Circular polarization antenna and composite antenna including this antenna

• US 20050052334A1
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Nagao, Koji, Umezawa, Yoshio, Ogino, Kazushige, Takayama, Kazuo, Tsuruta, Katsuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,286,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/866
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1271 for mounting on windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

When configuring a film antenna for receiving a circular polarized wave, at least one loop antenna is formed on a transparent plastic film and, at the same time, a non-powered element constituted by a wire-shaped conductor independent from the antenna conductor configuring the loop is arranged near this loop antenna. The non-powered element arranged on the side of the loop antenna is configured by a first part and a second part. The first part is made close to the loop antenna in a substantially parallel state. When a monopole antenna is used in place of the loop antenna, by combining this with a wire-shaped conductor orthogonal to this, it becomes possible to receive a circular polarized wave by a configuration providing a power transfer part between the two. It is also possible to configure a composite antenna by mounting another antenna on the transparent plastic film. This antenna can be used as an antenna of a navigation system.

Claims

1. A circular polarization antenna characterized by being provided with:

a linear polarization antenna provided with an antenna conductor for transmitting and/or receiving a linear polarized wave and

at least one non-powered element arranged near the antenna conductor of said linear polarization antenna and configured by a conductor independent from said antenna conductor.

2. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein a plurality of non-powered elements are arranged near the antenna conductor of said linear polarization antenna.

3. An antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said linear polarization antenna is a loop antenna.

4. An antenna as set forth in claim 3, wherein

said non-powered element is configured by a first part arranged close to said antenna conductor and a second part arranged electrically connected to this first part, and

said first part is arranged in a state parallel or near parallel with respect to part of said antenna conductor.

5. An antenna as set forth in claim 3, wherein when viewing said non-powered element by breaking it down to, a first component parallel with a line connecting opposite poles of a loop antenna seen from the power feed point of said loop antenna and a second component vertical to this, said non-powered element is arranged so that there is a first component in said non-powered element.

6. An antenna as set forth in claim 4, wherein a distance between the second part of said non-powered element and said antenna conductor becomes larger the, nearer to the front end of said second part.

7. An antenna as set forth in claim 4, wherein the second part of said non-powered element is arranged bent with respect to said first part, and the bending direction of said second part is to said antenna conductor side with respect to an imaginary extended line of said first part.

8. An antenna as set forth in claim 3, wherein said non-powered element is located on at least one side of a dividing line substantially equally dividing said loop antenna to two.

9. An antenna as set forth in claim 3, wherein an auxiliary conductor parallel to said non-powered element is arranged on the opposite side with respect to said loop antenna of said non-powered element.

10. An antenna as set forth in claim 3, wherein a substantially straight second auxiliary conductor that contacts an imaginary circle having the same center as the loop of this loop antenna is provided near the outside of said loop antenna so as to function as a waveguide or reflector.

11. An antenna as set forth in claim 3, wherein one of two power feed terminals of said loop antenna is grounded.

12. An antenna as set forth in claim 3, wherein a balance input terminal of a balance/imbalance conversion circuit is connected to two power feed terminals of said loop antenna, and a conductor connected to a coaxial cable or power feed circuit can be connected to an imbalance input terminal of said balance/imbalance conversion circuit.

13. An antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said linear polarization antenna is a monopole antenna having a power feed point and a free end.

14. An antenna as set forth in claim 13, wherein an axial line of the antenna of said monopole antenna and an axial line of said non-powered element are arranged in orthogonal directions.

15. An antenna as set forth in claim 13, wherein said non-powered element is provided with a power transfer part able to transfer power with respect to said monopole antenna, and said non-powered element is arranged near said free end of said monopole antenna.

16. An antenna as set forth in claim 15, wherein said power transfer part is one end of said non-powered element arranged substantially parallel adjacent to said free end of said monopole antenna.

17. An antenna as set forth in claim 15, wherein at least a part having a predetermined length from the free end of said monopole antenna is bent, and this bent portion forms said power transfer part.

18. An antenna as set forth in claim 13, wherein near at least one of said monopole antenna and said non-powered element, a second non-powered element made of a wire-shaped conductor electrically not connected to either is provided so as to function as a waveguide or the reflector.

19. An antenna as set forth in claim 18, wherein said second non-powered element is provided so that an imaginary line located substantially at the center position thereof and orthogonal to it passes through substantially the center of a circular polarization antenna configured by said monopole antenna and said non-powered element.

20. An antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein a length of said non-powered element is a length of ½

or more of the wavelength of the wave of the transmission and/or reception frequency of said circular polarization antenna.

21. An antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein a length of the antenna conductor of said linear polarization antenna is a length of about one wavelength of the wave transmitted and/or received at said circular polarization antenna.

22. An antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said non-powered element is arranged on the same plane as the plane on which said linear polarization antenna is arranged.

23. An antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said linear polarization antenna and said non-powered element are formed by the same conductor foil.

24. An antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said linear polarization antenna and said non-powered element are formed on a flexible sheet-like dielectric body.

25. An antenna as set forth in claim 24, wherein an adhesive layer is arranged on one surface of said sheet-like dielectric body, and said linear polarization antenna and said non-powered element are arranged on the other surface.

26. An antenna as set forth in claim 25, wherein a protective layer for protecting said linear polarization antenna and said non-powered element is arranged on the other surface of said sheet-like dielectric body.

27. An antenna as set forth in claim 26, wherein at least said linear polarization antenna and said non-powered element are covered by said protective layer.

28. An antenna as set forth in claim 24, wherein said sheet-like dielectric body is constituted by a transparent insulation film, and this film is arranged on an outer member constituted by glass or an insulator of an automobile.

29. An antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said linear polarization antenna and said non-powered element are arranged on an outer member constituted by glass or an insulator of an automobile.

30. An antenna as set forth in claim 28, wherein said circular polarization antenna is provided at a windshield at a side facing a driver'"'"'s seat of an automobile.

31. An antenna as set forth in claim 24, wherein a plurality of circular polarization antennas are arranged on said sheet-like dielectric body.

32. An antenna as set forth in claim 31, wherein said sheet-like dielectric body is provided with a cut part which enables said plurality of circular polarization antennas to be individually separated.

33. An antenna as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second auxiliary conductor is part of another antenna.

76. An antenna as set forth in claim 18, wherein said second non-powered element is part of another antenna.

34. A composite antenna provided with:

a linear polarization antenna provided with an antenna conductor for receiving a linear polarized wave;

a non-powered element arranged near the antenna conductor of said linear polarization antenna and constituted by a conductor independent from said antenna conductor;

a flexible sheet-like dielectric body at which said linear polarization antenna and said non-powered element are formed; and

another antenna arranged on the same plane as the plane of arrangement of said linear polarization antenna at said sheet-like dielectric body.

35. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 34, wherein a cut part enabling separation of a circular polarization antenna comprised of said linear polarization antenna and said non-powered element is provided in said sheet-like dielectric body.

36. An antenna as set forth in claim 35, wherein said other antenna is at least one of an antenna for receiving TV waves, an antenna for receiving radio waves, an antenna for transmitting and/or receiving keyless entry system signals of an automobile, an antenna for transmitting and/or receiving signals used in an anti-car jack system, and an antenna for transmitting and/or receiving signals used in a remote engine starter system.

37. An antenna as set forth in claim 34, wherein a plurality of other antennas are arranged at said sheet-like dielectric body, and power feed terminals of a circular polarization antenna comprised of said linear polarization antenna and said non-powered element are arranged between power feed terminals of said plurality of other antennas.

38. An antenna as set forth in claim 34, wherein said other antennas are formed by the same conductor foil as that of said linear polarization antenna or said non-powered element.

39. An antenna as set forth in claim 34, wherein said sheet-like dielectric body is arranged at a position where antenna conductors of a circular polarization antenna comprised of said linear polarization antenna and said non-powered element and other antennas are arranged and the periphery thereof.

40. An antenna to which an input line and/or a takeout line or a connector is connected, provided with:

a dielectric body at which an antenna element is arranged;

at least one antenna element arranged on said dielectric body;

power feed terminals formed on said dielectric body and connected to said antenna element; and

a mark formed at the periphery of said power feed elements of said dielectric body and indicating a connection position of said input line and/or said takeout line or said connector.

41. An antenna as set forth in claim 40, wherein when said input line and/or said takeout line or said connector is correctly connected to said power feed terminals, said mark is arranged in a state where it is equally exposed at a position surrounding said input line and/or said takeout line or the outer shape of the connector and can be viewed.

42. An antenna as set forth in claim 40, wherein when said input line and/or said takeout line or said connector is correctly connected to said power feed terminals, said mark is completely hidden by said input line and/or said takeout line or the outer shape of the connector, while when said input line and/or said takeout line or said connector are connected shifted with respect to said power feed terminals, said mark is arranged in a state where part thereof can be viewed while protruding from said input line and/or said takeout line or the connector.

43. An antenna as set forth in claim 40, wherein said mark is formed by the same conductive member as the conductive member constituting said antenna element and/or said power feed terminal at the time of forming said antenna element and/or said power feed element.

44. An antenna as set forth in claim 43, wherein said conductive member is a conductive ink or a conductive foil.

45. An antenna as set forth in claim 40, wherein said mark is configured by a short line or a set of short lines.

46. An antenna as set forth in claim 40, wherein said mark is constituted by small holes formed in said film.

51. An antenna as set forth in claim 40, wherein said antenna element is a circular polarization antenna configured by a linear polarization antenna and a non-powered element arranged near said linear polarization antenna and constituted by a conductor independent from the antenna conductor constituting said linear polarization antenna.

47. An antenna to which an input line and/or a takeout line or a connector is connected, provided with:

a dielectric body at which an antenna element is arranged;

at least one antenna element arranged at said dielectric body;

a protective film for covering the top of said dielectric body;

power feed terminals formed on said dielectric body, to which said antenna element is connected, and whose electrode portions are exposed from said protective film; and

a protective sheet adhered to said dielectric body so as to cover said electrode portions of said power feed elements and detachable from the top of said dielectric body; and

said input line and/or said takeout line or said connector being connected to said power feed terminal in a state where part of said protective sheet is peeled off from said power feed elements.

48. An antenna as set forth in claim 47, wherein

said protective sheet is provided with a cut part for positioning said input line and/or said takeout line or said connector, and

said protective sheet is temporarily attached to said dielectric body in a state where said cut part corresponds to the connection position of said input line and/or said takeout line or said connector onto said dielectric body.

49. An antenna as set forth in claim 48, wherein said cut part is separated from said protective sheet.

50. An antenna as set forth in claim 48, wherein a thickness of said protective sheet is a thickness of an extent that becomes a positioning guide of said input line and/or said takeout line or said connector when said input line and/or said takeout line or said connector is connected to said dielectric body.

75. An antenna as set forth in claim 47, wherein said antenna element is a circular polarization antenna obtained by arranging a linear polarization antenna and a non-powered element constituted by a conductor with respect to the antenna conductor configuring the linear polarization antenna near said linear polarization antenna.

52. A composite antenna provided with a plurality of antennas, provided with:

a first substrate having at least a first antenna element formed thereon;

a second substrate provided with a circuit connected to an antenna element formed on said first substrate; and

a second antenna element provided on the second substrate provided with said circuit and different from said first antenna element.

53. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 52, wherein said second substrate is a dielectric substrate.

54. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 53, wherein, a plate-like conductor is arranged at a position away from said dielectric substrate so as to be substantially parallel to said dielectric substrate and face said second antenna element.

55. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 54, wherein

an antenna element other than said second antenna element is formed on one surface of said dielectric substrate, and

a plate-like conductor is arranged at a position away from said dielectric substrate so as to be substantially parallel to said dielectric substrate and face said other antenna element.

56. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 53, wherein one surface of said dielectric substrate is the surface of a wave arrival direction.

57. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 55, wherein another dielectric member is provided between said plate-like conductor and said dielectric substrate.

58. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 55, wherein said plate-like conductor is arranged inclined in a predetermined direction with respect to said dielectric substrate.

59. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 55, wherein said plate-like conductor is attached to said dielectric substrate without clearance.

60. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 55, wherein said plate-like conductor for said second antenna element and said plate-like conductor for said other antenna element are common and attached to said dielectric substrate without clearance.

61. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 59, wherein

said dielectric substrates is configured by a multi-layer substrate,

said second antenna element is formed on the front surface of said multi-layer substrate, said plate-like conductor is formed on the back surface of said multi-layer substrate, and a ground pattern of said circuit is formed at an intermediate layer of said multi-layer substrate.

62. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 52, wherein

a combiner is provided in said dielectric substrate, and

signals received at antenna elements existing on said first and second substrates are combined by this combiner.

63. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 52, wherein at least one of said first and second antenna elements is a circular polarization antenna.

64. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 52, wherein said circuit is provided in a connector connected to the power feed terminals of said first antenna element for taking out signals received at said first antenna element to the outside.

65. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 52, wherein

said first antenna element is a circular polarization antenna configured by

a linear polarization antenna and

a non-powered element provided near said linear polarization antenna and constituted by a conductor independent from the antenna conductor constituting said linear polarization antenna.

66. An antenna apparatus provided with

a circular polarization antenna linear configured by a linear polarization antenna provided with an antenna conductor for transmitting and/or receiving a linear polarized wave and a non-powered element arranged near the antenna conductor of said linear polarization antenna and constituted by a conductor independent from said antenna conductor;

a flexible sheet-like dielectric body on which said linear polarization antenna and said non-powered element are formed;

power feed terminals formed on said dielectric body and connected to said linear polarization antenna; and

an input line or a connector connected to said power feed terminal and inputting signals transmitted from said circular polarization antenna and/or a takeout line or a connector for taking out signals received at said circular polarization antenna to the outside.

72. An antenna apparatus as set forth in claim 66, wherein provision is further made of an amplification unit for amplifying received signals.

67. An antenna apparatus using a composite antenna provided with a linear polarization antenna provided with an antenna conductor for transmitting and/or receiving a linear polarized wave, a non-powered element arranged near the antenna conductor of said linear polarization antenna and constituted by a conductor independent from said antenna conductor, a flexible sheet-like dielectric body on which said linear polarization antenna and said non-powered element are formed, and another antenna arranged on the same plane as the plane of arrangement of said linear polarization antenna at said sheet-like dielectric body, provided with:

an input line or a connector connected to the power feed terminal of said circular polarization antenna and inputting signals transmitted from said circular polarization antenna and/or a takeout line or a connector for taking out signals received at said circular polarization antenna to the outside.

68. An antenna apparatus using an antenna provided with a dielectric body to which the input line and/or takeout line or connector is connected and on which the antenna element is arranged, at least one antenna element arranged on said dielectric body, power feed terminals formed on said dielectric body and connected to said antenna element, and a mark formed on the periphery of said power feed elements of said dielectric body and indicating a connection position of said takeout line or said connector, provided with

an input line or a connector connected to the power feed terminal of said antenna element and inputting signals transmitted from said antenna and/or a takeout line or a connector for taking out signals received at said circular polarization antenna to the outside.

69. An antenna apparatus using a composite antenna provided with a first substrate having at least a first antenna element formed thereon, a second substrate provided with a circuit connected to the antenna element formed on said first substrate, and at least a second antenna element provided on the second substrate provided with said circuit and different from said first antenna element, provided with

an input line or a connector connected to the power feed terminal of said first antenna element and inputting signals transmitted from said circular polarization antenna and/or a takeout line or a connector for taking out signals received at said first antenna element to the outside.

70. An antenna apparatus using a composite antenna provided with

a linear polarization antenna provided with an antenna conductor for receiving a linear polarized wave, a non-powered element arranged near the antenna conductor of said linear polarization antenna and constituted by a conductor independent from said antenna conductor, a flexible sheet-like dielectric body at which said linear polarization antenna and said non-powered element are formed, and other antenna arranged on the same plane as the plane of arrangement of said linear polarization antenna at said sheet-like dielectric body, provided with:

an input line or a connector connected to the power feed terminal of said circular polarization antenna and inputting input signals transmitted from a circular polarization antenna comprised of said linear polarization antenna and said non-powered element and/or a first takeout line or a first connector for taking out signals received at said circular polarization antenna to the outside; and

an input line or a connector connected to the power feed terminal of said other antenna and inputting signals transmitted from said other antenna and/or a second takeout line or a second connector for taking out signals received at said other antenna to the outside.

71. An antenna apparatus as set forth in claim 70, wherein said other antenna is for receiving a TV signal, a plurality of such antennas are arranged, and a selector able to select an antenna able to receive TV signals well from among said plurality of antennas is provided.

73. A reception apparatus providing:

a circular polarization antenna configured by a linear polarization antenna provided with an antenna conductor for receiving a linear polarized wave and a non-powered element arranged near the antenna conductor of said linear polarization antenna and constituted by a conductor independent from said antenna conductor;

a flexible sheet-like dielectric body at which said linear polarization antenna and said non-powered element are formed;

power feed terminals formed on said dielectric body and connected to said linear polarization antenna; and

a takeout line or a connector connected to said power feed terminal and taking out signals received at said circular polarization antenna to the outside.

74. A reception apparatus as set forth in claim 73, wherein said receiver is a navigation system.