Antenna design utilizing a cavity architecture for global positioning system (GPS) applications

• US 6,720,923 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2001
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stata Labs LLC
• Original Assignee: Stata Labs LLC
• Inventors: Glissman, John, Fuller, Richard, Marshall, Noel, Hayward, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US09/953,455
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/718, 343/780, 343/720, 343/846, 343/848
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0485 Dielectric resonator antennas

Abstract

An antenna arrangement for a GPS signal processing device having a circuit board is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the arrangement comprises an antenna member mounted to the circuit board. The antenna member includes a first surface, second surface and a third surface. The third surface adjoins the first and second surfaces. The first, second and third surfaces define a cavity within which is disposed dielectric material. At least one conductive connector comprising first and second ends is in communication with the antenna member first surface. An amplifier is in communication with each conductive connector second end.

Claims

1. An antenna arrangement for a GPS signal processing device having a circuit board, the arrangement comprising:

an antenna member mounted to the board, said member comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface adjoining said first and second surfaces, said first, second and third surfaces defining a cavity, said member further comprising dielectric material disposed within said cavity, said member having said dielectric material exposed on three sides and contained on three sides;

at least one conductive connector comprising first and second ends, each first end thereof in communication with said first surface; and

an amplifier in communication with each second end of said at least one conductive connector.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said first surface is semi-circular in configuration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said second surface is semi-circular in configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said first surface is conductive.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said second surface is conductive.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said third surface is conductive.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said first surface is spaced apart from said second surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said connector passes through said cavity, said second surface and the board.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said amplifier is a low-noise amplifier.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a filter in communication with said amplifier, each second end of said at least one conductive connector in communication with said filter.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said antenna member has a semi-oval profile.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said antenna member has a square profile.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said antenna member forms a taco shell structure.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said antenna member receives GPS signals regardless of orientation.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said antenna member is omni-directional.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said dielectric material has a dielectric constant of at least 3.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said antenna member has a narrow bandwidth around a GPS L1 carrier frequency.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said narrow bandwidth is approximately 2 MHz.

19. An antenna arrangement for a GPS signal processing device having a circuit board, the arrangement comprising:

an antenna member mounted to the board, said member comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface adjoining said first and second surfaces, said first, second and third surfaces defining a cavity, said member further comprising dielectric material disposed within said cavity;

at least one conductive connector comprising first and second ends, each first end thereof in communication with said first surface; and

an amplifier in communication with each second end of said at least one conductive connector,

wherein said member further comprises at least one wall disposed between said first and second surfaces, said at least one wall separating a plurality of chambers within said cavity.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein:

said at least one wall is conductive.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein:

a first one of said at least one connector first ends is disposed within a corresponding one of said plurality of chambers; and

at least one additional one of said connector first ends is disposed within a corresponding additional one of said chambers.

22. An antenna arrangement for a GPS signal processing device having a circuit board, at least one conductive connector and an amplifier, the arrangement comprising:

an antenna member mounted to the board, said member comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface adjoining said first and second surfaces, said first, second and third surfaces defining a cavity, said member further comprising dielectric material disposed within said cavity, said member having said dielectric material exposed on three sides and contained on three sides.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

said first surface is semi-circular in configuration.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

said second surface is semi-circular in configuration.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

said first surface is conductive.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

said second surface is conductive.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

said third surface is conductive.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

said first surface is spaced apart from said second surface.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

the at least one connector is in communication with said first surface.

30. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

the connector passes through said cavity, said second surface and the board.

31. An antenna arrangement for a GPS signal processing device having a circuit board and to be disposed in close proximity to the body of a user, the arrangement comprising:

an antenna member mounted to the board, said member comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface adjoining said first and second surfaces, said first, second and third surfaces defining a cavity, said member further comprising dielectric material disposed within said cavity, said member having said dielectric material exposed on three sides and contained on three sides;

at least one conductive connector comprising first and second ends, each first end thereof in communication with said first surface; and

an amplifier in communication with each second end of said at least one conductive connector.