Multilevel antennae

• US 7,123,208 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fractus SA
• Original Assignee: Fractus SA
• Inventors: Soler Castany, Jordi, Puente Baliarda, Carles, Borja Borau, Carmen, Anguera Pros, Jaume
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US11/102,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20050259009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/702, 343/741, 343/786, 343/798, 343/800
• US Class Current: 343/800
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/241 used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM H01Q1/247, H01Q1/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/10 Resonant antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/20 characterised by the operating wavebands
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/307 Individual or coupled radiating elements, each element being fed in an unspecified way
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/357 using a single feed point
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/40 Imbricated or interleaved structures; Combined or electromagnetically coupled arrangements, e.g. comprising two or more non-connected fed radiating elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/50 Feeding or matching arrangements for broad-band or multi-band operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/04 Resonant antennas
• 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 9/065 Microstrip dipole antennas patch antenna H01Q9/0407
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/40 Element having extended radiating surface

Abstract

Antennae in which the corresponding radiative element contains at least one multilevel structure formed by a set of similar geometric elements (polygons or polyhedrons) electromagnetically coupled and grouped such that in the structure of the antenna can be identified each of the basic component elements. The design is such that it provides two important advantages: the antenna may operate simultaneously in several frequencies, and/or its size can be substantially reduced. Thus, a multiband radioelectric behaviour is achieved, that is, a similar behavior for different frequency bands.

Claims

1. A multi-band antenna including at least one multilevel structure wherein the multilevel structure includes at least one antenna region comprising a set of polygonal or polyhedral elements having the same number of sides or faces, wherein each of said elements in said antenna region is electromagnetically coupled to at least one other of said elements in said region either directly through at least one point of contact or through a small separation providing said coupling, wherein for at least 75% of said polygonal or polyhedral elements, the region or area of contact between said polygonal or polyhedral elements is less than 50% of the perimeter or area of said elements, wherein not all of the polygonal or polyhedral elements have the same size, and wherein the perimeter of the multilevel structure has a different number of sides than the polygons that compose said antenna region, and further wherein a plurality of polygons of said antenna region are generally identifiable as a geometrical element defined by the free perimeter thereof and the projection of ones of the longest exposed perimeters thereof to define the least number of polygons within said region necessary to form said generally distinguishable elements where said polygon perimeters are interconnected.

2. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least some polygons overlap in the area in which said polygon perimeters are interconnected.

3. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least some polygons have linear perimeter portions.

4. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least some polygons have perimeter regions comprising portions of circles or ellipses.

5. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least some polygons have both linear and non-linear perimeter portions.

6. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein more than two polygons comprise said at least one antenna region.

7. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 1, wherein the level of impedance and radiation pattern of said antenna are similar in several frequency bands so that the antenna maintains basically the same radio-electric characteristics and functionality in said bands to allow it to operate simultaneously in several frequencies and thereby be able to be shared by several communication services.

8. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 1, wherein the antenna has a small size compared to a circular, square or triangular antenna whose perimeter can be circumscribed in the multilevel structure and which operates at the same frequency of resonance.

9. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said at least one multilevel structure comprises a printed copper sheet on a printed circuit board.

10. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 1, wherein said antenna is included in a portable communications device.

11. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 10, wherein said portable communication device is a handset.

12. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 11, wherein said antenna operates at multiple frequency bands, and where in at least one of said frequency bands is operating within the 800 MHz–

3600 MHz frequency range.

13. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 11, wherein the number of operating bands in proportional to the number of levels within said multilevel structure.

14. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 11, wherein said antenna operates at multiple frequency bands, and where in at least one of said frequency bands is used by a GSM communication service.

15. A multi-band antenna including at least one multilevel structure wherein the multilevel structure includes at least one antenna region comprising a set of polygonal or polyhedral elements having a generally identifiable geometrical shape and having the same number of sides or faces, wherein each of said elements in said antenna region is electromagnetically coupled to at least one other of said elements in said antenna region either directly through at least one point of contact or through a small separation providing said coupling, wherein for at least 75% of said polygonal or polyhedral elements, the region or area of contact or overlap between said polygonal or polyhedral elements is less than 50% of the perimeter or area of said elements, wherein not all of the polygonal or polyhedral elements have the same size, and wherein the perimeter of the multilevel structure has a different number of sides than the polygons that compose said antenna region, and further wherein a plurality of polygons in contact or overlap with contiguous polygons are generally geometrically identifiable by extension of the exposed perimeters of said generally identifiable geometrical shape into said region or area of contact or overlap by extension of ones of the longest exposed perimeters thereof to define the least number of polygons within said region.

16. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 15, wherein at least one side of said generally geometrically identifiable polygons is linear.

17. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 15, wherein at least one side of said generally geometrically identifiable polygons comprises a portion of a circle or ellipse.

18. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 15, wherein at least one perimeter portion of a geometrically identifiable polygon comprises a linear perimeter approximating the shape of a curved perimeter portion of said antenna region.

19. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 15, wherein the sides of at least some of the polygons are all linear.

20. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 15, wherein at least some polygons include at least one non-linear perimeter formed of a portion of a circle or ellipse and wherein other polygon perimeters areas are linear and at least one of said linear perimeters intersects and extends from said at least one non-linear perimeter.

21. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 15, wherein the level of impedance and radiation pattern of said antenna are similar in several frequency bands so that the antenna maintains basically the same radio-electric characteristics and functionality in said bands to allow it to operate simultaneously in several frequencies and thereby be able to be shared by several communication services.

22. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 15, wherein the antenna has a small size compared to a circular, square or triangular antenna whose perimeter can be circumscribed in the multilevel structure and which operates at the same frequency of resonance.

23. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 15, wherein at least a portion of said at least one multilevel structure comprises a printed copper sheet on a printed circuit board.

24. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 15, wherein said antenna is included in a portable communications device.

25. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 24, wherein said portable communication device is a handset.

26. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 25, wherein said antenna operates at multiple frequency bands, and where in at least one of said frequency bands is operating within the 800 MHz–

3600 MHz frequency range.

27. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 25, wherein the number of operating bands in proportional to the number of levels within said multilevel structure.

28. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 25, wherein said antenna operates at multiple frequency bands, and where in at least one of said frequency bands is used by a GSM communication service.

29. A multi-band antenna including at least one multilevel structure wherein the multilevel structure includes at least one antenna region comprising a set of polygonal or polyhedral elements having the same number of sides or faces but not the same size, wherein each of said elements in said antenna region is electromagnetically coupled to at least one other of said elements in said antenna region either directly through at least one point of contact or through a small separation providing said coupling, wherein the perimeter of the multilevel structure has a different number of sides than the polygons that compose said antenna region, and further wherein a plurality of polygons of said antenna region is generally identifiable as a geometrical element defined by the free perimeter thereof and wherein for at least 75% of said polygonal or polyhedral elements in said antenna region, the region or area of interconnection between said polygonal or polyhedral elements is such that at least 50% of their respective perimeter portions are exposed and without physical connection to another polygon and less than 50% of the respective perimeters extend into said region an area of interconnection forming said generally identifiable polygons by extension of ones of the longest exposed perimeters thereof to define the least number of polygons within said region.

30. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 29, wherein at least some polygons overlap in the area in which said polygon perimeters are interconnected.

31. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 29, wherein at least some polygons have linear perimeter portions.

32. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 29, wherein at least some polygons have perimeter regions that comprise portions of circles or ellipses.

33. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 29, wherein at least some polygons have both linear and non-linear perimeter portions.

34. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 29, wherein more than two polygons comprise said at least one antenna region.

35. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 29, wherein at least one side of said generally geometrically identifiable polygons is linear.

36. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 29, wherein at least one side of said generally geometrically identifiable polygons comprises a portion of a circle or ellipse.

37. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 29, wherein at least one perimeter portion of a geometrically identifiable polygon comprises a linear perimeter approximating the shape of a curved perimeter portion of said antenna region.

38. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 29, wherein the sides of at least some polygons are all linear.

39. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 29, wherein at least some polygons include at least one non-linear perimeter formed of a portion of a circle or ellipse and wherein other polygon perimeters are linear and at least one of said linear perimeters intersects and extends from said at least one non-linear perimeter area.

40. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 29, wherein the level of impedance and radiation pattern of said antenna are similar in several frequency bands so that the antenna maintains basically the same radio-electric characteristics and functionality in said bands to allow it to operate simultaneously in several frequencies and thereby be able to be shared by several communication services.

41. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 29, wherein the antenna has a small size compared to a circular, square or triangular antenna whose perimeter can be circumscribed in the multilevel structure and which operates at the same frequency of resonance.

42. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 29, wherein at least a portion of said at least one multilevel structure comprises a printed copper sheet on a printed circuit board.

43. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 29, wherein said antenna is included in a portable communications device.

44. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 43, wherein said portable communication device is a handset.

45. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 43, wherein said antenna operates at multiple frequency bands, and where in at least one of said frequency bands is operating within the 800 MHz–

3600 MHz frequency range.

46. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 43, wherein the number of operating bands in proportional to the number of levels within said multilevel structure.

47. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 46, wherein said antenna operates at multiple frequency bands, and where in at least one of said frequency bands is used by a GSM communication service.

48. A multi-band antenna including at least one multilevel structure wherein the multilevel structure includes at least one antenna region comprising a set of polygonal or polyhedral elements, having one or both of linear and curved perimeter portions to define generally identifiable geometrical shapes with the same number of sides or faces,

wherein each of said elements in said antenna region is electromagnetically coupled to at least one other of said elements in said antenna region either directly through at least one point of contact or through a small separation providing said coupling, wherein for at least 75% of said polygonal or polyhedral elements, the region or area of contact or overlap between said polygonal or polyhedral elements is less than 50% of the perimeter or area of said elements,

wherein not all of the polygonal or polyhedral elements have the same size, and

wherein the perimeter of the multilevel structure has a different number of sides than the polygons that compose said antenna region, and further

wherein a plurality of polygons in contact or overlap with contiguous polygons are geometrically identifiable by extension of the exposed perimeters of said generally identifiable geometrical shape into said region or area of contact or overlap and wherein a polygon with said curved perimeter portion is geometrically identifiable by a linear perimeter approximating the shape of said curved perimeter portion.

49. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 48, wherein at least some polygons overlap in the area in which said polygon perimeters are interconnected.

50. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 48, wherein at least some polygons have perimeters comprising portions of circles or ellipses.

51. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 48, wherein more than two polygons comprise said at least one antenna region.

52. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 48, wherein the sides of at least some polygons are all linear.

53. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 48, wherein at least some polygons include at least one non-linear perimeter formed of a portion of a circle or ellipse and wherein other polygon perimeters are linear and at least one of said linear perimeters intersects and extends from said at least one non-linear perimeter.

54. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 48, wherein the level of impedance and radiation pattern of said antenna are similar in several frequency bands so that the antenna maintains basically the same radio-electric characteristics and functionality in said bands to allow it to operate simultaneously in several frequencies and thereby be able to be shared by several communication services.

55. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 48, wherein the antenna has a small size compared to a circular, square or triangular antenna whose perimeter can be circumscribed in the multilevel structure and which operates at the same frequency of resonance.

56. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 48, wherein at least a portion of said at least one multilevel structure comprises a printed copper sheet on a printed circuit board.

57. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 48, wherein said antenna is included in a portable communications device.

58. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 57, wherein said portable communication device is a handset.

59. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 58, wherein said antenna operates at multiple frequency bands, and where in at least one of said frequency bands is operating within the 800 MHz–

3600 MHz frequency range.

60. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 58, wherein the number of operating bands in proportional to the number of levels within said multilevel structure.

61. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 58, wherein said antenna operates at multiple frequency bands, and where in at least one of said frequency bands is used by a GSM communication service.

62. A multi-band antenna including at least one multilevel structure;

wherein the multilevel structure includes at a first antenna region comprising a set of polygonal or polyhedral elements, having one or both of linear and curved perimeter portions to define generally identifiable geometrical shapes with the same number of sides or faces;

wherein each of said elements in said first antenna region is electromagnetically coupled to at least one other of said elements in said first antenna region either directly through at least one point of contact or through a small separation providing said coupling;

wherein for at least 75% of said polygonal or polyhedral elements, the region or area of contact or overlap between said polygonal or polyhedral elements is less than 50% of the perimeter or area of said elements;

wherein not all of the polygonal or polyhedral elements have the same size; and

wherein the perimeter of the multilevel structure has a different number of sides than the polygons that compose said first antenna region;

wherein a plurality of polygons in contact or overlap with contiguous polygons are geometrically identifiable by extension of the exposed perimeters of said generally identifiable geometrical shape into said region or area of contact or overlap; and

wherein a polygon with said curved perimeter portion is geometrically identifiable by a linear perimeter approximating the shape of said curved perimeter portion, and

wherein the antenna further includes a second antenna region, wherein said second antenna region can be decomposed into a second set of polygonal or polyhedral elements, having one or both of linear and curved perimeter portions to define geometrical shapes with the same number of sides or faces as those in said first antenna region,

wherein each of said elements in said second antenna region is electromagnetically coupled to at least one other of said elements in said second antenna region either directly through at least one point of contact or through a small separation providing said coupling,

wherein for at least 75% of said polygonal or polyhedral elements, the region or area of contact or overlap between said second set of polygonal or polyhedral elements is less than 50% of the perimeter or area of said elements.

63. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 62, wherein at least some polygons overlap in the area in which said polygon perimeters are interconnected.

64. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 62, wherein at least some polygons have perimeters comprising portions of circles or ellipses.

65. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 62, wherein more than two polygons comprise said at least one antenna region.

66. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 62, wherein the sides of at least some polygons are all linear.

67. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 62, wherein at least some polygons include at least one non-linear perimeter formed of a portion of a circle or ellipse and wherein other polygon perimeters are linear and at least one of said linear perimeters intersects and extends from said at least one non-linear perimeter.

68. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 62, wherein the level of impedance and radiation pattern of said antenna are similar in several frequency bands so that the antenna maintains basically the same radio-electric characteristics and functionality in said bands to allow it to operate simultaneously in several frequencies and thereby be able to be shared by several communication services.

69. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 62, wherein the antenna has a small size compared to a circular, square or triangular antenna whose perimeter can be circumscribed in the multilevel structure and which operates at the same frequency of resonance.

70. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 62, wherein at least a portion of said at least one multilevel structure comprises a printed copper sheet on a printed circuit board.

71. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 62, wherein said antenna is included in a portable communications device.

72. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 71, wherein said portable communication device is a handset.

73. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 72, wherein said antenna operates at multiple frequency bands, and where in at least one of said frequency bands is operating within the 800 MHz–

3600 MHz frequency range.

74. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 72, wherein the number of operating bands in proportional to the number of levels within said multilevel structure.

75. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 72, wherein said antenna operates at multiple frequency bands, and where in at least one of said frequency bands is used by a GSM communication service.

76. A multi-band antenna including at least one multilevel structure:

wherein the multilevel structure includes at a first antenna region comprising a set of polygonal or polyhedral elements, having one or both of linear and curved perimeter portions to define generally identifiable geometrical shapes with the same number of sides or faces;

wherein each of said elements in said first antenna region is electromagnetically coupled to at least one other of said elements in said first antenna region either directly through at least one point of contact or through a small separation providing said coupling;

wherein for at least 75% of said polygonal or polyhedral elements, the region or area of contact or overlap between said polygonal or polyhedral elements is less than 50% of the perimeter or area of said elements;

wherein not all of the polygonal or polyhedral elements have the same size; and

wherein the perimeter of the multilevel structure has a different number of sides than the polygons that compose said first antenna region;

wherein a plurality of polygons in contact or overlap with contiguous polygons are geometrically identifiable by extension of the exposed perimeters of said generally identifiable geometrical shape into said region or area of contact or overlap; and

wherein a polygon with said curved perimeter portion is geometrically identifiable by a linear perimeter approximating the shape of said curved perimeter portion; and

wherein the antenna further includes a second antenna region, wherein the geometry of said second antenna region is obtainable through the overlapping of a second set of polygonal or polyhedral elements, having one or both of linear and curved perimeter portions to define geometrical shapes with the same number of sides or faces as those in said first antenna region;

wherein each of said elements in said second antenna region is electromagnetically coupled to at least one other of said elements in said second antenna region either directly through at least one point of contact or through a small separation providing said coupling

wherein for at least 75% of said polygonal or polyhedral elements, the region or area of contact or overlap between said second set of polygonal or polyhedral elements is less than 50% of the perimeter or area of said elements.

77. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 76, wherein at least some polygons overlap in the area in which said polygon perimeters are interconnected.

78. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 76, wherein at least some polygons have perimeters comprising portions of circles or ellipses.

79. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 76, wherein more than two polygons comprise said at least one antenna region.

80. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 76, wherein the sides of at least some polygons are all linear.

81. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 76, wherein at least some polygons include at least one non-linear perimeter formed of a portion of a circle or ellipse and wherein other polygon perimeters are linear and at least one of said linear perimeters intersects and extends from said at least one non-linear perimeter.

82. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 76, wherein the level of impedance and radiation pattern of said antenna are similar in several frequency bands so that the antenna maintains basically the same radio-electric characteristics and functionality in said bands to allow it to operate simultaneously in several frequencies and thereby be able to be shared by several communication services.

83. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 76, wherein the antenna has a small size compared to a circular, square or triangular antenna whose perimeter can be circumscribed in the multilevel structure and which operates at the same frequency of resonance.

84. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 76, wherein at least a portion of said at least one multilevel structure comprises a printed copper sheet on a printed circuit board.

85. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 76, wherein said antenna is included in a portable communications device.

86. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 85, wherein said portable communication device is a handset.

87. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 86, wherein said antenna operates at multiple frequency bands, and where in at least one of said frequency bands is operating within the 800 MHz–

3600 MHz frequency range.

88. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 86, wherein the number of operating bands in proportional to the number of levels within said multilevel structure.

89. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 86, wherein said antenna operates at multiple frequency bands, and where in at least one of said frequency bands is used by a GSM communication service.

90. A multi-band antenna including at least one multilevel structure wherein the multilevel structure includes at least one antenna region comprising a set of polygonal or polyhedral elements having a generally identifiable geometrical shape and having the same number of sides or faces,

wherein each of said elements in said antenna region is electromagnetically coupled to at least one other of said elements in said antenna region either directly through at least one point of contact or through a small separation providing said coupling, wherein for at least 75% of said polygonal or polyhedral elements, the region or area of contact or overlap between said polygonal or polyhedral elements is less than 50% of the perimeter or area of said elements, wherein not all of the polygonal or polyhedral elements have the same size, and

wherein the perimeter of the multilevel structure has a different number of sides than the polygons that compose said antenna region, and further wherein a plurality of overlapping polygonal or polyhedral elements, having one or both of linear and curved perimeter portions, define identifiable geometrical shapes in said at least one antenna region with the same number of sides or faces as those otherwise generally identifiable therein.

91. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 90, wherein at least some polygons overlap in the area in which said polygon perimeters are interconnected.

92. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 90, wherein at least some polygons have perimeters comprising portions of circles or ellipses.

93. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 90, wherein more than two polygons comprise said at least one antenna region.

94. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 90, wherein the sides of at least some polygons are all linear.

95. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 90, wherein at least some polygons include at least one non-linear perimeter formed of a portion of a circle or ellipse and wherein other polygon perimeters are linear and at least one of said linear perimeters intersects and extends from said at least one non-linear perimeter.

96. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 90, wherein the level of impedance and radiation pattern of said antenna are similar in several frequency bands so that the antenna maintains basically the same radio-electric characteristics and functionality in said bands to allow it to operate simultaneously in several frequencies and thereby be able to be shared by several communication services.

97. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 90, wherein the antenna has a small size compared to a circular, square or triangular antenna whose perimeter can be circumscribed in the multilevel structure and which operates at the same frequency of resonance.

98. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 90, wherein at least a portion of said at least one multilevel structure comprises a printed copper sheet on a printed circuit board.

99. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 90, wherein said antenna is included in a portable communications device.

100. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 99, wherein said portable communication device is a handset.

101. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 100, wherein said antenna operates at multiple frequency bands, and where in at least one of said frequency bands is operating within the 800 MHz–

3600 MHz frequency range.

102. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 100, wherein the number of operating bands in proportional to the number of levels within said multilevel structure.

103. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 100, wherein said antenna operates at multiple frequency bands, and where in at least one of said frequency bands is used by a GSM communication service.

104. A multi-band antenna including at least one multilevel structure wherein the multilevel structure includes at least one antenna region comprising a set of polygonal or polyhedral elements having a generally identifiable geometrical shape and having the same number of sides or faces, wherein each of said elements in said antenna region is electromagnetically coupled to at least one other of said elements in said antenna region either directly through at least one point of contact or through a small separation providing said coupling, wherein for at least 75% of said polygonal or polyhedral elements, the region or area of contact or overlap between said polygonal or polyhedral elements is less than 50% of the perimeter or area of said elements, wherein not all of the polygonal or polyhedral elements have the same size, and

wherein the perimeter of the multilevel structure has a different number of sides than the polygons that compose said antenna region, and further

wherein a plurality of overlapping polygons in said at least one antenna region can be decomposed into a set of polygonal or polyhedral elements, having one or both of linear and curved perimeter portions defining identifiable geometrical shapes with the same number of sides or faces as those polygonal or polyhedral elements generally identifiable.

105. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 104, wherein at least some polygons overlap in the area in which said polygon perimeters are interconnected.

106. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 104, wherein at least some polygons have perimeters comprising portions of circles or ellipses.

107. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 104, wherein more than two polygons comprise said at least one antenna region.

108. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 104, wherein the sides of at least some polygons are all linear.

109. The multi-band antenna as set forth in claim 104, wherein at least some polygons include at least one non-linear perimeter formed of a portion of a circle or ellipse and wherein other polygon perimeters are linear and at least one of said linear perimeters intersects and extends from said at least one non-linear perimeter.

110. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 104, wherein the level of impedance and radiation pattern of said antenna are similar in several frequency bands so that the antenna maintains basically the same radio-electric characteristics and functionality in said bands to allow it to operate simultaneously in several frequencies and thereby be able to be shared by several communication services.

111. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 104, wherein the antenna has a small size compared to a circular, square or triangular antenna whose perimeter can be circumscribed in the multilevel structure and which operates at the same frequency of resonance.

112. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 104, wherein at least a portion of said at least one multilevel structure comprises a printed copper sheet on a printed circuit board.

113. The multi-band antenna set forth in claim 104, wherein said antenna is included in a portable communications device.

114. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 113, wherein said portable communication device is a handset.

115. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 114, wherein said antenna operates at multiple frequency bands, and where in at least one of said frequency bands is operating within the 800 MHz–

3600 MHz frequency range.

116. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 114, wherein the number of operating bands in proportional to the number of levels within said multilevel structure.

117. The multi-level antenna set forth in claim 114, wherein said antenna operates at multiple frequency bands, and where in at least one of said frequency bands is used by a GSM communication service.