Dual-antenna system for single-frequency band

• US 6,329,954 B1
• Filed: 04/14/2000
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Laird Technologies Incorporated (DuPont de Nemours, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: RecepTec LLC (DuPont de Nemours, Inc.)
• Inventors: Marino, Ronald Andrew, Fuchs, Andreas Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOANG V
• Application Number:
  US09/549,895
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 343/895, 343/726, 343/727, 343/729, 343/730, 343/793, 343/797, 343/711, 343/893, 343/725
• US Class Current: 343/725
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/08 Helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/20 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a curvilinear path slotted waveguide arrays H01Q21/005; circularly or helically slotted waveguides H01Q21/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/28 Conical, cylindrical, cage, strip, gauze, or like elements having an extended radiating surface; Elements comprising two conical surfaces having collinear axes and adjacent apices and fed by two-conductor transmission lines waveguide horns or mouths H01Q13/00; slot antennas H01Q13/00

Abstract

A combination satellite and terrestrial antenna system for a single-source application. A first embodiment includes a cross dipole for receiving the circularly polarized satellite signals, and a plurality of monopoles for receiving linearly polarized terrestrial signals. The mono-poles are arranged symmetrically about the cross dipole. Alternative embodiments include a helix antenna for receiving the satellite signals, and one or more linear antennas arranged symmetrically with respect to the helix for the terrestrial signals.

Claims

1. A dual-antenna system comprising:

a circularly polarized antenna for receiving circularly polarized signals from a satellite transmitter, said circularly polarized antenna having a first output; and

a linear antenna for receiving linear signals from a terrestrial transmitter, said linear antenna having a second output different from said first output, said circularly polarized antenna and said linear antenna being substantially concentric, said linear antenna including a plurality of linear antenna elements arranged symmetrically about said circularly polarized antenna.

2. A dual-antenna system as defined in claim 1 wherein said circularly polarized antenna is a helix antenna.

3. A dual-antenna system as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said linear antenna elements is a monopole antenna.

4. A dual-antenna system as defined in claim 1 wherein said circularly polarized antenna comprises a cross dipole.

5. A dual-antenna system comprising:

a first antenna for receiving and outputting circularly polarized signals, said first antenna having a center and a first output; and

a second antenna for receiving and outputting linearly polarized signals, said second antenna having a center and a second output separate from the first output, said first antenna and said second antenna being substantially concentric, said second antenna including a plurality of linear antenna elements arranged in a substantially symmetric configuration about said first antenna.

6. A dual-antenna system as defined in claim 5 wherein said first antenna comprises a cross dipole.

7. A dual-antenna system as defined in claim 5 wherein said first antenna comprises a helix antenna.

8. A dual-antenna system as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said linear antenna elements comprises a monopole antenna.

9. A dual-antenna system comprising:

a cross dipole antenna having a cross dipole output; and

a plurality of linear antenna elements arranged in a substantially symmetric pattern about said cross dipole antenna, said linear antenna elements having a linear output.

10. A dual-antenna system comprising:

a cross dipole antenna; and

four monopole antennas arranged in a substantially symmetric pattern about said cross dipole antenna with one of said monopole antennas located in each of the quadrants of said cross dipole antenna.

11. A dual-antenna system as defined in claim 10 wherein said monopole antennas are equally spaced from one another.

12. A dual-antenna system comprising:

a helix antenna having a first output; and

a plurality of linear antennas arranged symmetrically with respect to said helix, said linear antennas having a second output different from said first output antenna.

13. A dual-antenna system as defined in claim 12 wherein each of said linear antennas is a monopole antenna.

14. A dual-antenna system comprising:

a helix antenna having a first output; and

a plurality of monopole antennas arranged symmetrically with respect to said, said monopole antennas having a second output different from said first output helix antenna.

15. A dual-antenna system as defined in claim 14 comprising four of said monopole antennas.