Patent ID: 7848386

Claim:
A (radio frequency) RF transmission system comprising: an RF transmitter that generates an RF signal at a sequence of selected carrier frequencies; a frequency hop module, coupled to the RF transmitter, that generates the sequence of selected carrier frequencies; a programmable antenna, coupled to the frequency hop module and the RF transmitter, that is tuned to each of the sequence of selected carrier frequencies to transmit the RF signal via an antenna current wherein the programmable antenna includes: a fixed antenna element; a programmable antenna element, coupled to the fixed antenna element, that is tunable to each of the sequence of selected carrier frequencies in response to at least one antenna control signal; a control module, coupled to the programmable antenna element, that generates the at least one antenna control signal in response to the sequence of selected carrier frequencies; and a programmable impedance matching network, coupled to the programmable antenna and the RF transmitter, that includes a plurality of adjustable reactive network elements that are tunable in response in response to a corresponding plurality of matching network control signals, to provide a substantially constant load impedance; wherein the control module is coupled to the programmable impedance matching network, and generates the plurality of matching network control signals in response to the sequence of carrier frequencies and wherein the control module is further operable to generate the plurality of matching network control signals in response to a selected magnitude of the antenna current and a selected phase of the antenna current.