Dynamic polarization combinations based on blockage scenarios

A dual-polarized multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) mobile device, comprising:

• a first array of antennas configured to receive a first co-polarized received signal and a first cross-polarized received signal;
• a second array of antennas configured to receive a second co-polarized received signal and a second cross-polarized received signal;
• a first selector configured to select between the second co-polarized received signal and the second cross-polarized received signal to form a first selected signal;
• a first combiner configured to combine the first co-polarized received signal with the first selected signal to form a first MIMO layer signal;
• a blockage sensor configured to detect a blockage of at least one of the first array of antennas and the second array of antennas;
• and
• a controller configured to control the first selector to select for the second cross-polarized received signal responsive to the blockage being less than a blockage threshold.

A dual-polarized multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) method, comprising:

• receiving a first co-polarized signal and a first cross-polarized signal at a first array of antennas;
• receiving a second co-polarized signal and a second cross-polarized signal at a second array of antennas;
• sensing a blockage of at least one of the first array of antennas and of the second array of antennas;
• combining the first co-polarized signal and the second co-polarized signal to form a first MIMO layer signal in response to the blockage being less than a blockage threshold;
• and
• combining the first co-polarized signal and the second cross-polarized signal to form the first MIMO layer signal in response to the blockage being greater than the blockage threshold.

A dual-polarized multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) method, comprising:

• receiving a first co-polarized signal and a first cross-polarized signal at a first array of antennas;
• receiving a second co-polarized signal and a second cross-polarized signal at a second array of antennas;
• combining the first co-polarized signal and the second cross-polarized signal to form a first MIMO layer signal in a first mode;
• combining the first co-polarized signal and the second co-polarized signal to form the first MIMO layer signal in second mode;
• and
• switching between the first mode and the second mode based on a blockage scenario for the first array of antennas or for the second array of antennas.