Antenna arrangement

• US 7,898,492 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2007
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ITI Scotland Limited (Scottish Government)
• Original Assignee: ITI Scotland Limited (Scottish Government)
• Inventors: Williams, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCUSO, HUEDUNG XUAN CAO
• Application Number:
  US11/773,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20080094299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 343/836, 343/700.MD, 343/702, 343/725, 343/746, 343/771, 296/00
• US Class Current: 343/836
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/0026 said selective devices having a stacked geometry or having multiple layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/242 Circumferential scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/28 Arrangements for establishing polarisation or beam width over two or more different wavebands

Abstract

There is provided an antenna arrangement for use in an ultra-wideband network, the antenna arrangement comprising a plurality of active elements for emitting radio signals; and a reflecting structure disposed between at least two of the active elements for reflecting radio signals, the reflecting structure comprising an outer reflecting surface for reflecting radio signals in a first frequency range within a frequency band and an inner reflecting surface for reflecting radio signals having a second frequency range within the frequency band. In an alternative embodiment, the antenna arrangement comprises an active element for emitting radio signals, and a reflecting structure. The reflecting structure comprises a first surface for reflecting radio signals having a first frequency range within a frequency band, the first surface being substantially transparent to radio signals outside the first frequency range, and a second surface for reflecting radio signals passed by the first surface, the second surface reflecting radio signals having a second frequency range within the frequency band.

Claims

1. An antenna arrangement for use in an ultra-wideband network, the antenna arrangement comprising:

a plurality of active elements for emitting radio signals, each active element being configured to emit radio signals in first and second frequency ranges within a frequency band; and

a reflecting structure disposed between at least two of the active elements for reflecting radio signals, the reflecting structure comprising;

a first reflecting surface for reflecting radio signals having a frequency within the first frequency range, the first reflecting surface configured to be at least partially transparent to radio signals having a frequency outside the first frequency range; and

a second reflecting surface for reflecting radio signals having a frequency within the second frequency range.

2. An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first frequency range consists exclusively of a set of frequencies which are higher than a set of frequencies included in the second frequency range.

3. An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance between an active element and a corresponding reflecting surface is dependent on the frequency range of the radio signals reflected by said reflecting surface.

4. An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the distance between an active element and a corresponding reflective surface is equal to one quarter of the wavelength of a centre frequency in the frequency range reflected by said surface.

5. An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a third reflecting surface between the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface, the third reflecting surface being suitable for reflecting radio signals in a third frequency range, and being configured to be at least partially transparent to radio signals having a frequency outside the third frequency range.

6. An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein said third reflecting surface is suitable for reflecting radio signals having a frequency range between the first and second frequency ranges reflected by the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface.

7. An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflecting surfaces are planar.

8. An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflecting surfaces are curved.

9. An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein each active element is individually controllable.

10. An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein each frequency range is approximately 528 MHz wide.

11. An antenna arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein each frequency range is a multiple of 528 MHz wide.

12. A method for reflecting radio signals in an ultra-wideband network, comprising:

providing a plurality of active elements for emitting radio signals, each active element being suitable for emitting radio signals in first and second frequency ranges within a frequency band; and

reflecting radio signals by arranging a reflecting structure between at least two of the active elements, wherein the reflecting step comprises;

reflecting radio signals having a frequency within the first frequency by a first reflecting surface of the reflecting structure the first reflecting surface configured to be at least partially transparent to radio signals having a frequency outside the first frequency range; and

reflecting radio signals having a frequency within the second frequency range by a second reflecting surface of the reflecting structure.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first frequency range consists exclusively of a set of frequencies which are higher than a set of frequencies included in the second frequency range.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the distance between an active element and a corresponding reflecting surface is dependent on the frequency range of the radio signals reflected by said reflecting surface.

15. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the distance between an active element and a corresponding reflective surface is equal to one quarter of the wavelength of a centre frequency in the frequency range reflected by said surface.

16. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising reflecting radio signals in a third frequency range by a third reflecting surface between the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface the third reflecting surface being configured to be at least partially transparent to radio signals having a frequency outside the third frequency range.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said third reflecting surface is suitable for reflecting radio signals having a frequency range between the first and second frequency ranges reflected by the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface.

18. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the reflecting surfaces are planar.

19. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the reflecting surfaces are curved.

20. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising individually controlling each active element.

21. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein each frequency range is approximately 528 MHz wide.

22. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein each frequency range is a multiple of 528 MHz wide.