Auto Detecting and Auto Switching Antennas in a Mutli-Antenna FM Transmit/Receive System

Abstract

Methods and systems for auto detecting and auto switching antennas in a multi-antenna FM transmit/receive system are disclosed and may include electronically detecting when an external antenna may be coupled to an external port of the wireless device and utilizing the external antenna for transmitting and/or receiving FM signals. The decoupling of an external antenna from an external port may be detected, which may cause the FM radio transmitter/receiver to be configured to transmit and/or receive FM signals utilizing antennas internal to the wireless device. One or more test signals, which may include AC signals, may be generated within the chip for detecting whether an external antenna may be coupled to an external port. A reflected signal from an external port may be measured and compared to a prestored value corresponding to a reflection due to an open circuit at the one or more external ports of the wireless device.

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method for wireless communication, the method comprising:
 in a wireless device comprising an FM radio transmitter and/or an FM radio receiver integrated within a chip,
 electronically detecting, via said chip, whether an external antenna is coupled to one or more external port of said wireless device; and 
 transmitting and/or receiving FM signals via said FM radio transmitter and/or said FM radio receiver respectively, when said external antenna is detected. 
   
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , comprising configuring said FM radio receiver for receiving said FM signals via said external antenna when said external antenna is detected. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 25 , comprising configuring said FM radio receiver for receiving said FM signals via said external antenna when said external antenna is detected. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 25 , comprising detecting when said external antenna is decoupled from said one or more external ports of said wireless device. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , comprising configuring said FM radio transmitter for transmitting said FM signals via one or more antennas internal to said wireless device. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 28 , comprising configuring said FM radio receiver for receiving said FM signals via one or more antennas internal to said wireless device. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 25 , comprising generating from within said chip, one or more test signals for said detecting whether said external antenna is coupled to said one or more external ports of said wireless device. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , comprising measuring a reflected signal resulting from reflection of said generated one or more test signals when said generated test signal is communicated to said one or more external ports of said wireless device. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , comprising comparing said measured reflected signal to a prestored value corresponding to a reflection due to an open circuit at said one or more external ports of said wireless device. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein said generated one or more test signals comprises an AC signal. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 25 , comprising detecting when said external antenna is connected to said one or more external port utilizing an LC tank circuit. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 35 , comprising detecting via said LC tank circuit a change in oscillation frequency when said external antenna is coupled to said one or more external port. 
     
     
         37 . A system for wireless communication, the system comprising:
 a wireless device comprising an FM radio transmitter and/or an FM radio receiver integrated within a chip, said chip electronically detects whether an external antenna is coupled to one or more external port of said wireless device; and
 said chip enables transmission and/or reception of FM signals via said FM radio transmitter and/or said FM radio receiver respectively, when said external antenna is detected. 
   
     
     
         38 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein said chip enables configuration of said FM radio transmitter for transmitting said FM signal via said external antenna when said external antenna is detected. 
     
     
         39 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein said chip enables configuration of said FM radio receiver for receiving said FM signals via said external antenna when said external antenna is detected. 
     
     
         40 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein said chip enables detection of decoupling of said external antenna from said one or more external ports of said wireless device. 
     
     
         41 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein said chip enables configuration of said FM radio transmitter for transmitting said FM signals via one or more antennas internal to said wireless device. 
     
     
         42 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein said chip enables configuration of said FM radio receiver for receiving said FM signals via one or more antennas internal to said wireless device. 
     
     
         43 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein said chip enables generation of one or more test signals for said detection of whether said external antenna is coupled to said one or more external ports of said wireless device. 
     
     
         44 . The system according to  claim 43 , wherein said chip enables measurement of a reflected signal resulting from reflection of said generated one or more test signals when said generated test signal is communicated to said one or more external ports of said wireless device. 
     
     
         45 . The system according to  claim 44 , wherein said chip enables comparison of said measured reflected signal to a prestored value corresponding to a reflection due to an open circuit at said one or more external ports of said wireless device. 
     
     
         46 . The system according to  claim 45 , wherein said generated one or more test signals comprises an AC signal. 
     
     
         47 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein said chip enables detecting when said external antenna is connected to said one or more external port utilizing an LC tank circuit. 
     
     
         48 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein said chip enables detecting via said LC tank circuit a change in oscillation frequency when said external antenna is coupled to said one or more external port.