The present disclosure relates generally to antenna assemblies and, more particularly, to an antenna assembly having a monopole antenna for 5G communications and a circularly polarized antenna for global positioning system (GPS) and/or Wifi communications.
Antenna assemblies can include a circularly polarized antenna. The circularly polarized antenna can include a plurality of isolated magnetic dipole elements. Each of the plurality of isolated magnetic dipole elements can be coupled to a radio frequency (RF) phase shifter circuit. In this manner, a RF signal the RF phase shifter circuit provides to one isolated magnetic dipole element of the circularly polarized antenna can be out-of-phase relative to a RF signal provided to every other isolated magnetic dipole element of the circularly polarized antenna.
Aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be learned from the description, or may be learned through practice of the embodiments.
In one aspect, an antenna assembly is provided. The antenna assembly includes a column substrate having a plurality of sides. The column substrate defines a cavity extending from a first end of the column substrate to a second end of the column substrate. The antenna assembly further includes a monopole antenna disposed within the cavity. The monopole antenna is configured to communicate over a first frequency band ranging from about 5000 Megahertz to about 5900 Megahertz. The antenna assembly even further includes a circularly polarized antenna. The circularly polarized antenna includes a plurality of isolated magnetic dipole elements. Each of the isolated magnetic dipole elements is coupled to a different side of the column substrate. The circularly polarized antenna is configured to communicate over a second frequency band and a third frequency band. The second frequency band ranges from about 1560 Megahertz to about 1620 Megahertz. The third frequency band ranges from about 2400 Megahertz to about 2500 Megahertz.
In another aspect, an antenna system is provided. The antenna system includes a phase shifter circuit. The phase shifter circuit includes a plurality of phase shifters. Each of the plurality of phase shifters is electrically coupled to a radio frequency source. The antenna system further includes an antenna assembly. The antenna assembly includes a column substrate having a plurality of sides. The column substrate defines a cavity extending from a first end of the column substrate to a second end of the column substrate. The antenna assembly further includes a monopole antenna disposed within the cavity. The monopole antenna is configured to communicate over a first frequency band ranging from about 5000 Megahertz to about 5900 Megahertz. The antenna assembly even further includes a circularly polarized antenna electrically coupled to the phase shifter circuit. The circularly polarized antenna includes a plurality of isolated magnetic dipole elements. Each of the isolated magnetic dipole elements is coupled to a different side of the column substrate. The circularly polarized antenna is configured to communicate over a second frequency band and a third frequency band. The second frequency band ranges from about 1560 Megahertz to about 1620 Megahertz. The third frequency band ranges from about 2400 Megahertz to about 2500 Megahertz.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of various embodiments will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the related principles.
Detailed discussion of embodiments directed to one of ordinary skill in the art are set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the embodiments, not a limitation of the present disclosure. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that aspects of the present disclosure cover such modifications and variations.
Example aspects of the present disclosure are directed to an antenna assembly. The antenna assembly can include a column substrate having a plurality of sides. For instance, in some implementations, the column substrate can include four sides. In alternative implementations, the column substrate can include more or fewer sides. The antenna assembly can further include a circularly polarized antenna. Details of the circularly polarized antenna will now be discussed in more detail.
The circularly polarized antenna can be configured to communicate over a first frequency band associated with GPS communications and a second frequency band associated with Wifi communications. The first frequency band can range from about 1560 Megahertz to about 1620 Megahertz. The second frequency band can range from about 2400 Megahertz to about 2500 Megahertz. As used herein, use of the term “about” with reference to a numerical value refers to a range of values within 10% of the stated numerical value.
In some implementations, the circularly polarized antenna can include a plurality of isolated magnetic dipole elements. Each of the plurality of isolated magnetic dipole elements can be coupled to a different side of the of the column substrate. For instance, a first isolated magnetic dipole element can be disposed on a first antenna plate (e.g., antenna printed circuit board) that is coupled to a first side of the column substrate. A second isolated magnetic dipole element can be disposed on a second antenna plate that is coupled to a second side of the column substrate. A third isolated magnetic dipole element can be disposed on a third antenna plate that is coupled to a third side of the column substrate. A fourth isolated magnetic dipole element can be disposed on a fourth antenna plate that is coupled to a fourth side of the column substrate.
Each of the isolated magnetic dipole elements of the circularly polarized antenna can be coupled to a RF phase shifter circuit. For instance, the RF phase shifter circuit can provide a first RF signal to the isolated magnetic dipole element disposed on a first side of the column substrate a second RF signal to the isolated magnetic dipole element disposed on a second side of the column substrate, a third RF signal to the isolated magnetic dipole element disposed on a third side of the column substrate, and a fourth RF signal disposed on a fourth side of the column substrate. The second RF signal can be 90 degrees out-of-phase relative to the first RF signal. The third RF signal can be 180 degrees out-of-phase relative to the first RF signal. The fourth RF signal can be 270 degrees out-of-phase relative to the first RF signal. In this manner, the plurality of isolated magnetic dipole elements disposed on the column substrate can collectively form a circularly polarized antenna.
The antenna assembly can include a monopole antenna. The monopole antenna can be configured to communicate over a frequency band associated with 5G communications. For instance, the frequency band can range from about 5000 Megahertz to about 5900 Megahertz. The monopole antenna can be disposed within a cavity defined by the column substrate. In this manner, the monopole antenna can be incorporated into the antenna assembly without requiring additional components.
The antenna system according to example aspects of the present disclosure can provide numerous technical effects and benefits. For instance, the monopole antenna of the antenna assembly can facilitate communications on a 5G network. Furthermore, since the monopole antenna is disposed within a cavity defined by the column substrate configured to accommodate the circularly polarized antenna of the antenna assembly, the monopole antenna can be incorporated into the antenna assembly without increasing a footprint of the antenna assembly.
Referring now to the FIGS.,
As shown, the antenna assembly 200 can include a monopole antenna 300. The monopole antenna 300 can be configured to communicate over a first frequency band associated with 5G communications. For instance, in some implementations, the first frequency band can range from about 5000 Megahertz to about 5900 Megahertz. In this manner, the monopole antenna 300 of the antenna assembly 200 can facilitate communications with one or more devices on a 5G communications network.
As shown, the antenna assembly 200 can include a circularly polarized antenna 400. In some implementations, the circularly polarized antenna 400 can include a plurality of isolated magnetic dipole elements 410. For instance, in some implementations, the circularly polarized antenna 400 can include four isolated magnetic dipole elements. In alternative implementations, the circularly polarized antenna 400 can include more or fewer isolated magnetic dipole elements 410.
The circularly polarized antenna 400 can be configured to communicate over a second frequency band and a third frequency band that is different (e.g., does not overlap) than the second frequency band. In some implementations, the second frequency band can range from about 1560 Megahertz to about 1620 Megahertz. Alternatively, or additionally, the third frequency band can range from about 2400 Megahertz to about 2500 Megahertz. In some implementations, the circularly polarized antenna 400 can have a radiation pattern that is right-hand circularly polarized. In alternative implementations, the circularly polarized antenna 400 can have a radiation pattern that is left-hand circularly polarized.
In some implementations, the antenna system 100 can include a RF phase shifter circuit 120 electrically coupled between the RF source 110 and the circularly polarized antenna 400 of the antenna assembly 200. The RF phase shifter circuit 120 can include a plurality of phase shifters 122. Each of the phase shifters 122 can be electrically coupled between the RF source 110 and a corresponding isolated magnetic dipole element of the plurality of isolated magnetic dipole elements 410. In this manner, each of the phase shifters 122 can receive a RF signal from the RF source 110. It should be understood that each of the phase shifters 122 can be configured to control a phase shift of the RF signal received from the RF source 110.
The antenna system 100 can include one or more control devices 130. The one or more control devices 130 can be communicatively coupled to the antenna assembly 200. In this manner, the one or more control devices 130 can be configured to control the circularly polarized antenna 400 of the antenna assembly 200 to steer a radiation pattern associated with the circularly polarized antenna 400 along at least one of an azimuth plane or an elevation plane.
Furthermore, in some implementations, the one or more control devices 130 can be communicatively coupled to the RF phase shifter circuit 120. In this manner, the one or more control devices 130 can be configured to control the phase shifters 122 thereof to steer the radiation pattern of the circularly polarized antenna 400 along at least one of the azimuth plane or the elevation plane.
As shown, the one or more control devices 130 can include one or more processors 132 and one or more memory devices 134. The one or more processors 132 can include any suitable processing device, such as a microprocessor, microcontroller, integrated circuit, logic device, or other suitable processing device. The one or more memory devices 134 can include one or more computer-readable media, including, but not limited to, non-transitory computer-readable media, RAM, ROM, hard drives, flash drives, or other memory devices.
The one or more memory devices 134 can store information accessible by the one or more processors 132, including computer-readable instructions that can be executed by the one or more processors 132. The computer-readable instructions can be any set of instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors 132, cause the one or more processors 132 to perform operations. The computer-readable instructions can be software written in any suitable programming language or may be implemented in hardware. In some implementations, the computer-readable instructions can be executed by the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform operations, such as controlling operation of the antenna assembly 200. Additionally, the operations can include controlling one or more phase shifters 122 of the RF phase shifter circuit 120.
Referring now to
As shown, the first portion 210 can include a base 212. The base 212 can include a plurality of projections 214. In particular, each of the plurality of projections 214 can extend from a surface 216 of the base 212. Furthermore, the base 212 can define an aperture 218. As shown, the monopole antenna 300 can pass through the aperture 218.
In some implementations, the base 212 can include an electrical connector. For instance, the base 212 can include a coaxial radio frequency (RF) connector. In some implementations, the coaxial RF connector can include a SubMinature version A connector. It should be understood that the base can include any suitable type of coaxial RF connector. In this manner, the base 212 can be electrically coupled to the RF source 110 (
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
As shown, the column substrate 600 can defined a cavity 620 that extends between the first end 610 of the column substrate 600 and the second end 612 of the column substrate 600 along the axial direction A. In this manner, the monopole antenna 300 (
In some implementations, the second portion 220 of the antenna assembly 200 can include a cover 630. As shown, the cover 630 can be coupled to the second end 612 of the column substrate 600. In this manner, the cavity 620 defined by the column substrate 600 can be enclosed via the circuit board 500 and the cover 630. In some implementations, the cover 630 can be integrally formed with the column substrate 600. In alternative implementations, the cover 630 can be removably coupled to the column substrate 600. In this manner, the cover 630 can be removed from the column substrate 600 to allow a user access to the cavity 620 defined by the column substrate 600.
Referring now to
It should be understood that each of the plurality of isolated magnetic dipole elements 410 can be coupled to a different side 614 (
It should be understood that the RF phase shifter circuit 120 (
Referring now to
For instance, in some implementations, a first isolated magnetic dipole element 410 can be coupled to a first side of the column substrate 600 (
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Furthermore, the plurality of projections 616 extending from a second side 619 of the column substrate 600 can be arranged in a second pattern that is unique to a second antenna plate 704. More particularly, the second pattern can be different than the first pattern and can correspond to the arrangement of apertures 710 defined by the second antenna plate 704. In this manner, the second antenna plate 704 can be coupled to the second side 619 of the column substrate 600.
In some implementations, the projections 616 can be arranged in a different pattern on each side of the column substrate 600. In this manner, the column substrate 600 can be used with different antenna plates. It should be understood that, in alternative implementations, the projections 616 extending from the first side 618 of the column substrate 600 and the projections 616 extending from the second side 619 of the column substrate 600 can be arranged according to the first pattern, whereas the projections 616 extending from a third side of the column substrate 600 and the projections 616 extending from a fourth side of the column substrate 600 can be arranged according to the second pattern. In such implementations, the first antenna plate 702 can be coupled to the first side 618 of the column substrate 600 and the second side 619 of the column substrate 600. Conversely, the second antenna plate 704 can be coupled to the third side of the column substrate 600 and the fourth side of the column substrate 600.
While the present subject matter has been described in detail with respect to specific example embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing may readily produce alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is by way of example rather than by way of limitation, and the subject disclosure does not preclude inclusion of such modifications, variations and/or additions to the present subject matter as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 17/681,146, titled “Antenna Assembly Having a Monopole Antenna and a Circularly Polarized Antenna” and having a filing date of Feb. 25, 2022, which claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional App. No. 63/154,107, titled “Antenna Assembly Having a Monopole Antenna and a Circularly Polarized Antenna” and having a filing date of Feb. 26, 2021, which is incorporated by reference herein.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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63154107 | Feb 2021 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17681146 | Feb 2022 | US |
Child | 18161413 | US |