Parallel-feed planar high-frequency antenna

• US 6,741,219 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2002
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Atheros Communications Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shor, Arie
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoang V.
• Application Number:
  US10/140,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20030020665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 343/795, 343/700.MS, 343/820, 343/821, 343/822, 343/850, 343/851, 343/852, 343/853, 343/859, 343/860, 343/864
• US Class Current: 343/795
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/062 using dipole aerials; H01Q21/067, H01Q21/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/28 Conical, cylindrical, cage, strip, gauze, or like elements having an extended radiating surface; Elements comprising two conical surfaces having collinear axes and adjacent apices and fed by two-conductor transmission lines waveguide horns or mouths H01Q13/00; slot antennas H01Q13/00

Abstract

The present invention provides a planar antenna having a scalable multi-dipole structure for receiving, and transmitting high-frequency signals, including a plurality of opposing layers of conducting strips disposed upon either side of an insulating (dielectric) substrate.

Claims

1. An antenna, comprising:

a substrate;

a first feed structure disposed on a first side of the substrate;

a second feed structure disposed on a second side of the substrate; and

a plurality of dipole elements disposed on opposite sides of the substrate;

wherein the dipole elements are each fed in parallel from one of the first and second feed structure.

2. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein the first and second feed structures are not connected to each other.

3. The antenna according to claim 2, further comprising:

a first set of equal length feed lines disposed on the first side of the substrate; and

a second set of equal length feed lines disposed on the second side of the substrate;

wherein;

each feed line of the first set of feed lines is coupled to a feed point of the first feed structure and one of the plurality of dipole elements disposed on the first side of the substrate; and

each feed line of the second set of feed lines is coupled to a feed point of the second feed structure and one of the plurality of dipole elements disposed on the second side of the substrate.

4. The antenna according to claim 3, wherein each dipole element is symmetrically arranged with another dipole element on the same side of the substrate about a centerline axis defined by the first and second feed structures.

5. The antenna according to claim 4, wherein each dipole element is symmetrically arranged with another dipole element on an opposite side of the substrate about an axis between the symmetrically arranged opposite sided dipole elements.

6. The antenna according to claim 5 wherein each pair of symmetrically arranged opposite sided dipole elements comprises a bifurcated dipole fed at a midpoint of the bifurcated dipole by the feed lines.

7. The antenna according to claim 5, wherein each dipole element is symmetrically arranged about a centerline axis between the first and second feed structures with another dipole element on an opposite side of the substrate.

8. The antenna according to claim 3, wherein each dipole element is symmetrically arranged with another dipole element on an opposite side of the substrate.

9. The antenna according to claim 3, wherein:

the feed point of the first feed structure comprises a first horizontal feed bar having a midpoint and two ends, the midpoint of the first horizontal feed bar connected to an end of the first feed structure, and each end of the first horizontal feed bar connected to one of the feed lines disposed on the first side of the substrate; and

the feed point of the second feed structure comprises a second horizontal feed bar having a midpoint and two ends, the midpoint of the second horizontal feed bar connected to an end of the second feed structure, and each end of the second horizontal feed bar connected to one of the feed lines disposed on the second of the substrate.

10. The antenna according to claim 9, wherein each feed bar is attached at an end of the feed structure to which it is connected.

11. The antenna according to claim 10, wherein each feed bar is perpendicular to an axis of the feed structure to which it is connected.

12. The antenna according to claim 3, further comprising a balun attached to the first feed structure.

13. The antenna according to claim 12, wherein said balun comprises at least one tapered section.

14. The antenna according to claim 3, further comprising a set of test points attached to one of the first and second feed structures.

15. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein the dipole elements on a first side of the substrate are fed in parallel from the first feed structure via feed lines emanating from the feed structure in an x-shaped pattern.

16. The antenna according to claim 15, further comprising:

a first feed point connecting the first feed structure and the x-shape patterned feed lines;

wherein an intersection of the x-shape patterned feed lines is offset by a width of the feed point.

17. An antenna, comprising:

a substrate;

a first feed structure disposed on a first side of the substrate;

a second feed structure, independent of the first feed structure, disposed on a second side of the substrate;

a first feed point disposed on the first side of the substrate and coupled to the first feed structure;

a second feed point disposed on the second side of the substrate and coupled to the second feed structure,

a plurality of feed lines, wherein at least one feed line is disposed on a first side of substrate and coupled to the first feed point, and at least one feed line is disposed on a second side of substrate and is coupled to the second feed point; and

a plurality of bifurcated dipoles, wherein a first part of each bifurcated dipole is disposed on the first side of the substrate and coupled to at least one feed line, and a second part of each bifurcated dipole is disposed on the second side of the substrate and coupled to at least one feed line;

wherein each of the bifurcated dipoles is fed in parallel with at least one other of the bifurcated dipoles.

18. A wireless communication device having an antenna for receiving and transmitting high-frequency signals, comprising:

a substrate;

at least two dipoles disposed on opposite sides of the substrate;

wherein;

each dipole is bifurcated between the opposing sides of the substrate;

each dipole is fed in parallel with at least one other dipole;

the dipole coupled to a feed point; and

the feed point coupled to a feed structure.

19. The wireless communication device according to claim 18, further comprising a plurality of dipoles symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the substrate.

20. An antenna, comprising:

a substrate;

a first feed structure disposed on a first side of the substrate;

a second feed structure disposed on a second side of the substrate;

a plurality of dipole elements disposed on opposite sides of the substrate;

a first set of equal length feed lines disposed on the first side of the substrate; and

a second set of equal length feed lines disposed on the second side of the substrate;

a balun attached to the first feed structure; and

a set of test points attached to one of the first and second feed structures;

wherein;

the plurality of dipole elements are fed in parallel from one of the first and second feed structures;

the first and second feed structures are not connected to each other;

each feed line of the first set of feed lines is coupled to a feed point of the first feed structure and one of the plurality of dipole elements disposed on the first side of the substrate;

each feed line of the second set of feed lines is coupled to a feed point of the second feed structure and one of the plurality of dipole elements disposed on the second side of the substrate;

each dipole element is symmetrically arranged with another dipole element on the same side of the substrate about a centerline axis defined by the first and second feed structures;

each dipole element is symmetrically arranged with another dipole element on an opposite side of the substrate about an axis between the symmetrically arranged opposite sided dipole elements;

each pair of symmetrically arranged opposite sided dipole elements comprise a bifurcated diole fed at a midooint of the bifurcated dipole by the feed lines;

the feed point of the first feed structure comprises a first horizonal feed bar having a midpoint and two ends, the midpoint of the first horizontal feed bar connected to an end of the first feed structure, and each end of the first horizontal feed bar connected to one of the feed lines disposed on the first side of the substrate; and

the feed point of the second feed structure comprises a second horizontal feed bar having a midpoint and two ends, the midpoint of the second horizontal feed bar connected to an end of the second feed structure, and each end of the second horizontal feed bar connected to one of the feed lines disposed on the second side of the substrate; and

the feed point of the secons feed structure comprises a second horizontal feed bar having a midpoint and two ends, the midpoint of the second horiaontal feed bar connected to an end of the second feed structure, and each end of the second horizontal feed bar connected to one of the feed lines disposed on the second side of the substrate; and

said balun comprise at least one tapered section.

21. An antenna, comprising:

a substrate;

a first feed structure disposed on a first side of the substrate;

a second feed structure, independent of the first feed structure, disposed on a second side of the substrate;

a first feed point disposed on the first side of the substrate and coupled to the first feed structure;

a second feed point disposed on the second side of the substrate and coupled to the second feed structure,

a plurality of feed lines, wherein at least one feed line is disposed on a first side of substrate and coupled to the first feed point, and at least one feed line is disposed on a second side of substrate and is coupled to the second feed point; and

a plurality of bifurcated dipoles, wherein a first part of each bifurcated dipole is disposed on the first side of the substrate and coupled to at least one the feed line, and a second part of each bifurcated dipole is disposed on the second side of the substrate and coupled to at least one the feed line;

wherein;

the first and second feed points are symmetrically aligned on opposite sides of the substrate;

and the bifurcated dipoles are disposed symmetrically about a first line of symmetry oriented along a vertical centerline of the first and second feed structures.

22. The antenna according to claim 21, wherein each dipole is bifurcated along a horizontal axis that intersects a midpoint of each dipole.

23. The antenna according to claim 21, wherein each feed line is of equal length.

24. The antenna according to claim 21, wherein the bifurcated dipoles are coupled in series along the first and second feed structures.

25. An antenna according to claim 24, wherein the bifurcated dipoles are disposed at equidistant locations along the first and second feed structures.

26. The antenna according to claim 21, wherein:

the substrate has a thickness between approximately 100 and 700 micrometers;

the first and second feed structures are 1 millimeter wide;

each feed line is approximately 0.8 millimeters wide and approximately 20.65 millimeters long;

each dipole part is approximately 1.8 millimeters wide and approximately 13.8 millimeters long;

the feed points are approximately 0.7 millimeters wide;

the dipoles are horizontally separated by a distance of approximately 8.4 millimeters;

and the dipoles are vertically separated by a distance of approximately 42.7 millimeters.

27. The antenna of claim 26, wherein the antenna operates in frequency range between 5.15 and 5.35 GHz.

28. The antenna according claim 21, wherein the antenna provides a substantially omni-directional gain pattern.

29. The antenna according claim 21, wherein the first and second feed structures are balanced.

30. The antenna according to claim 21, wherein the substrate is a substantially planar dielectric.

31. The antenna according to claim 21, wherein the substrate does not contain vias.

32. The antenna according to claim 21, further comprising a balun coupled to one of the feed structures.

33. The antenna according to claim 32, wherein the balun comprises a lower portion and a tapered portion.

34. The antenna according to claim 32, further comprising a output connector coupled to the balun.

35. The antenna according to claim 34, wherein the output connector is a coaxial cable.

36. The antenna according to claim 34, wherein:

the output connector is a grounded conductor connected to the balun;

and the output connector further comprising a second conductor connected to one of the feed structures.

37. The antenna according to claim 34, wherein the output connector is connected to an output device.

38. The antenna according to claim 37, wherein the output device is a RF device.

39. The antenna according to claim 21, wherein at least one testing strip is connected to one of the feed structures.

40. The antenna according to claim 39, wherein the testing strip is metallic.

41. The antenna according to claim 39, further comprising contact points connected to at least one testing strip.