Switched multi-beam antenna

• US 7,215,296 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2005
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airgain Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Airgain Incorporated
• Inventors: Abramov, Oleg Yurievich, Nagaev, Farid Ibragimovich, Robison, David B., Visuri, Pertti J., Shamblin, Jeffrey K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho; Tan
• Application Number:
  US11/104,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20050237258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/815, 343/817, 343/818, 343/819, 343/833, 343/834, 343/846, 343/853, 343/835
• US Class Current: 343/834
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/10 using reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/106 using two or more intersecting plane surfaces, e.g. corner reflector antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/242 Circumferential scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/32 Vertical arrangement of element H01Q9/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength

Abstract

An antenna assembly includes a common reflector and multiple monopole type antenna elements positioned on a ground plane and fed with a switch assembly. The switch assembly is capable of feeding individual antennas as well as combining multiple antennas for improved radiation pattern coverage. Multiple antenna elements are placed around the common reflector to cover sectors of space around the antenna assembly to provide transmission and reception of radio frequency (RF) signals for mobile communication devices in a wireless network. The ground plane can be grounded or capacitively coupled to an existing circuit board or metal surface, allowing for reduced ground plane dimensions.

Claims

1. An antenna system comprising:

a reflective layer having an upper surface and a lower surface;

a plurality of antenna elements proximate the upper surface of the reflective layer;

one or more reflectors electrically coupled to the reflective layer and positioned to operate as a reflector for each of the plurality of antenna elements; and

a switch coupled to each of the plurality of antenna elements and configured to select an active state or inactive state for each of the plurality of antenna elements;

wherein the reflective layer comprises a primary reflective surface to which the plurality of antenna elements are located proximate and a secondary reflective surface.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of electrically conductive standoffs coupling the primary reflective surface to the secondary reflective surface.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the switch is configured to select an active state for more than one antenna element at one time.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a radio coupled to the switch.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the radio is located proximate the lower side of the reflective surface.

6. An antenna system comprising:

a reflective layer having an upper surface and a lower surface;

a plurality of antenna elements proximate the upper surface of the reflective layer;

one or more reflectors electrically coupled to the reflective layer and positioned to operate as a reflector for each of the plurality of antenna elements; and

a switch coupled to each of the plurality of antenna elements and configured to select an active state or inactive state for each of the plurality of antenna elements,

wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements comprises;

a center section coupled to the switch at a first end of the center section proximate the reflective layer;

a top section extending from a second end of the center section opposite the first end of the center section;

an inductive section extending from the reflective layer to the top section; and

a capacitive section extending from the top section towards the reflective layer.

7. An antenna system comprising:

a base layer;

a ground plane formed on the base layer and having an upper surface and a lower surface proximate the base layer;

a plurality of antenna elements coupled to the base proximate the upper surface of the ground plane and extending outwardly from the ground plane;

a reflector electrically coupled to the ground plane and positioned to operate as a reflector for each of the plurality of antenna elements, each of the antenna elements in cooperation with the reflector having a direction of transmission;

a switch on the base on a side opposite to the plurality of antenna elements, coupled to each of the plurality of antenna elements and configured to select an active state or inactive state for each of the plurality of antenna elements; and

a secondary reflective surface electrically coupled to the ground plane.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of electrically conductive standoffs coupling the ground plane to the secondary reflective surface.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the switch is configured to select an active state for more than one antenna element at one time.

10. The system of claim 7 further comprising a radio coupled to the switch.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the radio is located on the base proximate the lower side of the ground plane.

12. An antenna system comprising:

a base layer;

a ground plane formed on the base layer and having an upper surface and a lower surface proximate the base layer;

a plurality of antenna elements coupled to the base proximate the upper surface of the ground plane and extending outwardly from the ground plane, each of the plurality of antenna elements comprising

a center section coupled to the switch at a first end of the center section proximate the ground plane,

a top section extending from a second end of the center section opposite the first end of the center section,

an inductive section extending from the ground plane to the top section, and

a capacitive section extending from the top section towards the ground plane;

a reflector electrically coupled to the ground plane and positioned to operate as a reflector for each of the plurality of antenna elements, each of the antenna elements in cooperation with the reflector having a direction of transmission; and

a switch on the base on a side opposite to the plurality of antenna elements, coupled to each of the plurality of antenna elements and configured to select an active state or inactive state for each of the plurality of antenna elements.

13. A method of manufacturing an antenna assembly comprising:

providing a base layer having an upper surface and a lower surface;

forming a primary reflective surface on the base layer;

providing a plurality of antenna elements proximate the upper surface of the base layer;

providing one or more reflectors proximate the upper surface of the base layer positioned to operate as a reflector for each of the plurality of antenna elements and electrically coupling the one or more reflectors to the primary reflective surface;

coupling a switch, configured to select an active state or inactive state for each of the plurality of antenna elements in response to a control signal, to each of the plurality of antenna elements;

matching the impedance of each of the plurality of antenna elements to the switch; and

adjusting the impedance of an antenna element by shorting one or more impedance tuning pads to the antenna element.

14. A method of manufacturing an antenna assembly comprising:

providing a base layer having an upper surface and a lower surface;

forming a primary reflective surface on the base layer;

providing a plurality of antenna elements proximate the upper surface of the base layer;

providing one or more reflectors proximate the upper surface of the base layer positioned to operate as a reflector for each of the plurality of antenna elements and electrically coupling the one or more reflectors to the primary reflective surface;

coupling a switch, configured to select an active state or inactive state for each of the plurality of antenna elements in response to a control signal, to each of the plurality of antenna elements;

matching the impedance of each of the plurality of antenna elements to the switch; and

shorting one or more impedance tuning pads to each other.

15. A method of manufacturing an antenna assembly comprising:

providing a base layer having an upper surface and a lower surface;

forming a primary reflective surface on the base layer;

providing a plurality of antenna elements proximate the upper surface of the base layer;

providing one or more reflectors proximate the upper surface of the base layer positioned to operate as a reflector for each of the plurality of antenna elements and electrically coupling the one or more reflectors to the primary reflective surface;

coupling a switch, configured to select an active state or inactive state for each of the plurality of antenna elements in response to a control signal, to each of the plurality of antenna elements; and

electrically coupling a secondary reflective surface to the primary surface.