Phase controlled antennae for data transmission between mobile devices

• US 20050052330A1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
• Original Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Mehltretter, Ludwig
• Granted Patent: US 7,193,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/820
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/287 integrated in a wing or a stabiliser
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/446 the radiating element being at the centre of one or more rings of auxiliary elements

Abstract

In a phase-controlled antenna array for mobile devices, in particular designed for flying device, groups of controllable passive antenna elements are arranged in concentric circles around an active central antenna element. The arrangement of additional similar planar antenna arrays among the original antenna array is especially advantageous with regard to bundling the emission characteristic.

Claims

1. Phase-controlled antenna comprising a plurality of antenna elements arranged in the area of a surface of a mobile device, wherein a plurality of passive antenna elements is assigned to an active antenna element in at least one plane approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the mobile device, the plurality of passive antenna elements are uniformly distributed around the active antenna element on peripheral circles each with a radius which is approximately a multiple of ¼

·

λ and

perpendicular to the plane and/or being arranged as a group, wherein λ

is operating wavelength.

2. Phase-controlled antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of passive antenna elements are designed as monopoles or dipoles.

3. Phase-controlled antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein coupling of the plurality of passive antenna elements among one another is selectable by selecting a transverse dimension of the active antenna element and/or the mutual spacing of the plurality of passive antenna elements.

4. Phase-controlled antenna as claimed in claim 1 wherein an active electric length of the plurality of passive antenna elements is adjustable.

5. Phase-controlled antenna as claimed in claim 4, wherein the active electric length is adjusted by connecting or disconnecting electric components or lines that are integrated into the plurality of passive antenna elements.

6. Phase-controlled antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein an antenna array comprises groups of active and passive antenna elements arranged in several parallel planes one above the other.

7. Phase-controlled antenna as claimed in claim 6, wherein an antenna diagram of the antenna array of the phase-controlled antenna is aligned in elevation by means of individual control of the respective plane with respect to the absolute value and phase.

8. Phase-controlled antenna as claimed in claim 6, wherein a distance between the planes is at least three-quarters of the operating wavelength λ

.

9. Phase-controlled antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna is arranged in a housing outside of a contour of the mobile device.

10. Phase-controlled antenna as claimed in claim 9, wherein the housing is aerodynamically shaped.

11. Phase-controlled antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a flying device and an antenna array comprising the active and the plurality of passive antenna elements is arranged in an area of wing tips of the flying device.

12. Phase-controlled antenna as claimed in claim 11, wherein a part of a wing which includes the antenna array is mounted so that it is pivotable in elevation about an axis arranged in a direction of flight.

13. Phase-controlled antenna as claimed in claim 12, wherein pivoting is performed as a function of a position of the flying device in such a way that a respective part of the wing is in a horizontal.

14. Phase-controlled antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein installation of the antenna includes a base plate having a plurality of planes which have conductors or areas on which additional strip-shaped plates are arranged perpendicular to the base plate in a circular arrangement, whereby the strip plates contain the passive antenna elements and the components required for controlling them.

15. A method of using a phase-controlled antenna in a mobile device, which comprises a plurality of antenna elements and which is arranged in an area of a surface of the mobile device so that a plurality of passive antenna elements is assigned to each active antenna element in at least one plane approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the mobile device, the plurality of passive antenna elements are uniformly distributed on peripheral circles with a radius which is approximately a multiple of ¼

·

λ

around the active antenna element so that they are perpendicular to the respective plane and/or are arranged as a group, wherein λ

is the operating wavelength.