Method and system for sharing antennas for high frequency and low frequency applications
Aspects of a method and system for sharing antennas for high frequency and low frequency applications may include configuring a multi-frequency antenna system by coupling a plurality of antennas together communicatively via one or more frequency-dependent coupling elements. Radio signals may be received and/or transmitted on one or more radio frequencies via said configured multi-frequency antenna system. The one or more frequency-dependent coupling elements may be frequency-tunable, and may comprise microstrips, transmission lines, and/or RLC circuits. The multi-frequency antenna system may be configured for concurrent operation or time-division duplex operation during the transmitting and/or the receiving. The one or more radio frequencies may operate concurrently or in time-division duplex. The radio signals for transmission may be generated in one or more radio frequency front-ends, and the received radio signals may be demodulated in one or more radio frequency front-ends.
1. A method, comprising:
receiving and/or transmitting radio signals on a plurality of radio frequencies via a configured multi-frequency antenna system, wherein:
said multi-frequency antenna system comprises a plurality of antennas coupled together via one or more frequency dependent coupling elements such that:
said plurality of antennas function as a single antenna for a first portion of said plurality of radio frequencies such that received and/or transmitted signals in said first portion of said plurality of radio frequencies are coupled from one or more radio frequency front-ends to each of said plurality of antennas via a single input/output; and
said plurality of antennas function as a plurality of antennas for a second portion of said plurality of radio frequencies such that received and/or transmitted signals in said second portion of said plurality of radio frequencies are coupled separately to each of said plurality of antennas via a respective one of a corresponding plurality of input/outputs from said one or more radio frequency front ends.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more frequency-dependent coupling elements are frequency-tunable.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more frequency-dependent coupling elements comprise microstrips and/or transmission lines.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more frequency dependent coupling elements are RLC circuits.
5. The method according to claim 1 , comprising configuring said multi-frequency antenna system for concurrent operation or time-division duplex operation during said transmitting and/or said receiving.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more radio frequencies operate concurrently or in time-division duplex.
7. The method according to claim 1 , comprising generating said radio signals for transmission in said one or more radio frequency front-ends.
8. The method according to claim 1 , comprising demodulating said received radio signals in said one or more radio frequency front-ends.
9. The method according to claim 8 , comprising converting received radio frequency (RF) signals to intermediate frequency (IF) signals during said demodulation.
10. The method according to claim 8 , comprising converting received radio frequency (RF) signals to baseband signals during said demodulation.
11. A system, comprising:
one or more circuits comprising a plurality of antennas and one or more frequency-dependent coupling elements, said one or more circuits enabled to:
receive and/or transmit radio signals on a plurality of radio frequencies, wherein:
said plurality of antennas are coupled together via said one or more frequency dependent coupling elements such that:
said plurality of antennas function as a single antenna for a first portion of said a plurality of radio frequencies such that received and/or transmitted signals in said first portion of said plurality of radio frequencies are coupled from one or more radio frequency front-ends to each of said plurality of antennas via a single input/output; and
said plurality of antennas function as a plurality of antennas for a second portion of said a plurality of radio frequencies such that received and/or transmitted signals in said second portion of said plurality of radio frequencies are separately coupled to each of said plurality of antennas via a respective one of a corresponding plurality of input/outputs from said one or more radio frequency front ends.
12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more frequency-dependent coupling elements are frequency-tunable.
13. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more frequency-dependent coupling elements comprise microstrips and/or transmission lines.
14. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more frequency dependent coupling elements are RLC circuits.
15. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits configure said multi-frequency antenna system for concurrent operation or time-division duplex operation during said transmitting and/or said receiving.
16. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said a plurality of radio frequencies operate concurrently or in time-division duplex.
17. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits generate said radio signals for transmission in said one or more radio frequency front-ends.
18. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits demodulate said received radio signals in said one or more radio frequency front-ends.
19. The system according to claim 18 , wherein said one or more circuits convert received radio frequency (RF) signals to intermediate frequency (IF) signals during said demodulation.
20. The system according to claim 18 , wherein said one or more circuits convert received radio frequency (RF) signals to baseband signals during said demodulation.