Antenna structures and methods thereof that have disparate operating frequency ranges
View Patent ↗A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a circuit for receiving a request to initiate a first multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) communication session and a second MIMO communication session, and configuring a first antenna configuration and a second antenna configuration to enable the first MIMO communication session and the second MIMO communication session. The first MIMO communication session shares spectrum from the first antenna configuration and the second antenna configuration, and the second MIMO communication session utilizes spectrum from the second antenna configuration that differs from the shared spectrum. Other embodiments are disclosed.
1. An antenna structure, comprising:
a first antenna configuration comprising:
a first plurality of antenna ports;
a first plurality of antenna elements, wherein each of the first plurality of antenna elements is coupled to a different one of the first plurality of antenna ports;
a second antenna configuration comprising:
a second plurality of antenna ports;
a second plurality of antenna elements, wherein each of the second plurality of antenna elements is coupled to a different one of the second plurality of antenna ports;
wherein the first antenna configuration operates in a first one or more frequency bands;
wherein the second antenna configuration operates in a second one or more frequency bands;
wherein the first antenna configuration and the second antenna configuration are utilized in a first multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) communication session and a second MIMO communication session;
wherein the first MIMO communication session utilizes a combination of a first portion of spectrum of the first one or more frequency bands and a second portion of spectrum of the second one or more frequency bands; and
wherein the second MIMO communication session utilizes spectrum from a remainder of spectrum of one of the first one or more frequency bands or the second one or more frequency bands without combining the remainder of spectrum of both the first one or more frequency bands and the second one or more frequency bands.
2. The antenna structure of claim 1 , wherein the first one or more frequency bands comprises a first frequency band and a second frequency band, wherein the second one or more frequency bands comprises the first frequency band.
3. The antenna structure of claim 2 , wherein the first portion of spectrum utilized in the first MIMO communication session comprises the first frequency band of the first one or more frequency bands, wherein the second portion of spectrum utilized in the first MIMO communication session comprises the first frequency band of the second one or more frequency bands.
4. The antenna structure of claim 2 , wherein the remainder of spectrum utilized in the second MIMO communication session comprises the second frequency band of the first one or more frequency bands.
5. The antenna structure of claim 1 , wherein the antenna structure is utilized by a portable device, wherein the portable device engages in the first MIMO communication session with a first base station, wherein the portable device engages in the second MIMO communication session with a second base station.
6. The antenna structure of claim 5 , wherein each of the first base station and the second base station comprise one of a macro cellular base station, a small cellular base station, a micro cellular base station, a pico base station, a femto base station, or a wireless access network, and wherein the portable device comprises a portable computer, a tablet, or a mobile phone.
7. The antenna structure of claim 1 , wherein the first MIMO communication session and the second MIMO communication session take place simultaneously.
8. The antenna structure of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of antenna elements are configured to have a first reduced radio frequency (RF) signal correlation between the first plurality of antenna ports, and wherein the second plurality of antenna elements are configured to have a second reduced RF signal correlation between the first plurality of antenna ports.
9. The antenna structure of claim 8 , wherein the first plurality of antenna elements are configured to combine common mode currents and differential mode currents of the first plurality of antenna elements resulting in the first reduced RF signal correlation between the first plurality of antenna ports, and wherein the second plurality of antenna elements are configured to combine common mode currents and differential mode currents of the second plurality of antenna elements resulting in the second reduced RF signal correlation between the second plurality of antenna ports.
10. A communication device, comprising:
a first antenna configuration comprising:
a first plurality of antenna ports;
a first plurality of antenna elements, wherein each of the first plurality of antenna elements is coupled to a different one of the first plurality of antenna ports;
a second antenna configuration comprising:
a second plurality of antenna ports;
a second plurality of antenna elements, wherein each of the second plurality of antenna elements is coupled to a different one of the second plurality of antenna ports;
wherein the first antenna configuration operates in a first one or more frequency bands;
wherein the second antenna configuration operates in a second one or more frequency bands;
a memory to store instructions; and
a processor coupled to the memory and the first antenna configuration and the second antenna configuration, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, the processer performs operations comprising configuring the first antenna configuration and the second antenna configuration to enable a first multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) communication session and a second MIMO communication session,
wherein the first MIMO communication session utilizes a combination of a first portion of spectrum of the first one or more frequency bands and a second portion of spectrum of the second one or more frequency bands; and
wherein the second MIMO communication session utilizes spectrum from a remainder of spectrum of one of the first one or more frequency bands or the second one or more frequency bands without combining the remainder of spectrum of both the first one or more frequency bands and the second one or more frequency bands.
11. The communication device of claim 10 , wherein the first one or more frequency bands comprises a first frequency band and a second frequency band, wherein the second one or more frequency bands comprises the first frequency band.
12. The communication device of claim 11 , wherein the first portion of spectrum utilized in the first MIMO communication session comprises the first frequency band of the first one or more frequency bands, wherein the second portion of spectrum utilized in the first MIMO communication session comprises the first frequency band of the second one or more frequency bands.
13. The communication device of claim 11 , wherein the remainder of spectrum utilized in the second MIMO communication session comprises the second frequency band of the first one or more frequency bands.
14. The communication device of claim 10 , wherein the communication device engages in the first MIMO communication session with a first base station, wherein the communication device engages in the second MIMO communication session with a second base station.
15. The communication device of claim 14 , wherein each of the first base station and the second base station comprise one of a macro cellular base station, a small cellular base station, a micro cellular base station, a pico base station, a femto base station, or a wireless access network, and wherein the communication device comprises a portable computer, a tablet, or a mobile phone.
16. The communication device of claim 10 , wherein the first MIMO communication session and the second MIMO communication session take place simultaneously.