Reconfigurable antenna suitable for wearables and internet of things (IoT) applications

A method comprising:

• monitoring, by an antenna switching controller, an on-body sensor of a communication device configured with an antenna assembly comprising:
• (i) an elongate antenna element having first and second ends separated by an aperture;
• (ii) a ground plane;
• (iii) a first conductor electrically attached to a first edge of the ground plane;
• and (iv) an aperture switch positioned at the aperture and mechanically coupled to the first and second ends of the elongate antenna element and the first conductor and configurable in one of an open and closed position;
• determining, based on the on-body sensor, whether the communication device is positioned on or proximate to a body, the body effecting antenna performance of the elongated antenna element;
• in response to determining that the communication device is on or proximate to a body, setting the aperture switch to the closed position for on-body operational mode, the closed position electrically connecting the first and second ends of the elongate antenna element to the first conductor;
• and
• in response to determining that the communication device is not on or proximate to a body, actuating the aperture switch to be in the open position for free space operational mode, electrically isolating the first and second ends of the elongate antenna element and the first conductor.

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:
• monitoring, by an antenna switching controller, an on-body sensor of the communication device configured with an antenna assembly comprising:
• (i) an elongate antenna element having first and second ends separated by an aperture;
• (ii) a ground plane;
• (iii) a first conductor electrically attached to a first edge of the ground plane;
• and (iv) an aperture switch positioned at the aperture and mechanically coupled to the first and second ends of the elongate antenna element and the first conductor and configurable in one of an open and closed position;
• determining, based on the on-body sensor, whether the communication device is positioned on or proximate to a body, the body effecting antenna performance of the elongated antenna element;
• in response to determining that the communication device is on or proximate to a body, setting the aperture switch to the closed position for on-body operational mode, the closed position electrically connecting the first and second ends of the elongate antenna element to the first conductor;
• and
• in response to determining that the communication device is not on or proximate to a body, actuating the aperture switch to be in the open position for free space operational mode, electrically isolating the first and second ends of the elongate antenna element and the first conductor.