Flat antenna with low overall height

• US 5,850,198 A
• Filed: 09/30/1996
• Issued: 12/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fuba Automotive GmbH & Co. KG. (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: FUBA Automotive GmbH
• Inventors: Hopf, Jochen, Lindenmeier, Heinz, Reiter, Leopold
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Hoanganh T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US08/718,536
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700 MS, 343/713, 343/767, 343/770, 343/848, 343/702
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3275 mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/10 Resonant slot antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/357 using a single feed point

Abstract

The invention relates to an antenna with electrically low overall height, preferably for frequencies in the GHz-range. It consists of a first electrically conductive area (1) which, in the first frequency range, is not larger in any dimension than 3/8 lambda, and a second eletrically conductive area (2) of at least the same size acting as the electrical counterweight, said second area being substantially parallel with the first conductive area (1) and arranged opposite the latter with a certain spacing (A) from the latter, and of a conductive bridge (4) connecting an edge (5) of the first conductive area (1) across a width (B) to the second electrically conductive area (2) in a low-ohmic way in terms of high frequency, whereby the first electrically conductive area (1) is electrically conductively connected in an antenna connection site in a coupling point (3) to the inside conductor of a coaxial line (7) conducting high frequency via a conductor (15), and the dimensions of the antenna and the coupling point (3) are selected in a way such that the antenna is in resonance in the first frequency range. For the formation of resonance, slots (10) having a suitable slot width (9) and shape are formed in at least one additional frequency range at least in one of the two conductive areas or/and in the conductive bridge.

Claims

1. A substantially flat antenna preferably for frequencies in the Ghz-range, comprising:

a first electrically conductive area that is not greater than 3/8 of a wavelength, and having at least one slot with an open end pointing at an edge of said conductive area, said at least one slot defining the flow of current in said electrically conductive area so that when the antenna receives a signal in a first and in each additional frequency range, the antenna has at least one resonance frequency in both the first, and in each additional frequency range;

a second electrically conductive area being at least the same size as said first electrically conductive area, wherein said second conductive area acts as a ground shield to said first conductor, wherein said second conductive area is arranged parallel and opposite to said first conductive area;

a conductive bridge connecting a conductive edge of the first conductive area across its width to said second electrically conductive area, said conductive bridge connecting said first conductive area to said second conductive area with low resistance; and

,

a coaxial line having an inner conductor and an outer conductor wherein said inner conductor is connected through a coupling point to said first electrically conductive area and said outer conductor is connected to said second electrically conductive area.

2. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein said first electrically conductive area has two marginal zones, and one inner zone, said marginal zones being separated by said at least one slot, and having lengths that are selected so that they only slightly impair the flow of the current in the areas of the first frequency range, wherein the entire conductive area serves as the active zone for the formation of resonant frequencies.

3. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein said bridge has at least one slot, having a length selected so that it only slightly impairs the flow of the current in the areas in the first frequency range, wherein the total width of the bridge provides an inductive effect to form resonant frequencies, wherein the flow of current on said bridge is determined for each additional frequency range so that the effective width appears smaller than the active width.

4. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein said at least one slot in said first electrically conductive area is formed to have a length of 1/4 wavelength, so that it has a high impedance at its open end located on the edge of the conductive area.

5. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein said first electrically conductive area further comprises at least one recessed portion positioned so that an edge of said recessed portion forms a closed edge to said slot, wherein the area of the recessed portion is larger than the area of the slot, so that the slot has a high impedance in the second frequency range, and the lowest possible impedance in the first frequency range.

6. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein said first electrically conductive area is rectangular shaped, and said coupling point is located on a central line bisecting said area and perpendicularly intersecting said connecting edge.

7. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein said first electrically conductive area has a substantially circular shape having a circular center bore, and wherein said coupling point is located along a central axis line that bisects said connecting edge.

8. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein said first electrically conductive area is fan shaped, and extends out at an angle less than 180 degrees, wherein said coupling point is located along a central axis line that bisects said connecting edge.

9. The antenna according to claim 8, further comprising substantially linear slots extending from an outer edge of said fan shaped area towards a central axis bisecting said zone, said slots ending in said inner zone.

10. The antenna according to claim 9, wherein said linear slots are located on said first zone, said slots arranged symmetrically relative to a central axis bisecting said zone, wherein said slots are arranged so that they form active inner zones that are adjusted for D and E networks, and for satellite-supported navigation GPS.

11. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein the first electrically conductive area contains at least two symmetrically designed slots positioned opposite each other relative to a central line that bisects said area, said slots extending in from an outer edge on said conductive area to said inner zone.

12. The antenna according to claim 11, wherein said slots fan away from said central line to the outer edges of said zone.

13. The antenna according to claim 1, comprising at least two slots each having different lengths.

14. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein said second conductive area is a substantially horizontal surface relative to an automobile body.

15. The antenna as claimed in claim 14, wherein said first area is mounted on a non-conductive surface on a vehicle body.

16. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein said first and said second conductive areas are substantially congruent with each other, and said conductive line extends substantially parallel to said second conductive area, so that it does not interfere with an electrical field perpendicular to said first and said second areas.