Systems and methods for providing directional radiation fields using distributed loaded monopole antennas

• US 9,281,564 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2010
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The University of Rhode Island Research Foundation (University of Rhode Island)
• Original Assignee: The University of Rhode Island Research Foundation (University of Rhode Island)
• Inventors: Vincent, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Purvis, Sue A
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, AMAL A
• Application Number:
  US12/871,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20110210900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,017 Days
• Field of Search: 343/793, 343/893, 343/867
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/14 with parts bent, folded, shaped or screened or with phasing impedances, to obtain desired phase relation of radiation from selected sections of the antenna or to obtain desired polarisation effect H01Q11/20 takes precedence
• 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 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

An antenna system is disclosed that provides a directional radiation field. The antenna system includes at least two monopole antennas, each of which provides a differential connector. Each differential connector is associated with a signal having a different phase such that a radiation field associated with said antenna system is other than a radiation field that would exist if each differential connector were associated with the signal having the same phase.

Claims

1. An antenna system that provides a directional radiation field, said antenna system comprising at least four monopole antennas, each of which provides a differential connector and each of which includes a transmitter base wherein said transmitter base of each monopole antenna is commonly coupled to a base node, each said monopole antenna including a radiation resistance unit coupled to the transmitter base, a current enhancing unit for enhancing current through said radiation resistance unit, and a conductive mid-section intermediate said radiation resistance unit, wherein each differential connector is provided with a signal having a different phase and a different amplitude such that a radiation field associated with said antenna system is other than a radiation field that would exist if each differential connector were associated with the signal having the same phase and amplitude, and wherein said at least four monopole antennas are separated from one another by a distance of less than ½

λ

where λ

is a wavelength of the directional radiation field, wherein said at least four monopole antennas are provided as a full loop antenna array, and wherein each of said at least four monopole antennas include a top section that is coupled to a top section of another of the at least four monopole antennas by a tuning capacitor, said coupled top sections and said commonly coupled transmitter bases of the at least four monopole antennas forming the full loop antenna array.

2. The antenna system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base of each monopole antenna is coupled to ground.

3. The antenna system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said monopole antennas are provided as planar antennas.

4. The antenna system as claimed in claim 1, where said monopole antennas are provided as a dipole antenna system.

5. The antenna system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said monopole antennas are provided as a structure formed of sides of planar antenna systems, each of which includes a plurality of monopole antennas that are planar.

6. The antenna system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said monopole antennas are provided as an array of monopole antennas.

7. The antenna system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said antenna system is a transmission system and the directional radiation field is a transmission field.

8. The antenna system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said antenna system is a receiver system and the directional radiation field is a reception field.