Modular cell antenna apparatus and methods
First Claim
1. An antenna element, comprising:
- a cover element having a cavity formed therein;
a main radiating element disposed substantially within the cavity;
a coupling element configured to at least electrically couple the antenna element to a host radio frequency device; and
a parasitic radiating element formed substantially on or within the cover element;
wherein at least a portion of the cover element is disposed between the main radiating element and the parasitic radiating element; and
wherein the antenna element further comprises a substantially modular construction that is configured to enable the antenna element to mate with at least one other similar or identical antenna element so as to form an array, the at least one other similar or identical antenna element comprising;
another cover element having another cavity formed thereon;
another main radiating element disposed substantially within the other cavity;
another coupling element configured to at least electrically couple the at least one other similar or identical antenna element to the host radio frequency device; and
another parasitic radiating element formed substantially on or within the other cover element;
wherein at least a portion of the other cover element is disposed between the other main radiating element and the other parasitic radiating element.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Simple, low-cost and modular antenna apparatus and methods associated therewith. In one embodiment, a modular antenna element that can be used either alone or as a basic “building block” for larger arrays and sectorial antennas (i.e., by joining needed number of elements together) is provided. The same parts can be reused for various complete product designs, thereby advantageously reducing the need for customized parts (and the attendant disabilities associated therewith). Moreover, multiple antenna elements can be readily joined together via a common feed network (in one implementation, via the back portion of each element). The antenna gain and beam width are also adjustable through configuration of the array (and the construction of the antenna elements themselves).
462 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An antenna element, comprising:
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a cover element having a cavity formed therein; a main radiating element disposed substantially within the cavity; a coupling element configured to at least electrically couple the antenna element to a host radio frequency device; and a parasitic radiating element formed substantially on or within the cover element; wherein at least a portion of the cover element is disposed between the main radiating element and the parasitic radiating element; and wherein the antenna element further comprises a substantially modular construction that is configured to enable the antenna element to mate with at least one other similar or identical antenna element so as to form an array, the at least one other similar or identical antenna element comprising; another cover element having another cavity formed thereon; another main radiating element disposed substantially within the other cavity; another coupling element configured to at least electrically couple the at least one other similar or identical antenna element to the host radio frequency device; and another parasitic radiating element formed substantially on or within the other cover element; wherein at least a portion of the other cover element is disposed between the other main radiating element and the other parasitic radiating element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An antenna array, comprising:
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a plurality of modular antenna elements each comprising; a distinct cover element having a cavity formed therein; a distinct main radiating element disposed substantially within the cavity; and a coupling element configured to at least electrically couple the antenna element to a host radio frequency device; and a feed structure configured to commonly feed each of the plurality of modular antenna elements; wherein the plurality of modular antenna elements are each configured to be joined to one another in one of a plurality of differing configurations. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An antenna element, comprising:
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a cover element having a cavity formed therein; a back housing element configured to cooperate with the cover element so as to substantially enclose the cavity; a main radiating element disposed substantially within the cavity; a coupling element configured to at least electrically couple the antenna element to a host radio frequency device; a laser direct structured (LDS) parasitic radiating element formed on an exterior surface of the cover element; and a ground plane disposed on the back housing element; wherein the coupling element is further configured to enable a mechanical coupling of the antenna element to a substrate of the host radio frequency device; and wherein the antenna element comprises a substantially modular construction that is configured to enable the antenna element to be mated with at least one other similar or identical antenna element comprised of another cover element that is distinct from the cover element of the antenna element so as to form an array. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification