Circuit board having a peripheral antenna apparatus with selectable antenna elements and selectable phase shifting

A system for selective phase shifting, comprising:

• an input port configured to receive an RF signal;
• a straight-through path coupled to the input port and including a first RF switch;
• a long path of predetermined length coupled to the input port and including a second RF switch coupled to a ground, the long path comprising a first half path and a second half path,
• the first half path including a first delay element and a first trace line of ¼-wavelength of the RF signal less a phase delay of the first delay element,
• the second half path including a second delay element and a second trace line of ¼-wavelength of the RF signal less a phase delay of the second delay element,
• the first half path and the second half path selectively coupled to ground by application of a zero or reverse bias to the second RF switch for a phase delay of ½-wavelength of the RF signal;
• and
• an output port coupled to the straight-through path and the long path.

A method for phase shifting an RF signal, comprising:

• receiving an RF signal at an input port;
• disabling a straight-through path coupled to the input port by applying a zero or reverse bias to a first RF switch included in the straight-through path;
• phase shifting the RF signal by enabling a long path of a predetermined length coupled to the input port by applying a zero or reverse bias to a second RF switch included in the long path, the predetermined length of the long path being a multiple of one half of a wavelength of the RF signal, the second RF switch coupled to a ground;
• and
• transmitting the phase shifted RF signal to an output port coupled to the straight-through path and the long path.

A method for phase shifting an RF signal, comprising:

• receiving an RF signal at an input port;
• disabling a straight-through path coupled to the input port by applying a zero or reverse bias to a first RF switch included in the straight-through path;
• phase shifting the RF signal by enabling a long path of a predetermined length coupled to the input port by applying a zero or reverse bias to a second RF switch included in the long path, the long path including a delay element, the second RF switch coupled to a ground;
• and
• transmitting the phase shifted RF signal to an output port coupled to the straight-through path and the long path.

An antenna apparatus having selectable antenna elements and selectable phase shifting, comprising:

• communication circuitry located in a first area of a circuit board, the communication circuitry configured to generate an RF signal into an antenna feed port of the circuit board;
• a first antenna element located near a first periphery of the circuit board, the first antenna element configured to produce a first directional radiation pattern when coupled to the antenna feed port;
• and
• a phase shifter, the phase shifter including a straight-through path configured to selectively couple the antenna feed port to the first antenna element with a first PIN diode, the phase shifter further including a long path of predetermined length configured to selectively couple the antenna feed port to the first antenna element with a second PIN diode coupled to a ground, the phase shifter configured to selectively provide a zero degree phase shift, a 180 degree phase shift, and a multiple of 180 degree phase shift between the antenna feed port and the first antenna element.

A system for selective phase shifting, comprising:

• an input port configured to receive an RF signal;
• a straight-through path coupled to the input port and including a first RF switch;
• a long path of predetermined length coupled to the input port and including a second RF switch coupled to a ground, the long path comprising a first half path and a second half path,
• the first half path including a first delay element and a first trace line of a multiple of ¼-wavelength of the RF signal less a phase delay of the first delay element,
• the second half path including a second delay element and a second trace line of a multiple of ¼-wavelength of the RF signal less a phase delay of the second delay element,
• the first half path and the second half path with a zero or reverse bias for the second RF switch results in a multiple of phase delay of ½-wavelength of the RF signal;
• and
• an output port coupled to the straight-through path and the long path.