The invention relates generally to wireless communications and, more particularly, to multi-band antenna configurations.
Various antenna element and antenna array configurations are utilized in wireless communications today. The dipole antenna, for example, is one of the most commonly encountered antenna configurations today. Their simplicity makes them relatively inexpensive and easy to build and deploy. As such, the dipole antenna is probably the most widely used form of antenna element in various mobile and base station installations.
Generally speaking, a dipole antenna element gives only 2.13 dBi of gain. Accordingly, many current manufacturers of wireless systems will use a pair of dipoles, such that the gain increases to about 5 dBi. For example, an antenna array may be configured in which pairs of dipole antenna elements are disposed above a ground plane to provide a desired level of gain and a radiation pattern having a desired contour/directivity.
The patch antenna is another antenna configuration found in wireless communication systems today. A patch antenna element comprises a piece of metal plate sized according to a desired operating frequency band. Although providing increased gain over that of a dipole antenna element, patch antenna elements are fairly large in size, as compared to a dipole antenna element responsive to the same frequency band. Moreover, patch antennas often require complicated manufacturing processes and/or assembly techniques in order to provide a useful antenna array.
It is sometimes desirable to provide a base station or access point having dual-band performance. For example, it may be desirable to accommodate wireless communications operating according to different protocols, such as advanced mobile phone service (AMPS) and personal communication service (PCS), utilizing different frequency bands, such as 800 MHz and 2.4 GHz. Additionally or alternatively, particular wireless devices may utilize more than a single frequency band, such as to access more than a single service. For example, depending on the services required, a wireless device may have an operating frequency of 2.4 GHz and 5.2 GHz. As such, antennas should be provided which are efficient in these two bands in order to provide optimum transmission and reception of radio signals.
One prior technique for providing a dual-band antenna configuration is to provide an antenna array aperture having antenna elements responsive to each such band interleaved therein. For example, dipole elements responsive to a first frequency band may be disposed in columns having dipole elements responsive to a second frequency band, therebetween. Such a configuration effectively provides two single band antenna systems in a single antenna array. Accordingly, a relatively large number of antenna elements are utilized and a relatively complex antenna configuration results. Moreover, the antenna feed network in such a dual-band configuration may be complex or otherwise undesirable. For example, separate low loss (and expensive) antenna feed cables may be required by each such interleaved antenna array.
Alternatively, dual-band dipole antenna elements having a single feed may be realized using a load. Specifically, a load may be placed in each element of the dipole, to act as a low or high impedance at the respective frequency of interest, to provide dual-band performance. However, frequency optimization often results in adjusting current paths and, in most cases, involves impedance matching of the required bands. Such dual-band dipole elements can be relatively expensive and complicated to design and produce.
Another technique for providing a dual-band antenna configuration has been to utilize the aforementioned patch antenna elements. For example, different modes may be set on a patch antenna to give it dual-band performance. However, the use of such dual-band modes further complicates the design and manufacture of such elements. Moreover, such antenna elements remain relatively large. Accordingly the use of patch antenna elements may not be desirable in particular dual-band systems.
The present invention is directed to systems and methods which provide multi-band antenna elements using multiple radiating branches interconnected with a feed plate, thereby providing a multi-band antenna element having a single feed. For example, the feed plate of a preferred embodiment multi-band antenna element comprises a triangular plate interconnecting multiple radiating branches.
According to embodiments of the present invention, frequency separation between resonate frequencies of the multi-band antenna element are relatively small, such as on the order of 1.2 times. According to other embodiments of the present invention, frequency separation between resonate frequencies of the multi-band antenna element are relatively large, such as on the order of 2.5 times. Preferably, each frequency band of the antenna elements can be optimized and/or adjusted by varying the respective radiating branch of the multi-band element.
Additionally or attentively, a wide band antenna configuration is provided according to embodiments of the present invention utilizing multiple radiating branches of a multi-band antenna element of the present invention. For example, one embodiment of the present invention utilizes a rectangular or square shaped feed plate configuration to interconnect multiple radiating branches, thereby resulting in broadband behavior. Preferably, the frequency band of the antenna elements can be optimized and/or adjusted by varying the radiating branches of the multi-band element in such a broad band configuration.
Embodiments of the present invention utilize one or more reflectors, such as to provide directivity and/or radiation pattern shaping. For example, embodiments of the present invention may utilize one or more radiating branches of a multi-band antenna element as a reflector for another one or more radiating branches of the multi-band antenna. Additionally or alternatively, ground plane surfaces may be utilized as reflectors according to embodiments of the invention.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:
In understanding the concepts and advantages of embodiments of the present invention, a discussion of various prior art antenna element configurations is helpful. Accordingly, some detail with respect to prior art antenna configurations, such as information with respect to dipole antenna elements, is provided hereinbelow.
A dipole is formed by a pair of balanced transmission lines, opened-out into a twin colinear line (poles 101) as shown in FIG. 1A. Its radiation pattern, radiation resistance and directivity are critically dependent upon length (l). A widely accepted optimum length is the half-wave dipole configuration (l=½λ) with a fundamental radiation pattern resembling a doughnut shape. This is a result of sinusoidal current vanishing at end points of the dipole. In other words, the configuration is limited to a single resonant frequency with the fundamental radiation pattern, dictated by its physical resonant length l. Gain of such dipole antennas has been measured and calculated at about 2.13 dBi.
Operating the dipole at a frequency higher than that for which the dipole's length corresponds is usually not practical as the number of radiation lobes increases, and power is radiated in a spread of several directions. Accordingly, the aforementioned dipole antenna element configuration presents a challenge with respect to controlling the radiation pattern if a multi-band implementation were attempted.
Dual-band dipoles with a single feed for both bands may be realized using a load disposed in the poles acting as a low or high impedance, at the respective frequency of interest. A dipole configuration implementing loads 112 in poles 111 is shown in FIG. 1B. The aforementioned loads can be realized using several methods, such as structural perturbation using slots and meanders, adding parasitic or even passive components. Frequency optimization of such dual-band dipole configurations often involves adjusting current paths, and in most cases, impedance matching of the required bands.
The impedance bandwidth of dipole antenna is usually limited by the physical diameter of the antenna element. Accordingly, by increasing the diameter of the radiating element, impedance bandwidth can generally be improved. One design to increase impedance bandwidth employs a gradual taper as shown in FIG. 1C. Specifically, poles 121 are tapered in diameter from the feed coupling to the end points of the dipole. As can be appreciated from the illustration in
Reflectors are often used to control the radiation pattern of antennas, to increase the antenna directivity, and/or to increase the gain of the antenna. For example, when a radiating element is placed over a large enough reflector, backward radiation can be eliminated. One common technique is to implement quarter wave spacing (S=¼λ) between a reflector (ground plane 202) and a radiating element (dipole 201, comprising poles 101), as shown in FIG. 2A. The aforementioned quarter wave spacing results in the fields radiated by the antenna element adding constructively (in phase), thereby providing increased broadside (side of dipole 201 opposite ground plane 202) radiation amplitude.
Radiation patterns can be further controlled with a folded reflector as shown in FIG. 2B. Specifically, ground plane 212 of
Embodiments of the present invention address challenges posed by implementation of multi-band antenna configurations by implementing a dipole antenna element configuration in which multiple radiating branches are utilized. Directing attention to
Frequency separation of the resonant frequencies associated with the radiating branches of antenna elements of the present invention can be quite minimal, such as on the order of the higher frequency being approximately 1.2 times the lower frequency, or can be quite large, such as on the order of the higher frequency being approximately 2.5 times the lower frequency. According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the frequency band (broadband configuration) or frequency bands (multi-band configuration) of the antenna element can be easily optimized or altered by varying the respective radiating branches.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention utilize a single feed for multi-band or broadband operation. For example, a single balanced feed as represented in
Embodiments of the present invention utilize a signal feed technique in which the radiating branches are joined together with a conductive plate. Various configurations of signal feed plates (i.e., conductive plates having relatively large surface areas as compared to the radiating branches) as used in multi-band antenna elements of the present invention are shown in
Signal feed plates of the present invention create a loading effect with respect to the antenna element which improves impedance matching of the bands of the antenna. Accordingly, signal feed plates may be sized, shaped, and/or oriented to optimize impedance matching, as well as other operating characteristics. For example, selection of a particular triangular signal feed plate 401 or 402, wherein the orientation of the triangular shape is reversed, may be based upon a particular orientation resulting in a best band and/or impedance match.
It should be appreciated that the antenna element structure of embodiments of the present invention may readily be printed on a printed circuit board (PCB) substrate, such as FR4, to provide multi-resonance operation using multiple radiating branches. Such PCB antenna element configurations may include parasitic elements, such as reflectors and/or directors, to improve operating characteristics. Such antenna element designs are an excellent candidate for multiple band cellular base station array antenna designs.
The multi-frequency operation of a multi-band antenna element of preferred embodiments can be tuned by varying the lengths of the appropriate radiating branches. However, for the outer radiating branches (radiating branches 311 in
The aforementioned capacitive effects associated with signal feed plates of the present invention may be mitigated by utilizing a configuration in which the parallel plate currents are tapered or spaced away from each other, as shown in
Arrow 520 of
Another mode, which in effect is a frequency independent mode, is obtained according to preferred embodiments by optimizing the antenna structure resulting from tapered bore signal feed plate 501. A frequency independence effect is attributed to the smooth scaling factor of the structure between tapered bore signal feed plates 501, providing an aperture as shown below arrow 540, representing the fringing field associated with current flow of arrow 530. The lowest resonance generated by this mode is determined by aperture forming the fringing field. This electrical property is similar to a horn or tapered slot type antenna.
As mentioned above, the length of the radiating branches as well as the size, shape, and/or geometry of signal feed plates of the present invention are preferably taken into consideration when designing and/or tuning an antenna element of embodiments for operation at a particular frequency or frequencies. Four primary generic design parameters utilized according to preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in
The operating characteristics associated with the outer radiating branch (here a lower frequency radiating branch) are primarily a function of parameters A and B, whereas the operating characteristics associated with the inner radiating branch (here a higher frequency radiating branch) are primarily a function of parameters B and C. Specifically, parameters A and C tune the individual resonances associated with the outer and inner radiating branches, respectively, while the size, shape, and/or geometry (parameter B) of the signal feed plate matches the radiating branches. For a frequency independent mode operation, parameters of A, B and D may be optimized.
Although descriptions provided in the above table are with reference to low and high frequency radiating branches disposed in the configuration of
From the above, it is apparent that the resonate frequencies may be independently tuned or controlled by selection of properties A1 and C1 (C1 for the higher frequency and A1 for the lower frequency). Moreover, the lower resonant frequency is also determined by properties B1 and B2 because these properties affect the current path associated with the lower frequency radiating branch. Properties A2 and C2 affect the individual radiating branch bandwidth. That is, generally speaking the larger the properties A2 and C2, the larger radiation branch bandwidth.
The angle of property B3 is associated with the separation of the two current paths in a dipole configuration, thus the larger the angle more that coupling is reduced. Moreover, property B3 affects the matching between the multiple resonate bands of the multi-band antenna element. Property B3 also has some broad banding effect, because the signal feed plate reduces the Q-factor of the antenna, as well as being associated with another resonance mode, as discussed above with respect to
Parameters D1 and D2 define a curved signal feed plate embodiment providing operation approximating that of a tapered slot antenna. This taper slot will act as a frequency independent wave guide, similar to that described above with respect to FIG. 5.
Properties A3 and A4 are utilized according to an embodiment for size reduction. For example, property A1, being associated with the lower resonance frequency, may be quite long. Accordingly, the radiating branch may be folded, according to properties A3 and A4, to form a radiating branch which is reduced in size. In the embodiment of
According to conventional wisdom, higher frequency elements would be placed in front of physically larger, lower frequency elements. One reason for such a configuration according to conventional wisdom is that the larger element blocks or “shorts out” the electromagnetic waves of the shorter wavelength. In such a situation, the higher frequency electromagnetic waves are not able to propagate past the larger element. Instead, the larger element may effectively form a reflector for the higher frequency element.
Embodiments of the present invention take advantage of the above phenomena to optimize broadside radiation. Specifically, depending on the separation between the elements, resultant phase of the radiated fields can be constructively combined to optimize a broadside radiation pattern. However, contrary to conventional wisdom, preferred embodiments of the present invention dispose the radiating branches such that higher frequency radiating branches are disposed beneath or behind lower frequency radiating branches.
Directing attention to
Also shown in
Although not shown in
The radiating branch configuration of
In the embodiment illustrated in
The configuration of
As can be appreciated from the above discussion, spacing between the radiating branches affects the phased combining of radiated fields with reflected radiation fields. An equation for determining an optimum spacing between the radiating branches illustrated in
Where S1 is the separation between radiating branch 301 and 311 (see FIG. 7B), S2 is the separation between radiating branch 301 and reflector 701 (see FIG. 7B), λ1 is the resonate frequency of radiating branch 311, λ2 is the resonate frequency of radiating branch 301, and x is a natural number.
Separation distance S1 is preferably optimized for reflection of fields radiated from radiating branch 301, Accordingly, S1 of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a factor of radiating branch 301's wavelength, λ2. The position of reflector 701 with respect to the radiating branches as a function of resonate frequency wavelength (Ratio—λ1 for radiating branch 311 and Ratio—λ2 for radiating branch 301) may be given as set forth in equations (2) and (3) below.
According to a preferred embodiment, the optimum position of reflector 701 with respect to each radiating branch lies between 0.25 to 0.7 of their respective wavelengths.
Embodiments of the present invention additionally or alternatively use director elements, such as to increase the antenna gain with respect to each band. Directing attention to
According to a preferred embodiment, director 811 is tuned to an optimum length with respect to its driving element, radiating branch 311. The separation between director 811 and radiating branch 311 is also preferably optimized for maximum directivity. Similarly, director 801 is preferably tuned to an optimum length with respect to its driving element, radiating branch 301, The separation between director 801 and radiating branch 301 is also preferably optimized for maximum directivity.
It should be appreciated that the embodiment of
Although embodiments have been described above with reference to multi-band antenna element configurations having two differently configured radiating branches, e.g., dual-band configurations, the present invention is not limited to such configurations. For example, multi-band antenna elements of the present invention may provide triple-band configurations, using three different radiating branches as shown in FIG. 9. It should be appreciated that, although a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a dipole antenna element configuration, the illustration of
In the embodiment of
It should be appreciated that alternative embodiments may be implemented differently than the multi-band antenna element configuration illustrated in FIG. 9. For example, highest frequency radiation branch 301 and mid frequency radiation branch 901 may be transposed with respect to lowest frequency radiation branch 311 according to one embodiment. Moreover, the particular bands associated with the radiating branches is not limited to that illustrated by FIG. 9. For example, rather than having a mid frequency associated with radiation branch 901, radiation branch 901 may be configured to have a same resonate frequency as that of radiating branch 301, such as to provide increased gain with respect to this band of operation and/or to provide signal diversity with respect to this band of operation, if desired.
Although not shown in
Directing attention to
Another embodiment providing a single feed configuration is shown in
Waveguide 1110 of the illustrated embodiment guides the signal through the antenna element to the various radiating branches. It should be appreciated that electromagnetic waves propagating through waveguide 1110, having a dielectric material disposed therein, are slowed thereby allowing a smaller antenna element configuration. Another advantage associated with the configuration of the embodiment shown in
A prototype antenna implementing concepts of the present invention is shown in
The embodiment of
One embodiment of the prototype antenna configuration of
Another important characteristic is the resulting radiation or antenna pattern.
Although preferred embodiments have been described herein with reference to a dipole antenna element configuration, it should be appreciated that the concepts of the present invention are not limited to such a configuration. For example, monopole configurations, such as might be preferably for mobile terminals, may be implemented using one half (i.e., either the right or left half) of the antenna elements illustrated in
It should be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the radiating branch configurations shown. For example, embodiments of the present invention may utilize a tapered radiating branch, such as shown in
Additionally, configurations providing different or multiple polarizations may be provided according to the present invention. For example, cross polarization may be provided by a configuration in which radiating branches are disposed orthogonally. According to one embodiment, cross polarization is provided by 4 radiating branches utilized for each band such that a pair of radiating branches is disposed substantially as shown in
It should be appreciated that, although embodiments have been discussed above with respect to signal transmission by an antenna of the present invention, the concepts disclosed herein are applicable in both signal transmission and signal reception. Accordingly, multi-mode antenna elements of the present invention may be coupled to transmitters (signal generators), receivers, and/or transceivers as desired. Accordingly, “radiating branches” as utilized herein includes branches adapted for signal transmission, signal reception, and/or combinations thereof.
Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2619596 | Kolster | Nov 1952 | A |
5818397 | Yarsunas et al. | Oct 1998 | A |
5867131 | Camp, Jr. et al. | Feb 1999 | A |
6057805 | Harrington | May 2000 | A |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
11168323 | Jun 1999 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20040169612 A1 | Sep 2004 | US |