Communication device having antenna pairing based on relative positions of housing portions

A method comprising:

• monitoring a housing position sensor within a housing assembly of a communication device, the housing assembly having first and second housing portions at respective proximal sides connected for relative movement between an open position and a closed position about a lateral axis, each of the first and the second housing portions having a respective distal side opposite to the proximal side, and a first lateral side and a second lateral side extending between the respective proximal side and the distal side, the housing position sensor detects:
• (i) when the housing assembly is in the closed position;
• and (ii) when the housing assembly is in an at least partially open position;
• wherein the communication device comprises:
• at least three antennas comprising a first, a second and a third antenna that are separated when the housing assembly is in the open position, the first antenna within the first housing portion, the second antenna is within the second housing portion, and the third antenna within one of the first and the second housing portions, the first antenna proximate to and substantially aligned in parallel with the second antenna and separated from the third antenna when the housing assembly is in the closed position;
• a first antenna impedance sensor that measures an impedance value;
• a first antenna switch;
• and an RF front end having a first RF transceiver that communicates via the first antenna and a second RF transceiver that communicates via a selected one of the second and the third antennas via the first antenna switch, the first antenna switch comprising a two pole, two throw switch, with the first pole communicatively coupled to the first RF transceiver, the second pole communicatively coupled to the first antenna impedance sensor, the first throw communicatively coupled to the second antenna, and the second throw communicatively coupled to the third antenna;
• communicating in one or more radio frequency (RF) communication bands, via the first RF transceiver of the RF front end using the first antenna;
• in response to determining that the housing assembly is in the at least partially open position:
• configuring the first antenna switch in a first state to connect the second RF transceiver of the RF front end to the second antenna;
• and communicating in one or more RF communication bands, via the second RF transceiver using the second antenna;
• and in response to determining that the housing assembly is in the closed position:
• configuring the first antenna switch in a second state to connect the second RF transceiver to the third antenna;
• and communicating in one or more RF communication bands, via by the second RF transceiver using the third antenna.

A computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable storage device;
• and
• program code on the non-transitory 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 a housing position sensor within a housing assembly of the communication device, the housing assembly having first and second housing portions at respective proximal sides connected for relative movement between an open position and a closed position about a lateral axis, each of the first and the second housing portions having a respective distal side opposite to the proximal side, and a first lateral side and a second lateral side extending between the respective proximal side and the respective distal side, the housing position sensor detects:
• (i) when the housing assembly is in the closed position;
• and (ii) when the housing assembly is in an at least partially open position;
• wherein the communication device comprises:
• at least three antennas comprising a first, a second and a third antenna that are separated when the housing assembly is in the open position, the first antenna within the first housing portion, the second antenna is within the second housing portion, and the third antenna within one of the first and the second housing portions, the first antenna proximate to and substantially aligned in parallel with the second antenna and separated from the third antenna when the housing assembly is in the closed position;
• a first antenna impedance sensor that measures an impedance value;
• a first antenna switch;
• and an RF front end having a first RF transceiver that communicates via the first antenna and a second RF transceiver that communicates via a selected one of the second and the third antennas via the first antenna switch, the first antenna switch comprising a two pole, two throw switch, with the first pole communicatively coupled to the first RF transceiver, the second pole communicatively coupled to the first antenna impedance sensor, the first throw communicatively coupled to the second antenna, and the second throw communicatively coupled to the third antenna;
• communicating in one or more radio frequency (RF) communication bands, via the first RF transceiver;
• in response to determining that the housing assembly is in the at least partially open position:
• configuring the first antenna switch in a first state to connect the second RF transceiver of the RF frontend to the second antenna;
• and
• communicating in one or more RF communication bands, via the second RF transceiver using the second antenna;
• and
• in response to determining that the housing assembly is in the closed position:
• configuring the first antenna switch in a second state to connect the second RF transceiver to the third antenna;
• and
• communicating in one or more RF communication bands, via by the second RF transceiver using the third antenna.