# US 2020/0403672 A1 · Beam forming and beam steering using antenna arrays > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0403672 A1 - Document ID: US20200403672A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/910,521 - Filed: 2020-06-24 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-24 - Assignees: AVX Antenna, Inc. d/b/a Ethertronics, Inc. - Applicants: AVX Antenna, Inc. d/b/a Ethertronics, Inc. - Inventors: Olivier Pajona - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200403672A1 ## CPC - H04B 7/0617: {for beam forming} - H04B 7/0689: {using different transmission schemes, at least one of them being a diversity transmission scheme} - H04B 7/0413: MIMO systems - H04B 7/0691: {using subgroups of transmit antennas} - H04W 84/042: {Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems} - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Antenna systems are provided. In one example, an antenna system includes a first antenna array having a plurality of first antenna elements. The first antenna elements are operable to communicate one or more signals via a communication protocol tin a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) mode. The antenna system includes a second antenna array having a plurality of second antenna elements. The antenna system includes a control circuit configured to control operation of one or more of the second antenna elements of the second antenna array in a first mode or a second mode. In the first mode, one or more of the second antenna elements are configured to provide a secondary function to support communication of the first antenna elements via the communication protocol. In a second mode. One or more of the second antenna elements are configured to support beam forming or beam steering of the first antenna elements. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An antenna system, comprising: a first antenna array having a plurality of first antenna elements, the first antenna elements operable to communicate one or more signals via a communication protocol in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) mode; a second antenna array having a plurality of second antenna elements; and a control circuit configured to control operation of one or more of the second antenna elements of the second antenna array in a first mode or in a second mode; wherein in the first mode, one or more of the second antenna elements are configured to provide a secondary function to support communication of the first antenna elements via the communication protocol; and wherein in the second mode, one or more of the second antenna elements are configured to support beam forming or beam steering of the first antenna elements. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the communication protocol is a 5G communication protocol. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the secondary function comprises providing one or more additional antenna elements to support multiple input multiple output (MIMO) mode communication via the communication protocol. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the secondary function comprises providing one or more additional antenna elements to act as diversity antenna elements. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The antenna system of claim 1, wherein in the first mode, a first subset of the second antenna elements are configured provide the secondary function to support communication of the first antenna elements via the communication protocol and a second subset of the second antenna elements are configured to support beam forming or beam steering of the first antenna elements. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The antenna system of claim 5, wherein in the second mode, a third subset of the second antenna elements are configured to support beam forming or beam steering, wherein the third subset has one or more additional second antenna elements relative to the second subset. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the first antenna array comprises a 4×4 MIMO antenna array. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the second antenna array comprises a 4×4 MIMO antenna array. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the first antenna array and the second antenna array are operable to communicate in a frequency band in a range from about 24 GHz to about 86 GHz. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The antenna system of claim 1, further comprising a third antenna array having a plurality of third antenna elements, wherein the control circuit is configured to control operation of one or more of the third antenna elements in the third antenna array in the first mode or the second mode, wherein in the first mode, one or more of the third antenna elements provide a secondary function to support communication of the first antenna elements via the communication protocol, wherein in the second mode, one or more of the third antenna elements to support beam forming or beam steering of the first antenna elements. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises: a first switching component having one or more first switches coupled to the first antenna array; a second switching component having one or more second switches coupled to the second antenna array; and a phase shifting component coupled between the first switching component and the second switching component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The antenna system of claim 11, wherein the phase shifting component comprises one or more phase shifters. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The antenna system of claim 11, wherein the phase shifting component comprises one or more transmission lines of differing electrical lengths. ### Claim 14 A mobile device, comprising: a first antenna array having a plurality of first antenna elements, the first antenna elements operable to communicate one or more signals via a communication protocol in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) mode; a second antenna array having a plurality of second antenna elements; and a control circuit configured to control operation of one or more of the second antenna elements of the second antenna array in a first mode or in a second mode; wherein in the first mode, one or more of the second antenna elements are configured to provide a secondary function to support communication of the first antenna elements via the communication protocol; and wherein in the second mode, one or more of the second antenna elements are configured to support beam forming or beam steering of the first antenna elements. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the first antenna array and the second antenna array are located proximate different surfaces of the mobile device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the first antenna array and the second antenna array are located proximate the same surface of the mobile device. ### Claim 17 A method of configuring an antenna system, comprising: operating a plurality of first antenna elements to communicate one or more signals via a communication protocol in a multiple input multiple output mode; operating one or more second antenna elements in a first mode to provide a secondary function to support communication of the first antenna elements via the communication protocol; and adjusting operation of the one or more second antenna elements from the first mode to a second mode to provide beam forming or beam steering for the plurality of first antenna elements. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the secondary function comprises opering the one or more second antenna elements to support multiple input multiple output (MIMO) mode communication via the communication protocol. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the secondary function comprises operating the one or more second antenna elements to act as diversity antenna elements. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the communication protocol is a 5G communication protocol and the one or more signals are in a frequency band in a range of about 24 GHz to about 86 GHz.