QUASI-YAGI-TYPE ANTENNA

• US 20150194736A1
• Filed: 12/05/2014
• Published: 07/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Diukman, Iddo, Yehezkely, Alon
• Granted Patent: US 9,912,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/48 Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/30 the primary active element being centre-fed and substantially straight, e.g. Yagi antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0006 Particular feeding systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/062 using dipole aerials; H01Q21/067, H01Q21/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/20 Two collinear substantially straight active elements; Substantially straight single active elements H01Q9/28 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus includes a first ground plane, a second ground plane, an antenna, and a balun coupled to the antenna. The balun is disposed between the first ground plane and the second ground plane.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first ground plane;

a second ground plane;

an antenna; and

a balun coupled to the antenna, the balun disposed between the first ground plane and the second ground plane.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the antenna is coupled to the balun and is disposed between the first ground plane and the second ground plane.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an inner layer between the first ground plane and the second ground plane, the balun disposed in the inner layer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of vias, the first ground plane coupled to the second ground plane by the plurality of vias.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of vias form a reflector of an antenna structure that includes the antenna and the balun.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a surface mount technology (SMT) component coupled to the first ground plane.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electrical component coupled to the balun, wherein the electrical component comprises a transmission line, a connector, an antenna feed, a waveguide, or a combination thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a patch antenna coupled to the first ground plane.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a patch antenna, wherein the first ground plane is between the patch antenna and the balun.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a dipole coupled to the balun.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of antenna elements coupled to a plurality of baluns disposed between the first ground plane and the second ground plane.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of antenna elements includes a first set of antenna elements located proximate to a first edge of an inner layer between the first ground plane and the second ground plane and a second set of antenna elements located proximate to a second edge of the inner layer.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a third ground plane and a second inner layer between the second ground plane and the third ground plane, and further comprising a second plurality of antenna elements coupled to a second plurality of baluns disposed within the second inner layer.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) coupled to the first ground plane, the first ground plane between the RFIC and the plurality of baluns, wherein at least one RF chain within the RFIC is coupled to a first antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein multiple RF chains in the RFIC are coupled to multiple antenna elements.

16. A method of communication comprising:

receiving a signal at a balun of an antenna structure, the balun between two ground planes;

generating a phase adjusted signal at an output of the balun; and

radiating the phase adjusted signal via the antenna structure.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising radiating a second signal at a patch antenna, wherein one of the two ground planes is between the antenna structure and the patch antenna.

18. An apparatus comprising:

means for radiating a signal;

means for generating a phase adjusted signal coupled to the means for radiating;

first means for grounding the means for generating; and

second means for grounding the means for generating, wherein the means for generating is disposed between the first means for grounding and the second means for grounding.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising means for reflecting at least a portion of the radiated signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for reflecting includes a via wall coupled to the first means for grounding and to the second means for grounding.