# US 9,240,634 B2 · Antenna and method for steering antenna beam direction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,240,634 B2 - Document ID: US9240634B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/144,461 - Filed: 2013-12-30 - Published: 2014-08-07 - Granted: 2016-01-19 - Earliest claimed: 2008-03-05 - Assignees: Ethertronics, Inc. - Applicants: Ethertronics, Inc. - Inventors: Sebastian Rowson; Laurent Desclos; Jeffrey Shamblin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9240634B2 ## CPC - H01Q 9/0442: {with particular tuning means} - H01Q 1/243: {with built-in antennas} - H01Q 3/00: Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system {(means for positioning H01Q1/125)} - H01Q 3/44: varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of reflecting, refracting, or diffracting devices associated with the radiating element - H01Q 5/385: Two or more parasitic elements - H01Q 9/0421: {with a shorting wall or a shorting pin at one end of the element (H01Q9/0414 takes precedence)} - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract An antenna comprising an IMD element and one or more parasitic and active tuning elements is disclosed. The IMD element, when used in combination with the active tuning and parasitic elements, allows antenna operation at multiple resonant frequencies. In addition, the direction of antenna radiation pattern may be arbitrarily rotated in accordance with the parasitic and active tuning elements. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An antenna, comprising: a radiating element positioned above a ground plane forming an antenna volume therebetween; and at least one parasitic element positioned adjacent to the radiating element and outside of the antenna volume; the at least one parasitic elements being associated with an active tuning element; wherein the active tuning element is configured to control a current flow direction in the respective parasitic elements associated therewith. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, said antenna having a corresponding radiation pattern, wherein the radiation pattern comprises at least one null, and wherein said antenna is configured for null steering by varying the current flow direction in the at least one parasitic element positioned adjacent to the radiating element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, comprising at least one gain maxima, wherein said antenna is configured for beam steering for optimizing antenna performance by varying the current flow direction in the at least one parasitic element positioned adjacent to the radiating element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, wherein said active tuning element comprises: a voltage controlled tunable capacitor; voltage controlled tunable phase shifter; transistor; switch; or micro-electromechanical systems (MEMs) device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, wherein said active tuning element comprises a field effect transistor (FET). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, further comprising: a second parasitic element positioned adjacent to the radiating element and within the antenna volume; the second parasitic element being coupled with a second active tuning element; wherein a resonant frequency of the antenna is varied by adjusting a reactive load of the second active tuning element and second parasitic element coupled therewith. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of parasitic elements positioned outside of the antenna volume, each of the plurality of parasitic elements being coupled to a respective active tuning element for controlling a current flow therein. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The antenna of claim 7, wherein at least one of said parasitic elements is oriented perpendicular with respect to the adjacent radiating element, and wherein at least another of said parasitic elements is oriented parallel with respect to the adjacent radiating element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, wherein the radiating element comprises an isolated magnetic dipole (IMD) element, the IMD element comprising a bent conductor forming an inductive loop, wherein at least a portion of the bent conductor overlaps with itself to form a capacitive gap therebetween. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, wherein said parasitic element is oriented perpendicular with respect to the adjacent radiating element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, said parasitic element comprising two or more resonant sections. ### Claim 12 An antenna, comprising: a radiating element positioned above a ground plane forming an antenna volume therebetween; and a first parasitic element positioned adjacent to the radiating element and outside of the antenna volume; the first parasitic element coupled to a switch, wherein the switch is further coupled to the ground plane and configured to selectively open or short the first parasitic element; a second parasitic element positioned adjacent to the radiating element and within the antenna volume; the second parasitic element coupled to an active tuning element, the active tuning element comprising one of: a voltage controlled tunable capacitor; voltage controlled tunable phase shifter; transistor; switch; or micro-electromechanical systems (MEMs) device; said antenna being configured for each of: radiation pattern steering by controlling the switch and a corresponding current flow through the first parasitic element positioned outside of the antenna volume; and frequency shifting by controlling a reactive load of the active tuning element and associated second parasitic element positioned within the antenna volume. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The antenna of claim 12 further comprising a plurality of first parasitic elements positioned adjacent to the radiating element and outside of the antenna volume; each of the first parasitic elements coupled to a respective switch, wherein the switch is further coupled to the ground plane and configured to selectively open or short the first parasitic element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The antenna of claim 12, wherein the first parasitic element is adapted to induce a split resonant frequency response of the antenna. ### Claim 15 An antenna, comprising: a radiating element positioned above a ground plane forming an antenna volume therebetween; and a first parasitic element positioned adjacent to the radiating element and outside of the antenna volume; the first parasitic element coupled to a first switch, wherein the first switch is further coupled to the ground plane and configured to selectively open or short the first parasitic element; a second parasitic element positioned adjacent to the radiating element and within the antenna volume; the second parasitic element coupled to a second switch, wherein the second switch is further coupled to the ground plane and configured to selectively open or short the second parasitic element; said antenna being configured for each of: radiation pattern steering by controlling the switch and a corresponding current flow through the first parasitic element positioned outside of the antenna volume; and frequency shifting by controlling a reactive load of the active tuning element and associated second parasitic element positioned within the antenna volume.