Patent ID: 8581789

Claim:
An antenna system adapted for use with a wireless communication device, comprising: a first active modal antenna capable of selective operation about a plurality of modes, wherein each of said plurality of modes generates a distinct antenna radiation pattern resulting from the first active modal antenna; and a processor coupled to the active modal antenna; the first active modal antenna comprising: a radiating structure disposed above a circuit board and forming an antenna volume therebetween; a parasitic element positioned adjacent to the radiating structure; and an active element coupled to the parasitic element; wherein said active element is configured for one or more of: adjusting a reactance of the parasitic element, or shorting the parasitic element to ground; the processor adapted to be further coupled to a plurality of sensors disposed about the wireless communication device, wherein the plurality of sensors are configured to determine a present use case of a plurality of possible use cases of the device; and the processor being configured to access a lookup table containing data relating each of the plurality of possible use cases with a corresponding antenna mode of the plurality of modes for achieving optimum antenna performance; wherein the antenna system is configured to determine the present use case of the device using the sensors, lookup the corresponding antenna mode associated with the present use case of the device for achieving optimum antenna performance, and configure the active modal antenna to function in the corresponding antenna mode.