SLOT ANTENNA

• US 20080001836A1
• Filed: 05/23/2007
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Twisthink L.L.C.
• Inventors: Guthrie, Warren
• Granted Patent: US 7,518,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/767
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/10 Resonant slot antennas

Abstract

The specification discloses a slot antenna in which the slot opens through an edge of the conductor. Preferably, the slot is nonlinear (e.g. a zigzag shape) enabling a compact configuration in which a relatively long slot is configured in a relatively small conductor.

Claims

1. A slot antenna comprising:

a planar electrical conductor having an edge;

the conductor defining a nonlinear slot opening through the edge, the slot including an open end and a closed end; and

a feed connected across the slot.

2. A slot antenna as defined in claim 1 wherein the slot is zigzag shaped.

3. A slot antenna as defined in claim 2 wherein the slot includes a plurality of adjacent segments, each segment having a width at least as wide as the adjacent segment toward the closed end of the slot and at least as narrow as the adjacent segment toward the open end of the slot.

4. A slot antenna as defined in claim 1 wherein the closed end defines a T shape.

5. A slot antenna as defined in claim 1 wherein the length of the slot is one-quarter of the design wavelength of the antenna.

6. A slot antenna as defined in claim 1 further comprising a dielectric adjacent the open end of the slot.

10. A slot antenna as defined in claim 1 wherein the slot has a closed end defining a T shape.

7. A slot antenna comprising:

an electrically conductive antenna body having an edge; and

the antenna body defining a slot opening through the edge.

8. A slot antenna as defined in claim 7 wherein the slot is nonlinear.

9. A slot antenna as defined in claim 8 wherein the slot is zigzag shaped.

11. A slot antenna assembly comprising:

a circuit board;

an antenna layer on the circuit board, the antenna layer having an edge, the antenna layer defining a zigzag slot opening through the edge, the zigzag slot including an open end adjacent the edge and an opposite closed end;

a feed connected across the zigzag slot; and

circuit components supported by the board, at least one of the circuit components electrically connected to the feed.

12. A slot antenna as defined in claim 11 wherein the zigzag slot includes a plurality of linear slot segments.

13. A slot antenna as defined in claim 12 wherein each slot segment has a width at least as wide as the adjacent slot segment toward the closed end of the slot and at least as narrow as the adjacent slot segment toward the open end of the slot.

14. A slot antenna as defined in claim 13 wherein the closed end of the slot defines a T shape.

15. A slot antenna as defined in claim 14 wherein the length of the zigzag slot is one-quarter of the design wavelength of the antenna assembly.

16. A slot antenna as defined in claim 15 further comprising a dielectric material adjacent the open end of the slot.

17. A slot antenna as defined in claim 16 wherein the width of at least one slot segment is greater toward the open end than toward the closed end.