Patent Grant
9281571
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to broadband antennas for receiving digital broadcast television signals, and more specifically relates to broadband, low profile, planar antennas for television signal reception.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many antennas that are suitable for receiving digital television signal transmissions off-air (i.e., broadcast over the air) are often times relatively large and unwieldy and occupy significant space when mounted on a wall in an owner's premises. Another problem with such television antennas is that they do not provide good performance over the entire VHF and UHF television bands.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a broadband, low profile, planar wire antenna.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a broadband antenna which is suitable for digital television signal reception off-air.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a low profile, planar wire antenna that provides good performance for the VHF and UHF television bands and is relatively compact, fitting on a 12 inch×12 inch thin film substrate.
In accordance with one form of the present invention, a broadband, low profile, omni-directional (at least in the horizontal plane), planar wire antenna includes antenna elements which are fabricated with conductive silver ink and plated on a thin film, flexible substrate. The antenna includes an inverted triangular section and a horizontal bar section centered at the apex of the triangular section. Tab elements are provided on opposite ends of the bar section to increase the end effect of the antenna. Furthermore, 45 degree tab elements are joined to the top corners of the triangular section and extend in opposite directions therefrom. The tab elements added to the triangular section and to the bar section increase the overall electrical length of the antenna to simulate a physically larger size antenna.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
A broadband, low profile, planar wire antenna 1 constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown in
The antenna elements are preferably fabricated with conductive silver ink and plated on a thin film which has been used as a media substrate material. The thin film material is preferably one of Kapton® HPP-ST film or polycarbonate (PC) film or material. Kapton® HPP-ST is a two-sided treated polyimide film manufactured by DuPont Corporation. The specifications of Kapton® HPP-ST film may be found under H-38479 in Bulletin GS-96-7 of DuPont Corporation. A data sheet with the general properties of PC sheet or film may be found on the website of Jin-Taiwan Enterprise Co., Ltd., at www.jin-taiwan.com.tw.
The media substrate on which the antenna elements are plated may also be any FR4 or G10 fiberglass, single side, printed circuit board material with a one ounce copper cladding as a preferred minimum.
As can be seen from
Even more specifically, the triangular section 2 is formed with a plurality of segments (antenna elements) extending angularly from the apex 6 of the triangular section 2.
More particularly, first and second outer segments 8, 10 define sloping sides of the triangular section 2. The proximate ends of the first and second outer segments 8, 10 are joined to the apex 6 of the triangular section 2, and the axially opposite distal ends of each of the first and second outer segments 8, 10 are respectively joined to parallelly disposed first and second side segments 12, 14. The first and second side segments 12, 14 are perpendicularly joined to the opposite ends of a base segment 16 of the triangular section 2. The first and second side segments 12, 14, the first and second outer segments 8, 10 and the base segment 16 together define the inverted triangular section 2 with an interior area 17.
A center segment 18 of the triangular section 2 extends from the apex 6 to the center of the base segment 16. At least first and second interior angled segments 20, 22 extend from the apex 6 to the top corners 24A, 24B of the triangular section 2 defined by the intersection of the base segment 16 and the first and second side segments 12, 14, the at least first interior angled segment 20 being situated between the first outer segment 8 and the center segment 18, and the at least second interior angled segment 20 being situated between the second outer segment 10 and the center segment 18.
The apex 6 of the triangular section 2 is defined by a relatively short cross segment 26 from which the first and second outer segments 8, 10 and other interior segments 20, 22 and center segment 18 of the triangular section 2 extend. It should be understood that the segments described herein refer to and function as antenna elements.
At each top corner 24A, 24B of the triangular section 2, that is, excluding the apex 6, which corners 24A, 24B are defined by the juncture of the first and second side segments 12, 14 and the base segment 16, there extends first and second tab elements 28, 29 extending respectively from the first and second side segments 12, 14 angularly in an outwardly downward direction, and third and fourth tab elements 30, 31 respectively extending in a generally opposite direction to the first and second tab elements 28, 29 and in an outwardly, angularly upward direction. The first and second tab elements 28, 29 and the third and fourth tab elements 30, 31 situated at the top corners 24A, 24B of the triangular section 2 of the antenna 1 help increase the effective electrical length of the antenna 1.
More specifically, and preferably, the first and second tab elements 28, 29 are integrally formed extensions of the respective first and second side segments 12, 14. The tab elements 28, 29 which are preferably extended portions of the first and second side segments 12, 14, are folded angularly over their respective side segments 12, 14 from which they extend and define an acute interior angle A5 therewith, the preferred angle A5 being specified in Table I. The first and second tab elements 28, 29 extend angularly from the top corners 24 of the antenna 1 defined by the junctions of the base segment 16 and the first and second side segments 12, 14.
Similarly, and also preferably, the third and fourth tab elements 30, 31 are integrally formed extensions of the respective first and second interior angled segments 20, 22, and respectively extend angularly from the distal ends of the first and second interior angled segments 20, 22 past the top edge of the base segment 16. The third and fourth tab elements 30, 31 define an acute interior angle A1 with the base element 16, the preferred angle A1 being specified in Table I.
The lower bar section 4 also includes first and second end tab elements 32, 33 joined at their centers perpendicularly to the opposite axial ends of the bar section 4. The first and second end tab elements 32, 33 are added to the ends of the bar section 4 to increase the end effect (that is, the end tab elements 32, 33 allow the bar section 4 to be physically shortened and still provide effective resonance).
The feed points (signal and ground) for the antenna 1 are respectively at the apex 6 of the triangular section 2 and the center of the lower bar section 4. More specifically, the center conductor of the antenna signal cable 42 is electrically connected to the center of cross segment 26 defining the apex 6 of the inverted triangular section 2, and the ground shield of the signal cable 42 is electrically connected to the center of the bar section 4, which acts as a ground plane for the antenna.
The first through fourth tab elements 28-31 situated at the top corners 24A, 24B of the triangular section 2, and the first and second end tab elements 32, 33 situated at opposite axial ends of the bar section 4, and the unique shape of the triangular section 2, allow the antenna 1 of the present invention to perform well over the VHF and UHF television bands for receiving ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) digital television off-air (broadcast over the air) transmission signals, and furthermore provide the antenna 1 with the electrical characteristics and electrical length similar to a physically larger size antenna.
Even more specifically, the unique antenna design pattern of conductive silver ink plated on the special media substrate, such as Kapton® or PC film material provides a compact antenna which can be constructed to fit on a 12 inch×12 inch thin film sheet and still provide good performance for both VHF and UHF television reception bands. The frequency response of this antenna at selected frequencies may be seen from the gain plots and charts shown in
Referring again to
With the low profile, planar wire antenna 1 of the present invention mounted on a thin film material, the antenna is ultra-thin and flexible and easy to install behind a TV panel or just hanging on a wall. Its flexible design and small size (12 inches×12 inches) provide an unobtrusive and easy installation of the antenna. The size of the antenna has been reduced in order to optimize both bandwidth response and gain for effective over-the-air digital television signal reception.
The broadband, low profile, planar wire antenna of the present invention uses a unique metal or conductive element pattern to increase the electrical length/size of the triangular section and bar section. This allows the antenna to have the bandwidth performance of a larger sized antenna, but with an actual smaller physical size.
In an alternative embodiment of the antenna product, or assembly, 34 of the present invention, either the front covering layer 36 or the rear covering layer 38 is a polyimide or polycarbonate film and acts as a substrate to support the elements of the antenna 1, the antenna elements being inked or etched on, or adhered to, the inside surface of the supporting covering layer 36, 38. The other layer of the first and second covering layers 36, 38, in this alternative embodiment, need not be a film material, but rather may be a layer of paint, preferably contrasting in color to the opposite supporting layer 36, 38, applied over the antenna 1 and the inside surface of the antenna supporting layer 36, 38, the paint layer covering the exposed side of the antenna 1 supported on its opposite side by the other covering layer 36, 38. Preferably, the dark or black side covering layer 36, 38 is the polyimide or polycarbonate film which supports the antenna 1 and its elements, and the light or white side covering layer 36, 38 is a layer of paint.
A housing 40 covers the feed point and the connection of one end of the antenna cable 42 to the antenna 1 at the apex 6 thereof. The housing 40 includes two mating front and rear sections 44, 46, the front section 44 being disposed on and mounted to a portion of the front covering layer 36, or the antenna supporting film, and the rear section 46, facing in an opposite direction to the front section 44, being disposed on and mounted to a portion of the rear covering layer 38, or also to the antenna supporting film on the painted side thereof. Preferably, the front section 44 of the antenna cable connection housing 40 has the same color as that of the front covering layer 36, and the rear section 46 of the housing 40 has the same color as that of the rear covering layer 38, so that the antenna cable connection housing 40 will also blend in with the décor of the residence in which the antenna product 34 is mounted. As is evident from the above description, the antenna product 34 of the present invention may be oriented with either covering layer 36, 38 facing the exterior of the housing, and further may be oriented at any angle through 360 degrees, and still provide good reception of broadcast over-the-air digital television signals for viewing on a television receiver.
The antenna product 34 of the present invention may have formed through the thickness thereof (i.e., through the front and rear covering layers 36, 38) openings 48, preferably positioned in the opposite upper corners 50 of the antenna product 34, for the user to mount the antenna product 34 to a supporting structure, such as a vertical wall in the user's residence, using fasteners (e.g., nails, screws, hooks or the like) placed through the openings 48. Alternatively, because the antenna product 34 is so light (it weighs less than about two ounces, without the antenna cable 42) and is paper thin, it may be mounted to a supporting surface (e.g., wall or window) using adhesive tape.
Also, as shown in
An alternative version of the broadband, low profile, planar wire antenna of the present invention is shown in
More specifically, the inverted triangular section 2 includes outer sloping sides and an apex 6 at least partially defined by the outer sloping sides. There is an elongated bar section 4 centered in proximity to the apex 6 of the inverted triangular section 2. This elongated bar section 4 is formed as an elongated member having a first axial end 56 and a second axial end 58 situated opposite the first axial end 56.
The inverted triangular section 2 includes, as antenna elements, a first outer sloping segment 8 and a second outer sloping segment 10. The first and second outer sloping segments 8, 10 define the outer sloping sides of the inverted triangular section 2. Each of the first outer sloping segment 8 and the second outer sloping segment 10 is an elongated member and has a proximate end 60 and a distal end 62 situated axially opposite the proximate end 60 of the respective first and second outer sloping segments 8, 10. The first and second outer sloping segments 8, 10 mutually converge in a direction towards the proximate ends 60 thereof such that the proximate ends 60 of the first and second outer sloping segments 8, 10 are electrically coupled together at the apex 6 of the inverted triangular section 2.
There is also a first side segment 12 and a second side segment 14, forming part of the inverted triangular section 2. The first side segment 12 is disposed in parallel with the second side segment 14. Each of the first side segment and the second side segment 12, 14 has a first axial end 64 and a second axial end 66 situated opposite the first axial end 64 of the respective first and second side segments 12, 14. The first axial end 64 of the first side segment 12 is electrically coupled to the distal end 62 of the first outer sloping segment 8, and the first axial end 64 of the second side segment 14 is electrically coupled to the distal end 62 of the second outer sloping segment 10.
The inverted triangular section 2 of this alternative embodiment of the antenna 1 shown in
The inverted triangular section 2 of the alternative embodiment of the antenna 1 also includes a center segment 18. The center segment 18 is an elongated member and has a proximate end 74 and a distal end 76 situated axially opposite the proximate end 74 of the center segment 18. The center segment 18 is disposed to extend between the apex 6 of the inverted triangular section 2 to the base segment 16, and slightly beyond the base segment 16, as will be described in greater detail. The proximate end 74 of the center segment 18 is electrically coupled to the proximate ends 60 of the first and second outer sloping segments 8, 10 at the apex 6 of the inverted triangular section 2, and near the distal end 76 of the center segment 18, a portion thereof is electrically coupled to the center portion 68 of the base segment 16.
The inverted triangular section 2 of this alternative embodiment of the antenna 1 also includes a first interior angled segment 20 and a second interior angled segment 22. The first interior angled segment 20 is disposed within the interior area 17 of the inverted triangular section 2 between the first outer sloping segment 8 and the center segment 18. Similarly, the second interior angled segment 22 is disposed within the interior area 17 of the inverted triangular section 2 between the second outer sloping segment 10 and the center segment 18. Each of the first interior angled segment 20 and the second interior angled segment 22 is formed as an elongated member and has a proximate end 78 and a distal end 80 situated axially opposite the proximate end 78 of the respective first and second interior angled segments 20, 22. Each of the first interior angled segment 20 and the second interior angled segment 22 extends between the apex 6 of the inverted triangular section 2 and the base segment 16. The proximate end 78 of the first interior angled segment 20 is electrically coupled to the proximate ends 60, 74 of the first outer sloping segment 8, the second outer sloping segment 10 and the center segment 18 at the apex 6 of the inverted triangular section 2. The distal end 80 of the first interior angled segment 20 is electrically coupled to the first axial end 70 of the base segment 16 near or at the first corner 24A of the inverted triangular section 2, and the distal end 80 of the second interior angled segment 22 is electrically coupled to the second axial end 72 of the base segment 16 near or at the second corner 24B of the inverted triangular section 2.
As stated previously, a portion 82 of the center segment 18, at the distal end 76 thereof, extends beyond the base segment 16 and is electrically coupled to the center portion 84 of a center-fed reflector 86. More specifically, the center-fed reflector 86 is an elongated member which extends in parallel with the base segment 16 and is spaced apart from the base segment 16 a predetermined distance. This center-fed reflector 86 also includes a first axial end 88 and a second axial end 90 situated opposite the first axial end 86.
In this alternative version of the antenna 1 of the present invention shown in
Similarly, the second tab segment 29 is electrically coupled to the center-fed reflector 86 at or near the second axial end 90 thereof, and is in proximity to the second corner 24B of the inverted triangular section 2, and extends angularly outwardly from the second axial end 90 of the center-fed reflector 86 generally toward the first axial end 64 of the second side segment 14, and defines with the center-fed reflector 86 a second obtuse angle A9 generally facing the second corner 24B of the inverted triangular section 2.
The third tab segment 30 is electrically coupled to the center-fed reflector 86 at or near the first axial end 88 thereof and extends angularly outwardly from near or at the first axial end 88 of the center-fed reflector 86 away from the triangular section 2 and, preferably, in an opposite direction from which the first tab segment 28 extends. The third tab segment 30 defines with the center-fed reflector 86 a third acute angle A1. Similarly, the fourth tab segment 31 is electrically coupled to the center-fed reflector 86 at or near the second axial end 90 thereof and extends angularly outwardly from near or at the second axial end portion 90 of the center-fed reflector 86 away from the triangular section 2 and, preferably, in an opposite direction from which the second tab segment 29 extends. The fourth tab segment 31 defines with the center-fed reflector 86 a fourth acute angle A10.
Also, similarly to the antenna embodiment shown in
Like the first embodiment of the antenna 1 shown in
It should be noted that, on this embodiment shown in
Referring again to
The antenna 1 of the present invention shown in
Of course, what is described above is for a signal radiating antenna, but conceptually, the antenna 1 of the present invention functions in the same manner as a signal receiving antenna.
The finished antenna product, or assembly, 34 of the present invention, may incorporate either the antenna 1 shown in
The structural features of various forms of the antenna of the present invention shown in
More specifically, a broadband low profile planar wire antenna, formed in accordance with the present invention, includes an inverted triangular section 2 having outer sloping sides and an apex 6 at least partially defined by the outer sloping sides, the inverted triangular section 2 having an interior area 17; and an elongated bar section 4 centered in proximity to the apex 6 of the inverted triangular section 2, the elongated bar section being formed as an elongated member having a first axial end 56 and a second axial end 58 situated opposite the first axial end 56.
Preferably, the inverted triangular section 2 includes, as antenna elements, a first outer segment 8 and a second outer segment 10. The first and second outer segments 8, 10 define the outer sloping sides of the inverted triangular section 2. Each of the first outer segment 8 and the second outer segment 10 is in the form of an elongated member and has a proximate end 60 and a distal end 62 situated axially opposite the proximate end 60 of the respective first and second outer segments 8, 10. The first and second outer segments 8, 10 mutually converge in a direction toward the proximate ends 60 thereof such that the proximate ends 60 of the first and second outer segments 8, 10 are electrically coupled together at the apex 6 of the inverted triangular section 2.
The inverted triangular section 2 further preferably includes a base segment 16. The base segment 16 is situated on the inverted triangular section 2 opposite the apex 6 of the inverted triangular section 2. The base segment 16 is in the form of an elongated member and has a center portion 68, a first axial end 70 and a second axial end 72 situated opposite the first axial end 70 of the base segment 16. The first axial end 70 of the base segment 16 is in electrical communication with the distal end 62 of the first outer segment 8, and the opposite second axial end 72 of the base segment 16 is in electrical communication with the distal end 62 of the second outer segment 10. The first axial end 70 of the base segment 16 at least partially defines a first corner 24A of the inverted triangular section 2 of the antenna 1, and the second axial end 72 of the base segment 16 at least partially defines a second corner 24B of the inverted triangular section 2 of the antenna 1.
The antenna 1 of the present invention further preferably includes at least a first tab segment 28 and a second tab segment 29 situated in proximity respectively to the first corner 24A and the second corner 24B of the inverted triangular section 2 of the antenna 1. The at least first tab element 28 and the second tab element 29 are provided to help increase the effective electrical length of the antenna 1.
In a more preferred form of the antenna 1 of the present invention, the inverted triangular section 2 further includes a center segment 18. The center segment 18 is formed as an elongated member and has a proximate end 74 and a distal end 76 situated axially opposite the proximate end 74 of the center segment 18. The center segment 18 is disposed at least partially within the interior area 17 of the inverted triangular section 2 and extends between the apex 6 of the inverted triangular section 2 and the base segment 16. The proximate end 74 of the center segment 18 is electrically coupled to the proximate ends 60 of the first and second outer segments 8, 10 at the apex 6 of the inverted triangular section 2, and a portion of the center segment 18 near or at the distal end 76 of the center segment 18 is electrically coupled to the center portion 68 of the base segment 16.
Preferably, the antenna 1 of the present invention further includes a first end segment 32 and a second end segment 33. Each of the first end segment 32 and the second end segment 33 is in the form of an elongated member and has a center portion. The first axial end 56 of the bar section 4 is electrically coupled to the center portion of the first end segment 32, and the second axial end 58 of the bar section 4 is electrically coupled to the center portion of the second end segment 33. The first end segment 32 and the second end segment 33 are provided to help increase the effective electrical length of the bar section 4.
In an even more preferred form of the present invention, such as illustrated by
In this preferred form of the antenna 1 of the present invention, the inverted triangular section 2 and elongated bar section 4 include, as antenna elements, a first outer sloping segment 8 and a second outer sloping segment 10. The first and second outer sloping segments 8, 10 define the outer sloping sides of the inverted triangular section 2. Each of the first outer sloping segment 8 and the second outer sloping segment 10 is in the form of an elongated member and has a proximate end 60 and a distal end 62 situated axially opposite the proximate end 60 of the respective first and second outer sloping segments 8,10. The first and second outer sloping segments 8, 10 mutually converge in a direction toward the proximate ends 60 thereof such that the proximate ends 60 of the first and second outer sloping segments 8, 10 are electrically coupled together at the apex 6 of the inverted triangular section 2.
In this preferred form of the antenna of the present invention, the inverted triangular section 2 further includes a first side segment 12 and a second side segment 14. The first side segment 12 is disposed in parallel with the second side segment 14. Each of the first side segment 12 and the second side segment 14 is in the form of an elongated member and has a first axial end 64 and a second axial end 66 situated opposite the first axial end 64 of the respective first and second side segments 12, 14. The first axial end 64 of the first side segment 12 is electrically coupled to the distal end 62 of the first outer sloping segment 8, and the first axial end 64 of the second side segment 14 is electrically coupled to the distal end 62 of the second outer sloping segment 10.
The inverted triangular section 2 of the antenna 1 of the present invention, in this preferred form, further includes a base segment 16. The base segment 16 is situated on the inverted triangular section 2 opposite the apex 6 of the inverted triangular section 2. The base segment 16 is in the form of an elongated member and has a center portion 68, a first axial end 70 and a second axial end 72 situated opposite the first axial end 70 of the base segment 16. The first axial end 70 of the base segment 16 is electrically coupled to the second axial end 66 of the first side segment 12, and the opposite second axial end 72 of the base segment 16 is electrically coupled to the second axial end 66 of the second side segment 14. Accordingly, the second axial end 66 of the first side segment 12 and the first axial end 70 of the base segment 16 together define a first corner 24A of the inverted triangular section 2 of the antenna 1, and, similarly, the second axial end 66 of the second side segment 14 and the second axial end 72 of the base segment 16 together define a second corner 24B of the inverted triangular section 2 of the antenna 1.
The inverted triangular section 2 of this preferred embodiment of the antenna 1 further includes a center segment 18. The center segment 18 is in the form of an elongated member and has a proximate end 74 and a distal end 76 situated axially opposite the proximate end 74 of the center segment 18. The center segment 18 is disposed within the interior area 17 of the inverted triangular section 2 and extends between the apex 6 of the inverted triangular section 2 and the base segment 16. The proximate end 74 of the center segment 18 is electrically coupled to the proximate ends 60 of the first and second outer sloping segments 8, 10 at the apex 6 of the inverted triangular section 2, and the distal end 76 of the center segment 18 is electrically coupled to the center portion 68 of the base segment 16.
The inverted triangular section 2 of the antenna 1 of the present invention, in such a preferred form, as shown in
The preferred form of the inverted triangular section 2 of the antenna 1 of the present invention further includes a first tab segment 28 and a second tab segment 29. The first tab segment 28 is electrically coupled to the second axial end 66 of the first side segment 12 at or near the first corner 24A of the inverted triangular section 2 and extends angularly outwardly from the second axial end 66 of the first side segment 12 generally toward the first axial end 64 of the first side segment 12 to define with the first side segment 12 a first acute angle. Similarly, the second tab segment 29 is electrically coupled to the second axial end 66 of the second side segment 14 at or near the second corner 24B of the inverted triangular section 2 and extends angularly outwardly from the second axial end 66 of the second side segment 14 generally toward the first axial end 64 of the second side segment 14 to define with the second side segment 14 a second acute angle.
The inverted triangular section 2 of this preferred form of the antenna 1 of the present invention further includes a third tab segment 30 and a fourth tab segment 31. The third tab segment 30 is electrically coupled to the distal end 80 of the first interior angled segment 20 at or near the first corner 24A of the inverted triangular section 2 and extends angularly outwardly from the first axial end 70 of the base segment 16 to define with the base segment 16 a third acute angle. Similarly, the fourth tab segment 31 is electrically coupled to the distal end 80 of the second interior angled segment 22 at or near the second corner 24B of the inverted triangular section 2 and extends angularly outwardly from the second axial end 72 of the base segment 16 to define with the base segment 16 a fourth acute angle.
The antenna 1, in this preferred form, further includes a first end segment 32 and a second end segment 33. Each of the first end segment 32 and the second end segment 33 is in the form of an elongated member and has a center portion. The first axial end 56 of the bar section 4 is electrically coupled to the center portion of the first end segment 32, and the second axial end 58 of the bar section 4 is electrically coupled to the center portion of the second end segment 33.
In another preferred form of the present invention, such as illustrated by
In this preferred form, the inverted triangular section 2, elongated bar section 4 and center-fed reflector 86 include, as antenna elements, a first outer sloping segment 8 and a second outer sloping segment 10. The first and second outer sloping segments 8, 10 define the outer sloping sides of the inverted triangular section 2. Each of the first outer sloping segment 8 and the second outer sloping segment 10 is in the form of an elongated member and has a proximate end 60 and a distal end 62 situated axially opposite the proximate end 60 of the respective first and second outer sloping segments 8, 10. The first and second outer sloping segments 8, 10 mutually converge in a direction toward the proximate ends 60 thereof such that the proximate ends 60 of the first and second outer sloping segments 8, 10 are electrically coupled together at the apex 6 of the inverted triangular section 2.
The inverted triangular section 2 of this preferred form of the antenna 1 of the present invention further includes a first side segment 12 and a second side segment 14. The first side segment 12 is disposed in parallel with the second side segment 14. Each of the first side segment 12 and the second side segment 14 is in the form of an elongated member and has a first axial end 64 and a second axial end 66 situated opposite the first axial end 64 of the respective first and second side segments 12, 14. The first axial end 64 of the first side segment 12 is electrically coupled to the distal end 62 of the first outer sloping segment 8, and the first axial end 64 of the second side segment 14 is electrically coupled to the distal end 62 of the second outer sloping segment 10.
The inverted triangular section 2 of the aforementioned preferred antenna 1 also includes a base segment 16. The base segment 16 is situated on the inverted triangular section 2 opposite the apex 6 of the inverted triangular section 2. The base segment 16 is in the form of an elongated member and has a center portion 68, a first axial end 70 and a second axial end 72 situated opposite the first axial end 70 of the base segment 16. The first axial end 70 of the base segment 16 is electrically coupled to the second axial end 66 of the first side segment 12, and the opposite second axial end 72 of the base segment 16 is electrically coupled to the second axial end 66 of the second side segment 14. Accordingly, the second axial end 66 of the first side segment 12 and the first axial end 70 of the base segment 16 together define a first corner 24A of the inverted triangular section 2 of the antenna 1, and, similarly, the second axial end 66 of the second side segment 14 and the second axial end 72 of the base segment 16 together define a second corner 24B of the inverted triangular section 2 of the antenna 1.
The inverted triangular section 2 of the antenna 1, in this preferred form, and as shown in
This antenna 1 of the present invention preferably includes, as part of the inverted triangular section 2, a first interior angled segment 20 and a second interior angled segment 22. More specifically, the first interior angled segment 20 is disposed within the interior area 17 of the inverted triangular section 2 between the first outer sloping segment 8 and the center segment 18, and the second interior angled segment 22 is disposed within the interior area 17 of the inverted triangular section 2 between the second outer sloping segment 10 and the center segment 18. Each of the first interior angled segment 20 and the second interior angled segment 22 is in the form of an elongated member and has a proximate end 78 and a distal end 80 situated axially opposite the proximate end 78 of the respective first and second interior angled segments 20, 22. Each of the first interior angled segment 20 and the second interior angled segment 22 extends between the apex 6 of the inverted triangular section 2 and the base segment 16. The proximate ends 78 of the first interior angled segment 20 and the second interior angled segment 22 are electrically coupled to the proximate ends 60, 74 of the first outer sloping segment 8, the second outer sloping segment 10 and the center segment 18 at the apex 6 of the inverted triangular section 2. The distal end 80 of the first interior angled segment 20 is electrically coupled to the first axial end 70 of the base segment 16 near or at the first corner 24A of the inverted triangular section 2, and the distal end 80 of the second interior angled segment 22 is electrically coupled to the second axial end 72 of the base segment 16 near or at the second corner 24B of the inverted triangular section 2.
The antenna 1 of the present invention, in this preferred form, further includes a first tab segment 28 and a second tab segment 29. The first tab segment 28 is electrically coupled to the center-fed reflector 86 at or near the first axial end 88 thereof and is situated in proximity to the first corner 24A of the inverted triangular section 2 and extends angularly outwardly from the center-fed reflector 86 to define with the center-fed reflector 86 a first angle. Similarly, the second tab segment 29 is electrically coupled to the center-fed reflector 86 at or near the second axial end 90 thereof and is situated in proximity to the second corner 24B of the inverted triangular section 2 and extends angularly outwardly from the center-fed reflector 86 to define with the center-fed reflector 86 a second angle.
Additionally, the antenna 1 of the present invention in this preferred form also has a third tab segment 30 and a fourth tab segment 31. The third tab segment 30 is electrically coupled to the center-fed reflector 86 at or near the first axial end 88 thereof and extends angularly outwardly from or near the first axial end 88 of the center-fed reflector 86 away from the inverted triangular section 2 and in an opposite direction from which the first tab segment 28 extends and defines with the center-fed reflector 86 a third acute angle. Similarly, the fourth tab segment 31 is electrically coupled to the center-fed reflector 86 at or near the second axial end 90 thereof and extends angularly outwardly from or near the second axial end 90 of the center-fed reflector 86 away from the inverted triangular section 2 and in an opposite direction from which the second tab segment 29 extends and defines with the center-fed reflector 86 a fourth acute angle.
An antenna assembly 34, formed in accordance with the present invention, may include the antenna 1 described previously and shown in
Preferably, the overall thickness of the antenna assembly 34, measured between the outer surface 92 of the front covering layer 36 and the outer surface 94 of the rear covering layer 38, is less than about one millimeter. In a more preferred form, the front covering layer 36 of the antenna assembly 34 includes a film which supports the antenna 1, and the rear covering layer 38 is a layer of paint.
In an even more preferred form of the antenna assembly 34, the outer surface 92 of the front covering layer 36 is formed with a first color, and the outer surface 94 of the rear covering layer 38 is formed with a second color, the first color of the outer surface 92 of the front covering layer 36 being different from the second color of the outer surface 94 of the rear covering layer 38.
Also, in a further preferred form, the antenna assembly 34 further includes an antenna cable connection housing 40 having a front section 44 and a rear section 46 which mates with the front section 44 of the antenna cable connection housing 40. The front section 44 of the antenna cable connection housing 40 is disposed on a portion of the front covering layer 36, and the rear section 46 of the antenna cable connection housing 40 is disposed on a portion of the rear covering layer 38. The front section 44 of the antenna cable connection housing 40 preferably has a color which is the same as the first color of the outer surface 92 of the front covering layer 36, and the rear section 46 of the antenna cable connection housing 40 preferably has a color which is the same as the second color of the rear covering layer 38.
Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.
This application is related to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/867,877, which was filed on Aug. 20, 2013, and is entitled “Broadband Low Profile Planar Wire Antenna”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference and on which priority is hereby claimed.
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