Abstract:
A switched beam smart antenna apparatus is disclosed including: a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth, a sixth, a seventh, and an eighth beam adjusting elements; a first, a second, a third, and a fourth beam control modules; a first, a second, a third, and a fourth radiation strips positioned within an area surrounded by the first to eighth beam adjusting elements; and a radiation strip control module for selecting either the first and second radiation strips or the third and fourth radiation strips to transmit signals. When the first beam control module conducts the first and second beam adjusting elements, the third beam control module does not conduct the fifth and sixth beam adjusting elements. When the second beam control module conducts the third and fourth beam adjusting elements, the fourth beam control module does not conduct the seventh and eighth beam adjusting elements.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority to Taiwanese Patent Application No. 100134034, filed on Sep. 21, 2011; the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure generally relates to wireless communication technology and, more particularly, to a switched beam smart antenna apparatus and related wireless communication circuit. 
         [0003]    Antenna is an important component of a wireless communication device, but also occupies considerable area and volume of the circuit module due to the physical restriction. Nowadays, the wireless communication devices are designed to have more utilities and functions. Antennas of fixed radiation field are unable to satisfy the requirements of high end products, and thus the use of smart antenna is a trend for many wireless communication devices. 
         [0004]    The gain of an antenna is a crucial factor for achieving better signal communication quality or further transmission range. When the antenna concentrates radiation energy toward a particular direction, signals can be transmitted further and signal quality can be improved. If the wireless communication device is allowed to flexibly adjust the transmission direction of radiation energy of the antenna during operations, the coverage of signal communication can be extended further. 
         [0005]    However, the volume of the antenna would be greatly increased if the antenna is designed to have an adjustable radiation field. This is not complying with the market demands for thinner wireless communication devices. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In view of the foregoing, it can be appreciated that a substantial need exists for apparatuses that can increase the degree of freedom of adjustment for the antenna radiation field while achieving the purpose of thinner wireless communication device. 
         [0007]    An example embodiment of a switched beam smart antenna apparatus is disclosed comprising: a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth, a sixth, a seventh, and an eighth beam adjusting elements; a first, a second, a third, and a fourth radiation strips positioned within an area surrounded by the first to the eighth beam adjusting elements; a radiation strip control module for selecting either the first and the second radiation strips or the third and the fourth radiation strips to transmit signals; a first beam control module coupled with the first and the second beam adjusting elements; a second beam control module coupled with the third and the fourth beam adjusting elements; a third beam control module coupled with the fifth and the sixth beam adjusting elements; and a fourth beam control module coupled with the seventh and the eighth beam adjusting elements; wherein when the first beam control module conducts the first and second beam adjusting elements, the third beam control module does not conduct the fifth and sixth beam adjusting elements, and when the second beam control module conducts the third and fourth beam adjusting elements, the fourth beam control module does not conduct the seventh and eighth beam adjusting elements. 
         [0008]    Another example embodiment of a switched beam smart antenna apparatus is disclosed comprising: a plurality of beam adjusting elements; a plurality of beam control modules, each of which coupled with two of the plurality of beam adjusting elements; a plurality of radiation strips positioned within an area surrounded by the plurality of beam adjusting elements and arranged in a Y-Shape pattern, a T-Shape pattern, or an L-shape pattern; and a radiation strip control module, coupled with the plurality of radiation strips, for selecting only a portion of the plurality of radiation strips to transmit signals at a time; wherein when the radiation strip control module selects a portion of the plurality of radiation strips to transmit signals, at least one of the plurality of beam control modules conducts coupled beam adjusting elements, and the other beam control modules do not conduct coupled beam adjusting elements. 
         [0009]    An example embodiment of a wireless communication circuit for receiving signals through a switched beam smart antenna apparatus is disclosed. The smart antenna apparatus comprises a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth, a sixth, a seventh, and an eighth beam adjusting elements; a first, a second, a third, and a fourth radiation strips positioned within an area surrounded by the first to the eighth beam adjusting elements; a radiation strip control module; a first beam control module coupled with the first and the second beam adjusting elements; a second beam control module coupled with the third and the fourth beam adjusting elements; a third beam control module coupled with the fifth and the sixth beam adjusting elements; and a fourth beam control module coupled with the seventh and the eighth beam adjusting elements. The wireless communication circuit comprises: a signal processing circuit for processing signals received by the smart antenna apparatus; and a control circuit, coupled with the signal processing circuit, for controlling the radiation strip control module to select either the first and the second radiation strips or the third and the fourth radiation strips to transmit signals, and for controlling operations of the first to the fourth beam control modules; wherein when the control circuit controls the first beam control module to conduct the first and the second beam adjusting elements, the control circuit controls the third beam control module not to conduct the fifth and the sixth beam adjusting elements, and when the control circuit controls the second beam control module to conduct the third and the fourth beam adjusting elements, the control circuit controls the fourth beam control module not to conduct the seventh and the eighth beam adjusting elements. 
         [0010]    Another example embodiment of a wireless communication circuit for receiving signals through a switched beam smart antenna apparatus is disclosed. The smart antenna apparatus comprises: a plurality of beam adjusting elements; a plurality of beam control modules; a plurality of radiation strips positioned within an area surrounded by the plurality of beam adjusting elements and arranged in a Y-Shape pattern, a T-shape pattern, or an L-shape pattern; and a radiation strip control module; wherein each of the plurality of beam control modules is coupled with two of the plurality of beam adjusting elements. The wireless communication circuit comprises: a signal processing circuit for processing signals received by the smart antenna apparatus; and a control circuit, coupled with the signal processing circuit, for controlling the radiation strip control module to select only a portion of the plurality of radiation strips to transmit signals, and for controlling operations of the plurality of beam control modules; wherein when the radiation strip control module selects a portion of the plurality of radiation strips to transmit signals, the control circuit controls at least one of the plurality of beam control modules to conduct coupled beam adjusting elements, and controls the other beam control modules not to conduct coupled beam adjusting elements. 
         [0011]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are example and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic diagram of a wireless communication device in accordance with an example embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  through  FIG. 5  are schematic diagrams of different radiation fields of the wireless communication device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  through  FIG. 8  are simplified schematic diagrams of wireless communication devices in accordance with other example embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers may be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts or components/operations. 
         [0016]    Certain terms are used throughout the description and following claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, a component may be referred by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not in function. In the following description and in the claims, the term “comprise” is used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “include, but not limited to . . . ” Also, the phrase “coupled with” is intended to compass any indirect or direct connection. Accordingly, if this document mentioned that a first device is coupled with a second device, it means that the first device may be directly or indirectly connected to the second device through electrical connections, wireless communications, optical communications, or other signal connections with/without other intermediate devices or connection means. 
         [0017]    As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. In addition, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” as used herein are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
         [0018]    Throughout the description and following claims, it will be understood that when an component is referred to as being “positioned on,” “positioned above,” “connected to,” or “engaged with” another component, it can be directly on, connected, or engaged with the other component or intervening component may be present. In contrast, when a component is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” or “directly engaged with” another component, there are no intervening components present. 
         [0019]    Please refer to  FIG. 1 , which shows a simplified schematic diagram of a wireless communication device  100  in accordance with an example embodiment. The wireless communication device  100  comprises a switched beam high-gain smart antenna apparatus  110  and a wireless communication circuit  120  positioned on a substrate  102 . As shown, the wireless communication circuit  120  comprises a signal processing circuit  122  and a control circuit  124 . The signal processing circuit  122  is coupled with the smart antenna apparatus  110  to process signals received by the smart antenna apparatus  110 . The control circuit  124  is coupled with the signal processing circuit  122  and the smart antenna apparatus  110  to control the operations of the smart antenna apparatus  110 . 
         [0020]    In this embodiment, the smart antenna apparatus  110  comprises eight beam adjusting elements  131 ,  132 ,  133 ,  134 ,  135 ,  136 ,  137 , and  138 , and four beam control modules  141 ,  142 ,  143 , and  144 . Each of the beam control modules is coupled between two beam adjusting elements to determine whether to conduct the two coupled beam adjusting elements. For example, the beam control module  141  is coupled between the beam adjusting elements  131  and  132 , and the beam control module  142  is coupled between the beam adjusting elements  133  and  134 , and so forth. The smart antenna apparatus  110  further comprises four radiation strips  151 ,  152 ,  153 , and  154  positioned within an area surrounded by the beam adjusting elements  131 - 138 , and a radiation strip control module  160  coupled with the radiation strips  151 - 154 . 
         [0021]    For the sake of brevity, other components of the wireless communication device  100  and control signals between the wireless communication circuit  120  and the smart antenna apparatus  110  are omitted in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0022]    In the smart antenna apparatus  110 , each of the beam adjusting elements  131 ,  132 ,  135 , and  136  has an equivalent current path of a length which is greater than a length of an equivalent current path of the radiation strip  151  or the radiation strip  152 , but is less than or equal to a total length of the equivalent current path of the radiation strip  151  and the equivalent current path of the radiation strip  152 . A total length of the equivalent current path of the beam adjusting element  131  and the equivalent current path of the beam adjusting element  132  is greater than the total length of the equivalent current path of the radiation strip  151  and the equivalent current path of the radiation strip  152 . A total length of the equivalent current path of the beam adjusting element  135  and the equivalent current path of the beam adjusting element  136  is also greater than the total length of the equivalent current path of the radiation strip  151  and the equivalent current path of the radiation strip  152 . In addition, each of the beam adjusting elements  133 ,  134 ,  137 , and  138  has an equivalent current path of a length which is greater than a length of an equivalent current path of the radiation strip  153  or the radiation strip  154 , but is less than or equal to a total length of the equivalent current path of the radiation strip  153  and the equivalent current path of the radiation strip  154 . 
         [0023]    A total length of the equivalent current path of the beam adjusting element  133  and the equivalent current path of the beam adjusting element  134  is greater than the total length of the equivalent current path of the radiation strip  153  and the equivalent current path of the radiation strip  154 . A total length of the equivalent current path of the beam adjusting element  137  and the equivalent current path of the beam adjusting element  138  is also greater than the total length of the equivalent current path of the radiation strip  153  and the equivalent current path of the radiation strip  154 . 
         [0024]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the radiation strips  151  and  152  are aligned to form a dipole antenna. The radiation strips  153  and  154  are aligned and perpendicular to the radiation strips  151  and  152  to form another dipole antenna. Additionally, the two beam adjusting elements coupled with each beam control module are also aligned. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the beam adjusting element  131 , the radiation strip  151 , and the beam adjusting element  136  are parallel arranged, and the radiation strip  151  is positioned between the beam adjusting element  131  and the beam adjusting element  136 . A gap between the radiation strip  151  and the beam adjusting element  131  is substantially the same as a gap between the radiation strip  151  and the beam adjusting element  136 . In addition, the beam adjusting element  133 , the radiation strip  153 , and the beam adjusting element  138  are parallel arranged, and the radiation strip  153  is positioned between the beam adjusting element  133  and the beam adjusting element  138 . A gap between the radiation strip  153  and the beam adjusting element  133  is substantially the same as a gap between the radiation strip  153  and the beam adjusting element  138 . 
         [0025]    In operations, the wireless communication circuit  120  may select the dipole antenna formed by the radiation strips  151  and  152  to cooperate with the beam adjusting elements  131 ,  132 ,  135 , and  136  to transmit or receive signals. Alternatively, the wireless communication circuit  120  may select the dipole antenna formed by the radiation strips  153  and  154  to cooperate with the beam adjusting elements  133 ,  134 ,  137 , and  138  to transmit or receive signals. In one embodiment, the control circuit  124  of the wireless communication circuit  120  controls the radiation strip control module  160  to select either the dipole antenna formed by the radiation strips  151  and  152  or the dipole antenna formed by the radiation strips  153  and  154  to transmit or receive signals. 
         [0026]    When the radiation strip control module  160  selects the dipole antenna formed by the radiation strips  151  and  152  to transmit signals, the control circuit  124  may control the switching operations of the beam control modules  141  and  143  to change the transmitting direction of the radiation energy of the dipole antenna formed by the radiation strips  151  and  152 . For example,  FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of radiation field of the smart antenna apparatus  110  for the case where the control circuit  124  controls the beam control module  141  to conduct the beam adjusting elements  131  and  132 , and controls the beam control module  143  not to conduct the beam adjusting elements  135  and  136 .  FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of radiation field of the smart antenna apparatus  110  for the case where the control circuit  124  controls the beam control module  143  to conduct the beam adjusting elements  135  and  136 , and controls the beam control module  141  not to conduct the beam adjusting elements  131  and  132 . 
         [0027]    When the radiation strip control module  160  selects the dipole antenna formed by the radiation strips  153  and  154  to transmit signals, the control circuit  124  may control the switching operations of the beam control modules  142  and  144  to change the transmitting direction of the radiation energy of the dipole antenna formed by the radiation strips  153  and  154 . For example,  FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of radiation field of the smart antenna apparatus  110  for the case where the control circuit  124  controls the beam control module  142  to conduct the beam adjusting elements  133  and  134 , and controls the beam control module  144  not to conduct the beam adjusting elements  137  and  138 .  FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of radiation field of the smart antenna apparatus  110  for the case where the control circuit  124  controls the beam control module  144  to conduct the beam adjusting elements  137  and  138 , and controls the beam control module  142  not to conduct the beam adjusting elements  133  and  134 . 
         [0028]    In addition, when the beam control module  141  conducts the beam adjusting elements  131  and  132 , the control circuit  124  may control the beam control module  142  not to conduct the beam adjusting elements  133  and  134 , and control the beam control module  144  not to conduct the beam adjusting elements  137  and  138 . Alternatively, the control circuit  124  may control the beam control module  142  to conduct the beam adjusting elements  133  and  134 , and control the beam control module  144  to conduct the beam adjusting elements  137  and  138 . In this two situations, the radiation fields of the smart antenna apparatus  110  may have slight difference. 
         [0029]    As can be seen from the foregoing descriptions, the control circuit  124  may control the radiation strip control module  160  and the switching operations of the beam control modules  141 - 144  to change the radiation field and transmitting direction of radiation energy of the smart antenna apparatus  110 . As a result, the signal coverage of the smart antenna apparatus  110  can be extended by using the previous approaches to switch the radiation beams of the smart antenna apparatus  110 , thereby increasing the communication range of the wireless communication device  100 . Additionally, the wireless communication device  100  may adopt the previous approaches to select a best signal channel in a multipath reflective area to greatly improve the signal communication quality. 
         [0030]    Please refer to  FIG. 6 , which shows a simplified schematic diagram of a wireless communication device  600  in accordance with another example embodiment. A switched beam high-gain smart antenna apparatus  610  of the wireless communication device  600  has a similar structure as the previous smart antenna apparatus  110 . Accordingly, the description regarding the operations and implementations for the components of the smart antenna apparatus  110  is also applicable to the embodiment of  FIG. 6 . Compared to the smart antenna apparatus  110 , the smart antenna apparatus  610  further comprises four outer beam adjusting elements  631 ,  632 ,  633 , and  634 . 
         [0031]    Each of the outer beam adjusting elements  631  and  633  has an equivalent current path of a length less than or equal to a total length of an equivalent current path of the radiation strip  151  and an equivalent current path of the radiation strip  152 . In addition, each of the outer beam adjusting elements  632  and  634  has an equivalent current path of a length less than or equal to a total length of an equivalent current path of the radiation strip  153  and an equivalent current path of the radiation strip  154 . 
         [0032]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the outer beam adjusting element  631 , the radiation strip  151 , and the outer beam adjusting element  633  are parallel arranged, and a gap between the radiation strip  151  and the outer beam adjusting element  631  is substantially the same as a gap between the radiation strip  151  and the outer beam adjusting element  633 . Additionally, the outer beam adjusting element  632 , the radiation strip  153 , and the outer beam adjusting element  634  are parallel arranged, and a gap between the radiation strip  153  and the outer beam adjusting element  632  is substantially the same as a gap between the radiation strip  153  and the outer beam adjusting element  634 . 
         [0033]    When the radiation strip control module  160  selects the dipole antenna formed by the radiation strips  151  and  152  to transmit signals, the presence of the outer beam adjusting element  631  or  633  would further concentrate the radiation energy of the dipole antenna formed by the radiation strips  151  and  152 . For example, when the beam control module  141  conducts the beam adjusting elements  131  and  132 , but the beam control module  143  does not conduct the beam adjusting elements  135  and  136 , since the length of equivalent current path of each of the beam adjusting element  135 , the beam adjusting element  136 , and the outer beam adjusting element  633  is less than or equal to the total length of the equivalent current path of the radiation strip  151  and the equivalent current path of the radiation strip  152 , the radiation energy of the dipole antenna formed by the radiation strips  151  and  152  would further concentrate toward the direction of the outer beam adjusting element  633 . 
         [0034]    Similarly, when the radiation strip control module  160  selects the dipole antenna formed by the radiation strips  153  and  154  to transmit signals, the presence of the outer beam adjusting element  632  or  634  would further concentrate the radiation energy of the dipole antenna formed by the radiation strips  153  and  154 . For example, when the beam control module  142  conducts the beam adjusting elements  133  and  134 , but the beam control module  144  does not conduct the beam adjusting elements  137  and  138 , since the length of equivalent current path of each of the beam adjusting element  137 , the beam adjusting element  138 , and the outer beam adjusting element  634  is less than or equal to the total length of the equivalent current path of the radiation strip  153  and the equivalent current path of the radiation strip  154 , the radiation energy of the dipole antenna formed by the radiation strips  153  and  154  would further concentrate toward the direction of the outer beam adjusting element  634 . 
         [0035]    With the outer beam adjusting elements  631 ,  632 ,  633 , and  634 , the control circuit  124  is capable of further concentrating the radiation energy of the smart antenna apparatus  610 . As a result, the signal coverage of the smart antenna apparatus  610  can be extended, thereby increasing the transmission range of the wireless communication device  600  and improving the signal communication quality. 
         [0036]    In implementations, the number and positions of the radiation strips, the beam adjusting elements, and the beam control modules of the smart antenna apparatus are not restricted by the previous embodiments. For example, in an embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , some components of the smart antenna apparatus  610  are omitted in a smart antenna apparatus  710  of a wireless communication device  700 . 
         [0037]    In some embodiments, the radiation strips of the smart antenna apparatus may be arranged in a Y-Shape pattern, a T-Shape pattern, or an L-shape pattern depending upon the circuitry design requirements. For example, in a wireless communication device  800  shown in  FIG. 8 , a smart antenna apparatus  810  comprises six beam adjusting elements  831 ,  832 ,  833 ,  834 ,  835 , and  836  arranged in the form of a triangle; three radiation strips  851 ,  852 , and  853  positioned within an area defined by the beam adjusting elements  831836  and arranged in a Y-Shape pattern; three beam control modules  841 ,  842 , and  843 ; and a radiation strip control module  860 . In the wireless communication device  800 , the control circuit  124  controls the radiation strip control module  860  to select only a portion of the radiation strips  851 - 853  to transmit signals at a time. Simultaneously, the control circuit  124  controls at least one beam control module of the beam control modules  841 - 843  to conduct coupled beam adjusting elements, but controls the other beam control modules not to conduct coupled beam adjusting elements. 
         [0038]    Each of the radiation strips and the beam adjusting elements in the previous embodiments may be a flat metal strip or a printed strip formed on the substrate  102 . In some embodiments, each of the radiation strips and the beam adjusting elements in the previous embodiments may be realized by printed strips. In addition, each of the radiation strips and beam adjusting elements may be formed in a straight pattern, an L-shape pattern, or an h-shape pattern. In implementations, all radiation strips and beam adjusting elements of each of the previous smart antenna apparatus may be positioned on the same plane of the substrate  102 , such as a plane  104 . Alternatively, it is allowed to position some of the radiation strips and beam adjusting elements on a particular plane, such as the plane  104 , of the substrate  102 , while positioning the other radiation strips and beam adjusting elements on another plane, such as a plane  106 , of the substrate  102 , to increase the layout flexibility of the antenna apparatus. In addition, each of the previous beam control modules and radiation strip control modules may be a switching circuit realized by diodes, transistors, or micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS). 
         [0039]    The disclosed switched beam smart antenna apparatus may be applied in various wireless communication devices, such as a wireless network card, a wireless access point (AP), and any other home appliance capable of supporting wireless communication operations, such as a TV or a DVD player. In addition, since the radiation strips and beam adjusting elements of the disclosed smart antenna apparatus can be implemented with a flat structure, the entire antenna apparatus can be realized in a very thin structure, and thus the disclosed antenna apparatus is very suitable to be applied in any wireless communication device with a thin profile, such as a notebook computer, a tablet PC, an e-book, and the like. 
         [0040]    Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.