Patent ID: 8525748

Claim:
A variable directivity antenna apparatus comprising: four parasitic elements including first, second, third and fourth parasitic elements; three antenna elements each provided in proximity to three parasitic elements of the four parasitic elements so as to be electromagnetically coupled to the three parasitic elements; and four switches connected to the four parasitic elements, respectively, each switch being switchable to change whether or not its respective parasitic element is connected to ground, wherein the three antenna elements and the first to third parasitic elements are located in a regular hexagon pattern such that each of the three antenna elements and each of the first to third parasitic elements are alternately located substantially at respective vertexes of the hexagon pattern, wherein the fourth parasitic element is located substantially at a center of the hexagon pattern, wherein the variable directivity antenna apparatus further comprises a controller for changing a radiation pattern from the variable directivity antenna apparatus by outputting four control signals for turning on or off the four switches, respectively, to change whether or not the four parasitic elements, respectively, operate as reflectors.