Space diversity slot antennas and apparatus using the same

• US 6,507,322 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2001
• Issued: 01/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acer NeWeb Corporation (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Acer NeWeb Corporation (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huey-Jen, Lin, Fang, Chien-Hsing
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): VANNUCCI, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US09/934,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20020175864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 343/770, 343/767, 343/702, 343/700.MS, 343/768, 343/769, 455/90, 455/89
• US Class Current: 343/770
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/10 Resonant slot antennas
• 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: H04B 7/08 at the receiving station

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to provide an antenna pair that has the advantages of easy installation and improved gain. According to the present invention, the antenna pair consists of two slot antennas formed on a metallic strip and sharing a common portion of the strip as the grounding unit. The grounding portions of the antennas join together to become the grounding unit so as to increase the effective antenna aperture for both of the antennas and to raise their gains. As the antennas are combined into one, it is more manageable and handy for installation. The grounding unit can be further extended to allow greater improvement. The strip on which the slot antennas are formed is curved to have the antennas orthogonal to each other. The orthogonality brings about the space diversity effect and prevents the occurrence of any null in the radiation pattern of the antennas.

Claims

1. An electronic system for bridging a mobile device and a wired network, comprising:

a pair of slot antennas which enables the transmission and reception of wireless signals between said electronic system and said mobile device;

a wireless communication module coupled to said pair of slot antennas which encodes and decodes signals that are transmitted and received, respectively, through said antenna pair; and

an interface coupled to said wireless communication module and coupled to said wired network which enables signal exchanges between said electronic system and said wired network;

wherein said pair of slot antennas comprises;

an elongated plate structure having a first portion and a second portion, each portion having a slot substantially along the longitudinal direction thereof for determining the frequency thereof, said first portion being substantially orthogonal to said second portion, said elongated plate structure further having a third portion extending from one end of said second portion, said first, second, and third portions constituting approximately the letter U.

2. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein said pair of slot antennas further comprises a pair of feed lines coupling said pair of slot antennas to said wireless communication module.

3. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic system further comprises a housing, along the inner walls of which is disposed said elongated plate structure of said pair of slot antennas.

4. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein said elongated plate structure of said pair of slot antennas further comprises a fourth portion linking said third portion and said first portion, said first, second, third, and fourth portions constituting approximately a rectangular frame.

5. The electronic system according to claim 4, wherein of said elongated plate structure of said pair of slot antennas said first, second, third, and fourth portions are disposed along the inner side walls of said housing of said electronic system.

6. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein said wireless communication module follows the standard of IEEE 802.11b protocol.

7. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein said interface is a RJ45 interface.

8. A slot antenna structure comprising:

a first slot antenna having a first grounding portion and a first radiating portion with a first slot, said first grounding portion being elongated in a first longitudinal direction of said first slot antenna along which said first slot is substantially aligned, said first radiating portion comprising a first feed point where electrical signals are fed; and

a second slot antenna having a second grounding portion and a second radiating portion with a second slot, said second grounding portion being elongated in a second longitudinal direction of said second slot antenna along which said second slot is substantially aligned, said second radiating portion comprising a second feed point where electrical signals are fed;

wherein,

one end of said first grounding portion of said first slot antenna connects to one end of said second grounding portion of said second slot antenna;

said first longitudinal direction of said first slot antenna and said second longitudinal direction of said second slot antenna are substantially orthogonal seen from a traverse direction of said first slot antenna; and

said slot antenna structure further comprising an open-ended extension grounding portion extending from one end of said second grounding portion.

9. The slot antenna structure according to claim 8, further comprising a first feed wire and a second feed wire coupled to said first feed point of said first slot antenna and said second feed point of said second slot antenna, respectively.

10. The slot antenna structure according to claim 8, wherein said first, second, and open-ended extension grounding portions constitute approximately the letter U seen from a traverse direction of said first slot antenna.

11. An wireless information handling system, comprising:

a slot antenna structure which enables the transmission and reception of wireless signals;

a wireless communication module coupled to said slot antenna structure which encodes and decodes signals that are transmitted and received, respectively, through said slot antenna structure; and

a housing that encloses said slot antenna and said wireless communication module;

wherein said slot antenna structure comprises;

a first slot antenna having a first grounding portion and a first radiating portion with a first slot, said first grounding portion being elongated in a first longitudinal direction of said first slot antenna along which said first slot is substantially aligned, said first radiating portion comprising a first feed point where electrical signals can be fed; and

a second slot antenna having a second grounding portion and a second radiating portion with a second slot, said second grounding portion being elongated in a second longitudinal direction of said second slot antenna along which said second slot is substantially aligned, said second radiating portion comprising a second feed point where electrical signals can be fed;

wherein,

one end of said first grounding portion of said first slot antenna connects to one end of said second grounding portion of said second slot antenna;

said first longitudinal direction of said first slot antenna and said second longitudinal direction of said second slot antenna are substantially orthogonal seen from a traverse direction of said first slot antenna; and

said slot antenna structure further having a third grounding portion extending from one end of said second grounding portion, said first, second, and third grounding portions constituting approximately the letter U.

12. The wireless information handling system according to claim 11, wherein said first, second, and open-ended grounding portions constitute approximately the letter U seen from a traverse direction of said first slot antenna.

13. The wireless information handling system according to claim 11, wherein said slot antenna structure further comprises a fourth extension grounding portion linking said third grounding portion and said first grounding portion, said first, second, third, and fourth extension grounding portions constituting a closed frame.

14. The wireless information handling system according to claim 13, wherein said first, second, third, and fourth extension grounding portions constitute approximately a rectangular frame.

15. The wireless information handling system according to claim 11, wherein said slot antenna structure is disposed along the inner walls of said housing.

16. A wireless information handling system, comprising:

a slot antenna structure which enables the transmission and reception of wireless signals;

a wireless communication module coupled to said slot antenna structure which encodes and decodes signals that are transmitted and received, respectively, through said slot antenna structure; and

a housing that encloses said slot antenna structure and said wireless communication module;

wherein said slot antenna structure comprises;

an elongated conductor strip having a first portion formed with a first slot, a second portion extending from said first portion and formed with a second slot, and a third portion extending from said second portion, said first portion being curved and orthogonal with respect to said second portion, said third portion being curved with respect to said second portion, and said first, second, and third portion being disposed along the inner walls of said housing.

17. The wireless information handling system according to claim 16, wherein said elongated conductor strip further comprises a fourth portion linking said third portion and said first portion so as to constitute a closed frame.