Antenna adapted to operate in a plurality of frequency bands

• US 6,611,691 B1
• Filed: 12/24/1998
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhou, Guangping, Kuksuk, Michael J., Kenoun, Robert, Azam, Zafarul
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Application Number:
  US09/219,561
• Time in Patent Office: 1,706 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550, 455/73, 455/83, 455/552, 455/553, 455/82, 343/702, 343/895, 343/901, 343/900
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/244 extendable from a housing along a given path
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/362 for broadside radiating helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/08 Helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/40 Imbricated or interleaved structures; Combined or electromagnetically coupled arrangements, e.g. comprising two or more non-connected fed radiating elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/36 with top loading

Abstract

A novel retractable antenna which enables dual-band operation in two different positions of the antenna is described. Further, the novel retractable antennas are couple to a variety matching circuit arrangements according to various embodiments of the present disclosure to eliminates the use of electrical or mechanical switching of two different matching circuits.

Claims

1. A retractable antenna coupled to a transceiver by a single feed point, adapted to operate in at least two bands, said retractable antenna comprising:

a whip portion;

a first contact coupled to said whip portion;

a first matching circuit coupled to said first contact for matching the impedance of said whip portion to the transceiver when said whip portion is in an extended position and when said whip portion is in a retracted position;

a second contact coupled to said whip portion when said antenna is in said retracted position forming a retracted portion of the whip portion extending along said whip portion between the first and second contact; and

a second matching circuit coupled to said second contact, said second matching circuit giving said retracted portion of said whip portion a high impedance at a first frequency band and a low impedance at a second frequency band such that radio frequency (RP) energy is not directed to said retracted portion of said whip portion.

2. The retractable antenna of claim 1, wherein said first contact is a first feed point for transferring RF energy between said retractable antenna and said first matching circuit.

3. The retractable antenna of claim 1, wherein a third contact is coupled to said retractable antenna between said first contact and said second contact.

4. The retractable antenna of claim 3, wherein said third contact is further coupled to ground.

5. The retractable antenna of claim 2, further comprising a helical coil surrounding said whip portion.

6. The retractable antenna of claim 5, wherein said helical coil is electrically coupled to said whip portion.

7. A retractable antenna coupled to a transceiver by a single feed point adapted to operate in at least two bands, said retractable antenna comprising:

a whip portion;

a first contact coupled to said whip portion wherein said first contact is a feed point for transferring radio frequency (RF) energy between said first contact and said whip portion;

a first matching circuit coupled to said first contact for matching the impedance of said whip portion to the transceiver;

a second contact selectively coupled to said whip portion in response to a relative position of said retractable antenna to said second contact; and

a second matching circuit coupled to said second contact, said second matching circuit giving a selected portion of said whip portion a high impedance at a first frequency band and a low impedance at a second frequency when said whip portion is selectively coupled to said second contact.

8. The retractable antenna of claim 7, wherein the selected portion extends along said whip portion between said first contact and said second contact.

9. The retractable antenna of claim 7, wherein a third contact is coupled to said retractable antenna between said first contact and said second contact.

10. The retractable antenna of claim 9, wherein said third contact is further coupled to ground.

11. The retractable antenna of claim 7, further comprising a helical coil surrounding said whip portion.

12. The retractable antenna of claim 11, wherein said helical coil is coupled to said whip portion.

13. A retractable antenna in a multi-band receive, comprising:

a whip portion movable between extended and retracted positions;

a contact coupled to the whip portion in the retracted position; and

an impedance matching circuit coupled to the whip portion by said contact when the whip portion is retracted, said impedance matching circuit providing said whip portion with a high impedance at a first frequency band and a low impedance at a second frequency band.

14. The retractable antenna of claim 13, a helical coil coupled to the whip portion.