The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 02, 2001
Filed:
May. 04, 1999
Mark A. Kenkel, Schaumburg, IL (US);
Edgar C. Reihl, Northbrook, IL (US);
Shure Incorporated, Evanston, IL (US);
Abstract
A low-cost diversity antenna switching system and method is realized by controlling bias voltages on PIN diodes. By increasing the reverse bias voltage impressed upon a PIN diode, an RF signal impressed upon the diode is increasingly attenuated. As the PIN diode is forward biased to conduct in the forward direction, RF attenuation decreases. Two or more PIN diodes are used to increasingly attenuate signals from one antenna as attenuation of signals from another antenna is gradually decreased. The progression of the bias voltages is accomplished using a microprocessor that monitors a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) signal from a radio receiver. The RSSI is used to control which of two antennas are coupled into the receiver by predicting a signal fade.