Cellular mobile communications antenna

• US 5,343,214 A
• Filed: 07/24/1992
• Issued: 08/30/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Andrew Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Allen Telecom Group, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hadzoglou, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Wimer, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US07/919,618
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 343/713, 343/715, 343/704, 343/745, 343/829, 343/830, 343/846, 343/850, 343/861
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1207 for fastening a rigid aerial element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1285 with capacitive feeding through the windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3283 side-mounted antennas, e.g. bumper-mounted, door-mounted mounted on windscreens H01Q1/1271

Abstract

A mobile antenna system for use at frequencies in and above the 800 MHz band having a collinear radiator mounted on one surface of a dielectric such as the window of a vehicle. A coupling system is affixed to a second surface of the dielectric. The coupling system includes a counterpoise for coupling RF energy between the radiator and a transmission line connected to a suitable transceiver. Decoupling members connected to the counterpoise minimize coupling of radio frequency energy to defogger wires on the window.

Claims

1. A communications antenna system usable to radiate radio frequency energy generated by a transceiver at frequencies in excess of 800 MHz and attachable to a dielectric member of a selected thickness, the dielectric member including at least spaced apart, adjacent first and second conducting members having a predetermined spacing therebetween, the antenna system comprising:

an elongated radiating member attached at one end to a supporting member, said supporting member having a planar metal coupling member with a first dimension less than the predetermined spacing between the adjacent conducting members with said coupling member positionable between the first and second conducting members, including means for affixing said supporting member to the dielectric member;

a coupling system affixable to the dielectric member, juxtaposed with said supporting member, said coupling system including,

means for coupling radio frequency energy in excess of 800 MHz through the dielectric member to said radiating member, said means including first and second spaced-apart means for decoupling the antenna system from the first and second conducting members and a second planar metal coupling member carried between said decoupling means with said second coupling member positionable adjacent said planar metal coupling member between the first and second conducting members and spaced from those conducting members

with said first decoupling means overlying the first conducting member spaced therefrom and with said second decoupling means overlying the second conducting member spaced therefrom and

conductive means, coupled to said decoupling means, defining a counterpoise for the antenna system with said counterpoise including a shaped metal housing defining an interior volume with said coupling means contained at least in part therein.

2. An antenna system as in claim 1 wherein said decoupling means includes at least a first planar, elongated conductive decoupling member electrically coupled to said counterpoise.

3. An antenna system as in claim 1 wherein said decoupling means includes a pair of planar elongated, conductive decoupling members spaced apart from each other and electrically coupled to said counterpoise.

4. An antenna system as in claim 1 with said coupling means including means for supporting said decoupling means and said coupling means in spaced apart relationship.

5. An antenna system as in claim 1 with said counterpoise including at least one planar conducting member positionable adjacent a surface of the dielectric member.

6. An antenna system as in claim 5 with said planar conducting member supported on a non-conductive substrate.

7. An antenna system as in claim 6 wherein said non-conducting substrate is a rigid planar member.

8. An antenna system as in claim 6 wherein said non-conducting substrate is a flexible member.

9. An antenna system as in claim 8 wherein said flexible member is plastic.

10. An antenna system as in claim 2 with said supporting member affixable to a first surface of the dielectric member between adjacent dielectric conducting members with said coupling system affixable to a second surface of the dielectric member with said elongated conductive decoupling member positionable overlapping at least one of the dielectric conducting members.

11. An antenna as in claim 10 with said supporting member affixed so as to not overlap either of the adjacent dielectric conducting members.

12. An antenna system as in claim 2 including electrical connector means, having first and second conductive elements, with said first conductive element electrically coupled to said counterpoise and said decoupling member.

13. An antenna system as in claim 12 including a linear inductive member, having selected, fixed, inductive characteristics in the 800 MHz range coupled between said second conductive element and said coupling means.

14. An antenna system usable to radiate radio frequency energy generated by a transceiver at frequencies in excess of 800 MHz and attachable to a dielectric member of a selected thickness, the dielectric member including at least spaced apart, adjacent first and second conducting members having a predetermined spacing therebetween, the antenna system comprising:

an elongated radiating member attached at one end to a supporting member, said supporting member having a planar metal coupling member with a first dimension less than the predetermined spacing between the adjacent conducting members with said coupling member positionable between the first and second conducting members, including means for affixing said supporting member to the dielectric member;

a coupling system affixable to the dielectric member, juxtaposed with said supporting member, said coupling system including,

means for coupling radio frequency energy in excess of 800 MHz through the dielectric member to said radiating member, said means including first and second spaced-apart means for decoupling the antenna system from the first and second conducting members and a second planar metal coupling member carried between said decoupling means with said second coupling member positionable adjacent said planar metal coupling member between the first and second conducting members and spaced from said planar metal coupling member by at least part of the thickness of the dielectric member,

with said first decoupling means overlying the first conducting member spaced therefrom and with said second decoupling means overlying the second conducting member spaced therefrom;

electrical connector means, having first and second conductive elements, with said first conductive element electrically coupled to said decoupling means and

including a first linear fixed length inductive member, having selected, fixed, inductive characteristics in the 800 MHz range and coupled between said second conductive element and said second planar coupling member.

15. An antenna system as in claim 14 including a counterpoise and a second linear inductive member, having selected, fixed, inductive characteristics in the 800 MHz range, electrically coupled between said second conductive element and said counterpoise.

16. An antenna system as in claim 15 with said first and said second linear inductive members forming in part a selected input impedance for the antenna in the 800 MHz range.

17. An antenna system as in claim 15 with said counterpoise including at least in part, a shaped metal housing defining an interior volume with said housing electrically coupled to said decoupling means.

18. An antenna system as in claim 15 with said counterpoise including, at least in part, a planar conducting member positionable adjacent a surface of the dielectric member.

19. An antenna system as in claim 18 usable on a vehicle with the dielectric member and transceiver mounted on the vehicle.

20. An antenna system as in claim 19 capable of operation in the absence of a direct electrical ground connection between said counterpoise and said vehicle,

21. An antenna system as in claim 15 with a bandwidth on the order of 60-80 MHz.

22. A communications antenna system usable to radiate radio frequency energy generated by a transceiver located in a vehicle at frequencies in excess of 800 MHz, and to receive radio frequency energy at frequencies in excess of 800 MHz, the antenna system attachable to a dielectric member of the vehicle, the dielectric member including spaced apart first and second, adjacent, elongated defogger conductors having a predetermined spacing therebetween, the antenna system comprising:

an elongated radiating member attached at one end to a supporting member, said supporting member having a planar metal coupling member with a first dimension less than the predetermined spacing and positionable between first and second of the defogger conductors, including means for attaching said supporting member to the dielectric member of the vehicle between the spaced apart defogger conductors; and

a coupling system affixable to the dielectric member, juxtaposed with said supporting member, said coupling system including,

conductive means including first and second shaped metal decoupling members, at least a portion of each being positionable adjacent the dielectric member overlapping a respective one of the adjacent defogger conductors so as to decouple the antenna system therefrom, said conductive means defining, at least in part, a counterpoise for said antenna system,

means including a planar conducting coupling plate insulatingly supported and spaced from said first and second decoupling members and located therebetween for coupling radio frequency energy in excess of 800 MHz through the dielectric member, said means being located adjacent said planar metal coupling member and spaced therefrom by at least the thickness of the dielectric member when said decoupling members each overlap a respective defogger conductor,

elongated transmission means having first and second transmission conductors with said first transmission conductor coupled to said decoupling members, and

means for electrically coupling said coupling means to said second transmission conductor including a first linear inductive member having selected, fixed, inductive characteristics in the 800 MHz range and connected between said second conductor of said transmission means and said coupling means, said inductive member having a fixed physical length and connected between said decoupling members and said planar conducting coupling plate.

23. An antenna system as in claim 22 with said coupling means including a conducting coupling plate supported spaced from said counterpoise, and positionable adjacent a surface of the dielectric member between adjacent defogger conductors.

24. An antenna system as in claim 22 with said decoupling members supported by a non-conducting substrate in spaced apart relationship from said coupling means.

25. An antenna system as in claim 24 with said counterpoise including a shaped metal housing defining an interior volume with said coupling means contained at least in part therein.

26. An antenna system as in claim 22 including third and fourth planar conducting members coupled to said first and second decoupling members so as to form a parallelogram with said coupling means including said planar conducting coupling plate positioned within said parallelogram and spaced therefrom.

27. An antenna system as in claim 26 with said supporting member affixable to a first surface of the dielectric member between adjacent defogger conductors and with said coupling system affixable to a second surface of the dielectric member at least in part between adjacent defogger conductors.

28. An antenna system as in claim 27 including a non-conducting substrate supporting said conductive coupling plater and said parallelogram.

29. An antenna system as in claim 22 including a second linear inductive member, having selected, fixed, inductive characteristics in the 800 MHz range, electrically coupled between said second conductor of said transmission means and said decoupling members.

30. An antenna system as in claim 29 with said first and said second linear inductive members forming in part a selected input impedance for the antenna in the 800 MHz range.

31. An antenna system as in claim 30 with said selected antenna input impedance being on the order of 50 ohms.

32. An antenna system as in claim 23 with a usable bandwidth on the order of 60-80 MHz.

33. An antenna system as in claim 23 with a VSWR of less than 2.0 over a range of at least 820-890 MHz.

34. An antenna system as in claim 23 capable of operating without a direct electrical connection between said counterpoise and an adjacent metal portion of the vehicle which is also coupled to the vehicle electrical ground.

35. A relatively broadband mobile communications antenna system usable to radiate radio frequency energy at frequencies in excess of 800 MHz generated by a transceiver located in a vehicle and connected to the antenna system by an associated radio frequency transmission line, and to receive radio frequency energy at frequencies in excess of 800 MHz, the antenna system attachable to a dielectric member of the vehicle, the dielectric member including spaced apart, adjacent first and second defogger conducting members having a predetermined spacing therebetween, the antenna system comprising:

a radiator with attached supporting means, said supporting means affixable to a first surface of the dielectric member between the first and second spaced apart defogger members; and

coupling means affixable to a second surface of the dielectric member including,

a first conductive coupling portion positionable between the first and the second defogger members for coupling radio frequency energy, in excess of 800 MHz to said supporting means or for receiving radio frequency energy in excess of 800 MHz from said supporting means,

first and second conductive decoupling portions oriented so as to extend generally parallel to one another, and each overlying a respective one of the first and second defogger members to decouple same from the antenna and to minimize the transfer of radio frequency energy therebetween with said coupling portion positioned between said decoupling portions, and

means for matching the impedance between the antenna system and the associated radio frequency transmission line, said impedance matching means including first and second inductive members.

36. An antenna system as in claim 35 with said supporting means including planar conducting means positionable so as to over-lap essentially only said conductive coupling portion.

37. An antenna system as in claim 35 with said coupling means including means for matching the impedance between the antenna system and a radio frequency transmission line couplable thereto.

38. An antenna system as in claim 35 including conductive means defining a counterpoise, said counterpoise electrically coupled to said first and said second conductive decoupling portions,

39. An antenna system as in claim 38 with said counterpoise formed as a metal housing defining an interior region.

40. An antenna system as in claim 38 with said counterpoise including elongated spaced apart conducting members electrically coupled to said first and second decoupling portions.

41. An antenna system as in claim 35 with said first and said second decoupling portions defining at least in part a counterpoise for the antenna system.

42. An antenna system as in claim 40 operable in the absence of a direct electrical ground connection between said counterpoise and a grounded metal portion of the vehicle adjacent the dielectric member.

43. An antenna system as in claim 35 with said coupling means including an insulating substrate for supporting said coupling portion in a spaced apart relationship with said decoupling portions.

44. An antenna as in claim 43 wherein said substrate is rigid.

45. An antenna as in claim 43 wherein said substrate is flexible.

46. An antenna system as in claim 35 with said inductive members formed of essentially linear conductors.

47. An antenna system as in claim 35 with said first inductive member coupled between said conductive coupling portion and a conductor of the associated transmission line.

48. An antenna system as in claim 47 with said second inductive member coupled between said conductor of said line and said decoupling portions.

49. An antenna system as in claim 47 with a second conductor of said line coupled to said decoupling portions.

50. An antenna system as in claim 35 with said radiator formed of two essentially five-eights wavelength elongated sections coupled by a phasing coil.

51. An antenna system as in claim 35 with said radiator formed of an essentially linear elongated section with a length in a range between a quarter and a half wavelength.

52. An antenna system as in claim 35 including connector means carried by said coupling means.

53. A relatively broadband mobile communications antenna system usable to radiate radio frequency energy generated by a transceiver at frequencies in excess of 800 MHz and to receive radio frequency energy at frequencies in excess of 800 MHz, the antenna system attachable to a dielectric member, the dielectric member including at least first and second spaced apart, adjacent defogger conducting members, the antenna system comprising:

a radiator with attached supporting means, said supporting means affixable to a first surface of the dielectric member between the first and second spaced apart, adjacent defogger members; and

coupling means affixable to a second surface of the dielectric member, said coupling means including a non-conducting substrate supporting a conductive coupling element positionable between the spaced apart, adjacent defogger members for coupling radio frequency energy, in excess of 800 MHz to said supporting means or for receiving radio frequency energy in excess of 800 MHz from said supporting means and further supporting, displaced and off-set from said coupling element, first, second, third and fourth conductive elements interconnected in a generally rectangular shape with said coupling element contained therein and with said first and said second elements overlying respective first and second adjacent defogger members to decouple same from the antenna and to minimize the transfer of radio frequency energy therebetween.

54. An antenna system as in claim 53 with said coupling means including means for matching the impedance between the antenna system and a radio frequency transmission line couplable thereto.

55. An antenna system as in claim 54 with said coupling means including means supported on a non-conductive substrate for matching the impedance between the antenna system and a radio frequency transmission line couplable thereto.

56. An antenna system as in claim 54 with said impedance matching means including first and second inductive members.

57. An antenna system as in claim 53 with said substrate being flexible.

58. An antenna system as in claim 53 with said substrate supporting counterpoise defining conductors electrically coupled to said first, second, third and fourth elements.

59. An antenna system as in claim 57 with said first, second, third and fourth elements formed as a parallelogram spaced from but enclosing said coupling element.

60. An antenna system as in claim 58 including impedance matching means supported by said substrate.

61. An antenna system as in claim 59 with said first, second, third and fourth elements, said coupling element and said impedance matching means formed as planar members on said substrate.

62. A relatively broadband mobile communications antenna system usable to radiate radio frequency energy generated by a transceiver located in a vehicle at frequencies in excess of 800 MHz and to receive radio frequency energy at frequencies in excess of 800 MHz, the antenna system is attachable to a dielectric member of the vehicle, the antenna system comprising:

a radiator with attached supporting means, said supporting means affixable to a first surface of the dielectric member; and

coupling means affixable to a second surface of the dielectric member,

said coupling means including

a planar insulating member;

a generally rectangularly shaped conducting element carried by said insulating member;

a coupling plate carried by said insulating member, surrounded by said conducting element and spaced therefrom;

first and second inductive means carried by said insulating member with said first and second inductive means joined at a common node, with said first inductive means additionally coupled to said rectangularly shaped conducting element and with said second inductive means additionally coupled to said coupling plate;

a layer of adhesive carried by said insulating member; and

cable means having first and second conducting portions with said first portion coupled to said common node and with said second portion coupled to said rectangularly shaped conducting element.

63. An antenna system as in claim 62 with said planar insulating member formed of a substantially rigid insulating material.

64. An antenna system as in claim 62 with said planar insulating member formed of a flexible insulating material.

65. An antenna system usable to radiate radio frequency energy generated by a transceiver at frequencies in excess of 800 MHz and adapted for use with and attachment to a dielectric member of a selected thickness, the dielectric member being of the type capable of including spaced apart, adjacent first and second conducting members having a predetermined spacing therebetween;

comprising;

an elongated radiating member attached at one end to a supporting member, said supporting member having a first metal coupling member and including means for attaching said supporting member to the dielectric member, said first metal coupling member having a size permitting said first metal coupling member of being positioned between any such spaced apart, adjacent first and second conducting members included as a part of the dielectric member;

electrical connector means having first and second conductive elements;

a coupling system attachable to the dielectric member, juxtaposed with said first coupling member, for coupling radio frequency energy in excess of 800 MHz through the dielectric member to said first coupling member and thereby to said radiating member, including

second and third planar elongated conductive members spaced apart form each other;

a fourth planar metal coupling member carried between and spaced from both of said second and third planar elongated conductive members, said fourth planar coupling member being positionable opposite said first metal coupling member and spaced therefrom by the thickness of the dielectric member;

an inductive member having selected, fixed, inductive characteristics in the 800 MHz range and coupled between said second conductive element of said connector means and said fourth planar coupling member; and

first and second spaced-apart means for decoupling the antenna system from any such spaced apart, adjacent first and second conducting members included as a part of the dielectric member;

said first conductive element of said connector means being electrically coupled to said second and third planar elongated conductive members.

66. An antenna system as in claim 65 wherein:

said first and second spaced-apart decoupling means include said second and third planar elongated conductive members.

67. A relatively broadband mobile communications antenna system usable to radiate radio frequency energy at frequencies in excess of 800 MHz generated by a transceiver located in a vehicle and connected to the antenna system by an associated radio frequency transmission line, and to receive radio frequency energy at frequencies in excess of 800 Mhz, the antenna system attachable to a dielectric member of the vehicle, the dielectric member being of the type capable of including spaced apart, adjacent first and second defogger conducting members having a predetermined spacing therebetween, the antenna system comprising:

a radiator with attached supporting means, said supporting means affixable to a first surface of the dielectric member and being of a dimension capable of location between any such spaced apart adjacent first and second defogger conducting members included as part of said dielectric member; and

coupling means affixable to a second surface of the dielectric member including,

a first conductive coupling portion being of a dimension capable of location between any such spaced apart adjacent first and second defogger conducting member for coupling radio frequency energy, in excess of 800 Mhz to said supporting means or for receiving frequency energy in excess of 800 Mhz from said supporting means,

second and third planar conductive decoupling portions oriented so as to extend generally parallel to one another, and each designed to be capable of overlying a respective one of any such adjacent first and second defogger conducting members included as part of said dielectric member to decouple same from the antenna and to minimize the transfer of radio frequency energy therebetween,

said coupling portion being spaced from, positioned between, and lying substantially in the same plane as, said second and third planar conductive decoupling portions, and

means for matching the impedance between the antenna system and the associated radio frequency transmission line, said impedance matching means including first and second inductive means.

68. An antenna system as in claim 67 wherein:

the maximum distance between the periphery of said first conductive coupling portion and the farthest point of said first and second planar conductive decoupling portions is less than 1/4 wave length at frequencies in excess of 800 Mhz.

69. An antenna system as in claim 67 wherein:

the maximum distance between the two farthest points of said first and second planar conductive decoupling portions is less than 1/2 wave length at frequencies in excess of 800 Mhz.

70. A relatively broadband mobile communications antenna system usable to radiate radio frequency energy generated by a transceiver at frequencies in excess of 800 MHz and to receive radio frequency energy at frequencies in excess of 800 MHz, the antenna system attachable to a dielectric member, the antenna system comprising:

a radiator with attached supporting means, said supporting means affixable to a first surface of the dielectric member; and

coupling means affixable to a second surface of the dielectric member,

said coupling means including a non-conducting substrate supporting a conductive coupling element adjacent to said second surface of said dielectric member for coupling radio frequency energy, in excess of 800 MHz to said supporting means and said radiator attached thereto, and for receiving radio frequency energy in excess of 800 MHz from said supporting means and said radiator attached thereto, and further supporting first, second, third and fourth conductive element interconnected in a generally closed path with said coupling element lying substantially in the same plane as, contained in and displaced and off-set from said interconnected first, second, third and fourth conductive elements.

71. An antenna system as in claim 70 wherein:

the maximum distance between the periphery of said conductive coupling element and the farthest point of any of said first, second, third and fourth interconnected conductive elements is less than 1/4 wave length at frequencies in excess of 800 Mhz.

72. An antenna system as in claim 70 wherein:

the maximum distance between the two farthest points of said first, second, third and fourth interconnected conductive elements is less than 1/2 wave length at frequencies in excess of 800 Mhz.

73. A relatively broadband mobile communications antenna system usable to radiate radio frequency energy generated by a transceiver located in a vehicle at frequencies in excess of 800 MHz and to receive radio frequency energy at frequencies in excess of 800 MHz, the antenna system being attachable to a dielectric member of the vehicle, the antenna system comprising:

a radiator with attached supporting means, said supporting means affixable to a first surface of the dielectric member; and

coupling means affixable to a second surface of the dielectric member, said coupling means including

a planar insulating member;

a coupling plate carried by said insulating member,

a generally planar continuous conducting element carried by said insulating member and disposed around and in substantially the same plane as said coupling plate and spaced therefrom;

inductive means carried by said insulating member with said inductive means being coupled to said generally planar continuous conducting element and to said coupling plate;

a layer of adhesive carried by said insulating member; and

cable means having first and second conducting portions with said first conducting portion of said cable means coupled to said inductive means and with said second conducting portion of said cable means coupled to said generally planar continuous conducting element.

74. An antenna system as in claim 73 wherein said generally continuous conducting element carried by said insulating member is generally closed, and said coupling plate is surrounded by said generally planar closed continuous conducting element.

75. An antenna system as in claim 74 including:

conductive means at least in part including a shaped metal housing, coupled to said generally planar closed continuous conducting element and defining at least in part a counterpoise for the antenna system.

76. An antenna system as in claim 74 including;

a conductive counterpoise including at least in part said generally planar closed continuous conducting element.

77. An antenna system as in claim 76 wherein:

said antenna system is capable of operation to radiate radio frequency energy generated by a transceiver connected thereto at frequencies in excess of 800 MHz in the absence of a direct radio frequency electrical ground connection between said counterpoise and said vehicle.

78. An antenna system as in claim 77 with a bandwidth on the order of 60-80 Mhz.

79. An antenna system as in claim 73 wherein:

the maximum distance between the periphery of said coupling plate and the farthest point of said generally planar continuous conducting element is less than 1/4 wave length at frequencies in excess of 800 Mhz.

80. An antenna system as in claim 73 wherein:

the maximum distance between the two farthest points of said generally planar continuous conducting element is less than 1/2 wave length at frequencies in excess of 800 Mhz.