Multi-frequency antenna manufacturing method

• US 8,307,535 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2011
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hemisphere GNSS(USA) Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hemisphere GPS LLC (Kubota Corporation)
• Inventors: Feller, Walter J., Wen, Xiaoping
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, MINH N
• Application Number:
  US13/187,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20120186073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 296/00, 296/012, 295/921, 29830-832, 343795-798, 343/757, 343/700.MS, 342/464, 342/357.27
• US Class Current: 29/600
• 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 11/083 Tapered helical aerials, e.g. conical spiral aerials
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/371 Branching current paths
• 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: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.

Abstract

A multi-frequency GNSS antenna is provided which can be manufactured from PCB materials and exhibits good multipath rejection. The antenna is capable of receiving RHCP signals from all visible GNSS satellites across a wide beamwidth. A multi-frequency GNSS antenna manufacturing method includes the steps of providing PCB base and support assemblies, first and second feed networks and connecting said first and second feed networks to first and second hybrid connector outputs.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna with printed circuit board (PCB) components, which method includes the steps of:

providing a PCB base assembly including an antenna output, a low noise amplifier (LNA) connected to the output and a hybrid connector connected to the LNA and including first and second hybrid connector outputs phase-shifted 90°

relative to each other;

providing a PCB support assembly;

mounting said PCB support assembly on said base assembly;

providing first and second PCB feed networks;

connecting said first and second feed networks to said first and second hybrid connector outputs respectively;

providing said first and second feed networks with first and second balanced/unbalanced (balun) transformers respectively;

providing each said balun transformer with first and second outputs phase-shifted 180°

relative to each other;

providing an array comprising four PCB radiating antenna elements;

mounting said array on said support structure; and

electrically connecting each said antenna element to a respective balun output.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said element array has a spiral configuration with a central hub mounted on said support structure and said radiating elements spiraling outwardly and downwardly from said central hub.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said support assembly comprises said PCB feed networks and said radiating elements form a crossed dipole with two pairs of radiating elements and each element pair forming a bow tie configuration.