Multi-feed antenna apparatus and methods
First Claim
1. A triple-feed antenna apparatus, comprising:
- a first antenna element operable in a lower frequency band and comprising a first feed portion configured to be coupled to a first feed port;
a second antenna element operable in a second frequency band and comprising a second feed portion configured to be coupled to a second feed port;
a third antenna element operable in an upper frequency band and comprising a third feed portion configured to be coupled to a third feed port; and
a ground plane, the ground plane disposed so as to reside substantially beneath the first, second, and third antenna elements;
wherein;
the first and third antenna elements are each configured to form a radiation pattern disposed primarily in a first orientation;
the second antenna element is configured to form a radiation pattern disposed primarily in a second orientation that is substantially orthogonal to the first orientation; and
the second antenna element comprises a loop structure configured to have a radiator branch disposed within the loop structure, the radiator branch configured to resonate at a frequency that expands an operational frequency range of the second frequency band.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A space efficient multi-feed antenna apparatus, and methods for use in a radio frequency communications device. In one embodiment, the antenna assembly comprises three (3) separate radiator structures disposed on a common antenna carrier. Each of the three antenna radiators is connected to separate feed ports of a radio frequency front end. In one variant, the first and the third radiators comprise quarter-wavelength planar inverted-L antennas (PILA), while the second radiator comprises a half-wavelength grounded loop-type antenna disposed in between the first and the third radiators. The PILA radiators are characterized by radiation patterns having maximum radiation axes that are substantially perpendicular to the antenna plane. The loop radiator is characterized by radiation pattern having axis of maximum radiation that is parallel to the antenna plane. The above configuration of radiating patterns advantageously isolates the first radiator structure from the third radiator structure in at least one frequency band.
468 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A triple-feed antenna apparatus, comprising:
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a first antenna element operable in a lower frequency band and comprising a first feed portion configured to be coupled to a first feed port; a second antenna element operable in a second frequency band and comprising a second feed portion configured to be coupled to a second feed port; a third antenna element operable in an upper frequency band and comprising a third feed portion configured to be coupled to a third feed port; and a ground plane, the ground plane disposed so as to reside substantially beneath the first, second, and third antenna elements; wherein; the first and third antenna elements are each configured to form a radiation pattern disposed primarily in a first orientation; the second antenna element is configured to form a radiation pattern disposed primarily in a second orientation that is substantially orthogonal to the first orientation; and the second antenna element comprises a loop structure configured to have a radiator branch disposed within the loop structure, the radiator branch configured to resonate at a frequency that expands an operational frequency range of the second frequency band. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A radio frequency communications device, comprising:
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an electronics assembly comprising a ground plane and one or more feed ports; and a multiband antenna apparatus, the antenna apparatus comprising; a first antenna structure disposed above the ground plane and comprising a first radiating element and a first feed portion coupled to a first feed port; a second antenna structure disposed above the ground plane and comprising a second radiating element and a second feed portion coupled to a second feed port; a third antenna structure disposed above the ground plane and comprising a third radiating element and a third feed portion coupled to a third feed port; and wherein; the second antenna structure and second feed port are disposed substantially between said first and third antenna structures; the second antenna element comprises a loop structure configured to have a radiator branch disposed within the loop structure, said radiator branch configured to resonate at a frequency which expands an operational frequency range of the second frequency band; and the first and third radiating elements have radiation patterns which are substantially orthogonal to a radiation pattern of the second radiating element. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method of radiator isolation for use in a multi-feed antenna apparatus of a radio frequency device, the antenna comprising first, second, and third antenna radiating elements, and at least first, second, and third feed portions, the method comprising:
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electrically coupling the first feed point to the first radiating element, said coupling configured to effect a first radiation pattern having maximum sensitivity along a first axis; electrically coupling the second feed point to the second radiating element comprising a loop structure disposed in parallel above a ground plane, the second radiating element having a radiator branch disposed within the loop structure, said electric coupling configured to effect a second radiation pattern having maximum sensitivity along a second axis; and electrically coupling the third feed portion to the third radiating element, said coupling configured to effect a third radiation pattern having maximum sensitivity along said first axis; wherein; said second axis is configured orthogonal to said first axis; said configurations cooperate to effect isolation of the first radiating element from the third radiating element; and the radiator branch configured to resonate at a frequency which expands an operational frequency range of the second radiating element.
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16. A multi-feed antenna apparatus, comprising:
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a first antenna element comprising a first quarter-wavelength planar inverted-L antenna (PILA) operable in a lower frequency band and comprising a first feed portion configured to be coupled to a first feed port; a second antenna element comprising a half-wavelength loop antenna disposed substantially above a ground plane and being operable in a second frequency band and comprising a second feed portion configured to be coupled to a second feed port; and a third antenna element comprising a second quarter-wavelength PILA operable in an upper frequency band and comprising a third feed portion configured to be coupled to a third feed port; wherein the second antenna element is disposed substantially between the first and third antenna elements, and comprises a loop structure configured to have a radiator branch disposed within the loop structure, the radiator branch configured to resonate at a frequency that adds to an operational frequency range of the second frequency band; and wherein the placement of the half-wavelength loop antenna between the first and second quarter-wavelength PILA is configured to achieve a high isolation between the first and second quarter-wavelength PILA.
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Specification