Convertible loop/inverted-f antennas and wireless communicators incorporating the same

A wireless communicator, comprising:

• a housing configured to enclose a receiver that receives wireless communications signals;
• a ground plane disposed within the housing;
• and
• a multiple frequency band antenna, comprising:
• a first conductive branch having opposite first and second ends;
• first and second feeds extending from the first conductive branch adjacent the first end, wherein the first and second feeds terminate at respective first and second switches, wherein the first switch is configured to selectively connect the first feed to ground or to a receiver that receives wireless communications signals, and wherein the second switch is configured to selectively connect the second feed to a receiver or to maintain the second feed in an open circuit;
• and
• a second conductive branch in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the first conductive branch and having opposite third and fourth ends, wherein the third end terminates at a third switch configured to selectively connect the second conductive branch to a receiver or to maintain the second conductive branch in an open circuit, and wherein the fourth end is connected to the first conductive branch via a fourth switch, wherein the fourth switch is configured to be selectively closed to electrically connect the first and second conductive branches such that the antenna radiates as a loop antenna in a first frequency band, and wherein the fourth switch is configured to be selectively open to electrically isolate the first and second conductive branches such that the antenna radiates as an inverted-F antenna in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band;
• wherein when the fourth switch is closed to electrically connect the first and second conductive branches, the first switch is connected to a receiver, the second switch is open to isolate the second feed from the first conductive branch, and the third switch is connected to a receiver.

A radiotelephone, comprising:

• a housing configured to enclose first and second transceivers that transmit and receive wireless communications signals in respective different first and second frequency bands;
• a ground plane disposed within the housing;
• and
• a multiple frequency band antenna, comprising:
• a first conductive branch having opposite first and second ends;
• first and second feeds extending from the first conductive branch adjacent the first end, wherein the first and second feeds terminate at respective first and second micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) switches, wherein the first MEMS switch is configured to selectively connect the first feed to ground or the first transceiver, and wherein the second MEMS switch is configured to selectively connect the second feed to the second transceiver or to maintain the second feed in an open circuit;
• and
• a second conductive branch in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the first conductive branch and having opposite third and fourth ends, wherein the third end terminates at a third MEMS switch configured to selectively connect the second conductive branch to the first transceiver or to maintain the second conductive branch in an open circuit, and wherein the fourth end is connected to the first conductive branch via a fourth MEMS switch, wherein the fourth MEMS switch is configured to be selectively closed to electrically connect the first and second conductive branches such that the antenna radiates as a loop antenna in the first frequency band, and wherein the fourth MEMS switch is configured to be selectively open to electrically isolate the first and second conductive branches such that the antenna radiates as an inverted-F antenna in the second frequency band;
• wherein when the fourth MEMS switch is closed to electrically connect the first and second conductive branches, the first MEMS switch is connected to the first transceiver, the second MEMS switch is open to isolate the second feed from the first conductive branch, and the third MEMS switch is connected to the first transceiver.

A multiple frequency band antenna, comprising:

• a first conductive branch having opposite first and second ends;
• first and second feeds extending from the first conductive branch adjacent the first end, wherein the first and second feeds terminate at respective first and second switches, wherein the first switch is configured to selectively connect the first feed to ground or a receiver that receives wireless communications signals or a transmitter that transmits wireless communications signals, and wherein the second switch is configured to selectively connect the second feed to the receiver or to the transmitter or to maintain the second feed in an open circuit;
• and
• a second conductive branch in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the first conductive branch and having opposite third and fourth ends, wherein the first and second conductive branches extend along generally parallel directions, wherein the third end terminates at a third switch configured to selectively connect the second conductive branch to the receiver or to the transmitter or to maintain the second conductive branch in an open circuit, and wherein the fourth end is connected to the first conductive branch via a fourth switch, wherein the fourth switch is configured to be selectively closed to electrically connect the first and second conductive branches such that the antenna radiates as a loop antenna in a first frequency band, and wherein the fourth switch is configured to be selectively open to electrically isolate the first and second conductive branches such that the antenna radiates as an inverted-F antenna in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band.

A multiple frequency band antenna, comprising:

• a first conductive branch having opposite first and second ends;
• first and second feeds extending from the first conductive branch adjacent the first end, wherein the first and second feeds terminate at respective first and second switches, wherein the first switch is configured to selectively connect the first feed to ground or a receiver that receives wireless communications signals or a transmitter that transmits wireless communications signals, and wherein the second switch is configured to selectively connect the second feed to the receiver or to the transmitter or to maintain the second feed in an open circuit;
• and
• a second conductive branch in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the first conductive branch and having a meandering configuration with opposite third and fourth ends, wherein the third end terminates at a third switch configured to selectively connect the second conductive branch to the receiver or to the transmitter or to maintain the second conductive branch in an open circuit, and wherein the fourth end is connected to the first conductive branch via a fourth switch, wherein the fourth switch is configured to be selectively closed to electrically connect the first and second conductive branches such that the antenna radiates as a loop antenna in a first frequency band, and wherein the fourth switch is configured to be selectively open to electrically isolate the first and second conductive branches such that the antenna radiates as an inverted-F antenna in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band.

A wireless communicator, comprising:

• a housing configured to enclose a receiver that receives wireless communications signals;
• a ground plane disposed within the housing;
• and
• a multiple frequency band antenna, comprising:
• a first conductive branch having opposite first and second ends;
• first and second feeds extending from the first conductive branch adjacent the first end, wherein the first and second feeds terminate at respective first and second switches, wherein the first switch is configured to selectively connect the first feed to ground or to a receiver that receives wireless communications signals, and wherein the second switch is configured to selectively connect the second feed to a receiver or to maintain the second feed in an open circuit;
• and
• a second conductive branch in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the first conductive branch and having opposite third and fourth ends, wherein the first and second conductive branches extend along generally parallel directions, wherein the third end terminates at a third switch configured to selectively connect the second conductive branch to a receiver or to maintain the second conductive branch in an open circuit, and wherein the fourth end is connected to the first conductive branch via a fourth switch, wherein the fourth switch is configured to be selectively closed to electrically connect the first and second conductive branches such that the antenna radiates as a loop antenna in a first frequency band, and wherein the fourth switch is configured to be selectively open to electrically isolate the first and second conductive branches such that the antenna radiates as an inverted-F antenna in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band.

A wireless communicator, comprising:

• a housing configured to enclose a receiver that receives wireless communications signals;
• a ground plane disposed within the housing;
• and
• a multiple frequency band antenna, comprising:
• a first conductive branch having opposite first and second ends;
• first and second feeds extending from the first conductive branch adjacent the first end, wherein the first and second feeds terminate at respective first and second switches, wherein the first switch is configured to selectively connect the first feed to ground or to a receiver that receives wireless communications signals, and wherein the second switch is configured to selectively connect the second feed to a receiver or to maintain the second feed in an open circuit;
• and
• a second conductive branch in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the first conductive branch and having a meandering configuration with opposite third and fourth ends, wherein the third end terminates at a third switch configured to selectively connect the second conductive branch to a receiver or to maintain the second conductive branch in an open circuit, and wherein the fourth end is connected to the first conductive branch via a fourth switch, wherein the fourth switch is configured to be selectively closed to electrically connect the first and second conductive branches such that the antenna radiates as a loop antenna in a first frequency band, and wherein the fourth switch is configured to be selectively open to electrically isolate the first and second conductive branches such that the antenna radiates as an inverted-F antenna in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band.

A radiotelephone, comprising:

• a housing configured to enclose first and second transceivers that transmit and receive wireless communications signals in respective different first and second frequency bands;
• a ground plane disposed within the housing;
• and
• a multiple frequency band antenna, comprising:
• a first conductive branch having opposite first and second ends;
• first and second feeds extending from the first conductive branch adjacent the first end, wherein the first and second feeds terminate at respective first and second micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) switches, wherein the first MEMS switch is configured to selectively connect the first feed to ground or the first transceiver, and wherein the second MEMS switch is configured to selectively connect the second feed to the second transceiver or to maintain the second feed in an open circuit;
• and
• a second conductive branch in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the first conductive branch and having opposite third and fourth ends, wherein the first and second conductive branches extend along generally parallel directions, wherein the third end terminates at a third MEMS switch configured to selectively connect the second conductive branch to the first transceiver or to maintain the second conductive branch in an open circuit, and wherein the fourth end is connected to the first conductive branch via a fourth MEMS switch, wherein the fourth MEMS switch is configured to be selectively closed to electrically connect the first and second conductive branches such that the antenna radiates as a loop antenna in the first frequency band, and wherein the fourth MEMS switch is configured to be selectively open to electrically isolate the first and second conductive branches such that the antenna radiates as an inverted-F antenna in the second frequency band.

A radiotelephone, comprising:

• a housing configured to enclose first and second transceivers that transmit and receive wireless communications signals in respective different first and second frequency bands;
• a ground plane disposed within the housing;
• and
• a multiple frequency band antenna, comprising:
• a first conductive branch having opposite first and second ends;
• first and second feeds extending from the first conductive branch adjacent the first end, wherein the first and second feeds terminate at respective first and second micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) switches, wherein the first MEMS switch is configured to selectively connect the first feed to ground or the first transceiver, and wherein the second MEMS switch is configured to selectively connect the second feed to the second transceiver or to maintain the second feed in an open circuit;
• and
• a second conductive branch in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the first conductive branch and having a meandering configuration with opposite third and fourth ends, wherein the third end terminates at a third MEMS switch configured to selectively connect the second conductive branch to the first transceiver or to maintain the second conductive branch in an open circuit, and wherein the fourth end is connected to the first conductive branch via a fourth MEMS switch, wherein the fourth MEMS switch is configured to be selectively closed to electrically connect the first and second conductive branches such that the antenna radiates as a loop antenna in the first frequency band, and wherein the fourth MEMS switch is configured to be selectively open to electrically isolate the first and second conductive branches such that the antenna radiates as an inverted-F antenna in the second frequency band.