Low visibility dual band antenna with dual polarization

• US 20050200554A1
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Antenex, Inc. (Laird Limited)
• Inventors: Chau, Tam Hung
• Granted Patent: US 7,209,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/895
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2233 used in consumption-meter devices, e.g. electricity, gas or water meters
• 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 5/314 using frequency dependent circuits or components, e.g. trap circuits or capacitors

Abstract

A low visibility, field-diverse, dual band antenna provides cross-polarized fields enhancing signal communications. A generally flat, but helical, antenna is achieved in conjunction with a core substrate about which the antenna is wrapped, wound, or fixed. The core substrate, pitch or angle of the helix, and length of the transmitting antenna are chosen for a specific two (2) selected resonant frequency. A two-pole low-pass filter may be used to achieve dual band transmission. The passive components are specifically selected to achieve two (2) resonant frequencies PCS/Cellular 821-896 MHz and 1850-1990 MHz. The length and width of the helix are chosen in order to dimension the helical antenna between its linear and circular polarization modes to thereby deliver field-diverse and cross-polarized transmission modes.

Claims

1. A low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna for providing communications comprising:

an antenna-supporting core comprising printed circuit board (PCB) substrate and having a width and a length; and

an antenna, said antenna wrapped upon said core in a manner for two selected dual band resonant frequencies, said antenna radiating in a diverse manner with horizontal and vertical field components of a field radiated by said antenna substantially in phase and not circularly polarized;

whereby

the low-visibility, field-diverse dual band antenna is realized having helical antenna characteristics without severe circular polarization radiation thereby promoting reliable communications.

2. The low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna of claim 1, wherein said antenna comprises a two-pole low-pass filter that enables operation at said two selected resonant frequencies.

3. The low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna of claim 2, wherein said two selected resonant frequencies comprise PCS/Cellular frequencies at 821-896 MHz and 1850-1990 MHz.

4. The low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna of claim 2, wherein said two-pole low-pass filter comprises three passive components that enable operation at said two selected resonant frequencies.

5. The low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna of claim 4, wherein said three passive components comprise an adjustable conducting foil acting as an inductor, said conducting foil enabling operation at said two selected resonant frequencies.

6. The low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna of claim 5, wherein said three passive components comprise a first capacitor and a second capacitor, said first and second capacitors matching the remainder of the circuit to enable operation at said two selected resonant frequencies.

7. The low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna of claim 6, wherein said three passive components comprise said first and second capacitors separated by said conducting foil and matching to enable operation at said two selected resonant frequencies.

8. The low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna of claim 5, wherein said three passive components comprise first and second capacitors coupled to a tuning inductor to enable operation at two selected resonant frequencies.

9. The low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna of claim 5, wherein said three passive components comprise first and second capacitors coupled to a micro-strip to enable operation at said two selected resonant frequencies.

10. The low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna of claim 2, wherein said two-pole low-pass filter further comprises:

a first capacitor shunted to ground and in parallel to an input to the antenna;

an adjustable inductor coupled to said first capacitor and in series with said input; and

a second capacitor coupled to said adjustable inductor on a side of said adjustable inductor opposite that of said input, said second capacitor shunted to ground and in parallel to said first capacitor;

whereby

said two selected resonant frequencies are enabled for transmission by the antenna.

11. The low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna of claim 10, further comprising:

said first capacitor is an approximately 1 pf at 1 kV ceramic capacitor;

said adjustable inductor is a manually-adjustable brass ribbon or sheet; and

said second capacitor is an approximately 1.5 pf at 1 kV ceramic capacitor.

12. The low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 2, wherein said antenna-supporting core is generally thin and rectangular.

13. The low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 12, wherein said generally rectangular shape of said antenna-supporting core approximates a square.

14. The low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 12, wherein said antenna-supporting core comprises printed circuit board (PCB) substrate.

15. The low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 14, wherein said PCB substrate conducts from one flat side to another via at least a portion of a plated-through hole.

16. The low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 15, wherein said antenna comprises conducting foil.

17. The low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 1, wherein said antenna is wrapped upon said core in a helical manner.

18. The low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 1, wherein said antenna comprises a meandering conductor wrapped upon said core.

19. The low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 1, further comprising:

a radome covering said core and said antenna.

20. The low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 19, wherein said radome comprises a dense plastic, said dense plastic changing the operating frequency of the antenna.

21. The low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 20, wherein said dense plastic has a dielectric constant of approximately 4.

22. The low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 21, wherein said dense plastic is selected from the group of materials consisting of acetal and ABS.

23. The low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 19, wherein said radome is approximately three inches tall, said antenna is tuned for center frequencies of 859 MHz and 1920 MHz with respective bandwidths of 75 MHz and 140 MHz, both with a VSWR of approximately 2.0:

1.

24. The low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 19, wherein said radome is approximately one and three-quarter inches (1¾

″

) tall, said antenna is tuned for center frequencies of 859 MHz and 1920 MHz with respective bandwidths of 75 MHz and 140 MHz, both with a VSWR of approximately 2.0;

1.

25. The low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 1, wherein the low-visibility, field-diverse antenna is one in a stack of similar antennas coupled by a phase-shift network creating an end-fed collinear antenna.

26. A low-visibility, field-diverse antenna for providing communications, comprising:

a generally thin and approximately square antenna-supporting core comprising printed circuit board (PCB) substrate having a width and a length, said core conducting from one flat side to another via at least a portion of a plated-through hole in said core;

an antenna, said antenna comprising conducting foil fixed upon said core in a manner for two selected dual band resonant PCS/Cellular frequencies at 821-896 MHz and 1850-1990 MHz, said antenna radiating in a diverse manner with horizontal and vertical field components of a field radiated by said antenna are substantially in phase and not circularly polarized;

said antenna having a two-pole low-pass filter that enables operation at said two selected resonant frequencies, including a first capacitor shunted to ground and in parallel to an input to the antenna, an adjustable inductor coupled to said first capacitor and in series with said input, and a second capacitor coupled to said adjustable inductor on a side of said adjustable inductor opposite that of said input, said second capacitor shunted to ground and in parallel to said first capacitor such that said two selected resonant frequencies are enabled for transmission by the antenna;

said first capacitor being an approximately 1 pf at 1 kV ceramic capacitor, said adjustable inductor being a manually-adjustable brass ribbon or sheet, and said second capacitor being an approximately 1.5 pf at 1 kV ceramic capacitor; and

said antenna terminating in an extended area of conductor having a width generally greater than that of said conducting foil, said extended area covering an end of said antenna-supporting core;

whereby

the low-visibility, field-diverse dual band antenna is realized having helical antenna characteristics without severe circular polarization radiation thereby promoting reliable communications.

27. A low-visibility, field-diverse antenna for providing communications as set forth in claim 26, further comprising:

a radome, said radome covering said core and said antenna, said radome comprising materials selected from the group of acetal and ABS plastics, said radome having a dielectric constant of approximately 4 and changing the operating frequency of the antenna.

28. A method for constructing a low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna, the steps comprising:

providing an antenna-supporting core;

providing a conductor;

fixing said conductor upon said core;

attaching said conductor to said core in a manner whereby a length of said conductor is engaged by said core in a manner for two selected dual band resonant frequencies, said conductor radiating in a diverse manner with horizontal and vertical field components of a field radiated by said conductor substantially in phase and not circularly polarized;

whereby

the low-visibility, field-diverse dual band antenna is realized having helical antenna characteristics without severe circular polarization radiation thereby promoting reliable communications.

29. The method for constructing a low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna of claim 28, further comprising the step of:

coupling a two-pole low-pass filter to said conductor, said two-pole low-pass filter enabling operation at said two selected resonant frequencies.

30. The method for constructing a low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna of claim 29, wherein said two selected resonant frequencies comprise:

PCS/Cellular frequencies at 821-896 MHz and 1850-1990 MHz.

31. The method for constructing a low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna of claim 29, wherein said two-pole low-pass filter comprises three passive components that enable operation at said two selected resonant frequencies.

32. The method for constructing a low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna of claim 31, wherein said three passive components comprise an adjustable conducting foil acting as an inductor, said conducting foil enabling operation at said two selected resonant frequencies.

33. The method for constructing a low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna of claim 32, wherein said three passive components comprise a first capacitor and a second capacitor, said first and second capacitors matching the remainder of the circuit to enable operation at said two selected resonant frequencies.

34. The method for constructing a low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna of claim 33, wherein said three passive components comprise said first and second capacitors separated by said conducting foil and matching to enable operation at said two selected resonant frequencies.

35. The method for constructing a low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna of claim 32, wherein said three passive components comprise first and second capacitors coupled to a tuning inductor to enable operation at two selected resonant frequencies.

36. The method for constructing a low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna of claim 32, wherein said three passive components comprise first and second capacitors coupled to a micro-strip to enable operation at said two selected resonant frequencies.

37. The method for constructing a low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna of claim 29, wherein said two-pole low-pass filter further comprises:

a first capacitor shunted to ground and in parallel to an input to the antenna;

an adjustable inductor coupled to said first capacitor and in series with said input; and

a second capacitor coupled to said adjustable inductor on a side of said adjustable inductor opposite that of said input, said second capacitor shunted to ground and in parallel to said first capacitor;

whereby

said two selected resonant frequencies are enabled for transmission by the antenna.

38. The method for constructing a low-visibility, field-diverse dual band monopole antenna of claim 37, further comprising:

said first capacitor is an approximately 1 pf at 1 kV ceramic capacitor;

said adjustable inductor is a manually-adjustable brass ribbon or sheet; and

said second capacitor is an approximately 1.5 pf at 1 kV ceramic capacitor.

39. The method for constructing a low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 28, wherein the step of providing an antenna-supporting core further comprises:

providing an antenna-supporting core having plated-through holes whereby conduction can be made from one side of said antenna-supporting core to another.

40. The method for constructing a low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 39, wherein the step of attaching said conductor to said core further comprises:

attaching conducting foil on one side of said core connecting one plated-through hole with another.

41. The method for constructing a low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 40, wherein the step of providing an antenna-supporting core further comprises:

said plated-through holes are present on opposite sides of said core, said plated-through holes on one side of said core are offset with respect to said plated-through holes on the other side of said core to establish a pitch of said conducting foil attaching a plated-through hole on one side of said core with a plated-through hole on the other side of said core.

42. The method for constructing a low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 41, wherein said offset of said plated-through holes is selected to maintain resonance in conjunction with a length of said conductor.

43. The method for constructing a low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 42, wherein the step of providing an antenna-supporting core further comprises:

providing an antenna-supporting core having plated-through holes inside a perimeter margin.

44. The method for constructing a low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 43, the steps further comprising:

removing excess core material by removing said perimeter margin to create a minimally-sized antenna.

45. The method for constructing a low-visibility, field-diverse antenna of claim 44, wherein said plated-through holes are approximately one hundred-thousandths inch (0.100″

) in diameter.