Multiple frequency band branch antennas for wireless communicators

• US 6,198,442 B1
• Filed: 07/22/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Optis Cellular Technology LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Rutkowski, Kim, Hayes, Gerard James
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alemu, Ephrem
• Application Number:
  US09/359,250
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 343/895, 343/702, 343/749, 343/722, 343/725, 343/729, 343/700.MS
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• 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 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/371 Branching current paths

Abstract

A multiple frequency band antenna for a communications device, such as a radiotelephone, includes a dielectric substrate having high and low frequency band radiating elements disposed on a surface thereof. The high and low frequency band radiating elements have meandering patterns and are electrically connected to a feed point. Lumped electrical elements are electrically connected in series between the high and low frequency band radiating elements at the feed point to reduce coupling effects between the high and low frequency band radiating elements.

Claims

1. A wireless communicator, comprising:

a housing configured to enclose a transceiver that transmits and receives wireless communications signals; and

a multiple frequency band antenna electrically connected with the transceiver, comprising;

a dielectric substrate, wherein the dielectric substrate has a folded configuration with opposite first and second sides and opposite third and fourth sides;

a feed point disposed on the dielectric substrate first side;

a first radiating element disposed on the dielectric substrate first side and electrically connected to the feed point, wherein the first radiating element comprises a first electrically conductive path having a first meandering configuration, and wherein the first radiating element is configured to resonate within a first frequency band;

a second radiating element disposed on the dielectric substrate second and third sides and electrically connected to the feed point, wherein the second radiating element comprises a second electrically conductive path having a second meandering configuration that is different from the first meandering configuration, and wherein the second radiating element is configured to resonate within a second frequency band that is different than the first frequency band; and

at least one lumped electrical element electrically connected in series between the feed point and at least one of the first and second radiating elements, wherein the lumped element is configured to reduce coupling effects between the first and second radiating elements.

2. A wireless communicator according to claim 1 wherein the at least one lumped electrical element comprises:

a first lumped electrical element electrically connected in series between the first radiating element and the feed point; and

a second lumped electrical element electrically connected in series between the second radiating element and the feed point.

3. A wireless communicator according to claim 2 wherein the first lumped electrical element comprises a capacitor that is configured to increase resonant bandwidth of the first and second radiating elements, and wherein the second lumped electrical element comprises an inductor that is configured to increase resonant bandwidth of at least one of the first and second radiating elements.

4. A wireless communicator according to claim 1 wherein the first and second radiating elements have different electrical lengths.

5. A wireless communicator according to claim 1 wherein the wireless communicator comprises a radiotelephone.

6. A wireless communicator, comprising:

a housing configured to enclose a transceiver that transmits and receives wireless communications signals; and

a multiple frequency band antenna electrically connected with the transceiver, comprising;

a dielectric substrate, wherein the dielectric substrate has a folded configuration with opposite first and second sides and opposite third and fourth sides;

a feed point disposed on the dielectric substrate first side;

a first radiating element disposed on at least the dielectric substrate first and fourth sides and electrically connected to the feed point, wherein the first radiating element comprises a first electrically conductive path having a first meandering configuration, and wherein the first radiating element is configured to resonate within a first frequency band;

a second radiating element disposed on the dielectric substrate second and third sides and electrically connected to the feed point, and wherein the second radiating element comprises a second electrically conductive path having a second meandering configuration that is different from the first meandering configuration, and wherein the second radiating element is configured to resonate within a second frequency band different than the first frequency band; and

at least one lumped electrical element disposed on the dielectric substrate first side and electrically connected in series between the feed point and at least one of the first and second radiating elements, wherein the at least one lumped element is configured to reduce coupling effects between the first and second radiating elements.

7. A wireless communicator according to claim 6 wherein the first radiating element is disposed on the first, second, and fourth sides of the dielectric substrate.

8. A wireless communicator according to claim 6 wherein the first and second radiating elements have different electrical lengths.

9. A wireless communicator according to claim 6 wherein the wireless communicator comprises a radiotelephone.

10. A wireless communicator according to claim 6 wherein the at least one lumped electrical element comprises:

a first lumped electrical element disposed on the dielectric substrate first side and electrically connected in series between the first radiating element and the feed point; and

a second lumped electrical element disposed on the dielectric substrate first side and electrically connected in series between the second radiating element and the feed point.

11. A wireless communicator according to claim 10 wherein the first lumped electrical element comprises a capacitor that is configured to increase resonant bandwidth of the first and second radiating elements, and wherein the second lumped electrical element comprises an inductor that is configured to increase resonant bandwidth of at least one of the first and second radiating elements.

12. A multiple frequency band antenna, comprising:

a dielectric substrate, wherein the dielectric substrate has a folded configuration with opposite first and second sides and opposite third and fourth sides;

a feed point disposed on the dielectric substrate first side;

a first radiating element disposed on the dielectric substrate first side and electrically connected to the feed point, wherein the first radiating element comprises a first electrically conductive path having a first meandering configuration, and wherein the first radiating element is configured to resonate within a first frequency band;

a second radiating element disposed on the dielectric substrate second and third sides and electrically connected to the feed point, wherein the second radiating element comprises a second electrically conductive path having a second meandering configuration that is different from the first meandering configuration, and wherein the second radiating element is configured to resonate within a second frequency band that is different than the first frequency band; and

at least one lumped electrical element electrically connected in series between the feed point and at least one of the first and second radiating elements, wherein the at least one lumped element is configured to reduce coupling effects between the first and second radiating elements.

13. A multiple frequency band antenna according to claim 12 wherein the first and second radiating elements have different electrical lengths.

14. A multiple frequency band antenna according to claim 12 wherein the at least one lumped electrical element comprises:

a first lumped electrical element electrically connected in series between the first radiating element and the feed point; and

a second lumped electrical element electrically connected in series between the second radiating element and the feed point.

15. A multiple frequency band antenna according to claim 14 wherein the first lumped electrical element comprises a capacitor that is configured to increase resonant bandwidth of both the first and second radiating elements, and wherein the second lumped electrical element comprises an inductor that is configured to increase resonant bandwidth of at least one of the first and second radiating elements.

16. A multiple frequency band antenna, comprising:

a dielectric substrate, wherein the dielectric substrate has a folded configuration with opposite first and second sides and opposite third and fourth sides;

a feed point disposed on the dielectric substrate first side;

a first radiating element disposed on at least the dielectric substrate first and fourth sides and electrically connected to the feed point, wherein the first radiating element comprises a first electrically conductive path having a first meandering configuration, and wherein the first radiating element is configured to resonate within a first frequency band;

a second radiating element disposed on the dielectric substrate second and third sides and electrically connected to the feed point, and wherein the second radiating element comprises a second electrically conductive path having a second meandering configuration that is different from the first meandering configuration, and wherein the second radiating element is configured to resonate within a second frequency band different than the first frequency band; and

at least one lumped electrical element disposed on the dielectric substrate first side and electrically connected in series between the feed point and at least one of the first and second radiating elements, wherein the at least one lumped element is configured to reduce coupling effects between the first and second radiating elements.

17. A multiple frequency band antenna according to claim 16 wherein the first radiating element is disposed on the first, second, and fourth sides of the dielectric substrate.

18. A multiple frequency band antenna according to claim 16 wherein the first and second radiating elements have different electrical lengths.

19. A multiple frequency band antenna according to claim 16 wherein at least one of the first and second radiating elements comprises a meandering configuration.

20. A multiple frequency band antenna according to claim 16 wherein the at least one lumped electrical element further comprises:

a first lumped electrical element disposed on the dielectric substrate first side and electrically connected in series between the first radiating element and the feed point; and

a second lumped electrical element disposed on the dielectric substrate first side and electrically connected in series between the second radiating element and the feed point.

21. A multiple frequency band antenna according to claim 20 wherein the first lumped electrical element comprises a capacitor that is configured to increase resonant bandwidth of both the first and second radiating elements and wherein the second lumped electrical element comprises an inductor that is configured to increase resonant bandwidth of at least one of the first and second radiating elements.