Space efficient magnetic antenna system

• US 7,755,552 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2006
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GaN Corporation
• Original Assignee: Q-Track Corporation
• Inventors: Fluhler, James David, Gabig, Jerome Sylvester, Wolenec, Glenn, Siwiak, Kazimierez, Schantz, Hans Gregory, DePierre, Robert Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens; Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu; Jimmy T
• Application Number:
  US11/473,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20060244673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/741, 343/718, 343/867, 343/873, 343/895, 455/41.1, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 343/718
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/276 for mounting on helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/08 Ferrite rod or like elongated core
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling

Abstract

A space efficient magnetic antenna is disclosed for use in tracking, positioning and other applications. In a preferred embodiment, a space efficient magnetic antenna system comprises a first magnetic antenna with a first null axis aligned within a predetermined plane and a second magnetic antenna having a second null axis aligned substantially orthogonal to a first null axis. A second magnetic antenna system lies in a minimal coupling orientation with respect to a first magnetic antenna system. Additionally, a first magnetic antenna may further comprise a plurality of interconnected magnetic antenna elements. A space efficient magnetic antenna system may include an RF module. An RF module may alternately utilize a first magnetic antenna and a second magnetic antenna, or an RF module may drive a second magnetic antenna in phase quadrature with respect to a first magnetic antenna. In still further embodiments, a space efficient magnetic antenna system may further include a third mutually orthogonal magnetic antenna.

Claims

1. A space efficient magnetic antenna system, comprising:

a first magnetic antenna, said first magnetic antenna having a first null axis aligned within a predetermined plane,

said first magnetic antenna further comprising a plurality of interconnected magnetic antenna elements, each said magnetic antenna element having a null axis substantially parallel to said first null axis; and

a second magnetic antenna,

said second magnetic antenna having a second null axis aligned substantially orthogonal to said first null axis and said second null axis further aligned within said predetermined plane.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said second magnetic antenna lies in a minimal coupling orientation with respect to said first magnetic antenna.

3. The space efficient magnetic antenna system of claim 1, wherein said first magnetic antenna comprises a coil wound around a loopstick axis, said coil having turns lying parallel to a plane, said plane at a substantial diagonal angle from said loopstick axis.

4. The space efficient magnetic antenna system of claim 1, further including an RF module having at least one characteristic physical dimension, wherein said first magnetic antenna has a null axis at a substantial diagonal angle from said at least one characteristic physical dimension.

5. The space efficient magnetic antenna system of claim 4, wherein the at least one characteristic physical dimension is one of the group consisting of overall length, overall width, and overall height.

6. The space efficient magnetic antenna system of claim 1, wherein the first magnetic antenna and second magnetic antenna are embedded in clothing and the null axis of said first magnetic antenna is substantially perpendicular to the null axis of said second magnetic antenna, said null axes lying substantially in an azimuthal plane.

7. The space efficient magnetic antenna system of claim 1, further including an RF module wherein said RF module alternately utilizes said first magnetic antenna and said second magnetic antenna.

8. The space efficient magnetic antenna system of claim 1, further including an RF module wherein said RF module drives said second magnetic antenna in phase quadrature relative to said first magnetic antenna.

9. The space efficient magnetic antenna system of claim 1, further including a third magnetic antenna with a third null axis mutually orthogonal to said first null axis and said second null axis.

10. A space efficient magnetic antenna system, comprising:

a first magnetic antenna, said first magnetic antenna having a first null axis aligned within a predetermined plane, and

a second magnetic antenna having a second null axis aligned substantially orthogonal to said first null axis and said second null axis further aligned within said predetermined plane;

wherein said second magnetic antenna lies in a minimal coupling orientation with respect to said first magnetic antenna.

11. The space efficient magnetic antenna system of claim 10, wherein said first magnetic antenna further comprises a plurality of interconnected magnetic antenna elements, each said magnetic antenna element having a null axis substantially parallel to said first null axis.

12. The space efficient magnetic antenna system of claim 10, further including an RF module wherein said RF module alternately utilizes said first magnetic antenna and said second magnetic antenna.

13. The space efficient magnetic antenna system of claim 10, further including an RF module wherein said RF module drives said second magnetic antenna in phase quadrature relative to said first magnetic antenna.

14. The space efficient magnetic antenna system of claim 10, further including an RF module having at least one characteristic physical dimension, wherein said first magnetic antenna has a null axis at a substantial diagonal angle from said at least one characteristic physical dimension.

15. The space efficient magnetic antenna system of claim 10, further including a third magnetic antenna with a third null axis mutually orthogonal to said first null axis and said second null axis.

16. The space efficient magnetic antenna system of claim 10, wherein said first magnetic antenna further comprises a bar, said bar is characterized by a principal axis, said principal axis is characterized by an orientation relative to said first null axis, and said orientation of said principal axis is not substantially co-parallel to said first null axis.

17. A space efficient magnetic antenna system, comprising:

a first magnetic antenna, said first magnetic antenna having a first null axis aligned within a predetermined plane, and

a second magnetic antenna having a second null axis aligned substantially orthogonal to said first null axis and said second null axis further aligned within said predetermined plane,

said first magnetic antenna and said second magnetic antenna further including a common core.

18. The space efficient magnetic antenna system of claim 17,

wherein said common core is characterized by a principal axis,

wherein said common core is characterized by a secondary axis, and

wherein there is a substantial difference in extent in said common core along said secondary axis relative to said principal axis.

19. The space efficient magnetic antenna system of claim 18, further including an RF module wherein said RF module drives said second magnetic antenna in phase quadrature relative to said first magnetic antenna.