Circular polarization antenna for wireless communication system

• US 6,380,896 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2000
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Information and Communication Products LLC (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Mobile LLC (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Stepanov, Ivan G., Lakomski, Donna, Berger, H. Stephen, Sastrodjojo, Paulus
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Hoanganh
• Application Number:
  US09/703,977
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: H01/Q.138, 343/700.MS, 343/853, 343/850, 343/895, 343/702, 343/820, 343/821, 343/822
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• 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 21/245 provided with means for varying the polarisation polarising devices H01Q15/24; tracking by comparing linear polarisation compounds G01S3/146; reducing depolarisation effects H04B7/00; polarisation diversity H04B7/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0435 using two feed points
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/17 Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices

Abstract

An antenna system for a wireless communication system. The system includes an antenna configured to receive and transmit circular polarized transmissions and a drive system. The drive system is operable to produce at least two outputs having generally the same amplitude and an appropriate relative phase difference so as to create a circular polarization transmission from the antenna.

Claims

1. An antenna system for a wireless communication system, comprising:

an antenna configured to receive and transmit circular polarized transmissions in a spread spectrum system;

a drive system operable to produce at least two outputs having generally the same amplitude and a phase difference relative to one another, each output being coupled to a different portion of the antenna; and

a controller operable to dynamically switch the outputs between clockwise and counterclockwise transmissions to define two subsystems configured for simultaneous operation.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the antenna is formed from two patch antennas.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein each of the patch antennas is mounted on a substrate positioned generally perpendicular to the other patch antenna.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the antenna comprises a dipole antenna.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the antenna comprises two monopole antennas.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the antenna comprises a spiral antenna.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the antenna comprises a helical antenna.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the antenna comprises a horn antenna.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the antenna comprises a slot antenna.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the antenna comprises a fractal antenna.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the phase difference is approximately ninety degrees.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the outputs of the drive system are dual balanced outputs.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the antenna comprises dual balanced feedpoints.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the drive system comprises a phase circuit.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the drive system comprises an amplifier.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the amplifier is integrated in a physical layer chip.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the phase circuit is a balanced to unbalanced circuit.

18. The system of claim 1 further comprising a wireless LAN system, the antennas system being located within a wireless device in the LAN system.

31. The system of claim 1 wherein the antenna is configured to operate in a system utilizing frequency hopping spread spectrum.

32. The system of claim 1 wherein the antenna is configured to operate in a system utilizing direct sequence spread spectrum.

19. A wireless communication device comprising:

an antenna configured to receive and transmit circular polarized transmissions in a spread spectrum system;

a drive system operable to produce at least two outputs having generally the same amplitude and a phase difference relative to one another, each output being coupled to a different portion of the antenna; and

a controller operable to dynamically switch the outputs between clockwise and counterclockwise transmissions to define two subsystems configured for simultaneous operation.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the device is a wireless telephone handset.

21. The device of claim 19 wherein the device is a repeater.

22. The device of claim 19 wherein the device is a base station.

23. The device of claim 19 wherein the device is a cellular phone.

24. The device of claim 19 wherein the device is operable to communicate within a wireless LAN system.

25. The device of claim 19 wherein the antenna is disposed internal to the device.

26. The device of claim 19 wherein the antenna and drive system are disposed within the device to create a capacitive loading in conjunction with other electrical components within the device.

27. The device of claim 19 wherein the device is configured for use in a 1.5-6.0 GHz frequency band.

28. The device of claim 19 wherein the device is a web appliance.

29. The device of claim 19 wherein the device is a directional microphone.

30. The device of claim 19 wherein the device is a hearing aid.

33. An antenna system for a wireless communication system, comprising:

an antenna configured to receive and transmit circular polarized transmissions, the antenna having dual balanced feedpoints;

a drive system operable to produce dual balanced outputs to drive said dual balanced feedpoints of the antenna;

wherein the drive system further comprises a phase shift circuit, wherein said phase shift circuit is a ninety degree balanced to unbalanced circuit; and

further wherein the drive circuit further comprises a switch operable to reverse inputs to the phase shift circuit to change the polarized signal from left handed to right handed or from right handed to left handed.