Shared WLAN-WWAN Antenna Switching for Wider Signal Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems waste idle WWAN antennas when the WWAN function is disabled, limiting the effective range of both WLAN and WWAN signals without increasing antenna size or space.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication system that integrates WWAN and WLAN antennas and uses a switch device to dynamically connect idle WWAN antennas to the WLAN module, allowing them to transmit and receive WLAN signals, thereby optimizing antenna usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate antennas are allocated for WLAN and WWAN modules, then each module has dedicated antennas for signal transmission, but idle WWAN antennas are wasted when WWAN function is disabled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements antenna sharing between WLAN and WWAN modules through a switch device, allowing the same physical antennas to serve multiple communication functions. The switch device dynamically connects antennas to either WLAN or WWAN module based on operational needs, making the antenna system universal and adaptable to different communication modes without requiring separate dedicated antennas for each function.
2Length of moving object
If antenna quantity is increased to expand coverage range, then signal receiving and transmission range is improved, but device space and antenna size must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the antenna resources of WLAN and WWAN modules into a shared pool, allowing both communication systems to utilize the same physical antennas through time-division or mode-based switching. This combining approach effectively doubles the available antenna resources for WLAN without requiring additional physical space, as the WWAN antennas are repurposed for WLAN when WWAN is not in use.
3Ease of operation
If dedicated antennas are assigned to each module, then module independence is maintained, but resource utilization efficiency decreases when one module is inactive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic antenna allocation through a switch device that can reconfigure antenna connections based on real-time operational status of WLAN and WWAN modules. When WWAN is disabled, the switch dynamically redirects those antennas to serve WLAN, optimizing resource utilization. This dynamic switching mechanism maintains module independence during active operation while maximizing resource efficiency during idle periods.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communication system includes: a WLAN module that transmits and receives a first wireless signal through a plurality of first antennas, and a WWAN module that transmits and receives a second wireless signal through a plurality of second antennas. One ends of a switch device are connected to the first antennas and the second antennas, and other ends are connected to the WLAN module and the WWAN module. The WLAN module is electrically connected to the first antennas through the switch device, and the switch device selectively switches the second antennas to be electrically connected to the WLAN module or the WWAN module. When the WWAN module is turned off, the switch device connects the second antennas to the WLAN module, so that the WLAN module selectively transmits and receives the first wireless signal through the first antennas and the second antennas.