Multiple-element antenna

• US 6,664,930 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2002
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Qi, Yihong, Jarmuszewski, Perry, Bandurska, Krystyna, Wen, Geyi
• Primary Examiner(s): VANNUCCI, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US10/119,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20020149527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/795, 343/803, 343/727, 343/730, 343/725, 343/729, 343/806
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/40 Imbricated or interleaved structures; Combined or electromagnetically coupled arrangements, e.g. comprising two or more non-connected fed radiating elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/28 Conical, cylindrical, cage, strip, gauze, or like elements having an extended radiating surface; Elements comprising two conical surfaces having collinear axes and adjacent apices and fed by two-conductor transmission lines waveguide horns or mouths H01Q13/00; slot antennas H01Q13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/40 Element having extended radiating surface

Abstract

A multiple-element antenna is provided that includes a monopole portion and a dipole portion. The monopole portion has a top section, a middle section, and a bottom section. The middle section defines a recess between the top and bottom sections, and the bottom section includes a monopole feeding port configured to couple the monopole portion of the multiple-element antenna to communications circuitry in a mobile communication device. The dipole portion has at least one dipole feeding port configured to couple the dipole portion of the multiple-element antenna to communications circuitry in the mobile communications device. The dipole portion of the multiple-element antenna is positioned within the recess defined by the monopole portion of the multiple-element antenna in order to electromagnetically couple the monopole portion with the dipole portion.

Claims

1. A multiple-element antenna for a mobile communication device, comprising:

a monopole portion having a top section, a middle section and a bottom section, wherein the middle section defines a recess between the top and bottom sections, and wherein the bottom section includes a monopole feeding port configured to couple the monopole portion of the multiple-element antenna to communications circuitry in the mobile communication device; and

a dipole portion having at least one dipole feeding port configured to couple the dipole portion of the multiple-element antenna to communications circuitry in the mobile communications device;

wherein the dipole portion of the multiple-element antenna is positioned within the recess defined by the monopole portion of the multiple-element antenna in order to electromagnetically couple the monopole portion with the dipole portion;

wherein the bottom section of the monopole portion includes a gain patch and the dipole portion includes a load patch, and wherein the gain patch is positioned in close proximity to the load patch in order to increase the gain of the monopole and dipole portions.

2. The multiple-element antenna of claim 1, wherein the monopole portion and the dipole portion are fabricated on a single substrate.

3. The multiple-element antenna of claim 2, wherein the substrate is a flexible dielectric substrate.

4. The multiple-element antenna of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device is a dual-band mobile communication device, and wherein the monopole portion is tuned to a first operating frequency and the dipole portion is tuned to a second operating frequency.

5. The multiple-element antenna of claim 1, wherein the top section of the monopole portion includes a meandering line.

6. The multiple-element antenna of claim 5, wherein the conductor length of the meandering line is pre-selected to tune the monopole portion to an operating frequency.

7. The multiple-element antenna of claim 1, wherein the dipole portion is an open folded dipole antenna.

8. The multiple-element antenna of claim 1, wherein the dipole portion is an offset feed, open folded dipole antenna.

9. The multiple-element antenna of claim 1, wherein the dipole portion includes a top load.

10. The multiple-element antenna of claim 9, wherein dimensions of the top load are pre-selected to tune the dipole portion to an operating frequency.

11. The multiple-element antenna of claim 1, wherein the dipole portion includes a first conductor section and a second conductor section.

12. The multiple-element antenna of claim 11, wherein the first and second conductor sections define a gap.

13. The multiple-element antenna of claim 12, wherein the size of the gap is pre-selected to set the gain of the dipole portion.

14. The multiple-element antenna of claim 1, wherein the monopole feeding port couples the monopole portion to a receiver in the mobile communication device.

15. The multiple-element antenna of claim 1, wherein the dipole feeding port couples the dipole portion to a transmitter in the mobile communication device.

16. The multiple-element antenna of claim 1, wherein the multiple-element antenna is positioned within a housing of the mobile communication device.

17. The multiple-element antenna of claim 3, wherein the multiple-element antenna is mounted to an inside surface of the mobile communication device.

18. The multiple-element antenna of claim 17, wherein the flexible dielectric substrate is folded to mount the multiple-element antenna to a plurality of perpendicular inside surfaces of the mobile communication device.

19. A multiple-element antenna for a mobile communication device, comprising:

a monopole portion having a top section, a middle section and a bottom section, wherein the middle section defines a recess between the top and bottom sections, and wherein the bottom section includes a monopole feeding port configured to couple the monopole portion of the multiple-element antenna to communications circuitry in the mobile communication device; and

a dipole portion having at least one dipole feeding port configured to couple the dipole portion of the multiple-element antenna to communications circuitry in the mobile communications device;

wherein the dipole portion of the multiple-element antenna is positioned within the recess defined by the monopole portion of the multiple-element antenna in order to electromagnetically couple the monopole portion with the dipole portion;

wherein the dipole portion includes a first conductor section and a second conductor section that define a gap;

wherein the second conductor section includes a stability patch that defines the gap with the first conductor section.

20. The multiple-element antenna of claim 19, wherein the dimensions of the stability patch are pre-selected to set the gain of the dipole portion.

21. The multiple-element antenna of claim 19, wherein the monopole portion and the dipole portion are fabricated on a single substrate.

22. The multiple-element antenna of claim 21, wherein the substrate is a flexible dielectric substrate.

23. The multiple-element antenna of claim 19, wherein the mobile communication device is a dual-band mobile communication device, and wherein the monopole portion is tuned to a first operating frequency and the dipole portion is tuned to a second operating frequency.

24. The multiple-element antenna of claim 19, wherein the top section of the monopole portion includes a meandering line.

25. The multiple-element antenna of claim 24, wherein the conductor length of the meandering line is pre-selected to tune the monopole portion to an operating frequency.

26. The multiple-element antenna of claim 19, wherein the dipole portion is an open folded dipole antenna.

27. The multiple-element antenna of claim 19, wherein the dipole portion is an offset feed, open folded dipole antenna.

28. The multiple-element antenna of claim 19, wherein the dipole portion includes a top load.

29. The multiple-element antenna of claim 28, wherein dimensions of the top load are pre-selected to tune the dipole portion to an operating frequency.

30. The multiple-element antenna of claim 19, wherein the dipole portion includes a first conductor section and a second conductor section.

31. The multiple-element antenna of claim 30, wherein the first and second conductor sections define a gap.

32. The multiple-element antenna of claim 31, wherein the size of the gap is pre-selected to set the gain of the dipole portion.

33. The multiple-element antenna of claim 19, wherein the monopole feeding port couples the monopole portion to a receiver in the mobile communication device.

34. The multiple-element antenna of claim 19, wherein the dipole feeding port couples the dipole portion to a transmitter in the mobile communication device.

35. The multiple-element antenna of claim 19, wherein the multiple-element antenna is positioned within a housing of the mobile communication device.

36. The multiple-element antenna of claim 22, wherein the multiple-element antenna is mounted to an inside surface of the mobile communication device.

37. The multiple-element antenna of claim 36, wherein the flexible dielectric substrate is folded to mount the multiple-element antenna to a plurality of perpendicular inside surfaces of the mobile communication device.