Adjustment of radiation patterns utilizing a position sensor
A device for a wireless RF link to a remote receiving device can radiate at different radiation patterns in response to detecting a change in the device position. As the device is moved, displaced, or re-positioned, a position sensor in the device detects the change in position and provides position information to a processor. The processor receives the position information from the position sensor, selects an antenna configuration and physical data rate based on the position information, and provides an RF signal associated with the selected antenna configuration through the antenna elements of the selected antenna configuration.
1. A wireless device for wirelessly exchanging data in a wireless local area network, the wireless device comprising:
an antenna apparatus associated with a plurality of antenna configurations, each antenna configuration associated with a different radiation pattern;
a position sensor that detects a position of the wireless device;
a memory; and
a processor that executes an antenna configuration selection module stored in the memory, the antenna configuration selection module selecting a particular antenna configuration from the plurality of antenna configurations for the antenna apparatus based on the detected position, and metrics stored in the memory for each antenna configuration in the set of antenna configurations.
2. The wireless device of claim 1 , further comprising an antenna element selector that selects a group of one or more antenna elements in the antenna apparatus to provide the radiation pattern associated with the particular antenna configuration from the plurality of antenna configurations in response to a control signal generated in response to the execution of the antenna configuration selection module.
3. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the position sensor is a tilt sensor.
4. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the position sensor is an accelerometer.
5. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the position sensor is a global positioning system device.
6. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the position of the wireless device detected by the position sensor is associated with a ninety degree orientation change of the wireless device.
7. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein selecting the particular antenna configuration comprises changing from an initial antenna configuration having a first radiation pattern to a second antenna configuration having a second radiation pattern different from the first radiation pattern.
8. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the metrics include link quality metrics for the particular antenna configuration, and wherein the link quality metrics include stored transmission data indicating successful transmissions for the particular antenna configuration at a changed position.
9. The wireless device of claim 1 , further comprising a signal converter that converts an encoded signal to a radio frequency signal.
10. The wireless device of claim 1 , further comprising a display device that provides information to a user of the wireless device.
11. A wireless device for wirelessly exchanging data in a wireless local area network, comprising:
an antenna apparatus having a plurality of antenna configurations, each antenna configuration corresponding to a different radiation pattern;
a memory;
an antenna configuration selection module stored in the memory and executable by a processor to select a first antenna configuration for the antenna apparatus at a first device position; and
a tilt sensor configured to detect a position of the wireless device, wherein the antenna configuration selection module selects a second antenna configuration for the antenna apparatus from a set of two or more antenna configurations associated with a detected second device position, wherein the second device position is selected based on metrics stored in the memory for each antenna configuration in the set of antenna configurations.
12. The wireless device of claim 11 , further including a position sensor module stored in the memory and executable by the processor to receive and process a signal from the tilt sensor indicating the position of the wireless device.
13. The wireless device of claim 11 , wherein the tilt sensor is configured to detect a position change from the first device position to the second device position.
14. The wireless device of claim 11 , further including an input device for receiving input from a user.
15. The wireless device of claim 11 , wherein the wireless device is a cellular telephone.
16. The wireless device of claim 11 , wherein the wireless device is a laptop computer.
17. A method for adjusting a radiation pattern of a device, comprising:
selecting a first antenna configuration associated with a first radiation pattern while the device is at a first position;
transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal utilizing the first antenna configuration; detecting by a sensor that the device position has a second position;
selecting a second antenna configuration associated with a second radiation pattern different from the first radiation pattern based on the second device position, wherein the second antenna configuration is selected from a set of two or more antenna configurations associated with the second position based on metrics for each antenna configuration in the set of antenna configurations; and
transmitting an RF signal utilizing the second antenna configuration.
18. The method of claim 17 , further including receiving a signal from a tilt sensor, the received signal associated with the second position of the device.
19. The method of claim 17 , further including accessing a table of antenna configuration data associated with device position information.
20. The method of claim 17 , further including selecting the antenna configuration based on antenna configuration performance data for the second position of the device.
21. A method for adjusting a radiation pattern of a device, comprising:
selecting a first antenna configuration associated with a first radiation pattern while the device is at a first position;
receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal utilizing the first antenna configuration;
detecting by a sensor that the device position has a second position;
selecting a second antenna configuration associated with a second radiation pattern different from the first radiation pattern based on the second device position, wherein the second antenna configuration is selected from a set of two or more antenna configurations associated with the second position based on metrics for each antenna configuration in the set of antenna configurations; and
receiving an RF signal utilizing the second antenna configuration.
22. The method of claim 21 , further including receiving a signal from a tilt sensor, the received signal associated with the second position of the device.
23. The method of claim 21 , further including accessing a table of antenna configuration data associated with device position information.
24. The method of claim 21 , further including selecting the antenna configuration based on antenna configuration performance data for a current position of the device.