Antenna arrangement

• US 20020080088A1
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mind Fusion, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Boyle, Kevin R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,624,795 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/895
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/04 with parts bent, folded, shaped, screened or electrically loaded to obtain desired phase relation of radiation from selected sections of the antenna H01Q11/06 – H01Q11/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/35 using two or more simultaneously fed points
• 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 9/14 Length of element or elements adjustable telescopic elements H01Q1/10

Abstract

An antenna arrangement comprises a folded structure (100) comprising first and second sections (102,104) defining a transmission line. The sections may be meander-line elements or other physically-shortened electric elements, for example a helical element. Respective feed points (103,105) are provided at the free ends of the sections (102,104), thereby enabling independent connections to be made for different modes, such as transmit and receive.

In additional embodiments, top-loading and additional short-circuit elements may be provided to improve performance and reduce antenna volume. The impedances of the sections (102,104) may be arranged to differ by adjusting conductor width or by fabricating one of the sections as a plurality of conductors connected in parallel. Discrete components may be included within the antenna structure, to provide enhanced design possibilities, while multi-band operation is enabled by fabrication of additional folded structures within the same volume.

Claims

1. A antenna arrangement comprising a folded structure having first and second sections defining a transmission line, wherein each of the first and second sections comprises a physically-shortened electric element having a respective feed point at its free end.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the first and second sections are substantially parallel to one another.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each physically-shortened electric element is a meander-line element.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that switching means are provided for connecting a feed point to ground.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the folded structure further comprises a top load between the first and second sections.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that an additional short circuit is provided between the first and second sections.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the first and second sections comprise conductors of different width.

8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that at least one of the first and second sections comprises a plurality of conductors of similar shape connected in parallel.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that at least one of the first and second sections incorporates a discrete component.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that switching means are provided, operable to switch respective parts of the first and second sections into and out of circuit.

11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the arrangement further comprises at least one additional folded structure.

12. A radio communications apparatus including an antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 1.