Folded antenna

• US 6,130,651 A
• Filed: 10/19/1998
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yokowa Also Trading As Yokowo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yokowo
• Inventors: Yanagisawa, Wasuke, Mizuno, Hirotoshi, Oshiyama, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US09/174,535
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/895, 343/803, 343/806, 343/713, 343/715, 29/600
• US Class Current: 343/895
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/244 extendable from a housing along a given path
• 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 5/321 within a radiating element or between connected radiating elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/357 using a single feed point
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/371 Branching current paths
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength

Abstract

A conductor is provided from a base to a first fold point at the tip side, and sequentially folded parallel not less than once at the tip side and the base side, forming a first element; the conductor is split at the first fold point and the split conductor is, similarly, sequentially folded parallel not less than once at the tip side and the base side, forming a second element. Then, the effective length from the base to the tip of the first element is set to a quarter of the wavelength of a first frequency, and the effective length from the base to the tip of the second element is set to a quarter of the wavelength of a second frequency. Also provided is a folded antenna element, comprising a conductor in a direction from the base to the tip side, the conductor being folded at least once at the tip side and arranged parallel to the direction, is made cylindrical; a rod-like antenna element is provided so as to be freely movable in the axial direction of the folded antenna element; and, in an extended state, the base side of the rod-like antenna element becomes inserted to the tip side of the folded antenna element and is capacitance-coupled thereto by a large coupling capacitance. The effective length of the folded antenna element from the base to the tip is a quarter of the wavelength of the first frequency, and three quarters of the wavelength of the second frequency. In the extended state, the effective length from the base of the folded antenna element to the tip of the rod-like antenna element is a quarter of the wavelength of the first frequency, and three quarters of the wavelength of the second frequency.

Claims

1. A folded antenna, comprising:

a first element, comprising a conductor which is provided in a direction from a base of the antenna toward a tip side thereof, said conductor being folded at least once at said tip side and at least once at a base side and arranged parallel to said direction;

a second element, said second element comprising said conductor which is split at a location consisting of one of

1) a point between said base and a first fold point at said tip side; and

2) said first fold point,

said second element being folded at least once and arranged parallel to said direction;

the effective length from said base to a tip of said first element being set so that a first frequency resonates, and the effective length from said base to a tip of said second element being set so that a second frequency resonates.

2. A radio using an antenna device, comprising:

a folded antenna according to claim 1, wherein tips of said first and second elements are provided facing a tip side of the antenna, the effective length from said base to a tip of said first element being set to a quarter of a wavelength of said first frequency, and the effective length from said base to a tip of said second element being set to a quarter of a wavelength of said second frequency; and

a whip antenna element, which is freely extendable from and storable in said folded antenna along a direction connecting said base and said tip, the effective length from a base of said whip antenna element to a tip thereof being set to half of a wavelength of said first frequency, and the effective length from a base of said whip antenna element to a tip thereof being set to one wavelength of said second frequency; and

in said extended state, a base portion of said whip antenna element is capacitance-coupled to a tip portion of said folded antenna; and

wherein

a supply-feeding metal part is electrically connected to a base side of said folded antenna, provided to the outside of a side wall of a cabinet of the radio, said supply-feeding metal part being provided through a side wall of said cabinet, and electrically connected to a radio circuit housed inside said cabinet.

3. A radio using an antenna device, comprising:

a folded antenna according to claim 1, wherein the effective length from said base to a tip of said first element is set to a quarter of a wavelength of said first frequency, and the effective length from said base to a tip of said second element is set to a quarter of a wavelength of said second frequency;

a whip antenna element, which is freely extendable from and storable in said folded antenna along a direction connecting said base and said tip, and, in said extended state, a base portion of said whip antenna element is capacitance-coupled to said folded antenna, the effective length from a base of said folded antenna to a tip of said whip antenna element, in said extended state, being set to a quarter of a wavelength of said first frequency and three quarters of a wavelength of said second frequency; and

wherein

a supply-feeding metal part is electrically connected to a base side of said folded antenna, provided to the outside of a side wall of a cabinet of the radio, said supply-feeding metal part being provided through a side wall of said cabinet, and electrically connected to a radio circuit housed inside said cabinet.

5. The folded antenna according to claim 1 or 4, wherein said conductor is provided in zigzag from said base to a first fold point at said tip side.

6. The folded antenna according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the effective length for said first frequency, from said base to a tip of said first element, and the effective length for said second frequency, from said base to a tip of said second element, are set so that their respective input/output impedances at said base are substantially the same.

7. The folded antenna according to claim 1 or 4, further comprising:

a third element, in which said conductor is split at said tip side and arranged in said direction, the effective length from said base to a tip of said third element being set so that a separate frequency resonates.

8. The folded antenna according to claim 1 or 4, wherein, for a first frequency, the effective length from said base to a tip of said first element is set to a quarter of a wavelength;

and for a separate frequency, the effective length from said base to said first fold point is set to a quarter of a wavelength, and the effective length from said base to a tip of said first element is set to three quarters of a wavelength.

9. The folded antenna according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the folded antenna is provided in a shape of a cylinder having as its axis a direction from said base to a tip side.

10. The folded antenna according to claim 1 or 4, wherein said elements are formed by press-stamping of seal material and are pasted over the rim of a core member using covering tape.

11. An antenna device, comprising:

a folded antenna according to claim 1 or 4, wherein tips of said first and second elements are provided facing a tip side of the antenna, the effective length from said base to a tip of said first element being set to a quarter of a wavelength of said first frequency, and the effective length from said base to a tip of said second element being set to a quarter of a wavelength of said second frequency;

a helical antenna element, which is provided at a tip of a whip antenna element on a same axis thereto, said whip antenna element and said helical antenna element being freely extendable from and storable in said folded antenna, along a direction connecting said base and said tip, the effective length from a base of said whip antenna element to a tip of said helical antenna element being set to a quarter of a wavelength of said first frequency, and the effective length from a base of said whip antenna element to a tip thereof being set to half of a wavelength of said second frequency; and

in said extended state, a base portion of said whip antenna element is capacitance-coupled to a tip portion of said folded antenna.

12. A radio using an antenna device according to claim 11, wherein

a supply-feeding metal part is electrically connected to a base side of said folded antenna, provided to the outside of a side wall of a cabinet of the radio, said supply-feeding metal part being provided through a side wall of said cabinet, and electrically connected to a radio circuit housed inside said cabinet.

13. The radio according to claim 12, wherein the radio is a device used near to the side of a user'"'"'s head, and a conductor, arranged from a base of said folded antenna to a first fold point, is provided at a side of said cabinet which is opposite to said side which is close to the side of a user'"'"'s head.

14. The antenna device according to claim 11, wherein, in said extended state, a coupling capacitance between a tip of either one of said first and second elements, which resonates the lower frequency of said first and second frequencies, and a base portion of said whip antenna element, is smaller than a coupling capacitance between another tip and said base portion of said whip antenna element.

15. A radio using an antenna device according to claim 14, wherein a supply-feeding metal part is electrically connected to a base side of said folded antenna, provided to the outside of a side wall of a cabinet of the radio, said supply-feeding metal part being provided through a side wall of said cabinet, and electrically connected to a radio circuit housed inside said cabinet.

16. An antenna device, comprising:

a folded antenna according to claim 1 or 4, wherein tips of said first and second elements are provided facing a tip side of the antenna, the effective length from said base to a tip of said first element being set to a quarter of a wavelength of said first frequency, and the effective length from said base to a tip of said second element being set to a quarter of a wavelength of said second frequency; and

a whip antenna element, which is freely extendable from and storable in said folded antenna along a direction connecting said base and said tip, the effective length from a base of said whip antenna element to a tip thereof being set to half of a wavelength of said first frequency, and the effective length from a base of said whip antenna element to a tip thereof being set to one wavelength of said second frequency; and

in said extended state, a base portion of said whip antenna element is capacitance-coupled to a tip portion of said folded antenna.

17. An antenna device, comprising:

a folded antenna according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the effective length from said base to a tip of said first element is set to a quarter of a wavelength of said first frequency, and the effective length from said base to a tip of said base to a tip of said second element is set to a quarter of a wavelength of said second frequency;

a whip antenna element, which is freely extendable from and storable in said folded antenna along a direction connecting said base and said tip, and, in said extended state, a base portion of said whip antenna element is capacitance-coupled to said folded antenna, the effective length from a base of said folded antenna to a tip of said whip antenna element, in said extended state, being set to a quarter of a wavelength of said first frequency and three quarters of a wavelength of said second frequency.

4. A folded antenna, comprising:

a first element, comprising a conductor which is provided in a direction from a base of the antenna toward a tip side thereof, said conductor being folded sequentially not less than once at said tip side and at a base side and arranged parallel to said direction;

a second element, said second element comprising said conductor which is split at a location consisting of one of

1) a point between said base and a first fold point at said tip side; and

2) said first fold point,

said second element being folded sequentially not less than once at said tip side and said base side and arranged parallel to said direction;

the effective length from said base to a tip of said first element being set so that a first frequency resonates, and the effective length from said base to a tip of said second element being set so that a second frequency resonates.

18. A radio using an antenna device, comprising:

a folded antenna according to claim 4, wherein tips of said first and second elements are provided facing a tip side of the antenna, the effective length from said base to a tip of said first element being set to a quarter of a wavelength of said first frequency, and the effective length from said base to a tip of said second element being set to a quarter of a wavelength of said second frequency; and

a whip antenna element, which is freely extendable from and storable in said folded antenna along a direction connecting said base and said tip, the effective length from a base of said whip antenna element to a tip thereof being set to half of a wavelength of said first frequency, and the effective length from a base of said whip antenna element to a tip thereof being set to one wavelength of said second frequency; and

in said extended state, a base portion of said whip antenna element is capacitance-coupled to a tip portion of said folded antenna; and

wherein

a supply-feeding metal part is electrically connected to a base side of said folded antenna, provided to the outside of a side wall of a cabinet of the radio, said supply-feeding metal part being provided through a side wall of said cabinet, and electrically connected to a radio circuit housed inside said cabinet.

19. A radio using an antenna device, comprising:

a folded antenna according to claim 4, wherein the effective length from said base to a tip of said first element is set to a quarter of a wavelength of said first frequency, and the effective length from said base to a tip of said second element is set to a quarter of a wavelength of said second frequency;

a whip antenna element, which is freely extendable from and storable in said folded antenna along a direction connecting said base and said tip, and, in said extended state, a base portion of said whip antenna element is capacitance-coupled to said folded antenna, the effective length from a base of said folded antenna to a tip of said whip antenna element, in said extended state, being set to a quarter of a wavelength of said first frequency and three quarters of a wavelength of said second frequency; and

wherein

a supply-feeding metal part is electrically connected to a base side of said folded antenna, provided to the outside of a side wall of a cabinet of the radio, said supply-feeding metal part being provided through a side wall of said cabinet, and electrically connected to a radio circuit housed inside said cabinet.

20. A freely extendable and storable antenna, comprising:

a folded antenna element, comprising a first element, which comprises a conductor provided in a direction from a base toward a tip side, said conductor being folded at least once at said tip side and arranged parallel to said direction, and a second element, said second element comprising said conductor split at a location consisting of one of

1) a point between said base and a first fold point at said tip side; and

2) said first fold point,

said second element being folded at least once and arranged parallel to said direction, the effective length of said folded antenna element from said base to a tip of said first element being set to a quarter of a wavelength of a first frequency, and the effective length from said base to a tip of said second element being set to a quarter of a wavelength of a second frequency; and

a rod-like antenna element, provided so as to be freely movable along an axis direction of said folded antenna element, which is given a cylindrical shape;

wherein

when said rod-like antenna element is in an extended state, a base side of said rod-like antenna element is capacitance-coupled to a tip side of said cylindrical folded antenna element in a state of insertion therein, the effective length from a base of said folded antenna element to a tip of said rod-like antenna element being set to a quarter of a wavelength of said first frequency and three quarters of a wavelength of said second frequency.

21. The freely extendable and storable antenna according to claim 20, wherein said rod-like antenna element comprises a whip antenna element and a helical antenna element provided on a tip side of said rod-like antenna element.

22. The freely extendable and storable antenna according to claim 20, wherein said rod-like antenna element comprises a whip antenna element and a cylindrical antenna element, covering a tip side of said whip antenna element, and freely movable along an axial direction thereof.

23. The freely extendable and storable antenna according to claim 20, wherein, when said rod-like antenna element is in a stored state, no electrical coupling occurs between a tip side of said rod-like antenna element and said folded antenna element.

24. The freely extendable and storable antenna according to claim 20, wherein, when said rod-like antenna element is in a stored state, capacitance coupling and dielectric coupling occurs between a tip side of said rod-like antenna element and said folded antenna element, but the effective length from a base of said folded antenna element to a base of said rod-like antenna element is set so that frequencies within a frequency band of said first frequency and said second frequency are not resonant.

25. The freely extendable and storable antenna according to claim 20, wherein said antenna elements are formed by press-stamping of seal material and are pasted over the rim of a core member using covering tape.

26. A radio, using a freely extendable and storable antenna according to claim 20, wherein a supply-feeding metal part is electrically connected to a base side of said folded antenna, provided to the outside of a side wall of a cabinet of the radio, said supply-feeding metal part being provided through a side wall of said cabinet, and electrically connected to a radio circuit housed inside said cabinet.