Switched combining antenna diversity technique

US7366139B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Frank Poegel · Dresden, DE
• Wolfram Kluge · Dresden, DE
• Eric Sachse · Leipzig, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 27, 2002
• Grant date: Apr 29, 2008
• Expiry date: Sep 8, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04B7/0822
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An antenna diversity method and a corresponding communication device are disclosed that may be used in wireless LAN receivers. An AGC (Automatic Gain Control) unit controls a gain when processing signals received from antennae. A periodical switching process is performed between at least two antennae. During this periodical switching process, signals from each of the antennae are received alternately. The gain obtained by processing each received signal by means of the AGC unit is monitored and the obtained gain is compared with a predetermined threshold value. When for one of the at least two antennae the gain is below the predetermined threshold value, the periodical switching process is stopped and the antenna used at the time when stopping the periodical switching process is selected. This technique may provide an improved antenna diversity of low complexity, high performance and a short settling time.