US 8593358

Summary of U.S. Patent 8,593,358

Title: Active antennas for multiple bands in wireless portable devices

Assignee: As of a reassignment on December 31, 2024, the current assignee is Massively Broadband LLC. The original assignee was the inventor, Theodore S. Rappaport.

Inventor: Theodore S. Rappaport

Filing Date: December 13, 2012

Issue Date: November 26, 2013

Abstract:
Wireless devices, particularly mobile devices like cellphones, PDAs, and computers, that transmit or receive signals across multiple frequency bands are discussed. These devices utilize at least one antenna for a plurality of different bands (e.g., GSM cellular, Bluetooth, ultrawideband). The invention enables these devices to simultaneously transmit or receive on multiple different bands, or simultaneously transmit and receive on different bands, using a single physical antenna structure. The antenna's performance is optimized across these bands through active or electronically controlled passive tuning elements.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

U.S. Patent 8,593,358 has seven independent claims (1, 8, 14, 19, 25, 28, and a system claim that is part of claim 28 which can be considered as a separate independent aspect). Below is a plain-language explanation of each.

Claim 1: This claim describes a wireless device that contains an antenna array (a group of one or more antennas). A key feature is that at least one antenna in this array is shared by multiple transmitters, receivers, or transceivers that operate on different frequency bands. This shared antenna is "tunable," meaning its operating characteristics can be adjusted either by active electronic components or by electronically selecting and connecting different passive components (like capacitors and inductors).

Claim 8: This claim is similar to claim 1 but focuses on a device with at least one multiband transmitter, receiver, or transceiver. The device includes a "tuner" that is controlled by a controller to adjust the shared, tunable antenna to operate across a plurality of different frequency bands. The antenna itself can be actively tuned or tuned by electronically controlled passive elements.

Claim 14: This claim outlines a wireless device with at least one multiband antenna that is part of an antenna array. A "tuner" is used to match this antenna to a multiband transmitter, receiver, or transceiver so that it can operate on multiple different frequency bands simultaneously.

Claim 19: This claim covers a wireless portable device with one or more antennas forming an array, where at least one antenna works across multiple frequency bands. The device includes components like receivers, transmitters, or transceivers connected to the antenna. The core of this claim is that these components can either transmit or receive on two or more of these frequency bands at the same time.

Claim 25: This claim is for a component of a wireless device, not the entire device. It describes a tuner, a set of tuners, or a controller designed to be connected to an antenna array and multiple transmitters, receivers, or transceivers. This component enables at least one antenna to be used across multiple different bands by being either actively tuned or tuned with electronically controlled passive elements.

Claim 28: This claim describes a broader wireless communication system. The system includes at least one wireless device as described in the previous claims (with a shared, tunable antenna for multiple bands). This device communicates with other mobile, portable, or fixed devices or platforms.

Claim 29 (dependent, but introduces a key concept often seen in independent claims): While technically a dependent claim, it's worth noting as it clarifies a key aspect of the system claim. It specifies that the wireless device within the system of claim 28 has an antenna that is part of an antenna array.

As of the current date, no records for "8593358" were found in a search of the CAFC 2026 dockets. Information regarding litigation can be dynamic, and this finding reflects the dockets at the time of the search. There is a "Family has litigation" section on the patent's Google Patents page, which indicates past or present litigation, including a PTAB case (IPR2025-01587) and a case in the Texas Eastern District Court (2:25-cv-00608).