Multi-Element Omni-Directional Antenna

• US 20170077615A1
• Filed: 07/12/2016
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Bishop, Bruce Foster, Cardenas, Luis
• Granted Patent: US 9,893,434 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/521 reducing the coupling between adjacent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00

Abstract

An antenna circuit board assembly comprises a substrate having a ground plane comprised of a conductive material; a first antenna element mounted to the substrate and coupled to the ground plane; a second antenna element mounted to the substrate and coupled to the ground plane; a third antenna element mounted to the substrate and coupled to the ground plane; and a plurality of features etched into the ground plane, each of the plurality of features having a respective length and a respective width. The respective length and the respective width of each of the plurality of features are selected to increase isolation between the first, second, and third antenna elements.

Claims

1. An antenna assembly comprising:

a substrate having a ground plane comprised of a conductive material;

a first antenna element mounted to the substrate and coupled to the ground plane;

a second antenna element mounted to the substrate and coupled to the ground plane;

a third antenna element mounted to the substrate and coupled to the ground plane; and

a plurality of features etched into the ground plane, each of the features having a respective length and a respective width;

wherein the respective length and the respective width of the features are selected to increase isolation between the first, second, and third antenna elements;

wherein at least one of the first, second, or third antenna elements includes an enclosed slot through the at least one antenna element, the enclosed slot being entirely defined by an inner edge of the at least one antenna element.

2. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the first antenna element, the second antenna element, and the third antenna element are mounted on the substrate along a line that crosses a center of the ground plane, wherein the second antenna element is located approximately in the center of the ground plane.

3. The antenna assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the first antenna element and the third antenna element comprise:

a first portion having a first end mounted to the substrate and a second end opposite the first end, the first portion oriented approximately perpendicular to the substrate; and

a second portion extending from the second end of the first portion, the second portion oriented approximately perpendicular to the first portion.

4. The antenna assembly of claim 3, wherein each of the first antenna element and the third antenna element comprises a plurality of the enclosed slots in the corresponding first portion.

5. The antenna assembly of claim 2, wherein the second antenna element has a width and a length, the width and the length of the second antenna element being smaller than the width and the length, respectively, of the first antenna element.

6. The antenna assembly of claim 5, wherein the second antenna element includes a single enclosed slot.

7. The antenna assembly of the claim 1, wherein the length of each of the plurality of features is equal to a quarter wavelength of electromagnetic radiation radiated from the first antenna element.

8. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein dimensions of the enclosed slot are configured to control impedance of the respective antenna element, the enclosed slot being void of any objects during operation of the antenna assembly.

9. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, and third antenna elements has an upright portion that includes a first end engaged to the substrate and a second end that is opposite the first end, the upright portion being oriented approximately perpendicular to the substrate, wherein each of the upright portions includes at least one of the enclosed slots.

10. The antenna assembly of claim 3, wherein the first portion has a length of approximately 60 mm and a width of approximately 65 mm;

and

wherein the second portion has a width of approximately 65 mm and length of approximately 10 mm.

11. The communication system of claim 10, wherein the second antenna element has a length of approximately 35 mm and a width of approximately 32 mm.

12. An antenna assembly comprising:

a substrate having a ground plane comprised of a conductive material;

a first antenna element mounted to the substrate and coupled to the ground plane;

a second antenna element mounted to the substrate and coupled to the ground plane;

a third antenna element mounted to the substrate and coupled to the ground plane; and

a plurality of features etched into the ground plane, each of the features having a respective length and a respective width,

wherein the respective length and the respective width of the features are selected to increase isolation between the first, second, and third antenna elements; and

wherein each of the first antenna element and the third antenna element comprise;

a first portion having a first end mounted to the substrate and a second end opposite the first end, the first portion oriented approximately perpendicular to the substrate; and

a second portion extending from the second end of the first portion, the second portion oriented approximately perpendicular to the first portion.

13. The antenna assembly of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first, second, or third antenna elements includes an enclosed slot through the at least one antenna element, the enclosed slot being entirely defined by an inner edge of the at least one antenna element.

14. The antenna assembly of claim 12, wherein the second antenna element has a width and a length, the width and the length of the second antenna element being smaller than the width and the length, respectively, of the first antenna element.

15. The antenna assembly of claim 14, wherein the second antenna element includes a single enclosed slot.

16. The antenna assembly of the claim 12, wherein the length of each of the plurality of features is equal to a quarter wavelength of electromagnetic radiation radiated from the first antenna element.

17. The antenna assembly of claim 13, wherein each of the first antenna element and the third antenna element comprises a plurality of the enclosed slots in the corresponding first portion, the enclosed slot being entirely defined by an inner edge of the at least one antenna element wherein dimensions of the enclosed slot are configured to control impedance of the respective antenna element, the enclosed slot being void of any objects during operation of the antenna assembly.

18. The antenna assembly of claim 12, wherein the second antenna element has an upright portion that includes a first end engaged to the substrate and a second end that is opposite the first end, the upright portion being oriented approximately perpendicular to the substrate, wherein each of the upright portions includes at least one of the enclosed slots.

19. The antenna assembly of claim 12, wherein the first portion has a length of approximately 60 mm and a width of approximately 65 mm;

and

wherein the second portion has a width of approximately 65 mm and length of approximately 10 mm.

20. The antenna assembly of claim 12, wherein the first antenna element, the second antenna element, and the third antenna element have approximately the same size and shape and are mounted on the substrate along a line that crosses a center of the ground plane, wherein the second antenna element is located approximately in the center of the ground plane.