Multi-element antenna for multiple bands of operation and method therefor

• US 10,109,918 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2016
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airgain Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Airgain Incorporated
• Inventors: Thill, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Levi, Dameon E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alkassim, Jr., Ab Salam
• Application Number:
  US15/004,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20170214140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 343700
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/10 Logperiodic antennas H01Q11/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/105 using a dielectric support
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/35 using two or more simultaneously fed points
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/357 using a single feed point
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/371 Branching current paths
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/40 Imbricated or interleaved structures; Combined or electromagnetically coupled arrangements, e.g. comprising two or more non-connected fed radiating elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/04 Resonant antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/26 with folded element or elements, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of operating wavelength resonant loop antennas H01Q7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/28 Conical, cylindrical, cage, strip, gauze, or like elements having an extended radiating surface; Elements comprising two conical surfaces having collinear axes and adjacent apices and fed by two-conductor transmission lines waveguide horns or mouths H01Q13/00; slot antennas H01Q13/00

Abstract

An antenna assembly has a conductive line coupled to a feed point. An element is configured to resonate at a predetermined frequency. The element is electrically coupled to the conductive line and aligned perpendicular to the conductive line wherein the predetermined frequency of the element determines a distance from the feed point along the conductive line.

Claims

1. An antenna assembly comprising:

a first substrate;

an opening formed in a central area of the first substrate;

a first conductive line formed on a first surface of the first substrate and running down a length of the first substrate;

a first transmission line positioned through the opening and electrically coupled to the first conductive line; and

a first plurality of pairs of elements, each pair of the first plurality of elements resonating at different predetermined frequencies in a first frequency bandwidth, each of the first plurality of pairs of elements having a first member and a corresponding member, wherein each of the first plurality of pairs of elements is electrically coupled to the first conductive line and aligned perpendicular to the first conductive line, wherein the first member of each the first plurality of pairs of elements positioned on a first side of the feed point along the length of the first substrate and the corresponding member of each of the first plurality of pairs of elements positioned on an opposing side of the feed point along the length of the first substrate, the different predetermined frequencies determining a distance from the feed point along the first conductive line for each of the first plurality of pairs elements;

wherein each pair of elements of the first plurality of pairs of elements is positioned in descending order with a highest frequency pair of elements of the first plurality of pairs of elements located closest to the feed point and a lowest frequency pair of elements of the first plurality of pairs of elements located furthest from the feed point;

wherein the highest frequency pair of elements of the first plurality of pairs of elements operates at 2400 MegaHertz (MHz);

wherein a second highest frequency pair of elements of the first plurality of pairs of elements operates at 1600 MHz;

wherein the lowest frequency pair of elements of the first plurality of pairs of elements operates at 800 MHz;

a second conductive line formed on the first surface of the substrate and running down a width of the first substrate;

a second transmission line positioned through the opening and electrically coupled to the second conductive line; and

a second plurality of pairs of elements, each pair of the second plurality of elements resonating at different predetermined frequencies in a second frequency bandwidth, each of the second plurality of pairs of elements having a first member and a corresponding member, wherein each of the second plurality of pairs of elements is electrically coupled to the second conductive line and aligned perpendicular to the second conductive line, wherein the first member of each the second plurality of pairs of elements positioned on a first side of the feed point along the width of the substrate and the corresponding member of each of the second plurality of pairs of elements positioned on an opposing side of the feed point along the width of the substrate, the different predetermined frequencies determining a distance from the feed point along the second conductive line for each of the second plurality of pairs elements.

2. The antenna assembly in accordance with claim 1, comprising a third substrate positioned perpendicular to the first substrate, the second plurality of pairs of elements attached to the third substrate.

3. The antenna assembly in accordance with claim 1, comprising a third substrate positioned perpendicular to the first substrate, wherein the first member of each of the second plurality of pairs of elements is positioned on a first side of the third substrate and the corresponding member of each of the second plurality of pairs of elements is positioned on an opposing side of the third substrate.

4. An antenna assembly comprising:

a first substrate;

an opening formed in a central area of the first substrate;

a first of conductive line formed on a first surface of the first substrate and running down a length of the first substrate;

a first transmission line positioned through the opening and electrically coupled to the first conductive line;

a first plurality of pairs of elements, each pair of the first plurality of elements resonating at different predetermined frequencies in a first frequency bandwidth, each of the first plurality of pairs of elements having a first member and a corresponding member, wherein each of the first plurality of pairs of elements is electrically coupled to the first conductive line and aligned perpendicular to the first conductive line, wherein the first member of each the first plurality of pairs of elements positioned on a first side of the feed point along the length of the first substrate and the corresponding member of each of the first plurality of pairs of elements positioned on an opposing side of the feed point along the length of the first substrate, the different predetermined frequencies determining a distance from the feed point along the first conductive line for each of the first plurality of pairs elements; and

a second substrate positioned perpendicular to the first substrate and running down the length of the first substrate, the first plurality of pairs of elements attached to the second substrate;

wherein each pair of elements of the first plurality of pairs of elements is positioned in descending order with a highest frequency pair of elements of the first plurality of pairs of elements located closest to the feed point and a lowest frequency pair of elements of the first plurality of pairs of elements located furthest from the feed point;

wherein the highest frequency pair of elements of the first plurality of pairs of elements operates at 2400 MegaHertz (MHz);

wherein a second highest frequency pair of elements of the first plurality of pairs of elements operates at 1600 MHz;

wherein the lowest frequency pair of elements of the first plurality of pairs of elements operates at 800 MHz.

5. The antenna assembly in accordance with claim 4, wherein the first member of each of the first plurality of pairs of elements is positioned on a first side of the second substrate and the corresponding member of each of the first plurality of pairs of elements is positioned on an opposing side of the second substrate.

6. The antenna assembly in accordance with claim 4, comprising:

a second conductive line formed on the first surface of the first substrate and running down a width of the first substrate, the second conductive line electrically coupled to the transmission line;

a second transmission line positioned through the opening and electrically coupled to the second conductive line; and

a second plurality of pairs of elements, each pair of the second plurality of elements resonating at different predetermined frequencies in a second frequency bandwidth, each of the second plurality of pairs of elements having a first member and a corresponding member, wherein each of the second plurality of pairs of elements is electrically coupled to the second conductive line and aligned perpendicular to the second conductive line, wherein the first member of each of the second plurality of pairs of elements is positioned on a first side of the feed point along the width of the first substrate and the corresponding member of each of the second plurality of pairs of elements is positioned on an opposing side of the feed point along the width of the first substrate, the different predetermined frequencies determining a distance from the feed point along the second conductive line for each of the second plurality of pairs elements.

7. The antenna assembly in accordance with claim 6, comprising a third substrate positioned perpendicular to the first substrate and the second substrate, the second plurality of pairs of elements attached to the third substrate.

8. The antenna assembly in accordance with claim 6, comprising a third substrate positioned perpendicular to the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the first member of each of the second plurality of pairs of elements is positioned on a first side of the third substrate and the corresponding member of each of the second plurality of pairs of elements is positioned on an opposing side of the third substrate.

9. The antenna assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein the first conductive line, the second conductive line, the first plurality of pairs of elements and the second plurality of pairs of elements are formed of microstrips.