Planar loop antenna

• US 6,593,886 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2001
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Schantz, Hans Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US09/753,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20020126058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/702, 343/741, 343/742, 343/795, 343/866, 343/867, 343/821, 455/89, 455/90
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• 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 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/6908 using time hopping

Abstract

An apparatus for conveying electromagnetic energy intermediate a host device and a medium substantially adjacent to the apparatus includes: (a) a transceiver for transmitting the energy to and receiving the energy from the medium; (b) a transmission structure for conveying signals to or from the host device; and (c) a feed structure coupling the transceiver with the transmission structure. The transceiver includes a planar metal layer arrayed upon a dielectric substrate. The metal layer is bounded by a first edge and a second edge. The first and second edges cooperate to form a bight having a first and a second arm establishing a metal-free area intermediate the first and second arms. The first arm presents a first terminal locus and the second arm presents a second terminal locus. The feed structure is coupled with the first and second terminal loci to effect the coupling.

Claims

1. An apparatus for conveying electromagnetic energy intermediate a host device and a medium substantially adjacent to the apparatus;

the apparatus comprising;

(a) a transceiving structure for transmitting said energy to said medium and receiving said energy from said medium;

(b) a transmission structure for conveying signals representing said energy to said host device or from said host device; and

(c) a feed structure coupling said transceiving structure with said transmission structure;

said transceiving structure including a substantially planar metal layer arrayed upon a dielectric substrate;

said metal layer being bounded by a first edge and a second edge;

said first edge and said second edge cooperating to form a bight having a first arm and a second arm establishing a metal-free area intermediate said first arm and said second arm;

said first arm presenting a first terminal locus and said second arm presenting a second terminal locus;

said feed structure being coupled with said first and second terminal loci to effect said coupling;

the apparatus effecting said transfer of electromagnetic energy in signals having a range of frequencies intermediate a high-limit frequency and a low-limit frequency;

said first edge extending a first path length intermediate said first terminal locus and said second terminal locus;

said second edge extending a second path length intermediate said first terminal locus and said second terminal locus;

said first path length being related to a first wavelength of one frequency of said high-limit frequency and said low-limit frequency;

said second path length being related to a second wavelength of the other frequency of said high-limit frequency and said low-limit frequency than said one frequency.

2. The apparatus for conveying electromagnetic energy intermediate a host device and a medium substantially adjacent to the apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second terminal loci are separated by a first distance on a first separation line;

and wherein said metal-free area extends a second distance greater than said first distance at a widest dimension on a second separation line;

said first separation line and said second separation line being generally parallel.

3. The apparatus for conveying electromagnetic energy intermediate a host device and a medium substantially adjacent to the apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said first distance and said second distance are generally symmetrically arranged about a substantially perpendicular bisector common to said first separation line and said second separation line.

4. An antenna for effecting transfer of electromagnetic signals intermediate a host device and a medium substantially adjacent to the antenna;

said electromagnetic signals having a range of frequencies intermediate a high-limit frequency and a low-limit frequency;

the antenna comprising;

(a) a transceiving structure for transmitting said signals to said medium and receiving said signals from said medium; and

(b) a feed structure coupled with said transceiving structure for transferring said signals intermediate said transceiving structure and said host device;

said transceiving structure including a substantially planar metal layer affixed to a dielectric substrate;

said metal layer being bounded by a first edge and a second edge;

said first edge and said second edge cooperating to form a bight having a first arm and a second arm establishing a metal-free area intermediate said first arm and said second arm;

said first arm presenting a first terminal locus and said second arm presenting a second terminal locus;

said first edge extending a first path length intermediate said first terminal locus and said second terminal locus;

said second edge extending a second path length intermediate said first terminal locus and said second terminal locus;

said first path length being related to a first wavelength of one frequency of said high-limit frequency and said low-limit frequency;

said second path length being related to a second wavelength of the other frequency of said high-limit frequency and said low-limit frequency than said one frequency;

said feed structure being coupled with said first and second terminal loci to effect said coupling.

5. The antenna for effecting transfer of electromagnetic energy intermediate a host device and a medium substantially adjacent to the antenna as recited in claim 4 wherein said first and second terminal loci are separated by a first distance on a first separation line;

and wherein said metal-free area extends a second distance greater than said first distance at a widest dimension on a second separation line;

said first separation line and said second separation line being generally parallel.

6. The antenna for effecting transfer of electromagnetic energy intermediate a host device and a medium substantially adjacent to the antenna as recited in claim 5 wherein said first distance and said second distance are generally symmetrically arranged about a substantially perpendicular bisector common to said first separation line and said second separation line.

7. An antenna for effecting transfer of electromagnetic signals intermediate a host impulse radio device and a medium substantially adjacent to the antenna;

said electromagnetic signals having a range of frequencies intermediate a high-limit frequency and a low-limit frequency;

the antenna comprising;

(a) a transceiving structure for transmitting said signals to said medium and receiving said signals from said medium; and

(b) a feed structure coupled with said transceiving structure for transferring saids signals intermediate said transceiving structure and said host device;

said transceiving structure including a substantially planar metal layer affixed to a dielectric substrate;

said metal layer being bounded by a first edge and a second edge;

said first edge and said second edge cooperating to form a bight having a first arm and a second arm establishing a metal-free area intermediate said first arm and said second arm;

said first arm presenting a first terminal locus and said second arm presenting a second terminal locus;

said first edge extending a first path length intermediate said first terminal locus and said second terminal locus;

said second edge extending a second path length intermediate said first terminal locus and said second terminal locus;

said first path length being related to a first wavelength of one frequency of said high-limit frequency and said low-limit frequency;

said second path length being related to a second wavelength of the other frequency of said high-limit frequency and said low-limit frequency than said one frequency;

said feed structure being coupled with said first and second terminal loci to effect said coupling.

8. The antenna for effecting transfer of electromagnetic energy intermediate a host device and a medium substantially adjacent to the antenna as recited in claim 7 wherein said first and second terminal loci are separated by a first distance on a first separation line;

and wherein said metal-free area extends a second distance greater than said first distance at a widest dimension on a second separation line;

said first separation line and said second separation line being generally parallel.

9. The antenna for effecting transfer of electromagnetic energy intermediate a host device and a medium substantially adjacent to the antenna as recited in claim 8 wherein said first distance and said second distance are generally symmetrically arranged about a substantially perpendicular bisector common to said first separation line and said second separation line.