U.S. patent application number 15/866277 was filed with the patent office on 2019-07-11 for dynamic reduction of current drain for antenna tuner of a communication device.
The applicant listed for this patent is MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC. Invention is credited to RANJEET GUPTA, MARY KHUN HOR-LAO, ROBERT S. TROCKE.
Application Number | 20190214720 15/866277 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 66995540 |
Filed Date | 2019-07-11 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190214720 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TROCKE; ROBERT S. ; et
al. |
July 11, 2019 |
DYNAMIC REDUCTION OF CURRENT DRAIN FOR ANTENNA TUNER OF A
COMMUNICATION DEVICE
Abstract
A communication device, method and computer program product
provide improved performance of one radio frequency (RF) conduction
path using an antenna tuner of another RF conduction path while
dynamically reducing current drain by the antenna tuner. A
determination is made that a first RF conduction path is active in
using a first portion of a multiple band antenna system for at
least one of: (i) transmitting; and (ii) receiving a signal. An
antenna tuner of a second RF conduction path that uses a second
portion of the multiple band antenna system is activated. The
antenna tuner is configured to tune the second portion of the
multiple band antenna system to isolate the second portion from the
first portion used by the first RF conduction path. The antenna
tuner is deactivated in response to determining that both the first
and second RF conduction paths are inactive.
Inventors: |
TROCKE; ROBERT S.;
(CALEDONIA, WI) ; GUPTA; RANJEET; (NAPERVILLE,
IL) ; HOR-LAO; MARY KHUN; (CHICAGO, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC |
CHICAGO |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
66995540 |
Appl. No.: |
15/866277 |
Filed: |
January 9, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 1/00 20130101; H01Q
5/371 20150115; H01Q 21/28 20130101; H01Q 1/523 20130101; H04W
76/16 20180201; H01Q 1/243 20130101; H04B 1/0064 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01Q 1/52 20060101
H01Q001/52; H01Q 21/28 20060101 H01Q021/28; H01Q 5/371 20150101
H01Q005/371; H04W 76/16 20180101 H04W076/16; H01Q 1/24 20060101
H01Q001/24 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: determining that a first radio frequency
(RF) conduction path is active in using a first portion of a
multiple band antenna system for at least one of: (i) transmitting;
and (ii) receiving a signal; in response to determining that a
second RF conduction path is inactive and is thus not using a
second portion of the multiple band antenna system: activating an
antenna tuner of a second RF conduction path that uses [[a]]the
second portion of the multiple band antenna system; and configuring
the antenna tuner to tune the second portion of the multiple band
antenna system to isolate the second portion from the first portion
used by the first RF conduction path and to achieve dynamic
reduction of current drain by the antenna tuner.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising deactivating the
antenna tuner in response to determining that both the first and
second RF conduction paths are inactive to achieve the dynamic
reduction of current drain for the antenna tuner.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: determining whether
the second RF conduction path is active; in response to both the
first and the second RF conductive paths being active, determining
whether the first RF conduction path has a higher priority for
antenna gain than the second RF conduction path; and performing the
activating and the configuring of the antenna tuner to tune the
second portion of the multiple band antenna system in response to:
(i) the second RF conduction path being active; and (ii) the first
RF conduction path having the higher priority.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the first RF
conduction path is active comprises: accessing scheduling data for
the first RF conduction path; and determining based on the
scheduling data that the first RF conduction path is scheduled to
be active starting a first time and is scheduled to switch to
inactive at a second time.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the first RF
conduction path is active comprises: receiving, by a modem that
controls the antenna tuner, a status communication that indicates a
selected one of: (i) active; and (ii) inactive from a controller
that is in communication with the first RF conduction path; and
determining that the status communication indicates that the first
RF conduction path is active.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the antenna tuner to
tune the second portion of the multiple band antenna system further
comprises: determining whether the second RF conduction path is
active in using the second portion of a multiple band antenna
system for at least one of: (i) transmitting; and (ii) receiving;
in response to determining that the second RF conduction path is
active: activating, by a controller, the antenna tuner of the
second RF conduction path; configuring the antenna tuner to tune
the second portion of the multiple band antenna system to optimize
the second RF conduction path; determining whether the second RF
conduction path is switching from active to inactive; and in
response to determining that the RF conduction path is switching
from active to inactive: tuning, by the controller that controls
the antenna tuner, the second portion of the multiple band antenna
system to isolate from the first portion used by the first RF
conduction path; and deactivating the controller.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the antenna tuner to
tune the second portion of the multiple band antenna system further
comprises: waking up a modem and the antenna tuner of the second RF
conduction path; and configuring, by the modem, the antenna tuner
to tune the second portion of the multiple band antenna system when
the first RF conduction path becomes active.
8. A communication device comprising: a multiple band antenna
system; a first radio frequency (RF) conduction path coupled to a
first portion of the multiple band antenna system and whose
performance is indirectly enhanced by an antenna tuner that
actively tunes a second RF conduction path that is active; a first
transceiver coupled to the first RF conduction path to at least one
of: (i) transmit; and (ii) receive a signal via the first portion
of the multiple band antenna system; the second RF conduction path
coupled to a second portion of the multiple band antenna system; a
second transceiver coupled to the second RF conduction path to at
least one of: (i) transmit; and (ii) receive a signal via the
second portion of the multiple band antenna system; the antenna
tuner coupled to the second RF conduction path to tune the second
portion of the multiple band antenna system; a modem coupled to the
antenna tuner to configure tuning of the second portion of the
multiple band antenna system; a processor subsystem in
communication with the modem and which executes an antenna tuning
control utility, which causes the processor subsystem to: determine
that the first RF conduction path is active in using the first
portion of the multiple band antenna system for at least one of:
(i) transmitting; and (ii) receiving the signal; and in response to
determining that a second RF conduction path is inactive and is
thus not using a second portion of the multiple band antenna
system: activate the modem and the antenna tuner of the second RF
conduction path that uses the second portion of the multiple band
antenna system; and configure the antenna tuner, via the modem, to
tune the second portion of the multiple band antenna system to
isolate the second portion from the first portion used by the first
RF conduction path and to achieve dynamic reduction of current
drain by the antenna tuner.
9. The communication device of claim 8, wherein the processor
subsystem deactivates the antenna tuner in response to determining
that both the first and second RF conduction paths are inactive to
achieve dynamic reduction of current drain for the antenna
tuner.
10. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the processor
subsystem: determines whether the second RF conduction path is
active; in response to both the first and the second RF conduction
paths being active, determines whether the first RF conduction path
has a higher priority for antenna gain than the second RF
conduction path; and configures the antenna tuner via the modem to
tune the second portion of the multiple band antenna system further
in response to: (i) the second RF conduction path being active; and
(ii) the first RF conduction path having the higher priority.
11. The communication device of claim 8, wherein the processor
subsystem determines whether the first RF conduction path is active
based on scheduling data for the first RF conduction path.
12. The communication device of claim 8, further comprising a
controller that is in communication with the first RF conduction
path, wherein the processor subsystem: receives a status
communication from the controller; and determines whether the first
RF conduction path is active based on the status communication.
13. The communication device of claim 8, wherein the processor
subsystem: determines whether the second RF conduction path is
active in using the second portion of a multiple band antenna
system for at least one of: (i) transmitting; and (ii) receiving;
in response to determining that the second RF conduction path is
active: activates the controller and the antenna tuner of the
second RF conduction path via the power supply; configures the
antenna tuner to tune the second portion of the multiple band
antenna system to optimize the second RF conduction path;
determines whether the second RF conduction path is switching from
active to inactive; and in response to determining that the RF
conduction path is switching from active to inactive: tunes, via
the controller that controls the antenna tuner, the second portion
of the multiple band antenna system to isolate from the first
portion used by the first RF conduction path; and causes the power
supply to deactivate the controller.
14. The communication device of claim 7, wherein the processor
subsystem: causes the power supply to wake up a modem and the
antenna tuner of the second RF conduction path; and configures the
antenna tuner via the modem to tune the second portion of the
multiple band antenna system when the first RF conduction path
becomes active.
15. A computer program product comprising: a computer readable
storage device; and program code on the computer readable storage
device that when executed by a processor associated with a
communication device, the program code enables the communication
device to provide the functionality of: determining that a first
radio frequency (RF) conduction path is active in using a first
portion of a multiple band antenna system for at least one of: (i)
transmitting; and (ii) receiving a signal; and activating an
antenna tuner of a second RF conduction path that uses a second
portion of the multiple band antenna system; configuring the
antenna tuner to tune the second portion of the multiple band
antenna system to isolate from the first portion used by the first
RF conduction path and to achieve dynamic reduction of current
drain for antenna tuner of a communication device; and deactivating
the antenna tuner in response to determining that both the first
and second RF conduction paths are inactive.
16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:
determining whether the second RF conduction path is active;
determining whether the first RF conduction path has a higher
priority for antenna gain than the second RF conduction path; and
configuring the antenna tuner to tune the second portion of the
multiple band antenna system further in response to: (i) the second
RF conduction path being active; and (ii) the first RF conduction
path having the higher priority.
17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein determining
whether the first RF conduction path is active comprises a selected
one of: (i) accessing scheduling data for the first RF conduction
path; and (ii) receiving, by a modem that controls the antenna
tuner, a status communication from a controller that is in
communication with the first RF conduction path.
18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein configuring
the antenna tuner to tune the second portion of the multiple band
antenna system further comprises: determining whether the second RF
conduction path is active in using the second portion of a multiple
band antenna system for at least one of: (i) transmitting; and (ii)
receiving; in response to determining that the second RF conduction
path is active: activating, by a modem, the antenna tuner of the
second RF conduction path; configuring the antenna tuner to tune
the second portion of the multiple band antenna system to optimize
the second RF conduction path; determining whether the second RF
conduction path is switching from active to inactive; and in
response to determining that the RF conduction path is switching
from active to inactive: tuning, by a controller that controls the
antenna tuner, the second portion of the multiple band antenna
system to isolate from the first portion used by the first RF
conduction path; and deactivating the modem and the antenna
tuner.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein a performance of the first RF
conduction path is indirectly enhanced by the antenna tuner that
actively tunes the second RF conduction path that is inactive, and
the method further comprises actively tuning the second RF
conduction path to increase impedance and thus isolation of the
second antenna relative to the first antenna due to electromagnetic
coupling or resonance.
20. The communication device of claim 8, wherein a performance of
the first RF conduction path is indirectly enhanced by the antenna
tuner that actively tunes the second RF conduction path that is
inactive, and the processor subsystem configures the modem to
actively tune the second RF conduction path to increase impedance
and thus isolation of the second antenna relative to the first
antenna due to electromagnetic coupling or resonance.
Description
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to communication
devices with, and more particularly to communication devices having
active antenna tuning.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] Communication devices such as smartphones are capable of
communicating via numerous protocols on many radio frequency (RF)
bands. These protocols include: (i) Bluetooth (BT) connections;
(ii) Global Positioning System (GPS); (iii) Personal Access
Networks (PAN); (iv) Wireless Local Access Networks (WLAN) such as
Wi-Fi; (v) Wireless Wide Area Networks (WWAN) such as 3rd
Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE),
etc. Even within specific protocols, multiple RF bands are used.
For example, The IEEE 802.11 working group for WLAN standards
currently documents use in five distinct frequency ranges: 2.4 GHz,
3.6 GHz, 4.9 GHz, 5 GHz, and 5.9 GHz bands. However, communication
devices intended for handheld use have size and battery
limitations. Incorporating antennas that are tuned to all of the
particular bands is difficult under such restraints. Active antenna
tuning becomes necessary in order to provide antenna radiation
efficiency. Antenna tuning is now standard in mid and high tier
smartphones and soon will become standard in low tier
smartphones.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] The description of the illustrative embodiments can be read
in conjunction with the accompanying figures. It will be
appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,
elements illustrated in the figures have not necessarily been drawn
to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are
exaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporating
teachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with
respect to the figures presented herein, in which:
[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of an example
portable communication device within which certain of the
functional aspects of the described embodiments may be
implemented;
[0005] FIG. 2 illustrates a functional block diagram of a
communication device having two radio frequency (RF) conduction
paths with a selectively activated antenna tuner, according to one
or more embodiments;
[0006] FIG. 3 illustrates a functional block diagram of a
communication device having two RF conduction paths transceiving
with one antenna and with a selectively activated antenna tuner,
according to one or more embodiments;
[0007] FIG. 4 illustrates a functional block diagram of a
communication device having three RF conduction paths transceiving
on respective antennas and with a selectively activated antenna
tuner, according to one or more embodiments;
[0008] FIG. 5 illustrates a timing diagram of two RF conduction
paths and a supporting antenna tuner that performs preferred
network offload (PNO) searches, according to one or more
embodiments;
[0009] FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of a method of improving
antenna performance with dynamic reduction in current drain during
PNO operation, according to one or more embodiments;
[0010] FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of a method of dynamic
reduction in current drain for an antenna tuner that indirectly
improves performance of another RF conduction path, according to
one or more embodiments; and
[0011] FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart of a method of prospectively
enhancing performance of another RF conduction path by an antenna
tuner before going inactive, according to one or more
embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] According to aspects of the present innovation, a
communication device transmits and receives ("tranceives")
according to multiple communication protocols using various front
end (FE) and radio frequency (RF) components. The disclosure
provides a method and system for selectively activating an antenna
tuner that directly tunes one portion of the multiple band antenna
system when helpful, which can provide a benefit to the other
portion of the multiple band antenna system. As another aspect of
the disclosure, the antenna tuner is turned off when otherwise not
beneficial, in order to reduce current drain.
[0013] To efficiently transceive, antenna tuning can match
impedances between an antenna feed line and the antenna. Due to
close proximity of certain elements of a multiple band antenna
system of certain communication devices, antenna tuning of one
portion of the multiple band antenna system can indirectly affect
efficiency of another portion of the multiple band antenna system.
In some implementations, wireless wide area access network (WWAN)
communication can be provided on a secondary RF conduction path
with active antenna tuning. When WWAN is inactive, it is often
beneficial to optimize the antenna tuner for indirectly improving
performance of wireless local access network (WLAN), Bluetooth
(BT), or global positioning system (GPS) performance on another RF
conduction path. WLAN/BT may require only passive RF-FE components,
such as filters and diplexers, for example, without an assigned
active antenna tuner. The disclosure addresses the fact that
existing control architectures are problematic for optimization of
current drain of such active antenna tuning. With conventional
systems, when antenna tuning is required for the WWAN signal, the
modem and radio frequency front end (RF-FE) power supplies are
already active. However, when the antenna tuner is required for
connectivity radios or location services, the additional complexity
and overhead of waking the WWAN modem and communicating the change
of state of wireless local access network (WLAN) or Bluetooth (BT)
transceiver is undesirable. This means that the antenna tuner
devices, which typically must be enabled/disabled by commands over
a digital interface, are left in the active state at all times and
draw their full current drain. Activating the antenna tuner power
supply means that any other RF-FE components that share an analog
power supply with the antenna tuner will draw leakage current all
the time, even if the corresponding RF conduction path is disabled.
Thus, one aspect of the disclosure includes the recognition that
selectively activating of the antenna tuner on an inactive RF
conduction path to benefit another active RF conduction path can
reduce current drain as compared to keeping the antenna tuner
active when no RF conduction paths are active to benefit from
tuning.
[0014] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a method includes
determining that a first RF conduction path is active in using a
first portion of a multiple band antenna system for at least one
of: (i) transmitting; and (ii) receiving a signal. The method
includes activating an antenna tuner of a second RF conduction
path. The second RF conduction path uses a second portion of the
multiple band antenna system. The method includes configuring the
antenna tuner to tune the second portion of the multiple band
antenna system to isolate the second portion from the first portion
of the multiple band antenna system that is used by the first RF
conduction path. The method includes deactivating the antenna tuner
in response to determining that both the first and second RF
conduction paths are inactive. Tuning only when the first RF
conduction path is active achieves dynamic reduction of current
drain of the antenna tuner.
[0015] According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure,
a communication device includes a multiple band antenna system. A
first RF conduction path is coupled to a first portion of the
multiple band antenna system. A first transceiver is coupled to the
first RF conduction path to at least one of: (i) transmit; and (ii)
receive a signal via the first portion of the multiple band antenna
system. A second RF conduction path is coupled to a second portion
of the multiple band antenna system. A second transceiver is
coupled to the second RF conduction path to at least one of: (i)
transmit; and (ii) receive a next signal via the second portion of
the multiple band antenna system. An antenna tuner is coupled to
the second RF conduction path to tune the second portion of the
multiple band antenna system. A modem is coupled to the antenna
tuner to configure tuning of the second portion of the multiple
band antenna system. A processor subsystem is in communication with
the modem and executes an antenna tuning control utility. The
antenna tuning control utility causes the processor subsystem to
determine that the first RF conduction path is active in using the
first portion of the multiple band antenna system for at least one
of: (i) transmitting; and (ii) receiving the signal. The processor
subsystem configures the antenna tuner, via the modem, to tune the
second portion of the multiple band antenna system to isolate the
second portion from the first portion used by the first RF
conduction path and to achieve dynamic reduction of current drain
for the antenna tuner.
[0016] According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure,
a computer program product includes program code on a computer
readable storage device. When executed by a processor associated
with a communication device, the program code enables the
communication device to provide the functionality of determining
that a first radio frequency (RF) conduction path is active in
using a first portion of a multiple band antenna system for at
least one of: (i) transmitting; and (ii) receiving a signal. The
program code further configures the device to perform the
functionality of: activating an antenna tuner of a second RF
conduction path that uses a second portion of the multiple band
antenna system; configuring the antenna tuner to tune the second
portion of the multiple band antenna system to isolate the second
portion from the first portion used by the first RF conduction
path, in order to achieve dynamic reduction of current drain by the
antenna tuner of a communication device.
[0017] In the following detailed description of exemplary
embodiments of the disclosure, specific exemplary embodiments in
which the various aspects of the disclosure may be practiced are
described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art
to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other
embodiments may be utilized and that logical, architectural,
programmatic, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be made
without departing from the spirit or scope of the present
disclosure. The following detailed description is, therefore, not
to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present
disclosure is defined by the appended claims and equivalents
thereof. Within the descriptions of the different views of the
figures, similar elements are provided similar names and reference
numerals as those of the previous figure(s). The specific numerals
assigned to the elements are provided solely to aid in the
description and are not meant to imply any limitations (structural
or functional or otherwise) on the described embodiment. It will be
appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,
elements illustrated in the figures have not necessarily been drawn
to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are
exaggerated relative to other elements.
[0018] It is understood that the use of specific component, device
and/or parameter names, such as those of the executing utility,
logic, and/or firmware described herein, are for example only and
not meant to imply any limitations on the described embodiments.
The embodiments may thus be described with different nomenclature
and/or terminology utilized to describe the components, devices,
parameters, methods and/or functions herein, without limitation.
References to any specific protocol or proprietary name in
describing one or more elements, features or concepts of the
embodiments are provided solely as examples of one implementation,
and such references do not limit the extension of the claimed
embodiments to embodiments in which different element, feature,
protocol, or concept names are utilized. Thus, each term utilized
herein is to be given its broadest interpretation given the context
in which that term is utilized.
[0019] As further described below, implementation of the functional
features of the disclosure described herein is provided within
processing devices and/or structures and can involve use of a
combination of hardware, firmware, as well as several
software-level constructs (e.g., program code and/or program
instructions and/or pseudo-code) that execute to provide a specific
utility for the device or a specific functional logic. The
presented figures illustrate both hardware components and software
and/or logic components.
[0020] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the
hardware components and basic configurations depicted in the
figures may vary. The illustrative components are not intended to
be exhaustive, but rather are representative to highlight essential
components that are utilized to implement aspects of the described
embodiments. For example, other devices/components may be used in
addition to or in place of the hardware and/or firmware depicted.
The depicted example is not meant to imply architectural or other
limitations with respect to the presently described embodiments
and/or the general invention.
[0021] The description of the illustrative embodiments can be read
in conjunction with the accompanying figures. Embodiments
incorporating teachings of the present disclosure are shown and
described with respect to the figures presented herein.
[0022] With specific reference now to FIG. 1, there is depicted a
block diagram of an example wireless communication device 100,
within which the functional aspects of the described embodiments
may be implemented. Wireless communication device 100 represents a
device that is adapted to transmit and receive RF signals over an
air interface via uplink and/or downlink channels between the
wireless communication device 100 and communication network
equipment. In one or more embodiments, the wireless communication
device 100 can be a mobile cellular device/phone or smartphone, or
laptop, netbook or tablet computing device, or other types of
communications devices. For clarity, FIG. 1 illustrates a first RF
conduction path 102 of the wireless communication device 100 that
communicates with one or more of a personal access network (PAN)
device such as a smartphone 104 via a Bluetooth wireless link, a
node 106 of a wireless local access network (WLAN), and a global
positioning system (GPS) satellite 108. A second RF conduction path
106 of the wireless communication device 100 communicates with a
base station 110 of a wireless wide area access network (WWAN). The
second RF conduction path 110 can utilize a plurality of different
communication standards, such as Global System for Mobile
Communications (GSM) Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA),
Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), and similar
systems.
[0023] Wireless communication device 100 includes a processor 114
and interface (processing) circuitry 116, which are connected to
memory 118 via an interconnect such as signal bus 120. Interface
circuitry 116 includes digital signal processor (DSP) 122. The
various hardware components within wireless communication device
100 can be electrically and/or communicatively coupled together as
illustrated in FIG. 1. As utilized herein, the term
"communicatively coupled" means that information signals are
transmissible through various interconnections between the
components. The interconnections between the components can be
direct interconnections that include conductive transmission media,
or may be indirect interconnections that include one or more
intermediate electrical components. Although certain direct
interconnections are illustrated in FIG. 1, it is to be understood
that more, fewer or different interconnections may be present in
other embodiments.
[0024] Wireless communication device 100 includes storage 124. Also
illustrated within wireless communication device 100 are
input/output (I/O) devices 126. Wireless communication device 100
also includes a first transceiver module "A" 128a for sending and
receiving communication signals via the first RF conduction path
102. Wireless communication device 100 also includes a second
transceiver module "B" 128b for sending and receiving communication
signals via the second RF conduction path 110. In at least some
embodiments, the sending and receiving of communication signals
occur wirelessly and are facilitated by one or more antennas 130 of
a multiple band antenna system 132 coupled to the transceiver
modules 128a-128b. One antenna 130 can carry different RF bands or
can be dedicated to one RF band. An antenna 130, or a portion of an
antenna 130, can be dedicated to one of transmitting and receiving
or can simultaneously or selectively transceive. Duplexers can
isolate for simultaneous transceiving (not shown). An RF conduction
path 102, 110 can be active for at least one of receiving and
transmitting, including participating in time division duplexing
(TDD), frequency division duplexing (FDD), etc.
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates that each transceiver module 128a-128b
includes a respective baseband integrated circuit (BBIC) 134a-134b
and radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) 136a-136b. For
clarity, functions are segregated between BBIC 134a-134b and RFIC
136a-136b. However, functions can be consolidated rather than being
independent. In addition, BBIC 134a-134b are illustrated as having
the same functions and RFIC 136a-136b are illustrated as having the
same functions. However, in one or more embodiments, some functions
may be omitted from a particular component. RFICs 136a-136b
includes diplexers A, B 138a-138b respectively that provide
isolation for sequential transmitting and receiving on the same RF
conduction path 102, 110. RFICs 136a-136b include respective
antenna system controllers A and B 140a-140b that control antenna
tuners 142a-142b, and transceivers 144a-144b. For example, antenna
system controllers A and B 140a-140b can selectively actively power
antenna tuners 142a-142b, and transceivers 144a-144b, when needed,
by a power supply 146, such as a power management integrated
circuit (PMIC). Antenna system controllers A and B 140a-140b can
control the respective antenna tuners 142a-142b to tune the
respective portion of the multiple band antenna system 132 to
radiate more effectively in a particular assigned RF band. In one
or more embodiments, antenna system controllers A and B 140a-140b
can control the respective antenna tuners 142a-142b to tune the
assigned portion of the multiple band antenna system 132 to enhance
performance of another portion of the multiple band antenna system
132 used by the other transceiver module 128a-128b. An antenna
tuner is a device connected between a radio transmitter or receiver
(transceivers 144a-144b) and an assigned portion of the multiple
band antenna system 132 to improve power transfer by matching the
impedance.
[0026] Transceivers A and B 144a-144b convert between a baseband
signal provided by respective modems A and B 147a-147b and an RF
signal. The baseband signal carries information that is encoded or
decoded by the modems A and B 147a-147b. In one or more
embodiments, modem (modulator-demodulator) is a network hardware
device that modulates one or more carrier wave signals to encode
digital information for transmission and demodulates signals to
decode the received information. Demodulator can be implemented in
hardware or software. The goal is to produce a signal that can be
transmitted easily and decoded to reproduce the original digital
data.
[0027] BBICs 134a-134b receive upper level control and data content
for communication from antenna system control (ATC) logic 148
executed by the processor 114. In one or more embodiments, BBICs
134a-134b include local functionality provided by a respective
local processor 150 that executes an ATC utility 152 in accordance
with status or schedule information 154a-154b contained in local
memory 156 about the other transceiver module 128a-128b.
[0028] Processor 114 can execute the ATC logic 148 in addition to
applications 158 contained in memory 118 to enhance antenna
performance while achieving dynamic reduction of current drain for
the antenna tuners 142a-142b. ATC logic 148 can utilize information
maintained in memory 118 for tuning portions of the multiple band
antenna system 132. The information can include antenna matching
configuration data 160, communication band priority data 162, and
communication band quality of service (QoS)/antenna performance
margin data 164. One or more of the processor 114, interface
circuitry 116, and one of the local processors 150 (collectively "a
processor subsystem" 166) can individually or in combination
determine based on the status or schedule information 154a-154b
that the benefits of tuning the respective portion of the multiple
band antenna system 132 is warranted. The processor subsystem 166
can also determine that tuning is unwarranted and can avoid power
consumption by the power supply 146.
[0029] During operation, processor subsystem 166 determines that
the first RF conduction path 102 is active in using the first
portion of the multiple band antenna system 132 for at least one
of: (i) transmitting; and (ii) receiving the signal. Processor
subsystem 166 configures, via the modem, the antenna tuner B 142b
for the second RF conduction path 110 to tune the second portion of
the multiple band antenna system 132 in order to isolate the second
portion from the first portion used by the first RF conduction path
102. The tuning is achieved dynamically to reduce current drain for
the antenna tuner 144b. When the first and second RF conduction
paths 102, 110 are both not active, active tuning by the antenna
tuner B 142b is not used.
[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates a communication device 200 having a
primary or first RF conduction path 202 and an independent
secondary or second RF conduction path 204 that are generally
independent from each other. However, in particular embodiments, an
element on the second RF conduction path 204 degrades the
performance of the first RF conduction path 202. First and second
RF conduction paths 202, 204 have separate first and second
antennas 206, 208 of a multiple band antenna system 210. A WLAN/BT
transceiver (TXR) 212 transmits and receives over the first RF
conduction path 202 that is modulated with information from a
WLAN/BT modem 213. A WWAN TXR 214 transmits and receives over the
second RF conduction path 204 with active impedance matching
provided by a WWAN antenna tuner 216. A power supply, such as PMIC
218, selectively powers RF and Front End (FE) components with 2.7 V
when scheduled for transceiving. For example, as an FE component,
WWAN modem 220 can control PMIC 218, WWAN TXR 214, and WWAN antenna
tuner 216. The tuner state of WWAN antenna tuner 216 cannot be
optimized when the programming entity, WWAN modem 220, is asleep.
In one or more embodiments, there is 1-3 dB loss performance impact
on the first RF conduction path 202 when the WWAN tuner 216 is not
active. In one or more embodiments, there is up to 3.5 dB or more
loss performance impact on the first RF conduction path 202 when
the WWAN tuner 216 is not active. The present innovation recognizes
an opportunity for enhanced performance on the first RF conduction
path 202 that is active by actively tuning the second RF conduction
path 204 that is not active. The active tuning of the second RF
conduction path 204 increases impedance and thus isolation of the
second antenna 208 relative to the first antenna 206, due to
electromagnetic coupling or resonance 222. The active tuning of the
secondary RF conduction path 204 is discontinued when not helpful
in order to reduce power consumption by the WWAN antenna tuner
216.
[0031] The WWAN antenna tuner 216 is made active when WLAN/BT TXR
212 is active and WWAN TXR 214 is in sleep mode. In one or more
embodiments, WWAN antenna tuner 216 is programmed with proper
WLAN/BT settings for the other antenna path (first RF conduction
path 202) before putting WWAN modem 220 to sleep. If all affected
signals are disabled (WWAN/WLAN/BT modems 213, 220 are
idle/asleep), then PMIC 218 powers down the WWAN antenna tuner
216.
[0032] The optimal tuner state may be different for each signal
(e.g. WLAN 2.4 GHz, WLAN 5.0 GHz, BT, GPS), but a compromised tuner
setting that provides the greatest benefit may be selected. In one
or more embodiments, this setting is programmed by the WWAN modem
220 prior to going to sleep when WWAN (second RF conduction path
204) is scheduled to be idle or is disabled. In one aspect, the
present disclosure provides for selective antenna tuning to reduce
the antenna tuner/RF-FE current drain once the WWAN modem 220 is
asleep.
[0033] Alternatively, an optimal tuner state may be programmed by
the WWAN modem 220 whenever one of the non-WWAN modems (WLAN/BT
modem 212) is enabled or disabled. In this case, the WWAN modem 220
must be woken by the non-WWAN event, but the overhead is limited to
these major events. Individual transmit (Tx) or receive (Rx) events
(i.e. burst or packet behavior) are ignored by the WWAN modem 220.
Even in this case, it is possible to gain reductions in current
drain when the WWAN modem 220 is asleep using aspects of the
present disclosure.
[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates a communication device 300 having a
multiple band RF antenna system 302 of one antenna 304. The
communication device 300 incorporates a first RF conduction path
306 whose performance is indirectly enhanced by an antenna tuner
308 that actively tunes a second RF conduction path 310 that is
inactive. A discrete diplexing antenna match 312 conducts a WLAN/BT
Tx/Rx signal 314, such as a WLAN 2.4 GHz signal, to the tuned
antenna 304. Antenna 304 is capable of ultra-low band (ULB), low
band (LB), and mid-band (MB) transceiving 314. Although antenna
tuner 308 is not in the first RF conduction path 306 of the WLAN/BT
Tx/Rx signals 314 transceived by WLAN/BT transceiver 316, WLAN/BT
performance of the antenna 304 is affected by the antenna tuner
308. Antenna tuner 314 directly tunes the second RF conduction path
310 that carries WWAN Tx/Rx signals 318 transceived by WWAN
transceiver 320. The impact is significant enough (up to 3.5 dB)
that it is desirable to keep the antenna tuner 308 active when
WLAN/BT transceiver 316 is active and WWAN transceiver 320 is in
sleep mode. WWAN modem 322 sends tuner control configuration
settings 324 to adjust settings of the antenna tuner 308.
[0035] FIG. 4 illustrates a communication device 400 having a
multiple band RF antenna system 402 of three antennas: (i) WWAN
antenna 404a is coupled to a first RF conduction path 406 to
dedicated receive (DRX) a low band signal 408; (ii) MB/BT/WLAN
(2400)/GPS antenna 404b is coupled to a second RF conduction path
410 for MB DRX, BT/WLAN (2400) transceiving (TRX) 412, and GPS
(1500) receiving (RX;); and (iii) WLAN (5000) antenna 404c is
coupled to a third RF conduction path 414 for WLAN (5000) TRX 416.
Communication device 400 has an antenna tuner 418 on a different
antenna 404b but can still provide a similar 1-3 dB performance
impact to the WWAN antenna 404a. In this example, there is a
benefit to keeping the antenna tuner 418 active whenever WWAN, GPS,
or BT/WLAN (2400) 420, 422, 424 are active on the first RF
conduction path 406. WWAN transceiver 426 receives a LB WWAN signal
428 over the second RF conduction path 410 from antenna 404b. WWAN
modem 430 sends tuner control configuration settings 432 to the
antenna tuner 418 to tune antenna 404b. WWAN transceiver 426 is
coupled to the first RF conduction path 406 via a triplexer match
434 to antenna 404a for WWAN signal 420 and GPS signal 422. BT/WLAN
transceiver 436 is coupled to the triplexer match 434 for
transceiving the BT/WLAN (2400) signal 424 with antenna 404a.
BT/WLAN transceiver 436 is coupled to the third RF conduction path
414 and third antenna 404c for transceiving WLAN (5000) signal
438.
[0036] In one implementation, the RF-FE components draw 350-650
.mu.A from an analog 2.7 V power supply. If the current reduction
techniques of the present disclosure are used, the current drain is
nearly cut in half, which means that the WLAN has an average 0.8 mA
and BT has an average of 0.6 mA in standby contribution.
[0037] In one embodiment, the antenna tuner and RF-FE current drain
may be reduced while WLAN is searching for available networks.
Preferred Network Offload (PNO) is a service within ANDROID devices
that allows the communication or user device to search for and
connect to WLAN networks, even while the screen is switched off.
This results in reduced battery consumption and lower data usage. A
user device with PNO activated, that is not connected to a WLAN
network, and that is in sleep mode, will start querying with a
saved service set identifier (SSID) in order to search the network
periodically. When one known network router is found, the user
device connects without waking up an application processor. The
SSID is used as a name to identify a wireless router to connect to.
Rather than waiting for a network node to announce itself, the user
device can initiate the discovery by transmitting the query with
the SSID. Power consumption in one sense is reduced because the
querying can be done at the chosen timing of the user device rather
than being awake listening to the network for an extended period.
In addition, the user device can query a number of previously known
networks looking for a known wireless router.
[0038] PNO scan periodicity is subject to change based on vendor
implementation or carrier request. For example, when a user device
not associated to any WLAN network and is in sleep mode, the user
device can be configured to be more aggressive in order to search
the SSID. Accordingly, the PNO scan periodicity may be increased.
However, the improved connectivity with more frequent polling of
probe request (PNO scan periodically) increases battery
consumption, offsetting some of the advantages of using PNO rather
than traditional network discovery. In other words, although PNO
activated user device helps to reduce the overall battery
consumption from a system perspective, the amount of power savings
also depends on the periodicity level. Higher periodicity of PNO
cycle relates to higher battery consumption. Current
implementations of PNO periodicity include every 30 seconds for the
first 2 minutes and then followed by every 1 minute afterwards
until the user device wakes up or finds a network to be connected
to. Another implementation includes PNO periodicity of every 45
seconds for the first 5 minutes, followed by every 8 min
afterwards, until the user device wakes up or finds a network to be
connected.
[0039] According to aspects of the present disclosure, the power
supply can be aligned with the PNO scan frequency saving even more
current drain. Since the user device is not associated with a
network and PNO is activated, the WLAN transceiver can be
deactivated, which overall brings more current drain saving. Based
on this approach for WLAN, a reduction in the current drain of 96
to 99% is possible for the antenna tuner and associated RF-FE
components sharing the 2.7V analog power supply.
[0040] Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) also has periodicity if a BLE
application is in use. The behavior is the same regardless of
whether the display of the communication device is on or off. Such
synchronized tuning and can have similar power saving. Similar to
WLAN PNO, BLE wakes up at the interval of 1.28 sec and is active
for 30 msec for the first 50 seconds and then drops to every 50
seconds periodicity. Thus, in between these periodicity intervals,
the antenna tuner power supply can be disabled to save current
drain. Based on this approach for BLE, a reduction in the current
drain of 85 to 99% is possible for the antenna tuner and associated
RF-FE components sharing the 2.7V analog power supply. In general,
aspects of the present disclosure can be extended to any wireless
technologies. The antenna tuner is woken up and turned on just in
time before the need of the front end. Once the front end is done
with the tasks, the antenna tuner is disabled for power
savings.
[0041] FIG. 5 illustrates a timing diagram 500 of supporting PNO
operation, including a WWAN transceiver state trace ("WWAN") 502, a
WLAN transceiver state trace ("WLAN") 504, and an antenna tuner
state trace ("Tuner") 506. At time to, WWAN 502, WLAN 504 and tuner
506 are all asleep. Immediately before time t.sub.i when WWAN 502
is scheduled to awake and WLAN 504 continues in idle state 508,
power (2.7 V) is supplied to tuner 506. In addition, configuration
data ("programming") can be applied to tuner 506 (block 510). Since
WWAN 502 is in an active state 512, tuner 506 is active, directly
enhancing the performance of an antenna that transceives WWAN
signals. At time t.sub.2, WWAN 502 remains active and is joined by
WLAN going to active state 514. Antenna tuning can be based on
optimizing transceiving of either of the WWAN or WWAM. For example,
priority or Quality of Service (QoS) measurements may be used to
optimize antenna tuning either for the directly or indirectly
enhanced antennas. At time t.sub.3, WWAN 502 switches to idle state
516 with WLAN 504 remaining in active state 514. Antenna tuner is
programmed to indirectly enhance WLAN transceiving (block 518). At
time t.sub.4, WWAN 502 remains in idle state 516 and WLAN 504
switches to idle state 508. With no transceiving to directly or
indirectly optimize, antenna tuner 506 is disabled to dynamically
reduce current drain (block 520). At time t.sub.5, WLAN 504
switches to active state 514 for PNO scan (block 522). Tuner 506 is
enabled to indirectly optimize WLAN 506. At time t.sub.6, WLAN 504
switches to idle state 508 having completed PNO state 522. With no
transceiving to directly or indirectly optimize, antenna tuner 506
is disabled. At time t.sub.7, WLAN 504 switches to active state 514
for PNO scan (block 524). Tuner 506 is enabled to indirectly
optimize WLAN 506. At time t.sub.8, WLAN 504 switches to idle state
508 having completed PNO state 520. With no transceiving to
directly or indirectly optimize, antenna tuner 506 is disabled. At
time t.sub.9, WLAN 504 switches to active state 514 for PNO scan
(block 526). Tuner 506 is enabled to indirectly optimize WLAN 506.
At time t.sub.io WLAN 504 switches to idle state 508 having
completed PNO state 524. With no transceiving to directly or
indirectly optimize, antenna tuner 506 is disabled. The periodicity
pattern can continue while the WWAN 502 is idle and WLAN remains in
a PNO mode.
[0042] FIG. 6 illustrates a method 600 of improving antenna
performance with dynamic reduction in current drain during PNO
operation. Method 600 begins with the device monitoring PNO scan
schedule information for an active antenna (block 602). A
determination is made whether a PNO scan is scheduled to begin
(decision block 604). In response to determining that the PNO is
not scheduled to begin, method 600 returns to block 602 to continue
monitoring the PNO schedule. In response to determining that the
PNO is scheduled to begin, method 600 triggers power supply to
activate antenna tuner in order to isolate another inactive antenna
from the active antenna (block 606). In one or more embodiments,
the antenna tuner can switch from low power mode to active mode
without new programming because the antenna tuner has memory. The
memory can be nonvolatile memory or memory maintained by another
digital power supply. Method 600 includes determining whether the
PNO scan is scheduled to end (decision block 608). In response to
determining that the PNO is not scheduled to end, method 600
returns to block 606 to continue tuning the inactive antenna. In
response to determining that the PNO is scheduled to end, method
600 causes the power supply to deactivate the antenna tuner for the
other inactive antenna to dynamically reduce current drain (block
610). Then method 600 returns to block 602 to continue monitoring
PNO schedule.
[0043] FIG. 7 illustrates a method 700 of dynamic reduction in
current drain for an antenna tuner that indirectly improves
performance of another RF conduction path. In one or more
embodiments, method 700 begins with a programming subsystem of a
communication device accessing scheduling data or receiving a
status communication from a controller that indicates that a first
RF conduction path is selected to at least one of: (i) active; and
(ii) inactive (block 702). Based on the scheduling data or status
communication, a determination is made that the first RF conduction
path is active or scheduled to be active in using a first portion
of a multiple band antenna system (block 704). In response to
determining that the first RF conduction path is active, a
determination is made whether a second RF conduction path of a
second portion of the multiple band antenna system is active
(decision block 706). In response to both the first and the second
RF conductive paths being active, a determination is made whether
the first RF conduction path has a higher priority for antenna gain
than the second RF conduction path (decision block 708). In
response to the first RF conduction path not having a higher
priority, method 700 includes tuning the second portion of the
multiband antenna system by the antenna tuner to optimize
transceiving by the second RF conduction path (block 710). Then
method 700 returns to block 702 to continue dynamically reducing
current drain by the antenna tuner. In response to the first RF
conduction path having a higher priority, method 700 includes
tuning the first portion of the multiband antenna system by the
antenna tuner to optimize transceiving by the first RF conduction
path (block 712). Then method 700 returns to block 702 to continue
dynamically reducing current drain by the antenna tuner.
[0044] In response to determining that the second RF conduction
path of the second portion of the multiple band antenna system is
inactive in decision block 706, method 700 includes waking up and
activating a modem and the antenna tuner of the second RF
conduction path (block 714). The modem configures the antenna tuner
to tune the second portion of the multiple band antenna system to
isolate the second portion from the first portion used by the first
RF conduction path and to achieve dynamic reduction of current
drain for the antenna tuner (block 716). Then method 700 returns to
block 702 to continue dynamically reducing current drain by the
antenna tuner.
[0045] FIG. 8 illustrates a method 800 of prospectively enhancing
performance of another RF conduction path by an antenna tuner
before going inactive. Method 800 includes the device determining
that the second RF conduction path is active in using the second
portion of a multiple band antenna system for at least one of: (i)
transmitting; and (ii) receiving (decision block 802). In response
to determining that the second RF conduction path is active, method
800 includes activating, by a modem, the antenna tuner of the
second RF conduction path (block 804). Modem configures the antenna
tuner to tune the second portion of the multiple band antenna
system to optimize the second RF conduction path (block 806).
Method 800 includes determining whether the second RF conduction
path is switching from active to inactive (decision block 808). In
response to determining that the RF conduction path is not
switching from active to inactive, method 800 returns to block 806
to continue optimizing for the second RF conduction path. In
response to determining that the RF conduction path is switching
from active to inactive, method 800 includes tuning, by a
controller that controls the antenna tuner, the second portion of
the multiple band antenna system to isolate from the first portion
used by the first RF conduction path (block 810). Method 800
includes deactivating the antenna tuner in response to determining
that both the first and second RF conduction paths are inactive
(block 812). Then method 800 ends.
[0046] In each of the above flow charts presented herein, certain
steps of the methods can be combined, performed simultaneously or
in a different order, or perhaps omitted, without deviating from
the spirit and scope of the described innovation. While the method
steps are described and illustrated in a particular sequence, use
of a specific sequence of steps is not meant to imply any
limitations on the innovation. Changes may be made with regards to
the sequence of steps without departing from the spirit or scope of
the present innovation. Use of a particular sequence is therefore,
not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present
innovation is defined only by the appended claims.
[0047] As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art,
embodiments of the present innovation may be embodied as a system,
device, and/or method. Accordingly, embodiments of the present
innovation may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment or
an embodiment combining software and hardware embodiments that may
all generally be referred to herein as a "circuit," "module" or
"system."
[0048] Aspects of the present innovation are described below with
reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of
methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products
according to embodiments of the innovation. It will be understood
that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block
diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations
and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program
instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided
to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose
computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to
produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via
the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing
apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts
specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or
blocks.
[0049] While the innovation has been described with reference to
exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in
the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be
substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope
of the innovation. In addition, many modifications may be made to
adapt a particular system, device or component thereof to the
teachings of the innovation without departing from the essential
scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the innovation not be
limited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying out
this innovation, but that the innovation will include all
embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote
any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc.
are used to distinguish one element from another.
[0050] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the innovation. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and
"the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood
that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this
specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude
the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0051] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and
equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the
claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or
act for performing the function in combination with other claimed
elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present
innovation has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the
innovation in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations
will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without
departing from the scope and spirit of the innovation. The
embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the
principles of the innovation and the practical application, and to
enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the
innovation for various embodiments with various modifications as
are suited to the particular use contemplated.
* * * * *