Planar antenna device

• US 6,407,706 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2001
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter J. Vernon
• Original Assignee: Peter J. Vernon
• Inventors: Vernon, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US09/888,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20020018020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/702, 343/713, 343/741, 343/742, 343/866, 343/867, 296/00
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1271 for mounting on windscreens
• 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 5/371 Branching current paths

Abstract

A planar antenna including a rectangular conductive element formed from two square elements. The square elements are defined within the rectangle by a centrally located and bifurcated return conductor having two legs. Each square element is connected at one end to a connector element and at the other end to the return conductor. The dimensions of the square elements are chosen so as to maximize gain for selected radio frequencies. The antenna further includes one or more additional but partial square elements, each additional partial square element terminating adjacent the respective square element at one end and being defined by one leg of the return conductor on one side.

Claims

1. A planar antenna including a rectangular conductive element formed from two square elements, the square elements being defined within the rectangle by a centrally located and bifurcated return conductor having two legs, each square element being connected at one end to a connector element and at the other end to said return conductor, wherein the dimensions of the square elements are chosen so as to maximize gain for selected radio frequencies, characterised in that the antenna further includes one or more additional but partial square elements, each additional partial square element terminating adjacent the respective square element at one end and being defined by one leg of the return conductor on one side.

2. An antenna according to claim 1, wherein the conductive elements are formed on a substrate.

3. An antenna according to claim 2, wherein the substrate is a flexible film.

4. An antenna according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the substrate is transparent.

5. An antenna according to claim 2, wherein the conductive elements have been provided by a method that includes the steps of:

printing a conductor pattern onto the substrate using conductive ink; and

electrodepositing further conductive material onto the printed conductor pattern, using the pattern formed from conductive ink as an electrode in an electroplating process.

6. An antenna according to claim 5, wherein the conductor pattern is screen printed onto said substrate.

7. An antenna according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of conductor patterns are printed onto said substrate, and after electrodeposition a protective film is applied to the conductor pattern.

8. An antenna according to claim 7, wherein the film is adhesive on both sides.

9. An antenna according to claim 1, wherein all the square elements are electrically connected to the same connector element, and the return conductor is connected to an electrically separate connector element.