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US 10,122,388 B2Granted
Auto-tunable antenna devices
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsGlen Backes, Doug Carlson, Robert C. Becker, Alan Cornett, Kelly Muldoon, Lisa Lust
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Auto-tunable antenna devices and methods of using the same are described herein. One method for tuning an antenna of a device includes comparing a reference phase of a reference signal to a return phase of a return signal of the antenna and sending a correction signal to a tunable circuit element of the antenna in response to the reference phase being out of phase with the return phase.
Claims15
A method for tuning an antenna of a device, comprising:
- determining that an antenna has performance degradation, wherein performance degradation includes a detuned antenna created by a shift to a different signal frequency than an intended signal frequency, by using a phase frequency detector to compare a reference phase of a portion of a reference signal of the antenna to a return phase of a portion of a return signal of the antenna, wherein a first directional coupler electrically connected to the antenna directs the portion of the reference signal to the phase frequency detector and a second directional coupler electrically connected to the antenna directs the portion of the return signal to the phase frequency detector and wherein a first frequency divider electrically connected between the first directional coupler and the phase frequency detector divides the reference phase of the portion of the reference signal and a second frequency divider electrically connected between the second directional coupler and the phase frequency detector divides the return phase of the portion of the return signal;
- and
- sending a correction signal, including an analog control voltage, to a tunable circuit element of the antenna in response to the reference phase being out of phase with the return phase, wherein an undivided reference phase of the portion of the reference signal and an undivided return phase of the portion of the return signal are retained by the phase frequency detector for sending the correction signal.
A device including:
- an antenna including a tunable circuit element, wherein the antenna has performance degradation due to the antenna being detuned by the antenna shifting to a different resonant frequency than an intended signal frequency;
- and
- a phase frequency detector to:
- compare a reference phase of a portion of a reference signal of the antenna to a return phase of a portion of a return signal of the antenna to determine whether performance degradation is occurring, wherein a first directional coupler electrically connected to the antenna directs the portion of the reference signal received from the antenna to the phase frequency detector and a second directional coupler electrically connected to the antenna directs the portion of the return signal to the phase frequency detector and wherein a first frequency divider electrically connected between the first directional coupler and the phase frequency detector divides the reference phase of the portion of the reference signal and a second frequency divider electrically connected between the second directional coupler and the phase frequency detector divides the return phase of the portion of the return signal;
- if performance degradation is occurring identify the reference phase is out of phase with the return phase;
- and, in response,
- send a correction signal, including an analog control voltage, to the tunable circuit element of the antenna, wherein an undivided reference phase of the portion of the reference signal and an undivided return phase of the portion of the return signal are retained by the phase frequency for sending the correction signal.
4 more elements
A device including:
- an antenna including a tunable circuit element, wherein the antenna has performance degradation due to the antenna being detuned by the antenna shifting to a different resonant frequency than an intended signal frequency;
- a phase shifter to shift at least one of a reference phase of a portion of a reference signal and a return phase of a portion of a return signal of the antenna a threshold degree;
- and
- a phase frequency detector to:
- compare the reference phase of the portion of the reference signal to the return phase of the portion of the return signal to determine whether performance degradation is occurring, wherein a first directional coupler electrically connected to the antenna directs the portion of the reference signal to a phase frequency detector and a second directional coupler electrically connected to the antenna directs the portion of the return signal to the phase frequency detector and wherein a first frequency divider electrically connected between the first directional coupler and the phase frequency detector divides the reference phase of the portion of the reference signal and a second frequency divider electrically connected between the second directional coupler and the phase frequency detector divides the return phase of the portion of the return signal;
- if performance degradation is occurring identify the reference phase is out of phase with the return phase;
- and, in response,
- send a correction signal to the tunable circuit element of the antenna;
- wherein the tunable circuit element applies an analog control voltage to tune the antenna of the device in response to receiving the correction signal and wherein an undivided reference phase of the portion of the reference signal and an undivided return phase of the portion of the return signal are retained by the phase frequency detector for sending the correction signal.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.