Antenna and apparatus provided with the antenna
First Claim
1. Antenna comprising:
- an array of a plurality of conductor elements which are mutually separated, and each of which does not independently function as an antenna;
coupling means for electro-magnetically coupling at least two conductor elements selected from the plurality of conductor elements, thereby causing the plurality of coupled conductor elements to function as one antenna element; and
a dielectric layer for supporting the plurality of conductor elements, whereinthe coupling means includes conducting means for electrically connecting the plurality of selected conductor elements, the conducting means includes a group of conductor pieces overlapping at least two adjacent conductor elements, the conductor piece is disposed so as to electrically connect the selected conductor elements, andthe antenna further comprises a dielectric film interposed between the respective conductor elements and the respective conductor pieces.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an antenna in which, on a dielectric substrate 1 having a back face on which a grounding conductor plate 14 is disposed, a plurality of conductor elements 12 are arranged in a matrix of rows and columns. Each of the dielectric elements 12 has a size which cannot function as an antenna. Above the conductor elements 12, a connecting element 13 overlapping two adjacent conductor elements 12 is disposed. Among the connecting elements 13, some cause the conductor elements 12 on both sides to be in a conductive condition, and others cause the conductor elements 12 on both sides to be in a non-conductive condition. The switching between the conductive and non-conductive conditions between the conductor elements 12 can be dynamically performed by a switching element.
24 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. Antenna comprising:
-
an array of a plurality of conductor elements which are mutually separated, and each of which does not independently function as an antenna; coupling means for electro-magnetically coupling at least two conductor elements selected from the plurality of conductor elements, thereby causing the plurality of coupled conductor elements to function as one antenna element; and a dielectric layer for supporting the plurality of conductor elements, wherein the coupling means includes conducting means for electrically connecting the plurality of selected conductor elements, the conducting means includes a group of conductor pieces overlapping at least two adjacent conductor elements, the conductor piece is disposed so as to electrically connect the selected conductor elements, and the antenna further comprises a dielectric film interposed between the respective conductor elements and the respective conductor pieces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. Antenna comprising:
-
an array of a plurality of conductor elements which are mutually separated, and each of which does not independently function as an antenna; coupling means for electro-magnetically coupling at least two conductor elements selected from the plurality of conductor elements, thereby causing the plurality of coupled conductor elements to function as one antenna element; and a dielectric layer for supporting the plurality of conductor elements, wherein the coupling means includes conducting means for electrically connecting the plurality of selected conductor elements, wherein part of a plurality of conductor elements selected from the plurality of conductor elements function as a grounding conductor.
-
-
17. Antenna comprising:
-
an array of a plurality of conductor elements which are mutually separated, and each of which does not independently function as an antenna; and coupling means for electro-magnetically coupling at least two conductor elements selected from the plurality of conductor elements, thereby causing the plurality of coupled conductor elements to function as one antenna element, wherein the coupling means includes a conductor layer, and a plurality of dielectric elements disposed between the conductor layer and each of the conductor elements, and the selected conductor elements are more strongly capacitive-coupled to the conductor layer than the conductor elements which are not selected. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. An apparatus comprising:
-
an antenna including; an array of a plurality of conductor elements which are mutually separated, and each of which does not independently function as an antenna;
coupling means for electro-magnetically coupling at least two conductor elements selected from the plurality of conductor elements, thereby causing the plurality of coupled conductor elements to function as one antenna element; anda dielectric layer for supporting the plurality of conductor elements, the coupling means including conducting means for electrically connecting the plurality of selected conductor elements, the conducting means including a plurality of switching elements for switching electrically conducting/non-conducting conditions between two conductor elements; a driving circuit for generating a signal for driving the plurality of switching elements; control means for controlling the operation of the driving circuit, based on a signal received and/or transmitted by the antenna; and evaluating means for evaluating directivity, gain, and/or impedance of the antenna, based on the signal, wherein conductor elements to be electrically connected are dynamically selected from the plurality of conductor elements, based on the evaluated result. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
-
Specification