Allround aerial arrangement for receiving terrestrial and satellite signals

• US 6,909,400 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2003
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kathrein Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Kathrein-Werke KG. (Kathrein SE)
• Inventors: Vothknecht, Marco, Prassmayer, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US10/476,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20040140940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 343/767, 343/769, 343/700.MS, 343/702, 343/725, 343/715
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• 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: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0428 radiating a circular polarised wave
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/32 Vertical arrangement of element H01Q9/40 takes precedence

Abstract

An improved combination antenna for receiving terrestrial, in particular vertically polarized signals, and for receiving in particular circular polarized satellite signals in accordance with the SDARS services, preferably in a 2.3 GHz band, having the following features:

• • a monopole arrangement (7) is provided for receiving terrestrial signals,
  • a satellite receiving antenna is provided for receiving circular polarized satellite signals,
  • only a single monopole (7) is provided, and
  • the satellite receiving antenna is in the form of a patch antenna (9).

Claims

1. A combination antenna for receiving terrestrial, vertically polarized, signals and for receiving circularly polarized satellite signals in accordance with the SDARS services, comprising:

a single monopole arrangement that receives terrestrial signals,

a satellite receiving antenna that receives circularly polarized satellite signals,

the satellite receiving antenna comprising a patch antenna receiving SDARS services signals which are transmitted to a low elevation angle of 25°

.

2. The combination antenna as claimed in claim 1, further including a printed circuit board substrate, wherein both the monopole arrangement and the patch antenna are formed and connected on the printed circuit board substrate.

3. The combination antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monopole arrangement comprises a rod monopole.

4. The combination antenna as claimed in claim 3 further including a substrate, and wherein the rod monopole has first and second opposite ends, said first end being disposed on said substrate, said rod monopole further comprising a coil former at the second end thereof opposite the substrate.

5. The combination antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monopole arrangement comprises an inverted F antenna.

6. The combination antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monopole arrangement comprises a stripline conductor.

7. The combination antenna as claimed in claim 6, further including a substrate, and wherein the stripline conductor runs in a meandering shape on the substrate.

8. The combination antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monopole arrangement is arranged on a vertical central longitudinal plane which passes through the patch antenna, with the vertical central longitudinal plane being aligned at right angles or parallel to the side boundary edges of the patch antenna.

9. The combination antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monopole arrangement is arranged on a vertical central longitudinal plane which passes through the diagonal of the patch antenna.

10. The combination antenna as claimed in claim 1 wherein the antenna, in use, receives SDARS services and/or receives signals transmitted by satellites, which are still receivable at an elevation angle of about 25°

.

11. The combination antenna as in claim 1 further including a printed circuit board, and wherein said monopole arrangement comprises a printed structure formed on said printed circuit board.

12. The combination antenna of claim 1 wherein said patch antenna receives said SDARS services signals transmitted in a 2.3 GHz band.

13. A combination antenna for receiving terrestrial vertically polarized signals and for receiving circular polarized satellite signals in accordance with the SDARS services in a 2.3 GHz band, comprising:

a monopole for receiving terrestrial signals,

a satellite receiving antenna for receiving circular polarized satellite signals,

wherein only a single monopole is provided, and

wherein the satellite receiving antenna is in the form of a patch antenna, wherein an annular slot is formed in one housing wall of a housing which surrounds a cavity.

14. The combination antenna as claimed in claim 13, wherein the patch antenna is arranged within the annular slot.

15. The combination antenna as claimed in claim 13, wherein the cavity is filled with a dielectric.

16. The combination antenna as claimed in claim 15, wherein the dielectric is glass or ceramic.

17. A combination antenna comprising:

a housing defining a cavity therein, said housing comprising a wall defining an annular slot therein;

a patch antenna arranged within the annular slot, the patch antenna receiving circularly polarized SDARS satellite signals; and

a monopole antenna element provided within or on said housing, said monopole antenna element receiving terrestrial vertically polarized signals.

18. A combination antenna comprising:

a substrate;

a monopole mounted to said substrate, said monopole receiving vertically polarized terrestrial signals; and

a patch antenna mounted to said substrate, said patch antenna receiving, with gain, circularly polarized 2.3 GHz band satellite digital audio radio services (SDARS) signals transmitted at a low angle above the horizon of 25 degrees.