Space Efficient Magnetic Antenna Method

• US 20100277387A1
• Filed: 07/12/2010
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GaN Corporation
• Original Assignee: Q-Track Corporation
• Inventors: Schantz, Hans Gregory, Siwiak, Kazimierz, DePierre, Robert E., Barron, James Matthew, Fluhler, James David, Gabig, Jerome Sylvester, Wolenec, Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 8,922,440 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/788
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/276 for mounting on helmets
• 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 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 7/08 Ferrite rod or like elongated core

Abstract

A space efficient magnetic antenna is disclosed for use in tracking, positioning and other applications. In a preferred embodiment, a space efficient magnetic antenna system comprises a first magnetic antenna with a first null axis aligned within a predetermined plane and a second magnetic antenna having a second null axis aligned substantially orthogonal to a first null axis. A second magnetic antenna system lies in a minimal coupling orientation with respect to a first magnetic antenna system. Additionally, a first magnetic antenna may further comprise a plurality of interconnected magnetic antenna elements. A space efficient magnetic antenna system may include an RF module. In further embodiments, the antenna system may enclose a substantial majority of the device including the RF module; the RF module may be enclosed substantially or wholly within one or more antennas of the antenna system.

Claims

1. A method for providing a space efficient magnetic antenna system, said method comprising:

generating a first magnetic antenna having a first null axis aligned in accordance with a predetermined plane;

said first magnetic antenna further comprising a plurality of interconnected magnetic antenna elements, each said magnetic antenna element having a null axis substantially parallel to said first null axis;

generating a second magnetic antenna having a second null axis;

aligning said second null axis substantially orthogonal to said first null axis; and

aligning said second null axis in accordance with said predetermined plane.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of:

positioning said second magnetic antenna in a minimal coupling orientation with respect to said first magnetic antenna.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of generating said first magnetic antenna further includes the step of:

winding a coil of said first magnetic antenna around a loopstick axis;

wherein said coil comprises turns lying parallel to a plane, said plane at a substantial diagonal angle from said loopstick axis.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further including an RF module having at least one characteristic physical dimension, wherein said first magnetic antenna has a null axis at a substantial diagonal angle from said at least one characteristic physical dimension.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the at least one characteristic physical dimension is one of the group consisting of overall length, overall width, and overall height.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further including the step of:

embedding said first magnetic antenna and said second magnetic antenna in clothing;

wherein the null axis of said first magnetic antenna is substantially perpendicular to the null axis of said second magnetic antenna, said null axes lying substantially in an azimuthal plane.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further including an RF module and further including the step of:

said RF module alternately utilizing said first magnetic antenna and said second magnetic antenna.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further including an RF module and further including the step of:

said RF module driving said second magnetic antenna in phase quadrature relative to said first magnetic antenna.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further including the step of:

generating a third magnetic antenna with a third null axis mutually orthogonal to said first null axis and said second null axis.

10. A method for providing a space efficient magnetic antenna system, said method comprising:

generating a first magnetic antenna having a first null axis aligned in accordance with a predetermined plane;

generating a second magnetic antenna having a second null axis;

aligning said second null axis substantially orthogonal to said first null axis;

aligning said second null axis in accordance with said predetermined plane; and

positioning said second magnetic antenna in a minimal coupling orientation with respect to said first magnetic antenna.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said first magnetic antenna further comprises a plurality of interconnected magnetic antenna elements, each said magnetic antenna element having a null axis substantially parallel to said first null axis.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, further including an RF module and further including the step of:

said RF module alternately utilizing said first magnetic antenna and said second magnetic antenna.

13. The method as recited in claim 10, further including an RF module and further including the step of:

said RF module driving said second magnetic antenna in phase quadrature relative to said first magnetic antenna.

14. The method as recited in claim 10, further including the step of:

generating a third magnetic antenna with a third null axis mutually orthogonal to said first null axis and said second null axis.

15. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said first magnetic antenna further comprises a bar, said bar is characterized by a principal axis, said principal axis is characterized by an orientation relative to said first null axis, and said orientation of said principal axis is not substantially co-parallel to said first null axis.

16. A method for providing a space efficient magnetic antenna system, said method comprising:

generating a first magnetic antenna having a first null axis aligned in accordance with a predetermined plane;

generating a second magnetic antenna having a second null axis;

aligning said second null axis substantially orthogonal to said first null axis;

aligning said second null axis in accordance with said predetermined plane; and

said first magnetic antenna and said second magnetic antenna further including a common core.

17. The method as recited in claim 16,

wherein said common core is characterized by a principal axis,

wherein said common core is characterized by a secondary axis, and

wherein there is a substantial difference in extent in said common core along said secondary axis relative to said principal axis.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, further including an RF module, further including the step of:

said RF module driving said second magnetic antenna in phase quadrature relative to said first magnetic antenna.

19. A method for providing a space efficient antenna comprising:

providing a magnetic antenna integrated within an associated device;

wherein the antenna system dimensions utilize a substantial majority of each of the length, width, and height dimensions of the device.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the substantial majority is at least 75% of each of the length, width and height dimensions of the device.

21. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the substantial majority is at least 85% of each of the length, width and height dimensions of the device.

22. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein a first electronics module is contained substantially within a volume defined by an interior length width and height of a first antenna of the antenna system.

23. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the antenna system further includes a second antenna and the device further includes a second electronics module, and wherein the second electronics module is substantially contained within a volume defined by an interior length width and height of said second antenna of said antenna system.