IP Library Granted Patent US 9,705,538
Granted Patent B2
US 9,705,538 · App. 15/150,104 · Granted Jul 11, 2017

Wireless communication device using time-variant antenna module

Inventors: Seong-Youp Suh (Portland, OR); W. Dawson Kesling (Davis, CA); Majid Manteghi (Blacksburg, VA); Mohsen Salehi (Woodbury, MN); Harry Skinner (Beaverton, OR)
Assignees: INTEL CORPORATION; VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
H04B1/0458H01Q5/335H01Q9/145H04B1/04H04B1/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,705,538
App. No.
15/150,104
Granted
Jul 11, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe methods, apparatuses, and systems related to a wireless communication device using time-variant antenna. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Claims (58)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a sensor to sense an electrical characteristic associated with radio circuitry or time-variant antenna circuitry; and

control circuitry, coupled with the sensor, to compare the sensed electrical characteristic to a predetermined electrical characteristic and adjust, based on said comparison, a control waveform to vary characteristic resonant frequencies of an antenna of the time-variant antenna circuitry,

wherein the sensed electrical characteristic is an output impedance of the radio circuitry or an input impedance of the time-variant antenna circuitry.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further to:

determine that an absolute value of a difference between the sensed electrical characteristic and the predetermined electrical characteristic is greater than a predetermined value; and

adjust the control waveform based on said determination.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the radio circuitry that includes the sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a coaxial cable to couple the radio circuitry with the time-variant antenna circuitry.

5. An apparatus comprising:

a sensor to sense an electrical characteristic associated with radio circuitry or time-variant antenna circuitry;

control circuitry, coupled with the sensor, to compare the sensed electrical characteristic to a predetermined electrical characteristic and adjust, based on said comparison, a control waveform to vary characteristic resonant frequencies of an antenna of the time-variant antenna circuitry; and

the time-variant antenna circuitry, the time-variant antenna circuitry to include:

a waveform generator to generate the control waveform;

an impedance varying component; and

a filter to pass the control waveform to the impedance varying component and block radio-frequency signals from the waveform generator.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the control waveform is in a gigahertz frequency range.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the control circuitry is to provide digital control signals to the waveform generator to adjust the control waveform.

8. One or more non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions that, when executed, cause a transceiver to:

sense an electrical characteristic associated with radio circuitry or time-variant antenna circuitry, wherein the sensed electrical characteristic is an output impedance of the radio circuitry or an input impedance of the time-variant antenna circuitry;

compare the sensed electrical characteristic to a predetermined electrical characteristic; and

adjust, based on said comparison, a control waveform to vary characteristic resonant frequencies of an antenna of the time-variant antenna circuitry.

9. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the transceiver to:

determine that an absolute value of a difference between the sensed electrical characteristic and the predetermined electrical characteristic is greater than a predetermined value; and

adjust the control waveform based on said determination.

10. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the control waveform is to be generated by a waveform generator.

11. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the control waveform is in a gigahertz frequency range.

12. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause control circuitry of the transceiver to provide digital control signals to the waveform generator to adjust the control waveform.

13. An apparatus comprising:

means for sensing an electrical characteristic associated with radio circuitry or time-variant antenna circuitry of a transceiver, wherein the sensed electrical characteristic is an output impedance of the radio circuitry or an input impedance of the time-variant antenna circuitry;

means for comparing the sensed electrical characteristic to a predetermined electrical characteristic; and

means for adjusting, based on said comparison, a control waveform to vary characteristic resonant frequencies of an antenna of the time-variant antenna circuitry.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:

means for determining that an absolute value of a difference between the sensed electrical characteristic and the predetermined electrical characteristic is greater than a predetermined value; and

said means for adjusting the control waveform is to adjust the control waveform based on said determination.

15. An apparatus comprising:

means for sensing an electrical characteristic associated with radio circuitry or time-variant antenna circuitry of a transceiver;

means for comparing the sensed electrical characteristic to a predetermined electrical characteristic;

means for adjusting, based on said comparison, a control waveform to vary characteristic resonant frequencies of an antenna of the time-variant antenna circuitry;

means for generating the control waveform; and

means for passing the control waveform to an impedance varying component and blocking radio-frequency signals from the means for generating the control waveform.

16. A system comprising:

a circuit board;

radio circuitry disposed on the circuit board, the radio circuitry to include a sensor;

antenna circuitry disposed separately from the circuit board, the antenna circuitry including an antenna and an impedance varying component, the antenna circuitry to communicate a radio-frequency (RF) signal with the radio circuitry via a signaling interface;

a waveform generator disposed on the circuit board and coupled with the signaling interface; and

a control circuitry coupled with the radio circuitry and the waveform generator,

wherein the sensor is to sense an electrical characteristic associated with an output impedance of the radio circuitry or an input impedance of the antenna circuitry, and the control circuitry is to compare the sensed electrical characteristic to a predetermined electrical characteristic and adjust, based on said comparison, a control waveform, that is to be provided to the waveform generator, to vary characteristic resonant frequencies of an antenna of the antenna circuitry.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the radio circuitry and the waveform generator are monolithically integrated in a common die.

18. A system comprising:

a circuit board;

radio circuitry disposed on the circuit board, the radio circuitry to include a sensor;

antenna circuitry disposed separately from the circuit board, the antenna circuitry including an antenna and an impedance varying component, the antenna circuitry to communicate a radio-frequency (RF) signal with the radio circuitry via a signaling interface;

a waveform generator disposed on the circuit board and coupled with the signaling interface;

a control circuitry coupled with the radio circuitry and the waveform generator,

wherein the sensor is to sense an electrical characteristic associated with the radio circuitry or the antenna circuitry, and the control circuitry is to compare the sensed electrical characteristic to a predetermined electrical characteristic and adjust, based on said comparison, a control waveform, that is to be provided to the waveform generator, to vary characteristic resonant frequencies of an antenna of the antenna circuitry; and

a filter coupled with the waveform generator, the filter to provide the control waveform to the signaling interface, wherein the sensor is monolithically integrated in a common die with the radio circuitry and the waveform generator.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the filter is coupled with the signaling interface through an RF transmission line of the radio circuitry.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2020
From: INTEL CORPORATION
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 053066/0001 →
Continuity (2)
Division 13996516
Related Publication 20160254829A1 · Sep 1, 2016