Abstract:
System for diverse path antenna selection. A method is provided for receiving a signal in a communication device having first and second antennas. The method includes receiving a first version of the signal using the first antenna, and receiving a second version of the signal using the second antenna. The method also includes determining a first quality indicator and a second quality indicator associated with the first and second versions of the signal, respectively, and selecting one of the first and second versions of the signal to process based on the first and second quality indicators.
Abstract:
A selectively coupled two-piece antenna for use in a mobile phone having a casing (102) and radio frequency (RF) communications circuitry (112) includes a composite radiator (206) that is selectively extendable from and retractable into the casing and a communications interface that is connected to the RF communications circuitry. The composite radiator has first and second radiating elements (208, 212), and a connecting element (210). When the composite radiator is extended, the connecting element connects the first and second radiating elements. In this position, the communications interface connects the RF communications circuitry to the first and second radiating elements. Thus, the RF communications circuitry transmits and/or receives RF signals through both the first and second radiating elements as a top loaded antenna. However, when the composite radiator is retracted, the connecting element electrically isolates the first and second radiating elements. In this position, the composite radiator electrically connects with the communications interface so that the first radiating element is electrically connected to the RF communications circuitry.
Abstract:
A system for modularizing the functionality of an electronic device (10). The system includes a first mechanism for separating different functional blocks of the electronic device into spatially separable hardware modules (12, 14, 16). A second mechanism interfaces the hardware modules via spatially reconfigurable communications links (38, 40). In a specific embodiment, the spatially reconfigurable communications links are infrared links or optical links.