MIMO RF Antenna Architectures for High VSWR and Carrier Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communications devices require RF circuitry that is low cost, small, simple, flexible, and efficient to support multiple wireless protocols while minimizing size, cost, and power consumption, especially under high voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) conditions and for carrier aggregation.
Innovation Solution
The RF communications circuitry employs multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) RF antenna architectures with diversity antennas and both highband and lowband antennas to improve performance during high VSWR conditions and enable carrier aggregation by splitting signals into separate bands for simultaneous transmissions and receptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single RF antenna is used, then the device size is minimized, but the device cannot support multiple wireless protocols or handle high VSWR conditions effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple RF antenna elements (first, second, third, and fourth antenna elements) into a single integrated RF circuitry structure. These antennas are arranged in pairs where the first and second antenna elements form one group, and the third and fourth antenna elements form another group, with perpendicular orientations between the groups. This merging approach enables support for multiple wireless protocols and carrier aggregation while maintaining a compact form factor that minimizes overall device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The RF circuitry is designed with multi-functional capability by incorporating four antenna elements that can operate in different configurations. The first pair of antenna elements can handle one set of frequency bands while the second pair handles another set, allowing the same RF circuitry to support multiple wireless communication standards and protocols simultaneously, thereby achieving universality without requiring separate dedicated antennas for each protocol.
2Reliability
If diversity RF antennas are added to improve VSWR performance, then the reliability under high VSWR conditions is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is segmented into distinct functional groups: the first and second antenna elements form one segment, while the third and fourth antenna elements form another segment. The first segment is oriented along a first axis and the second segment along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. This segmentation allows each group to handle specific frequency bands or communication protocols independently, improving VSWR performance through diversity while keeping the overall architecture organized and manageable rather than overly complex.
3Adaptability or versatility
If carrier aggregation with multiple bands is implemented, then the communication performance and flexibility are improved, but the RF circuitry complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple RF antenna elements into a unified RF circuitry structure that can perform carrier aggregation across different frequency bands. By combining the functionality of multiple antennas and their associated circuitry into a single integrated system, the design enables simultaneous operation on multiple bands (improving adaptability for carrier aggregation) while reducing overall power consumption compared to having separate independent antenna systems for each band.
Data Source
AI summary
RF communications circuitry, which includes a first RF antenna element, a second RF antenna element, a third RF antenna element, and a fourth RF antenna element is disclosed. The first RF antenna element is proximal to the second RF antenna element. The third RF antenna element is proximal to the fourth RF antenna element. A primary axis of the first RF antenna element is about perpendicular to a primary axis of one of the third RF antenna element and the fourth RF antenna element.