Cavity-backed slot antenna resonating at two different frequencies

• US 6,150,989 A
• Filed: 07/06/1999
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sky Eye Railway Services International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sky Eye Railway Services International Incorporated
• Inventors: Aubry, Yvon C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US09/348,681
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 343/767, 343/770, 343/771, 343/772
• US Class Current: 343/767
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/32 Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/10 Resonant slot antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/103 with variable reactance for tuning the antenna tuning resonant circuits H03J

Abstract

A cavity-backed slot antenna constituted by a housing constructed of conductive material. The housing forms a cavity. An elongated primary slot of a given length is formed in one of the walls of the housing. A secondary slot of a given length is formed in an adjacent wall. Diodes are secured across the primary slot at a pre-determined location. An r.f. transmission line is electrically coupled to the conductive sheet across side edges of said primary slot for transmitting and receiving r.f. signals.

Claims

1. A cavity-backed slot antenna comprising:

(a) a conductive housing having one slot in each of two adjacent walls,

(b) one of said slots being an elongated primary slot of a given length formed in one of said two adjacent walls,

(c) the other of said slots being a secondary slot of a given length formed in the other of said two adjacent walls,

(d) diodes secured across said primary slot at a pre-determined location;

said diodes, during a transmission mode of said antenna, being conductive to short-circuit said primary slot to effectively reduce the length of said primary slot to effect resonance at the transmitting frequency while being ineffective to receiving frequencies and thereby resulting in a reduction of the length of said conductive housing, and

(e) r.f. transmission means electrically coupled to said conductive housing across side edges of said primary slot for transmitting and receiving r.f. signals.

2. The slot antenna of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a cavity defined by a space rearward of said two adjacent walls.

3. The slot antenna of claim 2, wherein said cavity has a depth and width that are substantially less than one-quarter wavelength.

4. The slot antenna of claim 1, wherein there are two of said diodes connected across said primary slot and in opposite polarity.

5. The slot antenna of claim 1, wherein said secondary slot has a length, which is almost the full length of said housing.

6. The slot antenna of claim 1, wherein said secondary slot has a width which is very narrow.

7. The slot antenna of claim 1, wherein said secondary slot is short-circuited at both ends.

8. The slot antenna of claim 1, wherein said cavity-backed slot antenna comprises electronic components secured in a cavity inside said conductive housing.

9. The slot antenna of claim 8, wherein said electronic components are in a lower portion of said cavity.

10. The slot antenna of claim 1, wherein a protective shroud of a non-conductive material is added to the housing of said cavity-backed slot antenna.

11. The slot antenna of claim 1, wherein said secondary slot extends the full width of said other of said two adjacent walls.