Omnidirectional antenna system

• US 8,063,844 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2008
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sierra Nevada Co. LLC
• Original Assignee: Kutta Technologies, Inc. (Sierra Nevada Co. LLC)
• Inventors: Pease, Brian L.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCUSO, HUEDUNG XUAN CAO
• Application Number:
  US11/970,142
• Time in Patent Office: 1,415 Days
• Field of Search: 343/788, 343/715, 343/702, 343/728
• US Class Current: 343/788
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/08 Ferrite rod or like elongated core

Abstract

An omnidirectional antenna system. Implementations may include an antenna having a wire loop and a single ferrite rod loop. The single ferrite rod loop may be oriented substantially parallel to a plane formed by the wire loop. The single ferrite rod loop may include a plurality of windings and a ferrite rod having a length and two ends. The two ends of the ferrite rod may be substantially centered relative to the wire loop. The plurality of windings may be distributed across a majority of the length of the ferrite rod.

Claims

1. An omnidirectional antenna system comprising:

an antenna comprising a wire loop and a single ferrite rod loop, the single ferrite rod loop oriented substantially parallel to a plane formed by the wire loop;

wherein the single ferrite rod loop comprises a plurality of windings and a ferrite rod comprising a length and two ends; and

a 90-degree hybrid network coupled to each of the wire loop and the single ferrite rod loop;

wherein the wire loop and the single ferrite rod loop are substantially electrically isolated from each other through the hybrid network.

2. The omnidirectional antenna system of claim 1, further comprising at least one resistor coupled to at least one of the wire loop and the ferrite rod loop.

3. The omnidirectional antenna system of claim 1, wherein the wire loop is substantially circular or substantially square.

4. The omnidirectional antenna system of claim 1, wherein the ferrite rod comprises one of a substantially circular cross-section and a substantially rectangular cross-section.

5. The omnidirectional antenna system of claim 1, further comprising a transmit amplifier coupled to the hybrid network.

6. A method of radio frequency communication comprising:

receiving a first radio signal through an antenna comprising at least two loop elements with orthogonal magnetic axes, the first radio signal being received through one or more of the at least two loop elements;

combining the first radio signal from the one or more of the at least two loop elements using a hybrid network; and

transmitting a second radio signal in a horizontal plane in a substantially omnidirectional magnetic field through the antenna by driving the at least two loop elements of the antenna substantially 90 degrees out of phase by phase shifting and quadrature splitting/combining of the second radio signal through the hybrid network.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising increasing the bandwidth of the at least two loop elements through coupling a resistor with the at least two loop elements.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the steps of transmitting the second radio signal and receiving the first radio signal take place while rotating the at least two loop elements 360 degrees relative to the axis of a tunnel.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the steps of receiving a first radio signal and transmitting the second radio signal in the horizontal plane further comprise the step of extending the reception of the first radio signal and the transmission of the second radio signal through coupling the antenna to a wire or pipe in a tunnel.