Wide angle planar antenna assembly

• US 9,515,389 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2013
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal Mart Stores Inc (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Rankin, Stan, Judd, Brock, Edwards, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Hoanganh
• Application Number:
  US13/904,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 343/837, 343/834, 343/866, 343/867, 343/741, 343/742
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/14 Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures electromagnetic shields H01Q1/526
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/18 having two or more spaced reflecting surfaces H01Q19/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• 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

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure are related to an antenna system including radiating elements and reflectors. The reflectors can be disposed with respect to the radiating elements to reflect radiation from the radiating elements to generate a coverage area that exceeds the coverage area generated by the radiating elements without the reflectors.

Claims

1. An antenna system comprising:

a plurality of radiation elements aligned in a common plane and uniformly spaced with respect to each other circumferentially about an axis perpendicular to the common plane extending centrally between the radiating elements; and

a first reflector centrally located with respect to the radiation elements in a radiation direction of the radiation elements away from the common plane, the first reflector having a conical configuration, the apex of the first reflector being disposed in proximity to the radiating elements and the base of the first reflector being disposed away from the radiation elements, wherein the base of the reflector has a diameter that exceeds a footprint of the radiating elements and the first reflector reflects the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation elements along the axis and through the common plane to provide a coverage area that extends along the axis beyond the antenna system; and

wherein a center axis of the first reflector extends at an angle to the common plane other than ninety degrees.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second reflector extending at a second angle with respect to the common plane and defining a planar reflection surface.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second reflector is disposed adjacent to the first reflector.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the each of the radiating elements is a single feedpoint loop antenna.

5. An antenna system, comprising:

a plurality of radiation elements having a quadrant arrangement and being disposed in a common plane and circumferentially about an axis perpendicular to the common plane;

a conical reflector having an apex, a base, and a conical surface, the apex of the conical reflector being disposed in proximity and centrally with respect to the radiating elements, the base being disposed away from the radiating elements, a diameter of the base being greater than a footprint of the radiation elements, and the conical surface extending from the apex to the base at a first angle with respect to the common plane,

wherein the conical reflector reflects the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation elements along the axis and through the common plane to provide a coverage area that extends along the axis beyond the antenna system; and

wherein each of the radiating elements form a single feedpoint loop antenna.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a planar reflector disposed at a second angle with respect to the common plane and adjacent to the conical reflector.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein a center axis of the conical reflector extends from the common plane at a fourth angle that is greater than ninety degrees such that the conical reflector tilts towards the planar reflector.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the second angle is ninety degrees.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein a center axis of the conical reflector corresponds to the axis perpendicular to the common plane such that a third angle between the common plane and the center axis is approximately ninety degrees.

10. An antenna system comprising:

a plurality of radiation elements aligned in a common plane and uniformly spaced with respect to each other circumferentially about an axis perpendicular to the common plane extending centrally between the radiating elements; and

a first reflector centrally located with respect to the radiation elements in a radiation direction of the radiation elements away from the plane, the first reflector having a conical configuration, the apex of the first reflector being disposed in proximity to the radiating elements and the base of the first reflector being disposed away from the radiation elements, wherein the base of the reflector has a diameter that exceeds a footprint of the radiating elements and the first reflector reflects the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation elements along the axis and through the common plane to provide a coverage area that extends along the axis beyond the antenna system; and

wherein the each of the radiating elements is a single feedpoint loop antenna.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein a center axis of the first reflector corresponds to the axis perpendicular to the common plane.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein a center axis of the first reflector extends at an angle to the common plane other than ninety degrees.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising a second reflector extending disposed at angle with respect to the common plane and defining a planar reflection surface.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second reflector is disposed adjacent to the first reflector.