Retractable cellular antenna
First Claim
1. An antenna assembly for use on a vehicle, comprising:
- a first elongated, substantially five-eighths wavelength radiating section;
a second, collinear, tubular elongated, substantially half wavelength radiating section electrically connected through a phasing coil to said first radiating section, said first and second radiating sections being in telescoping relation to one another;
an insulated mounting base containing said first and second radiating sections telescopically mounted therein, said first and second radiating sections capable of being selectively telescoped to an extended position for transmitting or receiving signals and collapsed toward said base to a closed position when the antenna is not in use;
impedance matching means including capacitively coupled concentric outer and inner conductive tubular members, each with sufficient length and inner diameter to slidably receive therein said telescopically collapsed first and second radiating sections, both of said tubular members being attached to said mounting base and held spaced from one another in a fixed, electrically insulated relation, said inner tubular member electrically connected to the antenna at a base end thereof, and said outer tubular member having two aligned longitudinal slots therein on opposite sides of said outer tubular member,said impedance matching means displaying an impedance which varies between a first impedance at said connection to the antenna base end which is substantially equal to the impedance of the antenna base end, and a second impedance at least several orders of magnitude less than said first impedance;
coupling means adapted to connect transmission line means to said impedance matching means at a point where the impedance of said impedance matching means is substantially equal to the impedance of the transmission line means, said coupling means comprising an electrical conductor having a main electrical contact and a ground contact, said main electrical contact being electrically connected to said inner tubular member through one of said longitudinal slots in said outer tubular member, and said ground contact being electrically connected to said outer tubular member,said electrical conductor being selectively adjustable along the longitudinal length of said longitudinal slot in said outer tubular member.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An antenna assembly for use on a vehicle includes telescoping radiating sections that collapse toward an insulated mounting base, so that the radiating sections can be selectively extended. An impedance matching network with concentric outer and inner conductive tubular members slidably receives the telescopically collapsed radiating sections. Both tubular members are attached to the mounting base and electrically insulated therefrom and from each other. The inner tubular member is electrically connected to the radiating sections at a base end thereof. The outer tubular member has at least one longitudinal slot therein through which the central conductor of a transmission line is connected to the inner member. A ground contact is electrically connected to the outer tubular member. A slidable terminal that is selectively adjustable longitudinally along the outer tubular member is connected to the transmission line to select a signal insertion point.
157 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An antenna assembly for use on a vehicle, comprising:
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a first elongated, substantially five-eighths wavelength radiating section; a second, collinear, tubular elongated, substantially half wavelength radiating section electrically connected through a phasing coil to said first radiating section, said first and second radiating sections being in telescoping relation to one another; an insulated mounting base containing said first and second radiating sections telescopically mounted therein, said first and second radiating sections capable of being selectively telescoped to an extended position for transmitting or receiving signals and collapsed toward said base to a closed position when the antenna is not in use; impedance matching means including capacitively coupled concentric outer and inner conductive tubular members, each with sufficient length and inner diameter to slidably receive therein said telescopically collapsed first and second radiating sections, both of said tubular members being attached to said mounting base and held spaced from one another in a fixed, electrically insulated relation, said inner tubular member electrically connected to the antenna at a base end thereof, and said outer tubular member having two aligned longitudinal slots therein on opposite sides of said outer tubular member, said impedance matching means displaying an impedance which varies between a first impedance at said connection to the antenna base end which is substantially equal to the impedance of the antenna base end, and a second impedance at least several orders of magnitude less than said first impedance; coupling means adapted to connect transmission line means to said impedance matching means at a point where the impedance of said impedance matching means is substantially equal to the impedance of the transmission line means, said coupling means comprising an electrical conductor having a main electrical contact and a ground contact, said main electrical contact being electrically connected to said inner tubular member through one of said longitudinal slots in said outer tubular member, and said ground contact being electrically connected to said outer tubular member, said electrical conductor being selectively adjustable along the longitudinal length of said longitudinal slot in said outer tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An antenna assembly for use on a vehicle, comprising:
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a first elongated radiating section; a second collinear, tubular elongated radiating section electrically connected through a phasing coil to said first section; said first and second radiating sections being in telescoping relation to one another; an insulated mounting base, adapted to receive said telescoped first and second sections so that said first and second radiating sections can be selectively telescoped to an extended position for transmitting or receiving signals and telescopically collapsed toward said base to a closed position when the antenna is not in use; impedance matching means having capacitively coupled concentric outer and inner conductive tubular members with sufficient length and inner diameter to slidably receive therein said telescopically collapsed first and second radiating sections, both of said tubular members attached to said mounting base and held spaced from one another in a fixed, electrically insulated relation, said inner tubular member electrically connected to the antenna at a base end thereof, said outer tubular member having at least one aperture therein, said impedance matching means displaying an impedance which varies between a first impedance at said connection to the antenna base end which is substantially equal to the impedance of the antenna base end, and a second impedance at least several orders of magnitude less than said first impedance; and means for connecting transmission line means to said impedance matching means at a point where the impedance of said impedance matching means is substantially equal to the impedance of said transmission line means including an electrical conductor having a main electrical contact and a ground contact, said main electrical contact being electrically connected to said inner tubular member through said aperture in said outer tubular member, and said ground contact electrically connected to said outer tubular member, said electrical conductor being selectively adjustable along the longitudinal length of said outer tubular member via said aperture. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An antenna assembly for use on a vehicle, comprising:
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an elongated radiating section in telescoping relation to an insulated mounting base adapted to telescopically receive said elongated section, so that said radiating section is capable of being selectively telescoped to an extended position for transmitting or receiving signals and collapsed toward said base to a closed position when the antenna is not in use; impedance matching means having capacitively coupled concentric outer and inner conductive tubular members with sufficient length and inner diameter to slidably receive therein said telescopically collapsed elongated radiating section, both of said tubular members attached to said mounting base and held spaced from one another in a fixed, electrically insulated relation, said inner tubular member being electrically connected to said radiating section at a base end thereof, said outer tubular member having at least one aperture therein, said impedance matching means displaying an impedance which varies between a first impedance at said connection to said radiating section base end which is substantially equal to the impedance of said radiating section base end, and a second impedance at least several orders of magnitude less than said first impedance; and coupling means adapted to connect transmission line means to said impedance matching means at a point where the impedance of said impedance matching means is substantially equal to the impedance of said transmission line means, said coupling means including a longitudinally adjustable electrical conductor having a main electrical contact and a ground contact, said main electrical contact being electrically connected to said inner tubular member through said aperture in said outer tubular member, and said ground contact electrically connected to said outer tubular member, said electrical conductor being selectively adjustable along the longitudinal length of said outer tubular member for selecting an impedance appropriate for the transfer of an electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification