Antenna for array applications

• US 20030048226A1
• Filed: 05/14/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IPR Licensing Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tantivy Communications Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Snyder, Christopher A., Proctor, James A. Jr., Gainey, Kenneth M., Chiang, Bing, Gothard, Griffin K.
• Application Number:
  US10/146,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20030048226A1
• 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 19/10 using reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/062 using dipole aerials; H01Q21/067, H01Q21/068 take precedence
• 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 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/285 Planar dipole H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/40 Element having extended radiating surface

Abstract

An antenna with a first conductive element positioned in an lower region of the antenna, and a second conductive element positioned above the first conductive element in an upper region of the antenna. One of the conductive elements is an active element that transmits and receives signals, while the other element is a ground element.

Claims

1. An antenna, comprising:

a first conductive element positioned in an lower region of the antenna; and

a second conductive element positioned above the first conductive element in an upper region of the antenna,

wherein one of the first and second conductive elements is an active element that transmits and receives signals, and the other element is a ground element.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first conductive element is the ground element.

3. The antenna of claim 2, wherein the second conductive element includes a center feed coupled to a feed strip for facilitating coupling the antenna to a transmission line.

4. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the second conductive element is the ground element.

5. The antenna of claim 4, wherein the first conductive element includes an end feed.

6. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the ground element is coupled a ground surface.

7. The antenna of claim 6, wherein the first conductive element is the ground element.

8. The antenna of claim 7, wherein the second conductive element includes a center feed coupled to a feed strip for facilitating coupling the antenna to a transmission line.

9. The antenna of claim 6, wherein the second conductive element is the ground element.

10. The antenna of claim 9, wherein the first conductive element includes an end feed.

11. The antenna of claim 6, wherein the ground surface is planar.

12. The antenna of claim 11, wherein the ground surface is positioned substantially parallel to the first and second conductive elements.

13. The antenna of claim 11, wherein the ground surface is positioned substantially perpendicular to the first and second conductive elements.

14. The antenna of claim 6, wherein the ground surface has a conical shape with the apex of the conical surface being positioned proximate to the ground and active elements and the base of the surface being positioned distal to the ground and active elements.

15. The antenna of claim 1, further comprising a substrate, the first and second conductive elements being positioned on the substrate.

16. The antenna of claim 15, wherein the first and second conductive elements are positioned on the same side of the substrate.

17. The antenna of claim 15, wherein the first and second conductive elements are positioned on the opposite sides of the substrate.

18. The antenna of claim 15, wherein the substrate is made of a dielectric material.

19. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first and second elements are made of a conductive metal.

20. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the active element receives and transmits signals having an antenna pattern with a peak gain being directed substantially along a horizon of the earth by the ground element.

21. The antenna of claim 20, wherein the peak gain is directed at an angel of about 10°

above the horizon.

22. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first and second conductive elements are planar.

23. An antenna, comprising:

a substrate;

a first conductive element positioned on the substrate in an lower region of the antenna; and

a second conductive element positioned on the substrate above the first conductive element in an upper region of the antenna,

wherein one of the first and second conductive elements is an active element that transmits and receives signals, and the other element is a ground element.

24. The antenna of claim 23, wherein the active element and the ground element are positioned on opposite sides of the substrate.

25. The antenna of claim 24, wherein the first conductive element is the ground element.

26. The antenna of claim 25, wherein the second conductive element includes a center feed coupled to a feed strip for facilitating coupling the antenna to a transmission line.

27. The antenna of claim 24, wherein the second conductive element is the ground element.

28. The antenna of claim 27, wherein the first conductive element includes an end feed.

29. The antenna of claim 24, wherein the ground element is coupled a ground surface.

30. The antenna of claim 29, wherein the first conductive element is the ground element.

31. The antenna of claim 30, wherein the second conductive element includes a center feed coupled to a feed strip for facilitating coupling the antenna to a transmission line.

32. The antenna of claim 29, wherein the second conductive element is the ground element.

33. The antenna of claim 32, wherein the first conductive element includes an end feed.

34. The antenna of claim 29, wherein the ground surface is planar.

35. The antenna of claim 34, wherein the ground surface is positioned substantially parallel to the first and second conductive elements.

36. The antenna of claim 34, wherein the ground surface is positioned substantially perpendicular to the first and second conductive elements.

37. The antenna of claim 29, wherein the ground surface has a conical shape with the apex of the conical surface being positioned proximate to the ground and active elements and the base of the surface being positioned distal to the ground and active elements.

38. The antenna of claim 23, wherein the first and second elements are positioned on the same side of the substrate.

39. The antenna of claim 38, wherein the first conductive element is the ground element.

40. The antenna of claim 39, wherein the second conductive element includes a center feed coupled to a feed strip for facilitating coupling the antenna to a transmission line.

41. The antenna of claim 38, wherein the second conductive element is the ground element.

42. The antenna of claim 41, wherein the first conductive element includes an end feed.

43. The antenna of claim 38, wherein the ground element is coupled a ground surface.

44. The antenna of claim 43, wherein the first conductive element is the ground element.

45. The antenna of claim 44, wherein the second conductive element includes a center feed coupled to a feed strip for facilitating coupling the antenna to a transmission line.

46. The antenna of claim 45, wherein the second conductive element is the ground element.

47. The antenna of claim 46, wherein the first conductive element includes an end feed.

48. The antenna of claim 43, wherein the ground surface is planar.

49. The antenna of claim 48, wherein the ground surface is positioned substantially parallel to the first and second conductive elements.

50. The antenna of claim 48, wherein the ground surface is positioned substantially perpendicular to the first and second conductive elements.

51. The antenna of claim 43, wherein the ground surface has a conical shape with the apex of the conical surface being positioned proximate to the ground and active elements and the base of the surface being positioned distal to the ground and active elements.

52. The antenna of claim 23, wherein the active element receives and transmits signals having an antenna pattern with a peak gain being directed substantially along a horizon of the earth by the ground element.

53. The antenna of claim 52, wherein the peak gain is directed at an angel of about 10°

above the horizon.

54. The antenna of claim 23, wherein the first and second conductive elements are planar.

55. The antenna of claim 23, wherein the substrate is made of a dielectric material.

56. The antenna of claim 23, wherein the first and second elements are made of a conductive metal.