Abstract: Method, systems, and articles of manufacture for assigning priority to antenna are disclosed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, reader antenna (151, 152, 153) identify the location of an object by detecting a tag or other identifier associated with each object. Sensors (121, 122, 123) can be provided to provide additional information regarding the environment of the objects to their surroundings. A priority order is assigned to the reader antenna based on the location and other characteristics of the objects and/or their environment. A polling sequence for reading the reader antennae is determined according to the priority order.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for LNA adjustment to compensate for dynamic impedance matching are provided. In this regard, an antenna matching network may be configured to maximize received signal strength for a determined frequency and an amplifier gain may be adjusted based on the maximized signal strength such that output levels of the amplifier are between specified limits. The antenna matching network may be programmatically controlled via one or more switching elements. The amplifier gain may be programmatically controlled via one or more bias points. The antenna matching network may be configured for a plurality of frequencies in a frequency band, such as an FM broadcast band, and a configuration for each frequency may be stored. Accordingly, when the receiver is tuned to a frequency, a corresponding configuration may be retrieved from memory.

Abstract: Disclosed is a radio wave receiving apparatus including: an antenna to receive a radio wave; a tuning member to allow a reception frequency of the antenna to be tuned to an intended frequency, in which tuning member a frequency characteristic is variable; a receiving member to receive a reception signal from the antenna to demodulate a modulation wave; a positive feedback member to perform a positive feedback in a signal path including the tuning member; and a switching member to turn on/off a feedback operation of the positive feedback member.

Abstract: A novel antenna system for receiving transmissions in the VHF and UHF frequency bands particularly suitable as a miniaturized antenna for UHF reception, such as of digital video broadcasting transmissions. The antenna system utilizes a combination of three techniques including (1) the use of dialect loading using a high dielectric constant ceramic substrate; (2) an antenna dielectrically loaded and tuned to a significantly higher frequency than desired; and (3) use of a tuning circuit to compensate for the frequency offset of the antenna thereby shifting the resonant frequency to cover the entire band. The antenna is intentionally designed to be too small to radiate at the frequency of interest. The antenna element is then ‘forced’ to be tuned to the desired lower frequency using passive (or active) reactive components as part of a tuning circuit. Multi-band operation is achieved by providing a bypass switch to connect the antenna element either to (1) a first receiver without the tuning circuit (i.e.

Abstract: A system is provided for identifying implanted medical devices, leads and systems, as well as objects in close proximity to a patient having an implanted active medical device, using a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag having retrievable information relating to the AIMD, lead system and/or patient. An RFID tag communicator includes a circuit for limiting the total continuous transmit time of an interrogation signal, and a time-out circuit for delaying a second and any subsequent interrogation of the RFID tag.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tuner capable of receiving a television broadcasting signal of a wide band having an operating frequency bandwidth of 48 MHz˜1 GHz, wherein the tuner filters a radio frequency (RF) signal outputted from the low noise amplifier using a tunable filter. The tunable filter includes according to an embodiment an inductor and a variable capacitor as passive elements to reject harmonics. The tuner includes a mixer which mixes an output signal of the tunable filter with a local oscillator signal and converts the mixed signal to an In-phase and Quadrature IF signal, where the converted IF signal of I channel and Q channel is processed through an IF signal processor and is converted to an appropriate signal by a demodulator.

Abstract: An omni-directional antenna supporting simultaneous transmission/reception, from the same AP, on multiple frequencies, allowing each AP to communicate using each possible frequency. Each AP multiplexes its outgoing signals onto its transmitting antenna, and de-multiplexes its incoming signals from its receiving antenna. The transmitting and receiving antennae are each substantially located in each other's NULL zone (or one is in the NULL zone of the other). The AP can transmit/receive on many distinct frequencies without needing more antennae.

Abstract: A method of matching a receive-only antenna (60) for use in receiving video signals in which measurements made on a transceiver's antenna (14) when in an transmitting mode are used in matching the receive-only antenna. The ratio of the amplitude of the reflected signal to the strength of the transmitted signal strength is used not only in selecting components for matching the transceiver's antenna (14) but also in selecting components for matching the receive-only antenna (60). The ratio may be applied to respective look-up tables (54, 64) for selecting the components to be used in matching the respective antennas.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods by which radio signals can be transmitted to, and received by, a radio receiver such that the receiver consumes very little power from a battery or energy source. The invention is applicable not only to medical implants, but any application requiring a radio receiver to operate with very low power consumption.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for an RF front-end calibration scheme using signals from a fractional-N frequency synthesized and received signal strength indicator (RSSI) are provided. A frequency synthesizer within a wireless receiver may generate a signal for dynamically modifying a gain in an integrated low-noise amplifier (LNA) for each selected receiver channel. The frequency-synthesized signals may be applied to at least one tunable load communicatively coupled to the LNA. The tunable load may be an input load or an output load. The signal generated by the frequency synthesizer may be sequentially applied to the input load and the output load. A logarithmic amplifier may generate an RSSI signal from the LNA output during the calibration process. The RSSI signal may be utilized for controlling a tunable load coupled to the LNA and optimize the tuning of the LNA in a desired channel by adjusting the tunable load.

Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamically tuning and calibrating an antenna using on-chip digitally controlled array of capacitors are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include dynamically tuning a mobile terminal antenna (MTA) using on-chip arrays of capacitive devices. The tuning may be, for example, to compensate for center frequency drift during operation of the mobile terminal. The tuning may be accomplished by selecting capacitive devices in the on-chip arrays of capacitive devices to use in conjunction with an inductive circuit coupled to the MTA, where the inductive circuit may be either off the chip or on the chip. Accordingly, an impedance of the circuit formed by the capacitive devices in the on-chip arrays of capacitive devices and the inductive circuit may be adjusted with respect to the MTA. A valid circuit configuration may include a configuration where no capacitive device may be selected for use with the inductive circuit.

Abstract: A tunable receiving apparatus, includes a variable capacitative member, a tunable antenna having a resonant frequency controlled by the variable capacitative member, a tuner outputting a control signal related to a receiving-sensitivity of the tunable antenna, and a control circuit processing the control signal and controlling the variable capacitative member. The variable capacitative member is controlled automatically by the control circuit to optimize the receiving-sensitivity.

Abstract: A wireless terminal includes an RF transceiver, an auto tuner, and an antenna. When a remote signal is received at the wireless terminal, the auto tuner is adjusted in accordance with the received signal to optimize OTA performance of the wireless terminal. As further remote signals are received by the wireless terminal, the tuner is readjusted. As a user inputs information to be transmitted, the tuner is also readjusted in accordance with the transmission signals to optimize OTA performance of the wireless terminal, and a best compromise between the TX OTA performance and the RX OTA performance is calculated. Current/temperature information may also be obtained for readjusting the tuner.

Abstract: A method of tuning an antenna circuit includes: (a) receiving a signal on an antenna, (b) producing a received signal strength indication based on the received signal, (c) using the received signal strength indication to produce a control voltage, (d) using the control voltage to control a capacitance in an antenna matching circuit, (e) changing the control voltage to minimize a ratio of a change in the received signal strength indication to a change in the control voltage and (f) repeating steps (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e). An apparatus that implements the method is also provided.

Abstract: A first value of an operational center frequency of a signal to transmit is determined according to received user input. The operational center frequency is centered within a first band of frequencies and the first band of frequencies has a first bandwidth. A single loop antenna is tuned to match the first value of the center frequency and the single loop antenna is arranged and configured to operate across a second band of frequencies having a second bandwidth. The first bandwidth is less than the second bandwidth. The signal is transmitted from the single loop antenna according to the first value of the operational center frequency to provide a transmitted signal.

Abstract: Mobile phone terminal, having a transmitter stage, a receiver stage and an antenna switch-over and adapter stage which each have an arrangement of passive structural elements, which arrangement is assigned a multiplicity of electrostatic-mechanical microswitches or microrelays and which can be programmed by actuating a predetermined configuration of the microswitches or microrelays in, in each case, at least one functional parameter, in particular the frequency characteristic, and a programmable control unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamically tuning and calibrating an antenna using antenna hopping are disclosed. In this regard, in a wireless device comprising an antenna that is configurable into a plurality of configurations, determining a subset of the configurations, where each configuration of the subset enables received signal strength above a threshold for a wireless channel, may be determined. During a time interval in which the wireless device is receiving signals on the wireless channel, the antenna may be configured to sequentially utilize each configuration of the subset. During the time interval, a plurality of samples of the wireless channel may be generated, where each of the samples corresponds to a different one of the configurations of the subset. The plurality of samples may be aggregated. The aggregated samples may be processed to recover information communicated on the wireless channel.

Abstract: A device for matching an antenna impedance in a portable radio telephone having transmission and receiving circuits, a foldable casing enclosing the radio, the foldable casing movable between an unfolded position and a folded position, an antenna movable between an extracted position from the foldable casing and a retracted position into the foldable casing includes means for sensing whether the foldable casing is in the unfolded position and for sensing whether the antenna is in the extracted position, and for providing a sensing signal in response thereto, and means for matching an impedance of the antenna and an impedance of the radio in response to the sensing signal, thereby making an optimal matching of impedances between the antenna and the radio according to the states of the folder casings and the antenna, and according to the transmission/reception mode.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for operating a super-heterodyne receiver, a tuning circuit has a local oscillator for frequency shifting a desired channel to a selected frequency and a controller for controlling the local oscillator. The controller determines for each of a number of identified channels, whether an image signal is present at frequencies in the spectrum that when tuned to a first selected frequency interfere, and is operable to select a modified selected frequency at which interference between the image signal and the identified channel is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention disclosed an apparatus and method for receiving a plurality of broadcasting signals. The apparatus comprises: a control circuit for generating an analog control voltage signal according to a frequency-voltage look-up table and a desired frequency; an antenna module comprising an antenna and an antenna resonant control circuit comprising a voltage-controlled capacitor being controlled by the analog control voltage signal, wherein the antenna resonant control circuit comprises a voltage-controlled capacitor to control the bandwidth received by the antenna according to the analog control voltage signal; a tuner for tuning a broadcasting signal received by the antenna to generate an output signal; and a demodulator for demodulating the output signal of the tuner.

Abstract: A network node is provided that includes a transceiver and a component. The transceiver is operable for communication of messages having a broadcast portion and a beamformed data portion. The broadcast portion includes an indicator. The component is operable to promote the transceiver being enabled for communication with other network nodes, in response to the message including the indicator and further in response to the message being intended for a specific network node other than the network node. The component is operable to promote the transceiver receiving the data portion of the message, in response to the message including the indicator and the message being intended for the network node.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a frequency agile receiver is provided that includes an antenna: a first diode having its anode coupled to ground through a first conductor; a second diode having its anode coupled to the cathode of the first diode through a second conductor, the antenna coupling to the second conductor, the second diode having its cathode coupled to an output node through a third conductor, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third conductors comprises a shape memory alloy conductor; and a tuning circuit adapted to drive a bias current into the shape memory alloy conductor.

Abstract: Embodiments include antenna tuning systems and methods of tuning an antenna of a wireless device with an antenna, a circuit with at least one tunable component, and a processing system. The processing system determines tuning selection inputs during a communication session. Based on the tuning selection inputs, the processing system determines one or more component values for one or more tunable components. In an embodiment, the component value(s) are determined from a set of pre-defined component values. The tunable component(s) are controlled to have the determined component value(s). The circuit may be an impedance matching circuit that includes at least one tunable reactive component. Alternatively, the circuit may be an antenna tuning circuit that includes at least one variable component. In an embodiment, both an impedance matching circuit and an antenna tuning circuit may be implemented, with each type of circuit having one or more tunable components.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for LNA adjustment to compensate for dynamic impedance matching are provided. In this regard, an antenna matching network may be configured to maximize received signal strength for a determined frequency and an amplifier gain may be adjusted based on the maximized signal strength such that output levels of the amplifier are between specified limits. The antenna matching network may be programmatically controlled via one or more switching elements. The amplifier gain may be programmatically controlled via one or more bias points. The antenna matching network may be configured for a plurality of frequencies in a frequency band, such as an FM broadcast band, and a configuration for each frequency may be stored. Accordingly, when the receiver is tuned to a frequency, a corresponding configuration may be retrieved from memory.

Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamically tuning and calibrating an antenna using antenna hopping are disclosed. In this regard, in a wireless device comprising an antenna that is configurable into a plurality of configurations, determining a subset of the configurations, where each configuration of the subset enables received signal strength above a threshold for a wireless channel, may be determined. During a time interval in which the wireless device is receiving signals on the wireless channel, the antenna may be configured to sequentially utilize each configuration of the subset. During the time interval, a plurality of samples of the wireless channel may be generated, where each of the samples corresponds to a different one of the configurations of the subset. The plurality of samples may be aggregated. The aggregated samples may be processed to recover information communicated on the wireless channel.

Abstract: A receiving device includes a first demodulator operable to demodulate data transmitted by at least one of a plurality of propagation paths in a first channel having transfer functions which are different from one another; a second demodulator operable to demodulate data transmitted by at least one of a plurality of propagation paths in a second channel having transfer functions which are different from one another; and a data processor operable to merge the data demodulated by the first demodulator and the data demodulated by the second demodulator.

Abstract: Certain aspects of a method and system for tuning an antenna using injection may include mixing a received DVB-H signal with a reference oscillator signal to generate an added DVB-H signal. A mixed signal may be generated from the added DVB-H signal using the reference oscillator signal. A wireless antenna that receives the received DVB-H signal may be tuned based on a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) associated with the mixed signal. The reference oscillator signal may be generated and then may be amplified. The first mixed DVB-H signal may be amplified prior to the generating of the mixed signal. The RSSI associated with the mixed signal may be determined. The tuning may occur during receiving of a preamble of a packet for the received DVB-H signal and/or during receiving of a plurality of packets for the received DVB-H signal.

Abstract: An electronic circuit for a high-frequency switch for opening an antenna resonance circuit of an RFID system, wherein the high-frequency switch can be opened and closed by d.c. voltages, in which circuit a rectifier circuit generates the blocking voltage for opening the high-frequency switch from the high-frequency supply voltage, the rectifier circuit is designed such that it generates a blocking voltage whose value corresponds at least to the peak-to-peak value of the high-frequency voltage to be switched, the blocking voltage is conducted via the same electric connecting line via which the high-frequency supply voltage and a closing voltage are also conducted to the antenna of the RFID system, and a resistor is connected in parallel with each of the PIN diodes, which are series-connected with respect to direct current.

Abstract: A wireless communication apparatus includes: an antenna; a communication unit for receiving a radio signal via the antenna; a tuning unit for tuning an impedance of the antenna; an impedance controller for controlling the tuning unit to match the impedance of the antenna with an impedance of the communication unit; and a halting unit for halting controlling the impedance of the antenna in accordance with an intensity of the received radio signal.

Abstract: An antenna damping circuit in which the frequency characteristics of damping amount can be made substantially flat by providing a resistor (Ra) between PIN diodes (D1, D2) having a resistance varying upon application of a control voltage (Vc) and a capacitive dummy antenna circuit (10), and setting its resistance high enough to neglect the capacity of the dummy antenna circuit (10) sufficiently when the dummy antenna circuit (10) is viewed from the side of the PIN diodes (D1, D2) thereby substantially eliminating the influence of capacity of the dummy antenna circuit (10).

Abstract: A wireless terminal includes a housing (10) containing a substrate (12) having a ground plane, RF components mounted on the substrate, a PIFA (Planar Inverted-F Antenna) (16) carried by the substrate and coupled electrically to the RF components for transmitting and receiving signals and a notch antenna (14) in the substrate for receiving signals in a frequency band at least partially overlapping the transmission bandwidth of some of the signals transmitted by the PIFA. The notch antenna is de-activated when the PIFA (16) is being used for transmitting a signal lying within the said transmission bandwidth.

Abstract: A radio wave receiver including an antenna for receiving a radio wave; a tuning unit that can discretely changing a frequency characteristic of the antenna; an oscillation generator that can oscillate the antenna and a circuit portion of the tuning unit; a reception processing section for extracting a signal of a desired wave out of a reception signal received from the antenna; a controller for generating an oscillation signal at the circuit portion by the oscillation generator, and switching a setting of the tuning unit to search a setting state of the tuning unit under which the oscillation signal is extracted by the reception processing section; and a compensator for applying a variation to a frequency characteristic of the oscillation signal or a frequency characteristic associated with signal extraction of the reception processing section when the controller searches the setting state.

Abstract: An impedance matching system, a network analyzer having the same, and an impedance matching method thereof are disclosed. The system includes a signal extractor to extract an output signal and an input signal having at least a portion of an electric current outputted through a load and at least a portion of an electric current inputted through the load, respectively, a processor to process the output signal and the input signal extracted from the signal extractor, a comparator to compare a phase and an amplitude of the output signal with a phase and an amplitude of the input signal, respectively, a coefficient calculator to calculate a reflection coefficient using the comparative result provided from the comparator, and a circuit controller to generate a signal for controlling a matching circuit, which matches the phase and the amplitude of the output signal with the phase and the amplitude of the input signal, respectively, so as to ensure the reflection coefficient to have a predetermined value.

Abstract: A matching network for matching an antenna to a transmitter or receiver comprises an input port for receiving high-frequency power, an output port and a switchable impedance transformation circuit, which is connected between the input port and the output port. The impedance transformation circuit comprises a CMOS switch in a high-frequency path, which has a first switching state and a second switching state. The impedance transformation circuit is implemented to match a first impedance applied to the output port to a first predetermined impedance in the first switching state, and to match a second impedance applied to the output port to a second predetermined impedance in the second switching state. The inventive matching network allows a particularly good utilization of power provided by a transmitting amplifier or an antenna.

Abstract: An RF input portion is formed on a printed circuit board and is operable to input a high-frequency signal received by an antenna device. An electronic component is mounted on the printed circuit and is operable to process the input high-frequency signal. The RF input portion has a specific pattern adapted to be electrically interchangeably connectable with a plurality of types of connections.

Abstract: A tunable dual-antenna system for multiple frequency band operation is disclosed, which allows a device to switch between multiple frequencies and/or multiple modes, such as CDMA and GSM. The system may comprise a tunable transmit antenna and a tunable receive antenna. One configuration may comprise multiple transmit antennas and multiple receive antennas.

Abstract: A digital demodulator includes a resonator having a resonance frequency same as a carrier frequency to store a charge corresponding to a digital signal modulated by phase shift keying, a capacitor to store the charge of the resonator, an amplifier including an input node and an output node between which the capacitor is connected to convert a stored charge of the capacitor into a voltage signal, and a controller configured to accumulate in the resonator the charge induced by the frequency signal modulated by phase shift keying in a first control mode and configured to transfer the charge of the resonator to the capacitor in a second control mode, to output the voltage signal corresponding to the stored charge of the capacitor from the output node of the amplifier.

Abstract: Wireless communication device tuning an antenna matching circuit to favor a receive band efficiency over a transmit band efficiency in an acquisition state. Systems and methods are provided that increase the antenna efficiency in the receive band when the wireless communication device is searching for a synchronization message in order to acquire a communication channel. The antenna efficiency may be changed incrementally or may be optimized completely for the receive frequency. The increase in antenna efficiency in the receive band is accomplished by tuning the antenna matching circuit. One way to tune the antenna matching circuit is to apply a voltage to a ferro-electric capacitor in the matching circuit, thereby changing the capacitance of the ferro-electric capacitor, thereby changing the impedance of the matching circuit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a frequency agile receiver is provided that includes an antenna: a first diode having its anode coupled to ground through a first conductor; a second diode having its anode coupled to the cathode of the first diode through a second conductor, the antenna coupling to the second conductor, the second diode having its cathode coupled to an output node through a third conductor, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third conductors comprises a shape memory alloy conductor; and a tuning circuit adapted to drive a bias current into the shape memory alloy conductor.

Abstract: An amplifier device for a mode antenna has a number of amplifiers and a number of outputs. An input signal is fed to each amplifier, which is amplified by the respective amplifier into an amplified input signal. The amplified input signals are fed to an output matrix arranged after the amplifiers. Respective output signals are emitted by the output matrix at the outputs. The output matrix causes each amplified input signal to supply an output signal contribution for each output signal. Each output signal contribution of each output signal has an output-side contribution offset in relation to the corresponding amplified input signal, which depends on the amplified input signal that supplied the output signal contribution, and the output signal to which the output signal contribution contributes. The amplifier device is especially able to be used in a transmit arrangement for radio-frequency signals.

Abstract: A broadcast receiver for use in a mobile communication terminal includes a receiving antenna and an antenna tuning circuit connected to the receiving antenna. The receiving antenna receives broadcast signals tuned to the resonant frequency of the antenna tuning circuit by changing the resonant frequency. The antenna tuning circuit includes an unwanted voltage suppression circuit that suppresses an unwanted voltage generated due to the rectification effect of a varactor when the receiving antenna receives transmission signals output from the transmission antenna of the mobile communication terminal.

Abstract: Portable electronic devices are provided including a housing, an antenna associated with the housing and a multi-mode matching circuit operatively associated with the antenna. The multi-mode matching circuit is configured to operate in a first mode when the housing of the portable electronic device is in a first configuration and in a second mode when the housing of the portable electronic device is in a second configuration. Related methods of operating portable electronic devices including multi-mode matching circuits are also discussed.

Abstract: A broadcasting signal processing apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The broadcasting signal processing apparatus includes a wireless antenna; a radio frequency (RF) module which tunes a broadcasting signal; a variable part which adjusts an impedance to match an impedance of the wireless antenna with an impedance of the RF module; and a controlling part which pre-stores impedance variable values for impedance matching and which controls the variable part to adjust the impedance based on one of the pre-stored impedance variable values corresponding to a broadcasting frequency of a selected broadcasting channel. The method includes tuning to a broadcasting frequency; determining whether an impedance used to match a wireless antenna with a radio frequency (RF) module is different from an impedance variable value; and if the impedance is different, adjusting the impedance.

Abstract: A method of tuning an antenna circuit includes: (a) receiving a signal on an antenna, (b) producing a received signal strength indication based on the received signal, (c) using the received signal strength indication to produce a control voltage, (d) using the control voltage to control a capacitance in an antenna matching circuit, (e) changing the control voltage to minimize a ratio of a change in the received signal strength indication to a change in the control voltage and (f) repeating steps (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e). An apparatus that implements the method is also provided.

Abstract: A receiver is disclosed. The receiver includes: a tunable low noise amplifier (LNA), the tunable LNA comprising: a plurality of LNAs for receiving and amplifying a plurality of frequency bands respectively; a plurality of first switches respectively coupled to the plurality of LNAs; a plurality of LC loads, respectively coupled to the plurality of first switches; a plurality of buffers, respectively coupled to the plurality of first switches; and a plurality of second switches, respectively coupled to the plurality of LC loads and an LO signal; a power detecting circuit for determining a signal power level corresponding to the LO signal; a first switch unit; and a controller, for isolating the output of the plurality of LNAs, selectively decoupling at least one of the LC loads according to the signal power level of the LO signal, and routing the LO signal to the second switches during calibration mode.

Abstract: A (radio frequency) RF reception system includes an off-chip antenna interface and an integrated circuit. The an off-chip antenna interface includes at least one first off-chip impedance matching component, a filter, and at least one second off-chip impedance matching component. The integrated circuit includes an on-chip antenna interface that forms a first programmable impedance matching network with the at least one first off-chip impedance matching component, and forms a second programmable impedance matching network with the at least one second off-chip impedance matching component. The first programmable impedance matching network and the second programmable impedance matching network are programmable based on a frequency selection signal.

Abstract: A method for determining beamforming coefficients begins by obtaining channel information for a multiple tone communication. The method then continues by deriving the beamforming coefficients based on the channel information and a smoothness criteria.

Abstract: A broadcast receiver for receiving airwaves by a directional switching antenna capable of switching directivity in a plurality of directions, includes a control unit for performing signal return processing for making a return to a normal reception state when it becomes impossible to receive the airwaves by the antenna. The signal return processing includes a plurality of signal return processings of different kinds. When impossibility of reception occurs, the control unit selects optimum signal return processing from among the plurality of signal return processings according to predetermined conditions and executes the selected signal return processing.

Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamically tuning and calibrating an antenna using antenna hopping are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include dynamically tuning a mobile terminal antenna, to antenna hop to a plurality of different center frequencies to receive RF signals. The antenna hopping may be slow antenna hopping (SAH) or fast antenna hopping (FAH). In FAH, received signals for a channel at each of the center frequencies may be aggregated. A hopping rate in FAH may be greater than twice a highest baseband signal frequency of a desired channel. In SAH, the mobile terminal antenna may hop to determined center frequencies with adequate signals for the desired channel. Signal adequacy of the desired channel at a center frequency may be made by, for example, measuring received signal strength for the desired channel and/or a bit error rate for the desired channel.

Abstract: A tunable impedance surface includes a varactor. The varactor comprises a bottom electrode formed on a surface of a substrate. First and second ferroelectric elements are on top of the bottom electrode and electrically connected to one another through the bottom electrode. A first top electrode is on top of and electrically connected to the first ferroelectric element and a second top electrode is on top of and electrically connected to the second ferroelectric element.