Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6313801
-
Patent Number
6,313,801
-
Date Filed
Friday, August 25, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 6, 200122 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 343 700 MS
- 343 725
- 343 729
- 343 702
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
In an antenna structure including multiple antennas, a first antenna can include a conductive patch and a second antenna can be adjacent the conductive patch. More particularly, the second antenna can define a central axis wherein the central axis is orthogonal with respect to the first antenna and wherein the central axis intersects a central portion of the conductive patch. Alternately or in addition, a first antenna can include a conductive patch with an opening through the conductive patch, and a second antenna can be adjacent the conductive patch wherein a feedline for the second antenna extends through the opening through the conductive patch.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of antenna structures and more particularly to antenna structures and devices including at least two antennas.
Radiotelephone mobile terminals are being developed including multiple functionalities. For example, mobile terminals are being developed that will provide both radiotelephone communications as well as global positioning system (GPS) functions. When making an emergency (911) call, the mobile terminal could thus precisely determine its location, and transmit that location as a part of the emergency (911) call.
The addition of a GPS antenna and receiver to a mobile terminal may result in complications. First, the volume of a GPS antenna may be difficult to incorporate in a relatively small mobile terminal. In other words, it may be difficult to add a GPS antenna without increasing a size of the mobile terminal. Moreover, simply adding another antenna to the outside of the mobile terminal may be esthetically undesirable.
A second potential complication relates to isolation of the GPS antenna and the communications antenna. In a small mobile terminal, the GPS antenna and the communications antenna may need to coexist in close proximity. The resulting interference and/or coupling between the two antennas may degrade the performance of both global positioning and communications functionality. For example, a circuit coupled to one antenna may absorb power coupled to it from the other antenna thereby reducing efficiency of the other antenna. Alternately, a circuit coupled to one antenna may reflect power coupled from the other antenna thereby distorting a radiation pattern for the other antenna.
Isolation of 10 dB to 15 dB or higher may thus be desirable to acceptably reduce coupling and/or interference between the two antennas and to maintain both GPS and communications functionalities. While filters may be used to provide isolation between the antennas, filters may undesirably increase costs in terms of circuit board area, insertion loss, and component cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In embodiments of the present invention, antenna structures and radio devices including multiple antennas are provided. According to first embodiments, an antenna structure can comprise a first antenna including a conductive patch and a second antenna adjacent the conductive patch. More particularly, the second antenna can define a central axis wherein the central axis is orthogonal with respect to the first antenna and wherein the central axis intersects a central portion of the conductive patch. According to alternate embodiments, an antenna structure can comprise a first antenna including a conductive patch with an opening through the conductive patch, and a second antenna adjacent the conductive patch wherein a feedline for the second antenna extends through the opening through the conductive patch. Embodiments according to the present invention can thus be used alone or in combination to provide compact antenna structures with multiple antennas.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A
is a perspective view of antenna structures according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 1B
is a cross sectional view taken along section line
1
B-
1
B′ of FIG.
1
A.
FIG. 2A
is a perspective view of antenna structures according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 2B
is a cross sectional view taken along section line
2
B-
2
B′ of FIG.
2
A.
FIG. 2C
is a graph illustrating coupling for an antenna structure according to
FIGS. 2A and 2B
.
FIG. 3
is a diagram of first mobile terminals including antenna structures according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4
is a diagram of second mobile terminals including antenna structures according to embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. In the drawings, the thickness of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. It will also be understood that when an element such as a layer, region or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present.
Examples of antenna structures according to the present invention are illustrated in the plan and cross sectional views of
FIGS. 1A and 1B
. As shown, an antenna structure according to the present invention can include a first patch antenna comprising a conductive patch
11
and a second monopole antenna comprising a monopole
13
. The conductive patch
11
can be provided on a dielectric layer
15
, a conductive ground plane
17
can be provided on the dielectric layer
15
opposite the conductive patch
11
, and one or more coaxial feedlines
19
can be arranged with respect to the conductive patch
11
to provide circular polarization for the first antenna. In addition, the conductive patch
11
can be planar.
The monopole
13
can define a central axis
13
A that is orthogonal and centered with respect to a plane of the conductive patch
11
so that the monopole
13
is perpendicular and centered with respect to the conductive patch
11
. Moreover, the monopole
13
can be symmetric with respect to the central axis
13
A. Fields of the monopole
13
coupling with the ground plane
17
can thus be symmetric with respect to the center of the conductive patch
11
of the circularly polarized patch antenna so that interference of the second antenna comprising the monopole
13
cancel with respect to the first patch antenna comprising the conductive patch
11
and vice versa. Coupling of the two antennas can thus be reduced through the arrangement of antennas illustrated in
FIGS. 1A-B
.
The first patch antenna comprising the conductive patch
11
can thus be used to provide a relatively small GPS patch antenna for a GPS receiver, and the second monopole antenna comprising the monopole
13
can be used to provide a radiotelephone antenna for a radiotelephone transceiver. Generally, coupling between a patch antenna and a monopole antenna will increase as a distance between the two is reduced. By positioning a monopole antenna that is symmetrical with respect to its central axis over the center of a balanced patch antenna and orthogonal with respect to the patch antenna (as shown in FIGS.
1
A-B), a theoretically infinite isolation can be provided between the two antennas. In practice, isolation between two such antennas can exceed 20 dB.
As shown in the cross section of
FIG. 1B
, the monopole
13
can be coupled with a coaxial feedline
23
to provide coupling between the monopole
13
and a radio transmitter and/or receiver. More particularly, the coaxial feedline
23
can include a central feedline
23
A and an outer groundline
23
B wherein the central feedline
23
A is coupled with the monopole
13
through a hole
25
in the dielectric layer
15
and the outer groundline
23
B is coupled with both the conductive ground plane
17
and the conductive patch
11
through the hole
25
in the dielectric layer
15
. Coupling through the hole
25
between the conductive ground plane
17
and the conductive patch
11
can be provided through conductive plating
27
of the hole
25
. Alternately, coupling between the ground plane
17
can be provided by extending a portion of the outer groundline
23
B (or other conductor) through the hole
25
. Coupling between the monopole
13
and the inner conductor and the central feedline
23
A can be provided by extending a portion of the central feedline
23
A through the hole
25
, extending a portion of the monopole
13
through the hole
25
, and/or extending another conductive material through the hole
25
.
The central portion of the conductive patch
11
can thus be electrically shorted to the conductive ground plane
17
. The performance of the patch antenna comprising the conductive patch
11
is not significantly affected, however, because the center of the patch is a voltage null point. Because the diameter of the hole
25
is greater than zero, however, small adjustments in the feed ports
21
and in the dimensions of the conductive patch
11
may be needed. Similarly, the coaxial feedlines
19
can include respective inner conductors
19
A coupled with the feed ports
21
and outer groundlines
19
B coupled with the conductive ground plane
17
. Coupling of the feed ports and outer groundlines
19
B can also be provided using a portion of the inner conductors
19
A, a plated hole through the dielectric layer, and/or other conductive means.
As shown in
FIGS. 1A-B
, the patch antenna comprising the conductive patch
11
can include two feed ports
21
(corresponding to coaxial feedlines
19
) to provide a balanced feed for the patch antenna. While a balanced feed may provide better isolation with respect to the monopole antenna, a single feed port
21
(and corresponding feedline
19
) may provide an acceptable level of isolation at a lower cost. In particular, a patch antenna with a single unbalanced feedline
19
may not be constrained to radiate in a pure patch-type mode thereby increasing coupling between the patch and monopole antennas, especially outside the resonance of the patch antenna.
It has been determined experimentally, that the use of a single unbalanced feed port for the patch antenna can provide an acceptable compromise. In particular, an experimental model including an over-sized patch antenna comprising planar conductive patch
41
and a monopole antenna comprising a single-band wire monopole
43
(which was resonated in the PCS band) were provided as illustrated in
FIGS. 2A-B
. The wire monopole
43
defines a central axis
43
A that is orthogonal and centered with respect to the conductive patch
41
. The conductive patch
41
and a conductive ground plane
47
are provided on opposite sides of a dielectric layer
45
, and a single feed port
51
is coupled to the feedline
49
, and the wire monopole
43
is coupled to coaxial feedline
53
. The structure of the antenna assembly illustrated in
FIGS. 2A-B
is the same as that illustrated in
FIGS. 1A-B
with the exception that the patch antenna is provided with only a single feed port. In addition, the dimensions of the patch antenna were adjusted to compensate for the addition of the monopole feedline coupling therethrough.
A measured coupling for the experimental configuration of
FIGS. 2A-B
is illustrated in FIG.
2
C. Over most of the frequency range tested, the isolation between the two antennas is greater than 20 dB, with even greater isolation provided near the GPS frequency of approximately 1575 MHz. This null in the coupling response demonstrates the effectiveness of the orthogonal mode isolation. While orthogonality may be compromised outside the null, the combination of partial orthogonality and the out-of-band mismatch of the patch antenna provide acceptable isolation.
As shown in
FIGS. 1A-B
and
2
A-B, antenna structures according to embodiments of the present invention can include a first antenna such as a patch antenna including a conductive patch (
11
or
41
) and a second antenna defining a central axis about which the second antenna is symmetric. While the second antenna can be a wire monopole (
13
or
43
) as discussed above, the second antenna is preferably any antenna that is symmetrical about its central axis. As discussed in greater detail below with regard to
FIGS. 3 and 4
, the second antenna can be a dual band monopole (
113
or
243
) printed on a dielectric substrate. Alternately, the second antenna can be a helix or any other structure symmetric about a central axis. As discussed above, symmetry about a central axis can provide improved isolation between the antennas when the central axis is orthogonal and central with respect to the patch antenna.
A flat, dual-band monopole antenna (or other symmetrical monopole antenna structure) can thus be combined with a patch antenna as shown in
FIGS. 1A-B
or
FIGS. 2A-B
to provide a compact stub antenna. The resulting stub antenna can be used with communications devices such as a radiotelephone including a GPS receiver as shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
.
FIG. 3
illustrates a radiotelephone including an antenna structure with a patch antenna having two feed ports and a monopole antenna, and
FIG. 4
illustrates a radiotelephone including an antenna structure with a patch antenna having one feed port and a monopole antenna. In both radiotelephones, the patch antenna is shown coupled with a GPS receiver, and the monopole antenna is shown coupled with a radiotelephone transceiver.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, a patch antenna can include a conductive patch
111
on a dielectric layer
115
, and a conductive ground plane
117
can be provided on the dielectric layer
115
opposite the conductive patch
111
. The patch antenna feedlines including respective inner conductors
119
A and outer groundlines
119
B provide coupling between the conductive patch
111
and the balun
131
. More particularly, the inner conductors
119
A are coupled to respective feed ports of the conductive patch
111
, and the outer groundlines
119
B are coupled to the conductive ground plane
117
as discussed above with regard to
FIGS. 1A-B
. The balun
131
combines the signals from the two feed ports, and provides the combined signal to the GPS receiver
133
to determine a location of the radiotelephone.
In the example of
FIG. 3
, a dual band monopole antenna
113
defines and is symmetrical about a central axis
113
A. The central axis
113
A is orthogonal and centered with respect to the conductive patch
111
so that fields of the monopole antenna
113
cancel with respect to the conductive patch
111
and vice versa thereby providing isolation therebetween as discussed above with regard to FIG.
1
. Signals transmitted and received through the monopole antenna
113
are coupled with the radiotelephone receiver
135
through the coaxial feedline including the central feedline
123
A and the outer groundline
123
B. In particular, the central feedline
123
A is coupled with the monopole antenna
113
through a hole in the conductive ground plane
117
, the dielectric layer
115
, and the conductive patch
111
. The outer groundline is coupled with the conductive ground plane
117
and also with the conductive patch
111
through the hole in the center of the dielectric layer
115
. The conductive patch
111
is thus shorted to the conductive ground plane
117
at a null point thereof thereby providing coupling of the monopole antenna
113
through the conductive patch
111
without significantly affecting the performance of the patch antenna.
The antenna assembly including the monopole antenna and the patch antenna can be enclosed in a protective radome
125
to provide a compact and esthetically acceptable stub antenna for the radiotelephone including the GPS receiver
133
. As discussed above, the use of two feed ports on the conductive patch
111
can provide a balanced feed and thus a higher degree of isolation between the patch and monopole antennas. The balun
131
, however, may be needed to combine the signals from the two feedlines
119
into one signal for the GPS receiver
133
. The coaxial feedline
123
can couple signals between the monopole antenna and the radiotelephone transceiver
135
to provide radiotelephone communications. Both the GPS receiver
133
and the radiotelephone transceiver
135
can operate under direction of signals to and from the controller
137
with input and output being provided through the user interface
139
. The user interface, for example, can include a microphone, a speaker, a keypad, an alpha-numeric display, and/or a graphic display. The balun, transceiver, GPS receiver, control circuit, and user interface can be provided within a mobile housing
141
to provide mobile communications.
The radiotelephone of
FIG. 4
is similar to that of
FIG. 3
with the exception that the patch antenna including the conductive patch
241
is provided with only a single unbalanced feed port and corresponding feedline
249
including inner conductor
249
A and outer groundline
249
B. The single feedline
249
can thus be coupled directly with the GPS receiver
263
without a balun therebetween thereby simplifying the structure of FIG.
4
. As discussed above with regard to
FIGS. 2A-C
, an acceptable level of isolation can be provided with a conductive patch
241
including a single unbalanced feed port according to the present invention.
As shown in
FIG. 4
, a patch antenna can include a conductive patch
241
on a dielectric layer
245
with a conductive ground plane
247
on the dielectric layer
245
opposite the conductive patch
241
. A patch antenna feedline
249
includes an inner feedline
249
A coupled to a feed port of the conductive patch
241
and an outer groundline
249
B coupled to the conductive ground plane
247
. The patch antenna feedline thus couples GPS signals from the patch antenna to the GPS receiver
263
.
A flat, dual-band monopole antenna
243
defines and is symmetrical about a central axis
243
A. The central axis is orthogonal and centered with respect to the conductive patch
241
so that fields of the monopole antenna cancel with respect to the conductive patch
241
providing isolation therebetween as discussed above with regard to
FIGS. 2A-C
. Signals transmitted and received through the monopole antenna
243
are coupled with the radiotelephone transceiver
265
through the coaxial feedline
253
including a central feedline
253
A and an outer groundline
253
B. The central feedline
253
A is coupled with the monopole antenna through a hole in the conductive patch
241
, the dielectric layer
245
, and the conductive ground plane
247
. The outer groundline
253
B is coupled with the conductive ground plane
247
and the conductive patch
241
through the hole in the dielectric layer
245
. The conductive ground plane
247
is thus shorted with the conductive patch
241
at a null point of the conductive patch. Coupling of the monopole antenna with the transceiver can thus be efficiently provided through the conductive patch.
The antenna assembly including the conductive patch
241
and the monopole antenna
243
can be enclosed in a protective radome
255
to provide a compact and esthetically acceptable stub antenna for a radiotelephone. The antenna assembly of
FIG. 4
can thus provide an acceptable level of isolation between the monopole and patch antennas without a balun. The conductive patch
241
is thus coupled via the feedline
249
with the GPS receiver
263
to provide global positioning information. The monopole antenna
243
is coupled with the radiotelephone transceiver
265
via the feedline
253
to provide radiotelephone communications. Both the GPS receiver
263
and the radiotelephone transceiver
265
can operate under direction of signals to and from the control circuit
267
with input and output being provided through the user interface
269
. The user interface, for example, can include a microphone, a speaker, a keypad, an alpha-numeric display, and/or a graphic display. The transceiver, GPS receiver, control circuit, and user interface can be provided within a mobile housing
271
to provide mobile communications.
While antenna assemblies according to the present invention are discussed above in the context of radiotelephones including GPS receivers, aspects of the present invention can be used to provide antenna assemblies for other radio devices including two antennas. For example, antenna assemblies according to the present invention can be used with radio devices such as wireless or mobile communications terminals which can be defined to include cellular radiotelephones with or without a multi-line display; Personal Communications System (PCS) terminals that may combine a cellular radiotelephone with data processing, facsimile and data communications capabilities; personal digital assistants (PDAs) that can include a radiotelephone, pager, Internet/intranet access, Web browser, organizer, calendar and/or a global positioning system (GPS) receiver; and conventional laptop and/or palmtop receivers or other appliances that include a radiotelephone transceiver. Wireless or mobile terminals may also be referred to as “pervasive computing” devices.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, an antenna structure can include a first antenna including a conductive patch and a second antenna adjacent the conductive patch. More particularly, the second antenna can define a central axis wherein the central axis is orthogonal with respect to the first antenna and wherein the central axis intersects a central portion of the conductive patch. Such an arrangement can provide a relatively high degree of isolation between the first and second antennas when provided in close proximity.
More particularly, the second antenna can be symmetrical with respect to the central axis. Fields of the second antenna can thus be orthogonal and symmetric with respect to the conductive patch so that fields of the second antenna cancel with respect to the first antenna and vice versa to provide isolation therebetween.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, an antenna structure can include a first antenna including a conductive patch with an opening through the conductive patch, and a second antenna adjacent the conductive patch wherein a feedline for the second antenna extends through the opening through the conductive patch. By extending the feedline for the second antenna through the opening in the conductive layer of the first antenna, the two antennas can be more easily provided in close proximity. More particularly, the opening through the conductive patch can be centered with respect to the patch. Because the center of a patch antenna is a voltage null point, the opening through the conductive patch can be provided without significantly affecting the performance of the antenna including the conductive patch.
In addition, the first antenna can include a dielectric layer with the conductive patch thereon and with the opening extending through both the conductive patch and the dielectric layer. The feedline can extend through the hole through both the conductive patch and the dielectric layer and an outer groundline of the feedline can be electrically coupled with the conductive patch at the opening therethrough. Because the conductive patch is coupled with the outer groundline at the center of the patch which is a voltage null point, performance of the antenna including the conductive patch is not significantly affected.
In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.
Claims
- 1. An antenna structure comprising:a first antenna including a conductive patch; and a second antenna adjacent the conductive patch wherein the second antenna defines a central axis, wherein the central axis is orthogonal with respect to the first antenna, and wherein the central axis intersects a central portion of the conductive patch; wherein the conductive patch includes an opening therethrough and wherein the second antenna includes a feedline extending through the opening through the conductive patch; wherein the first antenna further includes a dielectric layer with the conductive patch thereon and with the opening extending through both the conductive patch and the dielectric layer and with the feedline for the second antenna extending through the opening through both the conductive patch and the dielectric layer; and wherein the feedline for the second antenna comprises a coaxial feedline including a central feedline and an outer groundline wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the conductive patch at the opening therethrough.
- 2. An antenna structure according to claim 1 wherein the second antenna is symmetrical with respect to the central axis.
- 3. An antenna structure according to claim 1 wherein the central axis intersects the opening through the conductive patch.
- 4. An antenna structure according to claim 1 wherein the opening through the conductive patch is located in the central portion of the conductive patch.
- 5. An antenna structure according to claim 1 wherein the opening through the conductive patch is centered with respect to the patch.
- 6. An antenna structure according to claim 1 wherein the first antenna further includes a ground plane on the dielectric layer opposite the conductive patch with the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane and with the feedline for the second antenna extending through the ground plane.
- 7. An antenna structure according to claim 6 wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the conductive patch at the opening therethrough.
- 8. An antenna structure according to claim 6 wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the ground plane at the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane.
- 9. An antenna structure according to claim 8 wherein the ground plane is electrically coupled with the conductive patch through the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane.
- 10. An antenna structure comprising:a first antenna including a conductive patch with an opening through the conductive patch; and a second antenna adjacent the conductive patch wherein a feedline for the second antenna extends through the opening through the conductive patch; wherein the first antenna further includes a dielectric layer with the conductive patch thereon and with the opening extending through both the conductive patch and the dielectric layer and with the feedline for the second antenna extending through the opening through both the conductive patch and the dielectric layer; and wherein the feedline for the second antenna comprises a coaxial feedline including a central feedline and an outer groundline wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the conductive patch at the opening therethrough.
- 11. An antenna structure according to claim 10 wherein the second antenna defines a central axis and wherein the central axis is orthogonal with respect to the conductive patch.
- 12. An antenna structure according to claim 11 wherein the second antenna is symmetrical with respect to the central axis.
- 13. An antenna structure according to claim 11 wherein the central axis intersects the opening through the conductive patch.
- 14. An antenna structure according to claim 11 wherein the central axis intersects a central portion of the conductive patch.
- 15. An antenna structure according to claim 10 wherein the opening through the conductive patch is centered with respect to the patch.
- 16. An antenna structure according to claim 10 wherein the first antenna further include a ground plane on the dielectric layer opposite the conductive patch with the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane and with the feedline for the second antenna extending through the ground plane.
- 17. A An antenna structure according to claim 16 wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the conductive patch at the opening therethrough.
- 18. An antenna structure according to claim 16 wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the ground plane at the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane.
- 19. An antenna structure according to claim 18 wherein the ground plane is electrically coupled with the conductive patch through the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane.
- 20. A radio device comprising:a first antenna including a conductive patch; one of a first transmitter or receiver coupled with the conductive patch; a second antenna adjacent the conductive patch wherein the second antenna defines a central axis, wherein the central axis is orthogonal with respect to the first antenna, and wherein the central axis intersects a central portion of the conductive patch; and one of a second transmitter or receiver coupled with the second antenna; wherein the conductive patch includes an opening therethrough and wherein the second antenna includes a feedline extending through the opening through the conductive patch wherein the second antenna is coupled with the second transmitter or receiver via the feedline; wherein the first antenna further includes a dielectric layer with the conductive patch thereon and with the opening extending through both the conductive patch and the dielectric layer and with the feedline for the second antenna extending through the opening through both the conductive patch and the dielectric layer; and wherein the feedline for the second antenna comprises a coaxial feedline including a central feedline and an outer groundline wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the conductive patch at the opening therethrough.
- 21. A radio device according to claim 20 wherein the second antenna is symmetrical with respect to the central axis.
- 22. A radio device according to claim 20 wherein the central axis intersects the opening through the conductive patch.
- 23. A radio device according to claim 20 wherein the opening through the conductive patch is located in the central portion of the conductive patch.
- 24. A radio device according to claim 20 wherein the opening through the conductive patch is centered with respect to the patch.
- 25. A radio device according to claim 20 wherein the first antenna further includes a ground plane on the dielectric layer opposite the conductive patch with the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane and with the feedline for the second antenna extending through the ground plane.
- 26. A radio device according to claim 25 wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the conductive patch at the opening therethrough.
- 27. A radio device according to claim 25 wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the ground plane at the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane.
- 28. A radio device according to claim 27 wherein the ground plane is electrically coupled with the conductive patch through the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane.
- 29. A radio device comprising:a first antenna including a conductive patch with an opening through the conductive patch; one of a first transmitter or receiver coupled with the first antenna; a second antenna adjacent the conductive patch wherein a feedline for the second antenna extends through the opening through the conductive patch; and one of a second transmitter or receiver coupled with the second antenna through the feedline for the second antenna; wherein the first antenna further includes a dielectric layer with the conductive patch thereon and with the opening extending through both the conductive patch and the dielectric layer and with the feedline for the second antenna extending through the opening through both the conductive patch and the dielectric layer; and wherein the feedline for the second antenna comprises a coaxial feedline including a central feedline and an outer groundline wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the conductive patch at the opening therethrough.
- 30. A radio device according to claim 29 wherein the second antenna defines a central axis and wherein the central axis is orthogonal with respect to the conductive patch.
- 31. A radio device according to claim 30 wherein the second antenna is symmetrical with respect to the central axis.
- 32. A radio device according to claim 30 wherein the central axis intersects the opening through the conductive patch.
- 33. A radio device according to claim 30 wherein the central axis intersects a central portion of the conductive patch.
- 34. A radio device according to claim 29 wherein the opening through the conductive patch is centered with respect to the patch.
- 35. A radio device according to claim 29 wherein the first antenna further include a ground plane on the dielectric layer opposite the conductive patch with the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane and with the feedline for the second antenna extending through the ground plane.
- 36. A radio device according to claim 35 wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the conductive patch at the opening therethrough.
- 37. A radio device according to claim 35 wherein the outer groundline is electrically coupled with the groung plane at the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane.
- 38. A radio device according to claim 37 wherein the ground plane is electrically coupled with the conductive patch through the opening extending through the conductive patch, the dielectric layer, and the ground plane.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
5300936 |
Izadian |
Apr 1994 |
|
6160512 |
Desclos et al. |
Dec 2000 |
|