MULTIMODE ANTENNA STRUCTURE

• US 20160190684A1
• Filed: 03/10/2016
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SkyCross Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: SkyCross, Inc.
• Inventors: Montgomery, Mark T., Caimi, Frank M., Kishler, Mark W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,660,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/521 reducing the coupling between adjacent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/523 between antennas of an array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/20 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a curvilinear path slotted waveguide arrays H01Q21/005; circularly or helically slotted waveguides H01Q21/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2617 Array of identical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/15 for operation of centre-fed antennas comprising one or more collinear, substantially straight or elongated active elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/307 Individual or coupled radiating elements, each element being fed in an unspecified way
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/371 Branching current paths
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/145 by varying the electrical length
• 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 9/285 Planar dipole H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

One or more embodiments are directed to a multimode antenna structure for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals in a communications device. The communications device includes circuitry for processing signals communicated to and from the antenna structure. The antenna structure is configured for optimal operation in a given frequency range. The antenna structure includes a plurality of antenna ports operatively coupled to the circuitry, and a plurality of antenna elements, each operatively coupled to a different one of the antenna ports. Each of the plurality of antenna elements is configured to have an electrical length selected to provide optimal operation within the given frequency range. The antenna structure also includes one or more connecting elements electrically connecting the antenna elements such that electrical currents on one antenna element flow to a connected neighboring antenna element and generally bypass the antenna port coupled to the neighboring antenna element. The electrical currents flowing through the one antenna element and the neighboring antenna element are generally equal in magnitude, such that an antenna mode excited by one antenna port is generally electrically isolated from a mode excited by another antenna port at a given desired signal frequency range without the use of a decoupling network connected to the antenna ports, and the antenna structure generates diverse antenna patterns.

Claims

1. An antenna structure comprising:

a plurality of antenna ports;

a plurality of antenna elements, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements is coupled to a different one of the plurality of antenna ports, and wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements operates in a frequency range; and

one or more connection elements electrically coupling the plurality of antenna elements, wherein the one or more connection elements have a non-linear shape, wherein electrical currents on one of the plurality of antenna elements flow to a neighboring one of the plurality of antenna elements at least substantially bypassing one of the plurality of antenna ports coupled to the neighboring one of the plurality of antenna elements, wherein the electrical currents flowing through the one of the plurality of antenna elements and the neighboring one of the plurality of antenna elements have an equal magnitude such that a first antenna mode excited by one of the plurality of antenna ports is at least substantially electrically isolated from a second antenna mode excited by another one of the plurality of antenna ports at a desired signal frequency range.

2. The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein the at least substantial electrical isolation at the desired signal frequency range is achieved without coupling a decoupling network to the plurality of antenna ports, and wherein the antenna structure generates diverse antenna patterns.

3. The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of antenna elements comprises first and second element portions connected by a switch to vary an electrical length of the at least one of the plurality of antenna elements.

4. The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein the frequency range of the antenna structure is tunable.

5. The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein the one or more connection elements comprise a tunable element for changing the frequency range of the antenna structure.

6. The antenna structure of claim 5, wherein the tunable element alters a delay, a phase, or an impedance of an electrical coupling between antenna elements.

7. The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein the one or more connection elements are directly connected to the plurality of antenna elements.

8. The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements has a tortuous configuration.

9. The antenna structure of claim 8, wherein the tortuous configuration comprises helical coils or loops.

10. The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements comprise a slot.

11. The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein the plurality of antenna elements and the one or more connection elements comprise a printed circuit.

12. An antenna structure, comprising:

a plurality of antenna ports;

a plurality of pairs of antenna elements, wherein each of the pairs of antenna elements is coupled to a different one of the plurality of antenna ports, wherein each of the plurality of pairs of antenna elements operates in a frequency range, and wherein at least some of the plurality of pairs of antenna elements are dual-resonant dipole arms; and

one or more connection elements electrically coupling the plurality of pairs of antenna elements, wherein the one or more connection elements have a length, a shape and a conductivity that causes electrical currents on one of the plurality of pairs of antenna elements to flow to a neighboring one of the plurality of pairs of antenna elements, wherein the electrical currents have a magnitude such that a first antenna mode excited by one of the plurality of antenna ports is at least substantially electrically isolated from a second antenna mode excited by another one of the plurality of antenna ports at a desired signal frequency range.

13. The antenna structure of claim 12, wherein the at least substantial electrical isolation is achieved without coupling a decoupling network to the plurality of antenna ports.

14. The antenna structure of claim 12, wherein the electrical currents at least substantially bypass one of the plurality of antenna ports coupled to the neighboring one of the plurality of pairs of antenna elements.

15. The antenna structure of claim 12, wherein at least one pair of the plurality of pairs of antenna elements has first and second antenna elements of different lengths.

16. A device comprising:

a substrate; and

a printed circuit on the substrate, wherein the substrate and the printed circuit form a planar structure, and wherein the printed circuit comprises;

a plurality of antenna ports;

a plurality of antenna elements, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements is coupled to a different one of the plurality of antenna ports, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements operates in a frequency range; and

one or more connection elements electrically coupling the plurality of antenna elements, wherein the one or more connection elements have a shape, a length and a conductivity that causes electrical currents on one of the plurality of antenna elements to flow to a neighboring one of the plurality of antenna elements, wherein the electrical currents have a magnitude such that a first antenna mode excited by one of the plurality of antenna ports is at least substantially electrically isolated from a second antenna mode excited by another one of the plurality of antenna ports at a desired signal frequency range, wherein the one or more connection elements comprise a tunable element for changing the frequency range.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the at least substantial electrical isolation at the desired signal frequency range is achieved without coupling a decoupling network to the plurality of antenna ports, and wherein the printed circuit generates diverse antenna patterns.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein at least one of the plurality of antenna elements comprises first and second element portions connected by a switch to vary an electrical length of the at least one of the plurality of antenna elements.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements has a tortuous configuration.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the tortuous configuration comprises loops.