Ultra-broadband antenna incorporated into a garment

• US 6,972,725 B1
• Filed: 10/02/2003
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Government Of The United States As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Adams, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOANGANH T
• Application Number:
  US10/677,189
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: H01/Q00.1/12, 343/718, 343/897, 343/783, 343/700.MS, 01/Q
• US Class Current: 343/718
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system

Abstract

A multi-antenna garment comprising a first and second antenna incorporated into an electrically nonconductive garment, with tubular composites to improve gain and mitigate radiation hazard. The first antenna includes first and second RF elements attached to a first garment so that a gap exists between them, where the RF elements each form a band when the garment is worn by a wearer. The second antenna includes third, fourth, fifth, and sixth RF elements attached to a second garment worn over the first garment. RF feeds are electrically connected to the first, third, and fifth RF elements. Ground feeds are electrically connected to the second, fourth, and sixth RF elements. Insulating material disposed over gaps between the first and second, the third and fourth, and the fifth and sixth RF elements and in pockets in the regions of the RF feeds limits the wearer'"'"'s exposure to electromagnetic field to acceptable levels.

Claims

1. An antenna garment to be worn by a wearer, comprising:

an electrically nonconductive garment having anterior and dorsal regions, and first and second shoulder regions;

an antenna that includes;

a first RF element attached to said garment;

a second RF element attached to said garment so that a gap exists between said first and second RF elements;

an RF feed electrically connected to said first RF element on said dorsal region of said garment for providing RF energy to said first RF element;

a ground feed electrically connected to said second RF element;

a first shorting strap that electrically connects said first and second RF elements on said anterior side of said garment;

a first strap electrically connected between said anterior and dorsal regions of said first RF element and which extends over a first shoulder region of said garment;

a second strap electrically connected between said anterior and dorsal regions of said first RF element and which extends over a second shoulder region of said garment;

a matching circuit electrically connected between said first RF element and said RF feed; and

insulating material disposed within said antenna.

2. An antenna garment to be worn by a wearer, comprising:

an electrically nonconductive garment having anterior and second dorsal regions, first and second shoulder regions, and first and second side regions;

an antenna that includes;

a first RF element attached to said anterior region of said garment;

a second RF element attached to said anterior region of said garment so that a gap exists between said first and second RF elements;

a third RF element attached to said dorsal region of said garment;

a fourth RF element attached to said dorsal region of said garment so that a gap exists between said third and fourth RF elements;

a first RF feed electrically connected to said first RF element for providing RF energy to said first RF element;

a first ground feed electrically connected to said second RF element;

a second RF feed electrically connected to said third RF element for providing RF energy to said third RF element;

a second ground feed electrically connected to said fourth RF element;

a first connecting wire electrically connected between said first and third RF elements and which extends over a first shoulder region of said garment;

a second connecting wire electrically connected between said first and third RF elements and which extends over a second shoulder region of said garment;

a third connecting wire electrically connected between said second and fourth RF elements and which extends around a first side region of said garment; and

a fourth connecting wire electrically connected between said second and fourth RF elements and which extends around a second side region of said garment; and

insulating material disposed within said antenna.

3. Multi-antenna garments to be worn by a wearer, comprising:

a first electrically nonconductive garment having first outer and first inner layers, first anterior and first dorsal regions, and left and right shoulder regions;

a first antenna that includes;

a first RF element attached to said first garment;

a second RF element attached to said first garment so that a gap exists between said first and second RF elements;

a first RF feed electrically connected to said first RF element on said dorsal region of said first garment for providing RF energy to said first RF element;

a first ground feed electrically connected to said second RF element;

a first shorting strap that electrically connects said first and second RF elements on said first anterior side of said first garment;

a first strap electrically connected between said first anterior and first dorsal regions of said first RF element and which extends over a first shoulder region of said first garment;

a second strap electrically connected between said first anterior and first dorsal regions of said first RF element and which extends over a second shoulder region of said first garment; and

a matching circuit electrically connected between said first RF element and said first RF feed;

a second electrically nonconductive garment attached to said first electrically nonconductive garment having second outer and second inner layers, second anterior and second dorsal regions, third and fourth shoulder regions, and first and second side regions;

a second antenna that includes;

a third RF element attached to said second anterior region of said second garment;

a fourth RF element attached to said second anterior region of said second garment so that a gap exists between said third and fourth RF elements;

a fifth RF element attached to said second dorsal region of said second garment;

a sixth RF element attached to said second dorsal region of said second garment so that a gap exists between said fifth and sixth RF elements;

a second RF feed electrically connected to said third RF element for providing RF energy to said third RF element;

a second ground feed electrically connected to said fourth RF element;

a third RF feed electrically connected to said fifth RF element for providing RF energy to said fifth RF element;

a third ground feed electrically connected to said sixth RF element;

a first connecting wire electrically connected between said third and fifth RF elements and which extends over a third shoulder region of said second garment;

a second connecting wire electrically connected between said third and fifth RF elements and which extends over a fourth shoulder region of said second garment;

a third connecting wire electrically connected between said fourth and sixth RF elements and which extends around a first side region of said second garment; and

a fourth connecting wire electrically connected between said fourth and sixth RF elements and which extends around a second side region of said second garment; and

insulating material disposed within said first and second antennas.

4. Multi-antenna garments of claim 3 wherein said first antenna operates with a voltage standing wave ration of less than 3:

1 over a frequency range of 30 through 90 MHz.

5. Multi-antenna garments of claim 3 wherein said second antenna operates with a voltage standing wave ration of less than 3:

1 over a frequency range of 150 through 500 MHz.

6. Multi-antenna garments of claim 3 wherein said insulating material is disposed over said gap between first and second RF elements of said first antenna.

7. Multi-antenna garments of claim 3 wherein said insulating material is disposed on the inside layer of said first electrically nonconductive garment opposed to region of said first RF feed of said first antenna.

8. Multi-antenna garments of claim 3 wherein said insulating material is disposed over said gap between third and fourth RF elements of said second antenna.

9. Multi-antenna garments of claim 3 wherein said insulating material is disposed over said gap between fifth and sixth RF elements of said second antenna.

10. Multi-antenna garments of claim 3 wherein said insulating material is disposed on the inside layer of said second electrically nonconductive garment opposed to region of said second RF feed of said second antenna.

11. Multi-antenna garments of claim 3 wherein said insulating material is disposed on the inside layer of said second electrically nonconductive garment opposed to region of said third RF feed of said second antenna.

12. Multi-antenna garments of claim 3 wherein said first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth RF elements are made of a flexible, electrically conductive material.

13. Multi-antenna garments of claim 12 wherein said flexible, electrically conductive material is a woven mesh structure.

14. A multi-antenna garment to be worn by a wearer, comprising:

an electrically nonconductive garment having outer and inner layers, anterior and dorsal regions, first and second shoulder regions, and first and second side regions;

a first antenna that includes;

a first RF element attached to said garment;

a second RF element attached to said garment so that a gap exists between said first and second RF elements;

a first RF feed electrically connected to said first RF element on said dorsal region of said garment for providing RF energy to said first RF element;

a first ground feed electrically connected to said second RF element;

a first shorting strap that electrically connects said first and second RF elements on said anterior side of said garment;

a first strap electrically connected between said anterior and dorsal regions of said first RF element and which extends over a first shoulder region of said garment;

a second strap electrically connected between said anterior and dorsal regions of said first RF element and which extends over a second shoulder region of said garment; and

a matching circuit electrically connected between said first RF element and said RF feed;

a second antenna that includes;

a third RF element attached to said anterior region of said garment;

a fourth RF element attached to said anterior region of said garment so that a gap exists between said third and fourth RF elements;

a fifth RF element attached to said dorsal region of said garment;

a sixth RF element attached to said dorsal region of said garment so that a gap exists between said fifth and sixth RF elements;

a second RF feed electrically connected to said third RF element for providing RF energy to said third RF element;

a second ground feed electrically connected to said fourth RF element;

a first connecting wire electrically connected between said third and fifth RF elements and which extends over a first shoulder region of said garment;

a second connecting wire electrically connected between said third and fifth RF elements and which extends over a second shoulder region of said garment;

a third RF feed electrically connected to said fifth RF element for providing RF energy to said fifth RF element;

a third ground feed electrically connected to said sixth RF element;

a third connecting wire electrically connected between said fourth and sixth RF elements and which extends around a first side region of said garment; and

a fourth connecting wire electrically connected between said fourth and sixth RF elements and which extends around a second side region of said garment; and

insulating material disposed within said first and second antennas.