Low profile compact multi-band meanderline loaded antenna

• US 20060001575A1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SkyCross Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: SkyCross, Inc.
• Inventors: Caimi, Frank M., Jo, Young-Min
• Granted Patent: US 7,079,079 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/371 Branching current paths
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0421 with a shorting wall or a shorting pin at one end of the element H01Q9/0414 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0442 with particular tuning means

Abstract

An antenna for transmitting and receiving radio frequency energy. The antenna comprises a conductive radiator comprising a first and a second conductive region for providing a first and a second current path length. A feed conductor and a ground conductor operate as meanderline (or slow wave) elements to provide an electrical length longer than a physical length.

Claims

1. An antenna comprising:

a radiating conductive structure, further comprising;

a first current path for providing a resonant condition at a first resonant frequency;

a second current path for providing a resonant condition at a second resonant frequency;

a common feed conductor for the first and the second current paths, wherein the feed conductor is connected to the radiating structure; and

a common ground conductor for the first and the second current paths, wherein the ground conductor is connected to the radiating structure.

2. The antenna of claim 1 wherein at least one of the feed conductor and the ground comprises a slow wave meanderline conductor.

3. The antenna of claim 1 wherein a segment of the feed conductor and a segment of the ground conductor are disposed in a plane parallel to a plane of the radiating structure.

4. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the first current path comprises a planar conductive region disposed in an interior region of the radiating structure.

5. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the second current path comprises a conductive element in a plane of the radiating structure and a conducting element outside the plane of the radiating structure.

6. The antenna of claim 5 wherein a conductive element outside of the plane of the radiating structure comprises a conductive element in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the radiating structure.

7. The antenna of claim 6 wherein the conductive element in the plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the radiating structure is conductively connected to the radiating element.

8. The antenna of claim 5 wherein conductive elements outside the plane of the radiating structure further comprises a first and a second conductive element in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the radiating structure.

9. The antenna of claim 5 wherein the conductive element in the plane of the radiating structure comprises a conductive element in a boundary region of the radiating structure.

10. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the first current path is shorter than the second current path and the first resonant frequency is higher than the second resonant frequency.

11. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the second current path comprises a planar conductive region disposed in a boundary region of the radiating structure and a separate conductive segment connected to the planar conductive region by a conductive bridge.

12. The antenna of claim 11 wherein the conductive bridge is disposed along a vertical surface of the radiating structure substantially perpendicular to the planar conductive region and the separate conductive segment.

13. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the first current path extends from the feed conductor along a first path on the radiating structure, and wherein the second current path extends from the feed conductor along a second path on the feed conductor.

14. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the first current path is non-overlapping with the second current path.

15. The antenna of claim 1 installed in a communications device having a ground plane, wherein the ground plane is spaced apart from the antenna, wherein any line perpendicular to and passing through the radiating conductive structure does not pass through the ground plane.

16. The antenna of claim 15 wherein the ground plane is spaced apart from the antenna by a distance greater than or equal to about 5 mm.

17. The antenna of claim 15 wherein the ground plane is spaced apart from a location where the feed conductor is connected to the radiating structure by a distance greater than or equal to about 5 mm.

18. The antenna of claim 15 wherein the ground plane is spaced apart from a location where the ground conductor is connected to the radiating structure by a distance greater than or equal to about 5 mm.

19. The antenna of claim 1 installed in a communications device having a substrate for supporting the antenna and having a ground plane, wherein the radiating structure is spaced apart from the substrate by a first distance and spaced apart from the ground plane by a second distance greater than the first distance.

20. The antenna of claim 19 wherein the first distance is about 3 mm and the second distance is about 5 mm.

21. The antenna of claim 1 wherein a length of the first current path is substantially a quarter wavelength at the first resonant frequency and a length of the second current path is substantially a quarter wavelength at the second resonant frequency.

22. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the first resonant frequency is between about 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz and the second resonant frequency is between about 880 MHz and 960 MHz.

23. An antenna comprising:

a slow wave ground conductor;

a slow wave feed conductor;

a planar conductive radiator conductively connected to the ground conductor and the feed conductor, the radiator comprising;

a high band region providing a current path having a length to create a resonant condition at a first frequency; and

a low band region providing a current path having a length to create a resonant condition at a second frequency.

24. The antenna of claim 23 further comprising a ground plane spaced at least 5mm from the radiator.

25. The antenna of claim 23 further comprising a carrier for supporting the antenna, wherein the antenna is affixed to the carrier.

26. The antenna of claim 25 wherein the carrier defines a plurality of openings therein.