Tunable radio antenna

Claim 2

An antenna comprising a plurality of radial conductive members of equal length disposed in a geometric plane, the first extremities of the said plural radial members being joined conductively at a common center point, the second extremities of the said radial members disposed at points of equal angular separation on the circumference of a geometric circle, an equal plurality of circular segment conductive members lying on the circumference of the said geometric circle having the said common center point as an origin, the first extremities of the said plural circular segment members being conductively joined respectively to the said second extremities of the said radial conductive members, the second extremities of the said circular segment members being spaced equally and respectively from the said points of equal angular separation on the said circumference of the said geometric circle and being conductively joined respectively to the upper extremities of an equal plurality of linear conductive members of equal length, said linear conductive members disposed normal to the said geometric plane and terminating conductively on a conductive planar member disposed parallel to the said geometric plane and spaced less than one quarter wavelength therefrom.

Claim 3

A pair of apparatus in which each of the said pair comprise a plurality of linear radial conductive members of equal length disposed in a geometric plane, the first extremities of the said plural radial members being conductively joined at a common center point, the second extremities disposed at points of equal angular separation on the circumference of a geometric circle, an equal plurality of circular segment conductive members lying on the circumference of the said geometric circle having the said common center point as origin, the first extremities of the said plural circular segment members being conductively joined respectively at the said points of equal angular separation on the said geometric circle to the second extremities of the said radial linear members, the second extremities of said circular segment members respectfully joined to the upper extremities of an equal plurality of linear conductive members of equal length, said linear conductive members disposed normal to the said geometric plane, the said geometric plane containing the said plurality of radial members of one of the said pair of apparatus spaced below and parallel to the geometric plane of the other, the said point of common center of one of the said apparatus concentric with the point of common center of the other, the said radial members of one of the said pair of apparatus equal in number and length and aligned parallel with those of the said other apparatus, the said base extremities of the said normally disposed linear conductive members of one of the said pair aligned in end-to-end relationship with the normally disposed linear members of the other apparatus of the said pair, the said base extremities conductively joined.

Claim 4

A pair of apparatus in which each of the said pair comprise a plurality of linear radial conductive members of equal length disposed in a geometric plane, the first extremities of the said plural radial members being conductively joined at a common center point, the second extremities disposed at points of equal angular separation on the circumference of a geometric circle, an equal plurality of circular segment conductive members lying on the circumference of the said geometric circle having the said common center point as origin, the first extremities of the said plural circular segment members being conductively joined respectively at the said points of equal angular separation on the said geometric circle to the second extremities of the said radial linear members, the second extremities of said circular segment members respectfully joined to the upper extremities of an equal plurality of linear conductive members of equal length, said linear conductive members disposed normal to the said geometric plane, the said geometric plane containing the said plurality of radial members of one of the said pair of apparatus spaced below and parallel to the geometric plane of the other, the said point of common center of one of the said apparatus concentric with the point of common center of the other, the said radial members of one of the said pair of apparatus equal in number and length and aligned parallel with those of the said other apparatus, the said base extremities of the said normally disposed linear conductive members of one of the said pair aligned in end-to-end relationship with the normally disposed linear members of the other apparatus of the said pair, the said base extremities conductively joined.

Claim 5

Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, in which the first plate of a capacitor means is connected to the said common center point of join of the said radial members of one of the said pair of apparatus, the first plate of a second and equal capacitor means is connected to the said common center point of join of the said radial members of the said other apparatus of the said pair, the second plates respectively of the two capacitor means forming dual connection points for a balanced transmission line.

Claim 6

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the first plate of a capacitor means is connected to the said common center point of join of the said radial members, the second plate of the said capacitor means being a first connection point for an unbalanced transmission line, a poiNt on the said conductive plane member concentric with the said common center point forming a second connection point for the said unbalanced transmission line.

Claim 7

Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, in which one conductive member of a two wire, balanced transmission line is connected to the said first connection point, the other conductive member of the said balanced transmission line connected to the said second connection point.

Claim 8

Apparatus in accordance with claim 7, in which the insulated inner conductive member of an unbalanced coaxial transmission line is connected to the said first connection point, and the conductive sheath of the said coaxial transmission line connected to the said second connection point.

Claim 9

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which one of the said plurality of radial conductive members, one of the said plurality of circular segment conductive members, and one of the said plurality of normally disposed linear conductive members are hollow and form a continuous conduit for a coaxial transmission line disposed within, said coaxial transmission line being brought to the exterior surface of the said hollow members via a hole cut in the wall of the said one radial member at the point of the said common center join, said hole being on the side of the said radial members closest to the said conductive plane, the conductive sheath of the said coaxial line there conductively joined to the perimeter of said hole, the inner insulated conductive member of the said coaxial line disposed normal to the said conductive plane and connected to the first plate of a capacitor means, the second plate of the said capacitor means being connected to the said conductive plane, the other extremity of the said coaxial line passing through a hole in the wall of the said one normally disposed linear conductive member at the point where the said linear member joins to the said conductive plane, the conductive sheath of the coaxial line there connected to the said conductive plane and thence disposed along the surface of the said conductive plane to remote radio apparatus.

Claim 10

Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, in which the said other extremity of the said coaxial line passes through a hole in the said conductive plane, the said hole concentric with the said point where the normally disposed linear member joins to the said conductive plane, said coaxial cable being thence disposed on the underside of the said conductive plane to remote radio apparatus.

Claim 11

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the first plate of a capacitor means is connected to the said point of common center, the second plate of the said capacitor means connected to the said conductive plane, one of the said plurality of normally disposed linear conductive members being hollow, the conductive sheath of a coaxial line being connected to the said conductive plane, said coaxial cable passing through a hole in the wall of the base extremity of the said one hollow linear member and conveyed therein, said coaxial line passing through the wall of the said one hollow linear member via a second hole at a predetermined height above the said conductive plane, the conductive sheath of the said coaxial line terminated conductively to the perimeter of the said second hole, the inner conductive member of the said coaxial line being disposed parallel to the said conductive plane a distance substantially equal to the diameter of the said one hollow linear member, said inner conductive member being thence bent sharply so as to be disposed parallel and spaced from the surface of the said one hollow linear member and terminating on the surface of the said conductive plane.

Claim 12

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which a first plate of a variable capacitor means is connected to the said point of common center, the second plate of the said variable capacitor means connected to the said conductive plane, a linkage means providing a synchronous join between the mechanical adjustment means of the saiD variable capacitor and the frequency adjustment means of a radio apparatus, the said linkage so composed as to afford frequency tracking between the said apparatus and the said radio apparatus, said radio apparatus being located on the opposite side of the said conductive plane from the said capacitor, the active electrical terminal of the said radio apparatus connected to one plate of a fixed direct current, potential isolating capacitor means, the second plate of the said isolating capacitor connected to a wire conductive member, said wire member passing through a hole in the said conductive plane and maintained concentrically in non-conductive alignment with the said hole by a non conductive support means, said wire aligned in normal disposition to the said conductive plane and connected by a conductive clamping means to one of the said plurality of the said circular segment members at a predetermined distance from the point of conductive join of the said one circular segment member and one of the said plurality of normally disposed, linear conductive members.

Claim 13

A pair of apparatus in accordance with claim 4, the said geometric planes of the said pair being disposed parallel, the said common center of one of the said pair being concentric with the common center of the other of the said pair, the total diameter of one of the said pair being twice the total diameter of the other of the said pair, the total height of one of the said pair above the said conductive plane being substantially 1.1 times the total height of the other of the said pair above the said conductive plane, the said capacitor means connected respectively to the said common centers of each of the said pair being displaced respectively from the axis of the said concentric common centers sufficiently to avoid conductive contact, and supported and maintained in alignment by non conductive support means, the said conductive members respectively connected between the first plates of the said capacitor means and the said concentric points of common center being respectively dressed to preclude conductive contact, the insulated inner conductive members of dual coaxial cables being connected respectively to the said first connection points of the said two capacitor means, the conductive sheathes of the said dual coaxial cables connected respectively to the said second connection point of the said conductive plane, the said dual coaxial cables terminating in the dual output terminals of a coaxial switching means, the single input terminal of the said coaxial switching means connected by a coaxial cable to remote radio apparatus, mechanical linkage adjustment means provided for the independent remote tuning of the said two capacitor means and remote control means provided for the said coaxial switching means.

Claim 14

An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, each of the said radial and circular segment conductive members composed in turn of a multiplicity of flexible wire members, the number of said flexible wire members comprising all the said radial and circular segment conductive members being equal and predetermined, the said normally disposed linear conductive members being composed of conductive lattice towers of constant cross section, the said flexible wire members comprising the said radial and circular segment conductive members being held in geometric alignment by non conductive support means.

Claim 15

Apparatus in accordance with claim 13, in which the said radial and circular segment conductive members composed of a predetermined multiplicity of flexible wire members held in alignment by non conductive support means are disposed parallel to and at a predetermined height above a conductive plane comprised of wire members laid substantially on the surface of the earth, the said wire members being disposed radially with respect to a point on the soil concentric with the said common center, the said radial wire members bridged conductively at predetermined intervals by additional wire members disposed in The form of polygons whose origin is the said point on the soil concentric with the said common center, the maximum radial dimension of the said bridging wire members being substantially 1.2 times the radius of the said apparatus.

Claim 16

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the diameter of the said geometric circle bounding the said circular segment members is from 0.009 to 2.00 times the operating wavelength of the said antenna.

Claim 17

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the length of the said normally disposed linear conductive members is from 0.0007 to 0.175 times the operating wavelength of the said antenna.

Claim 18

In an antenna for sending and receiving linear polarized radio waves, a plurality of linear conductive antenna members of equal length aligned parallel to one another and in normal disposition to the planes of a pair of parallel geometric polygons of equal diameter and equal number of sides, said linear antenna members disposed to bridge the corners of the said parallel polygons the extremities of each of the said linear antenna respectively to the first dual extremities of an equal plurality of balanced two conductor transmission lines, one of each of the said two conductors lying respectively in one of each plane of the said pair of parallel geometric polygons, each of the said portions of arc followed by the said bent conductors having the same rotational direction on the said circles but being short of joining the next respective corners of the said polygons by a predetermined and equal amount of spacing, each of the dual extremities of each of the said bent conductors of the said balanced transmission lines being there joined conductively to the first dual extremities of an equal plurality of linear, balanced two conductor transmission lines whose conductors are disposed radially to, and lie within the planes respectively of the said pair of geometric polygons, the second dual extremities of each of the said plurality of linear radial transmission lines terminating conductively at the two respective origins of the said pair of polygons to form coaxially aligned, dual terminals, the said dual terminals being respectively connected conductively to the dual input terminals of a balanced reactor, the dual output terminals of the said balanced reactor being connected respectively to a balanced electrical feeder cable joined to remote radio apparatus.

Claim 19

In an antenna for sending and receiving linear polarized radio waves, a plurality of linear conductive antenna members of equal length aligned parallel to one another and in normal disposition to the planes of a pair of parallel geometric polygons of equal diameter and equal number of sides, said linear antenna members disposed to bridge the corners of the said parallel polygons the extremities of each of the said linear antenna respectively to the first dual extremities of an equal plurality of balanced two conductor transmission lines, one of each of the said two conductors lying respectively in one of each plane of the said pair of parallel geometric polygons, each of the said portions of arc followed by the said bent conductors having the same rotational direction on the said circles but being short of joining the next respective corners of the said polygons by a predetermined and equal amount of spacing, each of the dual extremities of each of the said bent conductors of the said balanced transmission lines being there joined conductively to the first dual extremities of an equal plurality of linear, balanced two conductor transmission lines whose conductors are disposed radially to, and lie within the planes respectively of the said pair of geometric polygons, the second dual extremities of each of the said plurality of linear radial transmission lines terminating conductively at the two respective origins of the said pair of polygons to form coaxially aligned, dual terminals, the said dual terminals being respectively connected conductively to the dual input terminals of a balanced reactor, the dual output terminals of the said balanced reactor being connected respectively to a balanced electrical feeder cable joined to remote radio apparatus.

Claim 20

Apparatus in accordance with claim 16, in which all conductive members lying in one of the said pair of parallel geometric polygons are replaced by a conductive planar member whose extent is equal to or greater than the diameter of the said geometric polygon it replaces, one set of the extremities of the said plurality of linear conductive antenna members now terminating conductively on the said planar member, the output terminal of the remaining half of the said balanced reactor means connected to the insulated inner conductive member of a coaxial cable, the conductive sheath of the said coaxial cable connected to the said conductive plane member, the coaxial cable joining the apparatus to remote radio sending and receiving equipment means.

Claim 21

A multi-frequency, tunable antenna of small electrical height for the radiation of linear polarized waves in which plural, electrically short linear conductive members are aligned parallel to one another, the dual extremities of the said plural linear members equiangularly and normally intersecting the circumferences of two parallel geometric circles of equal diameter, the said dual extremities of the said plural linear members electrically terminating an equal plurality of balanced, two wire transmission lines, the dual conductors of each of the said plural balanced lines being disposed one above the other and spaced apart a distance equal to the length of the said linear conductive members, the said dual conductors of the said balanced lines following equal length segments of the said circumferences of the said parallEl geometric circles all in the same rotational sense, then being directed inward radially and equiangularly to the respective origins of the said circles and there the dual conductors of each of the said balanced lines electrically connected in shunt to form dual, coaxially aligned terminals maintained in spacing equal to the spacing of the said dual conductors of the said shunt connected balanced transmission lines, said dual terminals bridged by a variable capacitive reactance means and fed radio power in series connection, the said combination of shunt connected, balanced transmission lines and the said reactive means producing electrical resonance in the said plural linear members terminating the said plural balanced transmission lines on both a fundamental frequency plus higher frequency overtone modes, the said linear members being also in electrical time phase by reason of such excitation scheme, the signal intensity at angles above the said plane of the said parallel circles falling in intensity with increasing angle to zero intensity at plus or minus ninety degrees relative to the plane of the said circles.

Claim 22

A multi-frequency, tunable antenna of small electrical height for the radiation of linear polarized waves in which plural, electrically short linear conductive members are aligned parallel to one another, the dual extremities of the said plural linear members equiangularly and normally intersecting the circumferences of two parallel geometric circles of equal diameter, the said dual extremities of the said plural linear members electrically terminating an equal plurality of balanced, two wire transmission lines, the dual conductors of each of the said plural balanced lines being disposed one above the other and spaced apart a distance equal to the length of the said linear conductive members, the said dual conductors of the said balanced lines following equal length segments of the said circumferences of the said parallEl geometric circles all in the same rotational sense, then being directed inward radially and equiangularly to the respective origins of the said circles and there the dual conductors of each of the said balanced lines electrically connected in shunt to form dual, coaxially aligned terminals maintained in spacing equal to the spacing of the said dual conductors of the said shunt connected balanced transmission lines, said dual terminals bridged by a variable capacitive reactance means and fed radio power in series connection, the said combination of shunt connected, balanced transmission lines and the said reactive means producing electrical resonance in the said plural linear members terminating the said plural balanced transmission lines on both a fundamental frequency plus higher frequency overtone modes, the said linear members being also in electrical time phase by reason of such excitation scheme, the signal intensity at angles above the said plane of the said parallel circles falling in intensity with increasing angle to zero intensity at plus or minus ninety degrees relative to the plane of the said circles.

Claim 23

Apparatus in accordance with claim 18, in which connection means are provided for parallel electrical join between the said antenna array and remote radio apparatus.

Claim 24

A polygonal antenna array of plural, electrically short vertical radiator members of equal length, each of the said antenna members brought to in-phase electrical resonance by connection of its extremities respectively to the open terminals of a horizontally disposed unbalanced transmission line, the plurality of the said transmission lines of like electrical nature terminated by the said antenna members being brought to a coaxially aligned common joint at the origin of the said polygon, the said common join bridged by a common variable reactor tuning means, to a ground plane the disposition of the said electrically short, resonant radiator members which are also terminated respectively on the said ground plane producing non-distructive vectorial wave fields at great distance from the said antenna array, the disposition of the said horizontally disposed resonanting transmission lines resulting in destructive vectorial wave fields at great distance from the said antenna array.

Claim 25

A polygonal antenna array of plural, electrically short vertical radiator members of equal length, each of the said antenna members brought to in-phase electrical resonance by connection of its extremities respectively to the open terminals of a horizontally disposed unbalanced transmission line, the plurality of the said transmission lines of like electrical nature terminated by the said antenna members being brought to a coaxially aligned common joint at the origin of the said polygon, the said common join bridged by a common variable reactor tuning means, to a ground plane the disposition of the said electrically short, resonant radiator members which are also terminated respectively on the said ground plane producing non-distructive vectorial wave fields at great distance from the said antenna array, the disposition of the said horizontally disposed resonanting transmission lines resulting in destructive vectorial wave fields at great distance from the said antenna array.