Multi-band antenna with a common resonant feed structure and methods

• US 20070159399A1
• Filed: 10/05/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pulse Finland Oy (Yageo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pulse Finland Oy (Yageo Corporation)
• Inventors: Koskiniemi, Kimmo, Perunka, Jari
• Granted Patent: US 7,589,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/700.MS
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2290/026 for lighting
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/066 guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/20 with luminescent surfaces or parts luminescent compositions C09K11/00; light sources using luminescence F21K2/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/22 Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0421 with a shorting wall or a shorting pin at one end of the element H01Q9/0414 takes precedence

Abstract

A multi-band antenna and associated apparatus for communication systems and other applications. In one embodiment, a common junction network is provided having a first and a second radiator. The first radiator resonates in a first frequency band. The second radiator resonates in a second frequency band. The first and second frequency bands are different from one another (yet may overlap). A first electrical component is coupled to the common junction network and proximately located to the first radiator. The first electrical component creates a resonance with the common junction network to create a third frequency band proximate to the first frequency band. The first radiator is capable of communicating RF energy in the first frequency band and the third frequency band.

Claims

1. A multi-band antenna comprising:

a common junction network having a first radiator and a second radiator, the first radiator being adapted to resonate in a first frequency band and the second radiator being adapted to resonate in a second frequency band; and

a first electrical component coupled to the common junction network, the first electrical component being adapted to create a resonance with the common junction network to provide a third frequency band;

wherein the first radiator is capable of communicating RF energy in the first frequency band and the third frequency band.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein said third band is substantially proximate in frequency to the first frequency band.

3. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first frequency band and the second frequency band do not overlap one another.

4. The antenna of claim 3, wherein the first electrical component is located proximate to the first radiator on a substrate.

5. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the common junction network comprises a first radio frequency (RF) feed structure that couples to the first radiator, and a second RF feed structure that couples to the second radiator.

6. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first electrical component comprises a charge storage device.

7. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first radiator and the second radiator comprise a ceramic resonance element that is capable of being tuned in frequency.

8. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first radiator resonates in a frequency range centered at approximately 850 MHz, and the second radiator resonates in a frequency range centered at approximately 1800 MHz.

9. The antenna of claim 8, wherein the first electrical component creates a resonance having a center frequency of approximately 900 MHz.

10. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first electrical component is grounded at a first end distal from a second end that is coupled to the common junction network.

11. The antenna of claim 1, further comprising:

a second electrical component coupled to the common junction network and proximately located to the second radiator, the second electrical component adapted to create a resonance with the common junction network so as to provide a fourth frequency band proximate to the second frequency band;

wherein the second radiator is capable of communicating radio frequency energy in the second frequency band and the fourth frequency band.

12. The antenna of claim 11, wherein the fourth frequency band comprises a centerband frequency of approximately 1900 MHz.

13. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first radiator and the second radiator comprise patch antennas.

14. An antenna system, comprising:

at least two radiators that resonate at different frequency bands; and

a resonant network, the resonant network coupling the at least two radiators and providing an adjacent frequency band to at least one of said different frequency bands for at least one of the at least two radiators.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the resonant network comprises a plurality of radio frequency feed structures that electrically couple the at least two radiators.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the resonant network comprises a charge storage device adapted to increase an operating frequency range of at least one of the at least two radiators.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least two radiators comprise at least one ceramic resonance element that is capable of frequency tuning.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least two radiators resonate in different frequency ranges, said different frequency ranges corresponding to approximately 850 MHz and 1800 MHz respectively.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first electrical component creates a resonance corresponding to approximately 900 MHz.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the first electrical component is grounded at a first end distal from a second end that is coupled to the resonant network.

21. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a second electrical component coupled to the resonant network and proximately located to at least one of the radiators, the second electrical component adapted to create with the resonant network a fourth frequency band proximate in frequency to said second frequency band;

wherein the second radiator is capable of communicating RF energy in said second frequency band and said fourth frequency band.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least two radiators comprise patch antennas.

23. A method for increasing an effective bandwidth of a multi-band antenna comprising:

providing at least two radiators that resonate in first and second frequency bands respectively;

connecting an RF feed to the at least two radiators to form a common junction RF network; and

connecting a first electrical component along the RF feed proximate to a first radiator of the at least two radiators to add a third frequency band.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said third frequency band is substantially proximate in frequency to at least one of said first and second frequency bands.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein connecting the first electrical component comprises connecting a capacitor at one end to the RF feed proximately located to a first of said at least two radiators.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein providing the at least two radiators comprises providing at least one ceramic resonance element capable of frequency tuning for each of the at least two radiators.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

connecting a second electrical component coupled to the common junction RF network and proximately located to a second radiator of the at least two radiators, the second electrical component selected to create a resonance with the common junction RF network to provide a fourth frequency band.

28. A multi-band antenna adapted for use in a mobile wireless device useful in a plurality of wireless networks, the antenna comprising:

a network having first and second radiating elements resonant in first and second frequency bands, respectively; and

a first electrical component coupled to the network and adapted to create a resonance with the common junction network to provide a third frequency band;

wherein the first radiating element is capable of at least one of transmitting or receiving radio frequency energy in the first frequency band and the third frequency band; and

wherein at least two of the first, second, and third frequency bands comprise bands associated with different air interface standards.

29. The antenna of claim 28, wherein said at least two air interface standards comprise:

(i) a GSM or UMTS related cellular standard; and

(ii) a CDMA cellular standard, respectively.

30. The antenna of claim 28, wherein said at least two air interface standards comprise:

(i) a WiFi standard; and

(ii) a Bluetooth standard, respectively.

31. A wireless mobile device, comprising:

a processor;

a storage device in signal communication with said processor;

a radio frequency transceiver in signal communication with said processor; and

a multi-band antenna in signal communication with said transceiver, said antenna comprising first and second radiating elements that are part of a common network, said network comprising one or more components adapted to generate at least one frequency band in addition to first and second bands associated with said first and second radiating elements, respectively.

32. The mobile device of claim 31, wherein said at least one frequency band comprises first and second additional frequency bands, said first additional band being substantially proximate in frequency to said first frequency band, and said second additional band being substantially proximate in frequency to said second frequency band.

33. A spatially compact antenna system, comprising:

at least two radiators that resonate at different frequency bands; and

a common resonant network, the common resonant network coupling the at least two radiators and providing an adjacent frequency band to at least one of said different frequency bands for at least one of the at least two radiators, said adjacent frequency band being provided using only a single electrical component in conjunction with said at least one radiator.

34. A method of manufacturing a multi-band antenna, comprising:

providing at least two radiators that are adapted to resonate in first and second frequency bands, respectively;

connecting a signal feed to the at least two radiators so as to form a common junction network; and

connecting a first electrical component along the signal feed proximate to a first radiator of the at least two radiators.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said act of providing at least two radiators comprises providing at least two ceramic elements, and said acts of connecting comprise disposing said ceramic elements on a substrate having at least one conductive trace, and forming electrical connections with said at least one conductive trace.

36. A multi-band radio frequency identification device (RFID) device, comprising:

a processor;

a storage device in communication with said processor and adapted to store information substantially unique to said RFID device;

a transceiver;

a substantially flexible substrate; and

a multi-band antenna comprising first and second radiating elements that are part of a common network, said network comprising one or more components adapted to generate at least one frequency band in addition to first and second bands associated with said first and second radiating elements, respectively;

wherein at least a portion of said multi-band antenna is disposed on said flexible substrate.

37. A method of operating a radio frequency device having a multi-band antenna, said antenna comprising a common junction network having a first radiator and a second radiator, the first radiator being adapted to resonate in a first frequency band and the second radiator being adapted to resonate in a second frequency band, and a first electrical component coupled to the common junction network, the method comprising:

causing said first radiator to resonate and generate electromagnetic radiation having a frequency within said first frequency band;

causing said second radiator to resonate and generate electromagnetic radiation having a frequency within said second frequency band; and

causing said first electrical component to create a resonance with the common junction network and said first radiator to generate electromagnetic radiation having a frequency within a third frequency band, said third frequency band being not identical to either said first or second bands.