Wide angle planar antenna assembly

• US 10,181,651 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2017
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Rankin, Stan, Judd, Brock, Edwards, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoang
• Application Number:
  US15/430,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20170155199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• 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 15/14 Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures electromagnetic shields H01Q1/526
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/18 having two or more spaced reflecting surfaces H01Q19/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure are related to an antenna system including radiating elements and reflectors. The reflectors can be disposed with respect to the radiating elements to reflect radiation from the radiating elements to generate a coverage area that exceeds the coverage area generated by the radiating elements without the reflectors.

Claims

1. A method for reducing a null in electromagnetic radiation from an antenna assembly comprising:

aligning a plurality of radiation elements in a common plane, the plurality of radiation elements being uniformly spaced with respect to each other semi-circumferentially about an axis perpendicular to the common plane extending centrally through a diameter line of a semi-circle formed on the common plane by the radiating elements;

forming a first reflector to have an inverted, truncated, semi-circular conical configuration;

positioning a first reflector centrally with respect to the diameter line of the semi-circle formed on the common plane by the radiation elements;

spacing a first base of the first reflector in proximity to the radiating elements, a second base of the first reflector being disposed further away from the radiation elements than the first base, wherein the second base of the first reflector has a diameter that exceeds a footprint of the radiating elements; and

reflecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation elements along the axis and through the common plane by the first reflector to provide a coverage area that extends along the axis beyond the antenna assembly,

wherein a center axis of the first reflector extends at an angle to the common plane other than ninety degrees.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a center axis of the reflector corresponds to the axis perpendicular to the common plane.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a second reflector extends through the common plane and defining a planar reflection surface.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second reflector extends at an angle to the common plane other than ninety degrees.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the second reflector extends at an angle perpendicular to the common plane.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the second reflector is disposed adjacent to the first reflector.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the second reflector intersects the common plane at an intersection of the common plane and the axis perpendicular to the common plane.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the each of the radiating elements is a single feedpoint loop antenna.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

forming a housing that encloses the plurality of radiation elements and the first reflector.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the housing includes a cover constructed of transmissive material and a mounting bracket attached to the cover,

wherein the mounting bracket and the cover define an interior volume of the housing for enclosing the plurality of radiation elements and the first reflector.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the cover has a truncated, semi-circular configuration.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the housing includes at least one support element configured to maintain a position of the plurality of radiation elements within the interior volume.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the housing includes at least one support element configured to maintain a position of the first reflector within the interior volume.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the mounting bracket defines at least one aperture configured to permit wiring ingress to the housing.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of radiation elements are defined on a printed circuit board.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the printed circuit board has a semi annular configuration.

17. A method for reducing a null in electromagnetic radiation from an antenna assembly comprising:

aligning a plurality of radiation elements in a common plane, the plurality of radiation elements being uniformly spaced with respect to each other semi-circumferentially about an axis perpendicular to the common plane extending centrally through a diameter line of a semi-circle formed on the common plane by the radiating elements;

forming a first reflector to have an inverted, truncated, semi-circular conical configuration;

positioning a first reflector centrally with respect to the diameter line of the semi-circle formed on the common plane by the radiation elements;

spacing a first base of the first reflector in proximity to the radiating elements, a second base of the first reflector being disposed further away from the radiation elements than the first base, wherein the second base of the first reflector has a diameter that exceeds a footprint of the radiating elements; and

reflecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation elements along the axis and through the common plane by the first reflector to provide a coverage area that extends along the axis beyond the antenna assembly,

wherein a second reflector extends through the common plane and defining a planar reflection surface.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second reflector extends at an angle to the common plane other than ninety degrees.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second reflector intersects the common plane at an intersection of the common plane and the axis perpendicular to the common plane.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the second reflector extends at an angle perpendicular to the common plane.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the second reflector is disposed adjacent to the first reflector.

22. A method for reducing a null in electromagnetic radiation from an antenna assembly comprising:

aligning a plurality of radiation elements in a common plane, the plurality of radiation elements being uniformly spaced with respect to each other semi-circumferentially about an axis perpendicular to the common plane extending centrally through a diameter line of a semi-circle formed on the common plane by the radiating elements;

forming a first reflector to have an inverted, truncated, semi-circular conical configuration;

positioning a first reflector centrally with respect to the diameter line of the semi-circle formed on the common plane by the radiation elements;

spacing a first base of the first reflector in proximity to the radiating elements, a second base of the first reflector being disposed further away from the radiation elements than the first base, wherein the second base of the first reflector has a diameter that exceeds a footprint of the radiating elements; and

reflecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation elements along the axis and through the common plane by the first reflector to provide a coverage area that extends along the axis beyond the antenna assembly,

wherein each of the radiating elements is a single feedpoint loop antenna.