Interleaved antenna array for use in a multiple input antenna system

• US 4,101,901 A
• Filed: 12/22/1975
• Issued: 07/18/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kommrusch, Richard Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieberman, Eli
• Application Number:
  US05/642,829
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 343/853, 343/854, 343/895, 343/779, 343/844
• US Class Current: 343/853
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00

Abstract

An interleaved antenna array is disclosed in conjunction with an improved multiple transmitter antenna system for simultaneously generating two independent groups of composite radiation patterns for two separate pluralities of independent radio devices. A first plurality of isolated independent radio transmitters is coupled, without any signal cancellation, to each and every one of a first plurality of independent antenna elements which form a first group of composite radiation patterns for these transmitters. A second plurality of transmitters is likewise coupled to a second plurality of antenna elements which create a second group of composite patterns for these transmitters. The antenna elements of the first and second pluralities are alternately circumferentially disposed about a central axis and each produces a 90° half power beam width radiation pattern which is directed radially away from the central axis. First and second combining networks produce 90° electrical phase shifts between the adjacent radiation patterns produced by the elements in each of the two pluralities, respectively. By providing such an interleaved antenna array for first and second pluralities of independent transmitters, a single multiple input antenna system is provided which has a small size and produces a uniform omnidirectional pattern for each of the transmitters while maintaining isolation between each transmitter.

Claims

1. An interleaved antenna array for simultaneous use by two or more groups of independent transmitter/receivers, comprising:

a first plurality of antenna element means for generating a first composite radiation pattern for at least any one of a first plurality of independent electrical devices for processing radio frequency signals;

first coupling means for coupling each of said first plurality of devices to every one of said first pluraity antenna element means;

a second plurality of antenna element means for simultaneously and independently generating a second composite radiation pattern for at least any one of a second plurality of independent electrical devices for processing radio frequency signals, said first and second pluralities of said antenna element means being independently operative; and

second coupling means, totally independent from said first coupling means, for coupling each of said second plurality of devices to every one of said second plurality antenna element means;

each antenna element means of said first plurality of antenna element means being disposed about a central axis and constructed for independently generating an associated radiation pattern directed substantially away from said central axis and each of said antenna element means of said second plurality of antenna element means; and

each antenna element means of said second plurality of antenna element means being alternately disposed circumferentially about said central axis with each of said first plurality antenna element means, and each of said second plurality antenna element means constructed for independently generating an associated radiation pattern directed substantially away from said central axis and each of said antenna element means of said first plurality of antenna element means, and

wherein said first coupling means includes first circuitry for providing a 90°

electrical phase shift between the associated radiation patterns created by adjacent antenna element means in said first plurality of antenna element means and said second coupling means includes second circuitry for providing a 90°

electrical phase shift between the associated radiation patterns created by adjacent antenna element means in said second plurality of antenna element means.

2. An interleaved antenna array according to claim 1 wherein each of said antenna element means is constructed for creating radiation patterns having substantially a 90°

power beam width.

3. An interleaved antenna array according to claim 2 wherein each of said antenna element means is a corner reflector antenna.

4. An interleaved antenna array according to claim 3 wherein there are four antenna elements in each of said first and second pluralities of antenna element means.

5. An interleaved antenna array according to claim 1 wherein said associated radiation pattern generated by each said antenna element means substantially comprises a single main directional lobe directed away from all other antenna element means and the central axis.

6. An improved multiple transmitter antenna system comprising:

first and second pluralities of electrical sources, each source generating an independent input signal to be radiated;

first and second independently operative combining means coupled to said first and second pluralities of sources, respectively;

each of said first and second combining means receiving each of said input signals from said first and second pluralities of sources, respectively, maintaining isolation between said received input signals, and producing a number of first and second isolated output signals, respectively, equal in number to at least the number of said first and second input signals, respectively, each one of said first and second output signals being related to each and every one of said input signals received by said first and second combining means, respectively; and

an antenna array coupled to said first and second combining network means, said array comprising pluralities of first and second antenna element means, each of said first and second antenna element means receiving and simultaneously radiating one of said first and second output signals, respectively, in a substantially independent associated radiation pattern;

said first and second antenna element means being alternately disposed about a central axis and independently and simultaneously providing, respectively, first and second composite radiation patterns for said first and second pluralities of electrical sources, and

wherein each of said first and second antenna element means is disposed circumferentially about said central axis, each element means producing an individual radiation pattern which is directed away from said central axis and directed substantially away from all other of said first and second antenna element means; and

also

wherein said first and second combining network means each include circuitry for producing a 90°

phase shift between the radiation patterns produced by adjacent first antenna element means and adjacent second antenna element means, respectively.

7. An improved multiple transmitter antenna system according to claim 6 wherein each of said antenna element means is constructed for producing radiation patterns having substantially a 90°

half power beam width.

8. An improved multiple input antenna system, comprising:

first and second pluralities of independent isolated electrical devices, each device constructed for processing different frequency radio frequency signals;

first and second groups of four isolated antenna element means, the antenna element means of said first and second groups being alternately circumferentially disposed in a predetermined manner about an axis and each antenna element means constructed for generating an associated independent directional radiation pattern directed away from all other antenna element means; and

first and second combining network means simultaneously coupled to each of the antenna element means of said first and second groups and simultaneously coupled to each of the electrical devices of said first and second pluralities of electrical devices, respectively, for independently and simultaneously coupling each device of said first and second pluralities of devices to each and every antenna element means of said first and second groups of antenna element means, respectively, while maintaining isolation between all of said antenna element means and all of said electrical devices;

said first and second network means creating a predetermined phase difference between radiation patterns produced by adjacent antenna elements in said first and second groups, respectively, such that said patterns combine to form first and second desired, composite, omnidirectional radiation patterns for each of said independent devices in said first and second pluralities of electrical devices, respectively.

9. An improved multiple input antenna system according to claim 8 wherein the predetermined phase difference is substantially 90°

.

10. An improved multiple input antenna system, comprising:

first and second pluralities of independent isolated electrical devices, each device constructed for processing different frequency radio frequency signals;

first and second pluralities of isolated antenna element means, the antenna element means of said first and second pluralities being alternately disposed in a circumferential manner about an axis and each antenna element means constructed for generating an associated independent directional radiation pattern directed away from all other antenna element means; and

first and second combining network means simultaneously coupled to each of the antenna elements means of said first and second pluralities of antenna element means and simultaneously coupled to each of the electrical devices of said first and second pluralities of electrical devices, respectively, for independently and simultaneously coupling each device of said first and second pluralities of devices to each and every antenna element means of said first and second pluralities of antenna element means, respectively, while maintaining isolation between all of said antenna element means and all of said electrical devices;

said first and second network means creating a predetermined phase difference between radiation patterns produced by adjacent antenna element means in said first and second pluralities, respectively, such that said radiation patterns produced by said first plurality of antenna element means combine to form a first desired composite radiation pattern substantially identical in shape and direction for each of said first plurality of independent devices, and said radiation patterns produced by said second plurality of antenna element means combine to form a second desired composite radiation pattern identical in shape and direction for each of said second plurality of independent devices.

11. An improved multiple input antenna system according to claim 10 wherein said first and second composite radiations are substantially identical in shape and direction to each other.