regardless of which antenna is active

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If directional couplers and tunable loads are added to isolate transmitting signals from the receiving transceiver, then signal quality and signal-to-interference ratio are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal quality and signal-to-interference ratioVSAvoidnumber of components and circuitry

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The directional couplers are designed to perform multiple functions: they isolate transmitting signals from the receiving transceiver, enable the receiving transceiver to access signals from multiple antennas, and work in conjunction with tunable loads to provide dynamic interference cancellation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses tunable loads with dynamically adjustable impedance that can be reconfigured based on which antenna is transmitting. This dynamic adaptation allows the same hardware configuration to optimize performance for different transmission scenarios, maintaining high signal quality without requiring separate fixed configurations for each antenna

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances signal quality at receiving transceivers by reducing or eliminating interference, maintaining a higher signal-to-interference ratio.

Implementation Method 1

A first directional coupler is operably connected to the first transceiver. A second directional coupler is operably connected to the first transceiver. The second transceiver is operably connected to the first directional coupler and to the second directional coupler.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDirectional coupling:

Implementation Method 2

Each directional coupler isolates a transmitted signal away from the receiving transceiver while still allowing the receiving transceiver to receive an intended signal. Additionally, each tunable load is constructed based on a reflection coefficient (Γ) that is determined for that tunable load.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

The tunable loads cancel or reduce interferences that are experienced by the receiving transmitter when the co-located transmitting transceiver is transmitting one or more signals using any number of the multiple antennas.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS12609721B2Isolation provision from multiple antennas to a single antenna

Publication Date: 2026.04.21 QORVO US INC

AI summary

A directional coupler is operably connected to each antenna of a transmitting transceiver that has multiple antennas, and a tunable load is operably connected to each directional coupler. The directional couplers act to couple a co-located receiving transceiver to the antennas of the transmitting transceiver. Each tunable load is constructed based on a reflection coefficient (Γ) that is determined for that tunable load, in that the type of components and/or the values of some or all of the components that are used in the tunable load are determined based on the reflection coefficient (Γ) associated with that tunable load. The tunable loads cancel or reduce interferences experienced by the co-located receiving transceiver when the transmitting transceiver is transmitting using at least one of the multiple antennas.