Dual-band window mounted antenna system for mobile communications

• US 6,172,651 B1
• Filed: 10/16/1997
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Radiall Antenna Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Larsen Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Du, Xin
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, DON KITSUN
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malos, Jennifer H.
• Application Number:
  US08/951,428
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 333/116, 333/109, 333/24 C, 343/713, 343/715, 343/850
• US Class Current: 343/850
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/125 Means for positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1285 with capacitive feeding through the windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors

Abstract

A low cost glass mount vehicle antenna system utilizes, in a preferred embodiment, an over-coupled quasi-TEM mode transmission line coupler having two simple stamped or printed plates stacked over an L shape internal ground plane. The two conductive plates are located on opposite sides of the glass. With proper open circuit terminations on two of the four coupler ports, the backwards and forward coupling signals are redirected/combined and are effectively fed diagonally between the other two ports, thereby achieving through-glass coupling. The over-coupling achieves this efficient through-glass coupling effect at two spaced-apart frequencies (e.g. 800 MHz and 1800 MHz). The coupler is of a low impedance type and can be used with a variety of collinear array and elevated-feed antennas. It features high efficiency, low backwards radiation, and mechanical simplicity.

Claims

1. A dual band antenna for mounting on glass comprising:

a radiator;

a directional coupler comprising first and second conductive structures, the first conductive structure located on a first side of the glass, the second conductive structure located on a second side of the glass, said coupler defining four ports, two of said ports in diagonal relationship being left unterminated, a third port being coupled to the radiator, and a fourth port being coupled to a feedline.

2. The antenna of claim 1 in which the antenna is resonant in two frequency bands that are non-contiguous.

3. The antenna of claim 2 in which the antenna is resonant at first and second frequencies, the second frequency being at least twice the first.

4. The antenna of claim 1 in which the antenna is resonant in both the 800 MHz band, and also in the 1800 MHz band.

5. The antenna of claim 1 in which the directional coupler operates in an overcoupled, quasi-TEM mode.

6. In a mobile antenna assembly adapted for mounting on a glass member, the assembly including a whip antenna, an outside coupling component, and an inside coupling component, the whip antenna being mounted to the outside coupling component, the outside coupling component being adapted for mounting adjacent an outer surface of said glass member, the inside coupling component being adapted for mounting adjacent an inner surface of said glass member approximately opposite said outside coupling component, an improvement wherein the outside and inside coupling components cooperate to form a directional coupler to thereby effect electromagnetic coupling through said glass member.

7. The antenna assembly of claim 6 in which the assembly is resonant in two frequency bands that are non-contiguous.

8. The antenna assembly of claim 7 in which the assembly is resonant at first and second frequencies, the second frequency being at least twice the first.

9. The antenna assembly of claim 6 in which the assembly is resonant in both the 800-900 MHz band, and also in the 1800-1900 MHz band.

10. The antenna assembly of claim 6 in which the coupler operates in a quasi-TEM mode.

11. An antenna system comprising a coupler for use in coupling RF from a feedline, through an intervening dielectric, and to an antenna element, the coupler comprising:

a first planar metal member positioned adjacent a first side of the dielectric, and having first and second ends;

a second planar metal member positioned adjacent a second side of the dielectric, and having first and second ends;

said first and second planar metal members substantially overlaying each other, with the respective first ends proximate each other, and the respective second ends proximate each other;

a first connection at the first end of the first planar metal member for connection to the feedline; and

a second connection at the second end of the second planar metal member for connection to the antenna element.

12. The antenna assembly comprising the coupler of claim 11 wherein said antenna element is a dual-band antenna element.

13. The antenna assembly of claim 12 in which the assembly is resonant at first and second frequencies, the second frequency being at least twice the first.

14. The antenna assembly of claim 12 in which the antenna assembly is resonant in both the 800 MHZ band, and also in the 1800 MHZ band.

15. The coupler of claim 11 wherein the antenna element connects to the second end of the second planar member through a planar inductive element, said inductive element being integrally formed with the second planar member and extending therefrom.

16. The coupler of claim 11 in which at least one of said planar metal members has one or more taps extending therefrom.

17. The coupler of claim 11, further including an L-shaped metal member having a long portion and a short portion, the long portion being disposed parallel to said first and second planar metal members and having a connection point along the short portion for coupling to a shield conductor of a coaxial feedline.

18. The coupler of claim 17, further including a metal stub extending from the long portion of the L-shaped metal member.

19. An antenna system including a radiator and a coupler for use in coupling RF from feedline having two conductors, through an intervening dielectric, and to two output conductors, the coupler comprising:

a first metal member positioned adjacent a first side of the dielectric;

a second metal member positioned adjacent a second side of the dielectric, approximately opposite the first metal member;

a third metal member having a planar portion overlaying, and extending beyond, and spaced apart from the first member by a dielectric;

a fourth metal member positioned adjacent the second side of the dielectric and next to the second metal member, the fourth metal member being approximately opposite the extended planar portion of the third metal member;

the two conductors of the feedline connecting to the first and third metal members;

the two output conductors comprising the second and fourth metal members.

20. The antenna system of claim 19 wherein the radiator comprises an elevated feed antenna coupled to the two output conductors.