Switchable Antenna Elements for Wireless Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices face signal attenuation due to human body parts, such as hands and arms, which absorb or redirect radio frequency signals, affecting wireless communication transmission and reception.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communications device with multiple switchable antenna elements that can determine and adjust characteristics like amplitude, phase, and impedance to optimize signal transmission and reception, using processing circuitry to select and control antennas based on reflected RF signals for improved communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple antennas are distributed around the device housing, then signal transmission and reception reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is divided into multiple independent antenna elements distributed around the device housing. Each antenna element can be independently controlled and switched, allowing the system to segment the communication function across multiple physical locations to improve reliability while managing complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna system incorporates dynamic switching capability where the RF transceiver can selectively activate different antenna elements based on real-time signal conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize performance by switching between antennas depending on which ones are least affected by human body attenuation at any given moment
2Ease of manufacture
If antennas are embedded within the device housing, then device integration is improved, but signal transmission is worsened due to human body attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
Different antenna elements are positioned at specific locations around the device housing where they are least likely to be blocked by human body parts. The system assigns different functional roles to different antenna elements based on their spatial characteristics, with some optimized for front-facing communications and others for rear or side communications
Solution Approach 2:
The RF transceiver continuously monitors signal quality and attenuation patterns for each antenna element and uses this feedback to dynamically switch between antennas. When human body parts attenuate signals from certain antennas, the system detects this degradation and switches to alternative antennas that maintain positive link margin
3Measurement precision
If RF transceiver transmits reference signals to all antennas, then signal characteristics can be determined, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuously monitoring all antenna elements, the RF transceiver performs reference signal transmission and characteristic determination only periodically or when signal quality degradation is detected. This partial monitoring approach reduces energy consumption while still maintaining adequate knowledge of antenna characteristics for effective switching decisions
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 communication reliability by minimizing signal attenuation from human body parts, increasing the read range of RFID tags and maintaining a positive link margin for data, location, and voice communications.
Implementation Method 1
Mobile communications devices communicate wirelessly with various types of devices, such as base stations, satellites and other wireless devices, using any of a number of wireless protocols using electromagnetic waves as RF signals
Implementation Method 2
human body parts, such as hands and arms, may attenuate the signal produced from a transmitter and/or may attenuate signals transmitted by other devices, e.g., due the absorption/redirection of radio frequency signals on the human body
Implementation Method 3
determine at least one characteristic of the RF reference signal reflected back from each of the plurality of antennas
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communications device includes multiple switchable antenna elements that may be used to improve interfacing of the wireless communications device with other devices, such as for interfacing of an RFID-equipped mobile communications device with other RFID devices (e.g., to better ensure power delivery to and/or communication with such other RFID devices) and/or may be used to characterize various aspects of the environment around the wireless communications device, such as for proximity-based functionality.