Antenna structures including orthogonally oriented antennas and related communications devices

• US 6,313,801 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2000
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Hwang, Huan-Sheng, Sanford, Gary George
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoang
• Application Number:
  US09/648,495
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/725, 343/729, 343/702
• US Class Current: 343/725
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• 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 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence

Abstract

In an antenna structure including multiple antennas, a first antenna can include a conductive patch and a second antenna can be adjacent the conductive patch. More particularly, the second antenna can define a central axis wherein the central axis is orthogonal with respect to the first antenna and wherein the central axis intersects a central portion of the conductive patch. Alternately or in addition, a first antenna can include a conductive patch with an opening through the conductive patch, and a second antenna can be adjacent the conductive patch wherein a feedline for the second antenna extends through the opening through the conductive patch.

Claims

1. An antenna structure comprising:

a first antenna including a conductive patch; and

a second antenna adjacent the conductive patch wherein the second antenna defines a central axis, wherein the central axis is orthogonal with respect to the first antenna, and wherein the central axis intersects a central portion of the conductive patch;

wherein the conductive patch includes an opening therethrough and wherein the second antenna includes a feedline extending through the opening through the conductive patch;

wherein the first antenna further includes a dielectric layer with the conductive patch thereon and with the opening extending through both the conductive patch and the dielectric layer and with the feedline for the second antenna extending through the opening through both the conductive patch and the dielectric layer; and

wherein the feedline for the second antenna comprises a coaxial feedline including a central feedline and an outer groundline wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the conductive patch at the opening therethrough.

2. An antenna structure according to claim 1 wherein the second antenna is symmetrical with respect to the central axis.

3. An antenna structure according to claim 1 wherein the central axis intersects the opening through the conductive patch.

4. An antenna structure according to claim 1 wherein the opening through the conductive patch is located in the central portion of the conductive patch.

5. An antenna structure according to claim 1 wherein the opening through the conductive patch is centered with respect to the patch.

6. An antenna structure according to claim 1 wherein the first antenna further includes a ground plane on the dielectric layer opposite the conductive patch with the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane and with the feedline for the second antenna extending through the ground plane.

7. An antenna structure according to claim 6 wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the conductive patch at the opening therethrough.

8. An antenna structure according to claim 6 wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the ground plane at the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane.

9. An antenna structure according to claim 8 wherein the ground plane is electrically coupled with the conductive patch through the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane.

10. An antenna structure comprising:

a first antenna including a conductive patch with an opening through the conductive patch; and

a second antenna adjacent the conductive patch wherein a feedline for the second antenna extends through the opening through the conductive patch;

wherein the first antenna further includes a dielectric layer with the conductive patch thereon and with the opening extending through both the conductive patch and the dielectric layer and with the feedline for the second antenna extending through the opening through both the conductive patch and the dielectric layer; and

wherein the feedline for the second antenna comprises a coaxial feedline including a central feedline and an outer groundline wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the conductive patch at the opening therethrough.

11. An antenna structure according to claim 10 wherein the second antenna defines a central axis and wherein the central axis is orthogonal with respect to the conductive patch.

12. An antenna structure according to claim 11 wherein the second antenna is symmetrical with respect to the central axis.

13. An antenna structure according to claim 11 wherein the central axis intersects the opening through the conductive patch.

14. An antenna structure according to claim 11 wherein the central axis intersects a central portion of the conductive patch.

15. An antenna structure according to claim 10 wherein the opening through the conductive patch is centered with respect to the patch.

16. An antenna structure according to claim 10 wherein the first antenna further include a ground plane on the dielectric layer opposite the conductive patch with the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane and with the feedline for the second antenna extending through the ground plane.

17. A An antenna structure according to claim 16 wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the conductive patch at the opening therethrough.

18. An antenna structure according to claim 16 wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the ground plane at the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane.

19. An antenna structure according to claim 18 wherein the ground plane is electrically coupled with the conductive patch through the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane.

20. A radio device comprising:

a first antenna including a conductive patch;

one of a first transmitter or receiver coupled with the conductive patch;

a second antenna adjacent the conductive patch wherein the second antenna defines a central axis, wherein the central axis is orthogonal with respect to the first antenna, and wherein the central axis intersects a central portion of the conductive patch; and

one of a second transmitter or receiver coupled with the second antenna;

wherein the conductive patch includes an opening therethrough and wherein the second antenna includes a feedline extending through the opening through the conductive patch wherein the second antenna is coupled with the second transmitter or receiver via the feedline;

wherein the first antenna further includes a dielectric layer with the conductive patch thereon and with the opening extending through both the conductive patch and the dielectric layer and with the feedline for the second antenna extending through the opening through both the conductive patch and the dielectric layer; and

wherein the feedline for the second antenna comprises a coaxial feedline including a central feedline and an outer groundline wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the conductive patch at the opening therethrough.

21. A radio device according to claim 20 wherein the second antenna is symmetrical with respect to the central axis.

22. A radio device according to claim 20 wherein the central axis intersects the opening through the conductive patch.

23. A radio device according to claim 20 wherein the opening through the conductive patch is located in the central portion of the conductive patch.

24. A radio device according to claim 20 wherein the opening through the conductive patch is centered with respect to the patch.

25. A radio device according to claim 20 wherein the first antenna further includes a ground plane on the dielectric layer opposite the conductive patch with the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane and with the feedline for the second antenna extending through the ground plane.

26. A radio device according to claim 25 wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the conductive patch at the opening therethrough.

27. A radio device according to claim 25 wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the ground plane at the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane.

28. A radio device according to claim 27 wherein the ground plane is electrically coupled with the conductive patch through the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane.

29. A radio device comprising:

a first antenna including a conductive patch with an opening through the conductive patch;

one of a first transmitter or receiver coupled with the first antenna;

a second antenna adjacent the conductive patch wherein a feedline for the second antenna extends through the opening through the conductive patch; and

one of a second transmitter or receiver coupled with the second antenna through the feedline for the second antenna;

wherein the first antenna further includes a dielectric layer with the conductive patch thereon and with the opening extending through both the conductive patch and the dielectric layer and with the feedline for the second antenna extending through the opening through both the conductive patch and the dielectric layer; and

wherein the feedline for the second antenna comprises a coaxial feedline including a central feedline and an outer groundline wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the conductive patch at the opening therethrough.

30. A radio device according to claim 29 wherein the second antenna defines a central axis and wherein the central axis is orthogonal with respect to the conductive patch.

31. A radio device according to claim 30 wherein the second antenna is symmetrical with respect to the central axis.

32. A radio device according to claim 30 wherein the central axis intersects the opening through the conductive patch.

33. A radio device according to claim 30 wherein the central axis intersects a central portion of the conductive patch.

34. A radio device according to claim 29 wherein the opening through the conductive patch is centered with respect to the patch.

35. A radio device according to claim 29 wherein the first antenna further include a ground plane on the dielectric layer opposite the conductive patch with the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane and with the feedline for the second antenna extending through the ground plane.

36. A radio device according to claim 35 wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the conductive patch at the opening therethrough.

37. A radio device according to claim 35 wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the groung plane at the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane.

38. A radio device according to claim 37 wherein the ground plane is electrically coupled with the conductive patch through the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane.