1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a multi-band antenna and specifically to such an antenna integrated in a window. The invention also relates to an antenna for use on multiple cellular telephone bands.
2. Description of the Related Art
Antennas are commonly integrated in vehicle windows to reduce and/or negate the need for vertical rod antennas (e.g., mast or whip antennas) that project from various surfaces of the vehicle. By utilizing antennas integrated in windows, vehicle manufacturers obtain aesthetically pleasing and streamlined vehicle exteriors as well as reduced wind resistance. Unfortunately, performance of these window integrated antennas has often been deficient. Furthermore, placement of these antennas on glass often obstructs the view of a driver of the vehicle.
An antenna suitable for receiving and transmitting on cellular telephone bands is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,447 (the '447 patent). The antenna of the '447 patent includes a plurality of conductive strip segments arranged in a “U-shape” and an “inverted L-shape” connected to the “U-shape”. This antenna functions in a cellular telephone band of 860 MHz to 940 MHz. Unfortunately, the antenna does not perform in other cellular telephone bands.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,072,954 (the '954 patent) discloses a dual-band antenna. The antenna is formed of conductive strip segments disposed on a window. The conductive strip segments form a pair of dipole legs, with each leg forming an open loop. The conductive strip segments also form a vertical section disposed between the dipole legs. The antenna of the '954 patent operates primarily in the AM/FM broadcast frequency ranges, and not in the cellular telephone frequency ranges. Furthermore, the antenna of the '954 patent occupies a significant area on the window, thus obstructing the view of the driver.
There remains an opportunity for a dual-band antenna, primarily for cellular telephone use, that may be integrated with a window without significantly obstructing the view of the driver.
The subject invention is an antenna including a conductive area formed of conductive material. The conductive area includes at least one peripheral side. The conductive area also defines a slot interrupting the peripheral side to divide the conductive area into a first section and a second section. The second section is spaced from and at least partially surrounds the first section. The first section includes at least one edge adjacent to the slot and the second section includes at least one edge adjacent to the slot. The edges adjacent to the slot are dimensioned for radiating primarily in a first frequency band. The antenna also includes a conductive strip formed of conductive material. The conductive strip is disposed generally co-planar with the conductive area. The conductive strip is connected to the first section along the peripheral side. The conductive strip is dimensioned for radiating primarily in a second frequency band. In the subject invention, the antenna may be integrated with a window. Specifically, the area of conductive material and the strip of conductive material may be disposed on a transparent, non-conductive pane.
The antenna provides numerous advantages. First and foremost, the antenna is an effective radiator on multiple frequency bands, particularly multiple cellular telephone bands. Furthermore, when integrated with a window of a vehicle, the antenna has a pleasing aesthetic appearance which is virtually unnoticeable to the driver of the vehicle and thus does not impede the driver's vision through the window. Also, the antenna is tuned to match the impedance of a transmission line.
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, an antenna for operating in multiple frequency bands is shown at 10. Referring to
As stated above, the antenna 10 operates in multiple frequency bands. Particularly, the various embodiments of the antenna 10 defined herein each effectively radiate in a first frequency band and a second frequency band. Said another way, the antenna 10 exhibits an acceptable return loss and voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) in a range of frequencies defining the first and second frequency band.
The antenna 10, as described herein, preferably radiates in frequency bands utilized for cellular/mobile telephone communications. Specifically, the first frequency band is the U.S. “PCS” band, with frequencies ranging from 1850 MHz to 1990 MHz. In the U.S., this band typically supports GSM, CDMA, and D-AMPS systems. The second frequency band is the U.S. “cellular” band, with frequencies ranging from 824 MHz to 940 MHz. In the U.S., this band typically supports AMPS, D-AMPS, CDMA, TDMA, and GSM services. Of course, the dimensions of the antenna 10, as described in further detail below, may be altered to allow operation of the antenna 10 in other frequency bands and/or additional frequency bands.
The antenna 10 includes a conductive area 18 formed of conductive material. The conductive area 18 is preferably disposed on the non-conductive pane 16. The conductive material is preferably a metal which has properties conducive to conducting electricity. Most preferably, the metal is a silver paste which is disposed on the non-conductive pane 16 in a firing process well known to those skilled in the art.
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiments, the conductive area 18 is rectangularly-shaped. Of course, the conductive are 18 may form other shapes. The conductive area 18 includes at least one peripheral side 23.
Referring now to
Preferably, the antenna 10 includes a connector 29 for accepting and supporting a transmission line 30. The connector 29 includes a first contact (not shown) electrically connected to the first section 26 and a second contact (not shown) electrically connected to the second section 28. The contacts are electrically isolated from one another. Most preferably, the transmission line 30 is an unbalanced line, such as a coaxial cable. The coaxial cable includes a center conductor (not shown) and a shield (not shown). The connector 29 electrically connects the center conductor to the first section 26 and electrically connects the shield to the second section 28. Thus, the shield of the transmission line 30 is connected to the ground plane of the antenna 10.
In a first embodiment, as shown in
The first section 26 includes at least one edge 31 adjacent to the slot 24. In the first embodiment, as shown in
The antenna 10 also includes a conductive strip 34 formed of conductive material. The term “conductive strip” 34 refers to an elongated, thin piece that is longer than it is wide. The conductive strip 34 is disposed generally co-planar with the conductive area 18. Specifically, a plane (not shown) defined by the conductive strip 34 and a plane (not shown) defined by the conductive area 18 are no more than 10 degrees offset from one another. In the illustrated embodiments, the conductive strip 34 is also disposed on the non-conductive pane 16, such that the conductive strip 34 and the conductive area 18 are therefore generally co-planar. The conductive strip 34 resembles window defroster heating lines that are common in vehicle windows. Thus, the driver of the vehicle will not significantly notice the conductive strip 34.
The conductive strip 34 is connected to the first section 26 of the conductive area 18 along the peripheral side 23 of the conductive area 18. The conductive strip 34 is dimensioned for radiating primarily in the second frequency band. In the first embodiment, the conductive strip 34 includes a first segment 36 connected to the first section 26 and extending perpendicularly from the first section 26. Specifically, the connection of the first segment 36 is generally equidistant from the slot 24.
The conductive strip 34 also includes a second segment 38 connected to the first segment 36 and extending generally perpendicular from the first segment 36. As such, the second segment 38 is generally parallel to the peripheral side 23 of the area 18. In the first embodiment, for operating on the frequencies described above, the first segment 36 defines a length of about 62 mm and the second segment 38 defines a length of about 31 mm. The second segment 38 intersects with the first segment 36 at a point about 31 mm from the peripheral side 23 of the conductive area 18. Either the first or second segments 36, 38 can be used for tuning the antenna as a tuning stub. That is, the length of either of the segments 36, 38 can be extended or reduced to properly match the impedance of the antenna to the impedance of a coaxial cable, which is typically around 50 Ω.
The antenna 10 of the first embodiment provides impressive performance characteristics. The antenna 10 achieves a return loss as low as 14 dB in the first frequency band and a return loss between 10 and 22 dB in the second frequency band. This translates to a VSWR of less than 2:1 in both frequency bands.
It may be convenient to conceptualize the antenna 10 of the subject invention as a dipole antenna 10. The dipole antenna 10 includes a first dipole leg (not numbered) and a second dipole leg (not numbered). The first dipole leg radiates primarily in the first frequency band and is formed by the edges 31, 32 of conductive material adjacent the slot 24. The second dipole leg radiates primarily in the second frequency band and is formed by the conductive strip 34.
Of course, the dipole legs do not radiate independently of one another; that is, the dipole antenna 10 must be treated as a consolidated unit. The geometric dimensions of the first dipole leg have an effect on the performance of the antenna 10 in the second frequency band. Likewise, the geometric dimensions of the second dipole leg have an effect on the performance of the antenna 10 in the first frequency band. Changes to the geometric dimensions of just about any component of the antenna 10 will have an effect on the performance of the antenna 10.
The conductive strip 34 may also include various segments (not numbered) that are not part of one of the closed loops 40. For instance, as shown in
The antenna 10 of the second embodiment also provides excellent performance characteristics. The antenna 10 achieves a return loss of nearly 20 dB in the first frequency band and a return loss between 10 and 16 dB in the second frequency band. Again, this translates to a VSWR of less than 2:1 in both frequency bands.
The antenna 10 of the third embodiment may also include a stub 72 having a proximal end 74 and a distal end 76 extending away from the peripheral side 23 of the conductive area 18 and towards the gap 70 defined between the third and fourth segments 56, 62. The proximal end 74 is connected to the second section 28. The distal end 76 terminates at a point about equidistant from the distal end 60 of the third segment 56 and the distal end 66 of the fourth segment 62.
The first, second, and third segments 44, 50, 56 assist in providing the antenna 10 of the third embodiment resonance at the second frequency band. The fourth segment 62, the stub 72, and a portion (not numbered) of the first segment 44 between the proximal end 46 and the fourth segment 62 assist in providing the antenna 10 resonance at the first frequency band.
The antenna 10 of the third embodiment provides excellent performance. The antenna 10 achieves a return loss of 14 dB at 824 MHz and 20 dB at 894 MHz, both in the second frequency band. Furthermore, the return loss dips to 30 dB between the above frequencies in the second frequency band. The antenna 10 also provides a return loss of 27 dB at 1.85 GHz and around 35 dB elsewhere in the first frequency band. The return loss values translate to VSWRs of less than 1.4:1 in both frequency bands.
A fourth embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
The conductive strip 34 of the fourth embodiment presents an “X” or cross-shaped feature. Specifically, the conductive strip 34 includes a first segment 78 having a proximal end 80 and a distal end 82. The proximal end 80 is connected to the first section 26 at the peripheral side 23 and extends generally perpendicular from the area 18. A second segment 84 intersects with the distal end 82 of the first segment at an intersection point 86. A third segment 88 intersects with the second segment 84 at the intersection point 86. The second and third segments 84, 88 define the “X” or cross shape of this embodiment. Preferably, the second and third segments 84, 88 each define a 45° angle with the first segment 78. The second segment 84 also includes a pair of ends 90. A fourth segment 92 extends towards the area 18 of conductive material from one of the ends 90 of the second segment 84. The fourth segment 92 is preferably disposed generally parallel to the first segment 78, however, this parallel disposition is not strictly required.
The first segment 78, the fourth segment 92, and a portion of the second segment 84 between the intersection point 86 and the fourth segment 92 provide resonance at the second frequency band. The first, second, and third segments 78, 84, 88 provide resonance at the first frequency band. The antenna 10 of the fourth embodiment also provides superb performance. The antenna 10 achieves a return loss of 11 dB at 824 MHz and 12 dB at 894 MHz while dipping to 30 dB in the second frequency band. The antenna 10 also provides a return loss of 12 dB at 1.85 GHz. The return loss values translate to VSWRs of less than 1.8:1 in both frequency bands.
The antenna 10 of the sixth embodiment also includes a first monopole branch 100 and a second monopole branch 102. The monopole branches 100, 102 may serve to assist the resonance of the antenna 10 at specific frequencies and/or to match the impedance of the antenna 10 to the impedance of the transmission line 30. The first monopole branch 100 extends from the meander line 94. Specifically, in the embodiment illustrated in
Those skilled in the art realize that the length, position, and intersection angles of the monopole branches 100, 102 may be different based on the specific application. Furthermore, additional monopole branches 104 may also be utilized, as is shown in
The present invention has been described herein in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/884,945 filed Jan. 15, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60884945 | Jan 2007 | US |