Systems and methods of multi-antenna radio for wireless communication

Abstract

Described embodiments provide devices and methods for directing portions of signals to reduce power consumption. A wearable device may comprise N antennas configured to wirelessly receive and/or transmit incoming and/or outgoing signals. The N antennas may be spatially disposed on the device to enable at least one of the N antennas to be clear from blockage by a body part of a user when the device is maintained or worn against the body part, wherein N is an integer value greater than or equal to 2. The wearable device may comprise N receive chains coupled to the N antennas via transmit-receive couplers, the N receive chains configured to process the incoming signals. The wearable device may comprise a transmit chain configured to generate the outgoing signals. The wearable device may comprise a RF controller circuitry configured to direct portions of the generated outgoing signals via the transmit-receive couplers to the N antennas.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wearable device, comprising:
 a plurality of antennas;   a transmit chain configured to generate a plurality of outgoing signals;   a plurality of receive chains configured to receive incoming signals from the plurality of antennas;   a plurality of couplers coupling the transmit chain with the plurality of antennas and coupling the plurality of receive chains with the plurality of antennas; and   a radio frequency (RF) controller configured to split each outgoing signal of the plurality of outgoing signals to direct the split outgoing signals to the plurality of antennas via the plurality of couplers.   
     
     
         2 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of antennas comprise at least a first antenna on a first side of the wearable device and a second antenna on a second side of the wearable device, the second side opposite the first side. 
     
     
         3 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of antennas comprise N antennas and the plurality of receive chains comprise N receive chains. 
     
     
         4 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the transmit chain is a single transmit chain. 
     
     
         5 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a number of the transmit chain to a number of the plurality of receive chains is 1:N. 
     
     
         6 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the transmit chain comprises a single power amplifier to output the plurality of output signals. 
     
     
         7 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the RF controller is configured to apportion the outgoing signals to each antenna of the plurality of antennas. 
     
     
         8 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the wearable device comprises at least one of a head worn device, a phone, a tablet, a smartwatch, or a microphone. 
     
     
         9 . A head wearable device (HWD), comprising:
 a body; and   a wireless interface coupled with the body, the wireless interface comprising:
 a plurality of antennas; 
 a transmit chain configured to generate a plurality of outgoing signals; 
 a plurality of receive chains configured to receive incoming signals from the plurality of antennas; 
 a plurality of couplers coupling the transmit chain with the plurality of antennas and coupling the plurality of receive chains with the plurality of antennas; and 
 a radio frequency (RF) controller configured to split each outgoing signal of the plurality of outgoing signals to direct the split outgoing signals to the plurality of antennas via the plurality of couplers. 
   
     
     
         10 . The HWD of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of antennas comprise at least a first antenna on a first side of the body and a second antenna on a second side of the body, the second side opposite the first side. 
     
     
         11 . The HWD of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of antennas comprise N antennas and the plurality of receive chains comprise N receive chains. 
     
     
         12 . The HWD of  claim 9 , wherein the transmit chain is a single transmit chain. 
     
     
         13 . The HWD of  claim 9 , wherein a ratio of a number of the transmit chain to a number of the plurality of receive chains is 1:N. 
     
     
         14 . The HWD of  claim 9 , wherein the transmit chain comprises a single power amplifier to output the plurality of output signals. 
     
     
         15 . The HWD of  claim 9 , wherein the RF controller is configured to apportion the outgoing signals to each antenna of the plurality of antennas. 
     
     
         16 . The HWD of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 one or more processors coupled with the plurality of receive chains, the one or more processors configured to determine display data according to the incoming signals; and   a display coupled with the body, the configured to present the display data.   
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising:
 generating, by a transmit chain, a plurality of outgoing signals;   receiving, by a plurality of receive chains, a plurality of incoming signals from a plurality of antennas; and   splitting, by a radio frequency (RF) controller, each outgoing signal of the plurality of outgoing signals to direct the split outgoing signals to the plurality of antennas via a plurality of couplers, the plurality of couplers coupling the transmit chain with the plurality of antennas and coupling the plurality of receive chains with the plurality of antennas.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a ratio of a number of the transmit chain to a number of the plurality of receive chains is 1:N. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of antennas comprise N antennas and the plurality of receive chains comprise N receive chains. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising outputting the plurality of output signals by a single power amplifier of the transmit chain.