Abstract: A wireless mobile handset includes an antenna array. The antenna array includes a passive element disposed on a first portion of a dielectric substrate and an active element disposed on a second portion of the dielectric substrate. The passive element is configured to operate in a reflective mode to produce a bi-directional radiation pattern.

Abstract: An antenna apparatus, which can increase capacity in a cellular communication system or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), such as an 802.11 network, operates in conjunction with a mobile subscriber unit or client station. At least one antenna element is active and located within multiple passive antenna elements. The passive antenna elements are coupled to selectable impedance components for phase control of re-radiated RF signals. Various techniques for determining the phase of each antenna element are supported to enable the antenna apparatus to direct an antenna beam pattern toward a base station or access point with maximum gain, and, consequently, maximum signal-to-noise ratio. By directionally receiving and transmitting signals, multipath fading is greatly reduced as well as intercell interference.

Abstract: A communications device includes a housing, an ionized air stream generator carried by the housing for generating an ionized air stream, and an ionized air chamber carried by the housing for directing the ionized air stream external the housing to function as an antenna. A transceiver is carried by the housing and is coupled to the ionized air chamber. The transceiver excites or detects changes in a current flow in the ionized air stream at radio communication frequencies.

Abstract: A varactor based phase shifter that increases phase shift range using an impedance transformer to impart a low characteristic impedance between an input port and a reference node port. The characteristic impedance across the port is therefore less than the characteristic impedance would be otherwise, and the phase shift range is increased. In one embodiment, a simple reflection phase modifier can be used in a phased array using space feed parasitic antenna elements. This type of analog varactor reflection phase modifier can provide fine phase resolution, and the array can thus be used for low-loss adaptive beam forming.

Abstract: A wireless communication method and antenna system for determining the direction of arrival (DOA) of received signals in azimuth and elevation, (i.e., in three dimensions), to form a beam for transmitting and receiving signals. The system includes two antenna arrays, each having a plurality of antenna elements, two first stage multi-mode-port matrices, at least one second stage multi-mode-port matrix, an azimuth phase detector, an elevation amplitude detector, a plurality of phase shifters and a transceiver. The antenna arrays and the first stage multi-mode-port matrices form a plurality of orthogonal omni-directional modes. Each of the modes has a characteristic phase set. Two of the modes' phases are used to determine DOA in azimuth. The second stage multi-mode-port matrix forms a sum-mode and a difference-mode used to determine the DOA of the received signals in elevation. A beam is formed in the direction of the received signals by adjusting the phase shifters.

Abstract: A wireless handset including an antenna array. The antenna array includes an active antenna element and two passive antenna elements. The active and passive antenna elements are arranged to form a triangle with a vertex. The vertex includes a vertex angle and the active antenna element is disposed at the vertex. The vertex angle is between 90 degrees and 180 degrees.

Abstract: A wireless communication method and antenna system for determining the direction of arrival (DOA) of received signals in azimuth and elevation, (i.e., in three dimensions), to form a beam for transmitting and receiving signals. The system includes two antenna arrays, each having a plurality of antenna elements, two first stage multi-mode-port matrices, at least one second stage multi-mode-port matrix, an azimuth phase detector, an elevation amplitude detector, a plurality of phase shifters and a transceiver. The antenna arrays and the first stage multi-mode-port matrices form a plurality of orthogonal omni-directional modes. Each of the modes has a characteristic phase set. Two of the modes' phases are used to determine DOA in azimuth. The second stage multi-mode-port matrix forms a sum-mode and a difference-mode used to determine the DOA of the received signals in elevation. A beam is formed in the direction of the received signals by adjusting the phase shifters.

Abstract: A directive antenna having plural antenna elements is arranged in a parasitic antenna array. Frequency selective components are connected to an active antenna element. Weighting structures are connected to passive antenna elements positioned substantially equidistant from the active antenna element. The active and passive antenna elements are connected by a space-fed power distribution system to produce independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals.

Abstract: A low profile smart antenna includes an active antenna element carried by a dielectric substrate, and active antenna element has a T-shape. Passive antenna elements are carried by the dielectric substrate, and they have an inverted L-shaped portion laterally adjacent the active antenna element. Impedance elements are selectively connectable to the passive antenna elements for antenna beam steering.

Abstract: An electronic device comprising a first conductive unit and a second conductive unit disposed such that a gap exists between the first component and the second component. The electronic device further includes one or more components disposed along the gap and configured to counteract one or more capacitance effects in the gap, wherein at least one of the first conductive unit and the second conductive unit represents a part of an antenna. By counteracting the capacitance effects in the gap, certain radiation attributes of the antenna, such as radiation efficiency, can be improved. The one or more components are also employed to counteract one or more capacitance effects in a slot of a conductive unit in an electronic device.

Abstract: An antenna assembly includes at least two active or main radiating omni-directional antenna elements arranged with at least one beam control or passive antenna element used as a reflector. The beam control antenna element(s) may have multiple reactance elements that can electrically terminate it to adjust the input or output beam pattern(s) produced by the combination of the active antenna elements and the beam control antenna element(s). More specifically, the beam control antenna element(s) may be coupled to different terminating reactances to change beam characteristics, such as the directivity and angular beam width. Processing may be employed to select which terminating reactance to use. Consequently, the radiator pattern of the antenna can be more easily directed towards a specific target receiver/transmitter, reduce signal-to-noise interference levels, and/or increase gain.

Abstract: An antenna apparatus, which can increase capacity in a cellular communication system or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), such as an 802.11 network, operates in conjunction with a mobile subscriber unit or client station. At least one antenna element is active and located within multiple passive antenna elements. The passive antenna elements are coupled to selectable impedance components for phase control of re-radiated RF signals. Various techniques for determining the phase of each antenna element are supported to enable the antenna apparatus to direct an antenna beam pattern toward a base station or access point with maximum gain, and, consequently, maximum signal-to-noise ratio. By directionally receiving and transmitting signals, multipath fading is greatly reduced as well as intercell interference.

Abstract: An active antenna element to transmit and/or receive RF (Radio Frequency) signals is positioned in relation to a backplane that reflects RF signals. One or more passive antenna elements can be disposed on a similar side of the backplane as the active antenna element. Settings of the one or more passive antenna elements are adjusted to produce an input/output beam pattern that varies depending on whether the at least one passive antenna element is reflective or transmissive. Based on this technique, an RF input output beam pattern of an antenna assembly including the backplane, active antenna element and passive antenna elements can be controlled for better reception and transmission of RF signals.

Abstract: A folded monopole antenna that supports lower and upper frequency bands may be used in CDMA, WLAN, or other wireless communications systems. The folded monopole antenna may be located in a handset next to a vertical ground plane. The folded monopole antenna may be folded at least twice and connected to the ground plane through a reactance. The dimensions of different sections of the folded monopole antenna define lower and upper frequency band characteristics, and an offset location of an input feed affects the bandwidth of the frequency bands. The reactance between the antenna and ground plane can be selected to fine tune the frequency bands. Various input feeds, including a co-planar waveguide, may be employed. Dynamically adjustable reactances may be used in the input feed and ground line for adapting the antenna to various environments.

Abstract: A directive antenna operable in multiple frequency bands includes a ground plate, an active antenna electrically coupled to the ground plate, and at least one passive antenna, coupled to the ground plate via either a first or second reactive component. When the at least one passive antenna is coupled to the ground plate via the first reactive component, an effective length of the at least one passive antenna is increased. When the at least one passive antenna is connected to the ground plate via the second reactive component, an effective length of the at least one passive antenna is decreased.

Abstract: An antenna assembly includes at least two active or main radiating omni-directional antenna elements arranged with at least one beam control or passive antenna element used as a reflector. The beam control antenna element(s) may have multiple reactance elements that can electrically terminate it to adjust the input or output beam pattern(s) produced by the combination of the active antenna elements and the beam control antenna element(s). More specifically, the beam control antenna element(s) may be coupled to different terminating reactances to change beam characteristics, such as the directivity and angular beamwidth. Processing may be employed to select which terminating reactance to use. Consequently, the radiator pattern of the antenna can be more easily directed towards a specific target receiver/transmitter, reduce signal-to-noise interference levels, and/or increase gain.

Abstract: A wireless mobile handset includes an antenna array. The antenna array includes a passive element disposed on a first portion of a dielectric substrate and an active element disposed on a second portion of the dielectric substrate. The passive element is configured to operate in a reflective mode to produce a bi-directional radiation pattern.

Abstract: A wireless handset including an antenna array. The antenna array includes an active antenna element and two passive antenna elements. The active and passive antenna elements are arranged to form a triangle with a vertex. The vertex includes a vertex angle and the active antenna element is disposed at the vertex. The vertex angle is between 90 degrees and 180 degrees.

Abstract: An access point antenna for a wireless local area network (WLAN) includes a combiner network with a feed point, a ground plane adjacent the combiner network, and a dielectric substrate adjacent the ground plane. Conductive paths are on the dielectric substrate and are coupled to the feed point. Active antenna elements extend from the dielectric substrate. Each active antenna element is coupled to a respective conductive path and is equally spaced from a common area on the dielectric substrate. A passive director antenna element extends from the dielectric substrate and is coupled to the ground plane adjacent the common area.

Abstract: In a communication system comprising a plurality of transmit/receive units (TRUs), a method for embedding a watermark into data includes modifying a carrier signal containing data to embed watermark information. The modified carrier signal is transmitted. A receiver receives the modified carrier signal and extracts the watermark information from the modified carrier signal.