Dual strip antenna with periodic mesh pattern

• US 6,373,436 B1
• Filed: 10/29/1999
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Fu-Chiarng, Tran, Allen Minh-Triet
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh, Trinh Vo
• Application Number:
  US09/430,587
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: H01/Q.124, 343/702, 343/700.MS
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/48 Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0421 with a shorting wall or a shorting pin at one end of the element H01Q9/0414 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0442 with particular tuning means

Abstract

A dual strip antenna that includes first and second conductive strips, each made from a conductive material. The first and second strips are separated by a dielectric substrate having a predetermined thickness. The first strip is electrically connected to the second strip at one end. A coaxial signal feed is coupled to the dual strip antenna. A dual strip antenna can be reduced in overall size by utilizing a periodic mesh patterned conductive surface in place of a solid continuous conductive surface. The periodic mesh pattern maintains the relative voltage and current relationships across the antenna strip while enabling a reduction in physical size. Any uniform periodic mesh pattern may be used and the periodic mesh pattern may be utilized for both strip elements. A brick-wall mesh pattern results in approximately 10% reduction in size over a solid continuous dual strip antenna.

Claims

1. A dual strip antenna, comprising:

a first conductive strip having a length selected such that it acts as a first active radiator of electromagnetic energy; and

a second conductive strip being separated along its length from said first strip by a dielectric material having a preselected thickness and having a length selected such that it acts as a second active radiator of electromagnetic energy, said first strip being electrically connected to said second strip at one end, said second strip implemented using a conductive periodic mesh pattern, the length of the second strip using the conductive periodic mesh pattern being shorter than a length of a continuous conductive strip selected to act as the second active radiator of electromagnetic energy, and both strips operating as an open-ended parallel plate waveguide, with asymmetrical conductor terminations.

2. The dual strip antenna of claim 1, wherein:

said first conductive strip length is selected such that it acts as an active radiator of electromagnetic energy at a first preselected frequency; and

said second conductive strip length selected such that it acts as an active radiator of electromagnetic energy at a second preselected frequency slightly offset from the first.

3. The dual strip antenna of claim 2, wherein said antenna has a desired center frequency of f₀, said first conductive strip length is chosen so that the strip has a center frequency around f₀ plus a predetermined frequency offset of Δ

f, and said second conductive strip length is chosen so that the strip has a center frequency around f₀ minus Δ

f.

4. The dual strip antenna of claim 1, wherein said first strip is implemented using the conductive periodic mesh pattern.

5. The dual strip antenna of claim 1, wherein said first and second strips are formed by depositing conductive material in a periodic mesh pattern onto a dielectric substrate and electrically connecting said conductive strips together at one end.

6. The dual strip antenna of claim 1, wherein the periodic mesh pattern is a brick wall pattern.

7. The dual strip antenna of claim 1, wherein the periodic mesh pattern is a honeycomb pattern.

8. The dual strip antenna of claim 1, wherein the periodic mesh pattern is a diamond pattern.

9. The dual strip antenna of claim 1, further comprising a coaxial signal feed having positive and negative terminals, the positive terminal being electrically coupled to said first strip and the negative terminal being electrically coupled to said second strip, wherein surface currents are formed on said first and second strips when said dual strip antenna is energized by electrical signals via said coaxial feed.

10. The dual strip antenna of claim 1, further comprising a coaxial feed having positive and negative terminals, the positive terminal being electrically coupled to said second strip and the negative terminal being electrically coupled to said first strip, wherein surface currents are formed on said first and second strips when said dual strip antenna is energized by electrical signals via said coaxial feed.

11. The dual strip antenna of claim 1, wherein the length and width of said first and second strips are sized so that said dual strip antenna is capable of receiving and transmitting signals having a frequency range of about 1.85-1.99 GHz.

12. The dual strip antenna of claim 1, wherein the length and width of said first and second strips are sized so that said dual strip antenna is capable of receiving and transmitting signals having a frequency range of about 824-894 MHz.