Antenna system

• US 20030030588A1
• Filed: 08/10/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donald W. Moses
• Original Assignee: Music Sciences, Inc.
• Inventors: Hustig, Charles H., Antonakopoulos, Theodore, Moses, Donald W., Makios, Vassilios, Kalis, Antonis
• Granted Patent: US 6,836,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/700MS
• 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 13/08 Radiating ends of two-conductor microwave transmission lines, e.g. of coaxial lines, of microstrip lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/285 Planar dipole H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407

Abstract

Provided is an antenna system for operating in clear line of sight and obscured line of sight conditions. The antenna system includes multiple antenna elements arranged to provide both space and angle diversity characteristics. The elements are spaced apart so as to provide independence but may have overlapping radiation patterns. Each element includes a main radiation lobe and the elements are arranged so that the main radiation lobes are oriented at diverse angles.

Claims

1. An antenna for overcoming deleterious effects of multipath, the antenna comprising:

a support member; and

a plurality of antenna elements disposed on a first side of the support member, wherein each antenna element includes a main radiation lobe, and wherein the antenna elements are arranged so that each antenna element is spaced from the other antenna elements and the main radiation lobes are oriented towards different angles.

2. The antenna of claim 1 wherein each antenna element is associated with a radiation pattern and wherein the antenna elements are further arranged to have overlapping radiation patterns.

3. The antenna of claim 1 further comprising a reflective member positioned proximate to the support member, the reflective member having a reflective surface for reflecting signals towards the antenna elements.

4. The antenna of claim 3 wherein the support and reflective members are planar and wherein the reflective member is positioned substantially parallel to the support member.

5. The antenna of claim 4 wherein the first side of the support member faces away from the reflective member and the reflective surface of the reflective member faces the support member.

6. The antenna of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of connectors positioned proximate to a second side of the support member, wherein the connectors are in signal communication with the plurality of antenna elements and are operable to provide connections to the antenna elements.

7. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the support member is a printed circuit board and the antenna elements are formed on the printed circuit board.

8. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the first side of the support member comprises first and second halves, wherein each half has an identical number of antenna elements disposed in an identical manner thereon.

9. A device for improving antenna performance by combining space and angle diversity characteristics, the device comprising:

an antenna array board having independent first and second antenna elements disposed thereon, wherein the first and second elements include first and second radiation lobes, respectively, and wherein the first and second elements are positioned so that the first and second radiation lobes are directed towards diverse azimuth angles; and

first and second connectors positioned proximate to the first and second elements, respectively, for providing a signal path for each element.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the first and second elements are further positioned so that a first radiation pattern associated with the first element overlaps a second radiation pattern associated with the second element.

11. The device of claim 9 further comprising a ground plane board positioned substantially parallel to the antenna array board, the ground plane board having a reflective surface for directing radio waves towards the antenna array board.

12. The device of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of spacers for separating the antenna array board and the ground plane board.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein the first and second elements are disposed on a first side of the antenna array board and the first and second connectors are disposed on a second side of the antenna array board.

14. A method for providing an antenna operable to function in clear line of sight and obscured line of sight conditions by providing space and angle diversity characteristics, the method comprising:

arranging a plurality of antenna elements relative to one another and a support surface, wherein each antenna element includes a radiation lobe, the arranging including;

spacing the antenna elements apart; and

orienting the radiation lobes at diverse angles;

placing the arranged antenna elements on the support surface; and

fastening a plurality of connectors corresponding to the plurality of antenna elements to the support surface, wherein the connectors are in signal communication with the antenna elements.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein arranging the plurality of antenna elements further includes providing overlapping radiation patterns.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein arranging the plurality of antenna elements further includes organizing the antenna elements into first and second portions having an identical number and arrangement of antenna elements, and disposing the first and second portions onto first and second halves of the support surface, respectively.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

positioning the support surface at a predefined distance from a ground plane surface; and

securing the support surface to the ground plane surface.