FM antenna

• US 4,947,180 A
• Filed: 06/14/1989
• Issued: 08/07/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Terk Technologies Corp. (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Terk Technologies Corp. (VOXX International Corporation)
• Inventors: Schotz, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Wimer, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US07/365,805
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 343/741, 343/743, 343/744, 343/748, 343/866, 343/870, 455/293, 455/291
• US Class Current: 343/743
• 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 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

An antenna assembly which is suited for receiving FM signals, comprises a pair of insulating disc shaped substrates which each have conductive patterns deposited on one surface thereof. The first insulating substrate has an electrically conductive loop element extending around approximately 360° on the first substrate. The loop element terminates at first and second terminals which are adjacent each other. An electrically conductive tap element is deposited on one surface of the second substrate. The tap element extends around approximately 180° and is parallel to half of the length of the loop element. On end of the tap element is electrically connected to a mid-point of the loop element intermediate its first and second terminals. Plate areas are deposited on the substrate and are electrically connected to selected terminals of the loop and tap elements to form capacitors. A first relatively large value capacitor is thus defined between the first and second terminals of the loop element and a second smaller value capacitor is defined between the second terminal of the loop element and opposite end terminal of the tap element. This forms a passive antenna. An active antenna can be formed using discreet components as the capacitors. An amplifier is connected over a signal capacitor to an output of the antenna to form an active antenna assembly.

Claims

1. An antenna comprising:

an electrically insulating substrate;

an electrically conductive loop element on one side of said substrate, said loop element having first and second terminals which are adjacent each other;

an electrically conductive tap element on an opposite side of said substrate, said tap element extending substantially parallel to said loop element and having a length equal to approximately one half of the length of said loop element, said tap element having a third terminal which is diametrically opposite said first and second terminals of said loop element, said third terminal being electrically connected to said loop element, said tap element having a fourth terminal which is adjacent said second terminal of said loop element;

a first large capacitor plate connected to said first terminal;

a second large capacitor plate connected to said second terminal and electrically insulated from said first large capacitor plate, said first and second capacitor plates facing each other and forming a first capacitor connected between said first and second terminals;

a first small capacitor plate connected to said fourth terminal; and

a second small capacitor plate connected to said second terminal and electrically insulated from said first small capacitor plate, said first and second small capacitor plates facing each other and forming a second capacitor connected between said second and fourth terminals.

2. An antenna according to claim 1, wherein said loop element, said second large capacitor plate and said second small capacitor plate are fixed to the one side of said substrate, a further electrically insulating substrate connected to said first mentioned insulating substrate, said further substrate having one side facing said opposite side of said first mentioned substrate, said tap element, said first large capacitor and said first small capacitor plate being fixed to said one side of said further substrate.

3. An antenna according to claim 2, wherein said first terminal of said loop element is connected to said first large capacitor plate, through the thickness of said first mentioned substrate.

4. An antenna according to claim 3, wherein said third terminal of said tap element is connected to said loop element through the thickness of said first mentioned substrate.

5. An antenna according to claim 4, wherein said first large and first small capacitor plates are parallel to each other and separated from each other by a slot.

6. An antenna according to claim 5, wherein said second large and second small capacitor plates extend parallel to each other and are at least partly separated by a slot.

7. An antenna according to claim 5, wherein said capacitor plates and said elements are all plated onto one of said substrates.

8. An antenna according to claim 1, wherein said first large and first small capacitor plates are parallel to each other and separated from each other by a slot.

9. An antenna according to claim 1, wherein said second large and second small capacitor plates extend parallel to each other and are at least partly separated by a slot.

10. An antenna according to claim 2, wherein said first mentioned and further insulating substrates have a straight edge near said third terminal of said tap element, said loop and tap elements both having straight portions near said third terminal of said tap element.

11. An antenna assembly comprising:

an electrically insulating substrate;

an electrically conductive loop element on one side of said substrate, said loop element having first and second terminals which are adjacent each other;

an electrically conductive tap element on an opposite side of said substrate, said tap element extending substantially parallel to said loop element and having a length equal to approximately one half the length of said loop element, said tap element having a third terminal which is diametrically opposite said first and second terminals of said loop element, said third terminal being electrically connected to said loop element, said tap element having a fourth terminal which is adjacent said second terminal of said loop element;

a first capacitor connected between said first and second terminals;

a second capacitor connected between said second and fourth terminals;

a signal capacitor having one end connected to said fourth terminal, said signal capacitor having an opposite end;

amplifier means connected to said opposite end of said signal capacitor for amplifying a signal on said signal capacitor originating from said loop and tap elements, said amplifier means including a single output terminal for transmitting an amplified signal and for receiving power for said amplifier means;

connector means for supplying a signal to a radio receiver and for receiving power; and

a cable having first and second conductors connected between said amplifier means and said connector means, said first conductor being connected to said single output terminal for supplying power to said amplifier means and for supplying a signal from said amplifier means to said connector means, said second conductor and said first terminal of said loop element being connected to ground.

12. An antenna assembly according to claim 11 wherein said cable comprises a coaxial cable having a central conductor forming said first conductor and a coaxial conductor forming said second conductor.

13. An antenna assembly according to claim 11 wherein said first capacitor has a value of 1 pf and said second capacitor has a value of 10 pf.

14. An antenna assembly according to claim 11, wherein said amplifier means comprises a dual gate MOSFET having first and second gates, a drain and a source, one of said drain and source being connected to said single output terminal of said amplifier means, and the other said source and drain being connected to ground, one of said first and second gates being connected to said opposite end of said signal capacitor.

15. An antenna assembly according to claim 14, wherein said cable comprises a coaxial cable having a central conductor forming said first conductor and a coaxial conductor forming said second conductor.

16. An antenna assembly according to claim 15, wherein said first capacitor has a value of 1 pf and said second capacitor has a value of 10 pf.