Circular polarization antenna and composite antenna including this antenna

• US 7,286,098 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Umezawa, Yoshio, Ogino, Kazushige, Takayama, Kazuo, Tsuruta, Katsuhiro, Nagao, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIH CHAO
• Application Number:
  US10/929,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20050052334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/711, 343/713, 343/742, 343/833, 343/834, 343/873, 343/844
• US Class Current: 343/833
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1271 for mounting on windscreens
• 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 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

When configuring a film antenna for receiving a circular polarized wave, at least one loop antenna is formed on a transparent plastic film and, at the same time, a non-powered element constituted by a wire-shaped conductor independent from the antenna conductor configuring the loop is arranged near this loop antenna. The non-powered element arranged on the side of the loop antenna is configured by a first part and a second part. The first part is made close to the loop antenna in a substantially parallel state. When a monopole antenna is used in place of the loop antenna, by combining this with a wire-shaped conductor orthogonal to this, it becomes possible to receive a circular polarized wave by a configuration providing a power transfer part between the two. It is also possible to configure a composite antenna by mounting another antenna on the transparent plastic film. This antenna can be used as an antenna of a navigation system.

Claims

1. A circular polarization antenna comprising:

an antenna conductor; and

a non-powered element arranged near the antenna conductor and configured by a conductor arranged independently from said antenna conductor,

wherein said antenna conductor is configured to receive a component of a circular polarized wave and said non-powered element is configured to receive a different component of the circular polarized wave and to apply said different component to said antenna conductor.

2. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein a plurality of non-powered elements are arranged near the antenna conductor.

3. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said antenna conductor forms a loop antenna.

4. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 3, wherein

said non-powered element is configured by a first part arranged close to said antenna conductor and a second part arranged electrically connected to said first part, and

said first part is arranged in a state substantially parallel with respect to at least one part of said antenna conductor.

5. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 3,

wherein the loop antenna includes a loop antenna power feed point and a loop antenna opposite pole, the loop antenna opposite pole being opposite the loop antenna power feed point, and

wherein said non-powered element includes a component parallel to a line connecting the loop antenna power feed point and the loop antenna opposite pole.

6. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 4, wherein a distance between the second part of said non-powered element and said antenna conductor becomes larger nearer to a front end of said second part.

7. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 4, wherein the second part of said non-powered element is bent with respect to said first part, and the bending direction of said second part is towards said antenna conductor with respect to an imaginary extended line of said first part.

8. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 3, wherein said non-powered element is located on at least one side of a dividing line substantially equally dividing said loop antenna to two.

9. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 3, wherein an auxiliary conductor parallel to said non-powered element is arranged on the opposite side with respect to said loop antenna of said non-powered element.

10. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 3, further comprising a substantially straight second auxiliary conductor that contacts an imaginary circle having the same center as the loop antenna, the second auxiliary conductor being provided near the outside of said loop antenna so as to function as a waveguide or reflector.

11. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 3, wherein one of two power feed terminals of said loop antenna is grounded.

12. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 3, wherein a balance input terminal of a balance/imbalance conversion circuit is connected to two power feed terminals of said loop antenna.

13. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said antenna conductor forms a monopole antenna having a power feed point and a free end.

14. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 13, wherein an axial line of the antenna of said monopole antenna and an axial line of said non-powered element are arranged in orthogonal directions.

15. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 13, wherein said non-powered element is provided with a power transfer part capable of transferring power to said monopole antenna, and said non-powered element is arranged near said free end of said monopole antenna.

16. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 15, wherein said power transfer part is one end of said non-powered element arranged substantially parallel adjacent to said free end of said monopole antenna.

17. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 15, wherein at least a part having a predetermined length from the free end of said monopole antenna is bent to form said power transfer part.

18. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 13, further comprising a second non-powered element made of a wire-shaped conductor to function as a waveguide or the reflector.

19. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 18, wherein said second non-powered element is configured so that an imaginary line, located substantially at the center position thereof and orthogonal to said second nonpowered element, passes through substantially the center of the circular polarization antenna having said monopole antenna and said non-powered element.

20. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 18, wherein said second non-powered element is part of a second antenna.

21. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said non-powered element has a length of ½

or more of the wavelength of the wave of the reception frequency of said circular polarization antenna.

22. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein the antenna conductor has a length of substantially one wavelength of the wave received at said circular polarization antenna.

23. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said non-powered element is arranged on a same plane on which said antenna conductor is arranged.

24. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said antenna conductor and said non-powered element are formed by same conductor foil.

25. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said antenna conductor and said non-powered element are formed on a flexible sheet-like dielectric body.

26. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 25, further comprising:

an adhesive layer arranged on a first surface of said sheet-like dielectric body, wherein

said antenna conductor and said non-powered element are arranged on a second surface of said sheet-like dielectric body.

27. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 26, further comprising:

a protective layer for protecting said antenna conductor and said non-powered element, wherein

said protective layer and said non-powered element are arranged on the second surface of said sheet-like dielectric body.

28. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 27, wherein at least said antenna conductor and said non-powered element are covered by said protective layer.

29. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 25, wherein said sheet-like dielectric body is constituted by a transparent insulation film, and the film is arranged on an outer member constituted by glass or an insulator of an automobile.

30. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said antenna conductor and said non-powered element are arranged on an outer member constituted by glass or an insulator of an automobile.

31. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 29, wherein said circular polarization antenna is provided at a windshield at a side facing a driver'"'"'s seat of an automobile.

32. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 25, wherein a plurality of circular polarization antennas are arranged on said sheet-like dielectric body.

33. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 32, wherein said sheet-like dielectric body is provided with a cut part which enables said plurality of circular polarization antennas to be individually separated.

34. A circular polarization antenna as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second auxiliary conductor is part of another antenna.

35. A composite antenna comprising:

an antenna conductor;

a non-powered element arranged near said antenna conductor and arranged independently from said antenna conductor;

a flexible sheet-like dielectric body at which said antenna conductor and said non-powered element are formed; and

a second antenna arranged on a same plane as the plane of arrangement of said antenna conductor at said sheet-like dielectric body,

wherein said antenna conductor is configured to receive a component of a circular polarized wave and said non-powered element is configured to receive a different component of the circular polarized wave for applying said different component to said antenna conductor.

36. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 35, wherein a cut part enabling separation of a circular polarization antenna comprised of said antenna conductor and said non-powered element is provided in said sheet-like dielectric body.

37. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 36, wherein said second antenna is at least one of an antenna for receiving TV waves, an antenna for receiving radio waves, an antenna for transmitting and/or receiving keyless entry system signals of an automobile, an antenna for transmitting and/or receiving signals used in an anti-car jack system, and an antenna for transmitting and/or receiving signals used in a remote engine starter system.

38. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 35, wherein a plurality of additional antennas are arranged at said sheet-like dielectric body, and power feed terminals of a circular polarization antenna comprised of said linear polarization antenna and said non-powered element are arranged between power feed terminals of said plurality of additional antennas.

39. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 35, wherein said second antenna is formed by the same conductor foil as that of said antenna conductor or said non-powered element.

40. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 35, wherein said sheet-like dielectric body is arranged at a position where said antenna conductor and said second antenna are arranged.

41. An antenna to which a signal line is connected, comprising:

a dielectric body at which an antenna element is arranged;

at least one antenna element arranged on said dielectric body;

a power feed terminal formed on said dielectric body and connected to said antenna element; and

a mark formed at the periphery of said power feed terminal of said dielectric body for indicating a connection position of said signal line, wherein the mark is not electrically connected to said signal line.

42. An antenna as set forth in claim 41, wherein when said signal line is connected to said power feed terminal, said mark is arranged in a state where it is equally exposed at a position surrounding said signal line.

43. An antenna as set forth in claim 41, wherein when said signal line is connected to said power feed terminal, said mark is hidden by said signal line, while when said signal line is connected such that said signal line is shifted with respect to said power feed terminal, said mark is arranged in a state where part thereof can be viewed while protruding from said signal line.

44. An antenna as set forth in claim 41, wherein said mark is formed by the same conductive member as the conductive member constituting said antenna element and/or said power feed terminal.

45. An antenna as set forth in claim 44, wherein said conductive member is a conductive ink or a conductive foil.

46. An antenna as set forth in claim 41, wherein said mark is a short line or a set of short lines.

47. An antenna as set forth in claim 41, wherein said mark is constituted by small holes formed on said dielectric body.

48. An antenna as set forth in claim 41, wherein said antenna element is a circular polarization antenna configured by an antenna conductor and a non-powered element arranged near said antenna conductor and constituted by a conductor arranged independently from the antenna conductor constituting said antenna conductor.

49. An antenna to which a signal line is connected, comprising:

a dielectric body at which an antenna element is arranged;

at least one antenna element arranged at said dielectric body;

a protective film for covering the top of said dielectric body;

a power feed terminal formed on said dielectric body, to which said antenna element is connected, and whose electrode portions are exposed from said protective film; and

a protective sheet adhered to said dielectric body so as to cover said electrode portions of said power feed terminal and detachable from the top of said dielectric body, wherein

said signal line being connected to said power feed terminal in a state where part of said protective sheet is peeled off from said power feed terminal.

50. An antenna as set forth in claim 49, wherein

said protective sheet is provided with a cut part for positioning said signal line, and

said protective sheet is temporarily attached to said dielectric body in a state where said cut part corresponds to the connection position of said signal line onto said dielectric body.

51. An antenna as set forth in claim 50, wherein said cut part is separated from said protective sheet.

52. An antenna as set forth in claim 50, wherein said protective sheet indicates an attachment position for said signal line when said signal line is connected to said dielectric body.

53. An antenna as set forth in claim 49, wherein said antenna element is a circular polarization antenna having an antenna conductor and a non-powered element arranged near the antenna conductor and arranged independently from said antenna conductor.

54. A composite antenna provided with a plurality of antennas, comprising:

a first antenna element;

a first substrate having said first antenna element formed thereon;

a second substrate provided with a circuit electrically connected to said first antenna element;

a second antenna element provided on a first surface of the second substrate, and

a first plate-like conductor arranged on a second surface of the second substrate without clearance and facing the second antenna element.

55. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 54, wherein said second substrate is a dielectric substrate.

56. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 54, further comprising:

an antenna element other than said second antenna element formed on the first surface of said second substrate, and

a second plate-like conductor arranged on the second surface of said second substrate facing said antenna element.

57. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 55, wherein one surface of said dielectric substrate is the surface of a wave arrival direction.

58. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 54, further comprising a dielectric member provided between said first plate-like conductor and said second substrate.

59. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 56, wherein said first plate-like conductor and said second plate-like conductor are integrated to be one plate-like conductor.

60. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 56, wherein

said second substrate is configured by a multi-layer substrate,

said second antenna element is formed on the front surface of said multi-layer substrate, said second plate-like conductor is formed on the back surface of said multi-layer substrate, and a ground pattern of said circuit is formed at an intermediate layer of said multi-layer substrate.

61. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 55, further comprising:

a combiner provided in said dielectric substrate for combining signals received at said first antenna element formed on said first substrate with signals received at said second antenna element formed on said second substrate.

62. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 54, wherein at least one of said first and second antenna elements is a circular polarization antenna.

63. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 54, wherein

said first antenna element has a power feed terminal and said second substrate is provided in a connector connected to the power feed terminal of said first antenna element for outputting signals received at said first antenna element from the composite antenna.

64. A composite antenna as set forth in claim 62, wherein

said circular polarization antenna is configured by

an antenna conductor and

a non-powered element provided near said antenna conductor and arranged independently from the antenna conductor,

wherein said antenna conductor is configured to receive a component of a circular polarized wave and said non-powered element is configured to receive a different component of the circular polarized wave for applying said different component to said antenna conductor.

65. An antenna apparatus comprising:

a circular polarization antenna provided with an antenna conductor and a non-powered element arranged near the antenna conductor and arranged independently from said antenna conductor;

a flexible sheet-like dielectric body on which said antenna conductor and said non-powered element are formed;

a power feed terminal formed on said dielectric body and connected to said antenna conductor; and

a signal line connected to said power feed terminal for outputting signals received at said circular polarization antenna from the antenna apparatus,

wherein said antenna conductor is configured to receive a component of a circular polarized wave and said non-powered element is configured to receive a different component of the circular polarized wave for applying said different component to said antenna conductor.

66. An antenna apparatus as set forth in claim 65, further comprising an amplification unit for amplifying received signals.

67. An antenna apparatus having a composite antenna comprising:

a linear polarization antenna provided with an antenna conductor, a non-powered element arranged near the antenna conductor and arranged independently from said antenna conductor, and a power feed terminal;

a flexible sheet-like dielectric body on which said antenna conductor and said non-powered element are formed;

a second antenna arranged on a same plane as the plane of arrangement of said antenna conductor on said sheet-like dielectric body; and

a signal line connected to said power feed terminal of said linear polarization antenna for outputting signals received at said linear polarization antenna from the antenna apparatus,

wherein said antenna conductor is configured to receive a component of a circular polarized wave and said non-powered element is configured to receive a different component of the circular polarized wave for applying said different component to said antenna conductor.

68. An antenna apparatus having an antenna comprising:

an antenna element having a power feed terminal;

a dielectric body on which said antenna element is arranged;

a signal line connected to the power feed terminal of said antenna element for outputting signals received at said antenna element from the antenna apparatus; and

a mark formed on said dielectric body around said power feed terminal for indicating a connection position of said signal line.

69. An antenna apparatus having a composite antenna comprising:

a first antenna element;

a first substrate having said first antenna element formed thereon, where the first antenna element has a power feed terminal;

a second substrate provided with a circuit electrically connected to the first antenna element;

a second antenna element provided on a first surface of the second substrate;

a first plate-like conductor arranged on a second surface of said second substrate without clearance and facing said second antenna element; and

a signal line connected to the power feed terminal of said first antenna element for outputting signals received at said first antenna element from the antenna apparatus.

70. An antenna apparatus having a composite antenna comprising:

a circular polarization antenna provided with an antenna conductor and a non-powered element arranged near the antenna conductor and arranged independently from said antenna conductor, wherein said antenna conductor has a first power feed terminal;

a flexible sheet-like dielectric body at which said antenna conductor and said non-powered element are formed;

a second antenna element arranged on a same plane as the plane of arrangement of said antenna conductor at said sheet-like dielectric body, wherein said second antenna element has a second power feed terminal;

a first signal line connected to the first power feed terminal of said antenna conductor for outputting signals received at said circular polarization antenna from the antenna apparatus; and

a second signal line connected to the second power feed terminal of said second antenna element for outputting signals received at said second antenna element from the antenna apparatus,

wherein said antenna conductor is configured to receive a component of a circular polarized wave and said non-powered element is configured to receive a different component of the circular polarized wave for applying said different component to said antenna conductor.

71. An antenna apparatus as set forth in claim 70, wherein said second antenna element is for receiving a TV signal, a plurality of such antennas are arranged, and a selector able to select an antenna able to receive TV signals well from among said plurality of antennas is provided.

72. A reception apparatus comprising:

a circular polarization antenna provided with an antenna conductor and a non-powered element arranged near the antenna conductor and arranged independently from said antenna conductor;

a flexible sheet-like dielectric body at which said antenna conductor and said non-powered element are formed;

a power feed terminal formed on said dielectric body and connected to said antenna conductor;

a signal line connected to said power feed terminal for outputting signals received at said circular polarization antenna from the reception apparatus,

wherein said antenna conductor is configured to receive a component of a circular polarized wave and said non-powered element is configured to receive a different component of the circular polarized wave for applying said different component to said antenna conductor.

73. A reception apparatus as set forth in claim 72 further comprising:

a receiver for processing signals from said signal line, wherein said receiver is a navigation system.