LOW PROFILE ANTENNA ASSEMBLIES

• US 20110080323A1
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Laird Technologies Incorporated (DuPont de Nemours, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Laird Technologies Incorporated (DuPont de Nemours, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kowalewicz, John V., Fuchs, Andreas D., Thiam, Cheikh T., Lindackers, Ralf
• Granted Patent: US 8,228,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/700.MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/371 Branching current paths
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/40 Imbricated or interleaved structures; Combined or electromagnetically coupled arrangements, e.g. comprising two or more non-connected fed radiating elements
• 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

An antenna assembly including a ground plane and a radiator supported above the ground plane is disclosed. The radiator may include a slot to configure the radiator to be resonant in at least two frequency ranges and a grounding point coupled to the ground plane. The radiator may be a dual-band planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) having an upper surface opposite the ground plane. First and second antenna modules may be coupled to the upper surface of the PIFA. The first and second antenna modules may be patch antennas, such as stacked patch antennas.

Claims

1. An antenna assembly comprising:

a ground plane;

a dual-band planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) supported above the ground plane, the PIFA having an upper surface opposite the ground plane;

a first antenna module coupled to the upper surface of the PIFA; and

a second antenna module coupled to the upper surface of the PIFA.

2. The antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein the first antenna module and the second antenna module are each mounted on the upper surface of the PIFA.

3. The antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the second antenna module is mounted on the upper surface of the PIFA; and

the first antenna module is mounted on the second antenna module.

4. The antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein the antenna assembly is configured such that the PIFA is operable in at least two frequency bands without a matching circuit.

5. The antenna assembly of claim 1 further comprising a patch antenna supported above the ground plane.

6. The antenna assembly of claim 4 further comprising:

a first short electrically connecting the PIFA to the ground plane; and

a second short electrically connecting the patch antenna to the ground plane.

7. The antenna assembly of claim 6 wherein:

the first and second antenna modules comprise respective first and second patch antennas;

the first patch antenna is mounted on the second patch antenna; and

the second patch antenna is mounted on the upper surface of the PIFA.

8. The antenna assembly of claim 7 wherein:

the patch antenna is a Wi-Fi antenna;

the first antenna module is a satellite navigation system antenna;

the second antenna module is a satellite radio antenna; and

the PIFA is configured to be resonant in at least two mobile telephone frequency ranges.

9. The antenna assembly of claim 5 wherein the patch antenna is substantially coplanar with the PIFA or disposed between the ground plane and a lower surface of the PIFA.

10. The antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein the PIFA includes a slot to configure the PIFA to be resonant in at least two frequency ranges.

11. The antenna assembly of claim 10 wherein the PIFA includes:

a planar portion in a first plane;

a first bent portion in a second plane intersecting the first plane at a first angle relative to the first plane; and

a second bent portion in a third plane intersecting the first plane at a second angle relative to the first plane.

12. The antenna assembly of claim 10 further comprising at least one lip extending above a portion of the slot, whereby the lip is operable for reducing radiation from the slot.

13. The antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein the first antenna module is in an orientation that is rotated relative to the second antenna module to reduce coupling between the first and second antenna modules.

14. The antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein the PIFA is configured to radiate in at least two frequency bands, including a first frequency band of about 824 to 894 megahertz and a second frequency band of about 1850 to 1990 megahertz.

15. The antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second antenna modules is mechanically and electrically connected to the upper surface of the PIFA.

16. The antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second antenna modules is coupled to the upper surface of the PIFA by electrically-conductive adhesive tape.

17. An antenna assembly comprising:

a ground plane;

a radiator supported above the ground plane, the radiator configured to be resonant in at least two frequency ranges, and a grounding point coupled to the ground plane;

a first patch antenna coupled to an upper surface of the radiator;

a second patch antenna coupled to the upper surface of the radiator; and

a third patch antenna element galvanically coupled to the ground plane and galvanically separate from the radiator.

18. The antenna assembly of claim 17 wherein the radiator is substantially planar.

19. The antenna assembly of claim 17 wherein the radiator includes:

a planar portion;

a first bent portion along a first side of the planar portion; and

a second bent portion along a second side of the planar portion opposite the first side.

20. The antenna assembly of claim 17 wherein the radiator includes a slot to configure the radiator to be resonant in at least two frequency ranges, and at least one lip extends above a portion of the slot, whereby the lip is operable for reducing radiation from the slot.

21. The antenna assembly of claim 17 wherein:

the second patch antenna is mounted on the upper surface of the radiator;

the first patch antenna is mounted on an upper surface of the second patch antenna;

the radiator is operable in at least two frequency bands without a matching circuit;

a first short electrically connects the radiator to the ground plane; and

a second short electrically connects the third patch antenna to the ground plane.

22. The antenna assembly of claim 17 wherein the third patch antenna is substantially coplanar with the PIFA or disposed between the ground plane and a lower surface of the PIFA.

23. The antenna assembly of claim 17 wherein at least one of the first and second patches is mechanically and electrically connected to the upper surface of the radiator by electrically-conductive adhesive tape.

24. An antenna assembly comprising:

a ground plane;

a planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) supported above the ground plane, the PIFA having an upper surface opposite the ground plane;

a first patch antenna coupled to the upper surface of the PIFA;

a second patch antenna coupled to the upper surface of PIFA;

a third patch antenna supported above the ground plane;

a first short electrically connecting the PIFA to the ground plane; and

a second short electrically connecting the third patch antenna to the ground plane;

whereby the PIFA is operable in at least two frequency bands without a matching circuit.

25. The antenna assembly of claim 24 wherein:

the second patch antenna is mounted on the upper surface of the PIFA;

the first patch antenna is mounted on an upper surface of the second patch antenna; and

the third patch antenna is substantially coplanar with the PIFA or disposed between the ground plane and a lower surface of the PIFA.

26. The antenna assembly of claim 24 wherein the PIFA includes:

a slot to configure the PIFA to be resonant in at least two frequency ranges;

a planar portion;

a first bent portion along a first side of the planar portion;

a second bent portion along a second side of the planar portion opposite the first side; and

first and second lips extending above portions of the slot, whereby the first and second lips are operable for reducing radiation from the slot.