Wideband vehicular antennas

• US 7,456,799 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2007
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fractal Antenna Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fractal Antenna Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Cohen, Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US11/805,472
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 343/773, 343/772, 343/846
• US Class Current: 343/773
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1242 Rigid masts specially adapted for supporting an aerial
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/32 Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
• 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 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• 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

Antennas suitable for wideband transmission and reception are disclosed that are useful in environments susceptible to vibration and impact motion such as for example vehicles of various types, e.g., automobiles, trains, etc. The apparatus can include a bicone antenna including two cone-shaped elements. The physical shape of at least one of the two cone-shaped elements may be at least partially defined by one or more pleats (e.g., a series) that extend about a portion of the cone. An antenna can further includes a mast for supporting the bicone as well as a second antenna section including a fractalized dipole. The fractalized dipole can be configured as a conformal circuit board conforming to the shape of the mast and can include self-similar portions or extensions. The antenna may also include a counterpoise to balance the electrically conductive conformal portion. The counterpoise may be defined substantially by a repetitive tooth-like pattern.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a bicone antenna including two cone-shaped elements, the physical shape of at least one of which is at least partially defined by at least one pleat, wherein each pleat includes two faces joined at a vertex having an included angle of less than 180 degrees as directed away from a principal axis of the cone-shaped element;

a mast configured to support the bicone antenna; and

a conformal circuit board configured to conform to a surface of the mast, wherein the conformal circuit board includes an electrically conductive conformal portion defined in part self-similar extensions and an electrically non-conductive conformal portion.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two faces of the pleat do not substantially overlap one another in a direction transverse to a bisector of the included angle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the physical shape of one of the two cone-shaped elements is at least partially defined by at least one hole.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the physical shape of one of the two cone-shaped elements is at least partially defined by a series of pleats that extend about a portion of the cone.

5. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the self-similar extensions include two or more angular bends.

6. The antenna of claim 1, further comprising:

a counterpoise to balance the electrically conductive conformal portion.

7. The antenna of claim 1, further comprising:

a counterpoise is defined substantially by a repetitive tooth-like pattern.

8. The antenna of claim 7, wherein the counterpoise includes conductive attachments.

9. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured to transmit electromagnetic energy between approximately 70 MHz and 3000 MHz.

10. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured to receive electromagnetic energy between approximately 70 MHz and 3000 MHz.

11. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive portion is mounted to a substrate that includes polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

12. The antenna system of claim 1, further comprising:

a transceiver connected to the antenna.

13. The antenna system of claim 12, wherein the transceiver includes a low noise amplifier.

14. The antenna system of claim 13, wherein the transceiver includes a power amplifier.