Compact polarized antenna and methods

• US 9,509,054 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2014
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pulse Finland Oy (Yageo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pulse Finland Oy (Yageo Corporation)
• Inventors: Koskiniemi, Kimmo, Nissinen, Pertti
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoang V
• Application Number:
  US14/557,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20150155631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 343/718, 343/700.MS
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0428 radiating a circular polarised wave
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/045 with particular feeding means for circular polarisation H01Q9/0428
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

A right-hand circular polarized antenna and associated methods. In one embodiment, a quarter-wave antenna configuration is used within a small form factor portable device (e.g. wristwatch). The antenna comprises a radiator element which operates in as a linear polarized antenna while the device is operating in free space. However, when the device is attached to a user (e.g. at a user'"'"'s wrist), the antenna utilizes the loading of the user'"'"'s body tissue in order to suppress unwanted signals (e.g. left hand polarized signals) to permit operation in circular polarized mode (e.g. right hand polarized mode), thereby allowing for increased sensitivity to received circularly polarized signals such as those emanated from global positioning satellites.

Claims

1. An antenna component for use in a portable communications device, the device comprising a ground, a feed port, and a ground plane, the antenna component comprising:

a dielectric substrate;

a radiator element disposed proximate to a surface of the substrate; and

a feed conductor configured to couple to the radiator element at a feed point;

wherein the antenna component is configured to operate in a first mode when placed under a first operating condition, and to operate in a second mode when placed under a second operating condition;

wherein the first mode is configured to operate as a linear polarized antenna, and the second mode is configured to operate as a right hand circular polarized (RHCP) antenna; and

wherein the first operating condition comprises the portable communications device operating in free-space, and the second operating condition comprises the portable communications device operating under a loading condition.

2. The antenna component of claim 1, wherein the loading condition comprises the portable communications device being in electrical contact with at least a part of a user'"'"'s body.

3. The antenna component of claim 1, wherein the antenna component comprises a quarter-wave antenna.

4. The antenna component of claim 1, further comprising a ground conductor configured to couple to the radiator element at a ground point.

5. The antenna component of claim 1, wherein the feed port is configured to be coupled to a ground point of the portable communications device, the coupling occurring at a point between the feed point and the ground point.

6. The antenna component of claim 5, further comprising a ground conductor configured to couple to the radiator element at the ground point.

7. The antenna component of claim 6, wherein the antenna component comprises a quarter-wave antenna.

8. The antenna component of claim 7, wherein the loading condition comprises the portable communications device being in electrical contact with at least a part of a user'"'"'s body.

9. An antenna component for use in a portable communications device, the device comprising a ground, a feed port, and a ground plane, the antenna component comprising:

a dielectric substrate;

a radiator element disposed proximate to a surface of the substrate; and

a feed conductor configured to couple to the radiator element at a feed point;

wherein the antenna component is configured to operate in a first mode when placed under a first operating condition, and to operate in a second mode when placed under a second operating condition; and

wherein the feed port is coupled to a ground point of the portable communications device, the coupling occurring at a point between the feed point and the ground point.

10. The antenna component of claim 9, wherein the first mode is configured to operate as a linear polarized antenna, and the second mode is configured to operate as a right hand circular polarized (RHCP) antenna.

11. The antenna component of claim 10, wherein the first operating condition comprises the portable communications device operating in free-space, and the second operating condition comprises the portable communications device operating under a loading condition.

12. The antenna component of claim 11, wherein the loading condition comprises the portable communications device being in electrical contact with at least a part of a user'"'"'s body.

13. The antenna component of claim 9, wherein the antenna component comprises a quarter-wave antenna.

14. The antenna component of claim 9, further comprising a ground conductor configured to couple to the radiator element at the ground point.

15. The antenna component of claim 14, wherein the antenna component comprises a quarter-wave antenna.

16. The antenna component of claim 15, wherein the first operating condition comprises the portable communications device operating in free-space, and the second operating condition comprises the portable communications device operating under a loading condition.

17. The antenna component of claim 16, wherein the loading condition comprises the portable communications device being in electrical contact with at least a part of a user'"'"'s body.

18. The antenna component of claim 17, wherein the first mode is configured to operate as a linear polarized antenna, and the second mode is configured to operate as a right hand circular polarized (RHCP) antenna.